introduction Flashcards
what was the american civil war?
lasted 1861-1865
was fought to save the union, to prevent southern states from breaking away to form a new independant nation called, the confederacy
1865 all confederacy states brought back to union
what is isolationism?
an american revolution which created a small nation in a vast land
founding fathers were anxiuos to preserve the new nations from outside interference and ‘foreign eentanglments’
(so isolation from old world was deep rooted theme in american politics)
what was the price of unity in america after the civil war?(5)
-USA mantained Union
-700,000 americans killed
-families/freindships divided
-areas(south) devistated
-abraham lincoln assainated
what problems did lincolns assination cause?
-Reconstruction problems(in south)
-reconciling warring faction that fought in civil war was harder
what was the south of america like? (5)
-had beliefs in segregation
-feared economic modernisation
-economy before civil was dependant on ‘king cotton’ and institution if slavery
-had social and racial attitudes in south from slavery intergated into its culture
-white society diverse and democratic (balance interest of large plantation owners, small slave holders and farmers
what was the north of america like?
-was rapid ecenomic modernisation. before civil war [from boston seaports and railroads
-encouraged immagration from northen europe
-had wider social and cultural divergence from south
-abolish slavery
what was the abolitionist movemant?
fight for abolition of slavery before civil war, led by northen activised
denoucing south as “backward” and immoral. included leaders like harriet beecher Stowe(auther pf uncle toms cabin)
what was the west like in america?
-great plains, mountain west and pacific west belonged to plain indians and buffalo
-1865 expansion considerd a dream
–encouraged by a wagon toute, manifest destiny and 1849 calafornia gold rush–
-was pioner settlements in kansas and nebraska
-immagrants wanting land, mining companiees, railroad builders pushes into west
what slowed down westward expansion?
-disputes between britain and american colonies over west opening
-civil war
cwhat was the calafornia gold rush?
(1848)discovery of gold at sutter mill in calafornia-
cause new routes accros land west of mississipi and san francisco, that rapidly developed into major sea ports
what was the mecican war?
war between US and mexico, fought between 1846 & 1848
caused california, nevada, new mexico and texas part of states
(strengthen manifest destiny idea)
what was the US constitution and seperation of powers
founded on=
–seperation of powers–
system of checks and balances to ensure no one part of governmant could dominate
presidency{executive power} was balanced against congress{lawmaker}
constitution protected by supremr court uncontrolled by presidant or congress
what were the main political parties?
-democratic party (compete against federals)
-Republican party( address issue of slavery and state rights)
what ideology was america built upon?
freedom
what was the decleration of independance?
issued on 4 july 1776,
a manifesto to justify revolution against british rule amd define deomcratic ideals that new nations would be founded
(embraced freedom)
