Chapters 12-13 Flashcards
(39 cards)
What is nativism?
Nativism is the belief that immigrants will take jobs and opportunities from native-born citizens, and that immigrant cultures will weaken American society. They support anti-immigration measures and want the government to limit the number of immigrants allowed into the country.
What groups are the targets of nativist sentiment at this time? Why (what are people fearful of)?
Nativists were fearful of German and Irish immigrants. They had economic fears, like that their jobs would be taken away and they would have to work for less money. They also had cultural fears that catholics would overtake Protestants as the dominant Christain group and that Germans and Irish people were heavy drinkers which was against Protestantism.
What really happened with immigrants in this time period?
During this time period immigrants actually help to spur the industrial revolution in the US, couldn’t have been so widespread and robust without the addition of immigrants to fill these new jobs (factories, mines, railroad construction, jobs that US citizens don’t want)
What are reform movements?
Groups of people who unite to push for change with the goal of improving society and addressing social problems, usually in response to the social and economic changes occurring (like immigration increasing, market rev, migration, new tech)
What were some reform movements?
More rights for white women, 2nd Great Awakening, Temperance/Prohibition, Abolitionism, Utopian societies, Education reform, and prison Reform.
What was Republican motherhood?
The fact that women raised children, especially male children who would be the future voters of america, so they still had to be educated so they could teach their children, and they were counted for representation. So they were involved politically a little bit.
What was the Cult of Domesticity?
Declared that a woman’s place was in the home, love, friendship, and not to actually make things. Man were the workers and should come home to a woman. They should not be ambitious, they should be dependent and defenseless.
Why were women “allowed” to participate in reform movements?
They could be the moral conscience of the nation because they were the same at home, so it was fine that they could support people’s rights because that was their role in the house so why shouldn’t they
Preached anti-drinking (temperance), because it left the women home alone (that’s why they wanted to vote, so they could vote on this issue).
Why did male leaders of the anti-slavery movement deny women’s calls for equality?
They believed that any cause for women’s rights undermined the cause for anti-slavery. Makes sense because slaves were only legal in half the country, but women had no voting anywhere. We don’t want to lose the people who don’t agree with women’s rights. One issue at a time
What was the purpose of the Seneca Falls convention?
The purpose was to get women’s suffrage (ability to vote). Increased rights for women economically and socially
What was Temperance and prohibition
Temperance (encouraging people to drink less) / prohibition (banning alcohol):
Combo of Nativism and growth of Protestant Christianity; which tended to focus on abstaining from alcohol
How were utopian communities a response to what was happening in America during this time period?
It was a response to the massive changes brought by the shift to an industrialized market economy, so people could separate themselves from the worst aspects of this world, and be safe in their community
Could be religious or worldly (some support women’s rights, unregulated, celibacy, and anti-slavery)
How was the 2nd Great Awakening influenced by the market rev?
This was a religious revival reform movement to “reform” the issues with the world that came along with the market rev. While many preachers criticized the selfish individualism in free market competition, there was a market for new religions and preachers, who would travel the country drumming up business.
Awakening ministers also preached the values of sobriety, industry, and self-discipline, which had become the essence of both the market economy and the impulse for reform
How much of a problem was alcohol? Basically how much were people drinking?
In 1830, per capita liquor consumption was 7 gallons per year, which is more than double what it is now (and doesn’t count all the other types)
Why was a ban on alcohol so controversial?
This idea of limiting or banning alcohol appealed to the protestant ideas of restraint and perfection, and so it was controversial, especially with Catholic immigrants, who liked strong drink and alcohol wasn’t sinful to them
What were the goals of the American Colonization Society?
It’s goal was to ship all former slaves back to Africa and they established Liberia as an independent homeland for former slaves, emigrate there
What were the goals of Garrison’s American Anti-Slavery Society?
This was a more radical society preaching that slaves had the same rights as whites, and its goal was to abolish slavery. It preached that slavery was a sin. Regardless of race
What was the significance of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave & Uncle Tom’s Cabin?
They were the most eloquent works by spokesmen for the equal citizenship of blacks and whites so more white men listen to them
It humanized slaves and upended stereotypes
How did polk get elected in 1844?
James K.Polk, a democrat, wins the election by having a solid platform of: Acquiring Texas (Texas had been pushing to join US since they gained independence from Mexico), Solving border dispute between US and Great Britain over Oregon : Gets the vote because the people know what they are going to get.
What were the 3 things that happened in polks presidency?
Lowered the tariff ( remember he’s a dem, this was a core issue for them) 32% to 25% ,
settled Oregon border dispute (Britain agreed to drop claims to Oregon, too much trouble for them…we accept the 49th parallel mainly b/c we are already at war with Mexico, so we didn’t get what we promised)
Acquisition of territory from Mexico
Polk wants California so he sends a group to Mexico City to offer to buy it for $25 mil, Mexican officials refused . Polk starts a dispute on the Texas / Mexico border to start a war May 1846:Polk asks for a Dec of War Claiming “American blood on American soil” was split by the Mexican army, Some Whigs, including Lincoln, oppose the declaration but enough members of Congress support it and war is declared.
How did the Mexican-american war end?
War ends Feb 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
US gains California and New Mexico territory ( Nevada, Utah, Arizona, parts of Colorado and Wyoming)
Rio Grande recognized as Southern border of Texas (Texas-Mexican border)
US gives Mexico $18 mil (pay reparations because we started the war)
What are the consequences of the Mexican-American war?
13,000 Americans dead, The US increases by ⅓ , if you add Oregon and Texas we DOUBLED in size!!!!!
Biggest result = re-arouses issues over slavery
At the end of the war there were 15 free and 15 slave states, now the issue became what to do with the newly acquired territories…
What is the wilmot proviso? What does it illustrate about the divisions of the time?
Northern members of the house pushed to ban slavery in new territories (proposed by David Wilmot of PA) Southerners see it as an attack on the institution of slavery.
anti-slavery groups create the free soil party
became active in 1848 election “Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men” (they don’t want slavery to spread into this new territory) Eventually becomes Republicans. The Wilmot proviso won’t pass and the issue will be pushed off for 2 more years when Cali applies for statehood.
What were the issues behind Compromise of 1850?
Main issue = expansion of slavery.
Problems Congress is facing in 1850
1. California seeks admission as a free state
2. Texas (slave state) lays claim to parts of Utah, New Mexico,Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and Oklahoma
3. Northern abolitionists are pushing for slavery to be banned in D.C.
4. # of slaves running away from slaveholding
states are increasing and Northern states are
not helping to return fugitive slaves
The north: slavery can’t spread into new territories…
Free soilers: this land should be free of slavery to allow econ opportunities for poor whites
Abolitionists: slavery should be abolished
South: Want slavery to expand bc it will avoid too large of a slave pop to exist in too small of an area which could make a slave revolt more likely
The South is losing economic and political power, if slavery expands so will the interests of the South
North trying to limit property rights
can’t bring your slave anywhere you want…
