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American History 1st Trimester

Pre- Columbian American History
• Bering Strait (Landbridge) Theory- Theory that 35,000 years ago the Ice Age turned much of the world’s ocean
into massive glaciers, thus lowering the sea level. This drop in sea level revealed a land bridge connecting
Eurasia and North America in the Bering Strait. Nomadic Asian hunters probably crossed it following
migratory herds of animals for about 250 centuries. Until 10,000 years ago the land bridge remained, until the
Ice Age ended and the glaciers melted and the sea level rose back to normal
o Geology (study of earth)- Traces of coral were found around the area of the land bridge’s location
which proves that the ocean level dropped 90-100 feet (coral lives at the bottom of the ocean so in order for
there to be coral, the water level must lower)
o Physical Anthropology (study of the physical characteristics of races)- Connections found between
pureblood Native Americans and pureblood Northeast Asians are comparable: high cheek bones, long &
straight black hair, pigmentation in skin, and dry earwax
o Archeology (study of human remains)- Patterns develop as older remains show up in the North and
West and newer remain in the South and East
• Potlatch- Great Indian feast that demonstrated one man’s great wealth. The host would give out gifts of great
value and feed the people with great food to show how much wealth he had
• Confederacy of the Five Nations- Confederacy developed in the 16th century by Hiawatha; it had the political
and organizational skills to sustain a military alliance that menaced the other Native Americans and Europeans
alliance
• Culture Stage- Way to chart the development of Native American civilizations based on their characteristics;
used because no written records were taken, making a time period not known
o Paleo-Indian (Oldest, most primitive)
 Single purpose of these people- SURVIVAL; lived in small tribes
 Infant mortality and age expectancy were at a low
 Used small simple tools as hunters and gatherers; invented the clovis point which was the
catalyst to their development
o Archaic (More advanced)
 Lived with larger tribes because they could hunt better and get more food; not as isolated as
other people before them; were hunters & nomadic
 Used bows & arrows, hatchets, a refined clovis point, and the atlatl
 Stone Boiling: Technique used that heats food; heat the rocks in a fire, then put them in
water (held in hide), and as water heats, food can be added
 Agriculture was the catalyst to advancement
o Formative (Most advanced)
 Permanent dwellings were set up, so much traveling was not required
 Division of labor within the society (builders, farmers, hunters, religious)
 As advanced as any other European civilization
• Clovis Point- Projectile point used for hunting; an arrowhead
• Moundbuilders- Indian civilization that built mounds along the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys (settlement
at Cahokia [near present day St. Louis] was their most thriving place); they were farmers, hunters, and major
MERCHANTS (traveled far distances to trade; this is shown by the gold and micah remnants found in the
mounds
• Plains Indians (Great Plains area)
o Sioux- Most well known tribe
o Archaic culture; nomadic tribe; very warlike peoples; lived in teepees
o Buffalo= Necessity; needed them for all purposes (hide used for homes, organs held water, etc.)
o Could have lived many more years but when the Americans killed the buffalo, the civilization could not
proceed
• Southwest Indians
o Pueblo Indians
o Formative culture; peaceful people; mainly were craftsmen and basket weavers
o Golden Age: Lived in homes carved out of hills (defense tactic)
• Northeast Woodland Indians (centered around forests)
o Lived in long houses and believed in communal living but were very warlike
o Built canoes, snowshoes, fishing rods, and bows & arrows
o Hunted deer and elk and were also farmers
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o Algonquin (Dominate in Canada and the Northeast)

 Most well known- Hurons; rather close with the French
o Iroquois (Based in Western New York)
 Most famous tribe- Mohawk
 Among the toughest fighters
 Ally of the English because they need help to fight the Algonquin
• Southeast Indians
o Most famous- Cherokee
o Superb farmers but did some small game hunting; peaceful and communal peoples
• Northwest Pacific Coast Indians
o Most unique & largest tribe- Kwakiutl
o They desired and believed in great wealth
o Were great fishermen; built large ships and went whale hunting
o Associated with the Totem Pole and with the Potlatch feast

Chapter 1- New World Beginnings (33,000 BC-1769 AD)

• Marco Polo- Italian adventurer who returned to Europe in 1295 and told stories of a 20 year trip to China; his
book about China was the European’s only account of the Far East until the mid 1600s
• Francisco Pizarro- Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incas in Peru in 1532
• Juan Ponce de Leon- Spanish explorer who in 1513 and 1521 discovered Florida in search of the “fountain of
youth” (gold)
• Hernando de Soto- Spanish conquistador who went on a gold-seeking expedition with 600 men during 1530-
1542; traveled from Florida westward and discovered the Mississippi
• Montezuma- Aztec chieftain that welcomed the Spaniards under Cortes because he believed that he was the god
Quetzalcoatl; Aztecs attacked the Spaniards under him on June 30, 1520 because of the Spanish hunger for gold and
power over the Aztecs
• Christopher Columbus- skilled Italian seafarer who with the permission by Spanish monarchs (Ferdinand and
Isabella), took 3 ships westward and on October 12, 1492 he sighted the Bahamas (New World); originally sought out
a new water route to the West Indies but instead bumped into the New World. He returned to Hispaniola in 1493
with 17 ships and unloaded 1,200 men, many livestock, and planted seedlings of sugar cane
o Due to his discovery, an independent global economic system emerged that had: Europe with the
markets, capital, and tech.; Africa with the labor; and the New World had the raw materials (metals and
good soil)
• Hernan Cortes- Spanish conquistador who in 1519 left Cuba in 11 ships and 700 men to find destiny in Mexico.
On August 13,1521, he laid a siege on the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and conquered and destroyed it
• Francisco Coronado- Spanish conquistador in 1540-1542 who discovered the Grand Canyon of the Colorado
River and enormous herds of bison while on an expedition to find “golden cities”
• Canadian Shield- Massive zone undergirded by ancient rock that probably became the first part of the North
American landmass
• Aztecs- People of central Mexico whose civilization was at its height under the rule of Montezuma (around the
time of the Spanish conquest in 1500s)
• Pueblo Indians- Village Indians that resided in villages of multi-storied, terraced buildings in the SW US; in the
Rio Grande valley, they constructed intricate irrigation systems to water cornfields (1500s)
• “Three sister” farming- Method of farming in which beans grew on the trellis of the cornstalks and squash
covered planting mounds to retain moisture in the soil; used to increase farming production and grow 3 things at the
same time
• Crusaders- Warriors of 11th-14th centuries who tried to gain the Holy Land from Muslims
• Renaissance- Period of the 14th century that was marked by optimism and adventure. Things such as the
printing press (1450) and the mariner’s compass made communication easier and the devo. of Western civilization
underwent the change from medieval to modern
• Treaty of Tordesillas- 1494 treaty that moved the Papal Line of Demarcation to make Spain gain the entire New
World and Portugal got Africa and India and the land soon to be Brazil
• Conquistadors- Spanish explorers and adventurers between 1519 and 1546 who came to the New World and
conquered many set up civilizations
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• Mestizos- Person of mixed race between an indigenous culture and a European culture (usually Spanish or
Portuguese)
• Black Legend- False concept that the conquerors merely tortured and butchered the Indians, stole their gold,
infected them with smallpox, and left misery. They did do those things, but the false concept was that these actions
were intended from the beginning, which is inaccurate
• Pope’s Rebellion- The Roman Catholic mission became the central institution in colonial New Mexico unto the
missionaries’ efforts to suppress native religious customs provoked an Indian uprising in 1680; rebels destroyed all
Catholic churches and killed any religious
• Factors Contributing to the “Age of Discovery”
o Desire to get to Asia: Europeans knew of Asia from Marco Polo and Crusaders were interested; they
traded with them occasionally but it was expensive, overland, very dangerous, and time-consuming
o Renaissance provided intellectual and technological advancements: An age of questions & most people
wanted to know about the world & what else was out there; new inventions: compass, astrolabe, & the caravel
(ship) improved sea travel
o Rise of Nation States- Nation-states were among the few that had the wealth and power to finance such
an extravagant trip
• Factors Contributing to the Age of Exploration
o Gold: Desire of gold for personal and national wealth became a running force; by exploring new areas,
explorers may come across gold and gain wealth for themselves and then have to share it with their financer
o Gospel/ God: The Spanish wanted to convert the Indians in the New World to Christianity because
they saw their ways of sacrifice and odd rituals unorthodox
o Glory- Personal and national glorification was desired. The Spanish wanted to get ahead of Portugal
on the international level so by achieving this major exploration, more glory would be instilled in the Spanish
• Spanish Empire in America
o Spanish population comprised of: Gov’t officials, nobility, military leaders, and religious. Portugal and
Spain begin disputing over the new land and the Pope declares the Papal Line of Demarcation
o Duration: Lasted 400 years (1492-1890s [Spanish American War; lost last 2 claims (Puerto Rico and
Cuba)])
o Size: Reached about a continent and a ½ (S.A., C.A., bottom 1/3 of N.A.)
o Control: Greatly outnumbered 25:1 but persisted and even intermarried with Indians and got the
upper hand to make them work for the Spanish
o Contributions: Black Legend; many Spanish came to improve and share their culture with the
Indians; printing press; education; Christianity; est. 1st permanent European settlement (St. Augustine, FL in
1565)

Chapter 2- The Planting of English America

• Sir Francis Drake- Most famous “sea dog”. He plundered around the planet and returned in 1580 with Spanish
booty. His journey netted profits of about 4,600% to his financial backers
• Humphrey Gilbert- Promoter of the first English attempt at colonization of Newfoundland. He reached there
but turned around shortly and died at sea on his return trip in 1583.
• Walter Raleigh- Humphrey Gilbert’s half-brother. Organizes an expedition to go to America under his dead
brother’s name; travels a bit more south and lands up on an island he names Roanoke, V.A./N.C. He establishes a
colony there and sends supplies there constantly.
• John Smith
o Young, intrepid adventurer who took over the gold hungry colonists in 1608.
o He saved the colony of Jamestown by working out an agreement with Powhatan, but is captured in
1607 and is sentenced to a mock execution (but is saved by Pocahontas).
o Puts the colonists to work: “He who does not work, does not eat.”
• Powhatan- Indian chieftain of a Virginia tribe near the James River area. He asserted supremacy over a few
dozen small tribes that became known as Powhatan’s Confederacy.
• Pocahontas- Daughter of Powhatan. She saved John Smith by interposing herself between Smith and the war
clubs of his captors
• Lord De La Warr
o New governor that arrived in Jamestown in 1610.
o Autocratically controls the colony, imposes a harsh military regime on the colony. Undertook
aggressive action against the Indians; known as the “Irish tactics”, they were the main cause of the 1st Anglo-
Powhatan War.
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• John Rolfe- Colonist who married Pocahontas (1st interracial union in V.A.) in order to seal the peace settlement
that ended the 1st Anglo-Powhatan War. Also, developed the method of curing a tobacco leaf to take away the
bitterness of it.
• Lord Baltimore
o Prominent, Catholic of England who wanted to make a free settlement for Catholics
o In 1634, he est. the colony of St. Mary’s (s.t.b. Maryland) off of the Chesapeake Bay
 They worked off of Jamestown and succeeded overnight.
• Oliver Cromwell- Puritan soldier that took over England for a couple decades after Charles I was beheaded
• James Olgethorpe
o One of the founders of Georgia.
o Dynamic soldier-statesman who became interested in prison reform after 1 of his friends died in
debtors’ jail
o As an imperialist and a philanthropist he saved “the Charity Colony” by his leadership and by heavily
mortgaging his own fortune
• Handsome Lake- Iroquois who had a vision in 1799 that warned him that the moral decline of his people must
end if they were to endure. He inspired many Iroquois to forsake alcohol, affirm family values, and revive old
Iroquois customs. He died in 1815
• Sir Edwin Sandys
o Treasurer of the Virginia Company
o Encourages the settlement of Jamestown and enforces two policies (1619!!):
 There will be religious & political rights granted to Virginia settlers
 Established the headright system (provides for private ownership of land)
• Enclosure- In the English countryside, landlords were enclosing croplands for sheep grazing, thus forcing many
small farmers into tenancy or moving them completely off the land
• Primogeniture- The legal principle that the oldest son inherits all family property or land
• Joint-stock Company- An economic arrangement by which a number of investors “adventurers” pool their
capital for investment. It was the forerunner of the modern corporation These became a very effective colonization
tactic
• Proprietor- Owner of land or some property
• Starving Time (Winter 1609-1610)- Time when disease and lack of food spread so fast and overwhelmed the
Jamestown colonists that many died; settlers go from 400 to 50
• Indentured Servants- A poor person obligated to a fixed term of unpaid labor, often in exchange for a benefit
such as transportation, protection, or training
• Squatter- Poor frontier famer in N.C. who illegally occupied land owned by others or not yet officially opened
for settlement
• Nation-state- The form of political society that combines centralized government with a high degree of ethnic
and cultural unity
• Longhouse-The building block of Iroquois society. It was a wooden structure that was 25 feet wide and stretched
from 8 to 200 feet long; it contained 3-5 fireplaces with 2 families. All families residing in the house were related, with
connections running along the maternal side
• Royal Charter- Royal document granting a specific group the right to form a colony and guaranteeing settlers
their rights as English citizens
• Yeoman- Ordinary independent farmers who moved into the area between Carolinas & V.A.
• Spanish Armada- An “invincible” armada of 130 ships that Philip II of Spain amassed to attack England. They
were defeated by the England’s swift moving ships in the English Channel in 1588. Their defeat gave England
dominance over the Atlantic and a vibrant sense of nationalism
• Virginia Company- One of the most successful joint stock companies. The main attraction was the promise of
gold, combined with the desire to find a way through America. It was only intended to endure for a few years, after
which its stockholders would liquidate it for a profit
• Virginia Company Charter of 1606- First Charter to be made; constructed by King James. “The colonists were
to have and enjoy all liberties, franchises and immunities as if they had been abiding and born within this, our realm,
England.” It applied to all Virginia settlers
• First Anglo-Powhatan War (1610-1614) - War started by Lord De La Warr when he enforced “Irish Tactics”
(tactics the English used against the Irish to cooperate). They raided Indian villages, burned houses, confiscated
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provisions, and torched cornfields. A peace settlement ended the war was sealed with John Rolfe marrying
Pocahontas (symbolic for the unity)
• Second Anglo-Powhatan War (1644-1648)- The Indians attacked but are weak and are defeated and forced to
give up their lands and leave. They lost due to Disease (populated was decimated), Disorganization (lacked unity they
needed to beat English), and Disposability (English didn’t need the Indians, they had no use for them)
• House of Burgesses- An economic representative body; in-house representative in Jamestown of the Virginia
Company of London. They dealt with trivial, daily issues and was more effective and efficient. It was the forerunner
of the 1st representative assembly in America
• Act of Toleration (1649)- Act granting toleration to all Christians (Anglicans, Catholics, Puritans); provided a
death penalty for Jews and Atheists; marks America as a place of religious toleration
• Barbados slave code- The harsh system of Barbados laws governing African labor that was brought with a
group of displaced English settlers in 1670. It was officially adopted by South Carolina 1696.
• Puritan Revolution- Puritans take over England with Cromwell as their leader and colonization of America is
slowed (1630s-1640s)
• Restoration- The time period after Oliver Cromwell’s Puritan Revolution (1660s). It was marked by Charles II
return to power in England
• Savannah Indians- Indians who helped the Carolina settlers search for captives to trade. In 1707 the Indians
wanted to discontinue the alliance and move out to Maryland & Pennsylvania but before they left, a series of bloody
raids annihilated the Savannah Indians of coastal Carolina
• Iroquois Confederacy (“League of Iroquois”)
o Founded in the late 1500s by leaders, Deganawidah and Hiawatha
o Powerful Indian confederation of N.Y. and the Great Lakes area comprised of five Indian nations: the
Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Senecas, the Cayugas, and the Onondagas
• Bacon’s Rebellion(1676)- Rebellion of backwoods men that attack Indians; they attack eastern cities and
displays colonists willing to fight for their rights
• Southern Colonies (V.A., Maryland, Georgia, N. Carolina, S. Carolina)
• Virginia
o Slightly starts up with Roanoke (island off of Virginia) with Walter Raleigh’s expedition. Roanoke is
deserted after Raleigh cannot send it supplies for 4 years; one clue about their civilization lies in a nearby tree
that read “Crotan” ( nearby Indian tribe)
o May 1607- 3 ships with 105 settlers (most were gentry, about 12 were laborers) land in Jamestown on a
peninsula of the James River close to a mosquito infested swamp area (which ultimately leads to a cause of
malaria)
o Captain John Smith helps lead the colonists; Lord De La Warr actively controls Indians and
autocratically controls the colony with Rolfe to help the colony survive
o 1619- Very important year in the history of Virginia
 English women arrive to the settlement (sense of permanence); population within explodes to 100 from
migration, from 1000→4000 1619-1624
 Dutch ship arrives in Jamestown with 20 Africans; beginnings of African slave trade because of plans
of selling them as indentured servants
 Creation of the House of Burgesses
 Sir Edward Sandys comes into play
o Eastern VA- plantation aristocrats with farms; Western VA-single-independent farmers
• Maryland
o English Catholics est. the colony of St. Mary’s in 1634 (off the Chesapeake Bay)
o Made initially by Lord Baltimore as a free settlement for Catholics & once the Catholics began getting
outnumbered/overwhelmed the Act of Toleration was passed
o Worked off Jamestown and basically succeeds overnight; attracted many, including English
protestants
• Carolinas
o Charles II grants land in America to 8 noble proprietors
o They have John Locke (young, political scientist) write them a constitution (The Grand Model) because
they want a more feudal government
o Charleston (center) has huge estates set up around/branched around it
 Grew rice, indigo, cotton, tobacco; proprietors lived in mansions & had serfs
o Yeoman farmers begin moving into the land
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o “Vail of humility between two mountains of conceit” –North Carolina

o Becomes an express line for naval supplies because of their tar, pitch, & turpentine
o 1712- N. Carolina and S. Carolina split and become their own
• Georgia
o 1733- Oglethorpe dreams of est. a place in America for debtors/prisoners to get a new start on life
o Becomes a “buffer colony” for the prosperous S.C. as protection from Spanish & Indian raids from
Spanish Florida
o Savannah, primary Georgia town, was built defensively in square blocks; they were aware of frequent
attacks
• Common Characteristics Among Southern Colonies
o Geography- Warm climate, southern region of the country
o Grew “cash crops”- Tobacco, rice, cotton, indigo
o Dependent on oversea trade because they needed to sell cash crops
o Rich were in control- “Planter aristocracy” controlled political, social, and economic society
o Distinct, rigid social classes- Division, animosity, and tension occurred between them
o Religion- Anglican religion was dominant

Chapter 3- Settling the Northern Colonies (1619-1700)

