Chapter 14-17 Test
- ordered 4,000 men under General Zachary Taylor to march from Nueces River to the Rio Grande hoping for a clash with Mexicans - proposed to declare war when nothing happened, but news of bloodshed arrived on the same night; Polk sent war message to Senate and they voted for war
After Slidell was not permitted to present his case in Mexico what did polk do?
- interchangeable parts used in the manufacturing of firearms - sewing machine - Telegraph - modern mass-production and the assembly line method
As the factory system flourished, what other industries were included? What did interchangeable parts become the basis of?
- he was expelled from the party - his entire cabinet resigned except his Secretary of State Webster who was then in the midst of delicate negotiations with England
Because John Tyler didnt share the same views as his party what happened?
- they were the least prosperous and heavily looked down upon; were scorned even by slaves as "poor white trash" and some were no better off than the slaves because sometimes slaves were seen as more valuable than they were - even though they had no direct economic stake, they wanted to have slaves because it was a symbol of power and could raise their standing in society
Beneath the slave owners there was a large group of whites who owned no slaves at all...how were they viewed? Why were they among the strongest defenders of the slave system?
- married women commanded immense moral power and influenced their families to make sure they lived moral lives - women were in charge of the home - choice of spouse was more frequently based on love, not parental arrangement
Describe some of women's changing roles?
- there was overspeculation in land and slaves (risky because money could be lost) - the slaves represented a heavy investment of capital - an entire slave quarter might be wiped out by disease causing a complete loss of capitol for plantation owner
Describe the financial instability of the plantation system?
- the price of slaves was so high before the Civil war that thousands of blacks were smuggled into the South
Even though legal importation of African slaves into America ended in 1808, what happened?
- Passed the Gag Resolution which required that all antislavery appeals to be tabled without debate; refused to talk about slavery issue - ordered southern postmasters to destroy abolitionist material and arrested those who did not comply; because southern whites resented the flooding of their mail with abolitionist literature
How did Congress respond to slavery issue?
- Stony soil made farming difficult and manufacturing attractive - dense population provided labor and accessible markets - shipping brought in capitol (compare south and west where many people did not have ready cash) - seaports made it easy to import raw materials and export the finished product
How did New England become and industrial center? What did shipping and seaports do?
- saw them as investments ($2 billion by 1860); primary source of wealth in the South - they were spared from dangerous work in place of Irish - at slave auctions
How did Southern planters view their slaves? Because slaves were seen as primary source of wealth and were valued what sometimes happened? How were they sold?
- they said slavery was a "Positive Good" - white apologists claimed that master-slave relationships resembles those of a family (given food, clothing, and shelter) - compared slaves to the overworked factory workers in the north - widens the chasm between the South and the North
How did pro slavery whites respond to abolitionists and anti-slavery movements? What was the result of their pro-slavery arguments?
- ensured them of the share of American wealth without jeopardizing the wealth of others; did low paying jobs that many Americans didn't want - they helped fuel economic expansion; economy relied on immigrants - Industrial revolution
How did the American economy help immigrants? How did they help it? Together what did they help bring about?
- in Kentucky people burned down cane and sowed "Kentucky bluegrass" as pastureland—lured thousands of homesteaders - American trappers were trapping in the Rocky Mountain region to trade beaver and buffalo pelts for manufactured good in the East, caused near extinction of these animals
How did the western movement mold the physical environment?
-33 - fourth in the western world; exceeded by Russia, France, ad Austria - there were 43 cities over 10,000 (population) and 300 over 5,000; there were less small towns
How many states were there in 1860? Where did the US rank in population? Where there many cities or small towns?
- more than half of the worlds supply - they knew that Britain was dependent on southern cotton
How much cotton did the south produce? How was the south given power?
- children under the age of 10; treated very harshly - conditions—many got right to vote - Democratic Party; party of workers
In 1820 who made up a significant number of the nation's industrial workers? What improved for adults? What political party did they join ?
- using fear - family life was relatively stable and many raised in two parent households, a distinctive African American slave culture developed; forced separation more common on smaller plantations
In some counties blacks accounted for 75% of population how were they controlled? What was a benefit of a larger plantation?
-high birthrate and immigration - Irish and Germans
What accounted for an increase in population? Who made up most of the immigrants?
