American Civil War Flashcards
How often did the US population double in the 1800s?
every 25 years
Why did food production increase 4-fold (which increased the population) during the 1840s to 1860?
There was new farmable land in the West and new scientific techniques (fertilization, crop rotation, and new machinery)
How did urbanization grow during the 1800s?
In 1820, fewer than 1/10 lived in towns. By 1860, 1/5 lived in towns.
In the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville (a Frenchman) said that the US was more equal than countries in Europe because there was no feudal hierarchy and more opportunities for men to rise in social status. Was the US more equal than countries in Europe?
To an extent. There was no feudal hierarchy in the US, which meant that there was no established aristocracy, no church leaders, and no sovereign. However, Blacks, Native Americans, and women were not equal to society.
Why was slavery so important in the South?
The northern climate was not good for plantation agriculture. Furthermore, it was closer to Canada, so slaves could escape easier. Finally, the North was more industrial and urbanized. Slaves worked in factories, but using slaves in factories and caring for them in urban areas was more difficult than in agriculture.
When did the North begin to ban slavery?
Northern states began to banish slavery in 1776. Some southern states attempted to ban it as well, but it never kept.
Why did slavery endure?
cotton grew well in southern states. So well, that in 1790, 9,000 bales of cotton were produced in the US. By 1830s, the South produced 2 million cottons bales per year. From 1815-1860, cotton represented more than 50% of all US exports
What was the cotton gin?
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793. This enabled short-fiber cotton to be separated from seeds. This invention is why growing cotton was highly profitable and continued for years
what were slaves considered?
Slaves were considered to be 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation purposes
What was the Haitian Revolution?
Took place during the 1790s and early 1800s. Slaves won their freedom in a revolt and killed much of the white population in the process. This convinced Southerners that slavery must be maintained for social control.
What were the basic codes of slave states?
Slaves cannot leave plantation without authorization; Slaves cannot carry weapons; Slaves can not strike a white person
Was slavery less severe in Latin America?
Slaves had more legal protection; governments recognized that slaves were humans too; Roman Catholic Church offered more protection to Slaves than the Protestant church in the US; Slaves could legally marry in Latin America; there was less race consciousness in Latin America (led to more integration between races)
How was slavery in Brazil and Cuba?
Amercian slaves had better living conditions; American slaves lived longer and had natural increase (slaves in other countries only grew because of slave importation); slaves were used to the point of exhaustion, sickness, and death in latin American countries; the Catholic church did little to help them; Racism was prominent in Brazil and Cuba
What was slave culture like?
Music and dance were used as means of expression, communication, and protest; folktales taught survival skills (wits better than strength); religion was important and thought to have been a mixture of African traditions and Christianity
What was slave culture like?
Music and dance were used as means of expression, communication, and protest; folktales taught survival skills (wits better than strength); religion was important and thought to have been a mixture of African traditions and Christianity
Why were slave revolts infrequent?
Whites had too much power; slaves were the minority and scattered; slaves were not allowed to own firearms nor congregate in large groups; there was a curfew system and white patrols
What did the Democrats believe in the 1800s?
Issues should be decided at state level; they opposed government intervention in $ matters; they thought the US would prosper if their were lower tariffs and expansion West; they were strongest in the South and West; followed President Jackson, who was a supporter of slavery
Who were the Whigs?
a political group; they were more likely to favor government intervention in $ and social matters; they advocated for higher tariffs, government-sponsored improvements (railway building), and the abolition of slavery; made up of Northerners
What was the Northern Stance on tariffs?
Northerners wanted high tariffs to keep out European manufactured goods; Northern states were becoming more industrialized and wanted to keep business in the country
What was the Southern Stance on tariffs?
Southerners did not want high tariffs; they made their money by selling cash crops (cotton, sugar cane, rice, tobacco) to foreign countries; with high tariffs, southerners would lose money
What was the Tariff of Abominations?
it was passed in 1828; it greatly increased tariffs; Southerns did not like this law
Who was John C. Calhoun?
Calhoun was a powerful politician from SC. He was Vice President for Jackson from 1825-1832; He believed the Tariff of Abominations was unconstitutional and proposed the doctrine of nullification; would resign in 1832 so he could fight for Southern rights in the Senate
What was the Doctrine of Nullification?
This allowed any state to nullify any act of the federal government that they deemed unconstitutional; Jackson did not like Calhoun’s doctrine as he believed it to be unconstitutional and could lead to civil war
What was nullification to South Carolina?
nullification was a means of limiting the federal government’s potential power over slavery and preventing the North’s economic exploitation
