Chapters 12-13 Flashcards
What is nativism?
Nativism is the belief that immigrants will take jobs and opportunities from native-born citizens, and that immigrant cultures will weaken American society. They support anti-immigration measures and want the government to limit the number of immigrants allowed into the country.
What groups are the targets of nativist sentiment at this time? Why (what are people fearful of)?
Nativists were fearful of German and Irish immigrants. They had economic fears, like that their jobs would be taken away and they would have to work for less money. They also had cultural fears that catholics would overtake Protestants as the dominant Christain group and that Germans and Irish people were heavy drinkers which was against Protestantism.
What really happened with immigrants in this time period?
During this time period immigrants actually help to spur the industrial revolution in the US, couldn’t have been so widespread and robust without the addition of immigrants to fill these new jobs (factories, mines, railroad construction, jobs that US citizens don’t want)
What are reform movements?
Groups of people who unite to push for change with the goal of improving society and addressing social problems, usually in response to the social and economic changes occurring (like immigration increasing, market rev, migration, new tech)
What were some reform movements?
More rights for white women, 2nd Great Awakening, Temperance/Prohibition, Abolitionism, Utopian societies, Education reform, and prison Reform.
What was Republican motherhood?
The fact that women raised children, especially male children who would be the future voters of america, so they still had to be educated so they could teach their children, and they were counted for representation. So they were involved politically a little bit.
What was the Cult of Domesticity?
Declared that a woman’s place was in the home, love, friendship, and not to actually make things. Man were the workers and should come home to a woman. They should not be ambitious, they should be dependent and defenseless.
Why were women “allowed” to participate in reform movements?
They could be the moral conscience of the nation because they were the same at home, so it was fine that they could support people’s rights because that was their role in the house so why shouldn’t they
Preached anti-drinking (temperance), because it left the women home alone (that’s why they wanted to vote, so they could vote on this issue).
Why did male leaders of the anti-slavery movement deny women’s calls for equality?
They believed that any cause for women’s rights undermined the cause for anti-slavery. Makes sense because slaves were only legal in half the country, but women had no voting anywhere. We don’t want to lose the people who don’t agree with women’s rights. One issue at a time
What was the purpose of the Seneca Falls convention?
The purpose was to get women’s suffrage (ability to vote). Increased rights for women economically and socially
What was Temperance and prohibition
Temperance (encouraging people to drink less) / prohibition (banning alcohol):
Combo of Nativism and growth of Protestant Christianity; which tended to focus on abstaining from alcohol
How were utopian communities a response to what was happening in America during this time period?
It was a response to the massive changes brought by the shift to an industrialized market economy, so people could separate themselves from the worst aspects of this world, and be safe in their community
Could be religious or worldly (some support women’s rights, unregulated, celibacy, and anti-slavery)
How was the 2nd Great Awakening influenced by the market rev?
This was a religious revival reform movement to “reform” the issues with the world that came along with the market rev. While many preachers criticized the selfish individualism in free market competition, there was a market for new religions and preachers, who would travel the country drumming up business.
Awakening ministers also preached the values of sobriety, industry, and self-discipline, which had become the essence of both the market economy and the impulse for reform
How much of a problem was alcohol? Basically how much were people drinking?
In 1830, per capita liquor consumption was 7 gallons per year, which is more than double what it is now (and doesn’t count all the other types)
Why was a ban on alcohol so controversial?
This idea of limiting or banning alcohol appealed to the protestant ideas of restraint and perfection, and so it was controversial, especially with Catholic immigrants, who liked strong drink and alcohol wasn’t sinful to them
What were the goals of the American Colonization Society?
It’s goal was to ship all former slaves back to Africa and they established Liberia as an independent homeland for former slaves, emigrate there
What were the goals of Garrison’s American Anti-Slavery Society?
This was a more radical society preaching that slaves had the same rights as whites, and its goal was to abolish slavery. It preached that slavery was a sin. Regardless of race
What was the significance of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave & Uncle Tom’s Cabin?
They were the most eloquent works by spokesmen for the equal citizenship of blacks and whites so more white men listen to them
It humanized slaves and upended stereotypes
How did polk get elected in 1844?
James K.Polk, a democrat, wins the election by having a solid platform of: Acquiring Texas (Texas had been pushing to join US since they gained independence from Mexico), Solving border dispute between US and Great Britain over Oregon : Gets the vote because the people know what they are going to get.
What were the 3 things that happened in polks presidency?
