An American History Ch. 11 - 14
What were the legal and material constraints on slaves' lives and work? (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Focus Question)
Although some of these laws and regulations were not followed very strictly or even strengthened by whites, the book states that slaves and free blacks, "could not testify in court against a white person, sign contracts or acquire property, own firearms, hold meetings unless a white person was present, or leave the farm or plantation without the permission of their owner" (429). The book then goes on to tell how slaves would normally meet up and hang out on their day off, which was Sunday and they would use firearms at times to scare off crows on the plantations. The whites did not strictly enforce some of them.
To what degree was antebellum reform international in scope? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
Antebellum reform was international in that reform advocates regularly crisscrossed the Atlantic to promote their cause. Utopian communities were established all over the United States, such as Brook Farm, Oneida, Owenites, Shakers, and Mormons. The international idea of antebellum reform wasn't as international as it suggests. It took place in mainly the western hemisphere between the Americas and Europe.
Given that most northern states had abolished slavery by the 1830s, how is it useful to think of slavery as a national - rather than regional - economic and political system? (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Review Question)
Even though the north abolished slavery the business men and factories from the north still made profits from slavery. The production of cotton used a lot of slave labor. Seventy-five percent of the world's cotton came from America with the use of slave labor. The banks and insurance companies also financed and insured the plantations involving slavery. Slavery had an influence on the whole nation not just the southern states.
How was the North's victory over the South tied to the different ways the market revolution had developed in the two regions? (Ch 14 A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil War Review Question)
For starters, the North had 22 million people compared to the South's 9 million people--3.5 million of which were slaves. The Union army became the best fed, best taken care of army in history, thanks to railroads, whereas the Confederates suffered from starvation and shortage of shoes and uniforms. Despite the rag-tag appearance of the Confederate army, it was equipped with general Robert E. Lee, who was a brilliant military strategist and tactician. On the contrary, the North suffered from narrowness of military vision and strategy. The Southern leader, Jefferson Davis, lacked President Lincoln's political flexibility and common touch. Overall, even though the South did have brilliant military strategists, the North was better populated, more supplied, and were united for a common cause under a strong leader, which ultimately led to the Union's victory.
Describe the difference between gang labor and task labor for slaves, and explain how slaves' tasks varied by region across the Old South. (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Review Question)
Gang labor was typically when large groups of slaves on plantations worked under a strict supervisor and they didn't receive much independence. On the contrary, slaves who worked under the task system enjoyed much more freedom because once they completed their assigned tasks for the day, they could spend the rest of their time however they pleased. Gang labor was primarily along the cotton belt, and some of the harshest slave labor was on sugar plantations in Louisiana. The task system on rice plantations along the coast allowed slaves to enjoy more independence and less torture than those under gang labor.
What role did blacks play in winning the Civil War's and in defining the war's consequences? (Ch 14 A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil War Review Question)
In the South, if a white man didn't want to go fight in the war, he could send slaves to replace him. Slaves took part in the war effort in the North through the war contraband. Lincoln began enlisting black slaves to fight for the Union against the South. Blacks contributed a lot to the Union winning the Civil War, but afterwards racism didn't disappear and blacks were still treated unfairly, mainly in the South because they didn't want blacks to be free in the first place. In theory, but not yet in practice, the Civil War changed a government from one "for white men" to one "for mankind."
Explain how sectional voting patterns in the 1860 presidential election allowed southern "fire-eaters" to justify secession. (Ch 13 A House Divided Review Questions)
In the eyes of many southerners, Lincoln's victory placed their future at the mercy of a party avowedly hostile to their region's values and interests. Those advocating secession did not believe Lincoln's administration would take immediate steps against slavery in the states. The election of 1860 marked a shift in the power in the beginning of a long period of Republican rule, and what the southerners believed to be an entire way of life at stake. Slaveowners feared Republican efforts to extend their party into the south by appealing to non-slaveholders. Rather than accept permanent minority status in a nation governed by their opponents, the Deep South political leaders struck for their region's independence.
How did abolitionism challenge barriers to racial equality and free speech? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Focus Question)
It challenged racial equality because it was the first time blacks took a role on the political agenda taking on a role in the abolitionist movement. the various levels of abolitionism took different stances on racial equality. It was also the first time people were able to express their beliefs, though they still met opposition and had to fight for their rights. These movements threatened southern slaveholders and their conception of states rights and federal power because abolitionists wanted the federal government to outlaw slavery. Southerners saw this as a large reach of federal power by making a type of property (slavery) illegal, which were made for the state, for the country.
