apush-9 jacksonian america
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APUSH 2013 Study Guide Chapter 9 Outline Terms Vocabulary Brinkley Text BookTRANSCRIPT
9-Jacksonian America 240-251
“Our Federal Union”
Calhoun and Nullification
Supported the tariff in 1816
1820s South Carolinians “tariff of abomination responsible for stagnation of the
economy
o was the result of South Carolinas exhaustion of farm land
Calhoun’s theory of Nullification
Ideas from Madison & Jefferson/ Virginia and Kentucky resolutions 1798-1799/
citing 10th amendment
Argued that the federal government created by the states, not courts or congress were
final arbiters of the constitutionality of the federal laws
Theory of Nullification-
If a state concluded that congress had passed an unconstitutional law then it could
hold a special convention and declare the federal law null and void within the state
Nullification doctrine had support of South Carolina
Martin Van Buren was John C. Calhoun’s rival
The Rise of Van Buren
Became governor of New York in 1828 (resigned in 1829)
Jackson appointed him as secretary of state
Van Buren established himself as a member of the cabinet and Kitchen cabinet
Van Buren’s influence on the president grew as a result of a quarrel over etiquette
that drove a wedge between the president and Calhoun
Peggy O’Neal- daughter of a Washington tavern
o John Eaton & Jefferson stayed with O’Neal
o 1820, rumors about O’Neal and Senator Eaton spread, married in 1828
Jackson made Eaton Secretary of War
Jackson chose Van Buren to succeed him to the white house
The Webster-Hayne Debate
Debate over federal policy toward the Western lands
o Senator from Connecticut, suggested that all land sales and surveys in the
west be temporarily discontinued, to slow the growth of slavery
Robert Y. Hayne said slowing down the growth of the West was a way for the East to
retain its political and economic power.
o hoped he would attract support from westerners in congress to lower the tariff
in South Carolina
South & West argued they were both victims of tyranny of North East
Hayne suggested both regions combine and defend themselves
Daniel Webster- Senator of Massachusetts / a Whig was against Hayne
o Challenging Hayne on the States Rights VS. National Power
o Hayne brought up Theory of Nullification
o Webster “Second Reply to Hayne” (“Liberty and Union, now and forever, one
and inseparable!”)
o Thomas Jefferson – “Our Federal Union- It must be preserved.” “The union,
next to our liberty most dear.”
The Nullification Crisis
1832, Nullification=Crisis
o Congressional tariff bill was passed that offered South Carolinians no relief
from the 1828 “tariff of abominations”
Legislature, state convention to nullify tariffs of 1828 & 1832/ forbid collection of
duties w/in state
South Carolina elected Hayne as Governor
South Carolina elected John C Calhoun as Senator
Jackson, Nullification= Treason (those implementing it = traitors)
o Strengthened federal forts in SC & ordered warship / revenue ships to
Charleston.
1833- Congress convened early
o Jackson proposed force bill authorizing the president to use the military to
make sure acts of congress were obeyed.
No states supported SC / SC was divided
Henry Clay newly elected Senate
o Compromise- tariff would be lowered, by 1842 it would be the same as in
1812
Compromise and Force Bill passed on same day (March 1, 1833)
The Removal of the Indians
Jackson wanted to move west beyond Mississippi
White Attitudes Toward The Tribes
Natives= Nobel Savages
Tribes had valuable land, whites wanted it
The Black Hawk War
Sauk & Fox Indians under Leader Black Hawk
o Refused to honor agreement made after 1832 to cede tribal lands in Illinois
Sauk & Fox Indians Defeated
Abraham Lincoln served as captain of the militia, but saw no action in the Black
Hawk war.
Jefferson Davis was a lieutenant
The “Five Civilized Tribes”
Tribes remained in Western Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida
o Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, & Choctaw
o Cherokee developed- written language, formal constitution (1827)
Removal Act- Federal Government negotiate treaties with Southern Indians to move
them westward
o 1830 Congress Passed the Removal Act
Cherokees appealed to Supreme Court
o Cherokee Nation v. Georgia & Worchester v. Georgia (1831, 1832)
Cherokees Resistance- 1835, Federal Government extracted treaty from Cherokees
o Jackson sent army led by General Winfield Scott.