• John Calvin- Follower of Luther who slightly twisted Luther’s beliefs to form Calvinism
• William Bradford- Self-taught scholar who read Hebrew, Greek, French, and Dutch. He was elected governor
30 times in the annual elections
• John Winthrop-
o Educated/well-to-do pillar of English society that immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
o Successful attorney and manor lord in England
o Became the colony’s first governor and served for 19 years. He believed he had a calling from God to
lead the new religious experiment.
o Referred the Mass. Bay colony as a “city on a hill”
• Myles Standish- Military leader and negotiator. He learned to work with the local Indians and acquire help.
“The John Smith of Plymouth”
• Anne Hutchinson- Exceptionally intelligent, strong-willed, and talkative women who became the mother of 14
children. She claimed that a holy life was no sure sign of salvation and that the truly saved need not bother to
obey the law of either God or man
• Roger Williams-
o Popular Salem minister with radical ideas
o Extreme Separatist who hounded his fellow clergymen to make a clean break with the corrupt Church
of England
o Challenged the legality of the Bay Colony’s character, which he condemned for taking from the
Indians without compensation
o Denied the authority of civil government to regulate behavior
o After being found guilty of disseminating “newe and dangerous opinions” in 1635, he fled to the Rhode
Island area to set up a Baptist church
• Reverend Thomas Hooker- Led the energetic group of Boston Puritans to Hartford, CT
• King Philip- Massasoit’s son, or Metacom; forged an alliance and mounted a series of coordinated assaults on
English villages through New England in 1675; eventually captured, beheaded, and quartered (his head was
carried on a pike back to Plymouth to be on display
• Chief Massasoit- Indian chief who helped the arriving pilgrims by supplying them with tools, seeds, fishing
techniques; aids in their early survival; signs a treaty with pilgrims in 1621
• Squanto- Local Wampanoag Indian who knew English because he traveled there for a while and picked it up;
becomes a translator for the Indians to communicate with the pilgrims
• Sir Edmund Andros
o An “Arrogant Anglican”; able military man; tactless
o Est. his headquarters in Puritanical Boston (caused hostility)
o Ruthlessly curbed the town meetings, laid heavy restrictions on courts, press, and schools, and revoked
all land titles
o Enforces the Navigation Laws and suppresses smuggling
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o Rapidly becomes very unpopular among the people; overthrown along with the Dominion of England
by the English colonies in the Glorious Revolution
• Henry Hudson- Dutch explorer hired by the Dutch West Indies Company to: 1) find the Northwest Passage
(which is ultimately not found) & 2) to claim land for the Dutch West Indies Company; sails the Hudson River,
hence the name
• Peter Stuyvesant
o Dutch military leader who wanted to make the colony of New Netherlands bigger and more powerful
through expansion
o 1655, he puts forth a military offense against the smaller/weaker colony to the south, New Sweden and
they capture it
o Attempts to lead the Dutch and defend New Amsterdam from the attack brought upon by Charles II in
1664, but fails
o Dubbed “Father Wooden Leg” by the Indians
• William Penn
o A converted Quaker who proposed to Charles II to grant him a piece of land in America to open for
the Quakers free realm
• William Laud- Highly orthodox reactionary who called the Bay Colony Puritans “swine which rooted in God’s
vineyard”
• Duke of York (future James II) (little brother of Charles II)
o Wants to keep the Dutch in New Netherlands- His Toleration Policy: The Dutch should be treated with
gentleness and humanity
o Took southern area of the colony and split it into E. Jersey and W. Jersey giving each to one of his
good friends
 Gives E. Jersey to John Berkerly; Gives W. Jersey to George Carteret
• The “elect”- In Calvinist doctrine, those who have been chosen by God for salvation
• Predestination- The Calvinist doctrine that God has foreordained some people to be saved and some to be
damned
• Conversion- A religious turn to God, thought by Calvinists to involve an intense, identifiable personal
experience of grace
• Doctrine of a calling- In Protestantism, the belief that saved individuals have a religious obligation to engage in
worldly work
• Covenant- Puritans’ term for their holy belief that Massachusetts Bay had a special arrangement with God to
become a holy society
• “Visible saints”- People who felt the stirrings of grace in their souls and could demonstrate its presence to their
fellow Puritans
• Freemen- Adult males who belonged to the Puritan congregations (which became known as the Congregational
Church
• Patroonship- Dutch name for a feudal estate; their numbers were limited because for them to operate the lord
must have at least 50 workers or serfs on the land
• Antinomianism- Anne Hutchinson’s heretical belief that the truly saved need not obey human or divine law
• Protestant Reformation- 16th century religious movement began by Martin Luther
• Calvinism- Religion developed by John Calvin that became the dominant theological credo not only of the New
England Puritans but of other settlers including the Scottish Presbyterians, French Huguenots, and
communicants of the Dutch Reformed Church. Calvin elaborated on Luther’s beliefs; believed what Puritans
believed
• Institutes of the Christian Religion- Book written by John Calvin in 1536 that stated the beliefs of Calvinism.
Three principles:
1. God is all powerful
2. Humans are weak and by nature, wicked
3. Predestination- “The elect” were chosen for heaven at creation, all others were damned
• Puritans- People of England who found Anglicanism too Catholic so they believed they must attempt at
“purifying” it; vast majority were non-separatists
• Pilgrims (Separatists)- Radical Calvinists who considered the Church of England so corrupt that they broke
with it and formed their own independent churches. Decided to leave and go to Holland, but soon became
“dutchified”.
o Spring of 1620- 102 English people travel to America (Virginia), but land on Plymouth at Cape Cod
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• Mayflower- Ship that took the Separatists to America. Traveled 65 days at sea
• Mayflower Compact- The shipboard agreement by the 41 Pilgrim Fathers to establish a body politic and submit
to majority rule
• Massachusetts Bay Company- Group of non-Separatist Puritans that secured a charter in 1629 to establish this
company. They wanted to establish a settlement in Massachusetts. The group did not want to isolate themselves
from the Church of England, they just wanted to separate from the Church of England
• Great Puritan Migration- (1630s) Exodus of about 50,000 Puritans from England; not all were Puritans, and
only about 10,000 came to New England; many were attracted to the warm West Indies and Barbados
• General Court- A representative assembly elected annually by freemen in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
• Protestant Ethic- Serious commitment to work and to engage in worldly pursuits
• Pequot War (1637)- The Pequot Indians of CT try to restrict the English from expanding onto their land. They
attempt to resist their superiority but the advanced English culture combined with their Narragansett allies
overwhelms them and the Pequot Indians are defeated.
• King Philip’s (Metacom) War (1675-1676)- King Philip’s led military assault on the English villages. By the end
of the war, 52 Puritan towns had been attacked and 12 were entirely destroyed. Also, hundreds of colonists and
many more Indians lay dead.
• New England Confederation- Massachusetts Bay Colony, CT River Valley Settlements, and Plymouth unite to
form a political/ military alliance. They planned to deal with common defense and matters; each colony got an
equal vote
• Navigation Laws- Laws reflecting the intensifying colonial rivalries of the 17th century
• Dominion of New England
o Union among the New England colonies and New York
o Imposed from London, England wants to become more active in their colonies
o Aims to promote efficiency in the administration of taxes, policies, and most importantly the
Navigation Laws
• Glorious Revolution- 1688 English revolt that overthrew James II and replaced him with William and Mary
Tudor; this also led to the overthrow of the Dominion of England in America
• Dutch West Indies Company- An offshoot of the Dutch East India Company
• Dutch East India Company- One of the most powerful joint stock companies in the world; they owned and
operated over 10,000 ships for travel/trading and occupied an entire naval fleet
• New Sweden- Delaware
• Quakers- “Different” people of England who were generally frowned upon in average English society. They
refused to pay taxes, or take oaths. They were pacifists and also had no church hierarchy. Once Penn gained
land in America, they gladly took residence there. Persecuted by Mass. Bay and other areas
• Fundamental Orders- “The 1st American Constitution”. Scattered settlements among CT were united under one
colony
• Salutary Neglect- England doesn’t really pay attention or get involved in their colonies because they felt it
wasn’t worth it. The colonies begin getting used to running things they want to and when England comes in, the
colonies want to resist
• New England Colonies (Mass. Bay (Plymouth, Maine), RI, NH, CT) (as of 1775)
• Massachusetts Bay Colony (Plymouth, Maine)
o Settled in 1629 by Puritans with 1000 settlers and dozens of ships, ready to colonize
o Great Puritan Migration (1630s) of England, 10,000 came to New England
o Massachusetts Bay Company is formed in 1628
o Early example of colonial democracy because all freemen were given the right to vote (approx. 40% of
the males)
o General Court- Representative assembly of Massachusetts Bay (Burgesses’ parallel)
o Town Meeting: Unique aspect of the colony that allowed all male property owners to vote and speak
freely; “Purest form of democracy the world has known”- T. Jefferson
• Plymouth
o Spring 1602- 102 English people leave Holland for America (V.A.); they get off course and end up at
Cape Cod, where they set up the Plymouth colony
o Before leaving the Mayflower, the sign the Mayflower Compact (basically the constitution of the
colony). This starts self-rule in America
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o Winter of 1620/1621- Brutal winter on the colony and leaves only 42 of the 102 alive, but the colony
still perseveres
o Great leaders: Myles Standish, William Bradford
o In their 2nd year, they invite the Indians, of whom they became acquainted well with, to the 1st
Thanksgiving
o Absorbed by Massachusetts Bay in 1691 because it was too small
• Maine
o Est. in 1620s by Ferdinand Gorges
o Originally est. for fishing but soon turns to lumber, ship building, and fur trading
o Taken over in 1677 by Mass. Bay & separates from them in 1820
• Rhode Island
o Established by Roger Williams in 1636 as a Liberal colony that welcomed Jews and Catholics,
preached the separation of church and state, and believed in compensation with the Indians for the
land
o A place of individualism, stubbornness, and independency
o 1644- Becomes a chartered royal colony, enabling it protection from Mass. Bay
o Never prospers enough to become a big colony
• New Hampshire
o Est. in 1620s by John Mason
o Originally est. for fishing but soon turns to lumber, ship building, and fur trading
o Taken over in 1644 by Mass. Bay & separates from them in 1679
• Connecticut
o Union of several small settlements around the CT River Valley that conformed into 1 under the
Fundamental Orders of CT
o Hartford est. by Thomas Hooker; New Haven est. by John Davenport
o Had a representative democracy that recognized to protect political minority rights
• Common Characteristics of the New England Colonies
o Religious: All were est. for religious/mainly Puritan motives; church was the center of the town;
essential
o Education: Average person was literate because they needed to read, understand, and interpret the
Bible (ties with religion); Mass. School Act (1647)- Towns of 50 or more families must have a school
o Dominance of Massachusetts Bay- Dominant colony of N.E. Every colony either grew out of or into it
o Economy- Centered around maritime industries (ship-building, fishing, trading; also included
farming)
o Military- Surrounded by enemies on all fronts: French to the North, the Dutch to the West, and the
Indians everywhere. Every adult male should be prepared for battle with a musket, 20 made bullets,
and 1 lb of black powder
o Democratic Traditions- Self-rule was dominant in government (Town meeting, General Court,
Mayflower Compact)
• Middle Colonies (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware)
• New York (New Netherlands)
o Henry Hudson is hired in 1609 by the Dutch West Indies Company to 1)Find the NW Passage &
2)Claim land for the D.W.I.C.
o Always has two distinct sentiments of society: Rural North and Urban South
 Mainly farms, very agricultural. Area grew wheat and other grain products
 Est. the city of New Amsterdam (cosmopolitan city, attracted many different peoples,
commerce center)
o Named New York after the Duke of York after it was given to him by his brother, Charles II
o Acts as a roadblock to unite the British colonies (makes it valuable)
• New Jersey (E. Jersey & W. Jersey)
o Est. in 1702
o Agriculture attracted people because of its very rich soil
o Never becomes that large of a colony because of its limited central location
• Pennsylvania
o William Penn proposes to Charles II to give a piece of land in America to open for the Quakers in 1681
 10

o Advertises for settlers to make colony prosperous; they want honest, hard working people and in
return they get free land and political/religious freedom; this interests the Dutch, Germans, and
Swedes (large mix of European aspects)
o Fairly liberal area; had good relations with the Indians; representative assembly where all land owners
could vote; freedom of worship with tax supported; almost no immigration limits
o Rather prosperous due to a varying economy: Coal production, commercial, & iron making
o Philadelphia becomes largest colony
o Pennsylvania becomes 3rd largest in America
• Delaware (New Sweden)
o 1st state to ratify the constitution
o Starts off as New Sweden under Gustavus Adolphus in 1638
o Own assembly but governor was the governor of Pennsylvania
o Part of New Netherlands, then English
o Does not grow much
• Common Characteristics of the Middle Colonies
o Agriculture- Grew mainly grain crops (wheat, grain, corn, etc.) ; “Bread Basket colonies”(large grain
production resulting in large exports)
o Liberal Area- Very diverse area resulting in being tolerant religiously and politically
o Very diverse economy- Agriculture, Industrial (iron-making, coal-mining)

Chapter 4- American Life in the 17th Century

• Bacon’s Rebellion- Rebellion of 1676 led by Nathaniel Bacon. A group of rebellious frontiersmen who were
forced into the backcountry; they resented Governor Berkeley’s friendly policies towards Indians; they fell
murderously upon the Indians after a series of savage Indian attacks, chased Berkeley out of Jamestown, and
torched the capital
• Massachusetts School Law (1647)- Law that stated that every town that has more than 50 families must have an
elementary education system
• Half-Way Covenant- New church membership arrangement in 1662. It modified the agreement between the
church and its adherents to admit baptism (but not full communion) to the unconverted children of existing
members. This weakened the distinction between the elect and others, further diluting the spiritual purity of the
original settlers’ godly community
• Salem Witch Trials- Hysterical witch hunt in 1692 that led to the legal lynching of 20 individuals; primarily
concerned with adolescent girls that were mostly associated with Salem’s burgeoning market economy; the
accusers came largely from subsistence farming families (probably with the intention of gaining land). Ended in
1693 when the governor’s wife was accused of witchcraft and he prohibited any further trials and pardoned
those convicted
• Leisler’s Rebellion (1689-1691)- Ill-starred and bloody insurgence New York rebellion that rose from animosity
between lordly landholders and aspiring merchants
• Headright system- System employed in Virginia and Maryland that encouraged the importation of servant
workers. According to this, whoever paid the passage of the laborer received the right to acquire 50 acres of
land, reaping in all the benefits
• Jeremaids- New form of forceful sermon of the 17th century in which preachers scolded parishioners for their
waning piety

Chapter 5- Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution (1700-1775)

• John Peter Zenger- Newspaper printer whose newspaper assailed the corrupt royal governor; he was charged
with seditious libel and was defended in court by Andrew Hamilton (Philadelphia lawyer who was once an
indentured servant). He argued that he had printed the truth but the chief justice told the jury not to consider
the truth or falsity of his statements, the fact that he printed it was enough to convict him. He won the case
which in turn achieved freedom of the press
• Benjamin Franklin- “The first civilized American”; best known for his autobiography and Poor Richard’s
Almanack; first rank scientist in the American colonies; est. in Philadelphia the 1st privately supported
circulating library in America
• Old & New Lights- Orthodox clergymen (old lights) were deeply skeptical of the emotionalism and the theatrical
antics of the revivalists. New light ministers defended the Awakening for its role in revitalizing American
religion
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• Naval stores / royal bounty- Tar, pitch, posin, and turpentine that were highly valued by the British because
they were anxious to get them and retain mastery of the seas
• Michel-Guillaume de Crevecoeur- Young Frenchman that said that from a mixture of English, Scottish, Irish,
French, Dutch, Germans, and Swedes the American race is formed
• Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) - Young slave girl brought to England at age 8 and was never formally educated.
At 20, she published a book of verse and wrote other polished poems that revealed the influence of Alexander
Pope
• John S. Copley (1738-1815) - Famous painter who had to travel to England to complete their formal artistic
training. He was regarded as a Loyalists during the Revolutionary War
• Catawba Nation-
• Most Common Professions- Clergymen, physicians, lawyers, farmers, fishers
• Most Populated Colonies- Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, & Maryland
• Most Populated Cities- Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Charleston
• Colleges of Colonial America-
Harvard 1636 Congregational
William and Mary 1693 Anglican
Yale 1701 Congregational
Princeton (College of New Jersey) 1746 Presbyterian
Pennsylvania (The Academy) 1751 Nonsectarian
Columbia (King’s College) 1754 Anglican
Brown (Rhode Island College) 1764 Baptist
Rutgers (Queen’s College) 1766 Dutch Reformed
Dartmouth (began as Indian missionary school) 1769 Congregational

Chapter 6- The Duel for North America (1608-1763)

• Edict of Nantes (1598)- Issued by the crown, it granted limited toleration to French Protestants
• Huguenots- French Protestants
• Iroquois- Violent Indian tribe of the area around New York; enemy of Hurons; ally of British
• Samuel de Champlain-
o Intrepid soldier and explorer whose energy and leadership earned him the title, “Father of New
France”
o Sailed the St. Lawrence River and discovered Quebec for the French in 1608
o Befriends the local Indians (Hurons)
• New France- (Canada)
o The gov’t was under the direct control of the king after various commercial companies had faltered
(completely autocratic); attempted feudalism, but failed; little economic motivation
o Largest single colony but never heavily populated; only 60,000 whites inhabited it as late as 1750
o Favored their Caribbean island colonies, rich in sugar, molasses, & rum
o Valuable resource= the beaver
• Coureurs de bois- “Runners of the woods”. Two-fisted drinkers, free spenders, free livers, and lovers. Littered
the land with scores of place names (Baton Rouge, Terre Haute, Des Moines, and Grand Teton)
• Jean de Brebeuf- French Jesuit missionary tried to convert Indians; murdered
• Antoine Cadillac- Frenchman who founded Detroit (“the City of Straits”) in 1701
• Robert de LaSalle- Ambitious man who in 1682 sailed the Mississippi to the Gulf; named the great interior basin
“Louisiana” after Louis XVI. He was murdered by his mutinous men in 1687
• Series of 4 Colonial Wars fought over: Territory, market-places, and raw-materials
o League of Augsburg (in Europe 1688) (in America King Williams War 1689)-
 British (King William) vs. French (King Louie & King James)
 Port Royal (Nova Scotia) is captured by the British
 Treaty of Ryswick (1697) – Restored the status quo
o War of Spanish Succession (in Europe 1701) (in America Queen Anne’s War (1702)
 Who would be ruling Spain; King Louis XIV tries to get throne
 England recaptures Port Royal
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 Peace of Utrecht (1713)- Britain was rewarded with French populated Acadia (Nova Scotia/
New Scotland) (strategic position), Newfoundland (fishing grounds), and the Hudson Bay;
also won limited rights in Spanish America
o War of Austrian Succession ( in Europe 1740) (in America War of Jenkins Ear (1739)/ King George’s
War (1744)
 Who would take the Austrian throne; Austria vs. Prussia, but expands
 Louisbourg is captured by American colonists from French
 Madras (British) is taken over by French
 Aix-La Chapelle (1748)- Captured territory is returned; sows the seeds to the American
Revolution (Americas interests are 2nd to that of England)
• George Crogan- PA fur-trader who decides to expands to ORV
• Ohio Company- Group of VA land speculators that soon become joint-stock company
• French and Indian War (Seven Years War) (1754-1763) - 1st war that began in America; touched off by
Washington’s attack in the ORV. Fought in America, Europe, the West Indies, the Philippines, Africa, and on
the ocean
o French military move into ORV and set up fortresses to Fort Duquesne
o Lieutenant Dinwiddie (investor of Ohio Company) sends George Washington to Duquesne to tell
French to move out and scout out the area
o Washington in charge of 150 men and march to Duquesne; meet a reconnaissance party and defeat
them, but kill a diplomat (!!!); forced to build FORT NECESSITY because they were surrounded; he
and men are captured and he signs a document claiming his murder of the diplomat (TRIGGERS
THE WAR)
• George Washington-
o 21 year old surveyor and Virginian who was sent by the governor of Virginia to the Ohio country as a
lieutenant colonel in command of 150 Virginia men
• Fort Necessity- Fort quickly constructed by Washington and his men while in battle with the French; on the 4th
of July 1754, after a 10 hour siege, they had to surrender
• Balance of Power (British/French strengths and weaknesses)
o French- 90,000 soldiers; British- Half million
o British defending concentrated area; French is more dispersed
o British lack unity/organization; French were united/disciplined
o French fight defense; British on offense
o French have Hurons; British have Iroquois
• Albany Congress- (1754)
o Intercolonial congress in Albany. Delegates of only 7/13 colonies showed up.
o The purpose was to keep the scalping knives of the Iroquois tribes loyal to the British in the spreading
war. The longer purpose was to achieve a greater colonial unity and bolster the common defense
against France. Ultimately rejected because too radical
o Led primarily by Ben Franklin
• 1755- Braddock set out to capture Duquesne with 2000 men and Washington as his 2nd in command; they met a
French/Indian army on the way and he was mortally wounded
• Edward Braddock-
o 60 year old officer experienced in European warfare who was sent to Virginia with a strong
detachment of British regulars
• Fort Niagra- Key to the French defense in the west
• William Pitt-
o “Great Commoner” (Drew much of his strength from the common people)
o 1757- Became a leader in the London gov’t; earned the title, “Organizer of Victory”
o 1758- Dispatched a powerful expedition against Louisbourg which soon fell after a blistering siege
• Three Important Changes in War Conduct: 1) Key to winning was in America; 2) Use of the British navy to bottle
up the French to prevent them from receiving foreign aid; 3) Use of Merit System (capable, younger men who
prove themselves to be generals)
• 1759- “The Wonderful Year”- British captures Fort Niagra, Crown Point, and defeat French @ the Plains of
Abraham
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• James Wolfe- Officer whose personality combined dash and painstaking attention to detail. He sent a
detachment up a poorly guarded part of the rocky eminence protecting Quebec; they were confronted the next
day by the French under the leadership of the Marquis de Montcalm, but defeated them (1760)
• Battle of Quebec (1759)
o The two armies, the British under Wolfe and the French under Montcalm, faced each other on the
Plains of Abraham (near Quebec); the French lost
o One of the most significant engagements in British and American history; when the French failed, their
flag was in Canada for the last time and their power in the North American continent was shut down
• Treaty of Paris (1763)
o French are out of North America as a political force; hand over Louisiana to Spanish
o British get all of Canada, all land east of the Mississippi, and east/west Florida
• Results on England and America
o England: Most powerful nation of the world; financial problems result from heavy war debt (war
bonds, money due to pay for new colonies)
o America: Come out with a sense of freedom (less Spanish, French, or Indian threat), gained military
experience, retained English culture
• Pontiac- Ottawa chief that led several tribes in a campaign to drive the British out of the Ohio country. His
warriors besieged Detroit in 1763 and overran all but 3 British posts west of the Appalachians, killing about
2000 people
• “Cajun”- Descendants of the French-speaking Acadians
• Proclamation of 1763- Issued by the London gov’t, it flatly prohibited English settlement in ORV (beyond the
Appalachians). Designed not to oppress the colonists, but to work out the Indian problem fairly and to prevent
another bloody eruption like Pontiacs
• DIRECT connection between Proclamation and American Revolution

Chapter 7- The Road to Revolution (1763-1775)

• John Hancock- One of the first American fortunes that were amassed by wholesale smuggling
• Marquis de Lafayette- Wealthy French nobleman who became a major general in the colonial army
• Baron von Steuben- German organizational genius who spoke no English, but he taught men that bayonets were
not used for cooking
• Mercantilism- Economic philosophy prevalent in the 18th century that stated a nation’s power was based on its
wealth
o Objectives: 1) Self- sufficiency (everything they need can be found within their own country);
2)
Prosperity of the middle class (they generated the wealth)
o Achieving these objectives: 1) Favorable balance of trade (selling more than buying); 2)Regulate trade
and manufacturing industries (placing tariffs);3)Acquisition of colonies
o Benefits: 1) Guaranteed purchase of products from England; 2)Royal Bountees (Bonuses)- Produce a
certain amount and a bonus pay is given; 3)England would limit competition (placed heavy taxes on
foreign competition; 4)Naval Protection (piracy was prevalent, but they were afraid of dealing with
English ships
• Navigation Acts-
Acts o Laws that restricted carrying trade or shipping to ships of English origin
o Included a list of enumerated products (specifically named products) that could only go through
Regulating England first
Colonial • Staple Act (1733)- Said all products of foreign origin, bound for America, had to pass through England first
Trade and • Molasses Act (1733)- Imposed a heavy tax on imported French molasses; forced smuggling
Manufactu • Woolen Act (1699)- Made it illegal to produce woolen products for export; nothing beyond local use
ring as a • Hat Act (1732)- Made it illegal to produce hats for export; nothing beyond local use
result of • Iron Act- Ban on any “new” establishments for the manufacture of finished iron products
mercantilis • “No taxation without representation”- Main cry of the colonists in protest of the Stamp Act
m • “Virtual” representation- Political theory that all British subjects were represented in Parliament , including
Americans, even without a direct vote
• Boycott- Organized refusal to deal with some person, organization, or product
• Old Colonial Policy- Policy of salutary neglect; “here’s the law, hope you follow it”; loosely enforced
 14