Lowered the tariff ( remember he’s a dem, this was a core issue for them) 32% to 25% ,
settled Oregon border dispute (Britain agreed to drop claims to Oregon, too much trouble for them…we accept the 49th parallel mainly b/c we are already at war with Mexico, so we didn’t get what we promised)
Acquisition of territory from Mexico
Polk wants California so he sends a group to Mexico City to offer to buy it for $25 mil, Mexican officials refused . Polk starts a dispute on the Texas / Mexico border to start a war May 1846:Polk asks for a Dec of War Claiming “American blood on American soil” was split by the Mexican army, Some Whigs, including Lincoln, oppose the declaration but enough members of Congress support it and war is declared.
How did the Mexican-american war end?
War ends Feb 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
US gains California and New Mexico territory ( Nevada, Utah, Arizona, parts of Colorado and Wyoming)
Rio Grande recognized as Southern border of Texas (Texas-Mexican border)
US gives Mexico $18 mil (pay reparations because we started the war)
What are the consequences of the Mexican-American war?
13,000 Americans dead, The US increases by ⅓ , if you add Oregon and Texas we DOUBLED in size!!!!!
Biggest result = re-arouses issues over slavery
At the end of the war there were 15 free and 15 slave states, now the issue became what to do with the newly acquired territories…
What is the wilmot proviso? What does it illustrate about the divisions of the time?
Northern members of the house pushed to ban slavery in new territories (proposed by David Wilmot of PA) Southerners see it as an attack on the institution of slavery.
anti-slavery groups create the free soil party
became active in 1848 election “Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men” (they don’t want slavery to spread into this new territory) Eventually becomes Republicans. The Wilmot proviso won’t pass and the issue will be pushed off for 2 more years when Cali applies for statehood.
What were the issues behind Compromise of 1850?
Main issue = expansion of slavery.
Problems Congress is facing in 1850
1. California seeks admission as a free state
2. Texas (slave state) lays claim to parts of Utah, New Mexico,Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and Oklahoma
3. Northern abolitionists are pushing for slavery to be banned in D.C.
4. # of slaves running away from slaveholding
states are increasing and Northern states are
not helping to return fugitive slaves
The north: slavery can’t spread into new territories…
Free soilers: this land should be free of slavery to allow econ opportunities for poor whites
Abolitionists: slavery should be abolished
South: Want slavery to expand bc it will avoid too large of a slave pop to exist in too small of an area which could make a slave revolt more likely
The South is losing economic and political power, if slavery expands so will the interests of the South
North trying to limit property rights
can’t bring your slave anywhere you want…
Who were the 3 congressional giants that contributed to the discussion about the compromise of 1850?
Henry Clay “The Great Compromiser” said California admitted as a free state, Texas gets $10 million to give up claims to disputed territory, popular sovereignty (a vote) would decide status of slavery in NM and UT territories when they reach pop requirement. no slave trade in D.C, but slavery would be permitted, Northern states MUST enforce the Fugitive slave act!!!!
John C. Calhoun : “Great Nullifier” will voice the concerns of the South over Clay’s proposals. Fiery call for secession. The North’s growing power with protective tariffs / growing pop had created an imbalance of power/ Says the North is trying to silence the South and eradicate slavery in order to push manufacturing at the expense of agriculture
Daniel Webster: “Lion of New England” will caution Northerners to accept the conditions Southerners are calling for, fearful of secession , preservation of the union.
What was the actual compromise of 1850?
Henry Clay and Stephen Douglas (The Little Giant) pushed Clay’s original proposals, to try and alleviate the fears of Southerners
California admitted as free state
Texas gets $10 million to give up claims to disputed territory
popular sovereignty (a vote) would decide status of slavery in NM and UT when they apply for statehood
no slave trade in D.C in the streets, but slavery would be permitted
Strengthened Fugitive Slave Act that the North MUST enforce (accused slaves can’t testify on their behalf, no trial by jury, judges who ruled they were a free person were paid $5, judges who ruled they were slaves were paid $10)
What was the impact of Uncle Tom’s Cabin?
The strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Act will cause Harriet Beecher Stowe to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Best selling novel of the 19th Century, 2nd most widely read book in the 19th Century (to the bible)
intensified anti-slavery sentiment in N
aroused resentment in S
“ So you’re the little woman that wrote the book that started this great war.”
Why do the Whigs fall apart and what takes its place?
Enraged from the Kansas Nebraska act, this leads to complete demise of the Whig party (because they have no overall view)
Some Northern Whigs / Free Soilers / disgruntled Northern Dems organized the Republican Party
main position: We will not allow slavery to spread into territories where it had not existed
What was the Gadsden purchase?
