Hist 1501 exam 2
Is there anything in the Declaration that seems outdated? about race, slavery, Indians? How were these things dealt with, and what does this reveal about the founders' perspective and intentions?
Slavery: The Declaration of Independence was written at a time when slavery was widespread in the American colonies. Although the Declaration proclaims that "all men are created equal" and are endowed with "certain unalienable rights," it does not address the issue of slavery directly. The founders themselves, including Thomas Jefferson (the primary author), were slaveholders. This reflects the founders' reluctance to challenge the institution of slavery during the drafting of the Declaration. Treatment of Native Americans: refers to Native American people as "the merciless Indian Savages" This reflects the prevailing Eurocentric and ethnocentric attitudes of the time. These elements reveal that the founders' perspective and intentions were influenced by the social and political norms of their era.
Abigail Adams
well-read -"deputy husband": managed farm and household accounts while John traveled for his law practice and later served at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia--Early on a strong advocate for independence, as in letter to John, 12 Nov. 1775 "I could not join to day in the petitions of our worthy parson, for a reconciliation betwen our, no longer parent State, but tyrant State, and these Colonies. —Let us seperate, they are unworthy to be our Breathren. Let us renounce them and instead of suplications as formorly for their prosperity and happiness, Let us beseach the almighty to blast their counsels and bring to Nought all their devices."
Panic of 1837
When Jackson was president, many state banks received government money that had been withdrawn from the Bank of the U.S. These banks issued paper money and financed wild speculation, especially in federal lands. Jackson issued the Specie Circular to force the payment for federal lands with gold or silver. Many state banks collapsed as a result. A panic ensued (1837). Bank of the U.S. failed, cotton prices fell, businesses went bankrupt, and there was widespread unemployment and distress. led to economic depression
St. Clair's Defeat
When: St. Clair's Defeat occurred on November 4, 1791. Where: The battle took place present-day western Ohio near the Wabash River, Specifically, it happened near Fort Recovery. What: St. Clair's Defeat was a significant and disastrous defeat for the United States. Major General Arthur St. Clair, an American military officer, led a poorly trained and poorly equipped force of about 1,400 American soldiers, including regular army troops and militia, into battle against a confederation of Native American tribes, primarily the Western Confederacy. The Native American force, led by leaders such as Little Turtle and Blue Jacket, was estimated to consist of around 1,000 warriors.
George Washington
not trained in classics or law, like other peers Land Surveyor, Planter (he inherited Mount Vernon on the Potomac River in 1761), & Slaveowner (317 enslaved people lived at Mount Vernon when he died in 1799; he owned 123; his wife Martha owned 153) Soldier : in 1753, age 21, Major, Virginia militia: volunteered for diplomatic mission to ask French to leave Ohio River ValleyIn 1754, led Virginia militia's failed assault on French at Fort NecessityIn 1755, survived Braddock's Defeat One of Washington's ambitions: to become an officer in the British army He complained to Virginia's lieutenant governor in 1757, "We cant conceive, that being Americans should deprive us of the benefits of British Subjects; nor lessen our claim to preferment [promotion]: and we are very certain, that no Body of regular Troops ever before Servd 3 Bloody Campaigns without attracting Royal Notice." Colonel, Virginia Regiment, in 1772 painting by Charles Willson PealeIn the summer of 1775, after the battles
Newburgh Conspiracy 1783
potential military coup and political crisis where: Continental Army encampment, Newburgh NY when: March 1783 (after British surrender at Yorktown, Oct. 1781 before Treaty of Paris, Sept. 1783) (towards end of revolutionary war) what: Anonymous letter of grievances about pay & pensions, probably written by Major John Armstrong, General Horatio Gates' aide-de-camp, directed at Congress with vague threats suggesting abandonment by the military (mass desertion), mutiny, or violence against Congress
Washington's Newburgh Address to continetntal army officers
washington was very against the plan and basically called them enemies of the country if they continued Tensions Defused & Crisis Resolved: Washington appealed to his officers to respect the authority of Congress. Congress compromised on pay & pensions.