• New Colonial Policy (1763)- England needs more money, but not the colonial support. In principle, it was the
same laws as in the Old Policy, just strictly enforced
• George Grenville- 1st Prime Minister after the war; 1st major enforcer of the New Colonial Policy (enforcement);
extraordinary financial man who put into effect many acts
• Sugar Act (1764)- Lower the tax on foreign molasses; had more people buy legally than smuggling; brand new
taxes put on silks and sugar
• Admiralty Courts- In British law, special administrative courts designed to handle maritime cases (violations of
Sugar/Stamp Acts) without a jury; violated the right for people to have a trial by a jury and the concept
“innocent until proven guilty”
• Currency Act- Restricted the issuing of paper currency; all debts and taxes had to be paid in gold or silver
• Quartering Act (1765)- Said that during wartime, colonial homes are to house soldiers if they need a place to
stay
• Stamp Act (1765)-Required the purchase of a stamp for all licenses, shipping manifests, or any other official
paper documents
o Type of revenue tax
o Stamp was paper that had evidence of a tax been paid on it
o Angered colonists: 1)Violation of rights; 2)Affected everyone in all the colonies; 3)Economy was not good,
this act made it worse
• Stamp Act Congress- Intercolonial congress in NY that politically protested the Stamp Act; 9/13 colonies
attended. Most notable leader: James Otis. Set up Form of Resolutions
• Taxes:
o Regulation- Indirect tax; worked into the cost of the item; ex: tariff (ACCEPTED)
o Revenue: Direct tax; you are aware of what you are paying; ex: sales tax (REFUSED)
• Nonimportation agreement- Pledges to boycott certain goods from abroad(England) as a result of the Stamp Act
Opposition
• Sons and Daughters of Liberty- Militant group that takes the lead of opposition to the Stamp Act; made life
forms uncomfortable for stamp tax collectors; leaders of “tarring and feathering”
• Political Protests-
o House of Burgesses (Patrick Henry)
o Stamp Act Congress
• “Champagne” Charles Townshend-
o Treasurer of English gov’t
o Man who could deliver brilliant speeches in Parliament
o Persuaded Parliament to pass the Townshend Acts
o Issued Writs of Assistance (general search warrants of anything
• Declaratory Act- Reaffirmed Parliament’s right “to bind” the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”
• Townshend Acts (1767)- Light import tax on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea; indirect customs duty
payable at American ports. A portion of the money raised from them would go to pay the salaries of British
officials in America (“power of the purse” taken away)
• Samuel Adams-
o Master propagandist and engineer of rebellion of Boston
o Cousin of John Adams
o Zealous, tenacious, and courageous; ultrasensitive to infractions of colonial rights
o Organized in MA the local committees of correspondence, which rapidly spread the spirit of resistance
o Wrote The Massachusetts Circular Letter
• Boston Massacre- (March 5, 1770)
o A crowd of roused townspeople under the lead of Crispus Attucks confronted a squad of redcoats;
redcoats opened fire and 11 innocent citizens were killed(5) /injured(6)
• Crispus Attucks- One of the first “innocent” citizens to be killed in the Boston Massacre; he was described as a
powerfully built runaway “mulatto” and as a leader of the mob
• Lord North- Corpulent prime minister of King George III. Repeals most taxes of Townshend Acts; says that the
Quartering Act will expire
• John Adams- Lawyer that defended the soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre because he believed they were
innocent. Got them all off except 2, which were guilty of manslaughter
 15

• Period of Calm (1770- 1773) (Boston Massacre- Boston Tea Party)

o Revolutionary leaders use this time to rouse up the revolution
o Committees of Correspondence established by Sam Adams
o Gaspee(1772)- British tax collecting ship that traveled up and down the east coast; torched by colonists
off the coast of RI
• Committees of Correspondence- Local and intercolonial resistance committees set up by Samuel Adams that
spread word about what was going on among the colonies
• Boston Tea Party (December 16, 1773)-
o British East India Company is facing bankruptcy so England forces colonists to buy tea from them to
save them; tax is realized as a revenue tax by Sam Adams (Furious)
o A band of Bostonians (Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, other Committee of Safety members), disguised as
Indians and boarded the docked tea ships. They smashed/ dumped 342 crates of tea into the Boston
harbor.
• Repressive Acts ( Result of the Boston Tea Party)
o Boston Port Act- Closes port of Boston until all tea that was dumped, was paid for
o Administration of Justice Act- Brings British officials that are charged with crime in the colonies to
England for trial (ultimately all innocent)
o Massachusetts Self-Governing Act- Severely limits the amount of self-government in the colonies; town
meetings were banned
o Quartering Act (New)- Requires colonies to home/take care of the soldiers that are guarding their cities
(primarily Boston)
• Quebec Act (1774)-
o Boundaries of the Quebec province were extended southward all the way to the ORV
o French were guaranteed their Catholic religion, as well as their old customs, institutions (non-
democratic; autocratic), and culture
• Intolerable Acts- Series of acts passed following the Boston Tea Party designed to chastise Boston and
Massachusetts; “The massacre of American liberty”; Quebec Act + Repressive Acts= Intolerable Acts
• First Continental Congress – September 5 to October 26, 1774.
o Met in Philadelphia; 56 delegates of 12/13 colonies (not GA)
o President: Payton Randolph (VA); other important: George Washington & Patrick Henry (VA),
Samuel & John Adams (MA), Roger Sherman (CT) {comes up with the Great Compromise}, John Jay
(NY) {First Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court}, John Dickenson (PA); a very revolutionary group
of people
o Initiated several important actions
 Passes Declaration of Rights & Grievances- Explained what they were annoyed about;
declared Parliament had no right to interfere in colonial affairs
 Denounced British treatment of colonists in Boston
 Improve the Suffolk Resolves- Declared Intolerable Acts null and void; Theory of
Nullification (symbolic of the eventual civil war)
 Advise the colonists to raise and train militia
 Organized the Association
 Agreed to meet a 2nd time in May 1775 (significant)
• The Association- Done by John Adams; Called for a complete boycott on British goods: nonimportation,
nonexportation, and nonconsumption
• Eight of royal colonies remain: 5 of the 8 royal governors left for their own safety; the other 3 in GA (not
powerful at all), VA (under virtual house arrest), and MA (only one effective because of the British occupation
there)
• General Gage- British general in command of the British soldiers guarding Boston; “Stamp out colonial
resistance”
• September 1774- Gage sends 200 soldiers to Cambridge to confiscate military supplies; confronted by colonists
and the British flee
• March 1775- Gage receives word of supplies in Salem; sends another 200 men, but flee
• April 1775- Gage receives word of supplies in Concord and 2 revolutionaries( Adams/Hancock) in Lexington;
April 18th, 800 soldiers embark for Lexington/ Concord
 16

• Committee of Safety- Spy network of colonists; members Paul Revere, William Daus, and William Prescott take
off to warn the country of the eminent British attack
• April 19, 1775- Front of 800 meet Thomas Parker and 70 minutemen on Lexington Green; first shot is fired;
colonists swarm out toward Concord Bridge where the British flee (shot heard round the world)
• King George III- Monarch of England in 1770 who was a good man, but a bad ruler. He was earnest,
industrious, stubborn, and lustful for power; surrounded himself with cooperative “yes men”; “The dye is now
cast, the colonies must either submit or triumph.”
• Whig Party- Anti-war; pro-colony; mainly businessmen; William Pitt (leader)
• Joseph Galloway (PA)- Proposes to redo the Albany Plan of Union (rejected because too weak)
• Hessians- German mercenaries hired by George III to fight the American revolutionaries
• “Continental”- Paper currency authorized by Congress to finance the Revolution that depreciated (decreased in
value) to near worthlessness
• Loyalists- Those people loyal to the crown that sometimes served as British spies

Chapter 8- America Secedes from the Empire (1775-1783)

• Second Continental Congress- (May 10, 1775)-
o Fully represented congress (13/13) that basically became the gov’t of the colonies for 6 years (1775-
1781).
o Actions of the Congress
1. Adopted measures to raise an army & navy, and appointed a Commander in Chief (G.W.)
2. John Dickenson’s “Olive Branch Petition” set forth
3. A Declaration setting forth the causes and necessity of taking up arms
 In America’s mind, England was diminishing their rights
o Contributions
 1)
Became America’s gov’t (1775-1781); 2) It declared independence (major risk); 3) Raised an
army/appointed G.W.; 4) Negotiated an alliance with France; 5) Drafted the Constitution that
replaced them (Articles of Confederation)
• George Washington
o Chosen by the 2nd Continental Congress to be the Commander in Chief (leader); appointment was just
as political as military (helped bring VA/ the South to the revolution)
o Tall, powerfully built, dignified VA planter that never rose above colonel (largest command was of
1200 men)
o Gifted with leadership, character, patience, courage, self-discipline, and a sense of justice
• Olive Branch Petition (1775) – Adoption of the 2nd C.C., it professed American loyalty to the crown of England,
but blamed much of the wrongs on Parliament
• A Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition- Counter-proclamation by George III that labeled all
colonists as rebels and are all treated as rebels
• Growth of Independence
o Fighting and bloodshed
 Killing did not make sense to be friends in the American mentality
o Need for Foreign Aid
 No other country would help America if we wanted reconciliation because that would in turn
make England stronger
o Literature
 Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
 John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government
o Absence of Power
 Authority and power are gone; revolutionaries take up leadership roles to independence
• Common Sense by Thomas Paine(1776)-
o One of the most influential pamphlets ever written; best-seller and reached a total of 120,000 copies
o Simple, pointed style of convincing writing
o Gives a series of arguments (based from common sense) of why to break off from England (why should
the tiny island of Britain control the vast continent of America?; why should we be ruled by a country
3,000 miles away?)
 17

• Thomas Paine- Radical who wrote Common Sense. He was a corset-maker’s apprentice. His protest called for a
new kind of political society (republic), where power flowed from the people themselves, not a corrupt and
despotic monarch
• Second Treatise on Government by John Locke
o Explains the COMPACT THEORY of GOVERNMENT- Everyone has certain liberties & rights which
want to be protected; everyone collectively projects their right through gov’t, and when gov’t fails to
protect these rights, ditch the gov’t
• Declaration of Independence- The official motion of Lee’s resolution that was adopted on July 4, 1776 by the
Congress. “the Explanation of Independence” or “Mr. Jefferson’s advertisement of Mr. Lee’s resolution”
The Balance of Power
• British Advantages
o 1) #1 military in the world (capable of hiring 30,000 Hessians and 1000s of Indians; 2)Stable economy
provided abundant resources; 3)Controlled America’s main colonial ports (NY, Philadelphia,
Charleston)
• British Disadvantages
o 1)3,000 miles away from supplies and center of communication; 2) At war with almost all Europe by
1778 (France, Holland, and Spain alliance & Armed Neutrality); 3) Inefficient, corrupt gov’t
• American Advantages
o 1) Fighting for liberty, freedom, and their families (MOTIVATION); 2) Fighting on own land (valuable
tactic); 3) Foreign aid (almost 90% of war, money, and soldier supplies came from France; 4)American
officers (little formal training, but were good leaders); 5) George Washington managed to keep the
soldiers constantly in the field
• American Disadvantages
o 1)Lack of unity (only 1/3 supported the war cause; 2)Most of the army was on a volunteer basis (stayed
for 3 months on average, then left b/c mainly were farmers); 3)Equally bad navy (only about a dozen
ships and privateers drained many sailors; 4)Gov’t had little power b/c of their inability to tax, which
got them little money
• Armed Neutrality (1780)- Imposed by Catherine the Great of Russia. It lined up almost all the remaining
European neutrals in an attitude of passive hostility toward Britain
• General Richard Montgomery- Irish-born man; formerly of the British army; he pushed up the Lake
Champlain route and captured Montreal. He was joined at an assault on Quebec by Benedict Arnold in 1775
and was killed
• Richard Henry Lee- VA man who on 6/7/1776 moved that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be,
free and independent states…”; this soon became the basis of the “declaration” of independence
• Thomas Jefferson-
o Tall, freckled, sandy-haired VA lawyer who was a brilliant writer (despite his youth) and was put in
charge of drafting Lee’s statement. He argued persuasively that the king had abused the “natural
rights” of humankind
• General John Burgoyne (“Gentleman Johnny”)- Actor-playwright-soldier who pushed a main invading force
down the Lake Champlain route from Canada
• Barry St. Leger- Commander of a 3rd and much smaller British force who would come in from the west by way
of Lake Ontario and the Mohawk Valley
• General Benedict Arnold-
o Aided Montgomery at Quebec in 1775; retreated along the St. Lawrence River back to Lake
Champlain while keeping his army in the field
o Constructed a tiny fleet which was eventually destroyed by the British
• General Horatio Gates- Inspirational general that rallied up troops; superior at Saratoga
• Comte de Rochambeau- Commander of a powerful French army that arrived in Newport, RI in 1780.
• Patrick Henry- Impassioned revolutionary; “Give me liberty or give me death!”
• General Nathaniel Green- “Fighting Quaker”; distinguished himself by a strategy of delay to exhaust his foe,
General Charles Cornwallis; succeeded in clearing most of GA and SC of British troops
• Charles Cornwallis- Major commander of British forces; surrendered the British at Yorktown
• Admiral de Grasse- Frenchman, who operating with a powerful fleet in the West Indies, advised the Americans
that he was free to join with them in an assault upon Cornwallis at Yorktown
 18

• Privateering- Privately owned American ships (legalized pirates) specifically authorized by Congress to prey on
enemy shipping. 1000 men responding to calls of patriotism, sailed with 70,000 men (“sailors of fortune”);
captured some 600 British prizes, but they also caught privateers and American merchantmen
• Mercenaries-
• Loyalists and Tories- Named after the dominant political factions in Britain. Numbered at about 16 % of the
American people (more commonly the older generations), they remained true to their king. Included the king’s
officers and other beneficiaries of the crown. They were most numerous where the Anglican church was
strongest; least numerous in New England, where self- gov’t was strong and mercantilism was weak
• Patriots and Whigs- Opposition factions of Britain; American rebels
Military Events
• Battle of Bunker Hill-
o 1000s of colonists (under Washington) ultimately seal the British fate in Boston
o Caused King George to proclaim the colonies in revolt and import Hessian troops to crush them
• The Canadian Conquest
o Benedict Arnold: Goes from Maine to Quebec
o Richard Montgomery: Goes from New York to Montreal
o Eventually fails but prevents the British from attacking America from Canada
• Fort Ticonderoga- British fort full of supplies at the base of Lake Champlain
o Band of soldiers known as the Green Mountain Boys, led by Ethan Allen attack the fort and prevent
the British from exercising their “springboard” into America
o General Henry Knox (of Washington’s staff) strips the fort of its supplies with 50 men and returns to
Boston
• Falmouth, ME & Norfolk, VA-
o Oct. 1775- The British burned Falmouth (Portland), Maine
o Jan. 1776- The British burned the Virginia town of Norfolk
• March 1776- British evacuate Boston and go to Nova Scotia to prepare for NY
• Battle of Long Island/ Brooklyn Heights (July 1776)
o General William Howe lands on the SW side of Long Island with 500 ships and 35,000 men
o Exercise a blistering defeat upon Americans as they are outgeneraled/outmaneuvered
• Washington then evacuates his army to Manhattan across the Hudson River, but is pursued by Howe.
Washington is defeated by Howe two more times at the Battle of NY and the Battle of White Plains. After
crossing the Delaware, Washington is now safe.
• Battle of Trenton and Princeton, NJ (1776/77)
o Trenton- On Dec. 26,1776, Washington surprised and captured 800 Hessians who were sleeping off the
effects of their Christmas celebration
o Princeton- A week later, Washington inflicted a sharp defeat on a small British detachment; revealed
“Old Fox” Washington at his military best
• The British propose a plan to separate New England from the rest of the colonies as a means of winning the war.
Attempt by 3 detachments all towards Albany.
o The Lake Ontario (and Mohawk Valley) army from the west under General Barry St. Leger that was
supposed to meet up with Iroquois Indians and then move EAST
 Benedict Arnold defeats St. Leger at Oriskany while en route to Albany
 Treaty of Fort Stanwix- Iroquois signed a treaty with America to stop fighting; major blow to
the British
o The Montreal army of 7,000 men under General John Burgoyne moves SOUTH
 They retake Ticonderoga; are attacked/surrounded at Bennington (cutting off his northern
escape route)
 Defeated by the combo of Benedict Arnold & Horatio Gates at the Battle of Saratoga (Oct.
1777) **Turning point in the war (1) Americans gain confidence; 2) Ben Franklin gets French
aid involved in the war effort)
o The NY army under General Howe is supposed to go from the Hudson River to Albany; Howe decides
to go to Philadelphia instead in attempt to capture the 2nd C.C.
 Washington does not defeat Howe at Brandywine Creek & Germantown, but in an attempt to
stop him, he gives Philadelphia evacuation time.
 Howe occupies Philadelphia; Washington keeps an eye from Valley Forge
 19

• French-American Treaty of Alliance (1778)- Mutual ,permanent alliance gained by Ben Franklin after Saratoga;
caused problems because they were entitled to each others, not other treatys
• At Valley Forge, with the help of Baron von Steuben, Washington’s army transforms into a professional army;
British army also changes as Howe is relieved for Henry Clinton
• Battle of Monmouth, NJ (June 1778)- (1 of the first major American victories by Washington)
o Attack on the redcoats by Washington; the British escaped to NY (but 1/3 of their Hessians deserted)
o Took place on a very hot day; so hot that many men collapsed/died from sunstroke
• British propose a new plan to obtain Virginia (essential colony) from the South
• December 1778- British occupy Savannah, GA
• Battle of Charleston, SC (May 1780)- Lord Cornwallis leads British victory over the Americans as they captured
5,000 men and 400 cannon, as well as the city
• Horatio Gates is imposed as head military commander in the South and confronts Cornwallis at Camden (1780),
but is destroyed
• Washington appoints Nathaniel Green as commander of the South
• Battle of King’s Mountain (Oct. 1780)- Green meets Cornwallis’ left flank and wins
• Battle of Cowpens (Dec. 1780)- Daniel Morgan leads the American Regiment known as the Tennessee and
Kentucky Riflemen
• Guilford Courthouse, NC (March 1781)- Green depletes Cornwallis’ forces, sending him to the port city of
Yorktown
• Washington and Rochambeuau start a land march for Yorktown; Admiral de Grasse (French) sails to the
Chesapeake Bay
o Encounters British commander Graves and defeats him in a naval battle
• Cornwallis is forced to surrender on October 19, 1781; surrounded by Americans by land, French by sea
• The end of the war was an effect of two things: 1) Change in the British gov’t (Whigs take over as primary
power) 2) English became frustrated with privateers’ actions
• The largest expense of the war came from the building the army
• Income came from…:
o Sale of war bonds
o Requisitions (The 2nd Continental Congress had to beg/ask the people for money)
o Printed money (Continentals)
 Robert Morris- Treasurer of the 2nd Continental Congress
• American Delegates that were sent to the Peace Conference: John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams
o John Jay
 Foreign Minister of the 2nd Continental Congress; proficient in European law
 Understood that the French could not satisfy the conflicting ambitions of both Americans and
Spaniards. He saw signs that the Paris Foreign Office was about to betray America’s trans-
Allegheny interests to satisfy Spain; he went to London and drafted a treaty, doing all the
legwork for France and helping America a great deal
 1st Attorney general and helped write the federalist papers
• Treaty of Paris 1783-
o British formally recognized American independence
o Granted generous boundaries: Mississippi-west, Great Lakes-north, Spanish Florida-south
 America got these huge boundaries because:
• They rightfully owned it from George Rogers Clark’s victory in some major battles
• The British wanted to keep it out of French hands
o America is permitted to fish off the coast of Newfoundland
o American gov’t would compensate Loyalists for their confiscated property
o Americans owed England a considerable amount of money in debts and England had the right to
collect
• George Rogers Clark- Audacious frontiersman who conceived the idea of seizing scattered British forts by
surprise; in 1778-79 he went down the Ohio River with 175 men and captured the forts Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and
Vincennes
Results:
• Political
o Independence
 20

o New gov’t emerges – Articles of Confederation

o New state constitutions (all old charters were gone) Must include:
 Bill of Rights
 Separation of Powers (3 Branches of gov’t: Executive, Legislature, Judicial)
 All state constitutions limited the power of the Legislative branch
 Bicameral Legislature (2 houses)
 Increased legislative representation rights
• Economic
o Inflation (too many Continentals printed)
o Stimulus of the U.S. economy
 Energized/expanded the economy because it is free of mercantile restrictions
o Greater/more equal distribution of the land
• Social
o Recognition of the evils of slavery
 Most Northern and some Southern states outlawed it
o Increased religious toleration (with the separation of church and state)
o Disruption in the social fiber(make-up) in America

Chapter 9- The Confederation and the Constitution (1776-1790)

