History15A Midterm
How did the abolition movement of the 1830s differ from the American Colonization Society? What were their core beliefs? What publication helped this new abolitionist movement take root?
Abolition movement in the 1830 are more radical. Abolition movement called for immediate abolition of slavery and free black should be equal citizens of the Republic. The weekly journal of William Lloyd Garrison, prominent white abolitionist, Liberatory helped abolition movement take root. With the help of market revolution, printing press helped spread the message across the country much efficiently and fast.
What was the Revolution of 1800 and what precedent did it set for the future of the American political system?
An election in which Vice President, Thomas Jefferson, defeated President John Adams. The election was a rearranging election that brought in a generation of Democratic-Republican Party rule and the eventual demise of the Federalist Party in the First Party System.
Why did the Mexican government want to attract settlers to Texas? What were the terms of the Mexican government's land grants to these settlers?
Because of raids into Mexico by the Comanche Indians, the Mexican government wanted to attract settlers to Texas to create a buffer zone between deeper Mexico and the Comanche. The Mexican government offered these settlers land grants if they assimilated as Mexicans by adopting Catholicism and learning to speak Spanish. In practice however, the Anglo-Saxon settlers were far more interested in just taking the land and bringing slaves with which to cultivate it.
How did the Louisiana Purchase challenge Thomas Jefferson's strict interpretation of the Constitution?
By completing this purchase, Jefferson had to put aside his principles because the allowance for this type of transaction was not expressly listed in the Constitution. Waiting for a Constitutional amendment might cause the deal to fall through. Therefore, Jefferson decided to go through with the purchase. Luckily, the people of the United States basically agreed that this was an excellent move.
Why did the colonists feel that new taxes imposed upon them by Parliament was unfair? How did Parliament justify themselves? What was the theory of "virtual representation? How did the colonists respond initially?
Colonists felt that the new taxes imposed on them were unfair because they were passed without their consent. Parliament justified this action by saying that they were doing a favor for the colonists since they were under British protection. The reason as to why Parliament could impose tax was due to "virtual representation," which allowed them to take the well being of all British subjects when in legislation. This resulted in many colonists protesting their liberties.
How did federal policies undertaken during the Civil War transform the United States into a stronger nation state-economically, politically and ideologically?
Considered as second revolution of America, it redefined the meaning of Freedom. Freedom is self ownership, reinforced the sense that the nation was a progressive force in world history which lined with Northern value. Power of federal government increased during this time period as the federal budget also increased. Due to rapid economic development driven by the industrial revolution and the war many capitalist and selfmade men were created.American civil war also brought forward a phenomenon of Nation Building not only to the nation but throughout the world, Unification as a national entity. People in Nation started to call themselves as "American" versus Virginian or New Yorker.
How were women's opportunities enhanced by the war?
During the war manufacturing jobs held by men opened up for the Northern women. Federal Clerks, nurses, white collar government jobs, and retail sales opportunities opened to women. Women serve in armies are nurses. Women indirectly supported the war by raising money and supplies for the soldiers. US Sanitary Commision a centralized relief agency for sick and wounded soldiers created by the federal legislation opened volunteer work for women to support home front efforts
What invention helped give rise to the Cotton Kingdom? How did the Cotton Kingdom expand slavery? How did it change the Jeffersonian vision of the West?
Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin helped give rise to the cotton kingdom. The cotton kingdom in turn helped expand slavery by moving slaves westward when they were traded and used in Alabama and Mississippi. The original Jeffersonian vision of the west was a west without slavery, but this changed the vision of the west when Jefferson believed the expansion of slavery could help prevent a civil war.
Who were the most vocal leaders for a strong national government? What did they hope to create by building a powerful national government? What groups were their allies?
Federalists argued for a strong national government and the protection of the people's rights. Therefore, they wanted a strong central government so that the country could be more stable and could have an economic climate that was more suited to the creation of businesses and economic growth.
What happened between 1810 and 1822 in Latin America that lead to the Monroe Doctrine? What were its major principles? What was it meant to protect?
