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Period: Jan 1, 1558 to
Mercantilism & Salutary Neglect
MERCANTILISM- the mother country's way to ensure profit by forcing their colonies to trade solely with them.The colony provides raw materials, the mother country manufactures these supplies, then are then sold back to the colonies, creating a triangular trade that benefited Britain.
SALUTARY NEGLECT- a British law in the colonies which allowed the colonists to violate the laws associated with trade.There were no effective enforcement agencies in America so the colonies became more independent. -
Jamestown
Jamestown was founded as an ECONOMIC VENTURE by the Virginia Company of London.
The colony's main source of revenue was TOBACCO, a labor intense crop introduced by John Rolfe. This cash crop led to the rapid growth of the Virginia colony. As more labor was needed to support this growth the company looked back east for a solution.
To attract new settlers (for labor) the Virginia Company proposed a HEADRIGHT SYSTEM, the promise of an area of land given for settling in their newly founded colony. -
Pilgrims & Puritans
As pilgrims sailed from England fleeing religious intolerance, they dreamed of a city that would be an example for the world in rightful living, they called this desire "THE CITY UPON THE HILL".
In their colony, Massachusetts Bay, while Puritans had come to practice religion freely they did not support RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE of other belief systems.
Puritans believed in STRICT WORK ETHIC, and believes that everyone had to do their part. -
Pilgrims & Puritans (2)
As for politics, they created the MAYFLOWER COMPACT, a social contract and the first written framework of government in the new world.
The HALF-WAY COVENANT applied to those members of the Puritan colonies who were children of church members, but who hadn't achieved grace themselves. The covenant allowed them to participate in some church affairs. It was a form of partial church membership. -
Bacon's Rebellion
After Sir William Berkeley (gov.) became unpopular with small farmers due to his restrictions on the right to vote, high taxes, and lack of Native protection, Nathaniel Bacon led an army of like-minded men stormed Jamestown but when Bacon died the rebellion collapsed. This incident shows the clash of east and west, rich and poor.
This incident led to the revision of the INDENTURED SERVANT system and greater reliance on SLAVE LABOR to make up for the decreased level of indentured servitude. -
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Great Awakening
The GREAT AWAKENING was a sudden outbreak of religious fervor that swept through the colonies, it was one of the first events to unify the colonies. Long term effects of the Great Awakening were the decline of Quakers, Anglicans, and Congregationalists as the Presbyterians and Baptists increased. It also caused an emergence in black Protestantism, religious toleration, an emphasis on inner experience, and denominationalism. -
French and Indian War Effects
The end of the French and Indian War left the British with a massive war debt leading to the reversal of the SALUTARY NEGLECT policy.
At the end of the war Britain issued a PROCLAMATION LINE that was to ease Native conflict on the frontier by not allowing colonists to move west. This line was a failure because there was no efficient way to block the entire frontier and conflict continued. This line, like other British policies including the STAMP ACT pushed the colonies towards independence. -
Revolutionary War
The US war for independence from Britain. The conflict started after british implements like the stamp, tea, and quartering acts. The war begun at Lexington and Concord and ended with the battle of Yorktown. What helped to defy odds and spur the US victory was FRENCH AID on the side of the colonists. Without the power of this large established military and navy, the US wouldn't have succeeded. Once France joined the war it became an international conflict. -
Declaration of Independence
The DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE formalized the colonies' separation from Britain and laid out the Enlightenment values (best expressed by John Locke) of natural rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" upon which the American Revolution was based. This document was drafted by Thomas Jefferson. This documented a sharp separation between loyalists and helped to inspire the American Revolution. -
Articles of Confederation
The AOC were the first US attempt at a constitution. It established the US as a loose confederation of states under a weak national government. Under this congress could not regulate trade or commerce. The AOC were too weak to properly support the nation and had to be replaced soon thereafter.
SHAYS REBELLION was an armed uprising of Massachusetts debtors seeking lower taxes and an end to property foreclosures; the insurrection inspired fears of "mob rule" among leading Revolutionaries. -
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British Violations of the Treaty of Paris
Many changes of the TREATY OF PARIS were violated by all parties after the war. States ignored federal rule, British soldiers ignored the provision demanding them to abandon their land in the US, and more importantly their relinquishment of their slaves. Spain and Great Britain did not establish any clearly defined northern boundary to Spanish-controlled Florida. Spain used its control of Florida to block American access to the Mississippi in defiance of Article 8 of the Treaty of Paris. -
Land Ordinance of 1785; Land ordinance of 1787
Three laws (1784, 1785, 1787) that dealt with the sale of public lands in the Northwest Territory and established a plan for the admission of new states to the Union. 85 was part of the AOC and divided the US into Townships to facilitate land sales to settlers while 87 outlined the needs to become a new state (60,000+ people, same rights as original states, no slavery in new territories). -
Constitution
The new Constitution STRENGTHENED THE GOV by allowing taxation, raising an army, and distributing power between the states and three branches of federal government.