• The Confederation (1781-1789)- A loose union of semi-independent states (they could decide on their own but
sometimes worked together)
o Had the power to: Declare war, make peace, borrow money, have a postal service, supervise Western
land, and manage Indian affairs
o Needed 2/3 majority vote to have a law approved
o For amendments, an unanimous vote is required
• Society of the Cincinnati- An exclusive hereditary order formed by Continental Army officers
• Articles of Confederation-
o Adopted in 1777 by Congress as the nations constitution after the war
o Weaknesses:
 Executive Branch- To enforce the law; Judicial Branch- To interpret the law
 Tax Difficulty- Could not tax (hypocritical); asked for requisitions because they had a hard
time raising money
 Lack of control over trade- Could not regulate inter- or intra- state trade; brought about the
downfall
 Lawmaking- The # of laws passed were limited; unanimous consent to amend laws were very
rare
• Achievements of the Confederation
o Treaty of Paris 1783- Franklin, Jay, and Adams represented the Articles well
o Despite troubles, it held the country together until a new gov’t could be devised
o Prevented friction between states, adjusted land claims, and settled land disputes
o Land Policy
• Land Ordinance of 1785- Said to survey/ chart the western lands. Acreage would be sold and the proceeds
would be used to help pay off the national debt. By Thomas Jefferson
o The land would be divided into townships six miles square, and then within each township divided into
36 sections of one square mile (640 acres) each
o The 16th section of each township was to be set aside to be sold for education benefit
• Northwest Ordinance of 1787- Decided the process of how a territory became a state
o Established boundaries of Mississippi River, Ohio River, and the Great Lakes
 Would be divided into no less than 3, but no more than 5 states (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
Michigan, Wisconsin)
o Once the area had 5,000 free adult males, they could create a territorial gov’t that would be
subordinate to the federal gov’t
o Once the territory could supply 60,000 inhabitants, they could write a constitution, apply to Congress
for admission, & then be admitted as a state in the Union on a equal footing with the other states
o The political freedoms (education & outlaw of slavery) are retained if one moved west
• Domestic Problems
 21

o Shays Rebellion
o State Quarrels- NY & NJ had a tariff war with each other
o Lack of Gov’t respect- Businessmen because of no single currency, merchants because of no protection,
and ordinary citizens because they never got war bond $ back
• Shays Rebellion (1786)-
o Daniel Shays- Revolutionary, underpaid war officer who went bankrupt because the gov’t never paid
him back the dues that were owed of him; leader of rebellion
o Rebellion of 100s of Massachusetts farmers who rebelled against the gov’t because they were losing
their farms on mortgage foreclosure, they were upset with the economic rut, and the inadequacy to pay
back funds from the war
• Foreign Problems
o Great Britain
 1)
American manufacturers could not get going because of the surplus of British goods. 2) The
British still occupied some territory in America
o Spain
 1)
Confusion of territory boundaries caused Spanish raids. 2) Denied American Right of
Deposit (right to leave oversea sale products on the docks of a trade city) in New Orleans
o France
 1)
Had hopes of international trade, but shot down. 2) Expecting to be repaid from the money
used on the American war effort
o North African Coast Pirates (Barbary Pirates)
 Since the British are no longer protecting us, pirates confiscated and attacked at their own
discretion
• Mt. Vernon Conference(1785)- (VA, ND, PA, DE representatives invited)
o Topic: Trade on the Chesapeake Bay. Conclusion- Gov’t was too weak
• Annapolis Convention (Maryland, 1786)
o Conference with only 5 state representatives (VA, MD, PA,DE, NY)
o Did not accomplish much because a majority of the state’s representatives were missing, but Alexander
Hamilton called upon this Congress to summon the
Philadelphia (Constitutional) Convention to revise the Articles of Confederation
• Philadelphia Convention (Constitutional) (Summer 1787)
o 55 delegates of 12 states (not RI); conservative convention (no revolutionaries)
 VA: Washington (elected president), Madison, Edmund Randolph (1st Attorney General;
respected lawyer; wrote VA Plan)
 PA: Franklin (perfect blend of wit & wisdom), Gouverneur Morris (responsible for the final
wording of the Constitution)
 NY: Hamilton
 NJ: William Patterson (writes and proposes the NJ Plan)
 CT: Roger Sherman (devised the Great Compromise)
o Agreement Amongst the Convention
 Realized the best way to revise the Articles is to completely change them
 Special state conventions would be called for ratification
 Unanimous votes not possible so 9 states only involved
 New gov’t would be a republic (run by peoples reps., people= ultimate power source
 New gov’t should be protected from the excesses of democracy
 Wanted a strong central gov’t to regulate taxes & trade
 Wanted a separation of powers with checks and balances
o Compromises
 22

• Checks and Balances- System of constitutional government which guards against absolute power by providing
for separate executive, judicial, and legislative bodies who share powers and thereby check and balance one
Issue View (Side 1) View (Side 2) Conclusion
Representation in Large State Plan Small State Plan (New Great Compromise-Called for a bicameral
Congress (Virginia Plan)- Called Jersey Plan)- Called legislature: House of Rep. would be based
for a bicameral for a unicameral on population; Senate would have equal
Congress where Congress where representation
representation is representation is equal -2 senators from each state & each one
based on population every state is independent
size -All $ bills must start in the H.O.R. and
are discontinued if rejected
Does a slave count in Southern- A slave Northern- A slave has 3/5 Compromise- A slave counts a 3/5 of a
matters of counts in determining no rights so they person in matters of representation &
representation? representation, but shouldn’t have taxes ( For every 5 slaves, add 3 to the
not in matters of taxes representation, but population)
since they are a labor
force they counts in
taxes
Should slavery be Southern- We need Northern- It is unjust Slave Trade Compromise- The end of
outlawed? Or remain the slaves or else we to own another human foreign slave trade will happen in 20 years
a prominent force? shall crumble because being and have (1808) but shall remain for now since GA
they are our work dominance over them and SC needed slave labor
force to do work
How should the Conservatives- Afraid Liberals- The election Electoral College Compromise- An
president of the of the excesses of should be reflected by indirect election would be held. Basically,
country be elected? democracy. They the principles of people elected electors to elect the
wanted a president popular sovereignty president
elected by state and consent of the
legislatures governed
another
• Consent of the Governed- Authority of a government should depend on the consent of the people, as expressed
by votes in elections
• Popular sovereignty- The doctrine that sovereign power is vested in the people and that those chosen to govern,
as trustees of such power, must exercise it in conformity with the general will.
• James Madison-
o “Great as the evil of slavery is a dismemberment of the union would be worse.”
o Young very intellectual Virginian; expert in constitutional law; takes notes on the convention
o “The Father of the Constitution”
• John Jay- Secretary of foreign affairs; rather happy with the foreign problems because he saw it as an
opportunity to build a better, stronger gov’t; author of Federalist Papers
• Alexander Hamilton-
o Charismatic, brilliant, young New Yorker; author of Federalist Papers
o Saved the constitutional convention from complete failure by calling upon Congress to summon a
convention to meet in Philadelphia to deal with commerce and bolster the fabric of the Articles
o Argued for a stronger central gov’t
• Article VII Compromise-When 9 states had registered their approval through specially elected conventions, the
Constitution would become the law of the land in those ratifying states
• Anti-Federalists- Those who opposed the stronger federal gov’t
o Included Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry; consisted mainly of states’ rights
devotees, backcountry dwellers, and one-horse farmers (poorest classes)
o Saw in the Constitution a plot by the upper class to steal back power from the common folk; cried that
it was antidemocratic; charged that the sovereignty of the states was low and freedom was in danger
from the absence of a bill of rights
o Controlled only a few newspapers
• Federalists- Those in favor of the strong federal gov’t
o Enjoyed support from Washington, Franklin, Madison, and Hamilton
 23

o Generally, wealthier, more educated peoples

o Control the press; more than 100 newspapers run by them
• Federalist Advantages
o Better organized and better skilled politicians
o Offered a positive program for change
o Better represented in state legislatures
o People demanding more respect were among them
o Federalist Papers
• The Federalist Papers- Series of 85 articles for the NY newspapers; designed as propaganda that provided the
best explanation about what the Constitution is
o Written by Alexander Hamilton(NY), John Jay (NY), James Madison
o Most brilliant- Federalist No. 10: Refuted the conventional wisdom of the day that it was impossible to
extend a republican form of gov’t over a large territory
• Abigail Adams- Teased her husband John that “The Ladies” were determined “to foment a rebellion” if they
were not given political rights
• Primogeniture- Inheritance law that awarded all of a father’s property to the eldest son
• Republicanism- A republican form or system of government; the principles or theory of republican government
• Anarchy- State of gov’t in a society in which there is an absence for the law
• Mobocracy- Political system in which a mob is the source of control; government by the masses
• Sovereignty- Supremacy of authority or rule as exercised by a ruler
• States’ Rights- Rights and powers not forbidden to the states nor vested in the federal government by the U.S.
Constitution
• Federation- Formation of a political unity, with a central government, by a number of separate states, each of
which retains control of its own internal affairs.

TRIMESTER 2
Chapter 11- The Triumph and Travails of Jeffersonian Democracy (1800-1812)
• Reasons of Decline for the Federalist Party
o Growing democratic sentiment in the nation
o Resentment over the Alien and Sedition Acts
o Criticism over the excessive use of force in the Whiskey Rebellion
o Better organization of the Democratic Republican party
o Personal rivalries within the party
o Pro-British attitude
• Midnight Judges- Derogatory Republican term for those Federalist judges appointed in the closing days/hours
of John Adams administration to keep Federalist power in the gov’t
• Thomas Jefferson-
o Strong believer in strict construction, weak gov’t, and antimilitarism who was forced to modify some of
his principles in office
o Third president of the United States (democratic republican)
• Aaron Burr- Former vice-president, killer of Alexander Hamilton, and plotter of mysterious secessionist
schemes
• “Revolution of 1800”- Nickname by Thomas Jefferson for the Election of 1800
o It was a peaceful transition of power from one political party to the other
o Changed the Federalist view (urban, industrial, commercial, NE America) to the Democratic
Republican view (rural, agricultural, SW America)
• Jefferson’s Principles
o “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”
o Gov’t Economy
 Albert Gallatin- Swiss-born Secretary of the Treasury (Jefferson) who disliked national debt
but kept most Hamiltonian economic measures in effect; “Watchdog of the Treasury”; wanted to
reduce the debt/expenses
o Stressed Simplicity in the Gov’t
 Did not directly address Congress; dressed casual; believed in states’ rights
 24

• Jefferson’s Changes
o Kept bank and the tariff; repeals the excise tax; permits the Alien and Sedition Acts to expire; changes
Naturalization Act (down to 5 years)
• Tripolitan War (1801-1805)
o Pasha of Tripoli (leader) charges more $ for the tribute America is paying to stop pirates but we refuse
so ships are attacked.
o Steven Decatur commands a fleet of warships and defeats them
• Mosquito Fleet- “Jeffs”; Large number of little coastal crafts which Jefferson advocated as a way to guard the
shores
• Louisiana Purchase (1803)
o Monroe and Livingston are sent to Paris in order to purchase the Louisiana territory. They are given
permission to buy it for $2-10 million, but Napoleon decides to throw in all of the French territory for $15
million. Does this because:
 Believes he can possibly regain territory if under weak American control
 Needs $ to raise and fund an army. Plans on a future war.
 Doesn’t want an American-British alliance
 Revolt by Toussaint L’Ouverture on Santo Domingo that Napoleon’s army cannot suppress
easily
o The purchase is significant because:
 Doubles the size of the US
 Tremendous increase in our supply of natural resources (oil, silver, etc.)
 Great Plains- Richest agricultural area in the world
 Gives US complete control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans
 Very thankful western farmers increase nationalism
 Forces T.J. to modify his strict interpretation of the Constitution; he must loosen up in order
to make the purchase
 Reduces the prestige of the Federalists (inherit a strict view)
 Gives rise to the problems of the extension period of slavery (creates tension)
 Boundary problems (since we gained past the Mississippi, boundary was vague; requires
treaties to ensure boundaries)
• Napoleon Bonaparte- French ruler (1800) who acquired Louisiana from Spain (secretly), only to sell it to the
United States for $15 million
• Toussaint L’Ouverture- Gifted black revolutionary whose successful slave revolution on the sugar producing
island of Santo Domingo indirectly led to Napoleon’s sale of Louisiana
• James Monroe- Man sent by Jefferson who was sent to Paris with Livingston to make the Louisiana Purchase
• Robert Livingston- American minister sent to Paris by Jefferson who joined James Monroe in making the
Louisiana Purchase deal from Napoleon
• Jefferson commissions an expedition for the territory and sends Lewis and Clark
o Meriwether Lewis- Jefferson’s personal secretary who explored the Louisiana Purchase territory and
went on to Oregon and the Pacific coast
o William Clark- Young army officer who explored the Louisiana Purchase territory and went on to
Oregon and the Pacific coast
o Secajawea- Indian woman of the Shoshoni tribe who helps Lewis and Clark ascend the “Great
Muddy” (Missouri River) from St. Louis and across the Rockies
• Zebulon Pike-
o Trekked to the headwaters of the Mississippi River (1804)
o Leads another expedition through the newly acquired territory, but explores the Southwestern area;
discovers and names Pikes Peak (Colorado)
• Jefferson wants Federalists completely out of the courts so his plan is:
o Repeal the Judiciary Act of 1801
 Last important law created by the expiring Federalists (John Adams). It created 16 new
federal judgeships and other judicial offices
o Impeachment (Charge of a public official with illegal conduct in office)
o Impeachment of Samuel Chase
 Federalist Supreme Court justice impeached by the House in 1804 but acquitted by the
Senate
 25

o Jefferson and Marshall

 Federalist Supreme Court justice whose brilliant legal efforts established the principle of
judicial review
• Judiciary Act of 1789- Authorized the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus
• Due to the Napoleonic Wars, Jefferson’s 2nd term sucks
o English navy beats French at Trafalgar
o French army beats British at the Battle of Austerlitz (Battle of the Three Emperors) (Austrian battle
where Napoleon crushed the combined Austrian and Russian armies, thereby ensuring his mastery of the
land)
• Orders in Council (1806)- British edict which closed the European ports under French control to foreign
shipping, including American, unless vessels first stopped at a British port
• Continental System (Berlin or Malan Decrees)- French method of blocking English trade
• With these trade stops, America is what is being affected most
• Chesapeake Incident (1807)- British naval attack on American frigate about 10 miles off the coast if Virginia.
The American commander was not prepared to fight so the British did anyway and they killed 3 Americans,
wounded 18 sailors, and impressed 4 of them
• Embargo Act of 1807- Restrictive trade policy under Jefferson’s administration that prohibited all foreign
trade; it hurt Britain but hurt American shippers and farmers more
• Economic Coercion- A peaceful way to economically force the recognition of neutrality
o Causes a recession and is soon expired and replaced with the Non-intercourse Act
• Non-Intercourse Act of 1809- A watered down version of Jefferson’s embargo (stopping trade) aimed solely at
Britain and France; it was supposed to expire in 1810
• James Madison-
o Becomes President after T.J. decides not to run a third term
o Quiet, intellectual, Virginian successor of Jefferson
o Distinguished career as a legislator, but he was crippled as president by factions within his party and
cabinet
• Macon’s Bill No. 2- Bargaining measure used by Congress to dismantle the embargo completely. The bill
practically admitted that the US could not survive without one of the belligerents as a commercial ally, but it left
determination of who that ally would be to the potentates of London and Paris
• England soon repeals the Orders in Council and gives in June 16,1812
• Due to bad communication, America declares war on them June, 18,1812
• War Hawks- Militantly nationalistic, young, western congressmen eager for hostilities with the Indians,
Canadians, and British. This is the term they were dubbed by the Federalists
• Internal Improvements- The basic public works, such as roads and canals, that create the structure for
economic development

Chapter 12- The Second War for Independence and Upsurge of Nationalism (1812-1824)
• Causes of the War of 1812
o Land Hunger
 Desired expansion in upper Canada (for better agriculture) and Florida (recapture runaway
slaves and protection from Indians)
o American Pride (Protection, Honor)
 Infringement on America’s soldiers (impressment) & recognition of our neutrality
o Economic Problems
 Economically suffering from England
o Indian Problems
 Tecumseh and the Prophet organize tribes in Indiana and restore the Indian culture by
rejecting American ways
 Harrison fights against the Indians at the Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)
• Tecumseh-Shawnee Indian born in the Ohio country; he was a gifted organizer and leader as well as a noted
warrior. He fought a tribal custom of torturing prisoners and opposed the practice of permitting any one tribe
to sell land that belonged to all Indians; organized a major Indian confederation against US expansion
• The Prophet (Tenskwatawa)-The religious figurehead of the Indian confederation
 26

• William Henry Harrison- Governor of Indiana Territory that gathered an army and advanced on Tecumseh’s
headquarters at Tippecanoe
• Tippecanoe- Battle site where William Henry Harrison’s army defeated the rebellion set up by Tecumseh; the
Americans find British arms at the battlefield which incites anger amongst them
• Balance of Power
o Madison runs for re-election against DeWitt Clinton and wins
o Madison continues a weak, poorly led army
o Navy, although, was capable
 Talented leaders, strong ships “The Constitution” (“Old Ironsides”)
o Since the expiration of the bank, we are financially at a disadvantage
o America had the advantage of England being preoccupied by France in Europe
• Constitution- American frigate that was probably the strongest of the time; “Old Ironsides”; it had thick sides,
heavy firepower, large crews
• 1812 (Phase 1)
o One attack from Detroit under General Hull was supposed to attack into upper Canada but in their
journey he retreats and soon surrenders Detroit
o Second attack of Western NY from Buffalo to Canada led by Stephen VanRensselaer (inefficient
attack b/c half of the militia was of NY and the governor told soldiers to protect the state of NY)
o Third force went straight north of Albany into Montreal under Henry Dearborn (he gives up due to
the governors message as well)
o Fort Michilimackinac (American stronghold near the Great Lakes) conquered by British commander
Isaac Brock
• 1813 (Phase 2)
o As the British impose a strong blockade (esp. around New England in hopes of secession), American
forces turn over to Lake Erie
o Perry builds a naval base on Lake Erie and defeats the British at the Battle of Lake Erie, getting back
lost possessions
o Battle of Thames (October 1813)- William Harrison’s greatly trained, led, and prepared army met a
combination of British, Canada, and Indian forces; Harrison gains political and military fame from the
armies victory
• Oliver Hazard Perry- Energetic naval officer who managed to build a fleet of green-timbered ships on Lake
Erie; reported to his superior, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” after capturing the British fleet in
an engagement
• 1814 (Phase 3)
o British switch attack points to vital ports: NY, Chesapeake, and New Orleans
o Attack on New York
 George Prevost leads 11,000 troops from Montreal and meets an American force (under
Thomas MacDonough) at Plattsburgh (near Lake Champlain)
 Thomas Macdonough- Commander of a small American fleet who challenged the British to
the Battle of Plattsburgh; he saved upper New York from conquest, New England from further
disaffection, and the Union from dissolution
 Battle of Plattsburgh (September 11, 1814)- Battle fought on Lake Champlain between the
British and an American fleet under the command of Thomas Macdonough; Americans were at one
point in trouble but the sides turned when he maneuvered his ships to confront the enemy with a fresh
broadside; he also sends bonfire rafts, which with the wind was good. Significant battle of the war

o Attack on the Chesapeake

 General Ross (British) focuses more on the land than sea
 American force (7,000) under William Winder meets the British at the Battle of
Blandensburg
 Ross defeats them but the battle allows the Americans to evacuate the White House and
Capitol before they are torched
 As they advance toward Baltimore, the British encounter American force at Fort McHenry
where they fight well
 Francis Scott Key- Detained American who watched the bombardment of Fort McHenry
from a British ship; he was inspired by the defenders to write “The Star Spangled Banner”
o Attack on New Orleans
 Andrew Jackson is sent down South to defend New Orleans from General Edward Pakenham
 27

• Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1813)- Battle in Alabama where Andrew Jackson defeated a
combination force of southwest Indians
 Battle of New Orleans- Jackson has his troops build a barricade and then dig a ditch. Behind
this barricade, the soldiers are lined up in order to shoot 3 times in one place. This tactic works and the
British end up defeated with 2100 casualties and 500 prisoners. The outnumbered Americans have 8
dead and 21 wounded
• Andrew Jackson-
o Gaunt, hawk-faced man who led the victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend
o He led a force of 7,000 sailors, pirates, regulars, and Frenchmen; the overconfident British force of
8,000 launched a frontal attack on them and were destroyed quickly
• Hartford Convention (December 15,1814- January 5,1815)
o Convention where MA, CT, RI sent full delegations and NH and VT sent partial reps
o Demanded the financial assistance from Washington to compensate for lost trade
o Proposed that 1)declaring war or an 2)embargo required a 2/3 vote in Congress, and that 3)new states
were to be added on a majority
o Sought to abolish the 3/5 clause in the Constitution, to limit the president to a single term, and to
prohibit the election of two successive presidents from the same state
• Czar Alexander I wants peace because he wants British ally security
• Treaty of Ghent (Dec. 24,1814)- An armistice signed on Christmas Eve by both sides (American and British) by
which they agreed to stop fighting and restore conquered territory (status quo)
• John Quincy Adams- Early-rising, puritanical head of American peacemakers; son of John Adams; attempts to
gain a treaty to resolve war
• Results:
o Rise of nationalism (Federalists are on the way out)
o Foreign respect for American Forces (we are small, but mighty)
o Rise of military heroes (Harrison, Jackson, Winfield Scott)
o Indian threat is diminishing (wiped out East of the Mississippi)
o Increase of American manufacturing (due to the block on trade, we now made our own things)
o Rise of Canadian Nationalism (they realize they don’t subject to British laws if separate)
o Improvement of US / British relations (not allies, but not enemies neither)
 Rush-Bagot Agreement (1817)- Agreement between Britain and the US that severely limited
naval armament on the Great Lakes
• Nationalism- The loyalty or patriotism towards an entire country
• Economic Nationalism
o Creation of the 2nd Bank (1816)
 Similar bank to that of the First Bank of the US; 20 year charter, gov’t had a 20%
shareholder, gov’t payment agent, privately owned/ operated
 Those originally opposing it, are now for it
o Tariff of 1816
 First tariff in American history instituted primarily for protection, not revenue; its rates (20-
25% on the value of dutiable imports) were not high enough to provide adequate safeguards
 Daniel Webster (NH rep) thought the Tariff would hurt/make trade difficult
 John Calhoun (SC rep) spoke on behalf of the Tariff, saying it was essential
 Their views both completely alter to being the exact opposite
o American System (1824 scheme for developing a profitable home market by Henry Clay)
 Began with a strong banking system which would provide easy and abundant credit
 Had a protective tariff (allowing eastern manufacturing to flourish)
 A network of roads and canals (especially in the Ohio Valley), which would come from the
revenue from the tariff.
 The South would provide cash crops, labor, and cotton; the North East would be an
industrial manufacturing center; the West would provide food & mineral resources
• Political Nationalism
o James Monroe runs for re-election (1816) and wins over Rufus King, continuing the Virginia Dynasty
(Virginian had been president for all but four years in the Republic’s quarter-century life)
o Monroe’s administration is dubbed the “Era of Good Feelings” by a Federalist Boston newspaper
 28

o 1820- The Federalists are wiped out; Democratic Republicans are the only political party still
remaining
• James Monroe-
o Stooped, courtly, and mild-mannered Virginia man who was nominated by the Republicans for
presidency in 1816
o Straddled the generations of the bygone age of the Founding Fathers and the emergent age of
nationalism
o Administration described as an “Era of Good Feelings” by a Federalist
• Foreign Policy
o England
 Prior to the war, America seen as inferior, but after those sentiments are gone
 Anglo-American Treaty of 1818-
• Permitted Americans to share the coveted Newfoundland fish area with Canada
• Fixed the northern limits of Louisiana along the 49th parallel from the Lake of the Woods,
Minnesota to the Rockies
• Provided a 30 year joint occupation of the Oregon Country
o Spain
 W. Florida is absorbed by the US in 1810
 E. Florida- Indians were of major concern
 Jackson pursues stopping the Indian attacks and in the process crosses the Spanish border
and captures 2 cities and confronts 2 British aids and kills them. John Quincy Adams uses Pinckney’s
Treaty as a lupol which promised control over Indians within their territory

