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1838-1860The Antebellum Era(Pre-war period)

Callaway PlantationBy: ColterManifest Destiny1845 John OSullivan, a New York journalist, wrote that it was the manifest destiny of our country to expand or spread west.Manifest Destiny- the divine right to expand the U.S. territory and democracy.President James K. Polk was a strong believer in manifest destiny and wanted to acquire the Texas, Mexican(California), and Oregon territories. Oregon TerritoryAmerica and Great Britain disputed the boundary between the U.S. and Canada.In 1818 they agreed on the boundary which was the 49th parallel(49 north latitude).

TexasMexico wins independence from Spain in 1821.About 20,000 white settlers had moved into the Texas territory.Mexican president Santa Anna forbids any new settlement. Texans declare independence and Santa Anna attacks the Alamo.

The Lone Star RepublicSam Houston leads the Texan forces and defeats Santa Anna.Texas eventually becomes the 28th state in 1845.

The Mexican-American WarPolk offers to buy California and New Mexico, Mexico invades Texas.General Zachery Taylor takes troops to the border(Rio Grande) where a few men are killed, Congress declares war on Mexico.Taylor easily defeats Mexican troops at Palo Alto.General Winfield Scott leads 7,000 troops to Mexico City and finishes the war.

The Treaty of Guadalupe HidalgoGives the U.S. more than 500,000 square miles of territory.(California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, parts of Wyoming and Colorado).Polk pays Mexico $18.25 million.*112,000 fought in the war including 2,100 Georgians.*The United States now had territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

California Gold Rush1829 Dahlonega gold discovery1848 An even bigger gold discovery in California.Gold was discovered on the American Fork River by John Marshall and John Sutter.The stampede to find gold in California begins.

States RightsStates rights is the belief that the states interests are more important than the interests of the national government.Northern States- believed that the United States could function better when political decisions made are best for the whole country.Southern States- believed the states had the right to govern themselves and decide what is best for each state individually. Southern states did not think northern states could possibly understand their needs.

The Doctrine of NullificationNullification-the belief that states could ignore federal laws.10th Amendment-Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government are reserved for the states.Tariffs- taxes placed on imports such as iron, molasses, wool ect. (Some tariffs were as much as 50%)

The Doctrine of NullificationSouthern states felt the tariffs favored the northern businesses/industry.South Carolina invokes the doctrine of null and threatens to secede( leave the union) over the issue of tariffs.Andrew Jackson threatens to send troops to S. Carolina, eventually the tariffs are reduced some; other southern states do not really support S. Carolina.

Class StructureClass structure in the North was based on wealth and wealth allowed northern people to move up in social class easier.

Class Structure in the South was more on what family a person was born into. In the South it was harder to move up in class.

Class structure had always been a part of America but during the antebellum era it was more rigid.

Refer to page 215Class Structure in the South PlantersLarge plantation owners Divided into smaller/larger land ownersRepresented 1% of white familiesWealthiest people in the United StatesSmaller group controlled most of the wealth and were the political leadersOwned the majority of the slave population(20 or more)

Class Structure in the SouthFarmers With SlavesFarmers owned fewer than 20 slaves, most 5 or lessRepresented the middle classSmaller homes but comfortableHead of the household ran day to day operation of the farmRepresented about 20% of the white populationClass Structure in the SouthMerchantsLived in towns/citiesWorked jobs such as cotton brokers, store managers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, ministerMost were wealthy and ran the daily operation of the townsArtisans- skilled workers such as carpenters, brick layers, shoe maker, blacksmith

Class Structure in the SouthYeoman FarmerLargest group of white southerners (75% of population)Independent farmer that lived season to seasonMost did not own slavesLife as a yeoman farmer was hard, many relied on others for help and workWorked from sun up to sun down

Only a few actually owned a slave

Class Structure in the SouthFree BlacksThis class included farmers, artisans, or tenant farmersMost were in the upper South (Maryland and Virginia)A few actually owned slaves and had a small plantation or large farmDenied citizenship rights: voting, education, travelSegregated even in the North

The Missouri CompromiseCompromise (agreement or settlement) between the northern and southern states; approved in 1820 Maine entered the Union as a free state, and Missouri entered as a slave state11 states allowed slavery and 11 states did notProhibited slavery north of the Mason-Dixon Line (36 degree latitude)Temporarily solved slavery controversy between the states

The Compromise of 1850 and the Georgia PlatformCompromise between northern and southern states in 1850California would enter Union as a free stateNew Mexico territory would not become part of Texas or a guaranteed slave stateThe District of Columbia would no longer trade slaves, but slave owners there could keep their slavesRunaway slaves could be returned to their owners in slave statesUtah and New Mexico territories could decide if they wanted to allow slaves or notThe Georgia Platform Statement from the Georgia Convention in response to the Compromise of 1850. Supported by Union states, the Georgia Platform stated that the Southern states would agree to follow the Compromise of 1850 (and not leave the Union) as long as northern states would no longer attempt to take away rights from southern states.The Georgia PlatformThe Georgia Platform Statement from the Georgia Convention in response to the Compromise of 1850. Supported by Union states, the Georgia Platform stated that the Southern states would agree to follow the Compromise of 1850 (and not leave the Union) as long as Northern states would no longer attempt to take away rights from Southern states.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act Created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska in 1854; nullified the Missouri Compromise and broke the peace created by the Compromise of 1850.Led to the creation of the Republican Party and further divided the northern and southern states.Those territories had right of popular sovereignty Popular sovereignty: When a territory asked for statehood, the people could vote on slaveryFreesoilers in those territories fought against Abolitionists and proslavery supportersThe Dred Scott Supreme Court Case and DecisionSupreme Court ruling in 1857A slave filed suit after he lived in free states with his owner but was returned to slave stateCourt ruled that slaves were not citizens and could not file lawsuitsCourt also ruled that Congress could not stop slavery in the territoriesDecision further separated the North and South

Election of 1860In 1860, Abraham Lincoln, a Republican from Illinois, won the Presidential election. Northern states favored a Republican candidate that would help to abolish slavery. Southern states favored candidates that supported States Rights.

Northern States, California and Oregon supported Lincoln. Most Southern states supported John C. BreckinridgeMost Border states supported either Stephen Douglas or John BellDebate Over Secession in GAGeorgians were, for the most part, for the Union; however, they were strongly for states rightsDespite lawmakers strong debates for and against secession (leaving the union/country), a Secession convention began in January 1861 in Milledgeville, the capitalA secession ordinance (bill) passed by a vote of 208-89The Southern states who seceded met in Montgomery, Alabama in February, 1861; they formed the Confederate States of America

Georgians in LeadershipAlexander H. Stephens served as a Representative in Congress from Georgia from 1843-1859. During this time he spoke against southern secession. However, after the southern states seceded from the Union Stephens was elected as Vice President of the Confederate States of America (CSA) in 1861. Robert Toombs was named Secretary of State of the Confederate States of AmericanGovernor Joseph E. Brown favored secession and used his terms as governor to prepare Georgia for war