us civil war - slavery Flashcards
what was population growth like in early 19th century?
USA’s population doubled every 25 years.
high immigration from ireland and germany.
americans moved to find new work in towns
what was the western expansion?
everything west of mississippi river
what was the american west in early 19th century
1840s, americans began crossing great plains to settle in california and oregeon territory as land is very fertile and good for farming
what was the agriculture like in the early 19th century
most americans were farming and food production increased. this is due to the new amoint of land, farming was easier and better compared to the great plains
what was transport like in the early 19th centurt
steamboat was revolutionised travel on rivers. they had a new impressive canal system. the transcontinental railroad was finished in 1869
what was the industrialisation like in early 19th century?
important technological developments in textiles, coal, iron, steel and using steam power. new machines were being introduced and improved.
what was the urbanisation like in early 19th century?
more people began living in towns, and some cities had significant growth
what was the society values in early 19th century?
black slaves, native americans and women were far from equal
american dream attracted millions of immigrants, but top 5% of free adult males owned 53% of wealth in 1860.
what was the cotton gin?
1793 - Eli Whitney invented a machine which reduced the costs to produce cotton, it separated cotton fibred and could produce 50 pounds a daye
what was the impact of the cotton gin?
- production was more intense which meant an increase for more hands
- growth in textile industry
- south produced 50% of America’s cotton supply
- expansion became good for Britain’s textile industry
why did the south think that Britian would help them
because the textile industry was so large in Britain that they depended on the US as much as the US depended on them
who was Harriet Tubman
she was born in 1820 on a plantation in Maryland, she became a nurse
her siblings escaped during the underground railroad, she travelled to Pennyslvania and was free
what was the fugitive slave act of 1850
allowed freed workers to be captured and enslaved again
what was the underground railway
Tubman befriended abolitionists and they established this railroad network to help free enslaved people.
1863 - became head of scout network for union army
freedom seekers followed natural and manmade modes of rivers, canals, ferries and went to Canada, Mexico and Spanish Florida
what was Nat Turner’s Revolt
Nat Turner: intelligent and religious preacher who escaped the plantations and went back
a ‘vision’ told him to do this in 1812
1831 - Turner and his men killed every white person they met, including the master. The rebellion lasted for 36 hours and 800 troops stopped it
what was John Brown’s Raid?
He was a northern abolitionist who wanted to terrorise the South
he and 19 men crossed to Harper’s Ferry in Virginia and seized weapons, but few slaves helped them and militia men killed them
he was heroised and people were worried if one man could do this, other men could too.
what were the signs that the abolitionist movement was progressing?
- religious arguments off Evangelical Protestants said that it was a natiinal sin
- antislavery organisations became effective with methods of resistance which was led by faith
- in 1834, newspapers earned nationwide notoriety for its advocacy for emancipation
what were the problems faced by abolitionists
- many Americans did not support it, and they thought it created economic instability
- abolitionists argued over means and methods
- by 1830s, a militant south became totally opposed to emancipation
what is the historiography for slavery in the us civil war
‘negroes of the south are the happiest labouring class’ - Author Caroline Hentz
‘it assists to keep your machinery together and in motion’ Senator for South Carolina
‘people of plenty’ HIstorian David Potter - early 19th century