 (Florida Purchase) Treaty of 1819-

• Spain ceded Florida to the US
• Spends $5 million for it which will go directly to citizens who have some lawsuit or claim
against Spain
• Boundary Line: Sabine River -> Red River -> Arkansas River-> 42 degrees
• Spain releases claims to the Oregon country in exchange for American abandonment of
claims to Texas
o Monroe Doctrine (Adams Doctrine)
 Russia starts moving down the coast, claiming US territory
 Latin America rebellions fighting for independence are on the verge of being suppressed by
talk of Quadruple Alliance (European countries set forth to stop democratic revolutions) intercession
with Spain
 George Canning (British foreign minister) presents a bilateral doctrine to stop the
intervention; does not appeal to Adams, so he makes a unilateral doctrine
• No new colonization (previous colonies are ok, but new ones aren’t)
• Mutual non-interference (you don’t bother us, we don’t bother you)
 Importance:
• Canning’s idea is taken, making him and England upset
• Although not included, England would still back us and aid in controlling the Alliance
because they need our trade
• Cornerstone in American foreign policy
• Russo-American Treaty of 1824- Fixed the Russian boundary at the line of 54 degrees 40’
(southern tip of present-day Alaska)
• Judicial Nationalism
o Establishing the Supremacy of the Federal Court
 Marbury vs. Madison (1803)
• Madison refused to give William Marbury a commission as a justice of the peace after
appointed by Adams. Marbury sued under a writ of mandamus
• Marshall declared the Judiciary Act of 1789 (Section 13) as unconstitutional
• Concept of Judicial Review established
 Fletcher vs. Peck (1810)
• Georgia legislature sold land to speculators; this enraged the public, electing a new
legislature, which rescinded the sale
 29

• The Georgia legislature could not interfere with the contract because Fletcher had made a
legal contractual purchase with which could not be interfered
• Contract clause of the Constitution overrode the state law
 Cohens vs. Virginia (1821)
• Cohens were arrested for selling lottery tickets authorized by Congress
• Marshall ruled that the Supreme Court has the right to review state court decisions to
determine if the judgments violate the Constitution
o Strengthening the Federal Government
 McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819)
• Involved an attempt by the state of Maryland to destroy a branch of the Bank of the US by
imposing a tax on its notes
• Marshall said that the bank was constitutional by bringing up implied powers; he denied the
right of Maryland to tax the bank because the tax was unconstitutional

 Gibbons vs. Ogden (1824) (“Steamboat case”)

• The state of NY tried to grant a private concern a monopoly of water commerce between NY
& NJ
• Marshall said that the Constitution conferred Congress alone the control of interstate
commerce; with this he took more states’ rights
o Protecting Property Rights
 Fletcher vs. Peck (1810)
• Involved the legality of the sale of a piece of land that was made in a previous legislation and
was rescinded because of much dispute
 Dartmouth vs. Woodward (1819)
• The college was granted a charter by George III, but the state had seen fit to change it
• Marshall ruled that the original charter must stand; this decision safeguarded the business
enterprise from domination of states’ government
• John Marshall- Aggressive Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who made many decisions impacting states’
rights
• Daniel Webster- Distinguished alumnus of Dartmouth who was employed as the counsel for the Dartmouth vs.
Woodworth case. “Godlike Daniel”
• Territorial Nationalism
o Country was confined before, but is now bigger. 11 new states admitted to 1821
o Land Act of 1820- Could buy minimum of 80 acres of land for $1.25 per acre
• Washington Irving- One of the nation’s first writers of importance to the American scenes and themes
• James Fenimore Cooper- One of the nation’s first writers of importance to the American scenes and themes
• Sectionalism- Loyalty or patriotism for only a section of a country
o Panic of 1819
 Cause- Overspeculation of Western land (people would invest in land, expect things to
happen to make money, but then nothing happens)
 Tied economies of US and England; England goes under, so does US
 Characteristics:
• Bank failure
• Unemployment
• Foreclosure on mortgages
• Debtor prisons
• Primarily hit the West (western farmers)
o Western farmers saw the Bank of the US, “an Eastern establishment”, as an evil because it
was this thing that was causing the recession
 Results- Federal gov’t does not get directly involved; Laws are passed to outlaw debtor
prisons
o Missouri Compromise (1819)
 Missouri begins the process of applying for statehood; want to become a slave state
• Difficulty with equality in the Senate (free vs. slave)
• Difficulty with precedent (Missouri is the first state West of the Mississippi, is fear that a
slave state sets a precedent for the rest of the Louisiana territory
 30

 If the Tallmadge Amendment is accepted, then Missouri can be admitted

• Any slave currently in Missouri can stay, but no new slaves are allowed. Any children of
slaves will be free once reaching nonage
 Sectionalism arises between free states and slave states because there is much dispute over the
controversy
 Henry Clay forms the Compromise
• Missouri is a slave state
• Maine is admitted as a free state
• Boundary line 36 degrees 30’ (Starting at the southern border of Missouri
o North of the line= No slavery
o South of the line= Slavery permitted
 Results
• Set up a pattern for the admission of states (slave/free)
• Creates a temporary sectional peace
• Ohio fever- The siren song of cheap land that had a special appeal to European immigrants

Chapter 13- The Rise of Mass Democracy (1824-1840)

• Election of 1824- Election comprising of 4 candidates from the Democratic Republican party, as a result of
sectionalism
o John Quincy Adams-Aloof Massachusetts intellectual that who became president in 1824 and was an
unpopular leader in the new era of mass democracy; he supported merchants and industrializers; he was
accused of corrupt bargaining with Henry Clay for the presidency; his nationalistic principles did not go over
well with the people and he was defeated by Jackson in the 1828 election
o Andrew Jackson- Does not have a vast political background, but is a popular, efficient leader; “Old
Hickory”; “King Mob”; first president of the West, the first one nominated at a formal party convention;
oversaw the “Tariff of Abominations” and promoted expansion and Indian Removal
o William Crawford- Presidential candidate in the 1824 election of Georgia; had a strict interpretation of
the Constitution; “King Caucuss”; he suffered a stroke which ousted him from running
o Henry Clay- Extremely nationalistic candidate; Main rival for president in the election of 1832;
Speaker of the House & was accused of corrupt bargaining w/ Adams; attempted to preserve the Bank but it
defeated by Jackson with 1832 veto
o Since no one has a majority vote, the election gets shifted over to the House
o “Corrupt Bargain”- Practice of bargaining within branches to have strings pulled to get one into office.
Adams and Clay are accused of this action b/c after Adams is elected, Clay is named Secretary of State
• Results of the Election- Adams is victorious with Calhoun as his VP. Administration is bad b/c:
o Popular opposition against him
o Lack of success (Jacksonians in congress are against him)
o George Canning, the man that Adams stole the unilateral treaty idea from, is elected Prime Minister of
G.B. and seeks to get back at him , making foreign policy difficult
• John Quincy Adams Program
o Wants to create a broad-based national internal improvements program (satisfies Clay); it fails though
b/c although Congress likes it, he does not want the nationalistic idea to be accredited to him
o Wants to have an American Arts and Science Program connected w/ an American University; it
eventually doesn’t get passed b/c Jacksonians see it as a waste of $
o Panama Congress (1826)- New Latin American countries say they want a meeting w/ all of the nations
of the Western Hemisphere. JQA needs Congressional approval to send 2 reps down and gets it, but by the time
it is granted the meeting is over
o Protection of Indian Rights- He acknowledges the terrible treatment of them b/c of the broken treaties;
Jacksonians don’t want to give them rights and the legislation protecting rights were not approved
o Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations) is passed
 Extremely high protective tariff (45%); not only for foreign prices,but domestic ones too
 Individual American industrialists make all the $ at the expense of all other Americans
 SC opposed to the tariff and they threatened nullification; prompted Calhoun to write the “South
Carolina Exposition and Protest”
• South Carolina Exposition (1828)- Pamphlet written by John Calhoun from the SC legislation
against the Tariff of Abominations. It denounced the tariff as unjust and proposed that the states
should nullify it
• See NB for South Carolina Protest Against the Tariff (Page 279 in Hoffstater book)
 31

• Election of 1828
o Democratic Republican Party splits in 2 due to sectional interests
 Democrats- Nominate Jackson
 National-Republicans- Nominate JQA
o Issues were more personal: The alleged corrupt bargain of 1824
 Mudslinging- Come up with semi-true stories about the other, make it public, and in turn hurt their
chances
 Adams accused of the corrupt bargain, being an alcoholic, and being a pimp & gambler
 Jackson accused of being hotheaded, a pimp, and an adulterer
o Results: Jackson (178) wins over JQA (83)
• Revolution of 1828 (referred to be Jackson)-Jackson is the 1st person to be elected from the West (TN); to be
elected president, western support from now on is vital; Americans are gaining and using more their right to vote
(first mass turnout for and election)
• Jackson’s Principles
o Laissez-faire economist- The gov’t should not interfere with economy; leave it alone
o Strongly disliked monopolies and specially privileged people; worked against that attitude
o Admired the common man (b/c he was one)
 He was born an orphan & was self-educated; became a lawyer and practiced in TN; he was a slave-
owning aristocrat
o No definite stand on Constitutional interpretation
 Strict on some things, but loose on others
 Opposed the national bank b/c of the privileged people idea
 Loose construction is b/c he wanted the federal; gov’t power to be increased
 Not consistent at all
o Independent Presidency (Represented all the people, but had a little more power)
 Cherokee vs. Georgia – He refused to follow Marshall’s decision; Marshall said the Indians cant be
kicked out of Georgia, but Jackson did anyway
 He overused the power of his veto (12 laws); he vetoed laws b/c he didn’t like them, even if they were
constitutional; 8 of the 12 were pocket vetos
• Jackson’s Program
o Has passed the Specie Circular
 Required the purchase of western land with gold and silver (hard money)
o Low Tariff
 Saw the high tariff as a benefit of the privileged; so he gradually lowers it
o Free Banking
 Plans to undermine the national bank (as autocratic)
 Jackson begins to withhold $ from the national bank by putting the $ into smaller, state run, “pet
banks” (Several dozen state institution where surplus federal funds were stored after the demise of the
Bank of the United States)
 2nd Bank of the US ceases to exist due to this withdrawal of funds
o Spoils System (Giving gov’t jobs to supporters/ people who help you get in gov’t)
 Partly begins with TJ
 Uses different criteria for positions: 1) Someone loyal to him 2)American
 Puts him in a position with incompetent cabinet (except Van Buren)
 When uneasy with his cabinet, an informal group of advisors (kitchen cabinet) from around the
country are called in to help him with laws and keep him informed
o Indian Policy
 Large majority of Americans thought Indians as a nuisance
 Adopts Indian Removal Policy- Trail of Tears; we give them this certain land in Oklahoma as their
territory and evict them from the present
• In the fall and winter of 1838-1839, the army forcibly removed 15,000 Cherokees from their
southeastern homeland to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Freezing weather and inadequate food led to
much suffering. 4,000 died on the 116 day journey
 Osceola- Seminole leader who wages war with Americans in Florida. He uses the Everglades swampy
land to their advantage
o Internal Improvements
 32

 Basis for support was based on political favoritism

 Maysville Road Bill- It would have provided for a road through Kentucky but the bill is vetoed b/c he
didn’t like Henry Clay (who was of Kentucky)
o Generous Land Policy
 Supported Western Expansion (generous, liberal; made land cheap and accessible)
• New Democracy- Although previous democracy was “limited”, Jackson believed any American can be part of
gov’t
o The fall of aristocratic leaders led to the rise of democratic leaders
o Rise of the common man (w/ political power)
 Universal white manhood suffrage is employed and they can vote
o Modern campaigning
o More democratic selection of party candidates
 Previously, the electors would be those to run, but now others can
 Anti-Masonic Party- Short lived 3rd political party that opposed the secrecy of the Masons. They were a
true-embodied example of new democracy and they began the primary way of candidate selection through
conventions
o Prophets and powers of political position appeal to the people (basically, the common man can aspire
to political fame)
• Events of Jackson’s Administration
o Eaton Malaria
 Secretary of War, John Eaton of Jackson’s administration. His wife, Peggy O’Neal promiscuously
attracted guests and after marriage, she gets clean. Calhoun (still VP) is caught in the middle of debate b/c
his wife does not care for Peggy
 Eaton is sent to Spain to become a foreign ambassador
 Incident causes a rift in Jackson’s cabinet that’s sealed with the Jefferson Day Banquet
o Jefferson Day Banquet
 Jefferson’s birthday is commemorated in April and at the toast for it, southern want Jackson to take a
stand for states’ rights
 “Our Federal Union, it must and shall be preserved.” (Jackson saying this is basically a slap in the face
to states’ rights)
 “The Union, next to our liberty most dear…” (Calhoun is saying here that the Union is important, but
no where near liberty)
 Calhoun resigns from VP, leaving no one vice-president
o Webster-Hayne Debate (1829)
 Debate commences with Senator Foote proposing in the Senate a curb of the sale of western land for:
• Economically- Workers are scarce enough and now with cheap new land, they are leaving the
industrial factories of New England for farming occupations out West
• Politically- The population of New England begins a decline as Western population inclines;
causing disruption in electoral matters
 Robert Hayne (governor of SC; passionate speaker) approaches the issue and spreads it out to national
power vs. states’ rights
• He criticizes New England in particular, the Tariff of 1828, and finalizes with nullification
amongst southern states over national laws
 Daniel Webster takes his stand for the Northern states
• States that it is up to the people (as a whole) what becomes law through Congress and what
gets turned over by the Supreme Court, not individual states
• “Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable.” This states that if liberty is gone,
then we will fall un-united; creates the “preserve the union” mindset
o Election of 1832
 Jackson for the Democrats vs. Henry Clay for the National Republicans
 Clay plans on proposing a bill to recharter the Bank of the US (which expires in 1836). Plans on
crushing Jackson through this because either way he chooses, for or against the bank, he will lose support
and possibly get Clay the presidency
 Jackson despises the Bank and its president, Nicholas Biddle (brilliant, but arrogant president of the
Bank of the United States that held an enormous amount of power over the nation’s financial affairs) b/c he
felt it was a “moneyed monster”. Biddle defends it b/c it is the only national institution and it provided
control over other banks
 33

 The Anti-Masonic Party rose: Introduces the concept of national nominating conventions, becomes a
potent political force in NY and spread influence across the mid-Atlantic and New England states; anti-
Jackson party; attracts support from the evangelical Protestants seeking political power to effect moral and
religious reforms
 Results:
• The overwhelming victory gave Jackson the confidence of draining $ slowly from the Bank.
Any federal funds were spread out through “pet banks”, leaving the Bank to die soon in 1836
• Introduces 3rd parties to politics: A party that feels strongly about one topic the other 2 don’t
breach upon. They wait until a major candidate adopts their stand and then they drop out
o Tariff/ Nullification Controversy (1832/1833)
 The Union Party- Favored national gov’t and nationalism
 The States’ Rights Party- Favored sectionalism and nullification principles
 SC Congress state elections take place, naming States’ Rights Party victorious
• Prior to election, they “pass” an Ordinance of Nullification for the Tariff of 1832 (doesn’t
mean anything b/c they weren’t really in office)
 Henry Clay proposes the Compromise Tariff of 1833
• Said the tariff would be reduced gradually over 8 years by 10%
 Congress also passes the Force Act (Bloody Bill)- This authorizes the president to use the power of the
armed forces in order to enforce a national law; SC nullifies it
• Andrew Jackson and Foreign Policy
o Britain
 Since the British cut off the US trade with the British West Indies, Jackson wants it back so he suggests
it and it is immediately accepted. This helps wins over the mercantile people
o France
 Negotiations were being worked out for France to repay US for the damage done during the
Napoleonic Wars
 In 1834, they cut off the $. Jackson retaliates by seizing French territory within the US; they cave in
and begin repaying again
o Texas
 1824- Mexico becomes and independent country (w/Texas)
 Stephen Austin is given a land grant by the Mexican gov’t and is told to get 300 families to move in and
populate the area of Texas. These people were required to be: 1) Roman Catholic 2)Become a Mexican
citizen
 1836: 30,000 Americans had become residents in Texas (most were slave owning, non-Catholic, non-
citizens; this upset the gov’t)
 Texan Revolution begins and Santa Anna ( Mexican commander of 10,000 men) tries to suppress the
rebellion
• San Antonio then the Alamo
o Jim Bowie, William Travis (commander at the Alamo; “Victory or Death”), and Davy
Crocket are among famous Americans fighting there
• Goliad: 400 Texans vs. Santa Anna fight and soon surrender. Santa Anna mercilessly kills
them all
• Sam Houston (former TN governor) organizes the Texans and leads them to victory over
Mexicans (April 21, 1836)
o Captures Santa Anna and forces him to sign a document recognizing Texan independence
and the southern boundary of Texas as the Rio Grande (not legit b/c it was by force, not free will)
 Jackson denies Texan admission to the states because: 1)He is afraid it will lead to war; 2) He doesn’t
want to revive the slavery conflict with legislation
• Election of 1836
o Democratic Party- Martin Van Buren (chosen by Jackson himself is nominated)
 Stressed individual liberty, the rights of the common people, and hostility to the privilege
 Martin Van Buren- “Wizard of Albany”; his presidency (1836-1840) was marked by economically bad
events and he served in the shadow of Jackson; Secretary of State and Vice President; proposed the Divorce
Bill, regarding the bank
o Whig Party- A combination party of the National Republicans, The Anti-Masons, and some Democrats
that exist b/c of an opposition to Jackson
 Liked a more activist gov’t, high tariffs, internal improvements, & moral reforms
 34

o The Whigs plan was to nominate multiple candidates from random areas of the country in order to
spread out the electoral vote so Van Buren would not be elected
o Favorite sons- Politician who is very popular only in a narrow end of the country
o Van Buren wins the election with over the majority; Harrison has the highest Whig votes

• Martin Van Buren’s Administration (which is full of problems from the start)
o Political opposition: The Whigs (who were prominent in the House) opposed him and some Democrats
felt it was anti-democratic the way Jackson eliminated comp for his nomination during the Democratic
convention
o Texas: Van Buren is besieged with demands from southern for the annexation of Texas
o British: Canada in 1837 started a revolution for independence against the British. Americans on their
own behalf end up helping the Canadians and although the US was officially neutral in the matter, it was seen as
us helping the Canadian cause
o Panic of 1837 (lasts a majority of the administration)
 Causes:
• Overspeculation of western land
• Jackson’s financial policies (bank failure & demise and the Specie Circular)
 Many banks are failing (causes loss of federal gov’t money b/c of scatter $ in pet banks
 Van Buren proposes the Divorce Bill (theoretical)- Said that federal gov’t money should be separated
from private banks
 Divorce Bill replaced by the Independent Treasury Act (practical application of Divorce Bill)- Said US
gov’t vaults scattered around the country would hold the money. This cant fail b/c it is not a bank, but is
bad b/c the money cant gain interest
• Black Hawk- Illinois-Wisconsin area Sauk leader who was defeated by the American regulars and militia in
1832
• William Henry Harrison- “Old Tippecanoe”; portrayed by Whig propagandists as a hard-drinking common
man of the frontier
• Slavocracy- A ruling group of slaveholders or advocates of slavery
• Lone Star- Reference to Texas, as in the Lone Star State

Chapter 16- The South and the Slavery Controversy (1793-1860)

• Cotton Kingdom
o By the 19th century, cotton is king and is the staple crop of the southern states
o Cotton gin of Eli Whitney makes it easier and cheaper to produce cotton
o In the deep South, “cotton belt”, cotton plantations are strong
• Cotton’s Problems
o Subject to world’s conditions (difficult economic conditions)
o Labor intensive work (this new demand for labor produces a slavery revival)
o Depleted the soil (the constant demand for new land is high)
o Prevented economic diversification
• Southern Social Structure
o 2-3% : New planter aristocrats (owned approx. 100 slaves)
o 3-5% : Large farm-owners (50-100 slaves)
o 8-12% : Slave owning whites (approx. 10 slaves)
o 60 % :Non-slave owning whites; small independent farmers;
 Mountain Whites- Special category of white southerners who were marooned in the Appalachian
valley range; civilization largely passed them by and they lived under spartan frontier conditions; looked
upon the impending strife between the North and the South as “the rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight”
o 2-3% : Whites / Free Blacks mix
o 20% : Slaves
• Labor forces started back in 1619 in Jamestown; 1650->1750s- Slave labor in on the rise

• Free Blacks- Approx. ½ million of them

o Southern Life: “Essentially a slave without an owner.”; discriminated against, very limited, the race
was inferior but the individual was rather respected
 35

o Northern Life: Discriminated against, prejudiced against, had frequent confrontations with Irish, the
race was respected but individuals were inferior
• Slaves
o Approx. 4 million; were not imported, naturally increased
o Were an important economic investment; est. value of their labor was $2 billion
o 50% of them were located in the “black belt”; SC had slave majority
• Life of a Slave
o Common Points:
 1)
Worked from sun-up until sun-down; 2)Lack of education; 3)Almost no civil rights; 4) No political
rights; 5) Whipping was typical; 6) Constant reality of slave trade
o Slave Families
 Marriage existed but not recognized. Stability was difficult, run aways were common
o Culture and Religion
 Religion was a Christianity /African mix, but gradually became more Americanized
o Forms of Resistance
 Work slow downs
 Theft
 Sabotage (breaking machinery, equipment)
 Escaping( to rejoin family and/or freedom; Harriet Tubman, the “Conductor of the Underground
Railroad”, helped many people along)
 Rebellions (feared by almost all whites)
• Denmark Vessey was a free black that led a failed rebellion in Charleston in 1822. He was
betrayed by informers and he and 30+ followers were sent to the gallows
• Nat Turner was a semiliterate, visionary black preacher who led an uprising in 1831 that
slaughtered 60 Virginians (mainly women and children)
• Quakers of PA and NJ form the American Colonization Society
o Est. the African country of Liberia and recruited blacks to relocate there; 15,000 of 2 million accepted
the offer
• Leading Northern Abolitionists
o Theodore Dwight Weld- Lanky, tousle-haired man who had been evangelized in the 2nd Great
Awakening by Charles Grandison Finney in NY’s Burned Over District in the 1820s
 Led the Lane Theological Seminary slavery debate
 Publishes American Slavery As It Is; appealed with special power and directness to his rural audiences
of untutored farmers; materially aided by the Tappans
o William Lloyd Garrison-
 Burns the Constitution, calling it a “covenant of hell” because it protected slavery
 Published in Boston the first issue of his militantly antislavery newspaper The Liberator (led to a 30
year war of words and fired one of the opening barrages of the Civil War)
 Favored northern secession from the South and antagonized both sections
 Est. the American Anti-Slavery Society (first abolition group)
o Wendell Phillips- Prominent Boston patrician who was of the American Anti-Slavery Society;
“abolition’s golden trumpet”
• Lane Rebels-Students who were expelled from the Lane Society in 1834 (for organizing an 18d day slavery
debate) who were full of the energy and idealism of youth; they went out across the Old Northwest and preached the
antislavery gospel