The fight for ratification was between the Federalists (pro-constitution) and the Anti-Federalists. Everyone wanted to make sure that federal power was limited in order to avoid creating a monarchy like they had just escaped. Those against it thought it would encroach on inalienable liberties and individual rights. -
Founding Fathers Attitude Toward Political Parties
Founding Fathers did not anticipate or desire the existence of political parties, viewing them as dangerous to the public interest. George Washington was openly very against the formation of parties, he believed that they would ruin the "good of the people". Political parties started when Jefferson and Hamilton argued over how government should be run. Their followers argued with each other - hence the birth of parties. -
Hamilton's Economic Policies
After the American Revolution and accumulation of war debt there was solutions suggested to help. Hamilton's plan was to assume state debt and establish a national bank. This was highly contested by Republicans like Thomas Jefferson who lived in the South and believed that taxpayers in states with little debt (like Virginia) should not be required to assume other state's debt. He also drafted a system of duties & tariffs. As tensions between parties grew as did their followings. -
Deism
DEISM is the acceptance of the existence of God, but considered him a remote being that after creating the universe, withdrew from involvement with the human race. During this time many families stopped attending church and people started rejecting the idea of predestination, which led to the Second Great Awakening. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the document that lists US amendments. The PURPOSE of this document is to define the civil liberties of American citizens. It refers to the first 10 amendments and was introduced to guarantee the protection of our basic rights.
Includes:
Prohibition of any law biased towards establishment of religion
Right to arms
Prohibition of any act that deprives life, liberty, and/or property
As weaknesses were found in the Constitution amendments were added to clarify our rights. -
Washington's Neutrality Proclamation
A formal announcement issued by President George Washington declaring the United States a neutral nation in the conflict between Great Britain and France. The U.S. would not take sides after the French Revolution touched off a war between France and a coalition consisting primarily of England, Austria and Prussia. Washington's Proclamation was technically a violation of the Franco-American Treaty of 1778. It was enormously controversial (Jeffersonians were enraged because they were pro-French). -
Eli Whitney
American inventor known for the cotton gin and the concept of interchangeable parts. The cotton gin helped to quickly remove seeds from cotton, and while Whitney's goal was to help eradicate slavery, it caused slavery to become more necessary. Interchangeable parts was a manufacturing process which uses standardized parts. Before, if a single part of a machine broke, it had to be replaced, but now specific parts could be interchanged. -
Washington's Farewell Address
This speech that announced Washington's retirement that was spread through newspapers, not orally. It stressed maintaining commercial but not political ties to other nations, not entering permanent alliances, and told that America's uniqueness depended on being independent action on foreign affairs. This document was rejected by Jeffersonians who were pro-french ally. The document also warned against the establishment of political parties. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien Act- empowered the president to arrest and deport dangerous aliens & the Sedition Act- made it illegal to publish defamatory statements about the federal government or its officials. The first 3 were enacted in response to the XYZ Affair. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, which initiated the concept of "nullification" of federal laws were written in response to the Acts. -
Early 19th Century Authors
Ralph Waldo EMERSON- Transcendentalist who was against slavery and stressed self-reliance, optimism, self-improvement, self-confidence, and freedom.
EDGER ALLEN POE- American poet, short-story writer, editor and literary critic, and is considered part of the American Romantic Movement.
WALT WHITMAN- Poet and transcendentalist who was famous for his beliefs on nature.