chinese wanted what in exchange for goods
Gold and silver coins Ginseng - medicinal root found in northeastern North America, Great Lakes area Sea otter pelts from Northwest Coast of North America Sandalwood found on certain Pacific Islands (Hawai`i, Marquesas, Fiji) Beche-de-mer (sea slugs, sea cucumber) found in Fiji & other Pacific Islands Birds' nests found in Borneo and other islands in western Pacific
Burr's suspicious activities began in 1804, while Vice President
He arranged for co-conspirator James Wilkinson's appointment as governor of Northern Louisiana and head of western US army. The British ambassador to US reported to his superiors that Burr had approached him offering to take the western US/Louisiana territory for Britain if supplied with armaments and ships.
benevolent
"It will separate the Indians from immediate contact with settlements of whites; free them from the power of the States; enable them to pursue happiness in their own way and under their own rude institutions; will retard the progress of decay, which is lessening their numbers, and perhaps cause them gradually, under the protection of the Government and through the influence of good counsels, to cast off their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian community. NOTE: Some whites, especially in New England, protested the removal policy. The ABCFM missionaries mobilized a vast petitioning campaign in opposition to it.
U.S. Constitution (1787): Indians mentioned twice
(1) CENSUS clause. "A census shall be conducted to calculate apportionment of representatives to Congress, which shall encompass ... the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons." [Indians Not Taxed=outside the U.S. body politic] (2) COMMERCE clause. "Congress has the authority ... To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes." Also important line in the Constitution: Treaties = "the supreme Law of the Land." Also important early legislation: Trade & Intercourse Acts (1790s), only federal government, not states, can negotiate with Indian tribes
Frederick Douglass
(1817-1895) American abolitionist and writer, he escaped slavery and became a leading African American spokesman and writer. He published his biography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and founded the abolitionist newspaper, the North Star. His enslaver has ultimate control over his money and everything Frederick portrays his relationship with enslaver - when his owner gave him a few cents he felt that it was worse because he felt he may have been feeling ethical and not a bad person - this means he is aware of the injustice while hes working and only gets a fraction of what he makes Includes section on master hugh - trying to convince people to support anti slavery - audience = white people in the north but not pro slavery but not motivated against it
Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
- discusses attempted serial sexual assault by owner - Mrs. Flint is angry and jealous of Harriet, blaming her for the assault -Her grandmother obtained social respect and power, is able to maintain some power to protect her granddaughter In order to protect herself from master flint she and her grandma end up deciding to have her have children with neighbor who is much nicer - he was kind to her and showed friendliness - she at a very young age has to choose between two different negative things - it still is statutory rape, at the time no slave could be equivalent to a white person so she still has to face violence -Her audience was people in the north - the moderates and trying to appeal to white women, arguing that there is no morality, enormous violence during slavery, undermining white women wives and white families - serial sexual predator and violence comes to harriet because of it, participating in slavery = bad family moral, thats what she wantd to present
Jackson's list of advantages removal would bring to the U.S.:
1. "pecuniary advantages ... to the Government" ($) 2. ends "all possible danger of collision between the authorities of the General and State Governments on account of the Indians." 3."It will place a dense and civilized population in large tracts of country now occupied by a few savage hunters." 4. "it will incalculably strengthen the southwestern frontier and render the adjacent States strong enough to repel future invasions without remote aid." 5. "It will relieve the whole State of Mississippi and the western part of Alabama of Indian occupancy, and enable those States to advance rapidly in population, wealth, and power."