Trails of Tears
Cherokees fled to state line of North Carolina
o Federal Government provided a small reservation in the Smoky Mountains
“Indian Territory” (Winter 1838) Called their route “The Trail Where They Cried”
Indian Intercourse Act of 1834
The Seminole War-1842 Government abandoned the war
Jackson and the Bank War
Jacksons Opposition to Concentrated Power
Biddle’s Institution
Bank’s headquarters in Philadelphia, branches in 29 other cities
o Only place fed. Gov. could deposit its own funds, owned 1/5 of bank stock
o Nicholas Biddle- President of the bank 1823
o Andrew Jackson wanted to destroy the prosperous institution.
2 Oppositions
o “Soft Money”-wanted more currency in circulation. Objected to the bank of
the US- it restrained state banks from issuing notes freely
o “Hard Money”- Gold & Silver only basis of money
Jackson supported “Hard Money”
Nicholas Biddle- Philadelphia aristocrat, granted financial favors to men who would
help preserve the Bank.
o Biddle and Webster developed close friendship
o Webster = Bank’s legal council and director of Boston Branch.
Helped win the support of Henry Clay
Jackson vetoed the recharter bill
Clay ran for President, Jackson Won
The “Monster Destroyed”
Jackson could not legally get rid of the bank
o Weakened it- Removed Government Deposits. (Secretary of Treasury- it
would destabilize the financial system)
Jackson fired the Sec. Treas., replaced , fired again
3rd Secretary of Treasury – Attorney General Roger B. Taney
o Taney placed government deposits in “pet banks”
Biddle called in loans and raised interest rates
Winter 1833-1834 Biddle was blamed for the recession
o He then began to grant credit
Bank Died in 1836- left the country with unstable financial system
The Taney Court
1835 John Marshall died
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney
o Helped modify Marshalls nationalism
Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge 1837
o Mass. Companies dispute right to build a bridge
Taney- State had right to amend a contract if such action was necessary to advance or
abrogate a contract if such action was necessary to advance the well-being of the
community
Jacksonian Ideal –key to democracy, expansion economic opportunity. It would not occur if
older corporations could maintain monopolies.
The Changing Face of American Politics
Whigs- the party that worked to limit the kings power
“Second Party system”
Democrats & Whigs
Democrats- steady expanding economic and political opportunities
o Role of gov. limited/ gov remove obstacles and not create them
Jacksonians- rapid economic growth, attacking centers of corrupt privilege.
o Society “the planter, the farmer, the mechanic & the laborer, all know that
their success depends on their own industry and economy.”
Locofocos- mainly workingmen, small businessmen & professionals in the NE
Whiggery- favored power of the federal government, encouraging industrial and
commercial development. Cautious of westward expansion. Embraced industrial
future, commercial and manufacturing
Democrats- oppose legislation establishing banks, corporations, modernizing
institutions.
Whigs-strongest merchants and manufacturers of NE, wealthy planters S, farmers of
the W
o Advocated expanding trade, economic progress
o Wealthier than Democrats/aristocratic backgrounds, commercially ambitious
Democrats- support from smaller merchants, workingmen NE, S planters suspicious
of industrial growth. W with southern roots.
o Favored agrarian economy, opposed powerful institutions
Anti-Masonry – NY , Whigs Anti-Mason movement 1820s(to gain the popular vote)
Jackson & Van Buren = Masons
Religious & Ethnic Divisions – German, Catholics = Democrats / Protestant =Whig
Whigs “Great Triumvirate” Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John Calhoun
Election on 1836- Democrats- Van Buren / Whigs- several candidates
o Van Buren won election
9-Jacksonian America 251-259
Van Buren & The Panic of 1837
Andrew Jackson retired 1837
Canal & Railroads builders peak of activity. Prices rising, money plentiful,
easy credit, banks increased their loans & notes not paying attention to
their cash reserves.
