Making Of America - Unit 1: America’s Expansion, 1789-1838 Flashcards

Question

State formation (1803-1837) and expansion south west (post 1819)

Answer 1

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan were formed from Indigenous lands (in the Northwestern area) States like Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama were added • as the USA spread, the NA who had occupied this land moved further west into regions which were often inhabited by other tribes. This deepened the resentment towards the US government and increased inter-tribal tensions

Answer 2

• Thomas Jefferson, as President (1801-09), believed that the ideal democratic American was a ‘Yeoman farmer’ who owned his own piece of land and could provide for himself • however land was sold in 640 acre lots for $640, which most farmers couldn’t afford • most farming families barley made $100 a year, therefore most farmers can’t afford to own their own land/provide for themselves - resentful to land speculators • excluded from Jefferson’s image

Answer 3

• thousands of white Americans were inspired by the promise that they could own their own piece of land. In the NW territory, many became ‘squatters’, hoping that they would raise the money by the time the bailiffs came knocking Squatting and eviction created tensions between : the government settlers and squatters wealthy (land speculators)

Answer 4

Land speculator has bought large sections of land cheaply from the government (often in bulk) and sold it onto small farmers, who could not afford to buy the full 640 acres, for a profit. The government even offered a 10% discount for those who bought land in cash. In Wisconsin 68 speculators bought half 1,000,000 acres. This caused a lot of anger for farmers because they’re excluded from Jeffersons promises and can’t afford by their own land. They felt exploited by policies favouring the wealthy .

Answer 5

• Jefferson was keen for the US to become a major player in the world economy. To do this, he needed to open new land routes across the continent. Jefferson, in negotiations for the port of New Orleans, was given the offer to buy 530,000,000 acres from France for $15 million. • steal!!! • all because Napoleon needed money to fund European wars • this enormous purchase of land at a tiny price, meant that expansion fuelled tension over who controlled and benefited from new lands

Answer 6

Jefferson sent Merriweather Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly purchased Louisiana territory in May 1804. They followed the Missouri River into the Rocky Mountains and made their way overland through unclaimed territory to the Pacific Coast, mapping routes West. They interacted with Native tribes and mostly got on well, eg the Shoshone woman called Sacagawea acted as their guide • while trade opportunities increased, misunderstandings with tribes did occur - for example, with the Sioux leader, Black Buffalo, which nearly led to a small war.

Answer 7

• routes created by Lewis and Clark, led to an explosion in the fur trade. Maps created by Lewis and Clark allowed traders to hunt beaver furs, for sale to Europe. This encourage other traders to head Westward into new land, especially the Rocky Mountains. • the trade with Native Americans grew rapidly and had remarkably few problems until around 1840

Answer 8

• the nature of the climate and land in the southern territories, meant that crops like tobacco, rice and cotton could be grown • northern businessmen felt the south had an unfair advantage in trade as slaves could not strike, wages were not paid and therefore profits were higher. • slaves were considered the property of their owners who owned the land. by 1838 they were over 2 million slaves living in southern states.

Answer 9

1790 saw a religious rivalry and there was more interest in ideas like God had created all equal and free • religious groups in the south preached that God had made black people to serve white people. slavery was dividing peoples understanding of Christianity.

Answer 10

• there was worry that changing the constitution might lead to the south rebelling against the new country and separating • slavery have been a real problem when the constitution was drawn up in 1787 (inalienable rights, all men are free and equal etc) • enslaved people could not vote. White Americans had all the power - if enslaved people were classed in the population, the South would gain power and influence.