From 1810 to 1822, almost all of Spain and Portugal's colonies in Latin America had gained their independence. This led to the Monroe Doctrine, when Monroe feared that Spain or Portugal could return and colonize Latin America again. In it, he declared that any interference in Latin American countries would be viewed as an act of aggression by the United States. While it is made to seem as if it is to protect the Latin American countries, the Monroe Doctrine is mainly to protect the United States' economic interests in the Western Hemisphere.
As in the United States at the time, Mexico grappled with questions that sparked rebellions against the central Mexican government. What was this question? How did this question get resolved in the province of Texas?
Just like the US, the Mexican government grappled with the idea of how strong a central government should be. After fighting for independence of Mexican provinces, the Mexican citizens, who fought alongside white settlers, captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty. Later, there was a dispute over Texas. Mexico, claiming the treaty was void, reclaimed it's provinces including Texas. Texas believed itself to be independent. It was finally settled when James Polk annexed Texas, leading to the US Mexican War.
What were the main arguments made by Anti-Federalists against the Constitution?
Many Anti-Federalists argued against the Constitution, suggesting that it would lead to a dangerously powerful national government. One of the Anti-Federalist's strongest arguments was that the Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights. They argued that the document would give the country an entirely new and untested form of government. They saw no sense in throwing out the existing government.
Why did many of the founders believe that the separation of church and state was necessary? What was done to ensure this separation?
Many founders, such as Thomas Jefferson, believed that the separation of church and state was important because they thought that mixing religion and government caused civil strife and unnecessary violence. To ensure this separation, the first amendment was created, which states that all men have freedom to religion and other rights such speech, press, etc.
Once blood was spilled, what voices began to dominate the discourse of the American Revolution? Who was Thomas Paine, and what did he argue? What was the intellectual basis for the Declaration of Independence? How did the Declaration redefine American Liberty?
Once a series of battles erupted at Lexington, the voices of the Patriots became to dominate the discourse of the American Revolution. The Patriots violently rebelled against British control during the revolution and seeked independence from them. One of their spokesmen, Thomas Paine, a political philosopher, denounced the monarchy and believed that the American people should rule themselves in a republic. His ideas influenced the Declaration of Independence, which recognized the colonies as thirteen, independent sovereign states no longer under British rule. The Declaration redefined American Liberty because it formed a new nation where possibilities were now endless.
What factors lead to the British defeat at Yorktown? Why did the British begin to feel that pursuing the war further would not be beneficial to the Empire overall?
One factor that lead to British defeat at Yorktown was due to the fact that General Cornwallis did not trust Loyalists when he was settled in Virginia. In fact, he treated them very poorly, which angered many of them. In result of this, majority turned sides on Cornwallis, forcing him to retreat to the British navy. Also, since the French were now allies with the Americans, the force of impact was much larger than Cornwallis imagined. Since he was so outnumbered, Cornwallis realized the odds were against him and that Britain would suffer if he continued to fight on with his army.
What did Ralph Waldo Emerson mean when he predicted that if the US were to seize its neighbor's territory, "it will be as the man swallows the arsenic, which brings him down in turn. Mexico will poison us." What would be the basis of this poisoning?
Ralph Waldo Emerson a Transcendentalist suggested accruing such a big territory will spark the debate and conflict about slavery. It will increase the sectional tension and division between the Northern Free State vs the Southern Slave State.
Who were the first women to apply the abolitionist doctrine of universal freedom and equality to women? What were the key points put forward by the Seneca Falls Convention in its Declaration of Sentiments?
Sarah Moore and Angelina Emily Grimke, also known as the Grimke's sister first applied the abolitionist doctrine of universal freedom and equality to women which help lead many women right's movement in 1840's. One example is the Seneca Falls Convention, a women's right convention, deriving from the Declaration of Independence that "all men and women are created equal". First time women bring forward women's suffrage, it listed injuries men gave to women, denounce the social structure of women. Some key points are their right to education, legal status in marriage, right to employment and own property.
What was moral suasion and why was it the primary method for some abolitionists?
Some abolitionist who are pessimistic and are nonviolent used Moral right a means of ending slavery. Slavery is morally wrong and sinful, and Northern should be shameful of letting such institution system flourish. First time in America where a society used education and communication to change the option of the mass without the help of any political party.