1835-1837 land businesses booming- the sale of lands/money from the
tariff in 1833 government has a budget surplus, national debt was
reducing
1836- Congress passed Distribution Act- requiring the federal government
to pay surplus funds to the states each year in 4 quarterly installments- it
stimulated the economy
“specie circular”- 1836 Jefferson – when paying for public lands gold and
silver only accepted, or currency securely backed up by gold or silver
Panic of 1837- Banks & Businesses failed, unemployment grew, Bread
riots, prices fell (prices of land) railroad/canal projects failed. States with
debt didn’t pay interests on their bonds
Both parties responsible also Europeans
o Europeans investors withdrew funds from America
o Crop failures
Panic occurred during democratic administration, (opposed government
intervention)
Independent Treasury- “Subtreasury” government places its funds in an
independent treasury in Washington and in subtreasuries in other cities.
No private banks would have the government’s money. (Most important
and controversial achievements by Van Buren)
The Log Cabin Campaign
December 1839- Whigs had 1st National nominating convention in
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
o P- William Henry Harrison, VP- John Tyler of Virginia.
Harrison- renowned solider, Indian fighter, popular national
figure
o Democrats nominee- Van Buren, failed to nominate a VP
1840s Campaign first in “Penny press” new way to inform people
o Whigs= party of the common people , Democrats= Party of the
Common people
Whigs- portrayed Harrison as wealthy member frontier elite,
simple man of the people who loved log cabins and hard
cider. Accused Van Buren- aloof aristocrat, used cologne,
drank champagne, ate from gold plates
The Frustration of the Whigs
Harrison died of pneumonia one month after taking office.
Tyler= former Democrat, abolished Van Buren’s Independent treasury
system & raising tariff rates. Refused to recharter bank. (Calhoun replaced
Webster)
Whig Diplomacy
1837- eastern Canada launched rebellion against the British colonial
government.
o Rebels charted the Caroline, American ship. British seized the ship
and burned it killing 1 American
o Alexander McLeod- Canadian, charged with murder of the
American. Brit. Gov. McLeod could not be charged with murder
because it was done under orders.
o Foreign secretary, the bellicose Lord Palmerston, demanded his
relase and threatened execution = “immediate and frightful war”
Aroostook War- dispute, boundary Canada & Maine (lumberjacks)
1841- Creole (American ship) Virginia to New Orleans with slaves, the
slaves took possession on the boat and went to Bahamas (brits declared
there slaves=Free)
1842- Lord Ashburton (Brit) to negotiate with Maine about boundary
o Webster and reps from Maine and Massachusetts, Webster-
Ashburton Treaty 1842, established northern boundary (Canada)
Tyler administration- 1st diplomatic relations with china
o Caleb Cushing (commissioner) negotiated treaty giving US some
part in China trade, also “extraterritoriality”(right, Americans
accused of crimes in China to be tried by American officials
o Treaty of Wang Hya- 1844
10-America’s Economic Revolution 260-274
The Changing American Population
The American Population, 1820-1840
3 trends- Population increasing rapidly, moving from county to industrializing cities,
migrating west. Improvements of public health. High birth rates.
Immigration slowed because of European wars
Influx of Irish Catholics
European immigration flowed into NE growing cities.
1810, New York= largest city , Erie canal gave city access to the interior state.
Immigration & Urban Growth, 1840-1860
Rapid Urbanization
West- The booming agricultural economy (Urban growth)
Major port cities- St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville. Center of trade that connected
farmers of the Midwest. (Cities by the Mississippi)
After 1830s shipping from Mississippi River to Great Lakes, superseded river ports. –
Buffalo, Detroit, Milwaukee, Cleveland, most important = Chicago.
Surging Immigration 1840s-1850s
o England, France, Italy, Scandinavia, Poland Holland, most from Ireland and
Germany.
German Immigrants- in Germany industrial revolution caused poverty & collapse of liberal
revolution 1848, persuaded Germans to Immigrate
o Settled in Northwest and became farmers, or businessmen in the west.
o Germans had some money, they were German families or single men
Irish Immigrants- in Ireland, oppressiveness, greatest disaster “potato famine” 1845-1849.
o Settled in eastern cities
o Irish had no money and were mostly young, single women, became factory workers
The Rise of Nativism
New Immigration provided for cheap labor and low wages.
