Unit 4 Important Info

Question 1

describe the beliefs of an irreconcilable historian

Answer 1

cause of civil war is primarily slavery
slavery was a huge issue, and differences in thought around it made the civil war inevitable
north is clearly motivated by antislavery
abraham lincon was a necessary figure

Question 2

describe the beliefs of a revisionist historian

Answer 2

civil war was not bound to happen
north and south actually agreed mostly on racial stuff
slavery was not a major cause of the civil war
fanatics on both sides led war, not representative of public opinion

Question 3

describe manifest destiny: who, what, when, what influenced it

Answer 3

john o sullivan coined term
idea that us should take over north american continent
used as intellectual justification for westward expansion
influenced by puritan thought, romanticism, jefferson and jacksonian democracies

Question 4

describe how tyler was viewed in office. what were some of his political beliefs, and what were the immediate effects of them? give dates too

Answer 4

1841-1845
doesn’t really align with whig party who voted him in
succession after harrison died was unclear so people kind of resent him
opposed american system + vetoes bank and tariffs
result: kicked out of whig party, democrats don’t want him either
cabinet resigns

Question 5

describe the webster-ashburton treaty: what, where, when, why

Answer 5

1842
confirms us canada border in northeast
us gains mesabi range in missouri, where there is lots of coal and iron
caused by dispute over aroostook territory in northern maine

Question 6

describe the controversy over the oregon territory under tyler

Answer 6

americans are settling there
BUT both the us and uk claim the territory -> calls for war!!

Question 7

describe the controversy over the texas region under tyler.

Answer 7

us settlers invited to settle in texas region after mexico gains their independence
they were told to be catholic and not bring slaves but they do the opposite -> rebellion
texas republic forms. not strong enough on own so want to be annexed by us
BUT WAIT!! they would be a slave state and that would upset the balance in senate!!

Question 8

describe who was on both sides of the controversy over the texas region under tyler

Answer 8

in favor:
- tyler
- jc calhoun
- cotton whigs
- southern democrats
against:
- conscience whigs
- northern democrats

Question 9

How did the controversy over the texas region under tyler influence the whig party?

Answer 9

divisions!!
northerners = conscience whigs - scared of expansion of slavery
- some are abolitionists, some want western territory free for white people
southerners = cotton whigs, pro-slavery

Question 10

what is the tyler-texas treaty? (what, when, why, significance)

Answer 10

1844
proposed treaty to add texas to union without balancing it out
result of controversy over texas region, tyler is pro adding texas
shut down in congress by conscience whigs and northern democrats

Question 11

describe the election of 1844

Answer 11

main topic is the annexation of texas
whigs: clay
- informally agrees to not talk about texas / slavery
democrats: james k polk
- ally of andrew jackson
- loves western expansion
- promises to annex texas
- and annex oregon “54’40” or fight!!”
- and annex california
liberty party: james g birney
- in favor of abolition!
liberty party takes enough votes from whigs to make democrats (james k polk) win!

Question 12

describe tyler’s lame duck

Answer 12

period between a new president being elected (polk) and them being inaugurated
during this time, tyler convinces everyone to annex texas in exchange for creating the free state of wisconsin

Question 13

describe foreign policy relating to the oregon territory under polk (what, why, significance)

Answer 13

drops the 54’40” or fight :(
negotiates with british for a lower parallel
wants to focus on expansion in south, not fighting wars in north
causes sectionalism, alienates northern democrats

Question 14

describe the lead up to the us sending troops into contested territory with mexico

Answer 14

john slidell’s mission - polk attempts to buy cailfornia from mexico, but is denied because mexico is mad over texas
more minor issue: us doesn’t like catholics
border is unclear between newly us texas territory and mexico
- mexico recognizes border as nueces river
- us recognizes it as rio grande (further into mexican territory)

Question 15

describe the major event causing the mexican-american war in the short term.

Answer 15

polk sents troops to rio grande (territory claimed by both us and mexico)
mexico fires on us + kills 16 americans

Question 16

How did different people feel about potentially declaring war on mexico (mexican american war?)

Answer 16

mostly everyone thinks we should declare war
- democrats unified in favor of war
whigs are divided
- northerners don’t want to potentially add more slave states but don’t want to be seen as unpatriotic (think of what happened to the federalists) so they mostly vote in favor
some opponents including abraham lincoln
- spot resolution - “the blood was actually spilt on disputed territory. polk sent our guys in there on purpose to start a war”

Question 17

what is the spot resolution?

