Making Of America (School Work) Flashcards
What was Kansas-Nebraska act (1854)?
- Overturned Missouri compromise (said Kansas and Nebraska could not be slave states)
- This act overturned this and allowed them to vote on slavery
What was bleeding Kansas? (1850s)
- Political violence broke out between people who were pro slavery and anti slavery
- Just under 200 people were killed
What happened when james buchanan became president?
Democrat became president in 1856
Openly supported slavery
Filled land in north with large plantations which upset small farmers
Supported Dred Scott decision
What was Abraham Lincolns presidential campaign like?
(1860)
- Portrayed himself as ‘honest abe’ - a man of the people, a champion for hardworking men and opponent to wealthy slaveholders
- Promised to give free land to western settlers and prevent expansion of slavery
- Promised new transcontinental railroad would run through northern states rather than southern states
What did southern states do when Lincoln won presidency?
Decided to secede from USA to start their own country and defend their rights as they felt his win was the end of slavery
What happens when southern states decided to secede?
(1860-1861)
- Newspapers stirred frenzy
- Nov 1860 south Carolina voted 169-0 to secede from union
- 1860-1 winter six states left to join south Carolina to form the confederacy
What was the confederate congress?
- Feb 1861
- confederacy elected new government in Montgomery Alabama
- was led by slaveholder Jefferson Davis
- argued any state had right to remove itself from the union if it did so democratically
What was the attack in fort sumpter?
- April 1861
- Lincoln - illegal for south to leave union
- all government buildings and army forts were still property of USA
- 12th April confederates opened fire on union soldiers in Fort Sumpter
- three days later Lincoln asked loyal US troops to stop rebellion and bring confederacy back to us
What was the cotton gin?
- machine that sped up the processing of cotton
- Slaves had to work harder to grow and pick it
- drove up number of slaves used
Who was first president of USA?
George Washington
Who were white settlers?
- families who came from europe
- could claim to be citizens of USA if were free, white and of ‘good character’
- voting rights linked to land ownership
- women, non citizens and slaves could not vote
Who were native Americans/plains Indians?
- tribes who were native to living in America
- often came into conflict with white settlers if they tried to take land for farming
- Indians were allowed to vote if they payed taxes to US
Who were African Americans?
- slaves who were owned by white settlers to complete manual labour
- no right to vote
- vast majority lived in Southern States
What were states?
- areas that were well developed, populated, and had a form of government
- could make own laws as long as didn’t go against constitution
- could send representatives to congress
How big of a population did you need to become a state?
60,000
What were territories?
- Areas of land without enough settlers or stability to become a state
- Each territory ruled by territorial governor appointed by governor
When was battle of fallen timbers?
1794
What was battle of fallen timbers?
- us defeated native Americans
- Leaders forced to sign treaty of Greenville
What was Treaty of Greenville?
Native americans gave up land in the territories which later became states
Consequences of Treaty of Greenville?
Forced native americans to move further west causing conflict amongst tribes
What were the thirteen original states?
Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia
What did Britain do after losing wars of Independence?
- Handed over land to US
- This was Native American Land
- Settlers began moving there to farm which caused conflict with Natives
What was area north of Ohio river called?
Northwest Territory
What was area south of Ohio river called?
Southwest territory
How much land did Britain give to US after wars of Independence?
230 million acres
When were the American wars of independence?
1783
Why did French need to sell colony of Louisiana?
Needed money to fight British
How much did President Jefferson by colony of Louisiana for?
$15 million
Why did Colony of Louisiana allow for US expansion?
- US owned land further west so could explore and expand
What did George Washington do to Native Americans in the Northwest?
- fought against them and took their land
How much of his government budget did George Washington put into campaigns against Native Americans?
80%
Why did us grow quickly?
- Early presidents opened the Northwest and Southwest territories for settlement
- Slaveholders wanted to expand their plantation businesses
- Louisiana purchase
When did the US gain vermont?
1791
When did US gain kentucky?
1792
When did US gain Tennessee?
1796
When did US gain Ohio?
1803
When did US gain Indiana?