Based on the Lincoln-Douglas debates, how did the two differ on the expansion of slavery, equal rights, and the role of the national government? Use examples of their words to illustrate your points. (Ch 13 A House Divided Review Questions)
Lincoln and Douglas differed greatly on the expansion of slavery such that Douglas was an advocate and Lincoln wanted to prevent it. Lincoln stated that "a house divided against itself will not stand" which meant that he believed the United States should either completely abolish slavery or allow slavery everywhere. Douglas believed in popular sovereignty which allowed each state to decide if they wanted to be a free or a slave state. Though Lincoln was an abolitionist, he did not believe in making blacks equal to whites, which is a point he and Douglas agreed on because Douglas believed that black men should remain inferior. Lincoln supported colonization. Overall, Douglas believed in expansion, popular sovereignty, and self-government, whereas Lincoln believed the United States must choose complete abolition or complete slavery.
Why did many Americans criticize the Mexican War? How did they see expansion as a threat to American liberties? (Ch 13 A House Divided Review Question)
Many Americans criticized the Mexican War because it was another war in which a superior country waged violence against a smaller country that basically had no chance of winning. The beginning of the war was a "false start" and not probable cause for a war because Americans claimed that Mexicans had shed blood on American soil when, in fact, that did not happen. Once the United States won, there was a dispute over whether slavery should expand into the newly acquired land from Mexico, which then resulted in the Compromise of 1850--which declared California a free state, included a fugitive slave law, and delayed determination of the slave status in Utah and Oregon. Many people who civilly protested the war against Mexico was thrown in jail, which infringed upon their right of free speech. The people began to see the United States government as acting more of a monarchy than a republic.
How could antebellum women participate in the public sphere even though they were excluded from government and politics (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
Many women became involved in spreading the abolitionist message by giving lectures and publishing literary works. The public sphere was open to women in ways politics were not. Women circulated petitions, attended meetings, marched in parades, and delivered public lectures. They became active in the temperance movement. the building of asylums, and other reform activities.
What were the major factors contributing to U.S. territorial expansion in the 1840s? (Ch 13 A House Divided Focus Questions)
Most importantly was economic ties with California because of the recent discovery of gold, and then John C. Calhoun's letter which linked the idea of absorbing Texas to the expansion of slavery. Ties with California would promote economic growth for the colonies and absorbing Texas not only added land to the already expanding nation but also created conflict between the two most prominent political parties: the Republicans, who wanted to prevent the expansion of slavery, and the Democrats, who advocated expansion. Eventually, James K. Polk settled territorial disputes with Britain over Oregon, which encouraged further settlement westward.
How did the planters' paternalism serve to justify the system of slavery? How did it hide the reality of life for slaves? (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Review Question)
Once Congress halted the Atlantic slave trade in 1808, it made slaves much more valuable because they basically became irreplaceable. Stopping the Atlantic slave trade meant that the price for slaves increased and slaveowners definitely wanted to prolong their lives for as long as possible. This new approach of viewing slaves as very valuable led to slaveowners taking on a "fatherly" role in order to care for them. They made sure the slaves were well fed, cared for when ill, and endured less punishment. This justified, yet masked, the brutal realities of slavery because the slave owners felt they were treating their slaves kindly and responsibly, despite the fact that they were still bought and sold as property, regarded as inferior to white men, and seen as incapable of being a functioning part of society.
What were the major forms of resistance to slavery? (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Focus Question)
One of the types of resistance to slavery, which was one of the most common, was called "day-to-day resistance" or "silent sabotage" which the book says was things like, "doing poor work, breaking tools, abusing animals, and in other ways disrupting plantation routine" (443). "Then there was the theft of food, a form of resistance so common that one southern physician diagnosed it as a hereditary disease unique to blacks" (443). They also, less frequently committed larger crimes.
What were the different varieties of abolitionism? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Focus Question)
One of the versions of abolitionism was militant abolitionism where "a new generation of reformers rejected the traditional approach of gradual emancipation and demanded immediate abolition" (466). Abolitionism was more popular throughout the North than the South due to the fact that the North was more advanced, specifically in education and literacy. Because most of the North could read and write, "Antislavery leaders took advantage of the rapid development of print technology" (467), to spread the message (another form of abolitionism). Moral suasion was another form, which was when activists focused on "awakening the nation to the moral evil of slavery" (469). In doing so, "The abolitionist crusade both reinforced and challenged common understandings of freedom in Jacksonian America" (470), which was another way abolitionism was shown.