West hoped for immigrants to move there- expand the population– made a market,
land/goods
Political leaders wanted immigrants to increase the political influence of the region.
o Western states soon permitted foreign-born to become voters as soon as they declared
their intention of seeking citizenship & had resided in the state for a year.
“Nativism”- defense of the native-born people & a hostility to the foreign-born, desire to stop
or slow immigration.
o Results= racism, immigrants were inherently inferior to older-stock Americans
o Viewed immigrants with same prejudice and low ability as the African Americans
and Indians. New comers were socially unfit. Viewed as job stealers because they
worked for low wages.
“Alien Menace” – Secret society that were against immigrants
Native American Association- agitating against immigration in 1837.
o 1845, held a convention in Philadelphia and formed the Native American Party
1850- the order of the Star-Spangled Banner
o demands banning Catholics or foreign-born from holding public office. Literary tests
for voting.
o Secret code = “I know nothing” became the “Know-nothings” group.
Focused on party politics after 1852 election. (declined in1854)
Transportation, Communications, & Technology
The Canal Age
1790-1820s turnpike era
# of steam boats grew
o corn & wheat from NE, cotton & tobacco from S -> New Orleans- carried passengers
Farmers pay less to transport goods/ Eastern consumers pay less
Canals were cheaper to transport goods
Canal building was the job of the states. NE took lead in constructing them
De Witt Clinton- governor of NY in 1817 (canal digging began in 1817 in NY)
Erie Canal- 40 ft wide, 40 ft deep. 80 lock, opened in October 1825
o Gave direct access to Chicago, NY could then replace New Orleans
The Early Railroads
Railroads became the primary transportation
Invention of tracks, steam-powered locomotives, development of railroad cars for passengers
1820- John Stevens, locomotives and cars around circular track in NJ.
1825- Stockton & Darlington Railroad in England- 1st line to carry general traffic
Baltimore & Ohio- 1st company to begin actual operations, 13-mile track
NY- Mohawk & Hudson 1831- Schenectady -> Albany
Railroads & Canals = Competetion.
The Triumph of the Rails
Chicago became the rail center of the west.
Railroad financing- many sources 1850 Senator Stephan A. Douglas (Illinois) persuaded
congress to grant federal lands to aid in the Illinois Central, Chicago -> New Orleans.
Congress assisted many states.
10- America’s Economic Revolution 274-283
Innovations In Communications & Journalism
1844- Samuel F. B. Morse, successfully from Baltimore to Washington sent
news of James K. Polk presidential nomination
Telegraphs was ideal for long-distance communication
Pacific Telegraph 1861 NY to San Francisco
All lines joined and became the Western Union Telegraph Company
1846- Richard Hoe invented the steam cylinder rotary press
o print newspapers fast & cheap
o Associated Press- promote cooperative news gathering by wire.
o Major metropolitan newspapers NY = Horace Greenley’s Tribune/
James Gordon Bennett’s Herald/ Henry J. Raymond’s Times
Journalism unified America
Journalism in 1840s- 1850s fueled sectional discord
Papers in N , reinforcing S sense of subjugation
Commerce & Industry
Mid 19 century US developed modern capitalist economy & advanced
industrial capacity
The Expansion of Business, 1820-1840
1820s-1830s business grew rapidly because of population growth and
ease of transportation
o daring imagination & ruthlessness of a new generation of
entrepreneurs
Change in retail distribution of goods
o Larger cities- grocery stores
o Smaller villages – general stores
Organization of business changed
o Limited partnerships
o Corporations began to develop in 1830s (group could secure
charter by paying fee)
New laws = system of liability- stockholders risked losing
only the value of their own investment if a corporation should
fail, and they are not liable for the corporations larger losses.