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER- Wrote numerous sea-stories and historical novels. One of America's first great novelists. -
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Lowell System
The LOWELL SYSTEM textile factory system of the early 19th century that employed mainly young women (age 15-35) from New England farms to increase efficiency, productivity and profits in ways different from other methods. Once these women have found a husband she would return home to resume her wifely duties. -
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Cult of Domesticity
A widespread cultural creed that glorified the customary functions of the homemaker. Married women held immense power in being able to control the morals of a household.Allowed women to live in greater material comfort then before. Placed a higher value on "Female Virtues". Actually a step back from progress, left women detached from the public world. Women could no longer work in shops or mills. -
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Irish Immigration
The Irish came during the Potato Famine, a time when Ireland's main food source completely became rotten. Because the Irish did not come the U.S. with enough money to buy land, they mostly remained in the northeastern cities. Protestant communities saw the Catholic Irish as a group who were trying to replace Protestantism with Catholicism. The Irish were typically illiterate, it was difficult for them to find work. The KNOW NOTHINGS posed for restrictions on immigration and naturalization -
The Election of 1800
Jefferson and Burr tied in the number of electoral votes and then Hamilton (who despised Burr) supported Jefferson, which eventually won him the election. This was significant because political power was shifted between parties, peacefully, for the first time. Also, it caused further conflict between Burr and Hamilton. During this election there was lots of mudslinging and rumors to make your own candidate look better. -
Marbury v. Madison
The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, (the Judiciary Act of 1789). The case came out of a struggle between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. Marbury v. Madison is significant because it is the first case which really asserted the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review. -
Louisiana Purchase
U.S. acquisition of the Louisiana territory from France in 1803 for $15 million. The purchase secured American control of the Mississippi river and doubled the size of the nation.
Jefferson wanted this land due to his belief in a sprawling agrarian society and economy that he hoped would be possible through the purchase of this land. This purchase was debated due to the nature of its constitutionality, this event helped to strengthen the federal government. -
William Lloyd Garrison
A very prominent abolitionist, published "The Liberator" in Boston under his leadership, The Liberator gained national fame and notoriety due to his quotable and inflammatory language, attacking everything from slave holders to moderate abolitionists, and advocating northern secession. Garrison helped found the American Anti-Slavery Society; favored Northern secession and renounced politics. -
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War of 1812
Caused by outrage over the impressment of American sailors by the British and British aid to the Indians attacking the Americans on the western frontier. Troops led by Andrew Jackson seized Florida. The TREATY OF GENET required the U.S. to give back Florida. Two weeks later, Andrew Jackson's troops defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans, not knowing that a peace treaty had already been signed. The war strengthened American nationalism and encouraged the growth of industry. -
Hartford Convention
A meeting of New England Federalists held in Hartford Connecticut. These Federalist opposed the War of 1812 and held the convention to discuss and seek redress by Washington for their complaints and wrongs that the felt had been done. Many of these complaints were manifestation of their fears of being overpowered by states in the south and west. The Hartford Convention shows sectionalism and the impending downfall of the Federalist party. -
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America System & Clay-Whig Policies
Henry Clay's three pronged system to promote industry in the US. Consisted of a strong national banking system, a protective tariff, and a nationally funded transportation system. Henry Clay was a senator from Kentucky, who ran for president five times until his death in 1852. He was a strong supporter of the American System, a war hawk for the War of 1812, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and known as "The Great Compromiser." -
Monroe Doctrine
An order dealing with foreign policy- proclaimed that Europe should not interfere in affairs within the United States or in the development of other countries in the Western Hemisphere. During this time the US was not strong enough though, to enforce these threats to Europe. The ROOSEVELT COROLLARY showed Roosevelt's belief that the US should assume international police power in th Western Hemisphere and prevent European interference, which justified intervention in Latin American affairs. -
Tariff of Abominations & Nullification Crisis
TARIFF OF ABOMINATIONS sought to protect northern and western agricultural products from competition with foreign imports. This Tariff seemed to forget the South and disregard that it would cause an economic crisis. In response to the tariff VP John C. Calhoun wrote a doctrine of NULLIFICATION. Jackson regarded this STATES-RIGHTS challenge as serious. He asked Congress to enact legislation permitting him to use federal troops to enforce federal laws in the face of nullification. -
Andrew Jackson
Jackson's presidency was preceded by the Battle of New Orleans, “Corrupt Bargain of 1824”, and the Election of 1828. He was all about the "Common Man" his goal was to eliminate property requirements for white males to be able to vote. In 1830 Jackson passed the INDIAN REMOVAL ACT which led to the Trail of Tears and the hardships that accompanied. Jackson refused to sanction the recharter of the national bank which would make it cease to exist. Instead, he put national funds into PET BANKS. -
