Unit 4 Important Info Flashcards
describe the beliefs of an irreconcilable historian
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
describe the beliefs of a revisionist historian
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
describe manifest destiny: who, what, when, what influenced it
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
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
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
describe the webster-ashburton treaty: what, where, when, why
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
describe the controversy over the oregon territory under tyler
americans are settling there
BUT both the us and uk claim the territory -> calls for war!!
describe the controversy over the texas region under tyler.
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!!
describe who was on both sides of the controversy over the texas region under tyler
in favor:
- tyler
- jc calhoun
- cotton whigs
- southern democrats
against:
- conscience whigs
- northern democrats
How did the controversy over the texas region under tyler influence the whig party?
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
what is the tyler-texas treaty? (what, when, why, significance)
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
describe the election of 1844
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!
describe tyler’s lame duck
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
describe foreign policy relating to the oregon territory under polk (what, why, significance)
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
describe the lead up to the us sending troops into contested territory with mexico
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)
describe the major event causing the mexican-american war in the short term.
polk sents troops to rio grande (territory claimed by both us and mexico)
mexico fires on us + kills 16 americans
How did different people feel about potentially declaring war on mexico (mexican american war?)
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”
what is the spot resolution?
argument by abraham lincoln
the blood was spilt in disputed territory! polk literally did this on purpose
what were the years of the mexican american war
1846-1848
what were some of the major results of the mexican american war
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
describe the debates over how to make a treaty with mexico after the mexican american war
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
describe the treaty of guadalupe-hidalgo
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
describe the wilmot proviso
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
describe the calhoun memorandum
what south wants with mexican cession - new territories open to slavery (popular sovereignty)
based on 5th amendment - government can’t interfere with private property
how do the north and south disagree on what to do with the mexican cession?
north: wilmot proviso - no slavery in mexican cession
south: calhoun memorandum - there should be popular sovereignty there
describe the election of 1848
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
how does the north view slavery during taylor + fillmore presidencies
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
what are the results of the california gold rush? also give dates thanks
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
what are the 5 parts of the compromise bill
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
what are the results of the compromise of 1850?
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!
how are social demographics changing in 1800-1850 period?
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
describe the factors that caused the second great awakening (also dates sorry)
1800-1831
lots of migration westward -> people are lacking community structures -> movement towards religion again
market revolution caused a focus on money
describe the characteristics of beliefs of the second great awakening
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
what are camp meetings?
important part of second great awakening
gatherings in west to listen to preachers
emotional outlet, community formation
-> cane ridge KY, 1801
who was charles G finney?
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
what is the burned over district
region in western new york greatly impacted by second great awakening
charles g finney preached here
who was lyman beecher?
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
who were the shakers?
attempt at utopian society creation in second great awakening
gender equality, celibacy
founded by ann lee
attacked established institutions
describe the attempts to create utopian societies in the second great awakening (3)
shakers - gender equality, celibate, attacked established institutions
brook farm - largest
oneida - most successful, group marriage
overall failures
what christian denominations were most popular in the time period of the transcendentalism movement?
starting in like 1830
methodists + baptists
connects to cult of domesticity beliefs which were widespread during that time
describe mormonism
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
describe transcendentalism and some important people in the movement
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”
describe the cult of domesticity / true womanhood
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
what is the benevolent empire
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!!
what is the temperance movement?
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!
what is the american temperance society
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
describe the education reform movement
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!
describe the reform of special institutions
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
who was dorothea dix
female journalist
1830s
argued that mentally ill should be separated from criminals in prison and helped -> mental hospitals (insane asylums)
describe the early abolition movement
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
describe william L garrison
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)
describe the women’s rights movement (like 1830s)
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
how is the economy of the upper south changing in this period?
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
what is the second middle passage?
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
how is the economy of the deep south in this time period?
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
what are non slave-owning white people in the deep south like?
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
describe uncle tom’s cabin and its impact
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
describe “the impending crisis of the south” and its impact
hr helper, 1857
anti-slavery for economic reasons
idea that non-slaveholders are victims of the wealthy planters who have all the power
How does commercial farming change in the north and west during this period and why?
increases greatly
caused by transportation! - railroads especially
- also helped increase western expansion + commerce
describe the slave experience in this period
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
describe the experiences of irish immigrants in industrial north
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!”
