OnRamps U.S. History Unit 4

Frederick Douglass

(1817-1895) American abolitionist and writer, he escaped slavery and became a leading African American spokesman and writer. He published his biography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and founded the abolitionist newspaper, the North Star.

Texas Independence

Occurred in 1836 after Sam Houston led a successful revolt to overthrow Mexican control over Texas

Texas Annexation

1845. Originally refused in 1837, as the U.S. Government believed that the annexation would lead to war with Mexico. Texas remained a sovereign nation. Annexed via a joint resolution through Congress, supported by President-elect Polk, and approved in 1845. Land from the Republic of Texas later became parts of NM, CO, OK, KS, and WY.

Abolition Movement

Movement led by Fredrick Douglass and others to end slavery.

Jacksonian Democrat

Andrew Jackson's Democratic party generally championed the principles of equal opportunity, absolute political freedom (for white males), glorification of the "common man," and limited government.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty that ended the Mexican War, granting the U.S. control of Texas, New Mexico, and California in exchange for $15 million

Cotton Economy

Southern economy depended on slave labor where cash crops like cotton and tobacco were grown on plantations

Manifest Destiny

A notion held by a nineteenth-century Americans that the United States was destined to rule the continent, from the Atlantic the Pacific.

wage labor

A system of payment whereby workers are compensated on the bases of a wage not tied to the quality of the raw materials, accidents, or other exigencies in the production process

David Walker

Black abolitionist who called for the immediate emancipation of slaves; wrote the "Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World."- called for a bloody end to white supremacy; believed that the only way to end slavery was for slaves to physically revolt.

Mexican War

(1846-1848) The war between the United States and Mexico in which the United States acquired one half of the Mexican territory.

dueling

Combat between two persons, especially one fought with weapons in front of witnesses

Nat Turner's Rebellion

Rebellion in which Nat Turner led a group of slaves through Virginia in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow and kill planter families

Wilmot Proviso

Dispute over whether any Mexican territory that America won during the Mexican War should be free or a slave territory. A representative named David Wilmot introduced an amendment stating that any territory acquired from Mexico would be free. This amendment passed the House twice, but failed to ever pass in Senate. The "Wilmot Proviso", as it became known as, became a symbol of how intense dispute over slavery was in the U.S.

Evangelicalism

Style of Christian ministry that includes much zeal and enthusiasm. Emphasizes personal conversion and faith rather than religious ritual

Gag Rule (1836)

Prevented anti-slavery discussions in Congress by tabling all abolitionist petitions.

Eli Whitney

United States inventor of the mechanical cotton gin (1765-1825)

Cotton Gin

A machine for cleaning the seeds from cotton fibers, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793

Cotton Kingdom

Areas in the south where cotton farming developed because of the high demand for cotton