- Fremont worked with American naval officers and local Americans who hoisted the banner of the short-lived California Republic; declaring California an independent country - General Zachery Taylor successful against Mexicans at Buena Vista, becoming war hero - General Winfield Scott successfully battled his way up to Mexico City and proved to be the most distinguished general produced by his country between the American Revolution and the Civil War
What are some examples of American operation success in the Southwest and California?
- Gabriel Prosser led an armed insurrection in Virginia but it was foiled by informers and the leaders were hanged - Denmark vesey led a rebellion in Charleston SC but it was also stopped and leaders were hanged - nat turner, a black preacher, led an uprising and killed 60 Virginians—he was captured and hanged - enslaved Africans aboard the Amistad rebelled and took over the Spanish slave ship
What are some examples of slaves universal desire for freedom?
- Texas - those against expansion were against annexation - southerners threaten to succeed of Texas not annexed - James K. Polk—pro-expansion Democrat - lame duck president Tyler interpreted the narrow Democratic victory s a "mandate" to acquire Texas so gave himself credit for the annexing of Texas
What became a leading issue in the 1844 presidential campaign? What were some of the viewpoints? Who won the election? What did Tyler do?
- Henry clay—whigs - James K. Polk—Democrats; first "dark horse" (candidate not expected to win but does) - manifest destiny
What candidates were nominated by two major political parties in May 1844? What was the campaign an expression of?
- 10 hour work day - higher wages - tolerable working conditions - public education for their children - end to debt imprisonment - cuts into profit for company - established the 10 hour day for federal employees on public works causing many states in later years to also start reducing the hours of working people
What demands with workers want? Why did employers fight these demands? What did Van Buren do in 1840?
- Perfected a series of machines for mass production of textiles using steam to usher in the modern factory system transforming agriculture, transportation, and communication
What did British investors in the 1750s do?
- a bill which would create a new Bank of the United States - vetoed the bill on practical and constitutional grounds
What did Clay drive through congress? What did Tyler do?
- cotton became highly profitable - planters cleared more land for cotton, pushing westward (Stephen Austin and those in Texas) - need for slaves increased
What did Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin do?
- Europe seemed to be running out of room; they went to US for freedom and opportunity - steamships meant that they could come speedily and cheaply because they can carry lots of people in for little time and $$
What did Irish and German immigrants come to the US?
- when he became Vice President left the Jacksonian Democrats for the Whigs - accused of being a Democrat in Whig clothing; he didn't share same view as majority of Whig party and faced resentment because of it
What did John Tyler do? What was he accused of?
- recognize its independence; said Texas was in a revolt and was to be reconquered in the future - war if the Americans tried to annex Texas - opened negotiates with Britain and France to secure a defensive shield of protection since no guarantee from US
What did Mexico refuse to do to Texas? What did they threaten the US with? What did Texas do as a result of Mexico threat?
- they undermined the work of women in their homes and gave greater economic independence for women's and the means to buy manufactured products -mainly worked in nursing, domestic services, and teaching - single - left their job to become wives and mothers
What did factories offer women? Why were factory jobs unusual for women? Most women were employed before marriage so the majority of working women were? What did they do when they got married?
- dependence on a one-crop economy where prices were at the mercy of world conditions and diversification was discouraged - the north growing wealthy at their expense
What did the dominance of cotton lead to that was dangerous? What did the southern planters resent?
- antislavery societies and abolitionists
What did the inhumanity of slavery cause?
- increased the prejudices of American nativists - feared they would outbreed, outvote, and overwhelm and take jobs from the old "native" stock
What did the wave of immigration in the 1840s and 1850s do to Americans? What did they fear?
- he died and John Tyler (his vice president) took office - Daniel Webster - he was a spokesman in the Senate
What happened after Harrison became president? Who was his Secretary of State? What did Henry clay do?
- they flourished and these regions were becoming the nations breadbasket - feed hogs or to be distilled into liquor - john deer invented the steel plow and Cyrus McCormick invented the reaper - caused many to go into debt
What happened to farms in the West (ohio, Indiana, Illinois)? Why did they grow corn? What inventions came about at this time? What did the want for more and and machinery do to farmers?
- slums, feeble street lighting, inadequate policing, impure water, sewage, rats, and improper garbage disposal - pioneered a sewer system - abandoned wells and cisterns for a piped-in water supply, eliminating the breeding place for many disease-carrying mosquitos
What problems did over-rapid urbanization bring? What did Boston do in 1823? What did NY do in 1842?