U.S. Guano Act of 1856 (guano is bird-poop fertilizer)
1. Enderbury Island 2. McKean Island 3. Howland Island 4. Baker Island 5. Canton Island 6. Phoenix Islands 7. Dangerous Islands 8. Swains Atoll 9. Flint Island 10. Caroline Island 11. Maidens Island 12. Jarvis Island 13. Christmas Atoll 14. Starbuck Island 15. Fanning Island 16. Palmyra Island 17. Kingman Reef 18. Johnston Atoll 19. Clipperton Island
Cherokee "civilization" in 1820s (before 1830 Removal Act)
1. Many Cherokees adopted Christianity (allowed ABCFM/Congregationalist missionaries into the nation, also Baptists, Methodists, and other Protestant religions) 2. Economic "improvements" (ferries, plantations, plows, sawmills) and emergence of a wealthy class 3. Adopted African slavery 4. Sequoyah's invention of the syllabary Early 1820s 5. Cherokee Phoenix, national newspaper (handout) 6. Constitutional government & written laws
chronology of whaling New England
1650s: shorewhaling off Long Island, Cape Cod, & Nantucket (prey=right whales) 18th c.: deep-sea Atlantic (right & sperm whales) 19th century: Pacific, Indian, & Arctic Oceans (sperm, right, bowhead, humpback, Pacific grays) Whale oil barrels (blubber "tried out"/boiled into oil) in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Whale oil oil lamps for lighting, soap, paint, textile processing, leather tanning Products from sperm whales: spermaceti wax, used mainly for candles, also in medicinal treatments, skincare, etc. Products from right whales and bowheads: "whalebone" (baleen) from whales' mouths, used for corset stays, umbrella ribs, knitting needles, fishing rods
Revolutionary War
1775-1783 American War of Independence. Began as 13 colonies versus Great Britain but soon turned into G.B versus colonies, France, Netherlands, and Spain = American Victory
Sally Hemings & Thomas Jefferson evidence
1802, an article by James Callender in a Virginia newspaper alleged that Thomas Jefferson, who was President at the time, had a slave named Sally as his concubine. This article specifically mentioned Sally Hemings. Madison Hemings, a former Monticello slave, published a memoir in 1873 confirming the story, and another former slave named Israel Gillette Jefferson corroborated it. Furthermore, Eston Hemings claimed to be Jefferson's son and bore a resemblance to him, and DNA evidence in 1998 indicated that descendants of Eston Hemings shared the same paternal line as Thomas Jefferson's grandfather. On the other hand, there is evidence against this claim. Jefferson never publicly acknowledged his relationship with Sally Hemings, although he did not publicly deny it either. Sally Hemings had a room near Jefferson's at Monticello, and her duties included light sewing, housekeeping, and looking after his rooms. Jefferson treated her children differently from other slaves, allowing Beverly an
1898 Spanish American War
America wanted Spain to peacefully resolve the Cuban's fight for independence - the start of the war was due in large part to yellow journalism Spain lost all its overseas territories while the US emerged as a major military powerhouse Cuba: marginally independent with the Pratt Amendment Puerto Rico: unincorporated territory
John Adams
America's first Vice-President and second President. Sponsor of the American Revolution in Massachusetts, and wrote the Massachusetts guarantee that freedom of press "ought not to be restrained." Was one of many Bostonians to protest theStamp Act in 1765, arguing for its illegitimacy as taxation without representation Defended the British soldiers who shot and killed five men in the Boston Massacre. Why? Everyone had a right to a fair trial, and law justicewas preferable to mob justice. Represented Massachusetts in theContinental Congress, 1774-1777, and was on the drafting committee for the Declaration of Independence with Thomas Jefferson
Liberia, 1820s
American Colonization Society planned to resettle freed slaves in Africa, purchased land at Cape Mesurado in West Africa for that purpose Secretary of State John Quincy Adams opposed Liberia settlement saying federal gov't would not purchase lands overseas on which to establish a "colonial system of government subordinate to and dependent upon that of the United States." President James Monroe supported Liberia but denied that it was a "colony" the non-"colony" colony of the U.S. American Colonization Society resettled free blacks in British colony of Sierra Leone in 1820, then purchased land south of Sierra Leone. Tens of thousands former slaves migrated from US, mostly Virginia and Maryland, over 19th century, Named Liberia in 1824. Capital City = Monrovia, after US President James Monroe Declared independence as Republic of Liberia in 1847, Ruling class Liberians of American origins
Lost State of Franklin 1784
August:Disgruntled western settlers in North Carolina declared independence and drew up a state Constitution as the State of Franklin and petitioned Congress for admission. Their main concern: conflicts with Cherokees over land April: North Carolina governor Alexander Martin's "manifesto" to "the inhabitants of Washington, Sullivan, and Greene Counties" warning them not to go along with this "mock government" that had "declared themselves independent of the State of North Carolina" Thomas Jefferson: "If Congress are not firm [in rejecting Franklin's bid for statehood], our several states will crumble to atoms by the spirit of establishing every little canton into a separate state." RESOLUTION: Congress denied Franklin statehood, and within a few years the movement fell apart In 1796 North Carolina ceded its western land claims to the federal government & the erstwhile Franklin became part of the new state of Tennessee
opium
British East India Company imported high- quality opium into China from India American China traders imported an inferior variety of opium they bought in Turkey British-China First Opium War (1842): Britain won & forced an "unequal treaty" on China to allow trade at five "treaty ports" U.S.-China Treaty of Wanghia (1844) gave American merchants access to these ports
Connections to the War of 1812
British control over the waters and Distance from Spain
In 1805, once vice presidency ended
Burr left for Louisiana, where he had purchased 40,000 acres from Spain. On the way, he recruited settlers to this tract to help him form a new nation. Rumors spread of a Burr plot to invade Mexico (a Spanish colony) and set up a kingdom of his own. (This would later become known as "filibustering" and became common in the US in the 1840s-1850s).