What were the similarities and differences between the common school and institutions like asylums, orphanages, and prisons that were created by reformers? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
Prisons, asylums, and other institutions were created for the original purpose of rehabilitating the mentally ill and criminals so they could become working members of society. They were created because of the idea of "perfectionism"--social ill once thought incurable could in fact be eliminated. Eventually, these institutions went from being rehabilitation centers to holding facilities. Prisons became overcrowded and it became more of a priority to keep these people away from society rather than upholding their initial conviction of bettering the lives of those in need. The difference was that common schools were open to all; free training for individuals.
How did the concept of "race" develop by the mid-nineteenth century, and how did it enter into the manifest destiny debate? (Ch 13 A House Divided Review Questions)
Race during the 19th century was a notion involving color, origin, culture, class, and religion. With the annexation of Texas came the issue of assimilating a lot of non-white Catholics into the United States, which were deemed unfit for citizenship. The Texas Constitution denied civil rights to Indians and person of African origin. Only whites were permitted to purchase land and the entrance of free blacks into the states was prohibited altogether. Expansion into Texas solidified the belief that the west was meant to be a place of opportunity specifically for whites.
How was racism evident even in the abolitionist movement, and what steps did some abolitionists take to fight racism in American society? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
Racism was embedded into society because whites had been told since the beginning of colonization that they were the superior race. Although whites were advocating for slave emancipation, that's all they were granting the slaves: freedom. To try to combat racism, abolitionists launched legal and political battles against racial discrimination in the North. They achieved the end of school segregation in Massachusetts in 1855, but there was still segregation in almost every other part of life. The abolitionist emblem--the phrase "Am I Not a Man and a Brother?"--challenged whites to face the reality that blacks were people just like them. To try to disprove the belief that blacks were inferior naturally, blacks sought advanced employment to prove they were as capable as whites.
How did family, gender, religion, and values combine to create distinct slave cultures in the Old South? (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Focus Question)
Slave culture was new creation, shaped by African traditions and American Values and experiences. At the the center of the slave community stood the family. Most adult slaves married, and their unions, when not disrupted by sale, typically lasted for a lifetime. Did not marry first cousins, unlike whites. The threat of sale was the most powerful disciplinary weapon slaveholders possessed. Slave men and women experienced, in a sense, the equality of powerlessness. However, on their own time, more conventional roles prevailed. Men hunted and women washed and sewed. A distinctive version of christianity also offered solace to slaves in the face of hardship and hope for liberation from bondage. Even though the law prohibited slaves from gathering w/o a white person present, every plantation, it seemed, had it's own black preacher. To masters, Christianity offered another means of social control. The slaves transformed the Christianity they had, turning it to their own purposes. The biblical story of Exodus, in which God chose Moses to lead the enslaved jews of Egypt into a promised land of freedom, played a central role in black Christianity.Slave cultures rested on a conviction of the unjustness of bondage and the desire for freedom. Owners attempted to prevent slaves from learning about the larger world. Therefore, the world of most rural slaves was bound by their local communities and kin.
Compare slaves in the Old South with those elsewhere in the world, focusing on health, diet, and opportunities for freedom. (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Review Question)
Some southern states enacted laws that prohibited the mistreatment of slaves, which meant their material living conditions improved. The slaves were given a sufficient food supply and some slaves supplemented the food provided by their owner with the game and vegetables they raised themselves, animals in the forest, and, not often, stole items from the plantation smokehouse. Compared to their counterparts in Brazil and in the West Indies, they enjoyed better diets, lower rates of infant mortality, and longer life expectancies. Because slaves were now precious commodities in America, they were well taken care of and kept on a tight leash, unlike in Brazil where half of the slaves had been freed and more freed during celebrations. Compared to slaves in the cities, plantation slaves were restricted in that they couldn't do anything without supervision and did more physically demanding labor.
How did the actions of slaves themselves, northern military strategy, and the Emancipation Proclamation combine to end slavery? (Ch 14 A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil War Review Question)
The Civil War was really a war over the abolition of slavery. The South, having no solid army and lacked military supplies, weren't going to win the war to begin with, though they did have a few impressive victories over the Union. The victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg were the most important of the Civil War and solidified Northern power. The North began a contraband of war, which means they allowed escaped slaves to contribute to the war effort on their side, so once the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect many more blacks participated in the complete abolition of slavery through utter defeat of the Confederacy.
What made the American Civil War the first modern war? (Ch 14 A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil War Review Question)
The Civil War was the first war to utilize the machinery, transportation, and other productions of the industrial revolution, mainly automated firearms. It was the first time in history that war supplies and even the armies themselves were transported over the railroad and soldiers were quipped with weapons with improved, near perfect rapidity and accuracy. The use of these inventions caused a greater number of casualties than anything America had ever experienced.