Rise of corporations made it possible for a larger manufacturing and
business enterprises
Business relied on credit. Banks began to fail because they circulated too
much currency
The Emergence of the Factory
Shoe factories – Eastern Massachusetts
1840-1860 dramatic growth in factories
NE plants so large that the region produced more than 2/3s of the nations
manufactured goods
Advances in Technology
Government supported research and development of machine tools
Springfield, Massachusetts developed- turret lathe (cutting screws and
other metal parts) milling machine (became critical in making the sewing
machine)
US technology became better than European technology
Interchangeable Parts- Eli Whitney & Simeon North tried to introduce into
gun factories.
o Revolutionized watch and clock making, locomotives, farm tools
etc.
Coal was replacing wood and water
1830- 544 inventions were patented 1850- 993 1860- 4,778
1839- Charles Goodyear- New England hardware merchant, discovered
vulcanizing rubber (treating it to give it greater strength and elasticity)
1846- Elias Howe, Massachusetts, constructed a sewing machine,
o Isaac Singer made improvements (Howe-Singer Machine)
Water power was the most important source of power in manufacturing
o Some factories had to close in the winter
Men & Women at Work
1840- growing immigrant population became most important source of
workers
Recruiting a Native Workforce
The development of new tools and fertile farm lands – increased food
production
o New farming methods less labor intensive
o Food could be imported from region to region
2 Systems of recruitment
o whole families from farm to mill
o enlisting young women
o Lowell or Waltham System
Lowell system depended on young unmarried women
o Conditions were horrifying
o Difficulty adjusting to factory life
1834- Mill workers in Lowell organized a union
o the Factory Girls Association
o recession of 1837 destroyed the organization
o Sarah Bagley, created the Female Labor Reform Association –
demanded 10hr work day and improvements of working conditions
The Immigrant Workforce
Low wages
They could not support their families, they lived in shanties which
threatened their health
Harsh Working Conditions
The Factory System & the Artisan Tradition
Factory system threatened Artisans
They were unable to compete with factory goods
National Trade Unions, skilled workers formed societies for mutual aid
o Set up trade unions , economies of cities were interconnected
o 1834- delegates from 6 cities founded the National Traders’ Union
o 1836- the printers & cordwainers set up their own national craft
unions
leaders struggled (courts said – combination among
workers= illegal conspiracy)
Fighting for Control
New Hampshire 1847 & Pennsylvania 1848 passed 10 hr laws, limiting
work da, unless workers agreed to “express contract”
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania passed child labor
regulating laws (didn’t help much)
1842- Commonwealth v. Hunt
o declared unions lawful organizations and striking was lawful
o Union movement ineffective in 1840s-1850s
1830s Artisans had greater success than the factory workers
Skilled workers created
o National Typographical Union- 1852
o Stone cutters-1853
o Hat Finishers-1854
o Molders & the Machinists- 1859
1850s Women began establishing Protective Unions
Americas Working Class was divided. Numerous factories, ethnic divisions
etc.
11-Cotton, Slavery, & The Old South 297-307
The Cotton Economy
Economic power shift from “upper South” to “lower South”, growing
cotton industry
The Rise of the Cotton King
“upper South” relied on cultivation of tobacco. (Unstable crop, fluctuating
price.)
o prices frequent to depressions 1820s-1850s, tobacco exhausted the
land
o 1830s- Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina shifted to Wheat, tobacco
moved westward (piedmont area)
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida – cultivated rice, stable/lucrative crop.
Sugar growers along Gulf Coast, only wealthy planters, had competition
from Caribbean. Southern Louisiana & Eastern Texas.
Long-Staple (Sea Island) Cotton- Lucrative, only grew in limited area of
southeast.
Short-staple cotton- Harder coarser strain of cotton, could grow in variety
of climates. Seeds were difficult to remove from fiber. (1793 Cotton Gin
solved that)
Demand for Cotton was rapid- Growth of textile industry in Britain 1820s,
1830s and in New England 1840s, 1850s.
o Many men and women moved to uncultivated lands after the tribes
were relocated to grow cotton
Beginning in the 1820s cotton production spread rapidly.
o South Carolina, Georgia. Production moved westward, Alabama,
Mississippi , Northern Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.
“Cotton is King”- southern politicians
Cotton production dominated the “lower south” “deep south” -> “cotton
kingdom”
(Expansion of Slavery) 1820 & 1860 the # slaves grew tremendously in
Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia
o The Sale of slaves became an important economic activity. Helped
compensate for declining value in crops.