Answer 11

• The children of slaves automatically became slaves themselves • by 1938, the USA was producing over 1 million bales (220,000 tons) of cotton a year to meet demands from the north and overseas • new cotton-growing lands became available in the south after 1790 (Louisiana purchase) • in 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin • many presidents were from the slaveholding south, and therefore did not try and stop the growth of slavery • slaveholders in the Old south decided to open new plantations in the deep South • banks were willing to loan money to plantation owners on the promise that they would be paid back with interest when the harvest came in • the Louisiana purchase in 1803, led to the rapid expansion of plantations and slavery, forming the cotton kingdom by 1819. States like Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi were created, with cotton making up to 42% of all US exports by 1820. • New Orleans, which tripled in size between 1803 and 1819, became a central hub for the cotton trade. The city saw the growth of the domestic slave trade, where enslaved people were bought and sold in auction houses, contributing to the expansion of slavery on plantations across the region

Answer 12

• invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 • engine which acts as a sieve, separates the seed from the cotton plant • x50 quicker • slowest part of the process was now picking the cotton, so demand for people grew as they wanted get as much cotton as possible in the machine • therefore slavery boomed

Answer 13

• enslaved people revolted against white plantation owners • 1811 – in Louisiana led by Charles Deslondes - rebels killed white men, but local forces ended the revolt two days later • heads were put on spikes to be looked at, fear grew • CD was brutally killed with 25 others • North - believed it proved slavery didn’t work, wondered what would happen if 2 million were freed

Answer 14

The group held lots of different views Some didn't like the power that slavery gave the South Some (e.g. Lloyd Garrison) called for the slaves immediate emancipation - others thought that emancipation should be gradual Some wanted to send them back to Africa Some encouraged revolts against plantation owners Some did not agree with violence

Answer 15

Economy relied on slavery South - slave owners were 25% of the population, needed slaves 75% were reliant too, e.g. boat owners who transported cotton, people who ran auction houses North - factories making fabric from cotton Rich Northerners and banks bought land in the South and sold it to make money

Answer 16

President of the USA from 1829 to 1837 Southerner who openly supported slavery Allows banks to lend larger sums to people who wanted to invest in any business connected with cotton

Answer 17

1818 - 11 slave states in the South 11 free states in the North N and S wanted to be equal in how many free/slave states there were Missouri is in the Louisiana colony, question over whether it should be a slave state or not - need to keep the balance 1819 - Maine applies to be a state Missouri becomes a slave state, Maine is a free state Slavery is kept South, below the line so that opposition doesn't grow

Answer 18

Cherokee Muscogee Creek Seminole tribes Choctaw Chicasaw

Answer 19

Tried to use the same political structures as the USA by 1820s - had their own churches, schools and a newspaper 1827 - established a written constitution to govern their country More people were literate than white settlers Created a written language used money for the economy Set up capital city - Echata

Answer 20

Successfully negotiated financial compensation for their lands during the Indian Removal Act but still faced forced relocation

Answer 21

Originally inhabited parts of Mississippi and were known for agricultural society First to sign a removal treaty Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek Began relocation to Indian Territory

Answer 22

After Indian Removal Act was passed, small group of leading Seminoles signed treaty Moved to Indian Territory Not all of them agreed Known for fierce resistance in Second Seminole War - refusing to leave Florida

Answer 23

Benjamin Hawkins learned the language of Creek Indians and tried to teach them the American way of life Ancestral lands were primarily located in Alabama and Georgia before being moved West

Answer 24

1830 - offered Indians the chance to move west into Oklahoma in return for a small amount of money None of tribes were happy - Creek and Seminole Indians fought back but were eventually moved Cherokee was also forced to move West. 1838 - almost all land in South was open for white settlers

Answer 25

Desire for farmland Belief that NA were impeding economic development ideology of Manifest Destiny

Answer 26

1787 - NW territories meant many Native Americans move further West following the defeat of the British in 1783 South East tribes not easy to move due to sea and settlers

Answer 27

Washington saw their society as inferior 1790 - cotton spectators increase tension

Answer 28

1814 - Creeks and Seminoles went to war against settlers in South East 1814 - white American army led by Andrew Jackson defeated Creeks Creeks had to give up 23 million acres of land

Answer 29

Efforts to try and save homeland Choctaw and Chickasaw and Seminoles opened churches and schools South East tribes felt they needed to adapt