POLITICAL RIVALRY of BURR & HAMILTON
Burr obtained a copy of letter by Hamilton saying his fellow federalist John Adams was not suited to be president for a 2nd term. Burr published it: Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning The Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq., President of the United States (1800)
1806
Burr traveled to Washington DC and throughout Midwest cultivating supporters and men willing to join his army. Wilkinson got cold feet, turned against Burr, and to save himself wrote President Thomas Jefferson about the plot.
Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
Cherokees won case but Jackson refused to enforce the law and protect them from Georgia's intrusions. U.S. Army rounded up Cherokees at gunpoint to force them to remove to Indian Territory. Longterm legacy of Marshall's decision: "The Cherokee Nation, then, is a distinct community, occupying its own territory, with boundaries accurately described, in which the laws of Georgia can have no force, and which the citizens of Georgia have no right to enter but with the assent of the Cherokees themselves or in conformity with treaties and with the acts of Congress." FEDERALISM & US INDIAN LAW TODAY: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Who possessed inalienable rights to life, liberty, and happiness?
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: "All men are created equal [...with inalienable rights to] life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Freedom suits became precedents for abolishing slavery through court decisions in Massachusetts Massachusetts Constitution (1780) "All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness."
age of revolutions france
Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789), drafted by the Marquis de Lafayette w/input from Thomas Jefferson: "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights." Reign of Terror (1793): King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette guillotined Napoleon Bonaparte declared himself Emperor of France, 1804
china trade and whaling industry impact on U.S.
Duties on imports = largest source of federal government income in first half of 19th century. Merchants diversified by investing $ in textile factories & railroads (e.g., Macy's Department Store has origins in a Nantucket whaling) Acquainted ordinary Americans with other peoples via travel accounts, memoirs, etc. Protection of commerce enlarged State Department & Navy & drove U.S. to intervene overseas with "gunboat diplomacy" ex: U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 massacre of over 100 Fijians at Malolo Island "Opening" of Japan in 1853 by Matthew Perry to provide safe havens for whaleships
whaling impact overseas
Environmental: Whale depletion, demands on islands and coasts for food, fresh water, timber Conflicts with local people over resources, sailors' riots, prostitution, alcohol, deserters, shipwrecked sailorsa sense of American entitlement Labor Diasporas (global dispersal of peoples): white, black, & Native American men around the world; Pacific Islanders, Portuguese-speaking Azoreans and Cape Verdeans to the U
Cotton Cultivation and the Industrial Revolution
Expansion of cotton cultivation in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana Lowell, Mass. textile mill opens in 1823
Is there anything in the Declaration that seems outdated? In what ways is this document gendered? By "gender," think not only about what it might say, or not say, about women, but also what it says about men and how the dichotomy of men and women played out in society. What seems most relevant today as a concern, and what seems least relevant?
