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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