Answer 17

argument by abraham lincoln
the blood was spilt in disputed territory! polk literally did this on purpose

Question 18

what were the years of the mexican american war

Answer 18

1846-1848

Question 19

what were some of the major results of the mexican american war

Answer 19

rise of important political figures (of course)
- grant, lee, jackson, sherman, taylor, fremont
us gets lots of territory in mexican cession
displays the power of us to europe (first war won without their help!)
relations with latin america get worse

Question 20

describe the debates over how to make a treaty with mexico after the mexican american war

Answer 20

polk: i want all of mexico!
whigs + some dems: no thats ridiculous we only need some
- some dems dont want too much land because they dont like mexicans, north don’t like it because they don’t want more slave states
- whigs are dominant in house so polk has to settle

Question 21

describe the treaty of guadalupe-hidalgo

Answer 21

1848
nicholas trist
establishes how much land us gets from mexico in mexican cession
- texas border at rio grande
us gets a bunch of land in exchange for $15 million

Question 22

describe the wilmot proviso

Answer 22

1846
david wilmot
what north wants with mexican cession - no slavery
we want the territory to be open for white settlers
upset that we didn’t get all of oregon
doesn’t pass

Question 23

describe the calhoun memorandum

Answer 23

what south wants with mexican cession - new territories open to slavery (popular sovereignty)
based on 5th amendment - government can’t interfere with private property

Question 24

how do the north and south disagree on what to do with the mexican cession?

Answer 24

north: wilmot proviso - no slavery in mexican cession
south: calhoun memorandum - there should be popular sovereignty there

Question 25

describe the election of 1848

Answer 25

main issue: slavery in mexican cession
whigs: war hero zachary taylor (millard fillmore vp)
democrats: divided due to sectionalism
- northerners want van buren again
- end up nominating lewis cass who likes popular sovereignty
free soil party - nominates van buren, supports wilmot proviso
- appeal to conscience whigs and northern dems
free soil party gets enough votes from democrats so that whigs win! zachary taylor is president

Question 26

how does the north view slavery during taylor + fillmore presidencies

Answer 26

wants to stop slavery from spreading
don’t want slavery to eventually get into their states
not so much because slavery is evil, more so that they are racist
- don’t want to live with african americans
- don’t want competition with unpaid labor
free african americans do have some opportunities in north though

Question 27

what are the results of the california gold rush? also give dates thanks

Answer 27

1848-1849
now there are so many people in california so they apply for statehood as a free state
!!!
taylor: what if we do california free and new mexico as slave
- northerners: no!!!
eventually settle on compromise of 1850, which passes

Question 28

what are the 5 parts of the compromise bill

Answer 28

also known as compromise of 1850
01. california admitted as free
02. new mexico admitted with popular sovereignty
03. no slave trade in DC
04. stronger fugitive slave act
05. texas’s debt absolved

Question 29

what are the results of the compromise of 1850?

Answer 29

senate balance tipped towards free states by california
fugitive slave act very controversial in north!!
- northern governments now have to put state gov resources into supporting slavery
- some moral opposition -> ralph waldo emerson
overall just a bunch of sectionalism
south is scared of slavery being restricted and eventually dying off
it did kind of work tho
- 1852 midterms were centered around who could best fulfill the compromise!

Question 30

how are social demographics changing in 1800-1850 period?

Answer 30

increase in immigration (especially irish + german!)
shift from agriculture to manufacturing
growing economic inequality w/ growing middle class -> less social mobility
- also idea that poverty is your fault, if you want a better spot just work harder lol
jobs are initially plentiful, but not anymore

Question 31

describe the factors that caused the second great awakening (also dates sorry)

Answer 31

1800-1831
lots of migration westward -> people are lacking community structures -> movement towards religion again
market revolution caused a focus on money

Question 32

describe the characteristics of beliefs of the second great awakening

Answer 32

individualism - you have the power to do good and get better and be involved in your own salvation
- different from first great awakening with this

Question 33

what are camp meetings?

Answer 33

important part of second great awakening
gatherings in west to listen to preachers
emotional outlet, community formation
-> cane ridge KY, 1801

Question 34

who was charles G finney?

Answer 34

father of second great awakening/ modern revivalism
preacher in burned over district
focus on human actions leading to salvation, not so much on work of god like in first great awakening
used white middle class women to bring people into the church (radical at the time!)
most effective in smaller towns

Question 35

what is the burned over district

Answer 35

region in western new york greatly impacted by second great awakening
charles g finney preached here

Question 36

who was lyman beecher?

Answer 36

other major preacher in second great awaking (with charles finney)
acknowledge sin -> surrender to god -> salvation for all
any individual can overcome their desire for sin
focused on applying religion to daily life, not so much on doctrine
important figure in temperance movement

Question 37

who were the shakers?

Answer 37

attempt at utopian society creation in second great awakening
gender equality, celibacy
founded by ann lee
attacked established institutions

Question 38

describe the attempts to create utopian societies in the second great awakening (3)

Answer 38

shakers - gender equality, celibate, attacked established institutions
brook farm - largest
oneida - most successful, group marriage
overall failures

Question 39

what christian denominations were most popular in the time period of the transcendentalism movement?