Gender the Declaration's omission of women reflects the limited role they played in the political sphere during that era. The document does not challenge traditional gender roles and, by using the term "men" broadly, reinforces the prevailing notion of male political agency. highlights the historical imbalance in political participation between men and women. Today, the most important and enduring elements of the Declaration are its principles of human rights, equality, and the idea that governments exist to secure these rights. These ideas remain highly relevant and continue to shape discussions on social and political issues. The document's historical grievances against a particular monarchy are less relevant in the modern context, as political structures and global dynamics have evolved significantly since the 18th century.
Credit, Banking, and a New Economic Elite in the Deep South
How do you get the money to buy land, cottonseed, and the enormous numbers of enslaved laborers that planters relied upon? You borrow it How do you pay back your debts? You grow more cotton "[Planters] care for nothing but to buy Negroes to plant cotton & raise cotton to buy Negroes." - Edward Russell, as quoted in Walter Johnson's River of Dark Dreams (2013)
1807
Jefferson issued a warrant for Burr's arrest, charging him with treason. After a series of trials, Burr was acquitted for lack of evidence.
Thomas Jefferson
Lawyer & Politician--Educated in the classics at the College of William and Mary, then trained to become a lawyer -Elected to Virginia legislature in 1769 (at age 26) Planter & Slaveowner -Inherited 5000-acre plantation from his father in Virginia -Owned on average 200 slaves at a time, over 600 in his lifetime Philosophe (philosopher, scientist, linguist, architect, etc.) In 1768, he began planning his dream estate, Monticello
freedom suit : elizabeth freeman case
Mum Bett, owned by a "Colonel Ashley" in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, sued Ashley with another slave in 1781 (Mum Bett and Brom vs. Ashley) after hearing her owner talk of equal rights (e.g., in 1773, Ashley signed a petition against British oppression stating that "mankind in a state of nature are equal, free, and independent of each other, and have a right to the undisturbed enjoyment of their lives, their liberty and their property.") Her antislavery lawyer, Theodore Sedgewick, argued that slavery violated the Massachusetts Constitution. She won the case and renamed herself Elizabeth Freeman.
Aaron Burr
NY Politician Democratic-Republican Party Vice President under Jefferson, 1801-1805 Killed Federalist and former US Secretary of the Treasury (1789-1795) Alexander Hamilton in a duel in NJ in 1804 Plotted to start a country of his own in the West?
What underlying beliefs about government does the Declaration project? Which specific lines in the Declaration reveal the creators' underlying political philosophy?
Natural Rights: The Declaration asserts the idea of natural rights, which are inherent and inalienable rights that all individuals possess. These rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Social Contract: The Declaration implies the concept of a social contract, where the government's legitimacy is based on the consent of the governed. When the government fails to protect the people's rights, the people have the right to alter or abolish that government. Right to Revolution: The Declaration legitimizes the act of rebellion against oppressive or tyrannical government. It asserts that when a government becomes destructive of the people's rights, it is the right and duty of the people to revolt. Representation and Consent: The document reflects the belief that representation in government is essential, and that governments should be based on the consent of those they govern.
failure of reconciliation efforts
Over time, various efforts were made to reconcile the differences between the colonies and Britain. These efforts, including the First Continental Congress in 1774, did not lead to satisfactory solutions. The failure of reconciliation attempts and Britain's continued use of force against the colonists pushed many leaders toward advocating for full independence, which is reflected in the Declaration.