The Gadsden Purchase, or Treaty, was an agreement between the United States and Mexico, finalized in 1854, in which the United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for a 29,670 square mile portion of Mexico that later became part of Arizona and New Mexico. (part of compromise of 1850)
North was upset because they were concerned that the purchased territory would establish slavery within its boundaries and join the South politically
Why was the Kansas-Nebraska act created?
Debate about where the transcontinental railroad should be leads to the Kansas-Nebraska Act: 1854
The North has to organize the Northern territory to get this railroad, which brings slavery into question.
Stephen Douglas, who wants a Northern Route b/c it will certainly benefit his state of Illinois (Chicago), proposes that the territory be split into two : Kansas and Nebraska and each territory would decide the issue of slavery based on popular sovereignty
He wants to run for Pres, needs Southern Dems on his side (build support), He thinks it’s the sensible compromise between the 2 sides
He is a States’ rights dem and believes pop sov is the best way to address the issue of slavery
113 to 100 in the House
35 to 13 in the Senate
How did both sides feel about the Kansas Nebraska Act
It basically ended the Missouri Comp of 1820- super controversial proposal
South = happy with outcome because slavery can now exist in places where it didn’t before.
Some Northerners agreed because they thought the land would not support slavery so there wouldn’t be slaves anyway, and they wanted the economic benefit of the railroad.
Impact of Kansas Nebraska act?
Bleeding Kansas (where thousands of people surged into Kansas to sway the vote, and violence occurred. John Brown murdered/mutilated people with his family) and Bleeding Sumner (Preston Brooks (pro slave) violently beats Charles Sumner (anti slave) for disagreeing with him on the house floor)
What is Dred Scott about?
Dred Scott, a slave, sues for his freedom because he had been taken to free territory by his owner
actually a group of abolitionists sue on his behalf
Court, dominated by Southerners, ruled in a decision written by Chief Justice Roger Taney (horrible decision)
Ruling:
A Black person, free or slave, could not bring law suit: not citizens
slaves were property and could be taken into any territory / state by their owner regardless of the status of slavery in that territory / state
This does away with the once free, always free doctrine as well
Compromise of 1820 was unconstitutional
Congress doesn’t have the constitutional ability to ban slavery in a territory
How does Dred Scott further the divide?
North FLIPS!!!!
Republicans emboldened by this
“We went to bed dreaming that Missouri would become a free state and woke up to the reality that Illinois was now a slave state.” - Lincoln
Even states rights democrats were saying that states could pick (divisive)
Totally polarizing,one of the main causes of the Civil War!!!!!
Inspires Lincoln to run for Senate and then the presidency
Where did Lincoln and Douglas agree in their debates? Where did they disagree?
They both agreed that Dred Scott was bad. Lincoln thought slavery should not spread and Douglas was a true state’s rights dem so he thought popular sovereignty.
What does Lincoln say in this congressional election that stays with Southerners?
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe the government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” * Southerners never forget this !!!!!
Douglas paints Lincoln as an abolitionist who wants racial equality (very radical)
Personally, Lincoln does not like slavery, but that is not his agenda
To Southerners, the house divided speech sounds like an abolitionist
What was the raid on harpers ferry?
Goals:
1. take over Virginia and establish colonies of free men (create a new free country)
2. underground railroad from deep south to North…
3.start a slave revolt throughout the South…
only about 2 dozen men end up following him
word gets out of raid, Buchanan sends Marines under the command of Robert E. Lee
raid lasted 48 hours, he never made it out of Harper’s Ferry
Captured and sentenced to death
considered a hero by abolitionists
How did the raid on harpers ferry further the divide?
tension over slavery is already extremely HIGH, Makes John Brown a hero in the North
A villain in the south
And made the two places different worlds
considered a hero by abolitionists
“His zeal was infinitely superior to mine. Mine was the taper light, his was the burning sun…I could speak for the slave. John Brown would fight for the slave. I could live for the slave. John Brown could die for the slave.” - Frederick Douglass
poems and songs are written praising Brown in the North
“The day of compromise is passed…there is no peace for the South in the Union.” Charleston Mercury
“The South will hold the whole Republican party responsible for the bloodshed at Harper’s Ferry.” Nashville Union
Impact of election of 1860?
Northern Dems = Stephen Douglas
Southern Dems = John Breckinridge
Usually when your party splits it loses
Republicans = Lincoln
Constitution Party = John Bell
Lincoln won a majority in all 18 Northern states
40% of popular vote, majority of electoral votes
keep in mind that this means that Lincoln wins the presidency without 60% of voters electing him
He wasn’t on the ballot in all of the 9 states that went to Breckenridge, House divided speech pushed S.C. into secession
Already had a convention that said if Lincoln wins we secede. Other states follow and Confederate states of America form.