Answer 39

starting in like 1830
methodists + baptists
connects to cult of domesticity beliefs which were widespread during that time

Question 40

describe mormonism

Answer 40

jacob smith
very us centric
appeals to people who were harmed by market revolution
met with a bunch of hostility so they move west and end up in utah

Question 41

describe transcendentalism and some important people in the movement

Answer 41

starting around 1830
challenges rationalism and materialism
causes development of unique national american identity
margaret fuller - first female intellectual
ralph waldo emerson - “nature”
thoreau - “Civil disobedience”

Question 42

describe the cult of domesticity / true womanhood

Answer 42

important figure: catherine beecher
men operate in public sphere, women operate in private sphere
limits power of women in public obviously
but also gives the more power in the home - there, they are not subservient
idea that women should maybe be educated so they can do the best possible job at home stuff
exists in north and west, not really south

Question 43

what is the benevolent empire

Answer 43

campaign of moral and institutional reform inspired by second great awakening
done a lot by women!
they create voluntary associations to help their community, replace the role of family for people without it
want to help society
are able to because they are having less kids so they have more free tie (also more money)
supported by whigs!!

Question 44

what is the temperance movement?

Answer 44

stop alcohol use / addiction
rates of alcohol consumption were very high in 1820s in men
american temperance society made to stop alcohol consumption
lyman beecher participating a lot
able to decrease alcohol consumption by 1830s!

Question 45

what is the american temperance society

Answer 45

1826
made as part of temperance movement to stop alcohol addiction
nationwide participation!
supported by local and state governments
also has some anti-immigrant nativist sentiment - don’t like irish because they drink too much
able to decrease alcohol consumption by 1830s

Question 46

describe the education reform movement

Answer 46

horace mann
free and public education paid for with property taxes!
- preps kids for working in factories, obedience
- also standardized and compulsory
not so much in south - education still restricted to wealthy there
opposition - poor, immigrants, farmers - we need our kids out of school working so we can feed ourselves!

Question 47

describe the reform of special institutions

Answer 47

schools for disabled people
- gallaudet school for deaf (1817)
- perkins institute for the blind (1832)
moving away from solitary confinement in prisons -> auburn system
- prisoners go to repent
- prisons resemble society to facilitate rehabilitation
dorothea dix - journalist who argued for mentally ill being separated from prisoners and helped

Question 48

who was dorothea dix

Answer 48

female journalist
1830s
argued that mentally ill should be separated from criminals in prison and helped -> mental hospitals (insane asylums)

Question 49

describe the early abolition movement

Answer 49

still small but growing
william l garrison - radical moral anti-slavery guy
- the liberator newspaper (1831)
- american anti-slavery society
funded by tappan brothers
david walker - we need to use force to end slavery
harriet tubman - underground railroad
frederick douglass - the north star (1847)
internal conflict over rights of women, some wanting peaceful change vs some wanting violence

Question 50

describe william L garrison

Answer 50

radical anti-slavery white guy
slavery is immoral!! highly motivated by religion
also believes in full rights for women
the liberator newspaper (1831)
led american anti-slavery society (1833)

Question 51

describe the women’s rights movement (like 1830s)

Answer 51

women are participating in abolition and become aware + willing to fight against their lack of rights
- denied entry into world anti-slavery convention
seneca falls convention (1848)
- declaration and sentiments of the rights of women - elizabeth stanton
susan b anthony - helps organize movement
sojourner truth, maria steward, sarah + angeline grimke

Question 52

how is the economy of the upper south changing in this period?

Answer 52

shifting towards diversification of crops, not just tobacco/cotton
innovations from market revolution -> less need for slavery -> sell slaves to south -> second middle passage
some industry growing here, but not finished goods

Question 53

what is the second middle passage?

Answer 53

slaves in upper south being sold to deep south on a large scale
caused by new technology from market revolution causing less need for slaves

Question 54

how is the economy of the deep south in this time period?

Answer 54

staying the same
heavy investment in land + slavery -> can’t really change, will be thrown off when those things become uncertain with civil war
only 25% of white southerners own slaves, only 1% more than 50
- disproportionate political influence from rich and powerful
number of slaveholders is decreasing overall, but wealth is increasing
land use for cotton is increasing + moving westward into states like alabama and mississippi
after 1840, 1/2 of all us exports are from cotton :0

Question 55

what are non slave-owning white people in the deep south like?

Answer 55

yeoman farmers
still support slavery though because they dream to one day own slaves
also pine barrens at edge of society
support idea of white superiority -> fans of slavery

Question 56

describe uncle tom’s cabin and its impact

Answer 56

harriet beecher stowe, 1852
negative response to fugitive slave act in compromise of 1850
exposes horrors of slavery to northerners with great success
increases abolitionist thought based on morality

Question 57

describe “the impending crisis of the south” and its impact

Answer 57

hr helper, 1857
anti-slavery for economic reasons
idea that non-slaveholders are victims of the wealthy planters who have all the power

Question 58

How does commercial farming change in the north and west during this period and why?

Answer 58

increases greatly
caused by transportation! - railroads especially
- also helped increase western expansion + commerce

Question 59

describe the slave experience in this period

Answer 59

after the nat turner rebellion, rebellions become more subtle - everyday resistance, running away
slaves find hope in the invisible institution of religion and family structure
population of slaves is increasing due to natural reproduction

Question 60

describe the experiences of irish immigrants in industrial north

Answer 60

very bad conditions in factory system!
south looks at this and says “you guys in the north are basically enslaving these people! at least we feed out slaves!”