11-12-13 Flashcards
Social Hierarchy in the south
see fig 1 bc I don’t feel like typing allat
Why the cotton kingdom is less industrialized
farming is the main source of income, they create the raw materials and send them up to the industrialized north to be made into things. Also, money is invested in land and the slave market instead of companies and stuff.
Debow’s Review
He says the south should industrialize more, especially because they are so dependent on the north to craft their materials into goods. Southern Whigs are moved by this, but no real change comes from it
Slave codes
Necessary when establishing a system with slavery- defines the rules within said system.ex. black people can’t testify against a white person in court, can’t own land, can’t be taught to read, etc.
master-slave relations
Most white owners were paternalistic rather than harsh, but still didn’t treat slaves as people and more like a valuable animal. A good master was considered one who didn’t beat their slaves, but arguably that is less than the bare minimum
slave lives (rural vs urban)
Urban areas: more interaction with others (including whites) which offers possible learning experiences. Clothed better and fed better, partially because they would be seen by the public and prove that the master was kinder to their slaves. Rural: nothing to life other than field work and sleep; often clothed and fed less since there is no public pressure, no chance to see what life is like outside of slavery and also had closer supervision & more corporal punishment
slave lives (house vs field)
House slaves: got leftovers from white people’s tables. Lived under a roof and tended to be dressed better, physically easier work. Racism was more common since you’d work with white people more often, and envied by field slaves. However, also more likely to be raped. House slaves had to “perform” while doing their duties in the house, and fit stereotypesField slaves: often under physically harsher conditions, jealous of house slaves. THey did not have to perform as much.
(resistance) slave revolts
revolts were very rare, but masters were TERRIFIED of themMatt Turner Uprising: Happened in 1831 in Virginia, Turner was a preacher. 60 white people were killed, 100 black people executed afterwards. Clearly punished very harshly
(resistance) slave escapes
Escaping was one of the most common forms of resistance. They said that if you followed the big dipper, you would eventually be safe (north).However, they would have to get to Canada since the north was still under slave law and would have to return any escaped slaves they found
(resistance) work sabotage
Sabotaging work and seeming dumb could be a way to do less work without being whipped. Thus, they would “break” tools, do the bare minimum, etc
slaves and religion
Slaves would often take on the religion of their master, which masters encouraged. they were encouraged to go to a segregated church because the church said that one shouldn’t resist being enslaved and to love one’s master. They would say it’s god’s will that black people were enslaved and fighting back meant you wouldn’t go to heaven. This helped them prevent slave resistance. However, lots of racial equality leaders would be religious leaders as well like MLK.
slaves and music
Connections between west african music and blues, etc.Music offered solace for many, and coded languages sometimes through metaphors
Gullah (language)
a blend of african and american languages so they could have autonomy and privacy from whites. Still spoken in some remote islands
animism
African Americans created animism which is like christianity. Objects living or nonliving have spiritual power- this also included other spiritual practices like voodoo
kinship and family of slaves
Extended kinship networks: when you make the people around you your family, even if you aren’t blood related. Real family was often separated to try and prevent these kinds of connections from forming.
Transcendentalism
You should learn from your own experience instead of book learning (they weren’t against learning like that they just preferred experience). Very influential in American literature, ex. Emerson and Henry Thoreau were strongly into this
Brook farm - Transcendental utopia
led by George RipleyTried to do work on one day so they could create/write/paint the next, but it didn’t work and eventually dissipated
Hancock Shaker Village
Believed that marriage and sex are inherently unequal to women, thus everyone swore to celibacyIncreased their numbers through converts insteadMade lots of crafts, and were well known for cabinets and stuffWomen often held positions of power
the Oneida Community
All lived together, dressed the same, cut their hair the same, etc.Thought that traditional christianity wasn’t quite right, and though polyamory was better. They often assigned young people to older people so that procreation was less common.Neighbors were not a fan of them and even tried to shut them downThey made a living by selling animal traps, then they made tableware
Mormons
The angel meroney came down from heaven to give the book of mormon to Joseph SmithInto bigamy, which makes them very unpopular/persecutedcommitted to a strict way of living: no alcohol, no no caffeine, no tobaccolots of tithing (10% of income)They move to Idaho, settle down to get money n stuff, then to Utah where they form a more permanent community where they still are today
Hudson River art school
MOst famous art school in america. Common themes included the beauty of the natural land/american wild, but also hinted at the death colonists brought to it.Horace Mann caused reform, like longer school years, better teachers who got more pay, secular subjects taught in addition to religious.