- many citizens came to see the South as the land of the unfree and the home of the hateful institution - new political party that were prepared to abolish slavery outright - many people of other parties opposed it extending into the west but didnt want to outright abolish it
What success did the abolitionist outcry have? Who were the Free-soilers? What other views did people have?
1. Lower the tariff 2. Restoration of the independent treasury 3. Acquisition of California 4. Settle of the Oregon dispute— Polk proposed 49th parallel and British eventually agreed and the Senate ratified the treaty
What was Polk's four-point program?
- afraid he could not secure the needed 2/3 vote for a treaty in the Senate because lots of Whig senators - arranged for annexation by a joint resolution; resolution passed and Texas became a state - Mexico declared war on the U.S
What was Tyler afraid of when he made the decision to annex Texas after the election of James K.Polk? What did he do? What was the result of annexation of Texas?
- it was grim - they were victim to disease, depression (especially women), premature death, loneliness, breakdowns, and madness - frontier like was rough
What was life like for pioneer families?
- he was eager to buy it from Mexico and to have it as part of the Union; didnt want to wait - but more serious event going on with Texas boundaries; Texas wanted Rio Grande River boundary but Mexico only wanted the Nueces River boundary - send John Slidell to Mexico City to offer $25 million from California and territory to the east - Mexico would not even permit Slidell to present his case leading Polk to take action
What was polks situation with California? What was more serious? What did Polk do about California? What was Mexicos response?
- it was organized by American nativists for political action and said that people not born in the US should not be ale to have the same opportunities - they wanted more restriction on immigration and naturalization - lobbied for laws authorizing the deportation of poor foreigners
What was the Know-Nothing Party? What did they want to do?
- pro-bank, pro-protective tariff, pro-internal improvements (American system); strongly nationalist program
What was the Whig party platform like?
- planters bought more slaves and land - they gained lots of $$ from shipping cotton to Europe - the backs of slaves - it accounted for half the value of American export and export earnings provided the capitol for the economic growth of the country
What was the cotton kingdom? How did Northern shippers reap large profits? Who did the prosperity of the North, South, and England rest on? How important was cotton to the American economy?
- Americans offered the forty-in the parallel as a boundary, but British wanted the Columbia River - Texas controversy
What was the debate over the the Oregon Territory? What was it overshadowed by?
Half of Americans were under the age of 30; young country
What was the demographic of America by the 1850s?
- having a large manufacturing company caused it to be not a personal and bosses didnt know their workers creating a labor problem with low wages, long hours, unsanitary conditions, no healthcare for families, forbidden to form unions
What was the downside to the factory system?
Uncle Tom's Cabin
What was the first book to greatly change peoples minds about the practices of slavery?
- The potato famine; loss of staple food caused 2 million to die - larger seaboard cities like Boston and New York - low-skill because not very educated - by gradually acquiring small amounts of property - mostly Catholic
What was the main reason Irish came to the US? Where did they settle? What occupation did they have? How did they improve their situation? What religion were they?
- several states forbade their entrance - denied them the right to vote - barred them from public schools - hated by Irish immigrants with whom they competed for jobs - strong anti-black feelings because unlike the south, the north had no strong investment in slaves and didnt care about them; wanted them out of their society
What was the northern climate like for free blacks?
- to transport freed slaves here - most blacks had no wish to be transported into a strange civilization after having become partially Americanized; most born in the US and had their own distinctive history and culture here
What was the purpose of Liberia? Why was it a failure?
- many owned less than 10 slaves - not many lived in mansions - 75% of white southerners owned slaver or belonged to a slaver-owning family - the smaller slave owners did not own a majority of the slaves, but were the majority of masters, they were typically small farmers
What was the reality of southern life?
- many of them Christianized during the Second Great Awakening and they molded their own distinctive religious forms with Christian elements
What was the slaves' religion like?
- strikes - workers lost more strikes than they won and employers would sometimes replace strikers with strike-beaters who would come in a take their jobs
What was the strongest weapon of laborers ? What was the reality of these?