• Black Abolitionists
o David Walker- Black abolitionist and author whose incendiary Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the
World 1829 (pamphlet manifesto for liberation) advocated a blood end to white supremacy
o Sojourner Truth-Freed black woman in New York who fought tirelessly for black emancipation and
women’s rights
o Frederick Douglas-
 One of the most prominent black abolitionists who battled for the civil rights of blacks after
emancipation
 Published his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas (includes origins as the son of a
black slave, his struggle to read and write, & his escape to the North
 36

• Liberty Party- Anti-Slavery party against slavery that impacts the election of 1840
• Free Soil Party- Advocated no further advancement of slavery, but not abolition. Branches from the Liberty
Party and doesn’t last, but gives way to the Republican Party
• Republican Party- Adopts a non-expansion policy which gives way to an anti-slavery sentiment
• Benefits to Slavery:
o Bible permits slavery, now seen as encouragement
o Life of slave in America was better than the savage existence in Africa
o Existence of a slave was better than being a white factory worker of the North ( no protections
economically in the North)
• Gag Resolutions are pushed for in the House
o Reform proposed by sensitive southerners that required all anti-slavery appeals to be tabled without
debate
• John Quincy Adams sees this as a troubling issue and waged a successful 8 years fight for the repeal of the Gag
Resolutions
• Harriet Beecher Stowe- Novelist that was part of the Lane Theological Society; wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin (which
was greatly influenced by the propaganda pamphlet, American Slavery As It It)
• Arthur and Lewis Tappan- Wealthy, devout New York merchants who helped Weld pay his way to Lane
Theological Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Elijah P. Lovejoy- Reverend of Alton, Illonois who impugned the chastity of Catholic women; killed in 1837 and
became “the martyr abolitionist”
• Oligarchy- A gov’t ruled by the few (the planter aristocracy here)
• Political Abolitionists- Abolitionists who got involved in politics and backed certain political parties, based on
their stand on slavery

Chapter 17- Manifest Destiny

• Election of 1840
o Democrats nominate Van Buren for a 2nd term
o The older/wiser Whigs nominate William Henry Harrison and John Tyler for VP
o Campaign is based on personal characteristics
 Democratic newspaper criticize Harrison (set the image- he should retire and sit back and “drink hard
cider in a log cabin”, which makes him seem common, not wealthy
o Harrison is victorious and sets 2 records during his administration
 Oldest elected guy to the preseidency
 Longest inaugural address (2 hours)
 Shortest presidential term (4 weeks)
• John Tyler- VA southerner who ran as V.P. with Harrison in the election of 1840; became President 4 weeks
into Harrison’s administration because of his death; he was a Whig, but was also an ex-Democrat and showed this
sentiment; agricultural > industrial interests
Tyler Issues Whigs
1) In Favor Pre-Emption Act Against
2) NO!! Proposed Tariff (45%) YES!!!!
3) Yes (but not happy) Tariff of 1842 (35%) Yes
4) Yes Repeal of Independent Treasury System Yes
5) NO!!! 3rd Bank of the US YES!!
st
Pre-emption Act- Gave a squatter the 1 right to purchase the land he is currently on
Whigs expel Tyler b/c he is not a true Whig; Democrats don’t want him either; he has no party
• Maine Boundary Dispute
o 12,000 square miles are in dispute along the Aroostook River and the Quebec-Halifax trade route
o Aroostook War- Lumbermen wanted the land for nature; Canadians wanted trading
o A battle for the maps occurs as Lord Ashburton searches for a map to find British claims to the land
and Webster searches for a map for American claims; they find each others maps
o Webster-Ashburton Treaty-
 America gained 7,000 of the 12,000 square miles
 British gained 5,000 of the 12,000 square miles, including the Quebec-Halifax route
 British also surrendered the 6,500 square miles of the Mesabi area near Lake of the Woods in
Minnesota (contained rich supply of iron ore)
 37

• Lord Ashburton- Nonprofessional diplomat financier who quickly established cordial relations with Daniel
Webster to discuss the disputed land
• Texas
o Texan Opinion on Independence: Wants the US to annex them
o Mexican Opinion on Independence: Texas is still part of Mexico, so no independence
o Englishman Opinion on Independence: Texas should be independent (Tax-free zone with limited other
restrictions)
o European Opinion on Independence: Keep Texas independent because it would stop expansion of US
o American (southerner) Opinion on Independence: Wants Texas annexed because it would increase rep.
in Congress
o American (northerner) Opinion on Independence: Doesn’t want Texas annexed because it gives a more
moral slavery and political POV
o American (westerner) Opinion on Independence: Wants Texas annexed (for a stronger America)
o The Democratic candidate in 1844 (James Polk) wants the reannexation of Texas and Tyler puts forth
the proposal because it was well taken too during campaigns
o Joint Resolution of Congress- Both houses of Congress combine to vote by a majority (on matters of
foreign policy)
• Election 1844
o Whigs choose Henry Clay
o Democrats nominate James K. Polk (dark horse candidate)
 Not widely known beyond local area; One who doesn’t seem likely to win
 Speaker of the House for 4 years and governor of TN for 2 terms

o Liberty Party nominates James Birney

 Anti-slavery party who absorbed many votes which helped Polk win the election. Also, the anti-Texas
party, spoiled Clay’s chances and helped ensure the election to Polk, hastened the annexation of Texas
o Results: Polk wins
• Polk’s Presidential Program
o Texas (1 of 5 objectives) is annexed, so 4 of 5 are left
o Return of the Independent Treasury System goes through easily when law is proposed
o Polk puts Robert Walker (secretary of the Treasury) in charge of revising the tariff; Walker Tariff of
1846 plans to reduce the tariff from 32 – 25%
o Oregon Question
 The joint ownership between England and US delays getting Oregon; both countries want the area of
the Willamette River Valley (Very fertile, grassy area south of the Columbia River that was populated with
missionaries and other settlers in the 1830s)
 Oregon Trail- Trade route that transported people and goods to Oregon territory
 Anglo-American Treaty of 1846 – Continues boundary line (49th parallel) along Oregon Territory out
to the water’s edge and we get the Willamette River Valley
o California
 Achieving this area would fulfill Manifest Destiny (Emotional upsurge that people believed in that said
that God manifestly destined the American people for a hemispheric career that included spreading
democratic institutions across the continent and possibly over South America
 San Francisco (best western harbor) is owned by Mexico
 John Slidell is chosen to negotiate the purchase of the area for as much as $25 million (but
unfortunately he is forcefully rejected and insulted and is prepared for war)
 Zachary Taylor (“Old Rough and Ready”) is sent to defend Texas and in January 1846, he crosses the
Nueces River to the Rio Grande and is seen as invading
 Santa Anna sends a force across the river and attack, “spilling American blood”
• Reasons for Invasion and War
o 1)
Owed Texans $; 2) Rejected the proposal, diminishing our pride; 3) Caused American casualties
o Abraham Lincoln was a Northern antislaveryite who proposed “spot resolutions”
 Requested information as to the precise “spot” on American soil where American blood had been shed
• Mexican War (1846-1848): Four Campaigns
o Taylor launches the first one (5,000 men); he secures the boundary of Rio Grande and meets Santa
Anna (leading 20,000 men)
 38

 Battle of Buena Vista (1846)- Taylor comes out victorious although outnumbered 4:1
• Americans were more capable, intelligent officers that could execute difficult tasks; Mexicans
were bad at doing this sort of work
• Americans were experimenting with a rapid firing gun (helped a lot)
o General Stephen Kenrey has 2 objectives
 Primary: Gain control over NM and Arizona area; he focuses on the Santa Fe region and captures it in
1846
 Secondary: To gain control of California
o Captain John C. Fremont
 He is sent to explore the Oregon area and is told to incite rebellions in California to overthrow the
Mexicans
 Sloat (a 3rd military force) aids by sea in achieving this
 Called the Bear Flag Republic after subdued and it is asked for annexation
o General Winfield Scott
 He has to gain control over Mexico City and begins his march in 1847 to Veracruz
 Nicholas Trist (clerk that joined Scott as Polk’s informer) negotiates a presumed bribe with Santa
Anna, basically giving him $10k
 Scott surrounds Santa Anna around Mexico City & Trist writes a treaty
 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (February 1848)
• Mexico will recognize Us annexation of Texas & Rio Grande as boundary
• Us will acquire the Mexican Cession area
• US pays Mexico $15 million for the land
• Us pays $ 3 ¼ million to American citizens living in Texas that had lawsuits against Mexico
• Results of the Mexican War
o 13,000 American lives cost (more than ½ die from disease, not war)
o Significant increase in size of the US
o Mexican War becomes training ground for Civil War
o Renewed respect toward US from foreign powers
o Feeling of resentment from Latin American nations to US (“Colossus of the North”)
o Resurrection of slavery issue
 David Wlimot of PA introduces to the House the Wilmot Proviso which said to ban slavery in newly
acquired territory (it is passed in the House but rejected in the Senate twice)
• Robert Gray- Captain in 1792 who discovered the Columbia River, which he named after his ship
• “Dark Horse” Candidate- A “surprise” presidential candidate
• Fiscal Bank- Bill proposed through Congress by Clay that would establish a new Bank of the United States
• Caroline- American steamer that was carrying supplies to the insurgents across the Niagara River; attacked/set
aflame by a British force on the New York shore in 1837
• “Conscience” Whigs- Anti-slavery Whigs in Congress; “Mexican Whigs”
• Hudson’s Bay Company- Most important colonizing agency which was trading profitably with the Indians of the
Pacific Northwest for fur

Chapter 18
• Election of 1848
o Democrats nominate Lewis Cass (senator and diplomat of wide experience and considerable ability;
became the reputed father of the idea of popular sovereignty)
o Whigs pick Zachary Taylor (a military square peg in a political round hole)
o Free Soil Party nominates Martin Van Buren (motto: “Free Soil, Free Speech; Free Labor; Free Men”)
 Ardent antislavery party of the North that pleaded antislavery, advocated federal aid for internal
improvements, and urged for free gov’t homesteads for settlers
o Slavery is an important issue of the campaign
 Democrats & Whigs don’t take a firm position on it; Taylor is not for or against; Cass believes the
states should determine
o Popular Sovereignty- Let the people of the area decide on themselves the status of their state, not
Congress
o Taylor wins by close margin
 39

• Compromise of 1850
o California applies for statehood (slave state); but no free state can balance it
o Slavery in Washington D.C., runaway slaves, and the Texan boundary are troubling issues
o Debate in the Senate
 Henry Clay (“The Great Pacificator”)wants the N & S to find common ground, “preserve the union”
 Daniel Webster agrees with Clay
• Gives 7th of March Speech; “The Law of Nature says we must be united”; “I speak not as a
Northern man, but as an American”
 John Calhoun (“The Great Nullifier”) suggests that secession is the only real solution (dies shortly
later)
 Charles Sumner (MA) was a strong abolitionist who believed in racial equality
 William Seward (NY) says there is no compromise for slavery
• The law of God, higher than the Constitution, forbids slavery
 Stephen Douglass ( IL) “Little Giant”
• Idea is to pass the Compromise in parts; ultimately all is passed through Congress but Taylor
refuses to sign it and when it is almost defeated, Taylor dies and his VP Millard Fillmore passes it
North South
1. California is admitted as a free state Congress passes Fugitive Slave Act
(gives Senate majority)
2. End of slave trade in DC NM and Utah are determined by
popular sovereignty
3. Texas loses disputed territory Texas is paid $10 million for territory
• Fugitive Slave Law (1850)- “The Bloodhound Bill”; the fleeing slaves could not testify in their own behalf and
they were denied a jury trial; the commissioner handling the case of a fugitive would receive $5 if the runaway were
freed and $10 if they were not
• Results:
o Avoids secession for 11 years (benefits North b/c they were strong now)
o Each side thought they gained something important (N- California; S- Fugitive Slave Act)
o Popular Sovereignty is seen as ultimate solution to slavery
• Election of 1852
o Democrats nominate Franklin Pierce (dark horse candidate of 1852 who was an unrenowned lawyer-
politician; young, militarily erect, convivial general of the Mexican War (the “Fainting General”)
o Whigs nominate Winfield Scott (“Old Fuss and Feathers”)
o Major issue- Compromise of 1850
o Pierce wins without a problem; Whig Party is falling apart
• Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850)
o Shows a union between US and England and a lack of trust between them
o Both wants individual control of a Latin American canal
o Treaty- Stipulated that neither America not Britain would fortify or secure exclusive control over any
future isthmian waterway
• Matthew Perry goes to Japan to open up trade
o Their arrival into Tokyo Bay (advanced war ships) gave insight of why they should open up to the
world)
• Ostend Manifesto
o Group of ministers meet in Ostend, Belgium and decide that Cuba would be an excellent place for
representation addition
o Offered $120 million to Spain for Cuba or else less peaceful means of acquiring
o Not really valid , but since word gets around the sectional peace is disrupted
• Gadsden Purchase (1853)
o James Gadsden is sent to Mexico City to negotiate with Santa Anna
o He offers $10 million for the area under Mexican secession; finalizes Continental US boundary;
purpose was really for a southern continental railroad
• Kansas Nebraska Act (1854)
o Proposed by Stephen Douglas
 He has presidential aspirations (felt it would enhance his resume)
 Nationalist (he wants a more organized country)
 40

 Major stockholder in a trans-continental railroad company

o Provisions
 Creation of Kansas and Nebraska territories
 Wanted popular sovereignty to be used to determine slavery status
 Abolish the Missouri Compromise line
o Impact
 Large #s of people flock to Kansas (pro-slavery, ordinary pioneers, abolition groups); New England
Emigrant Society- Abolition group that would pay the way to Kansas if had anti-slavery views
 Leads to 2 very strong opposite slavery points of view with 2 capitals; Topeka- Free capital and
Shawnee Mission- Slave Capital
 Lawrence, Kansas (Free Soil Town) War- Town is raided by pro-slavery activists; John Brown wants
them to pay through blood so he and a detachment of soldiers go to Pottawatomie Creek and slay 6 of them
 Lecompton Constitution- Provided that Kansas either becomes a slave state OR they don’t become a
state at all
• Pro-slaveryites vote multiple times and it is unwillingly passed; Stephen Douglass decides to
fight against it b/c unjust and it is rejected, but a fair vote is taken and Kansas is admitted as a Free
State
o Results
 Democratic Party is temporarily ruined (hinged hopes on popular sovereignty)
 Helps to create the Republican Party (included some Democrats, Free Soilers, Whigs; had little
southern support)
• Harriet Tubman-Illiterate runaway slave from Maryland; “conductor” of the Underground Railroad; rescued
more than 300 slaves and earned the title “Moses”
• Millard Fillmore- Vice President and rising president after Taylor’s death that was impressed with the
arguments for conciliation and gladly signed the series of compromises that were passed over the recent months
• Jefferson Davis- Future president of the Confederacy and Secretary of War for Pierce’s cabinet
• Filibustering- “Freebooter” or “pirate” expeditions that descended upon Cuba
• “Conscience Whigs”- Heavily influenced people in the Free Soil Party that condemned slavery on moral grounds
• Underground Railroad- The virtual freedom train the consisted of an informal chain of “stations” (antislavery
homes), through which many “passengers” (runaways) were spirited by “conductors” (white and black abolitionists)
from the slave states to the free-soil sanctuary of Canada
• “Fire eaters”- Hotheaded southern agitators who pushed for southern interests and favored secession from the
Union
• “Personal Liberty laws”- Denied local jails to federal officials and otherwise hampered enforcement
Chapter 19- Drifting Toward Disunion
• Election of 1856
o Democrats run James Buchanan
o Republicans run (for the first time) John C. Fremont
 Supported immigration rights, westerners rights, and was N/W sectionalized
o The American(Know Nothing Party) runs Millard Fillmore
 Supported Nativism (“Americans should rule America” {Defined American as White, Anglo-Saxon,
Protestants})
o Campaign: Kansas Nebraska Act and Popular Sovereignty
 Democrats- Supported; Republicans- Against
o Buchanan wins
• Dred Scott Case (1857)
o See wkst.
o Black slave, Dred Scott, lived with his master in Illinois and Wisconsin territories for 5 years and sued
for freedom on the basis that he resided on free soil for years
o Justice Taney uses 5th Amendment (Slave is property; property are not citizens so therefore he had no
legit purpose of having a case)
o Decreed that Congress has no right to outlaw slavery anywhere; giving way to declaring the Missouri
Compromise unjust
o Divides the Democratic Party while Republicans grow stronger
o Est. Personal Liberty Laws- If a slave enters a free territory, they are free
 41

• Roger Taney- Chief Justice from Maryland that presided over the Dred Scott case; he led the case to breach the
topic beyond which the case was dealing with
• The Propaganda War
o Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin
 Novel about a slave family being torn apart and their quest of reuniting; portrays the physical
brutality of slavery through this experience
 Simon LaGree- Overseer of the beatings in the book
 Extremely popular best-seller home and abroad
o Strengthens the Northern sentiment
o Banned in the South
o Gave England the impression that slavery was wicked; made them reluctant to join
Confederacy
o Hinton R. Helper’s Impending Crisis of the South
 Says how slavery is economically bad because it halts economic improvement (if eliminated, the South
will industrialize and prosper)
 Banned in the South but extremely popular in the North
o Newspaper- The New York Tribune
 Horace Greenly- Abolitionist who tried to shape a biased antislavery P.O.V.; made sure that every
publication had some kind of antislavery slant to it
• Lincoln-Douglass Debates (1858)
o Debates over the position of Senator of Illinois (Blown up b/c Douglass is a well-known debater and
Lincoln is not so the matchup is intriguing)
o Freeport, Illinois- Lincoln asks Douglass whether he supports popular sovereignty or the Dred Scott
ruling
 Answers in favor of popular sovereignty b/c democracy is important b/c the will of the people will
prevail
 Wins over those Illinois people, but the rest of the country has different views (this really loses
Douglass’s support in the South)
• Panic of 1857
o Causes:
 Overspeculation of western lands
 Overspeculation of railroads
 Inflation (CA goldrush)
 Grain farming difficulties (surplus of grain causes less $ to be made)
o Affects the N and W, but the S prospers
 Cotton production in the rest of the world sucked, so southern cotton production skyrocketed
o Results:
 The Tariff of 1857 (20% rate) was the believed cause; blamed the South for this mess
 Believed that cotton really is king and that they can survive and be better off without the North as an
independent nation
• Final Steps to Secession
o Incident at Harper’s Ferry (Oct. 1859) (bet. Maryland and VA)
 Gov’t wants to build an arsenal there, but John Brown wants to lead a slave rebellion there
 He succeeds in taking it over, but no slaves show up
 Robert E. Lee leads an army to recapture it and Brown is arrested, tried, and executed
• Election of 1860
o Democrats nominate Stephen Douglass
o Southern Democrats nominate John Breckenridge
o Republican Party meets in Springfield, Illinois and end up nominating Abraham Lincoln
o Constitutional Union Party (Midground on slavery; wants to preserve the Union) nominates John Bell
of TN
o Results- Lincoln wins with 100 more popular votes
 Bell gets votes from Border States; Breck. Gets votes from the South
• South Carolina issues its Declaration of the Causes of Secession in December 1860
o Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, and Mississippi all secede soon after
o They call themselves the Confederate States of America
o Capital at Montgomery, Alabama and Jefferson Davis is the president
 42

 Jefferson Davis- President of the Confederate States of America who was a dignified and austere
member of the U.S. Senate from Mississippi; he was a West Pointer and a former cabinet member with
wide military and administrative experience
• As Buchanan (lame-duck) is on the way out, Lincoln sets up his gov’t
o Sec. of State: William Seward
o Sec. of Treasury- Salomon Chase
o Sec. of War: Edwin Stanton
• Senator Crittenden of Kentucky from Congress proposes the Crittenden Compromise
o Wants to revive the Missouri Compromise line all the way to California and north of the line slavery is
prohibited, but south of that line it was to be given federal protection in all territories existing or “hereafter to
be acquired” (Lincoln will soon veto it b/c he is against slavery)
• Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address will declare that the Union is indissolvable and that no conflict initiated by
the North will occur
• Causes of Secession-
o Sectionalism (Slavery, States’ rights, Tariff Controversy)
o Different lifestyles
 N: Based on industry and capitalism; thriving heterogeneous population
 S: Rural, agricultural, cotton based, homogeneous population (White, Protestant Anglo-Saxon, and
Black Slave)
o Declining Southern Influence in the Gov’t
 South had a smaller role going into the war in Congress
 With Lincoln’s election victory, they lost executive power
 Dred Scott case lost their pull in the Supreme Court
o Ineffective leadership (no voice of reason or cause)
• John Brown- Obsessively dedicated abolitionist who became infuriated with the attacking by pro-slavery
groups. “Old Brown” of Osawatomie led a detachment of men to Pottawatomie Creek and killed 5 proslaveryites
• New England Immigrant Aid Society- Most famous northern abolitionist group
• Lawrence, Kansas Incident- A gang of proslavery raiders shot up and burned a part of the free-soil town of
Lawrence
• Pottawatomie Creek Massacre- May 1856, John Brown led a small group of men and attacked 5 proslaveryites
(hacked them to death)
• Lecompton Constitution-Document that was unfair b/c it said that the people did not vote for or against slavery
necessarily, but rather for a constitution with or without slavery. It stated basically that Kansas can either apply for
statehood as a slave state or they do not become a state at all
• Sumner- Brooks Incident-
o Senator Charles Sumner was opening himself to conflict when he openly announced in the Senate that
the proslavery men when “hirelings picked from the drunken spew and vomit of an uneasy civilization.”
o Congressman Preston Brooks was insulted by these remarks and on May 22, 1856 he approached
Sumner and pounded him with his cane until he fell and it broke
o Showed how dangerously inflamed passions between the North and South were becoming
• Homestead Bill of 1860-Made public lands available at a nominal sum of $.25 an acre
• Constitutional Union Party-Middle of the road group, fearing for the Union. “Do Nothing” or “Old
Gentlemen’s” party; consisted of former Whigs and Know Nothings