1816
When did US gain Mississippi?
1817
When did US gain Illinois?
1818
When did US gain Alabama?
1819
When did US gain Florida?
1819
Who were Merriweather Lewis and William Clark?
Explorers
What did Lewis and Clark do?
- explored new lands
- Set out in May 1804
- followed Missouri river into Rocky mountains through to pacific coast
- got on well with Native Americans
Who was Sacagawea?
A woman who acted as a guide for Lewis and Clark
What did expedition of Lewis and Clark lead to?
- further expansion in fur trade
- encouraged other trades to head west
- increase in trade with Native Americans
Conflict between White northerners and white southerners?
- Northern business owners thought slavery was unfair competition for their factories
- did not agree with slavery
- people in south thought northern business owners were greedy and morally corrupt
- saw north as a threat to their way of life
Conflict between abolitionists and white Americans?
- thought growth of slavery was immoral
Why did slavery spread so quickly in southwest?
Good climate and fertile land perfect for growing cotton
What were consequences of the growth of slavery in south?
Slave traders purchased enslaved people in old slave states and marched them to deep south
How much profit did slave traders make on each slave?
$1000 per slave
What did increase in price of slaves mean?
Kidnapping of free black people in north
What was the pushing system?
- Fastest cotton pickers at front to set pace for others
- If you failed to keep up, you would be punished
Who created cotton gin?
Eli Whitney
When was cotton gin produced?
1793
Consequences of cotton gin?
More slaves needed to pick cotton
What states were in the cotton kingdom?
Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina
By 1820, how much of all US exports were cotton?
42%
Who was Charles Deslondes?
A slave who organised a revolt
What happened to Deslondes rebellion?
- brutally curtailed
- northerners feared consequences of free slaves being able to vote
Who were abolitionists?
People who wanted to abolish slavery
When was Andrew Jackson president?
1829-1837
Who was Andrew Jackson?
President who openly supported slavery
What were the five civilised tribes?
Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole
What were Washington’s views on native americans?
- biologically equal
- tried to persuade them to become more civilised and live like white people
What was Attack on Creeks?
White american army led by Andrew Jackson defeated the creeks
What were terms of Indian Removal Act?
- land in west set aside for Indians who moved from east
- Indian tribes could sign up for it
When was Indian removal act?
1830
When was attack on creeks?
1814
When was trail of tears?
1838
What was trail of tears?
- US army forced 18,000 Cherokee people to move west
- over 4000 died of cold, hunger or disease
When was Declaration of Independence?
1776
How much did an enslaved persons vote count for?
3/5
What did government decide to do about slavery in north and southwest territories?
Make amount of states with slavery equal to states with no slavery
Why was opposition to slavery unsuccessful before 1838?
South became increasingly independent
What happened in 1814 when plains indians fought back against white settlers farming on their land?
Forced to sign over land
What were consequences for creeks after the attack on creeks?
Forced to sign over 23 million acres of land to Andrew Jackson
Impact on native Americans due to white settlers moving to America?
Forced to move west
Consequences of battle of fallen timber?
Lead to Greenville treaty
Impact on Native Americans due to treaty of Greenville?
Natives agree to formally give up Ohio and move further west
Impact on Native Americans due to Indian Removal act?
- forced to move west of Mississippi river into new Indian territory
What did Plain Indians believe religiously?
Great spirit ruled over earth and all living things had spirits of their own
What were roles of men in indian tribes?
- Skilled horsemen
- warriors
How were each plain indians tribes different?
- own language
- distinctive culture
What did Lakota Sioux?
Food, clothing and shelter
What did Lakota Sioux do before a hunt, and why?
A buffalo dance as it called for a spirit world for a successful hunt
What did lakota families live in?
Tipis made of several buffalo hides stretched over wooden poles
What roles did women have in plain indians tribes?
Prepare food
Craft items
Ensuring tipi was built or dismantled in time
What did Lakota sioux believe religiously?
- Wakan Tanka, all living things had own spirit
How were Lakota Sioux tribes structured?