What three questions did the Supreme Court address in the Dred Scott case? Assess the court's arguments.
The Dred Scott case brought up three main question to the Supreme court: 1. Could slaves sue in court since they technically weren't citizens? 2. Could Congress prohibit slavery in a territory? and finally 3. Did residence in a free state make a slave free? The court ruled that since slaves did not have any rights that a white man must respect, which included suing in court, then slaves technically couldn't sue. Because the case raised a lot of important questions, the Supreme Court decided to press on anyway, ruling that Congress does not have the power to prohibit slavery in a territory, and he remained a slave even though he had residence in a free state.
Explain the justifications for the doctrine of manifest destiny, including material and idealistic motivations. (Ch 13 A House Divided Review Questions)
The initial justification for expansion westward was the doctrine of Manifest Destiny, which was believed that God intended for the American people to extend their country from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. One of the complications of westward expansion was Indian removal from those lands, which then led to the Trail of Tears and the devastation of one of the most prominent Indian tribes of the Native Americans. A major reason as to why so many people flocked westward at once was because of the discovery of gold in 1851. Probably the most important reason for the westward migration was the promise of a better life. So many families lived in poverty in the colonies so when the opportunity presented itself, there was mass migration. People believed gold panning and mining was a quick way to get rich, families sought to start life anew, and the hopes of success.
Describe how President Lincoln's war aims evolved between 1861 and 1863, changing from simply preserving the union to also ending slavery. (Ch 14 A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil War Review Question)
The initial purpose of the Civil War, Lincoln claimed, was to protect the Union because of Southern secession. Lincoln initially declared war to reunite the states under one Union, but in order for that to happen, slavery had to be addressed since it was the main reason for southern secession. As the war progressed and the fight for abolition waged forward, Lincoln gave the South and ultimatum, which was to either lay down their arms by the end of 1862 or he would decree abolition. Because the South refused to surrender, the Union put down their forces and Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which free all slaves without any compensation for the owners for their loss of property.
Identify the different types of resistance to slavery. Which ones were the most common, the most effective, and the most demonstrative? (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Review Question)
The most widespread form of resistance was silent sabotage, where slaves would work slower or do a poor job, break tools, abuse animals, and disrupt the plantation routine. Many slaves pretended to be ill to avoid work and they stole food--which was so common it was deemed hereditary and unique to blacks. Less frequent, but more dangerous, were serious crimes committed by slaves, including arson, poisoning, and armed assaults against individual whites. Silent sabotage, though the most common, was quite ineffective in that it didn't influence abolition, but it did make slavery a bit more expensive for the owners.
Why did so many prominent white Americans, from both the North and South, support the colonization of freed slaves? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
The peculiar institution had been apart of and deeply entrenched in American society, which meant that forcing whites to coexist alongside blacks peacefully would be very difficult. Since the founding of the colonies, whites had always been seen as the superior race to the Africans and Native Americans. When abolition came around and wanted to disrupt that belief, whites were unwilling to accept blacks as their equals after being taught they were naturally inferior. Colonization solved this challenge because it allowed for the equality the Northerners wanted and the distance the Southerners wanted. Colonization was widely supported among Southerners because even though the blacks would be free, against the judgement of the South, whites wouldn't have to work alongside blacks and wouldn't have to treat them as equals, and therefore Liberia was created as a place for the emancipated blacks to relocate.
While some poor southern whites resented the dominance of the "Slavocracy," most supported the institution and accepted the power of the planter class. Why did the "plain folk" continue to support slavery? (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Review question)
The prospect of them one day rising to become a planter. The planter class was very wealthy and often invested in land and slaves because they could turn a profit from them. Those who didn't own plantations and a large amount of slaves rested on the possibility of reaching the wealthy planter class one day. Because slaves usually occupied the menial tasks that were "unfit" for white men, this opened up more opportunities for white men and their possibility of gaining more wealth and success.
How did the supporters and opponents of temperance understand the meaning of freedom differently? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
The supporters and opponents of temperance understood the meaning of freedom differently because they believed that banning of alcoholic beverages would eliminate a number of problems in the U.S. Also, the opportunity to increase/compete for economic gain and individual self-improvement.
How did the Utopian communities challenge existing ideas about property and marriage?(Ch 12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
The utopian communities challenge existing ideas about property and marriage by prohibiting sexual relations between men and women altogether, others allowed them to change partners at will and the abolition of private property must be accompanied by an end to men's property in women.
