History Unit Test 1

Sojourner Truth

"Ain't I A Woman?" She was an enslaved woman and a spokesperson for all women who are oppressed by men (voting rights, speaking, etc.). Black women were not treated as delicate as white women.

Repatriation/African Colonization

"What should we do with these people who aren't American?" Some people thought that we should send former slaves to a colony in Africa. However, most slaves did not want to go because they were born in America and did not consider themselves African. Those who did leave settled in modern day Liberia (a poor country with the capital named Freetown).

Declaration of Independence

1776

Constitution was ratified

1789

Indian Removal Act

1830

Harriet Tubman

An escaped slave who led people north to freedom. She was a conductor on the underground railroad (which was not actually a railroad). She helped escape slaves. Made quilts that had patterns to show you where to go (a hidden map).

British colonies established in North America

Early 1600s

Slavery, which was practiced by Europeans prior to their arrival in the Americas, was important to all of the colonial powers and existed in all of the European North American colonies.

Europeans take over to get raw materials, extracted usually by slave labor. This gives political power as well as wealth to colonizers. It was part of a global competition.

Enslaved and free people of African descent had a profound impact on American culture, producing leaders and literary, artistic, and musical traditions that continue to influence the nation.

Growth and rise of gospel and jazz music.

Elijah P. Lovejoy

He lived in the North and ran an anti-slavery newspaper. He was attacked by a mob and killed. It was shocking for people to hear that a white man was killed over slavery. Made people in the North realize that they had to act.

William Lloyd Garrison

He published "The Liberator," which was an anti-slavery newspaper. It advocated for complete and immediate abolition of slavery. He thought that slavery was immoral and a sin and those who maintained it were criminals.

Frederick Douglass

He was biracial and a slave. However, he was taught to read and write and was able to publish his autobiography: "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." He was able to buy his freedom with money from his many admirers. He inspired others and shared stories of slavery.

John Ross

John Ross was 1/8 Cherokee and 7/8 Scottish, which meant that he was in a unique position. He was raised by Cherokee, however he also received a white education. He became a leader of the Cherokee and even wrote a Cherokee Constitution (1827). With his help, the Cherokee were able to fight against the government in an effort to not have to obey the Indian Removal Act. In the end, his efforts were unsuccessful since the Cherokee were still forced to leave their land for little money and a lesser piece of land.

John Winthrop

Leader of the Puritans, who were the first settlers in North America. Brought over a lot of disease and the idea that they were better than others. Escaped England because of religious persecution. In the early 1600s, he started a colony in New England to start a new community where they would not have to live with the corrupt Church of England. HE had his "City on a Hill" speech where he talked about how the whole world was watching them. - His treatment of Native Americans set the tone for how they would be treated (as well as slaves) during the rest of American history - Eurocentric Wanting to be this pure community, but they also needed to show that they were not like the savages who lived in New England - Pushing the Native Americans out to make room for the families they brought over

Gradual Emancipation

Meaning that you have to stop buying slaves and the children of your slaves would be free, but any slaves you currently own will still be your slaves. Phasing it out over one generation. Gives slave owners time to figure out what to do (with businesses and finances).

Immediate/Total Abolition

People who suggested this were considered radical and unrealistic. Many people thought that slavery was a sin and was immoral. "Because of this, we can't wait any longer, we must abolish slavery now."

Senator Theodore Frelinghuysen

Senator of New Jersey who opposed the Indian Removal Act of 1830. He was one of the politicians who opposed it because he thought it was immoral and wrong. He shows that there was opposition and not everyone was for the Indian Removal Act. You can see this again in the vote in Congress, which was a close call (won by 6 votes and 11 abstained). The vote could have easily gone the other way.

"5 Civilized Tribes"

The Cherokees, Choctasws, Seimoles, Creeks, and Chickasaws. They were the five tribes who had tried to assimilate (at different degrees) to the American policies. There were 75,000 people across the five tribes. The two major changes they made were converting to Christianity and farming like the white Americans did.

Middle Passage

The forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic ocean to the New World. Part of the triangle trade (that brings them from Africa to America). The conditions which they lived in on the boats was terrible and set the tone for how they would be treated in America. They were tied below deck for weeks, branded, and treated like cattle. It led to the enslavement of millions of people and still have repercussions today (racism and prejudice).

Manifest Destiny

The notion that the expansion of the US through the Americas was both justified and inevitable.

The experience of slavery varied depending on time, location, crop, labor performed, size of slaveholding and gender.

There were slaves in every state, but there were big differences across states.

Cherokees

They were the tribe that were most committed to American assimilation. They converted to Christianity, established schools, and americanized themselves in any way they could. Some Cherokee even had slaves. However, they tried to become an independent nation which the government of Georgia did not like. The Cherokee were forced to live under Georgia law and their pleas to President Jackson to help them were ignored. In the end they were forced to relocate.