- no single leader of all tribes
- each tribe chose leader who would be a good leader
- each tribe made up of bands (10-50 families)
Who controlled new spain and new mexico by 1839?
Spain and Mexico
Land was fertile
What happened to US economy in 1837 in East?
- banks collapsed
- people lost savings
- wages fell
- people lost jobs
- farmers struggled
What happened to California in 1848?
Taken from Mexico and became US land
What pulled migrants to west?
Rich farming land
New opportunities
What was pre-emption act?
Stopped land speculators buying up all land
When was pre-emption act?
1841
What was manifest destiny?
Idea it was God’s plan that whites should civilise the West
Step 1 of journey west?
- spend winter in a town before they travelled
- built wagons here and stocked up on supplies
- set off in spring
Impact on plain indians due to step 1 of journey west?
Migrants had to go through natives hunting land which natives had been promised by US government in Indian removal act
Step 2 of journey west?
- follow platte river along Oregon trail
- 18 miles a day
- stopped at US forts along trail like Fort Laramie or Fort Kearney for rest and supplies
Problems faced on journey west?
- baking sun
- torrential rain
- rivers
- buffalo
- rocky mountains
Step 3 of journey west?
- had to pass rocky mountains
- mountain passes not very wide
Impact on plain Indians due to step 3 of the journey west?
- very limited impact as not many plain Indians lived in mountains
Step 4 of journey west?
- reached Fort Hall
- had to decide to take route south to California or north to Oregon
What would happen if people chose to head to Oregon?
- have to cross blue mountains
- many chose to abandon wagons and go by foot
What would happen if people chose to go to California?
- Had to cross desert
- Had to cross Sierra Nevada desert
Problems of Sagar journey west?
- heavy weather
- wagon overturned
- Catherine broke her leg
- henry died
- Naomi died
- children orphans
- Marcus and Narcissa Whitman killed
- Only 4/6 Sagar children survived
When did Henry Sagar family set off?
May 1844
Why was Sagar family journey not typical?
- most common cause of death was disease not murder
What did Brigham Young say about land ownership?
Church would decide how much land each family got according to their needs
What did Brigham Young do to improve Mormon settlement of Utah?
Brought in irrigation systems for farming and fresh water
When and how was Utah added to USA?
1850 as a territory
Who was Brigham Young?
The first governor of the Mormon settlement of Utah
What did John D.Lee and a group of other mormons do in September 1857?
- Massacred settlers they believed to be US army spies
Why were people worried by Mormon settlement?
Free to make own laws on property ownership and marriage
What issues did the massacres cause for the mormon settlement?
Young forced to step down
Utah made to follow laws of rest of USA
When and where was gold first discovered?
December 1848 and in the Sierra Nevada desert
Why was gold mining so popular?
People were making hundreds of dollars a day, while average wage was $2-3 a day
How many Americans headed to California in 1849?
Over 50,000
When did California become a state?
1850
What would happen if Indians were found digging for gold?
- if they could not prove they had a job, they would be arrested and sold for slave labour
Impact of Gold Rush on California’s wealth and influence?
- over 50,000 Americans headed to California in 1849
- created demand and merchants began to start up (Levi Strauss)
- merchants sold goods at inflated prices
Impact of Gold Rush on environment?
- 108 larger companies dominating digging by 1852
- California becomes state
- growth of towns and cities
- development of rail road
- landslides, floods and chemicals
Impact of Gold Rush on native Americans?
- danger of death mining alongside migrants
- could be sold into slave labour
Impact of Pikes peak Gold Rush on centre of USA?
- increased migration via sail wagons
- development of farming
- new towns
- Kansas becomes state
Who were town boosters?
People who created fake maps to give to migrants in order to lead them into their town to spend money
Impact of Pikes Peak Gold Rush on Native Americans?
- Whites wanted to settle on Native American land
- Cheyenne and Arapaho had conflict with white settlers
What was 13th amendment?
Banned slavery across us
When was 13th amendment?
January 1865
What was Louisiana purchase?
- US purchased land
- Land available for plantations increased
When was Louisiana purchase?
1803
What was Missouri compromise?
- states had to join US in pairs