What was the ideology of "Republican Motherhood?" What did it entail, and what would be the responsibilities of mothers? Did it improve or degrade the lives of women? How so?
The "Republican Motherhood" ideology can be defined as women's role in society before, during, and after the American Revolution. This ideology entailed key principles all women were required to learn in order to instill Republicanism in the households and in further generations. It somewhat improved the lives of women because they were now granted an education, yet, they were still expected to keep out of the public sphere. They were mostly responsible for taking care of the house and supporting their own husbands.
What did the American Colonization Society advocate? What did it help establish in Africa? What were some of the reasons presented in support of this idea?
The American Colonization Society advocated for gradual abolition of slavery by colonizing the free slave to some distance land, i.e deportation back to Africa or Caribbean. This deportation established a new colony Liberia. Although impractical some North believed this is the only way to end slavery, Jefferson said free blacks can't be integrated to America because of their desire of revenge from their memory of slavery. They are endangered to society and are degraded group of people.
Why was the "War Between the States" or the "War of the Rebellion" called the first modern war? What were the major differences between the North and the South in terms of demographics, economy, and resources?
The Civil War was called the first modern war because of how industrial revolution was factored into the war. First mass army fought using arms forged during the industrial revolution. Musket were replaced by powerful rifles. Wooden battles ships were now clad with Iron. Technology played important role in the war, troops and supply were transported in train by railroad, observation balloons, submarines, and grenades were first used. The North was favored to win the war, the Union boosted 22 million in population vs the South who only that 9 million population, of which 3.5 million are slaves. North had far superior manufacturing, railroad transportation, and financial resource. The South however didn't even have uniform, shoes, and arms. Only economy was cotton plantations. They had to rely on imported good from other foreign nation.
Why did the Cult of Domesticity not apply to working class women? What was the criticism against this exclusion?
The Cult of Domesticity was the idea that women were to remain in the private sphere and not be exposed to the world outside of the home, unlike their husbands who were exposed when they went to work. This idea did not apply to working class women because the working class women needed to work in addition to their husbands and therefore were not sheltered from the world outside the private home.
Explain the arguments made by Federalists in support of the Constitution.
The Federalists argued for views in support of a strong national government. Federalists were united in their belief that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate to serve the needs of the country and a new government needed to be established that had greater powers at the national level. One of the strongest arguments expressed by the Federalists was the Articles of Confederation could not protect the nation and provide for its defense in an emergency.
Describe the Transcendentalists' philosophy and their concept of freedom.
The Transcendentalist's concept of freedom was to have individual judgement instead of just following the existing social norms. Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau believed that free will determined behavior and that people have the freedom to rely on themselves.
How did abolitionists both reaffirm and challenge common understandings of freedom in Jacksonian America? How did abolitionists reject the idea of "wage slavery?" What did they think needed to be done to rid the nation of slavery? What was their philosophy on liberty, and how should it be prioritized? What concept did they invent?
The South used the "wage labor" to criticize the North, stating that wage labor paid employee little money to live, yet the South feed and kept cloth to its slaves "wage slavery". The North reaffirm the belief of freedom by saying that wage worker embodied freedom because he can change job, has right to accumulate property, own a house, and have a stable family unlike the South. Abolitionist state we as a nation need to fundamentally change the meaning of liberty, that personal freedom derive from self ownership should enjoy the fruit of one's own labor. It's' a natural right, personal liberty and individual freedom should take precedence over one's right to accumulate, own property and right of self governance. The Abolitionist invented the concept of equality before the law regardless of race.
What was the Stamp Act? What was its purpose? What did it require? How did the colonists respond to it?
The Stamp Act was a federal law that imposed a revenue stamp on any newspaper, legal, and commercial documents printed by colonists. The purpose of this act was to help pay for troops stationed in North America after the 7 Years War. The colonists considered this act as a violation to their rights and consent, which resulted in a repeal of it.
What was the Tea Act? What business entity was it designed to benefit? How did the colonists respond?
