Topic 4.9: Developing an American Culture
Question from (4.8)
What were some of Jackson's Domestic and Economic Policies?
1. Spoils System - Gave his campaign workers government offices, which seemed corrupt
2. Opposition to the Second Bank of the United States (Bank War) - Tried to have Pet Banks in states have money put into them rather than a national bank
3. Paying Off the National Debt
What is one example of American Art representing Romanticism?
The Hudson River School painted dramatic American landscapes, including that of the Frontier, trading accuracy for emphasis and emotion
How did the Market Revolution contribute to a growing American Identity?
The Market Revolution’s Emphasis of Personal Financial Responsibility and the Expansion of Enfranchisement → more people believing they had the power to change things
Give an example of how people created a social and cultural identity in America, despite the conditions of slavery.
- Despite English given names, Slaves still addressed each other by African names to sustain the memory of their heritage
- They kept elements of African and Caribbean languages (creoles)
- They sustained folktales, music, dance, etc that belonged solely to them (rather than slaveowners)
- Syncretized Religions were maintained, such as some slaves continuing Islamic beliefs, despite being forced to attend church. Others developed variations of Protestant practice via Black Churches that incorporated forms of African drums and dancing into preaching
What was the Planter Aristocracy?
The planter aristocracy refers to the wealthy plantation owners in the Southern United States who played a significant role in shaping the region's economy, society, and politics, particularly before the Civil War. Many yeomans on the Western frontier calling for gradual abolition since slavery disadvantaged them
Question from (4.8)
What was the Nullification Crisis of 1832?
The Nullification Crisis of 1832 was a confrontation between South Carolina and the federal government over the state’s attempt to nullify federal tariffs, testing the limits of states’ rights and federal authority.
What was the 2nd Great Awakening?
The 2nd Great Awakening was a series of religious revivals in American Protestants that emphasized righteous living, personal restraint, and strong morals that would lead society to salvation
What was the Temperance Movement?
The Temperance Movement sprang up opposing Alcohol. During this period, per year, each person drank 5 gallons of liquor → Temperance, which was caused by the 2nd GA, proliferated in Prot church, believing that w/o alcohol, social ills would be cured. [It also targeted German and Irish immigrants]
What was the Haitian Revolution? How did it show black people explicitly resisting their servitude?
The Haitian Revolution was a successful revolt of black slaves on the French Island. It showed mobilizing structures that successfully fought to abolish slavery and overturn colonialism
How was Cotton King in the South?
Cotton became "king" in the South due to the invention of the cotton gin, the expansion of slave labor, and the global demand for cotton, which transformed it into the region’s dominant cash crop and economic powerhouse.
What is Romanticism?
Romanticism rejects logic and thinking with emotion, desire, and human potential. Romanticism and American Romantic Movements of Emotion replaced previous elements of European Culture and Enlightenment Intellectualism
How did the Market Revolution contribute to the 2nd Great Awakening?
The Market Revolution stressed the idea of economic responsibility for success, reflected in this religious movement’s ideal of having moral responsibility for actions and that salvation was in their hands
The abolitionist movement gained popularity as many questioned the institution of slavery. Some wanted to gradually end, and some wanted to immediately end.
Who are some examples of abolitionist thinkers during this time period (1800 to 1848)?
- William Lloyd Garrison: Published The Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper, to convince white people to oppose slavery → He established the American Anti-Slavery Society
- Frederick Douglass: garnered many Freedmen and Slave supporters. He learned how to read and write → published his narrative, popularizing the understanding of slavery’s dehumanization
- Liberty Party: wanted to achieve direct political action for abolition
- Sojourner Truth
- Anti-Slavery Society: Garnered many White and Free Black members
- American Colonization Society: tried to send salves to the African colony of Liberia
What was Nat Turner’s Rebellion?
Nat Turner’s Rebellion was an organized slave revolt led by Nat Turner in Virginia, killing many plantation owners. The Virginia military squashed the rebellion. Caused many Virginian plantation owners to reign terror on their enslaved workers, beating and killing many
As nations in Europe began banning Slavery (ex. Britain), the abolitionist movement began to rise.
How did the 3/5ths compromise put a hamper on the movement?
Due to the increased representation of slave states due to the 3/5ths compromise, they were able to rally enough white support to ensure slavery stayed
What was Transcendentalism?
Transcendentalism emphasized importance and beauty of nature + belief in human potential
What are some examples of new religious denominations that arose during the 2nd Great Awakening?
- Presbyterian
- Baptist
- Mormon
Many women joined movements for Temperance and Abolition, but felt disenfranchised that their status as women couldn’t contribute (ex. Cult of Domesticity, which made MEN the purveyors of progress)
What is an example of a call for women's rights or a women's rights advocate during this time period (1800-1848)?
- The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to address the rights of women, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott
- The Declaration of Sentiments, modeled after the Declaration of Independence, codified women’s desire for rights and suffrage and other grievances
- Grimke Sisters: Feminists and Abolitionists
What was the Armistad Rebellion?
The Amistad rebellion of slaves on a Spanish ship was being shipped to America. When the ship landed, the SCOTUS case US vs The Amistad, with the Amistad represented by JQA, the SCOTUS was in favor of the rebels, setting them free
How did Planter Elites consolidate political power?
Planter Elites consolidated political power by making loans to those in need, hiring poor whites for work, and transporting yeoman crops to market →incentives for more poor white support
Who are some examples of Transcendentalist thinkers?
- Ralph Waldo Emerson: writings emphasized individualism and self-reliance
- Henry David Thoreau: lived by a pond in a cabin for 2 years, pondering nature and living simply → written and popularized
- Margaret Fuller: Wrote the Transcendentalist Newspaper, The Dial Movement to create Utopian Communities away from society
What is an example of a movement to improve the conditions of various groups during this period (1800-1848)?
- Dorothea Dix: Campaigned for the better care of the mentally ill → Asylum Movement, rather than having them in prisons
- Other Prison Reform movements to have them more humane
- Horace Mann: encouraged required attendance in public education
What is White Supremacy?
White supremacy is the belief that white people are inherently superior to people of other races and should dominate society.