Cherokee response to removal pressures
PROTECT THE CHEROKEE NATION as a distinct nation whose borders & sovereignty the U.S. would respect
John Dickinson
Pennsylvania & Delaware, representative at Continental Congresses, transitioned to antislavery during Revolution "Those who are taxed without their own consent, expressed by themselves or their representatives, are slaves. We are taxed without our own consent, expressed by ourselves or our representatives. We are therefore -SLAVES." (Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies, 1768) "[We] are resolved to die freemen rather than live slaves." With Thomas Jefferson, drafted "A Declaration...Setting Forth the Causes and Necessity of Their Taking Up Arms," Continental Congress, 6 July 1775. at one time Delaware's largest slaveowner, manumitted (freed) 37 slaves at his Delaware estate in 1777 under the condition that they continue to work for him for 21 years. In 1786, he freed them unconditionally. He was the only founder to move toward manumission of his slaves while living. Why him? Not as economically dependent on slavery as othe
Acts leading to the Revolution
Proclamation of 1763 (1763): restricted colonial expansion westward, which angered many colonists who wanted to settle in newly acquired territories. Sugar Act (1764): imposed taxes on sugar and other imported goods and was one of the first direct taxes on the American colonies by the British government. Stamp Act (1765): imposed a tax on printed materials, leading to widespread protests and the Stamp Act Congress. Declaratory Act (1766): affirmed British parliamentary supremacy over the colonies. Townshend Acts (1767): imposed taxes on various imported goods and led to boycotts and protests in the colonies. Boston Massacre (1770): confrontation between British soldiers and colonists in Boston several colonists being killed, escalating tensions. Tea Act (1773): granted the British East India Company a tea sales monopoly in the colonies, leading to the Boston Tea Party. Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) (1774): These punitive measures included the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Governme
Cuba and Puerto Rico
Remaining Spanish colonial possessions along with the Philippines and Guam Leyes especiales (Special Decrees) Cuba: boom in sugar production after Haitian Revolution Puerto Rico: mass censorship, military buildup, repression, suspension of civil rights El Grito de Lares in 1868
representatives at the second contintental congress highlighted grievances
Taxation without Representation: The colonists protested against taxation placed by the British gov without their consent/without rep in the British Parliament. violates "no taxation without representation." Quartering of Troops: The colonists objected to the practice of British troops being quartered in their homes without their consent during peacetime, a violation of their privacy and property rights. Denial of Trial by Jury: The colonists decried the denial of the right to a fair trial by jury, as British officials sometimes sought to try colonists in British courts, far from the colonies. Obstruction of Justice: British gov was accused of obstructing justice, messing w/ colonial legal system & preventing the enforcement of laws that would aid colonies Military Occupation: The presence of British troops in the colonies, particularly Boston, hostile military occupation against liberties of the colonists. Abuse of Executive Powers: The King was criticized for repeatedly abusing his e
How did the particular problems with Britain leading up to the Revolutionary War shape the Declaration of Independence?
Taxation without Representation: colonists' objection to being taxed by the British government without having any representation in the British Parliament. The series of taxes imposed on the American colonies, such as the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts, created widespread resentment among the colonists. Violations of Rights: The American colonists believed that their rights as British subjects were being violated by the British government. The colonists drew upon the principles of John Locke and the Magna Carta Repressive Acts: The British government's response to colonial resistance, including the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) in 1774, further fueled the colonists' desire for independence. Failure of Reconciliation Efforts Inspiration from Enlightenment Ideas
Inspiration from Enlightenment Ideas
The American Revolution was strongly influenced by Enlightenment ideas about individual rights, the social contract, and the right to self-governance. These philosophical concepts, which were prevalent in the intellectual climate of the 18th century, provided a foundation for the arguments and principles articulated in the Declaration of Independence.
violation of rights
The American colonists believed that their rights as British subjects were being violated by the British government. They saw the enforcement of writs of assistance, which allowed British customs officers to search colonists' property without a warrant, as a violation of their rights. The colonists drew upon the principles of John Locke and the Magna Carta to argue that they had certain inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property. These ideas strongly influenced the language and philosophy expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
Repressive acts
The British government's response to colonial resistance, including the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) in 1774, further fueled the colonists' desire for independence. These acts were seen as repressive measures that curtailed self-government, dissolved colonial assemblies, and allowed British soldiers to be quartered in private homes. The punitive nature of these acts contributed to the urgency of the call for independence and was highlighted in the Declaration.
The "Five Civilized Tribes" and Removal
The Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole Nations, known as the "five civilized tribes," faced substantial pressure for removal. By the early 1840s, they had been resettled in Indian Territory, particularly the Southeastern U.S.
What legitimated the act of rebellion that is the declaration of independence?
The Declaration argues that rebellion should not be undertaken lightly and that it requires justifiable reasons. However, when a government persistently violates the people's rights and becomes tyrannical, rebellion is not only a right but a duty. This is conveyed in lines such as: "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government." These lines emphasize that rebellion is warranted when a government engages in a pattern of oppressive behavior.