- prior discovery and exploration - treaty rights - actual occupation - colonizing Agency Hudson's Bay Company - Captain Robert Gray found the Columbia river - Lewis and Clark expedition - presence of missionaries and settlers - peacefully side by side; but decided they needed a separation
What were British claims to the Oregon territory? What were American claims to the Oregon territory? How did the American s and British in this territory live?
- Politics; because they had so much conflict with British - powerful political machines like NY's Tammany Hall - cultivate the Irish vote
What were Irish immigrants attracted to? Why? What did they gain control of? What did American politicians want to do?
- varied greatly - most subject to hard work, ignorance (no read or write), and oppression - no political rights and minimal protection - beating common - laws were difficult to enforce since slaves were forbidden to testify in court or to have their marriages legally recognized; one reason many had no problem separating them from family because they aren't legally a family
What were conditions like for slaves?
- America got Texas - US received the area stretching to Oregon, the ocean, embracing California - US agreed to pay $15 million for the land and to assume the claims of its citizens against Mexico in the amount of $3,250,000
What were some of the conditions of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
- America's expanse increased by 1/3 - campaigns provided priceless experience - the war aroused the slavery issue of more slave states that would not stop until the Civil War - Wilmot Proviso introduced symbolize the issue of slavery in the territories
What were the benefits of the Mexican American war? The negative aspects?
- The 1,733 families who owned more than 100 slaves; rich planters - widened the gap between the rich and poor and hampered tax-supported public education
Who provided the political and social leadership and controlled most of the southern wealth? What did this do?
- abolitionist - escaped slavery at 21 - was discovered by abolitionists after giving an impromptu speech at an antislavery meeting - after discovery continued to lecture, despite punishment - published Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Who was Frederick Douglas?
- Uprooted farmers with agricultural skills; some were liberal political refugees - they possessed a modest amount of materials and goods; some were educated - had less political influence since more widely scattered - Middle west; not cities mainly farming land - they were regarded with suspicion because they wanted to preserve their language and customs - didnt like their heavy drinking habits
Who were many of the Germans who came to America? How were they different from the Irish? How did people view the Germans?
- sojourner Truth—fought for black emancipation and womens rights - Martin Delaney- one of few black leaders who took seriously the idea of mass recolonization of Africa
Who were some black abolitionists?
- lived in the valley's of the Appalachian mts. - unable to have big plantations so had little in common with other white southerners; small farmers only - when the war came they were an important stronghold of Unionism and played a significant role in crippling the confederacy; only concentrated Republican strength in the solid South
Who were the Mountain whites?
- Texas would serve as a check for Americans moving South, possibly into British Territory - British merchants regarded Texas as a potentially important free-trade area—no tariff on US goods here - British manufactures perceived the Texas plains for great cotton-producing
Why was Britain interested in an independent Texas?
- Land was cheap: focus on farming - labor was scare - money for capital investment was not plentiful
Why was the U.S slow to develop industry in the 1750s unlike Britain?
- it was fast, reliable, cheaper than canals to construct, not frozen over in winter, can go anywhere - they were dangerous and often times fires they caught on fire and had unreliable breaks - gauges not initially standardized (not all trains could go on all tracks) - at first could only carry freight because of safety conditions
Why was the development of the railroad special? what was the downside?
- northerners revered the Constitution and the clauses of slavery as a lasting bargain - southern planters owned northern bankers and creditors millions of $$$— if union was dissolved would loose all this money and economy would be hit - a disrupted labor system might cut off vital supply (of cotton) and bring unemployment
Why were abolitionists unpopular in the North?
• It had one room, one stove, one teacher, and often eight grades • more and better school houses • Longer school terms • Higher pay for teachers • Expanded curriculum
describe the "little red schoolhouse" what improvements were advocated by horace mann?
• They implored drinkers to sign the temperance pledge and organized children's clubs, knows as the "Cold Water Army" • The Maine Law of 1851 prohibited the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor
describe the work of the American Temperance society. what did the Maine Law of 1851 do?
• If they did not pay to educate the children of the poor they might grow up into a dangerous ignorant rabble—armed with the right to vote. • Taxation for education was an an insurance premium that the wealthy paid for stability and democracy
how did the view of conservative Americans change about public education ?
• it now stresses the essential goodness of human nature rather than its vileness, that emphasized the possibility of salvation through good works • -god was seen as a loving father not a stern creator
how had the protestant view of humanity changed during the eighteenth century?