Southern Trade and Industry
Weak Manufacturing Sector
Growing activity in flour milling and textile, iron manufacturing- upper
south
o Tredegar Iron Works, Richmond compared to the NE Mills
South developed a nonfarm commercial sector, serve the need of
plantation economy
o Important- Brokers “factors” marketed the planters’ crops.
Lived in New Orleans, Charleston, Mobile, Savannah. Tried to
find buyers for cotton and other crops. Also were bankers for
the planters, they provided planters credit.
South- Doctors, editors, lawyers & other, closely tied, dependent on
plantation economy
o Depended on the North’s manufacturing and economic system.
Inadequate Regional Transportation System- in the south, no canals, no
railroads, roads were crude. Unlike the north during the antebellum
period.
Railroad was ineffective when it came to connecting trade routes across
the state.
o Charleston, Atlanta, Savannah & Norfolk had direct connections
with Memphis
o Independent lines between Ohio River and New Orleans .
o Most lines were short and local. Transportation was mainly used for
water.
o Planters shipped their crops by river or sea.
Albert Pike, Arkansas Journalist- “From the rattle with which the nurse
tickles the ear of a child born in the South to the shroud that covers the
cold from the dead, everything comes to us from the North”
James B. D. De Bow – Resident New Orleans, most prominent advocate of
the southern economic independence. Published a magazine De Bows
Review advocating southern commercial and agricultural expansion.
o Founded 1846 lasted until 1880
o Wanted southern economic independence of the North warned
constantly of the dangers of the colonial relationship between the
sections (N & S)
o Irony – Printed in New York because New Orleans had no Printers
adequate
Sources of Southern Difference
Reasons for colonial dependency
o Agriculture was booming, wealthy southerners had capital invested
in land, the southern climate, hot = less suitable for industrial
development.
o Southerners work habits, lack strong work ethic that north had.
o Failure to create commercial or industrial economy
Discouraged the growth of cities and industry
White Southerners = representatives of a special way of life: based on
traditional values of chivalry, leisure, elegance. (the Cavalier Image)
o People happy free from the instinct of the “Yankees”
o More concerned with refined and gracious life than rapid growth
and development.
White Society in the South
Small minority owned slaves in south- misleading
The Planter Class
Planter Aristocracy- Cotton magnates, sugar, rice & tobacco nabobs,
whites who owned 40/50 slaves & 800+ acres of land
o They determined political & economic & social life of their region.
o Wealthier planters also owned homes in cities where they would be
socialites
o Liked to compare themselves to old upper class Europe- True
aristocrats. (they were not similar at all)
Plantation Management- planters had to supervise carefully if they wanted
a profit
Tidewater, Virginia- great aristocrats, families who had occupied wealth
for generations
o Mostly just came into wealth, 1st generation
o Reality and Image- determined to portray as genteel aristocrats.
Determined to defend their positions. (defense of slavery stronger
w/ new)
Aristocratic Values – avoided coarse occupations (trade and commerce)
“Honor”
Males adopted a code of chivalry- defending their honor, thru dueling
Idea of honor- idea of ethical behavior and bravery, importance of dignity
and authority
Preston Brooks- South Carolinian congressman beat Senator Charles
Sumner, Massachusetts he acted honorable (united states senate) North
thought of him as a savage.
Cult of Honor- avenging women’s insults was huge
The “Southern Lady”
Housewives, hostesses, companions, nurturing mothers.
White men gave more “defense” for the women, but white men were even
more dominant
George Fitzhugh- important south social theorist “women, like children,
have but one right, and that right is to protection. The right to protection
involves the obligation to obey.”
