Unit #4 Flashcards
“Cotton is King”
The cotton business was revitalized due to Eli Whitney’s cotton gin. The South produced more than half the world ‘s supply of cotton in 1790s.
Planter Aristocracy
In 1850, about 2 thousand families owned over 100 slaves and owned huge plantations. The aristocrats widened the gap between the rich and poor.
Economic Negatives of Slavery
Cotton production spoiled the Earth. The economic structure was monopolistic and there was a temptation to over speculate in land and in slaves. A one-crop economy emerged and northerners resented the south for getting rich at their expense.
Southern Social Structure
The aristocracy of large, white plantation owners is at the top. They are followed by whites that owned one or two slaves. Beneath them, are the whites who did not own slaves. Mountain whites who hated the slave system were at the same level. Followed by slaves.
Free Blacks in the North
In the upper South, the Blacks were descended from freed from emancipation in the Revolutionary War. In the deep South, the blacks were mulattos freed when their masters died.
Free Blacks in the South
In the North, Blacks were unpopular and several states denied their entrance and many denied their right to vote. Northern Blacks were hated by those with whom they competed for jobs. The Anti-black feeling was stronger in the North where people liked the race but no the individual.
Plantation Slavery
In the South, the slaves accounted for majorities. Slavery meant hard work, no political or civil rights, and whipping as punishment. Laws that protected slaves were hard to enforce. Most African Americans were raised in a stable and were forced to separate from spouses.
Internal Slave Trade
Slave importation was banned in 1808, but slaves were still smuggled. The slave increase, however, was mostly due to their natural reproduction. Slaves were not supposed to be bred but women who birthed many children were prized and promised freedom after 10 slaves.
Slave Life: Families
Families were forced to separate often, still most families were two-parent households. Family identity was preserved by naming children for grandparents and adoption. In addition, Africans avoided marriage of first cousins (unlike whites).
Slave Life: Religion
They mixed the Christian religion with their own native religion. They sand hymns as signals and codes for news of freedom.
Slave Resistance
They worked as slowly as possible without getting lashed. They stole food and sabotaged expensive equipment. Occasionally they poisoned their masters’ food. Rebellions were never successful, they just scared the whites.
American Colonization Society
It was founded for the purpose of transporting blacks back to Africa. Most blacks didn’t want to go back after being americanized. By 1860, most were not Africans but native born African-Americans.
Theodore Weld
Inflamed against slavery.
William Lloyd Garrison
Published the first edition of the The Liberator which triggered the war of words and in a sense launched the Civil War. He stated that under no circumstances would slavery we tolerated.
American Anti-Slavery Society
An abolitionist society founded by William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan. Frederick Douglas often spoke here.
The Grimke Sisters
abolitionists, feminists, and spoke about the cruelties they’ve seen in slavery
David Walker
A Black abolitionist, he wrote Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World and advocated an end to white supremacy.
Sojourner Truth
A freed black woman who fought for black emancipation and womens’ rights.
Southern Defense of Slavery
The souther slavery supporters argued that masters taught their slaves religion, made them civilized, treated the well and gave them happy lives.
George Fitzugh
Argued that black slaves needed the protection of slavery because they were like children.
Frederick Law Olmstead
A black abolitionist and escaped black who was a great speaker and fought for the black cause despite being beaten and harassed.
John Tyler
“His Accidency” came into power because Harrison died four days into the presidency. He ran with the Whig party but did not believe in their causes; pro-bank, pro-protective tariffs, and pro-internal improvements. He was really more of a democrat and he did not like to pass tariffs and refused to pass a new bill for the BUS.
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Skirmishes between the US and Britain on the border of Maine resulted in this treaty. It gave Britain a route for a road and gave the US more land in Maine.
Manifest Destiny
Concept that stated the US was destined to expand across the continent and get as must land as possible.
John O’Sullivan
Democratic editor that coined the term “Manifest Destiny”. He justified American claims to new territory.
Stephen Austin
Obtained a grant to move into the Mexican territories (present day Texas). His father was given thousands of acres of land with the permission to bring 300 families with him. By mid-1830s, there were 30,000 Americans on the land.
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Supported as a presidential candidate in 1833 by American born Texans. They believed he would support statehood, but when he was elected he eliminated states’ rights.
Texas War for Independence
Texans revolted against Antonio Lopez when he eliminated states’ rights. The revolutionaries made their own constitution and declared independence in 1836.
The Alamo
After Texans declared independence the Mexican army raised 6,000 troops to meet Colonel Travis at the Alamo and the entire Texan garrison was annihilated.
The Goliad Massacre
Santa Anna ordered the slaughter of 300 Texan troops that surrendered.
Battle of San Jacinto
General Houston with about 900 men surprised Mexicans near the Jacinto river. They had rallying cries and spirit and eventually overwhelmed the army.
Lone Star Republic
Texas had declared independence and built up reinforcements against Mexico. It also made treaties with France, Holland and Belgium.
Texas Annexation Debate
Since Texas had made alliances, any follow through on the part of the European nations would result in undermining the monroe doctrine. Also, the North didn’t want another slave state and annexing Texas without a war with Mexico was impossible. However, Texas had natural resources (cotton).
“Conspiracy of the Slavocracy”
The North believed the South always wanted to get more slave land.
Oregon Trail
Russia, Spain, England and now the US had claims in Oregon. England had good claims because it was populated by the British. Americans had good claims south of the Columbia River because it was populated by more Americans. Pioneers began to come there through the Oregon trail.