Important writers
James Fenimore Cooper: wrote “The Last of the Mohicans” which was important because it had a lot of relevance to american culture. Native Americans, the American Frontier, etc Walt Whitman: Probably the best american poet. Wrote a cool poem about lincoln ig. also very HomoHerman Melville: Wrote MOby Dick (heehee)
“the hidden curriculum”
Taught alongside the other stuff was order, discipline, punctuality, respect for authority, etc. This is to convert people from farmers into workers
the temperance movement ( great prohibition experiment)
americans drank wayyyyy too much to the point where many wanted to ban sales of alcohol ENTIRELY (it increased domestic abuse especially). they achieved this in the “great prohibition experiment.” it didn’t really work and the act was repealed in the 1930s (people wanted a drink as a break after work). However, there are still some “dry counties” in the south that still have no alcohol
Feminism ewwwww (and seneca falls convention)
Women are equal to men (wow so radical)Many feminists gathered at the 1848 seneca falls convention (many quakers, many abolitionist). They drafted the Declaration of Sentiments, where they asked for equality in jobs, voting, education, etc.
American Colonization Society
wanted to free slaves from america and then send them back to africa. This doesn’t really work since the African Americans had been in america for generations and didn’t really wanna go back
the abolitionist movement and its figures
William Lloyd Garrison: the liberator, editor/publisher. Founded the New England Anti-Slavery societyFrederick Douglass: Brilliant writer, speaker, etc. Living proof of black equality, and sought rights for both slaves and free black people.
Harriet Tubman
known as “The Black MOses”took multiple trips to the south to help slaves escape, armed only with a pistol. Her house became like a retirement home for previously working older slaves
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and portrayed the horrors of slavery and how it brutalized both black and white people. Many people in the north became committed to abolitionism after reading this book, and many in the south argued that she had never truly seen slavery being a northerner. Lincoln called her the little lady who started this war because the book was like a catalyst
Less radical abolitionists
“Political abolitionists: Sought gradual emancipation, an end to slavery in the territories, and personal liberty laws (which said that northerners didn’t have to send escaped slaves back to the south). Thought slavery was wrong, but didn’t want to take a moral stanceFree soilers: Said that new colonies should not have slavery, as they should be there for white settlers and not have space taken up by slaves. Technically didn’t care about the slaves, but were still abolitionists
Anti-abolitionist views
Southern whites, even those who didn’t own slaves were typically for slaveryMany northerners were still racists, most couldn’t care less about slavery
the “gag rule” in congress
banned debates about slavery on the house floor because they are scared of it being destabilizing (is in place for roughly ten years)
Texas, Mexico and the US(this one is so long im sorry)
Texas was previously struggling because the comanches dominated northern mexico and sold them into slavery. Mexicans wanted a buffer from the comanches, and invited americans (embersarios) to develop texas. embersarios realized how good the land was and wanted to take it for themselves. Mexican gov. realized this and said nuh uh but the embersarios said yuh huh and texas became independent. US president doesn’t want to add it to the US yet bc it would disrupt the balance of slave and free states.
the alamo
don’t know and dont wanna if someone could explain that would be great pls and thx
Oregon and Westward Migration
A letter (fabricated) was sent from a “native” in Oregon territory asking missionaries to come out and convert them. A bunch do and while they’re not super successful, they find that the area has lots of rain and a long growing season so farmers start to migrate out there as well.