• Education for women was frowned upon; their place was believed to be the home ◦ Believed that it injured the female brain, undermined health, and rendered a young lady unfit for marriage (clinging-vine bride) • it began to change when ◦ Emma Willard established the Troy Female Seminary ◦ Oberlin college in Ohio allowed women as well as men ◦ Mary Lyon established a women's school (Mount Holyoke Seminary)
how was higher education for women viewed in the early decades of the 19th century? how did it begin to change?
• It led to the planting of many small, denominational, liberal arts colleges in the South and West ◦ More to satisfy local pride than to advance education ◦ Offered narrow tradition-bound curriculum of Latin, Greek, mathematics and moral philosophy ◦ First state-supported universities
what affect did the Second Great Awakening have on higher education?
• Middle class women were the most fervent enthusiasts of religious revivalism and made up the majority of the church members. • Evangelicals preached a gospel of female spiritual worth and offered women an active role in bringing their husbands and family back to God
what is meant by the "feminization of religion?"
• The seeking of human betterment through a cooperative nature • They attracted radicals, work-shy theorists, and scoundrels
what led to the development of utopian communities? why did they ultimately fail?
• at the convention the Declaration of Sentiments was read, it launched the modern womens right movement • Campaign against slavery in the decade before the Civil War
what occurred at the Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls in 1848? what eclipsed the women's rights movement?
- transformed a subsistence economy of scattered farms and tiny workshops into a national network of industry and commerce - legal questions about a market-oriented economy - families had once been self sufficient—now many worked in factories and purchased ready made goods - growing divide between the rich and the poor
what was the Market Revolution? what questions did it raise? what was happening in society and socially?
• They were seen as minors and could not vote, could be legally beaten by her overlord when she married could not retain title to her property, it went to her husband.
what was the legal status of women in the early 19th century
• a second religious awakening that converted many people, led to the creation of new churches and new sects • Encourages evangelism that led to new consideration about—prison reform, women's movement, and abolishment of slavery • It spread by camp meetings— thousands of people would gather for an encampment of several days and listen to the gospel as told by a preacher
what was the second great awakening? how did this movement spread?
- turnpike - steamboat - erie canal - telegraph - clipper ships - pony express
what were new ways to travel and new inventions?
• Noah Webster improved textbooks and created a dictionary which helped standardize the American language • Created grade school readers that hammered home lasting lessons in morality, patriotism, and idealism
what were the contributions of Noah Webster and William H. McGuffey ?
elizabeth cady stanton: She was an advocate to womens suffrage and insisted on leaving "obey" out of the marriage ceremony susan b anthony: A militant lecturer for women's rights elizabeth blackwell: She was the first female graduate of a medical college sarah and angelina grimke: advocates for anti-slavery lucy stone: retained her maiden name after marriage amelia bloomer: went against current women's fashion donning a short skirt with bloomers
what were the contributions of: elizabeth cady stanton susan b anthony elizabeth blackwell sarah and angelina grimke lucy stone amelia bloomer
- believe that all knowledge comes to the mind through observation alone; every person has a inner light that can illuminate the highest truth and put him or her in direct touch with God or the "Oversoul" - individualism religious and social matters - commitment to self reliance, self culture, and self discipline - hostile to authority and formal institutions and conventional wisdom - romantic exaltation of the dignity of the individual no matter race
what were the underlying beliefs of the transcendentalists?
• debtor prisons • Criminal codes in the states (reduced # of capitol offenses, eliminate brutal punishments, idea that prisoners should reform not be punished) • Dorothea Dix's work resulted in improved conditions for mentally ill and recognition that these people are not demented by mentally ill
which reform movements came out of the Second Great Awakening? what contributions did Dorothea Dix make?
• A preacher and evangelist who had a conversion as a young man and led massive revivals. Preached the old time religion, but was also an innovator • Denounced alcohol and slavery
who was charles grandison finney? what things did he denounce?
• A new American religion created by Sam Smith who reported that he had received golden plates from and angel (The Book of Mormon) • His cooperative sect antagonized rank-and-file Americans, who were individualistic and dedicated to free enterprise. They voted as a unit and by openly driving their militia for defense purposes. • They made a prosperous community that welcomed many immigrants from Europe and established a flourishing missionary movement
who were the mormons? how did they arouse anger from their neighbors? how did they transform the Utah territory