Answer 30

Andrew Jackson was president and wanted to remove tribes so cotton planters could use land Indian Removal Act - created a 'voluntary' territory for NA in the West By 1838 - AJ had forcibly removed over 46,000 Indians from their lands - opened up 25 million acres East of Mississippi to white settlement/slavery

Answer 31

Cherokee tribe took the state of Georgia to the Supreme Court (Worcester V Georgia) in 1831 Accused Georgia of ignoring their rights as an independent nation - Judge Marshall ruled in favour - claimed they were a 'distinct political society' - but saw them as dependant on the US Govt so set standard where tribes had to follow presidential instruction - so Cherokee could stay in Georgia AJ was furious - told govt of Georgia to continue settlement of lands

Answer 32

Creeks signed a treaty in March which gave portions of land in Alabama over Each Creek was promised an individual piece of land in remaining land Land speculators would cheaply buy some land and took more without permission by squatting on land Alabama govt wouldn't stop them

Answer 33

Began stealing livestock Committed arson and murder, Alabama called for US govt

Answer 34

Second seminole war lasted from 1835 - 1842 Cost USA $40-60 million (x10 of estimated cost of removal) African Americans who had escaped slavery joined forces - Osceola agreed to a peace negotiation, he was captured and thrown in prison and remaining seminoles were pushed West Took a third war (1855-1858) for USA to remove last Seminoles across the Mississippi Paid last 200 to leave Florida

Answer 35

Elias Boudinot of the Cherokees signed a treaty with the US govt - headed West to Indian territory - 15,000 Cherokee signed a petition to Congress - rejected treaty

Answer 36

Secretary of War ordered removal of remaining Creeks

Answer 37

15,000 Creeks had moved West

Answer 38

Only 2000 of Cherokee moved West by then concentration camps used in Winter, forced march called the Trail of Tears where 4000 Cherokee died moving to Indian Territory in Oklahoma 7000 US army troops forced 18,000 Cherokee into conc. camps - Boudinot was murdered by own people From Georgia to Oklahoma - completely illegal because Supreme court said they could stay Died of cold, hunger and disease Dogs used to carry possessions

Answer 39

Theory - the US govt led expansion in order to remove threats of attack from European settlers and Native As Evidence - Washington committed 80% of govt budget to fighting the Indians War fought with Britain in 1812 Govt purchased land from Spain and from France

Answer 40

Theory - Govt led expansion in order to promote trade and boost the US economy Evidence - Thomas Jefferson purchased Louisiana from the French in order to develop a trade link to the Pacific Ocean Govt appointed Lewis and Clark to seek a river route to the Pacific - they failed but it led to further expansion due to the fur trade

Answer 41

Theory - brave frontiersman led the expansion and led attacks against NA, then demanded the govt secure their rights Evidence - popular stories and myths which promote 'the American Dream' e.g. about men such as Daniel Boone in Kentucky and Missouri

Answer 42

Theory - all American men who owned land were able to vote. Jefferson argued more land was therefore needed to keep America democratic - a lack of land would lead to fighting and a failure of democracy as had happened in Europe. Evidence - Jefferson sold huge amounts of land to yeoman farmers who he saw as the very ideal of a US citizen

Answer 43

Theory: the US govt sold the land they aquired not to yeoman farmers but to wealthy investors who, in turn, sold it for huge profits Evidence - as early as 1785, US Land Ordnance set up to sell land in sections of 640 acres - far beyond reach of most individuals A third of all land in state of Wisconsin was sold by govt to just 68 men

Answer 44

Theory - exploiting African slaves created huge profits and wealth for white Americans so this drove the desire for more land on which to grow cotton, and hence expansion Evidence - by 1790s, old states were selling their slaves to work the land in the new Southern States, e.g. Kentucky Northern businessmen invested in southern cotton production which drove the desire for expansion

Making Of America - Unit 1: America’s Expansion, 1789-1838 Flashcards

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