1844 election
Polk runs solely based on manifest destiny, and wins (which no one expects) (he is a “dark horse”) He focuses on expanding, specifically into Oregon territory
the Mexican War(another long one oopsie daisy)(nvm its not that bad)(eh it still kinda is)
Start of the war is murky and in dispute, since after Texas claimed independence, both the US and Mexico claimed it as theirsthe US sends troops down to the debated area, Mexican troops attack them, even though the whole event might have been planned by the USMexico fought long and hard, even when the US occupied their capital, and the US manifest destiny caused them to lose about ⅓ of their countryto be fair Polk is completely focused on the war, working like 18 hour days and stuffhe served one term and then promptly died so look how that worked out for him
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The US offers 15 million dollars (half of what we originally offered), and in return get the area of Texas that we want, and the Mexican Cession (which includes CA, NV, UT, AZ, etc.Negotiated by Nicholas Trist
Zachary Taylor as president
A general from the Mexican War who consistently won battles even when having less men. Polk took away his men and gave them to someone else for a while though because he was afraid that Taylor would become a political rival later on. He was right but also dead so it didn’t really matter anyways. ANYWAYS Taylor is supported by the Whigs, they like that he’s a war hero and he wins but idk if he’s that important later on
Californian Gold Rush
Miners didn’t really make a lot of money unless they got uber luckyThe people who sold shovels and pans were the ones who really made the money #entrepreneur (I need to finish these flashcards wow)
the Compromise of 1850
California wants to come in as a free state, but southerners don’t want this since it’s one more free state and a large one at thatthis compromise solves that: it allows California in as a free state, but it opens up the rest of the Mexican cession for potential slavery. It also bans the slave trade in Washington DC (it looks bad) and strengthens the federal fugitive slave law
New leaders: William Seward
Becomes one of the greatest secretary of states under lincolnSenator from NY, abolitionistOne of the first leaders of the Republican party, and Was almost assassinated with Lincoln
New leaders: Jefferson davis
From Mississippi, and kinda replaces John C Calhoun as spokesperson of the southPreviously a senator, then secretary of warBecomes a southern right to moderate supporterEventually the president of the Confederacy
New leaders: Stephen Douglass
really important but for some reason I have no notes on him idk why (ik why. I was definitely playing connections)
Kansas Nebraska Act(I’m about to write a whole essay for this one)
Mayhaps the most important act in American historyA railroad is to be built between california and the rest of the US. Everyone wants to be on the receiving end since it means tons of business and people and MONEY $$$$$$I actually don’t know why the first part is here it has nothing to do with the act?? anyways here’s the real stuff the hot goss if you willThe remaining Louisiana Territory is organized into two territories: NEbraska and Kansas Territories. The status of each state would be determined by popular sovereignty and the assumption was that Nebraska would choose to be free and Kansas would choose to have slaves (This is most of the act)HOWEVER, both states are above the missouri compromise line, so in order to pass the K-N act they get rid of the Missouri Compromise to appease southerners (which is a big deal since it kept the peace for so many years)
Effects of the Kansas Nebraska Act
Some northern democrats are concerned by this, and take the name anti-nebraska democrats. Others are fine with it, since the territories will be decided by popular sovereignty. Thus, the democratic party splits in twoNorthern Whigs are very upset by this act, southern whigs are practically non-existent at this point. Whigs as a whole are basically invisible nowAnti-nebraska democrats and former whigs meet up and form the new republican partyLincoln gets upsetti spaghetti about the KN act (his rival Douglass was involved) and decides to reenter politics (yippee)
Formation of the Republican Party
Founded based on the idea that the territories should be based off of white laborThis way, they can still appeal to racist whites as well as other abolitionistsSoutherners really don’t like em
John Brown
Dedicates his life to the destruction of slavery during a sermon about abolitionism, a main player in bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas(more like an SAQ than an essay length)