Treanscendentalism
A philosophy pioneered by Ralph Waldo Emerson in which each person has direct communication with God and Nature There is no need for organized churches. It incorporated the ideas that mind goes beyond matter, intuition is valuable, that each soul is part of the Great Spirit, and each person is part of a reality where only the invisible is truly real. Promoted individualism, self-reliance, and freedom from social constraints, and emphasized emotions. -
Mexico
The ELECTION OF 1844 focused on the issue surrounding the annexation of Texas. The WHIG nominee straddles the issue of Texas annexation. John C Calhoun, pro-slavery and pro-annexation Democratic candidate also e=ran in this election, but when the election came to a tie the DEMOCRATS nominated a dark horse, James K Polk. U.S. made Texas a state in 1845. Joint resolution - both houses of Congress supported annexation under Tyler, and he signed the bill shortly before leaving office. -
Manifest Destiny
This expression was started by the Democratic party, they were pro-Manifest Destiny. Many people believed that the U.S. was destined to secure territory from "sea to sea," from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This rationale drove the acquisition of territory. Most Whig Party candidates ardently opposed the expansionism proposed in the idea of Manifest Destiny. Many Whigs opposed recent events based on moral standpoints. -
Seneca Falls Convention
First modern Women's rights convention. At the gathering, Elizabeth Cady Staton (organizer) read the "Declaration of Sentiments" listing the many discriminations against women, and adopted eleven resolutions, one of which called for women's suffrage. Susan B. Anthony was a strong woman who believed that men and women were equal. She fought for her rights even though people objected, through her speeches she spread awareness. -
Popular Sovereignty
An idea that the people of a given territory should decide whether to allow slavery into their new states as they became part of the US. Seemingly a compromise, it was largely opposed by Northern abolitionists who feared it would promote the spread of slavery to the territories. This idea became tarnished as people flooded new territories skewing the vote trying to help the side they supported. -
Compromise of 1850
The goal of this compromise was to ease sectionalism and please both the North and South. The North got California admitted as a free state, Texas gave up its claims to lands disputed with New Mexico, and Slave trade in D.C. was banned. The south were satisfied with Popular sovereignty in Mexican Cession lands, Texas was paid $10 million for land lost, and a new, tougher Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was passed. The new FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW "round up" runaways up North and ship them back South -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This Act set up Kansas and Nebraska as states. People who were pro-slavery and antislavery moved to Kansas. This began guerrilla warfare. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY decided whether the state would be free or slave. The MISSOURI COMPROMISE set it up so that Maine joined as a free state and Missouri joined as a slave state. Congress also made a line across the southern border of Missouri saying except for the state of Missouri, all states north of that line must be free states or states without slavery. -
Dred Scott Case
A Missouri slave sued for his freedom, the case went all the way to the Supreme Court. Claimed that his four year stay in the northern portion of the Louisiana Territory made free land by the Missouri Compromise had made him a free man. The U.S, Supreme Court decided he couldn't sue in federal court because he was property, not a citizen. In the North, the Dred Scott decision fueled antislavery factions and in particular strengthened the Republican Party. -
John Brown
John Brown was a militant abolitionist that took radical extremes to make his views clear. Brown attempted to create a major revolt among the slaves. He wanted to ride down the river and provide the slaves with arms from the North, but he failed to get the slaves organized. The effects of Harper's Ferry Raid in the South was that they saw the act as one of treason and were encouraged to separate from the North, and Brown became a martyr to the northern abolitionist cause. -
Lincoln and The Republican Party on Slavery
Political party founded in northern states in 1854 by anti-slavery activists, modernizers and ex-Whigs, the Republican Party quickly became the principal opposition to the dominant Democratic Party. It first came to power in 1860 with the election of Abraham Lincoln. Although Lincoln was heavily anti-slavery he was even more concerned with SECESSION. His goal was to keep the Union from coming apart. When he saw it was inevitable he waited for the South to make the first move. -
Civil War
There was many tensions that led to the Civil War, some of these include the argument between pro and anti slavery groups, competing industries, social bias, and politics (especially the election of Abraham Lincoln). At the beginning the North had strong industry, good leaders, and more money than the South who had little infrastructure but a strong force of people fighting for their way of life. Both sides saw that without help from Europe their causes would be hopeless. -
Emancipation Proclamation
After victory of Antietam Lincoln issues this proclamation stating that all slaves in the rebelling states would be free. This proclamation injured the confederacy, threatened its property, heightened its dread, hurt its morale. Lincoln used this as a way to broaden the goals of the war and achieve a moral victory, but through its principles it freed absolutely no slaves on the day it was given; changed the purpose of the war and caused Europeans to withdraw from supporting south. -
Compromise of 1820
Missouri wanted to join the Union as a slave state, therefore unbalancing the Union so there would be more slave states then free states. The compromise set it up so that Maine joined as a free state and Missouri joined as a slave state. Congress also made a line across the southern border of Missouri saying except for the state of Missouri, all states north of the 36/30 line must be free states or states without slavery.