Chapter 20- Girding for War

• Firing on Fort Sumter (SC on the mouth of the Charleston Bay)
o Commander Anderson (Union) decided not to give up Sumter and Confederates result to cutting off
their supplies
o Lincoln warns them that he is sending supplies and Confederates see this as an act of war
o April 12, 1861- First shot is fired by Confederate canons, but no fatalities
o April 13th- They start surrendering and 2 die in the cross fire
o Lincoln and Davis ask for volunteers afterwards
• Border States Status
o Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas join the Confederacy
 With this addition, they move the Confederate States capital to Richmond, Virginia b/c of the prestige of
VA, it is more honorable, and communication is easier
 43

o Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri join the Union; Crucial because:
 If Maryland went C, then Washington D.C. would be completely surrounded, thus triggering Delaware to
join too
 If Kentucky went C, then the Ohio River would be an easily protected, Northern Confederate boundary,
making it harder on the North
• Northern Strengths and Weaknesses
o Centralized gov’t (headed by Lincoln and what is said, is done); well established and respected
o 22 million people; 4.5 million were capable adult males able to fight
o 9 times the manufacturing capability of the South
o 105 million acres of cropland devoted to wheat and grain
o Had more money circulating
o Less than 50% of pre-war exports
o Fought an offensive war (They had to win to win)
o Military leaders were inexperienced, drafted, and had little idea of war
o Had 75% of the Nation’s railroads
o Had a potentially strong navy
• Southern Strengths and Weaknesses
o Decentralized gov’t (headed by Davis, but he didn’t get everything he asked); brand new and not well
respected
o 9 million people; 1 million were capable adult males able to fight
o 1/9 times the manufacturing capability of the North, but quality of items are better
o 58 million acres of cropland devoted to tobacco and cotton
o More than 50% of pre-war exports
o Fought a defensive war (They only needed a draw to win)
o Military leaders were experienced b/c they grew up in a military lifestyle; 2/3 of West Point graduates
were Southerners
o Had 25% of the Nation’s railroads (depended more on water transportation)
o Had a rather weak navy (had commerce raiders and the Union ship, Merrimac)
• Economy in the North and South in wartime
Before During After
North Industry & Agriculture -Mass production, - World, economic power
machines, industrial growth - Favors industry
- Expansion of
transportation
-Gov’t has financial control
South Based on cotton -Loss of markets from -Industrial & agricultural
blockades and other diversification explodes
prevention methods
- Collapse in the economy

• Financial Problems
o North raises money to pay for the war by:
- Passing the Moril Tariff Act (30-35% increase)
- Income tax (potentially illegal)
- Started printed money (“greenbacks; $450 million printed)
- **Sale of war bonds (borrowing money from the people) **
- Gov’t creates a National Banking System so that they could sell war bonds\

o The South had difficulty raising money

- Can’t use taxes or a tariff because it is contrary to their principles
- Had to result to commerce raiders to raid Union ships & then sell the goods
- Sale of war bonds (through state banks)
- Printed so much Confederate money that it became inflated
o Production Problems
- North can produce everything they needed
a. Shoddy Millionaires came about to make a quick buck by selling low quality goods
- South does not have enough products or money ( quantity is the issue, not quality)
• Political Problems
 44

o North and South had to result to a Conscription or a Draft (required enlistment) which favored the upper,
wealthy classes; passed in 1863 (N) and in 1862 (S)
- Draft riots occur- NYC summer of 1863, most notable riot
o Civil Liberties
- Lincoln suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus (charged people without trial to jail; civilians were tried
in military courts)
- Spent money unconstitutionally
- Military forces were held outside polling booths
- Jefferson Davis did not have any authority to install these liberties
o War Opposition
- Copperheads- Northern war opponents centralized in the Butternut region (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois;
just north of the Ohio River); they were against the concept of fighting for slaves
- Clement Vallandigham was a famous copperhead who vocally opposed the war
- Mtn. Whites were the Southern opposition; they helped Union soldiers instead of southerners
• Foreign Policy with Great Britain
o Confederates needed them for victory, and presumed that British had a dependency on Southern cotton. They
also believed they would get aid because the Confederate States would be a tariff-free zone. Also, they believed
Britain would be fearful of US as a growing power.
o Trent Affair
- British diplomats James Mason and John Slidell are to seek a British alliance for the Confederacy
- Northerners capture them and take them off the ship ( Trent) and take them back to Lincoln
- Lincoln (now in foreign conflict) decides to let the 2 diplomats go so nothing happens
o They build commerce raiders for the Confederates and supply them with other things
o Ultimately, they fail to give full aid
- Cotton was not as necessary as the S thought ( they can get it from Egypt / India)
- England needed Northern wheat more than cotton
- British working class support for the North and against slavery
- South was politically weak and not able to be fully trusted, and militarily weak because they don’t win key
battles that would prove anything
• Foreign Policy with France
o Napoleon III interferes with the Monroe Doctrine by instilling Austrian Archduke Maximillian as
ruler in a puppet government
o Since it was during the war, the US can’t do much, but afterwards it is bad because the US is a major
power
o Example of the first successful defense of the Monroe Doctrine
• Foreign Policy with Russia
o Only major European ally with the North
o 1867- Alaska is bought by the US for 7.2 million
• Election of 1864-
o Republican Party -> Union Party
- Fighting to preserve the Union, so change the name
- Represents the union between the Republicans and the war Democrats
- Candidates Lincoln and Johnson
o Democratic Party
- Nominates George McClellan (Union war general)
- Party was a copperhead biased party ( didn’t really want to fight for slavery) and McClellan saw that his
way of fighting was better
o Role of Union Victories(Gives Lincoln support)
- Sherman’s victory over Atlanta (Sept. 1864)
- Philip Sheridan conquers Shenandoah Valley, VA (control of this artery into the Union, which will lessen
the Confederacy’s power)
- David Farragut’s conquer of Mobile Bay (main waterway of the Gulf of Mexico that was heavily
bombarded with southern fleet) allows the North to have control of a major southern fort
o Lincoln wins over McClellan
• Assassination
o John Wilkes Booth (a fanatical southern actor) shoots Lincoln in the head on April 14,1865 at Ford’s
Theater (a few days after the Confederacy falls)
 45

o Initial reaction of the Southerners was “YES”, but Jefferson Davis had a change of heart about the
matter: “Next to the destruction of the Confederacy, the death of Lincoln was the darkest day the South has
known.”

Chapter 21- The Furnace of the Civil War (1861-1865)

• Northern War Plan (“Anaconda”)
o The North used knowledge of the Southern foreign dependency
 Blockade (to prevent importing/ exporting)
 Control the Mississippi ( would give the North control of their most important transportation routes)
 Divide and Conquer (through getting the Mississippi, the North can make the South weaker by
eliminating various areas
 Capture the “heart” of the Confederacy (Richmond)
o Southern War Plan
 Fight a defensive war (don’t have to win, but rather just hold on)
 Capturing D.C. would demoralize the Northern cause
 Battle to gain foreign aid
• War on the Sea
• Northern Blockade
o Virginia ( Merrimack) vs. Monitor: They battle, but results in a draw
 Merrimack/ Virginia- Wooden Union warship that was resurrected by the Confederates. They covered
this ship with iron plates and used it as a weapon to break through the Union blockade
 Monitor- Union ironclad ship that main weapon was a revolving touret. The Monitor battled the
Merrimack in March of 1862, but neither really wins. Stopped the destruction of the Northern blockade
o Blockade Runners (Commerce Raiders) (Alabama)
 Doctrine of ultimate Destination/ Continuous voyage-
1. England was sending supplies and continuing trade with the Confederates. The main spot for
the transfer of trade was the West Indies port of Nassau in the British Bahamas
2. The North was not pleased with this “under the table” trade so they would seize British
freighters on the seas because it was obvious that’s these shipments were “ultimately destined” for the
Confederates
o Laird Rams- Used to break the wooden ships, and furthermore, the blockade
• War in the West
• Early fight in Kentucky and Missouri for control of the Ohio River
• Fight for West Tennessee, March 1862
o Ulysses Grant uses the Cumberland River to make an attack on Fort Donnelson and the Tennessee River to
make an attack on Fort Henry (taking these forts will ensure the conquer of West Tennessee). When the
Confederate commander asked for the terms, Grant called for “an unconditional surrender”, thus getting him
his name
• Battle at Shiloh (Pittsburgh Landing), April 1862
o Grant wanted control of the junction of the Confederate north-south and east-west railroads in the Mississippi
Valley at Corinth and in Memphis
o The Confederates show a strong performance as they corner Grant by the river bank, but as soon as the
Confederates ease up, Grant calls for troops and counter the Confederate attack
• New Orleans, April 1862
o Union naval commander David Farragut joins with General Butler of the union army to strike the South in
seizing New Orleans
• Battle of Vicksburg, July 1863
o Grant vs. Confederate General Pemberton
o Grant first tries to attack from the North but that doesn’t work so he daringly travels deep through Confederate
territory to get there
o Farragut comes by sea and joins with Grant as they siege Vicksburg
o Pemberton surrenders on July 4, 1863; this gives the North almost exclusive control of the Mississippi
• East Tennessee, (Chattanooga Nov 1863)
o Northern commander George Thomas (“Rock of Chickamauga”) and Grant laid a siege to capture
Chattanooga. They won a series of engagements in the vicinity of besieged Chattanooga, which liberated the
area.
 46

• Sherman and Sheridan (Union general whose victories helped win Lincoln re-election. Sheridan laid waste to the
Shenandoah Valley of Virginia)
o They fight Confederate General Bragg here
o The road to Atlanta is wide open with this victory
• Atlanta Campaign, Sept. 1864
o Sherman vs. Johnston
o William Tecumseh Sherman captured Atlanta in September 1864 and burned the city in November of that year
o This victory indirectly made Lincoln seem like a good leader for another 4 years in the 1864 election
• Sherman’s March to Sea (Oct. –Dec. 1864)
o Atlanta -> Savannah (300 mile trip)
o His army completely destroys everything in its path as it grows in numbers (through liberated slaves) and
weakened the South
o Tore up railroad rails into “iron doughnuts” and “Sherman’s hairpins”
o Purpose: Destroy Confederate army supplies and destroy the morale of the men on the home front
o Seizes Savannah and gives it to Lincoln as a Christmas present
• Sherman takes Charleston in 1865
• War in the East
• 1st Battle of Bull Run (Manassas Junction) 1861-
o Since it was very early in the war, the armies were not well trained/prepared for war
o General McDowell led the offensive Union side, while General Beauregard led the Confederate force (along with
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and Joseph Johnston
o Spectators from Washington decided to come and watch the battle
o North had the obvious advantage, but when Jackson’s soldiers stood strong like a wall as Confederate forces
arrived, the Northerners panicked
o The Union forces stalled and soon fled in fear. The Confederates could have taken advantage of this and
captured Washington, but since they were tired, they didn’t
o Convinced the North that they needed to be better prepared. Gave the South a false impression that winning is
going to be easy
• George McClellan replaces McDowell as Northern commander. He takes the crappy, untrained, undisciplined
army and transforms the Union force into the Army of the Potomac
o McClellan was a brilliant West Point man who was a serious student of warfare (getting him the title, “Young
Napoleon”)
o He was also a superb organizer and drillmaster, but his only fault was that he was an over-cautious perfectionist
(thinking that something can/will always go wrong)
• McClellan launches the Peninsular Campaign, Spring 1862
o Plan is to sail the army down the Chesapeake by way of the York & James Rivers so that he could obtain
Richmond
o McClellan (100,000) vs. Robert E. Lee(70,000)
o McClellan wins many battles (for ex. 7 Days’ Battle) but retreats due to his cautiousness.
 Seven Days Battle (June/July 1862) Devastating counterattack led by Robert E. Lee that drove McClellan
back to the sea, away from Richmond
• Second Manassas Junction, Aug. 1862
o Pope vs. Lee
o Lee gave him a full frontal attack which plummeted Pope into defeat
o This was one of Lee’s more prominent battles as he drove North
• Maryland Campaign ( Lee wants to achieve Washington by way of North and East)
o Lee hopes of getting foreign aid by capturing D.C.
• Antietam, Maryland , Sept. 1862
o McClellan resumes his position in replace of Pope; McClellan (70,000) vs. Lee (40,000)
o McClellan intercepts Lee’s orders which were to split up the Confederates and gain support, but McClellan
didn’t act on them quick enough
o Bloodiest one day in US history
o Outcome resulted in a draw, but: 1)Prevented Confederate foreign aid; 2)Led to the Emancipation Proclamation;
3)
McClellan is once again replaced by Burnside
 Emancipation Proclamation- Lincoln announces that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in newly
captured Confederate territory will be freed
 47

• Fredericksburg, VA, Dec. 1862

o Ambrose Burnside replaces McClellan as the 2nd Union general to do so. He intends on fiercely pursuing Lee at
Fredericksburg in order to impress Lincoln, but his plan backfires and he is badly defeated.
• Chancellorsville, VA , May 1863
o Joseph Hooker (150,000) vs. Robert Lee (60,000) {more than double!!}
o Lee divided his force and sent Jackson to attack the Union flank. The strategy worked and Hooker was beaten
o Lee’s most brilliant battle, but he lost Jackson (crucial motive for Lee)
• Pennsylvania Campaign, July 1-3 1863
o Plan is to attack Harrisburg, PA, but en route is Gettysburg and while Lee is trying to take the city, he
encounters a Union army
o General George Meade (Hooker’s replacement) was fighting defense (92,000) vs. Lee on offense (76,000)
o Pickett’s charge (“the high tide of the Confederacy”) was the Confederate attempt for a frontal attack in the
middle of an open field (it failed miserably)
o Meade could have finished off Lee right there, but since he was exhausted he decided not to follow him
• Grant’s Virginia Campaign (Grant is brought in from the West to replace Meade)
o “Blood and Guts” type of fighting- War of Attrition; he planned on:
1. Wearing down Lee’s forces
2. Capturing Richmond
3. Preventing Lee’s union with Johnston
o Wilderness- Grant’s campaign in which he engaged Lee in a series of furious battles during May/June of 1864 (
“Bloody Angle”, “Hell’s Half Acre”); Grant lost about 50,000 (of 100,000+) and Lee lost many too
o Spotsylvania, May 1864 :Union forces under Grant continue to drive toward Richmond
o Cold Harbor, June 1864- Grant ordered a frontal assault on the impregnable Cold Harbor. The soldiers went
into battle with an almost certain death and within several minutes, 7,000 men were killed/wounded
o Petersburg, June 1864- March 1865- Grant closes in on Richmond and he tries to take Petersburg, but fails
initially so he plans on a city siege.
o Richmond, April 1865- Northern troops captured Richmond
o Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865)
- Lee was cornered here and it is the site of his eventual surrender.
- The elated Union soldiers cheered but Grant stated that the war was over and the Confederates were
their countrymen again.
- After Lee’s surrender, Lincoln set up a temporary post in Jefferson’s evacuated office and then took a
tour of the ruins of Richmond
• Davis is captured in May 1865
• Last Confederate forces surrender in May 1865
• Characteristics of the War
• Transitional war
o Traditional in that: 1) Cavalry is important; 2)Wooden ships; 3) Style of fighting
o Modern in that: 1) Railroad use; 2) Trench warfare; 3) “Total War”( when all the resources of one’s’ forces is used
to win
• Role of women: Clara Barton(American Red Cross/nursing); they started work in the northern factories and
farms

• Results
1. Heavy loss of life (1,000,000 + casualties)
2. Heavy loss of property ($15 B)
3. Preserved the Union
4. Expanded the Constitution powers of President and Congress
5. Civil War Amendments (13,14,15) were added
6. Growth of the West (Homestead Act, Moril Land Grant, Railroads)
7. Industrial and commercial expansion of US
8. End of the Old South and the Beginning of the New South
9. Era of Reconstruction was ushered in
• Salmon P. Chase- Lincoln’s overambitious Secretary of the Treasury who sought to remove Lincoln from office
• Clement Vallandigham-
o Ohio Congressman and notable Copperhead whose brilliant oratory gifts got him into trouble
 48

o Publically demanded an end to the wicked war. His outbursts got him convicted in 1863 for treasonable
utterances and went to jail.
• Andrew Johnson-
o Loyal War Democrat from Tennessee who was Lincoln’s running mate during the election of 1864
o Ex-tailor who was a small slave owner before the war began
o Placed on the Union party ticket to attract War Democrats and voters in the Border States
• John Wilkes Booth- Fanatic, pro-Southern actor who shot Lincoln in the head at Ford’s Theater on April 14,
1865 (5 days after Lee’s surrender)
• Thirteenth Amendment- Abolished slavery, something that Lincoln promised to do when he made the
Emancipation Proclamation. The amendment was significant also because of the fact that it marked unprecedented
expansions of federal power
• Fort Pillow, Tennessee- Several black soldiers were massacred after they had formally surrendered at Fort
Pillow
• Copperheads- Extremists who were openly obstructed the war through attacks against the draft, against
Lincoln, and against the emancipation proclamation. They denounced Lincoln as the “Illinois Ape” and commanded
considerable strength in southern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois
• Union Party-
Chapter 22- The Era of Reconstruction
• Problems of Reconstruction
o Economic
 $15 B worth damaged (property, etc.)
 Cotton production in South is destroyed
 Simple $ is gone (Confederate $ isn’t accepted)
o Political
 No defined leaders or gov’ts
 What steps are to be taken on bringing the states back
o Social
 4 million slaves that have nothing to do (Black/white relations)

• Presidential Reconstruction
o Lincoln’s Plan (10% Plan) December 1863
 Those states that were rebellious were just “erring states”
 Rejects the Wade-Davis Bill ( republican bill through Congress that required that 50% of a state’s
voters take the oath of allegiance and demanded stronger safeguards for emancipation)
 All Lincoln wants is amnesty and says that only 10% of a states’ 1860 voters had to pledge loyalty;
after pledging, they could set up a new gov’t, abolish slavery, and repudiate recession
o Johnson’s Plan (Summer 1865)
 Johnson: Poor illiterate parents; tailor, politician,; Democrat that supported states’ rights but
slavocracy; refuses to give up his seat in the Senate after secession
 He starts a strict punishment policy, but soon changes radically to become generous
• This recognizes civil gov’ts in all states but Texas; and all except Mississippi ratify the 13th
amendment; he gives amnesty to almost all (except 4 Confederate Generals, Confederate officials,
Stephens)
 Congress rejects Johnson’s Plan b/c it lacks the Lincoln prestige and:
• Congress is sole judge of members
• South politically stronger
• Thaddeus Stevens (Congressional leader from PA of the Radical Republicans in the House)
sees all the states as “Conquered Provinces”; devoted to the black cause and hated rebellious white
Southerners
• Charles Sumner (Leader of the Senate Radicals) says the states committed “State Suicide);
labored for black freedom and racial equality
 His plan is opposed because:
• Political motivation: Keep Democrats weak, Republicans strong
 49

• Economic motivation: As long as industrialists remain loyal, republicans will get $

• Idealistic concerns: Since some wanted racial equality, they had to keep Southerners under
control
• Revenge: They wanted to get back from what happened in war
• Congressional Reconstruction
o Southerners amped up the Congressional radical to push their plan
 Mississippi didn’t ratify the 13th
 “Johnson constitutions” provided limited resources to the freedmen
 Southern states wrote:
• Laws regulating black-white relationships ( on the surface it was harmless: property rights,
marriage, legal rights); but in fact, they were highly restrictive( segregated societies, blacks cant testify
or sit on a jury, and black crimes were seen as more severe)
 Former Confederate leaders rise up in gov’t
 Bloody race riots in Memphis Black Codes, New Orleans
o Congressional Program
 Joint Committee of Reconstruction (House + Senate) with Thaddeus Stevens as chairman
• Creates Freedmen’s Bureau to provide all basic necessities (food, clothing, etc.) to both
freedmen and whites; only supposed to stay for 1 year but is renewed
• Oliver O. Howard- Union general that headed the Freedmen’s Bureau. He later served as
president of Howard University in Washington D.C
• “Swing around the Circle”- Johnson is struggling for power so he goes around the country to
promote Democrats and get the radicals out, but this ends up hurting him by getting more radicals
elected and getting a veto-proof Congress
 14th Amendment proposed
• Defines citizenship
• States that a state cannot deny your rights w/o “due process”
• Reduce congressional rep. of a state if they deny the right to vote to a freedmen
• Prevents high ranking ex-Confederates from holding office
• Federal war debt is guaranteed, however, the Confederate war debt cannot be repaid
• Johnson tries to get Southern states to refuse ratification, but he gets stuck
o Congressional Elections of 1866
 Johnson is ridiculed and charged with intoxication; due to Johnson making a fool of himself, business
contributions to the Republican campaign are made
 Republicans win an overwhelming 2/3 majority in both houses of Congress
o Radical Reconstruction
 Military Reconstruction Act of 1867- 10 Southern states (except TN) are divided into 5 military
districts with each one led by a Union general and an army in absolute control
 The new constitutions to be made had to have black suffrage and the ratification of the 14th amendment
 Ironclad Oath of Pardon- Testify that one never willingly aided the Confederacy
• Johnson’s Impeachment
o Tenure of Office Act (1867)
 Passed by radicals that was designed to prevent Johnson from removing radicals from office
 Said,” It is criminal offense to remove a Congressional approved appointed official w/o Congressional
consent”; declared unconstitutional in 1926
o Pinkerton Agents were hired to investigate Johnson
o August 1867- Johnson asks for Stanton’s resignation. After his refusal, Stanton is suspended, and Grant
temporarily replaces him as Sec. of War. Senate refuses Grant and when Stanton returns, Johnson fires him
o House Radicals draw up 11 charges; 9 of them based on the Tenure of Office Act
o Trial in the Senate ( march 1868)
 Held in the Senate with Chief Justice Salmon Chase presiding over the case
 Johnson’s Defense Attorney (General Henry Stanberry) discredits the charges b/c they are not valid
o Final Vote: 35 in favor of impeachment; 19 are opposed to it (12-D, 7-R)
 7 R voted against b/c they feared that the presidential power against the legislature would be disturbed
 Johnson is impeached, but not out of office
• Reconstruction in the South
 50

o Southern Gov’t included:

 Scalawags- Southerners (Unionists and Whigs) that were accused of plundering the treasuries of the
Southern states through their political influence in the radical gov’t
 Carpetbaggers- Sleazy Northerners who had packed all their goods into a carpetbag at the war’s end
and came to the South seeking power and profit
 Free Blacks
o Characteristics:
 Inexperience + Incompetence = Corruption; an excess of these leads to it
o Achievements
 Political Reform- New gov’ts were created
 Physical rehab of South- Rebuilt railroads, roads, cities, etc.
 Money for public education
 Political and Economic Rights for Needy
 Social services : Hospitals, prisons, etc.
o Blacks rise to power
 They are in majority in S.C. and Mississippi; Hiram Rivals is the first black senator to Washington (of
Mississippi) also Blanche Bruce
o Corruption was very common
• Failure of Radical Gov’ts and the Return of Southern Whites
o Return to power through force and intimidation (KKK, Knights of White Camellia, etc.)
o Economic pressure- As long as the blacks stayed out of politics they would have a job
o Amnesty Act of 1872 ( characteristics):
 No Confederates ever tried for treason
 J. Davis held for 2 years, then released
 No jail times or fines for Confederates
 No property confiscation (except slaves)
o The Panic of 1873 worries businesses and causes Northern businessmen to withdraw their support
from Radicals
• The “New” South
o Restriction of Black Rights
 Poll taxes to vote
 Literacy tests (could be created to be unfair)
 Grandfather clauses (if your g-pa or father voted, then you could, but if not then you had to prove why
you should)
 Jim Crow laws (segregation laws)
 Intimidation (groups like KKK)
o End of the Plantation system- King Cotton, planter aristocracy, and slave labor gone
o Growth of farm tenancy
 Sharecropping- You are paying a portion of your crops in payment for proprty
o Improved and diversified agriculture
 Opportunity to make $ and feed families result from being able to keep some food
o New and diversified industry
 400% increase from 1860-1900
• Results of Reconstruction
o For almost 50 years, the Democrats ruled over the republicans in the South
o Black-American rights (legal if not actual)
o Discrimination and Restrictions mainly against blacks
 Plessy vs. Ferguson ,1896 ( case that protected a segregated society)
o New South existence
o Public corruption
• William Seward- Secretary of State who signed a treaty with Russia that transferred Alaska to the US for $7.2
million
• Civil Rights Act (1866)- Conferred on blacks the privilege of American citizenship and struck at the Black
Codes. It was vetoed by Johnson on constitutional grounds
• 15th Amendment- Incorporated black suffrage into the Constitution
 51

• Ex parte Milligan- Court case that ruled that military tribunals could not try civilians, even during war, in areas
where the civil courts were open
• Ku Klux Klan- “Invisible Empire of the South”; secret organization started in Tennessee in 1866 that resented
the success and ability of the blacks
• Force Acts (1870)- Federal troops were able to stamp out much of the “lash law”
• “Seward Folly”- Term for Seward’s purchase of Alaska; “Seward’s Icebox”, “Frigidia”, “Walrussia”
Chapter 23- Political Paralysis in the Gilded Age (1869-1889)
• Grant’s Administration
o Scandalous reputation
 Huge amounts of money in circulation from the war
 Desire for the rise in political power
 Greed from wartime profiteers (shoddy millionaires)
 Public morality was low
 Darwinian approach to business (applied survival of the fittest to society)
o Conservative policies due to business influence in national gov’t
o Foreign policy was well managed and constructive
• Election of 1868
o Republican candidate: Ulysses Grant
 He had a successful military career but was apolitical (didn’t have a solid stand) and had a poor judge
of character. His generous attitude towards the South makes his acceptable to them, also to Radicals,
businesses and a majority of the rest of the nation.
 Because of his failure as a businessman, he had respect for them (not good)
o Democratic candidate: Horatio Seymour
 Former New York governor; he repudiated the Ohio idea and soon later lost the presidential election
against Grant in 1868
o Campaign:
 Republican : Called for military reconstruction (cont.); repay Northern war debts; “Waved the bloody
shirt” (Republican expression that helped Grant which meant reviving gory memories of the Civil War)
 Democratic: Opposed military reconstruction; proposed the “Ohio Idea” (Response from the poorer
mid-western delegates which called from the federal war bonds to be repaid in greenbacks)
o Results: Grant wins the electoral votes; popular margin was closer to the freedmen’s (blacks) vote and
the disenfranchised Southerners
• “Era of Good Stealings”
o Low morale in the US
o Grant’s favoritism towards business led to: 1) Less gov’t interference; 2) Favorable legislation to help
them (high tariffs, subsides to build RR, deflationary policies)
o Scandals
 Credit Mobilier (Broke in 1873, but was going on for years prior)
• The Union Pacific Railroad had formed the Credit Mobilier construction company and hired
themselves at inflated prices to build the railroad line, giving them money
• They feared Congress would find out so they distributed the stock to key congressmen
(Congressman Oakes Ames biggest holder). Soon later, a newspaper exposé (NY Sun) and congressional
investigation led to the censure of Ames, the V.P.: S. Colfax, and several other congressman
 Black Friday (Sept. 24, 1869)
• Jim Fisk and Jay Gould planned on cornering the gold market
• They started buying gold around and they told the Treasury to hold the gold owned by the
gov’t. The gov’t soon lets the gold out and the scheme is ruined
• “Jubilee Jim” Fisk- Millionaire partner of Jay Gould who provided the “brass”. He and
Gould made a plot in 1869 to corner the gold market.
• Jay Gould- Millionaire partner of Jim Fisk who provided the brains. He and Fisk made a plot
in 1869 to corner the gold market
 Whiskey Ring Scandal
• Excise tax on whiskey
• Sec. of Treasury (Bristow) and Generals McDonald and Babcock illegally sell stamps that
claimed purchased whiskey tax
 52

• Grant responded by saying, “Let no guilty man escape”; this was until his own secretary was
one of the culprits and Grant exonerated him
 Belknap Scandal
• Sec. of War (Belknap) pocketed $ by selling privilege of distributing supplies to Indians
 Tweed Ring Scandal
• Thomas Nast (Cartoonist who attacked “boss” Tweed in a series of cartoons like one that
appeared in Harper’s Weekly in 1872 )
• William Tweed (political boss of NY) employed bribery, graft, and fraudulent elections to
milk the metropolis of as much as $200 million
 Salary Grab Act (1873)
• Increased congressional pay 50% and made it retroactive for 2 years
• Increased presidential pay 100%
• Active for a year, until Democrats repeal it
• Domestic Accomplishments
o Civil Service Reform
 Spoils system, nepotism, and other corruption are out; patronage- giving jobs for votes
 Gov’t est. a commission to oversee this corruption
 Amnesty Act (1872): No Confederates ever tried for treason, J. Davis held for 2 years, then released,
No jail times or fines for Confederates, No property confiscation (except slaves)
o Panic of 1873
o Granger Laws (laws to help farmers)
o Est. Knights of Labor
 As farmers moved to cities, city workers wanted protection; this party gave protection to skilled and
unskilled workers; Terrence Powderly (organizer)
o America’s 1st trans-continental RR completed
o Purchase of Alaska from Russia ($7.2 million in 1867)
• Foreign Policy
o Hamilton Fish (Grant’s Sec. of State) attempts to annex Santo Domingo
 Businessmen wanted it and send a treaty to Grant, who sends it to Senate. Sumner sees a scheme in this
and puts his political status at risk. He succeeds but is deposed from Chairmanship of Foreign Relations
Committee
 Fenians (Irish-Americans for Irish freedom)
• They want to invade Canada with union veterans and hold it as a ransom for Ireland’s
freedom. They invade in ’66 and ‘70
• Convinces the British that aiding the Confederacy was a bad idea
 Treaty of Washington (1871)
• Britain wants to resolve the past, and Fish and British reps talk about a treaty
• Alabama Claims- Everything that England owed from raiding goes to Arbitration (Geneva
award- $15.5 million)
• US gives GB $2 million for property lost and $5.5 million for fishing violations in
Newfoundland
• Boundary settlement in Puget Sound (NW’ern US and Canada)
 Cuban Revolt (Cuban Rebellion vs. Spain; US neutral)
• 1873: Virginius was carrying weapons, illegally flying a US flag. Spanish execute 53, including
some Americans
• Spain pays the US as compensation. US emerges as the dominant force in the West
• Election of 1872
o Republican: Grant (renominated)
o Liberal Republicans & Democrats: Horace Greeley
 Party formed by reform minded citizens. They urged purification of the Washington administration
and the end of military Reconstruction
 Editor of the New York Tribune; dogmatic, emotional, petulant, and unsound in his political judgments
o Campaign:
 Republican: “Waved the bloody shirt”
 Democratic: Wanted to rid Republican corruption
o Results: Grant wins by a lot (286- 66 E.V.) ; Democrats wins Congress within 2 years (1st time since
1858)
 53

• Post War Economic Problems- Postwar adjustments in the economy to peacetime conditions brought sudden
panic and steps to resume the pre-war conversion of currency to gold (Gold Standard), which brought sustained
deflation and its consequent hardship to farmers and debtors
o Money Controversy
 Many kinds of money in circulation
 Greenbacks during the war caused increase circulation, causing inflationary condition hence favorable
to debtors
 After war, Greenbacks stopped and state notes driven out of circulation (encouraged by conservative
and business policies)
 Result: Farm prices fall, debtor problems (Ohio Idea)
o Tax System is overhauled
 Income tax reduced in ’70 and abolished in’72
 Tax on manufacturers repealed; tariff upheld
 Homestead Act- If you move into a land, and make it productive, it is legally yours
o Panic of 1873
 Started with the failure of Jay Cooke & Company Banking (one of the largest private banks; they
overinvested and lost $)
 Causes: Overspeculation, overexpansion of RR’s, land, mining, and manufacturing
o Crime of ‘73
 Attempt to prevent increase in $ supply, Congress approves a bill to discontinue the purchase &
coinage of silver( which was scarce)
 New silver mines are discovered soon after
 It seemed like a deliberate attempt to prevent increase in $ supply to debtors
 Became an issue in the future elections
 The “Crime” was a supposed connection between the discontinuation and the discovery
o Resumption Act (1875, but effective in 1879)
 Resumes the redeemability of nation’s paper money in gold
 EXTREME DEFLATION b/c greenbacks are being hoarded (due to soon increase in value)
o Greenback Party
 Gives a voice to debtors and the poor; demands an increase in $ supply
 Labor group joins in 1878; they get 15 seats in Congress (a lot for a third party)
• Election of 1876
o Republican candidate: (some wanted Grant for a 3rd term, but it was broken to 2 factions)
 Half-Breeds wanted Blaine (HB-Republican party faction led by Roscoe Conkling that opposed all
attempts at Civil Service)
 Stalwarts wanted Conkling (S- Republican party faction led by James Blaine that paid lip service to
gov’t reform while still battling for patronage and spoils)
 Rutherford Hayes is the compromise candidate to settle dispute
• Roscoe Conkling- US Senator of New York who embraced the time-honored system of
swapping civil service jobs for votes
• James G. Blaine-Champion of the Half-Breeds. He was a radiantly personable congressman
with an elastic conscience
• Rutherford B. Hayes-“The Great Unknown”. He served 3 terms as governor in Ohio. He had
a record of honesty.
o Democratic candidate: Samuel Tilden (the D.A. who gained fame for bagging Boss Tweed
 Campaign: Based largely on Civil Service Reforms, Reconstruction, and hard vs. soft money dispute
o Electoral Votes:
 Tilden had 184 (1 away from victory); Hayes had 165 (20 away from victory); 20 electoral votes from
LA, SC, FL, & OR were in dispute
o Electoral Commission is formed to count the ballots
 5 people from the House, 5 people from the Senate, and 5 people from the Supreme Court; 8/15 were
Republican, 7/15 were Democrat; due to the 8>7 vote, Hayes gets the votes on a technicality
o Results (Compromise of 1877)
 Democrats will accept these results IF: Military Reconstruction ends, there is Southern Democrat
influence in Hayes’s cabinet, and federal $ is giving to help Southern RR’s
• Administration of Hayes
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o His admin was hard b/c: 1)He was opposed by Stalwarts; 2) Democrats controlled Congress; 3) He lacked
the confidence of the public
o Dealt with the South by :Withdrawing the last of the Federal troops, allowing Democratic control over
the South, and allowing white supremacy
o He has Southern Democrats in his cabinet
o He endorses $100M gold reserves for the Resumption Act and shrinks the money supply more; also
demands “silverites”
 Bland-Allison Act (1878)- The Treasury will buy $2-4 M worth of silver bullion per month and mint it;
the Democrats pass it over Hayes veto and he has limited enforcement on it
o Denis Kearney and the Chinese
 Kearney leads a movement of unemployed CA workers against the Chinese (Exclusion Act), but Hayes
vetoes it
 Denis Kearney- San Francisco Irish-born demagogue that indicted his followers to violent abuse of the
hapless Chinese.
 US vs. Wong Kim Ark (1898)- Supreme Court case that ruled that the 14th Amendment guaranteed
citizenship to all persons born in the US
• Election of 1880
o Republican: Grant is still wanted; Half-Breeds wanted Blaine; compromise leads to Garfield & Arthur
ticket
 James A. Garfield- “Dark horse” Republican candidate from Ohio. He energetically waved the bloody
shirt and won the 1880 election over Winfield Scott
 Chester A. Arthur- Notorious Stalwart henchman who was Garfield’s vice-president running mate.
NY politician; he was the Customs Collector for Port of NY. He made solid appointments and fought
corruption
o Democrats: General Winfield Hancock ( A Union general)
o Greenback Party: James A. Weaver
o Campaign- Not on the real issues (Tariff-Money-Monopoly); more on personality
o Results : Republicans win presidential and Congress (endorsement for prosperity); Blaine is his Sec. of
State
• Garfield’s Assassination
o Conkling wants to undermine Garfield’s influence in NY- “Battle of Albany” (creating much animosity
towards Garfield)
o Charles Guiteau, a disappointed and mentally deranged office seeker shot Garfield in the back in June
of 1881 (didn’t die until Sept
• Admin of Chester A. Arthur
o People were scared of what to except from him; Blaine resigns out of animosity toward him
o Civil Service Reform
 Passed b/c of: Garfield’s assassination, political corruption, and Democratic control of Congress
 Pendleton Act (1883)- “The Magna Carta of civil service reform”. It est. the “Merit System” for filling
gov’t jobs, thru examination rather than spoils. At first, only 10%
o Other Constructive Measures
 Tariff Commission (1882)
• Recommended a 20% reduction in tariff rates
• Doesn’t happen because special interests kill the idea; does not happen in Arthur’s admin
 Veto of extravagant “pork barrel” legislation (unnecessary spending of money)
 Appropriates $ to the 1st STEEL WARSHIP- start of the modern navy
• Election of 1884
o Republican:
 Arthur is rejected b/c of animosity; Blaine gets the nomination
 Revolt of the Mugwumps (reform minded party within Republicans)
o Democratic: (supported the Mugwumps)
 Nominated Grover Cleveland (Mugwump supported)
o Greenback Labor Party & Prohibition Party (minor parties that no one cares about)
o Campaign
 Mulligan Letters- Letters written by Blaine that said that he was not the honest reformer he said that
he was
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 Republicans uncover part of Cleveland’s past (he had an illegitimate son from an affair many years
ago) and they try to use it against him
 “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion” (Slogan by the Rep. that hinted that since Cleveland was supported
by Irish Americans, no real good could come from him
• Alcohol (drink of the Irish) +Roman Catholic (he was, and religion was a touchy subject these
days) = Rebellion (Corruption)
o Results: Cleveland wins w/ only 23,000 more votes than Blaine; 1st Democrat to win since ’56. They
also, win the House and Senate; NY is a crucial state for victory (Cleveland got it)
• Problems with Arthur’s Administration
o He had limited political experience aside from being a NY governor
o The Democratic Party was in disunion
o There was a national image that Democrats were a Confederate Party
o Cleveland doesn’t like the spoils system and decides to get rid of those who were appointed by the
spoils system and gave people jobs who were fit for the job (Republican or Democrat). “Public Office is a Public
Trust”
• Pension Issue
o To many nondeserving people wanted a pension
o 1862- Law provided a pension to disabled soldiers and surviving families
o Arrears of Pensions Act (1879)- Lump sum payments for money due
o Pension Bureau rejects many claims, but private bills approved by Congress circumvent the Bureua.
o Dependent Pension Bill (1887 vetoed)- A pension to any 90 day soldier
• Tariff Issue
o State of the Union Address (1887): Cleveland says there should be a lower tariff
o Mills Bill: Also stated that a lower tariff should be issued
• Grange Movement
o Oliver Kelley (leading advocate of organizing farmers to prevent abuse[railroads] against farmers
o Wabash Case-Supreme Court case that declared RR’s were interstate industries, so they could only be
regulated by the federal gov’t; independent states could not do anything
• Major Events & Accomplishments
o Growth of the US navy
o Dawes Act (1887)
 Law that tried to break down the tribal loyalty of the Native Americans; it wanted to give individual
Indian farmers land, but it failed
o Interstate Commerce Act (1887)- Beginning of RR regulation
o Knights of Labor reaches its’ peak in 1886
o Haymarket Square (1886)-Point where the Knights of Labor peak diminishes
 Riot that was blamed on the Knights of Labor and discredits them as a radical, militant organization
• Election of 1888
o Democratic: Grover Cleveland
o Republican: Benjamin Harrison
o Campaign:
 Tariff was a major issue
 Cleveland loses support from the Grand Army of the Republic and the problem with their pensions
 Sackville-West Letter: “A vote for Cleveland was a vote for England”
• This loses Cleveland the Fenians support b/c they were strongly opposed to the English
o Results: Cleveland gets 100,000 more votes than Harrison, but Harrison wins the Electoral votes;
Republicans win Congress
• Harrison’s Administration
o First “Billion Dollar” budget- Method to get rid of the surplus
o Sherman Silver Purchase Act (1890)- Required the gov’t to buy 4 ½ million ounces of silver per month
and mint it
o McKinley Tariff (1890)- Increased the tariff rates over 40%
o Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890)- Broadens gov’t control over industry
o Populist Party (1892)- The voice of the average man in America; lower groups join into this party to
become the voice of many
o Blaine is Secretary of State
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o Czar Thomas Reed (Speaker of the House)- He ran the House like an autocracy and pushed thru the
Billion Dollar Budget
o Homestead Strike (1892)
 Strike against the steel companies
 Indication that workers will no longer be abused by the industrial leaders of America
• Election of 1892
o Democrat: Grover Cleveland
o Republican: Benjamin Harrison
o Populist: Weaver (important b/c they get some E.V.); Prohibition party
o Cleveland wins and has the 1st non-consecutive presidency
• Panic of 1893
o Causes: Overspeculation of land, mining, RR, and industry
o Treasury is very low on money, so Cleveland takes out a $7M loan from J.P. Morgan to alleviate the
crisis
• Pullman Strike
o RR workers on strike b/c they are overworked and underpaid
o Cleveland supports the workers, but not the strike; he has the military assume control of the RR and
the strike is broken
• Election of 1896
o Democrat & Populist: William Jennings Bryan
o Republican: William McKinley
o McKinley runs a front porch campaign (He stayed at home and whenever he had something important
to say, he would go on his porch and newspapers would pick up his statements)
 His campaign is basically run by Mark Hanna (wealthy industrialist backing him). Hanna’s support
basically wins him the election
o Bryan’s Cross of Gold Speech- He wanted the free and unlimited coinage of silver
o McKinley wins
• James B. Weaver- US politician who ran for president twice on a third party ticket in the late 1800s. Famous as
the presidential nominee for the Populist Party in the 1892 election
• Tom Watson-Populist leader that reached out to the black community. He was from Georgia and could “talk
like the thrust of a Bowie knife.”
• Adlai E. Stevenson- “Soft money” vice president who would have taken Cleveland’s place as president if his
surgery went wrong
• Hard/Sound Money-
o Hard: Money contributed directly to a candidate or to a political party
• Cheap/Soft Money-
o Cheap $ Supporters: Agrarian and debtor groups that clamored for the reissuance of greenbacks
o Soft: Money contributed to organizations and committees other than candidate campaigns and
political parties
• Resumption- Act that pledged the gov’t to the further withdrawal of greenbacks from circulation and to the
redemption of all paper currency in gold at face value
• Gilded Age- Sarcastic name given to the 3 decade long post-Civil War era by Mark Twain in 1873
• Contraction- Policy that coupled the reduction of greenbacks and the resumption of metallic money
• Populism- Discourse that claims to support "the people" versus "the elites". Invokes an idea of democracy
• Crop-lien System-
o Storekeepers extended credit to small farmers for food and supplies and in return took a lien on their
harvests
o Merchants manipulated the system so that farmers remained perpetually in debt to them
• Grandfather Clause- Limitation put on potential black voters that said that only if their father or grandfather
voted in 1860, you were able to vote unless proven otherwise
• Grand Army of the Republic- A politically potent fraternal organization of several hundred thousand Union
veterans of the Civil War
• “Redeemers”- Political coalition in the Southern United States during the Reconstruction era, who sought to
oust the Republican coalition of freedmen, carpetbaggers and scalawags
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• Jim Crow- Names for the set of laws regarding racial segregation; enforced in the U.S. from the 1870s-1964