Election of 1844
Henry Clay ran for the Whigs and James K. Polk ran for the Democrats. Polk had a lot more experience in politics and was sponsored by Andrew Jackson. Clay lost the election due to flip-flopping on the issue of Texas.
54 degrees 40 or flight
England and US had been bargaining for Oregon and the US wanted this cut off line.
James K. Polk
He had a 4-point mission. He wanted to lower the tariff, restore the independent treasury, clear up the Oregon border issue an get California. Under Polk the Oregon border was settled.
Liberty Party
The first anti-slavery party grown out of those who didn’t agree with William Lloyd Garrison radical program. They took voted from Clay in 1844.
Texas Annexation
After Texas annexation, Mexico defaulted on $3 million owed to the US. Then Texas claimed its southern boundary to be the Rio Grande and not the Nueces River. Mexicans simply believed that this was a small revolt and Texas was still theirs.
Oregon Territory
The issue was intense between England and the US until England realized more Americans lived in the territory. The US got claims at the 49th parallel. The US got the better end of the deal and more land.
Walker Tariff
1846: The tariff was lowered from 32% to 25% despite complaints from industrialists. It was followed by good times.
The Slidell Mission
US send John Sidell as an envoy to Mexico City with the instruction to buy California for $25 million. However, this mission failed and Mexico snubbed him.
Nueces River and the RioGrande
Texas claimed their southern border was Rio Grande and not the Nueces River. Polk sent troops to march from the River down the Rio Grande after the Slidell Mission. News of Mexican troops crossing the Rio Grande and killing Americans spread right after. An urge for declaration of war followed.
Spot resolutions
A group of politicians including Abraham Lincoln who wanted to know exactly where the spot of fighting (at Rio Grande) as before declaring war.
Stephen Kearney
Led US operations in the Southwest (because Santa Anna lied about exchanging his return to Mexico with California); 1700 troops from Leavenworth to Santa Fe. This was successful!
John C. Fremont & The Bear Flag Revolt
Led US operations in the Southwest (because Santa Anna lied about exchanging his return to Mexico with California) ; leader of the Bear Flag Revolt in California. This was successful!
Mexican-American War
Polk pushed the congress to declared due to the incident at the Rio Grande where Mexican forces allegedly crossed onto Texan land and slaughtered soldiers.
Zachary Taylor & The Battle of Buena Vista
A general who fought into Mexico, reaching Buena Vista, and repelled 20,000 Mexicans with only 5,000 men earning hero status.
Winfield Scott
A General that lead American troops in Mexico City. Mexico City was vital to Mexico.
Vera Cruz
Winfield Scott lead a 20-day siege of a key seaport. It began with an amphibious attack then the US marched to Mexico City. US victory.
Nicholas Trist
Envoy sent by Polk to negotiate an armistice with Mexico at the cost of $10,000. Santa Anna took the bribe and used it for defenses.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
1848: Gave America all Mexican territory from Texas to California that was north of the Rio Grande. US payed $15 million for it. The debts between Mexico and the US were absolved as well/.
Mexican Cession
Territory from Texas to California that was north of the Rio Grande. The Whigs wanted an end to the war but some wanted all of Mexico (leaders of the South). We payed $15 million for it.
Wilmot Proviso
Stated that slavery should never exist in any of the Mexican Cession territories that would be taken from Mexico. This passed twice through the House but never through the Senate (where Northerners outnumbered Southerners) so it was not passed.
Election of 1848
The Democrats nominated General Lewis Cass, a war veteran. Whigs nominated General Zachary Taylor another war veteran. Neither party talked about the slavery issue, but Taylor won narrowly. The Free Soil Party was also in the running.
Lewis Cass & Popular Sovereignty
He as a diplomat of wide experience. He originated the popular sovereignty. This idea was the idea that issues should be decided upon by the people.
Free Soil Party
A party committed against the extension of slavery in the territories and also advocated federal aid for internal improvements and urged free government homesteads for settlers.
The Gold Rush
1848: gold was found in California and thousands flooded it. It blew the lid off the slavery issue. As a result, California drafted a constitution.
Nashville Convention
Meeting of representatives of nine southern states to monitor the Compromise of 1850. This laid groundwork for the Southern Confederacy.
“Fire-Eaters”
Those in the south that threatened succession over the admission of California as a free state. (Around 1850)
CA Admission Debate
California wanted to enter the US as a free state, but Southerners feared this would create a precedent. Finally, as a result of the underground railroad, the south demanded a fugitive slave law in exchange for CA.
“Seventh of March” Speech
Northerner Daniel Webster proclaimed that the new land in CA could not hold slaves anyway, since it couldn’t cultivate cotton. This speech helped move the North into compromise but he was also branded a traitor of the North for ignoring the slavery issue.
William Seward & The Higher Law
Seward was part of the “Young Guard” which was a group that was more interested in purifying the union than patching it up. He was against concession and hate slavery. He stated the Christian legislators should live by a “higher law” and not let slavery exist. He did not want to compromise.
Stephen Douglas
He helped to get the Compromise of 1850 passed. Clay couldn’t get people to compromise but Douglas got the compromise passed by splitting the bill up. He also participated in the Lincoln-Douglas debates where he argued for popular-sovereignty. Lincoln fought for an end to spreading slavery and set himself up for the Election of 1860.
Milard Fillmore
Took over the presidency in 1850, when Zachary Taylor died of an acute intestinal disorder.
