AP US Chapter 16

peculiar institution

A euphemism for slavery and the economic ramifications of it in the American South. The term aimed to explain away the seeming contradiction of legalized slavery in a country whose Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal". It was one of the key causes of the Civil War.

liberty party

A former political party in the United States; formed in 1839 to oppose the practice of slavery; merged with the Free Soil Party in 1848

Denmark Vesey

A mulatto who inspired a group of slaves to seize Charleston, South Carolina, but one of them betrayed him and he and his thirty-seven followers were hanged before the revolt started.

oligarchy

A political system governed by a few people

mulatto population

A population created from white masters forcing themselves upon female slaves

plantation system

A system of agricultural production based on large-scale land ownership and the exploitation of labor and the environment. This system focused on the production of cash crops and utilized slave labor.

Elijah P. Lovejoy

American Presbyterian minister, journalist, and news paper editor who was murdered by a mob for his abolitionist views.

Theodore Dwight Weld

American abolitionist whose pamphlet "Slavery As It Is" inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.

The Liberator

An anti-slavery newspaper written by William Lloyd Garrison. It drew attention to abolition, both positive and negative, causing a war of words between supporters of slavery and those opposed.

breakers

An individual, often the overseer, charged with maintaining acceptable order and attitude among the slaves, frequently employ violent means to enforce compliance

American Anti-Slavery Society

An organization started by William Lloyd garrison whose members wanted immediate emancipation and racial equality for African Americans.

Cotton Kingdom

Areas in the south where cotton farming developed because of the high demand for cotton

Arthur and Lewis Tappan

Brothers born in Northampton, Massachusetts who united with Theodore D. Weld to form the American Anti-Slavery Society. Brothers also gave financial support to Oberlin College in Ohio.

monopolistic

Having exclusive control over a commercial activity by possession or legal grant

David Walker

He was a black abolitionist who called for the immediate emancipation of slaves. He wrote the "Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World." It called for a bloody end to white supremacy. He believed that the only way to end slavery was for slaves to physically revolt.

positive good

In the South, George Fizhugh established the philosophy that slavery was "positive good." It was believed that slavery benefited slaves by providing them with food, shelter, and often Christian religion. Also, Fitzhugh argued that free laborers in northern factories were not treated any better than slaves.

American Colonization Society

Organization founded in 1817 to transport Blacks back to Africa

William Lloyd Garrison

Prominent American abolitionist, journalist and social reformer. Editor of radical abolitionist newspaper "The Liberator", and one of the founders of the American Anti-Slavery Society.

John Quincy Adams

Sixth president of the United States He was in favor of funding national research and he appointed Henry Clay as his Secretary of State. During his presidency the National Republicans were formed in support of him.

Nat Turner

Slave in Virginia who started a slave rebellion in 1831 believing he was receiving signs from God His rebellion was the largest sign of black resistance to slavery in America and led the state legislature of Virginia to a policy that said no one could question slavery.

gag resolution

Strict rule passed by prosouthern Congressmen in 1836 to prohibit all discussion of slavery in the House of Representatives.

abolitionism

The doctrine that calls for the abolition of slavery

lane rebels

The group of theology students, led by Theodore Dwight Weld, who were expelled for abolitionist activity and later became leading preachers of the antislavery gospel.

Sojourner Truth

United States abolitionist and feminist who was freed from slavery and became a leading advocate of the abolition of slavery and for the rights of women.

Frederick Douglass

United States abolitionist who escaped from slavery and became an influential writer and lecturer in the North.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1853 that highly influenced england's view on the American Deep South and slavery. a novel promoting abolition. intensified sectional conflict.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, a book about a slave who is treated badly, in 1852. The book persuaded more people, particularly Northerners, to become anti-slavery.