Natural Rights
The Declaration asserts the idea of natural rights, which are inherent and inalienable rights that all individuals possess. These rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The belief in natural rights is evident in the following lines: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This statement reflects the Enlightenment concept that individuals have fundamental rights that preexist and are not granted by governments.
Social Contract
The Declaration implies the concept of a social contract, where the government's legitimacy is based on the consent of the governed. When the government fails to protect the people's rights, the people have the right to alter or abolish that government. This idea is reflected in the following lines: "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This passage suggests that government exists to protect the people's rights, and its authority is derived from the people's consent.
Right of Revolution
The Declaration legitimizes the act of rebellion against oppressive or tyrannical government. It asserts that when a government becomes destructive of the people's rights, it is the right and duty of the people to revolt. This idea is evident in lines such as: "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it." Here, the Declaration underscores the principle that rebellion is justifiable when government infringes upon the people's rights.
representation and consent
The document reflects the belief that representation in government is essential, and that governments should be based on the consent of those they govern. The following lines express this idea: "He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good." "Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes." These lines suggest that a government should not act without the consent of the governed and that it should be responsive to the needs and welfare of the people.
Cherokee Nation
The text focuses on the Cherokee Nation's efforts to resist removal. In the 1820s, Cherokee leaders attempted to demonstrate their civilization and autonomy through Christianization, literacy, and the adoption of republican government. The Cherokee Nation also initiated a legal battle to protect its status and lands, leading to key Supreme Court cases. Chief Justice John Marshall, in the Cherokee Nation Cases, ruled that the Cherokee Nation could not sue Georgia and defined "Indian tribes" as "domestic dependent nations." The Cherokee Nation brought another case, Worcester v. Georgia, and won. It emphasized that only the federal government had authority over Indian affairs and upheld treaties with indigenous nations. Despite legal victories, President Jackson refused to enforce the court's decisions. The Cherokee Nation's leadership split. The majority, led by John Ross, continued to assert their rights. A minority faction, including Elias Boudinot and John Ridge, signed the Treaty
Stamp Act of 1765
When: The Stamp Act was passed on March 22, 1765, and it was scheduled to take effect on November 1, 1765. Where: The Stamp Act applied to all the American colonies, including Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, and others. What: The Stamp Act imposed a direct tax on the American colonies. The tax was levied on various printed materials, including legal documents, newspapers, magazines, playing cards, and other types of paper goods. To show that the tax had been paid, these documents and materials had to carry a special stamp (a revenue stamp), hence the name "Stamp Act." Why: The primary purpose of the Stamp Act was to raise revenue from the American colonies to help cover the cost of maintaining British troops in North America after the end of the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years' War). The British government believed that the American colonies should contribute to their own defense.
Townshend Acts (1767)
When: passed in 1767, with some of them going into effect in late 1767 and early 1768. Where: The Townshend Acts applied to the American colonies, which were part of the British Empire. What: The Townshend Acts consisted of several acts, including the Revenue Act of 1767, the Indemnity Act, the Commissioners of Customs Act, the Vice Admiralty Court Act, and the New York Restraining Act. The most well-known part of the Townshend Acts was the Revenue Act, which imposed new taxes on various imported goods, including paper, paint, glass, lead, and tea. These taxes were intended to raise revenue for the British government. Why: The British government enacted the Townshend Acts to raise revenue from the American colonies in order to cover the costs of maintaining British troops in North America and to assert British authority over the colonies. The British government believed that the colonies should contribute to their own defense and the overall financial stability of the British Empire.
Rights of British America (1774) (jefferson)
argued for colonial legislatures' right to self-government within the British Empire--did not advocate for independenceIn 1775, he represented Virginia in the Continental Congress, which delegated him to draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776
Taxation without representation
colonists' objection to being taxed by the British government without having any representation in the British Parliament. The series of taxes imposed on the American colonies, such as the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts, created widespread resentment among the colonists. This issue of "taxation without representation" was a key motivator for the call for independence and was prominently featured in the Declaration of Independence as one of the grievances against King George III.