The Tea Act was a federal law that granted the British East India Company of Tea a monopoly of tea sales in the American colonies. Although this wasn't a new tax imposed on colonists, this acted as the last straw on a series of unpopular policies resented by colonists. In response, colonists attacked the company's ship dressed as Native American and managed to dump 92,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. This event was known as the Boston Tea Party.
How did slavery affect each state's representation in the House of Representatives after the Constitutional Convention? What other concessions did the southern slave owners receive from the convention?
The Three-Fifths Compromise outlined the process for states to count slaves as part of the population in order to determine representation and taxation for the federal government. This population number would then be used to determine the number of seats that the state would have in the United States House of Representatives for the next ten years. The effect was to give the southern states a third more seats in Congress and a third more electoral votes than if slaves had been ignored, allowing the slaveholder interests to largely dominate the government of the United States until 1865.
What were the innovations in transportation and communication that made the Market Revolution and the rise of the West possible? Be specific.
The construction of roads, rails, and canals dramatically improved national mobility. The invention of the telegraph, the expansion of the postal system, improvements in printing technology, and the growth of the newspaper, magazine, and book-publishing industries, and the improvements in higher-speed transportation, all improved the efficiency of communication
What dispute sparked the US-Mexican War?
The disputed land between Rio Grande (which American think as their boundary) and Nueces River (Mexico's think as the boundary). James Polk placed cannons and army regiment in the Rio Grande river inturn Central Mexican government attacked to displaced the American in the disputed land. 11 American soldiers were killed, as the news reached Washington D.C. the president cried that Mexico has invaded American soil shedding american blood on it's soil.When 11 US soldiers were killed, Polk announced that Mexico had killed Americans on US soil. This led to the US American War.
What was the first written constitution of the United States? What did it hope to do? What were its strengths and weaknesses?
The first written constitution of the United States was called the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation stemmed from the wartime agency and provided a structure and rules for the new government. However, it lacked the judicial and executive elements needed in the government. The colonies were not looked upon as a whole, but still as independent, sovereign states. Yet, it was responsible for the creation of the northwest territory.
What single Revolutionary War battle changed the tide of war in favor of the Americans? Why did it change the course of the war?
The single Revolutionary War battle that changed the tide of war in favor of the Americans was the Battle of Saratoga. It was a result of two battles, both involving General Burgoyne and his army. In the first battle, Burgoyne gained a small victory over Americans but lost many of his men. However, in the second battle at Bemis Heights, he was overwhelmed by American forces and surrendered his army ten days after, This changed the course of the war because the Americans were able to gain the French as allies after they recognized their cause.
Where did the two largest groups of immigrants to the United States come from between 1840 and 1860? What were the factors that drew them to America?
The two largest groups of immigrants between 1840 and 1860 were from Germany and Ireland. Most of these immigrants were searching for political and religious freedom. Many were also fleeing catastrophe, such as the potato famine in Ireland. These immigrants were able to find work in factories and domestic work (Irish) and skilled jobs like artisans and shopkeepers(Germans).
What was the Virginia Plan and what was the compromise given to smaller states who feared being gobbled up by the bigger states?
This was a proposal for a new form of government and called for the number of votes each state received in Congress to be based on population rather than each state receiving one vote. The purpose of the plan was to protect the large states' interests in the new government. In the end, the Constitutional Convention settled on the Connecticut Compromise, creating a House of Representatives apportioned by population and a Senate in which each state is equally represented.
Marbury v. Madison established the right of the Supreme Court of the United States to do what?
With his decision in Marbury v. Madison, Chief Justice John Marshall established the principle of judicial review, an important addition to the system of "checks and balances" created to prevent any one branch of the Federal Government from becoming too powerful. When the Marshall decision Marbury v. Madison completed the system of checks and balances, the United States had a government in which laws could be enacted, interpreted and executed to meet challenging circumstances.
How did the Market Revolution change Americans' sense of time?
With the shift from skilled artisans to wage workers in factories, people started having jobs where they clocked in and out of work. People now had a distinction between work time and free time, giving them a new sense of time that they didn't have before the market revolution.