Missourians literally go to Kansas to vote for slave-wanting politicians, and intimidated Kansas people into voting for the same people (Voter fraud, voter intimidation).Letters go home to others in the north, Kansas people tell others what missouri people did . THus, lots of people from the north go into Kansas, wanting to make it into a free state and getting funding from abolitionist groups and churchesThey become known as Jayhawks - antislaveryThe ones who support slavery are known as Bushwhackers This race to settle Kansas gets violent, hence Bleeding Kansas
Sacking of Lawrence (bleeding Kansas)
In 1855, a mob of bushwhackers ride into Lawrence (the free city) and basically shoot it all up to try and get rid of the people. They kill a few people, burn down the “Free state hotel” and go home
The Pottawatomie Massacre (Bleeding Kansas)
In retaliation to the sacking of Lawrence, John Brown leads a band of men to an isolated settlement at the Pottawatomie river. They take a few settlers/bushwhackers and masacre them
Sumner-Brooks fight
Charles Sumner: US senator, full on abolitionist. Great speaker but cockyBrooks: Southern leader’s nephewAfter Sumner says some choice words about southern leaders during a speech about the sacking of lawrence, Brooks goes all rahhhhhh and beats Sumner with a cane and injures himSumner is treated like a martyr in the north and brooks like a hero in the south
joe many liberals does it take to change a log by bolb?
None , their to busy ???? Their gender 😂😂😂
1856 presidential election
the others are irrelevant I think so I’m skipping them Democratic candidate is Buchananis from pennsylvania, has southern friends and is kinda outside of slavery because he was away when important laws were being put in place (less radical)However, is one of the worst presidents ever because under his watch america starts the civil war. In fact, his secretary of war sold stuff to the confederates, which is treason
Dred Scott vs. Sandford
While president elect, Buchanan starts to talk to Robert Tawney, supreme court justice very in favor of slavery (like very in favor). They work together to rule the dred scott caseDred Scott is a slave who is brought by his master into a free state. After his master dies, Dred Scott argues he should be free since he is in free territoryTawney + court rules that As a enslaved person, dred scott has no rights before the courts (he is considered property). Because slaves are property, not citizens, congress does not have the right to regulate one’s property without due process, and this also means that the Missouri Compromise was found unconstitutional. because the gov cannot regulate a person’s property based on their area
LIncoln-Douglass debates:Lincoln’s positions
Offensive: points out the contradiction between Douglass wanting popular sovereignty / the ruling of the Dred Scott case, yet still wanting a defined free stateDefensive: basically he just says racist stuff to prove he’s not an abolitionist
Lincoln-Douglass debates: Douglass’ positions
Offensive: tries to paint Lincoln as an abolitionistDefensive: Freeport doctrine- if the people in the free state do not create the slave codes, they will not have slavery ( very legalistic but whatevs)
LIncoln DOuglass debates: who won
ALthough lincoln technically won the popular vote, because of extreme gerrymandering Douglass wins the senator position. However, people really like Lincoln and his speeches so he becomes a national figure and eventually a president
John Brown’s raid
Goes to Harper’s Ferry with a band of dudes- wants to raid the arsenal and start an attack that goes down the US that is basically a mass slave revoltHowever, people notice something’s up in Harper’s Ferry, they warn the gov, and Brown’s men get surrounded in the firehouse by R. LeeBrown is stabbed, survives, put on trial, sentenced to be hanged, is hung, and promptly becomes another martyr (although he’s kinda a terrorist) (people still like his views though)
Wilmot Proviso
I’ve literally never heard of this in my life but mino mentioned it so I’m making a card to save for later
1860 presidential election
Lincoln wins as a republican of course, which was only because of the electoral college since southerners would never vote for bro. Stephen Douglas was for the democrats, but his focus on popular sovereignty made him outdated. Other people weren’t important. Remember, Lincoln would have never won if the democrats hadn’t split. Additionally, before he was even inaugurated, states (SC) started to secede.
