Flashcards for US History's ramp to Civil War (War of 1812 up to Compromise of 1850)
Why did War of 1812 start?
America's resentment of Britain. American belief that the British were arming Native Americans and encouraging them to riot. (British armed Natives in the Ohio River Valley)
British impressment of American sailors and seizure of American ships
American "War Hawks" wanting to annex(take over) Florida and Canada. Wanting to declare war on Britain.
What was the outcome of the War of 1812?
Treaty of Ghent 1814
Ghent, Belgium
Signed December 24, 1814
Ended War of 1812
None of the issues causing war were addressed— “Nothing was adjusted, nothing was settled.” Return to matters as before the war.
Why does the War of 1812 matter to our history?
IT WAS THE TRUE REVOLUTIONARY WAR FOR AMERICA
Americans had pride in their country.
“The people are now more American. They feel and act more as a nation.”
Era of Good Feelings
Time after War of 1812, people not divided over political issues or war
PATRIOTISM GROWS
What is Sectionalism?
loyalty to one’s regional/sectional interests; sectional conflict
What is Nationalism?
loyalty to and pride in one’s country; national unity
What is the Missouri Compromise? (Compromise of 1820)
The compromise offered by Henry Clay was called the Missouri Compromise, it had three parts:
Missouri would be admitted as a slave state
Maine would be admitted as a free state (to keep the balance in Congress)
The Missouri Compromise Line was established:
36º 30’ North Latitude
Slavery was banned north of this line and was allowed south of it.
Why was Jackson considered a tyrant?
Took away Indians land from the Indian Removal Act
Greatly used his veto power at times to stay in control
Disobeyed the Constitution - Indian Removal Act
Andrew Jackson’s goal: Make government more accessible to the “Common Man”
Indian Removal Act 1830
Blackhawk War
Georgia v. Worcester decision
(Jackson refuses to enforce the decision = expands presidential power)
Trail of Tears (death of 4000 Cherokees)
Seminole War 1835-1842
Nullification Crisis
Disputed a states' right to nullify a federal law (making it null and void)
South Carolina threatened to leave the Union, thinking the tariff helped the north, harmed the south’s economy and living costs.
In 1832–33 South Carolina tested the doctrine of nullification when it declared a federal tax null and void within the state. The conflict that resulted between South Carolina and the U.S. government is known as the nullification crisis. South Carolina was ultimately not allowed to nullify the tax.
What is Manifest Destiny?
Manifest Destiny is the 19th-century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.
Belief that white Americans had a God-given right to occupy the entire North American continent.
Why do we (the US) have Manifest Destiny?
A belief in the inherent superiority of white Americans, as well as the conviction that they were destined by God to conquer the territories of North America, from sea to shining sea.
Americans have higher education and technological advancements for them to conquer any obstacles
To expand the US’s economy with shipment of cargo and new goods.
What is the overall outcome of Manifest Destiny?
Expansion of the USA after the war against Mexico (Mexican American War).
The U.S. succeeded in fulfilling its manifest destiny through the annexation of Texas and through the gain of lands in Oregon and California.
TEXAS ANNEXATION
1821 – Mexico declares independence from Spain
1829 – Anglo-Texians refuse to be assimilated into government and declare Texas a republic, free of Mexico
1832-1836 – Semi-Autonomous Republic of Texas
1836 – Republic of Texas founded
1844 – Annexation of Texas into USA
December 29, 1845 – Officially a state
Texas was admitted to the United States as a slave state.
The annexation of Texas contributed to the coming of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).
The conflict started, in part, over a disagreement about which river was Mexico’s true northern border: the Nueces or the Rio Grande. The United States believed the border to be the Rio Grande River, while Mexico believed the border to be farther north at the Nueces River.
Did we need to take the land of Mexico?
The US didn’t need to take any of the land of Mexico, they only wanted it so they could fulfill their manifest destiny. They would have agreed on a different border with Mexico as it was just a border.
The U.S. wanted all the land west of Texas including California.
Why didn’t we take all of Mexico? - LONG ANSWER**
The negotiator didn’t support the war so he asked for a smaller cession of Mexican territory and not additional land as instructed by the President.
The addition of more Mexican states would tip the scale of slave states and free states as Mexico had already banned slavery through-out the country.
The U.S. did not want to extend American citizenship to Mexicans.
Common forms of slave Resistance
“Sambo” pattern of behavior used as a charade in front of whites
- Innocent laughing black man caricature
- Bulging eyes, thick lips, big smile
Refusal to work hard
Isolated acts of sabotage
Escape via the “Underground Railroad”
Who is Nat Turner?
Said to have “natural intelligence”, was a preacher to slaves; “The Prophet”
An enslaved man who led a rebellion of more than 70 enslaved people on August 21, 1831, known as the Southampton Insurrection____.
Before a white militia could organize and respond, the rebels killed 60 men, women, and children
Rebellion lasted only 2 days – most successful slave revolt on U.S. Soil during Slavery.
Nat was on the run until October 30th.
He would be tried on November 5th and Hung on Nov 11th.
He was skinned and beheaded; a warning to other would be rebels.
Who is Gabriel Prosser?
Big, well spoken slave, trained to be a blacksmith (Built like the Rock)
Was hired out by his owner to other blacksmiths
Easy money for slave owners
Intended to attack and hold Richmond VA in 1800
Delayed by rain and derailed by traitors
Hung with 25 other slave men, including his 2 brothers
Who is Denmark Vesey?
Sold to a Slave Merchant
Worked a slave in Saint-Domingue (Haiti), where he faked seizures to be sold back to Merchant Owner
Bought Freedom in 1799 after winning a prize and became well respected carpenter
In early 1822, planned a plot much like what happened in the Haitian Revolution in 1804
Was undone by too many people knowing
Was hung on July 2, 1822
Why does the Compromise of 1850 matter?
The Compromise of 1850 was a temporary solution that kept the Union/nation united; attempting to settle the tensions/disputes of the North and South.
What were the parts to the Compromise of 1850?
California was admitted as a free state; Utah and New Mexico territories decided by vote (popular sovereignty) - These lands were generally unsuitable to plantation agriculture and their settlers were uninterested in slavery.
Boundary dispute between Texas and New Mexico resolved
Sale of slaves in Washington D.C. is banned but slavery can continue
Fugitive Slave Act required people to help capture and return escaped slave
Who is Henry Clay?
Henry Clay, nicknamed the “THE GREAT COMPROMISER” as he authored the Missouri Compromise AND the Compromise of 1850.
Representative in Senate and House of Representatives during career
Prominent Abolitionist in Kentucky and elsewhere
Was a member and President of American Colonization Society
Had the ability to see both sides, empathize and compromise
Was at the end of his days and sick with tuberculosis, but still fighting for America.
Who is Stephen Douglas?
Stephen Douglas, a Democrat of IL (Illinois), whom Henry Clay urged into dividing the compromise into several smaller bills and passed each separately.
-The various bills were initially combined into one "omnibus" bill, which did not pass. Obviously.
-Clay was nearly dead from declining health and unable to guide the congressional debate any further.
FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT 1850
Slaves must be returned to masters (owners) if that person says the slave belongs to them.
Also stated that slaves were not entitled to:
-trial by jury
-right to counsel
-testify on their own behalf
Compromise of 1850 Summary
Compromise of 1850 MUST KNOWS
Henry Clay “The Great Compromiser”
California = no slaves
Utah & New Mexico Territories = popular sovereignty
All other territories = no slaves
Fugitive Slave Act 1850
DID NOT SOLVE THE SLAVERY ISSUE
(Band-Aid on a gunshot wound)