How did enslaved people create community and a culture that allowed them to survive in an oppressive society? (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Review Question)
There were many different aspects of slave culture that came in a variety of influences. One of the most prominent being family. Because of the restrictive conditions slaves endured, the ability to have children, get married, and assume appropriate gender roles for the time forged very strong relationships among slaves. They created their own marriage ceremony that entailed jumping over a broomstick, which was probably a mixture of African tradition and the resources they had available. Slaves also mixed their indigenous religions with Christianity to develop their own form of religion. They believed that God would send them a "saving grace" to release them from bondage, just as Moses led the Egyptian slaves from Egypt in the story of Exodus. Slaves often met in "secret gatherings" and in "praise meetings" so they could pray, dance, and sing as they wished, Most plantations had its own black preacher. Especially in southern cities, blacks worshipped in biracial congregations with white ministers, preaching the doctrine that servants must obey their masters.
What were the major movements and goals of antebellum reform? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Focus Question)
There were multiple major movements and goals of the antebellum reform. The six major reforms were abolition, women's rights and suffrage, education, temperance, prisons and asylums, and factories and jobs. The goals of the movements were to achieve perfection in society. They also wanted more equal rights and better treatment for everyone. Social: Women wanted suffrage, Slaves wanted to be freed, and Women wanted a restriction on alcohol; Intellectual: Tax created to fund public schools, Schools safehaven for children, and Available to more people
How was the abolition movement affected by other social and economic changes such as the rise in literacy, new print technology, and ideas associated with the market revolution? (12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
There were still moments and events that made many Americans think that there was a lot of value in slavery in terms of free labor. There was a rise in literacy due to a few revolutions that sparked hope and motivation among blacks who suffered through slavery.
Identify the basic elements of the proslavery defense and those points aimed especially at non-southern audiences. (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Review Question)
Those who supported slavery strongly believed that black men were born inferior and that slavery was a "necessary evil" because it provided labor for the menial jobs which allowed the white population to pursue other, more intellectual opportunities. Southerners justified slavery through passages in the Bible that say servants should obey their masters. They believed that slavery is necessary for human progress. Slavery for blacks influenced "perfect equality" among whites. Because of this institution, the United States was able to flourish as an independent country with a stable economy and society.
How did white women's participation in the abolitionist movement push them to a new understanding of their own rights and oppression? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
When fighting for abolitionism, women were introduced to knowledge of how slaves were being treated in captivity, and were able to identify with them. The relationship between husband and wife paralleled that of slave and master. Because women understood they were receiving the same privileges and were held under the same type of bondage as slaves, it prompted women to address the issue of women's rights. The principal of coverture was practiced, which meant women were under their husbands' authority, and women technically didn't own themselves, and were regarded as property, as seen in the "transaction" between father and husband when a woman was "given away." Women didn't have control of themselves, were meant to serve their husbands, and were denied the basic rights of public participation, just as slaves were.
How did the market revolution contribute to the rise of the Republican Party? How did those economic and political factors serve to unite groups in the Northeast and in the Northwest, and why was that unity significant? (Ch 13 A House Divided Review Questions)
With the railways complete, the economy in the North grew much more rapidly than in the south; unifying the northeast cities, to the northwest farming and commercial centers. The economic integration created the groundwork for their political unification in the Republican Party.
What were the diverse sources of the antebellum women's rights movement and it's significance? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Focus Question)
Women at this time were basically fighting to show that they are just as good as men. The main thing they wanted out of it was the right to vote. They thought that is they could prove they have the same skills, can perform the same tasks/work, this would influence the men to change their mind. They also wanted to prove that they were capable of working for wages.
How did advocates for women's rights in these years both accept and challenge existing gender beliefs and social roles? (Ch 12 An Age of Reform Review Question)
Women took to the understanding that "whatever is morally right for men to do, it s morally right for women to do." At the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments, modeled after the Declaration of Independence, women added the word "women" to "all men are created equal." Elizabeth Cady Stanton believed that only suffrage would make woman as "free as man is free." Women tried to popularize a new form of dress which included women wearing pants, which were traditionally associated with men. They believed they must "got to work" to free themselves from their bondage.
How did Slavery shape social and economic relations in the Old South? (Ch 11 The Peculiar Institution Focus Question)
Slavery was the labor force that allowed the South to prosper from cash crops such as tobacco, sugar, and cotton. This force was desired because it was essentially free, allowing more profits for the wealthy plantation owners. Slavery shaped Southern life across all boundaries, because the South was dependent on this labor force, without it the South would suffer. Slavery allowed the aristocratic hierarchy to function, Rich at the top, less wealthy in the middle, and then the slaves. There was no need for an educated work force, hence there being no real public education. This led to a paternalistic society, in which the wealthy maintained control by asserting that they cared for the less fortunate.