Most women lived on farms, isolated from others
They spun and wove, helped supervise slave workforce, ”planation
mistresses”-ornament
Southern women had less education
The Plain Folk
Typical southerner- modest yeoman farmer- plain folk
o Subsistence farming
Southern education didn’t provide learning opportunities for the poor
“Hill People”- lived in Appalachian range east of Mississippi in the Ozarks
west of the river
o cut off from the commercial world, owned no slaves.
o Personal freedom , older political ideas
Close Relations with the Plantation Aristocracy- small farmers depended
on local plantation
o To access cotton gins, markets, credit
Commitment to Paternalism- traditional male dominated family structure
o Gender relations to ensure order and stability. Men= Unquestioned
masters of their home
Degraded Classes – “crackers” “sand hillers” “poor white trash”
o Lived in swamps in cabins, dietary deficiencies, disease. (ate clay)
Limited Class Conflict- No opposing to plantation and slavery
o No strength to protest, but even though they were poor they were
white, they were still considered the ruling race
Frederick Law Olmsted- northerner who visited south 1850s- “From
childhood, the one thing in their condition which has made life valuable to
the mass of whites has been that the niggers are yet their inferiors”
11-Cotton, Slavery, & The Old South 307-319
Slavery: The “Peculiar Institution”
Southerners referred to slavery as – Peculiar Institution: Distinctive,
special.
Isolated Blacks from whites- African Americans developed a culture
of their own.
Masters and Slaves dependent on each other.
Varieties of Slavery
Slave codes forbade them to hold property, leave masters’ premises
without permission, be out after dark, carry fire arms, could not
learn, testify in court.
Killing a slave was not considered a crime
Enforcements of the slave code was spotty
Task and Gang Systems- larger plantations task system – common
on rice plantations, slaves were assigned a particular task
Life Under Slavery
Masters gave them what they needed to survive
Slave Women had the toughest jobs labored and did household
chores
Slave families were constantly broken apart
High mortality rates
House Slaves had an easier time, physically it didn’t require much.
There was a lot of sexual abuse. Master and Slave.
Slavery In the Cities
Autonomy of Slaves- mining, lumbering, docks, drove wagons,
unskilled jobs in the city
Black women outnumbered black men
Free African Americans
Few slaves earned money and bought their freedom
Elizabeth Keckley earned her and her sons freedom by sewing
Some slaves were set free by their master
Tightened Restrictions on free blacks
o Fears because of Nat Turners rebellion, fear that if set free
blacks will turn on their masters
It was difficult to manumit/ free slaves- all southern states forbade
free African Americans from entering.
The Slave Trade
Slave Markets, auctions
Transported by trains or by river, by foot
Domestic slave trade, essential to the growth and prosperity of the
whole system.
Trade was dehumanizing
The foreign slave trade- although federal law had prohibited the
importance of slaves from 1808 they were continually smuggled.
William L. Yancey of Alabama – If it’s right to buy slaves in Virginia
and carry them to New Orleans, why is it not right to buy them in
Cuba, Brazil or Africa and carry them there?
The convention 1858 voted to recommend the repeal of the laws
against slave imports but it didn’t happen.
Resistance of smuggling- 1839 a group of 53 slaves in Cuba took
control of the Amistad a ship that was transporting slaves to
another part of Cuba
Van Buren thought the slaves should be returned
Slave Resistance
“Sambo”- behavior- charade assumed in the presence of whites
Slave rebel- remained forever rebellious
1800 Gabriel Prosser- gathered 1,000 rebellious slaves outside
Richmond (failed)
Nat Turners was the only large scale
12- Antebellum Culture & Reform 320-328
The Romantic Impulse
National Cultural Aspirations
Nationalism and Romanticism in American Painting
Literature and the Quest for Liberation
Literature in the Antebellum South
The Transcendentalists
The Defense of Nature
Visions of Utopia
Redefining Gender Roles
The Mormons
12- Antebellum Culture & Reform 328-344
Remaking Society
New reform movements
Temperance, education, peace, and the care of the poor, and the mentally ill,
the treatment of criminals, the rights of women
Revivalism, Morality, and Order
Philosophy of reform came from, optimistic visions who rejected
Calvinist doctrines
The Temperance Crusade
Health Fads and Phrenology
Medical Science
Reforming Education
The Indian Reservation
The Emergence of Feminism
The Crusade Against Slavery
Early Opposition to Slavery
Garrison and Abolitionism
Black Abolitionists
Anti-Abolitionism
Abolitionism Divided
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