Freedom Suits : Quock Walker
complicated specifics but important final result: Abolition of slavery in Massachusetts via court decisions, not with an explicit law abolishing it. Massachusetts Supreme Court Chief Justice William Cushing ruled in 1783 that "there can be no such thing as perpetual servitude of a rational person" and that slavery violated the Massachusetts constitution. Connecticut Gradual Emancipation Law (1784): Children born to enslaved women after March 1, 1784 would be freed when they reached the age of 25 (if male) and 21 (if female).
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)
decision written by Chief Justice John Marshall, a Federalist (President Jackson was a Democrat) Cherokee Nation lost the case. Supreme Court claimed the nation had no right to sue because they were an "Indian tribe." Article 3 of U.S. Constitution describes who can sue in U.S. courts: states, citizens, foreign nations, makes no mention of Indian tribes. According to commerce clause, Indian tribes were not states and not foreign nations. Marshall defined Indian tribes as "domestic dependent nations" akin to a ward to a guardian. Longterm legacy: precedent establishing that Indian tribes are quasi-sovereign nations, with authority over their internal affairs but under the ultimate authority of the federal government.
Second Middle Passage
domestic slave trade within the United States 1808-1865
presidential title controversy (april 1789)
first Congress under Constitution, capitol then in NYC. Washington's inauguration scheduled for April 30. Congress deliberated, should a "president" be treated like a "king"?
Simon Bolivar
high ranking militia officer (the liberator) 1st president of Colombia 6th president of peru 1st president of bolivia later became authoritarian Proponent of federalism for Latin America Went into exile after losing/selling off most of his fortune
Johnsons rhetoric hypocrisy crisis
irony in colonists cry for freedom while majority is involved in the oppression of enslaved africans. Johnson is pointing out the inconsistency and moral contradiction in their position. He implies that it is hypocritical for people to advocate for their own freedom while denying it to others. growing awareness of the ethical issue of slavery at the time raises the question of whether natural rights were meant for all men or only for white men, highlighting the racial prejudices that were prevalent in the colonial era.
age of revolutions Haiti
series of revolutions, 1791-1804 Radicalized by Declaration of the Rights of Man Declared independence from France Slave revolt led to abolition of slavery
Indian Removal Act
signed into law by Andrew Jackson in 1830 Authorized the president to relocate Indians from the Deep South to reservations in modern-day Oklahoma
INDIAN REMOVAL AS A "BENEVOLENT POLICY" President Andrew Jackson's Message to Congress (1830)
states the policy of removing natives from their ancestral land for white settlers
Colonial Latin America main exports
sugar and silver encomienda system, slavery
imports from china to USA
tea, porcelain ceramic ware ("china"), silk & nankeens (buff-colored fine cotton cloth)
latin america : Hemispheric US Policy
the war of 1812: 2nd independence for the US, largely considered the 1st for Latin Am. Environmental and cultural Americanness, Columbia Monroe Doctrine (1823): a principle of US policy, originated by President James Monroe in 1823, that any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas is a potentially hostile act against the US (OED definition). Latin America, the Caribbean
What grievances did the representatives at the Second Continental Congress highlight, and why?
to explain and justify their decision to declare independence from British rule. These grievances were outlined to provide a clear and compelling case for why they believed it was necessary to sever ties with Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence lists 27 specific grievances.
Boston Tea Party (1773)
when: night of December 16, 1773. Where: Boston Harbor, Griffin's Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. What: protest organized by American colonists, primarily members of the Sons of Liberty, against the British Tea Act of 1773. The protest involved a group of colonists, dressed as Native Americans to disguise their identity, boarding three British ships: the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver. They then proceeded to destroy an entire shipment of tea by throwing 342 chests of British tea into the harbor, which was a significant act of civil disobedience. Why: The Boston Tea Party was driven by several factors, including: a. The Tea Act: The British Parliament passed the Tea Act in 1773, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies. This allowed the company to sell its tea directly to the colonists and undercut local merchants, making British tea cheaper. However, the colonists saw this as a violation of their right to control their own t