Democracy and Slavery in the Early Republic

What was the purpose of Alexander Hamilton's 'Report on the Public Credit' in 1789?

To propose paying off all federal debt at full value with interest and to assume state debt.

What were the main objections raised by Americans regarding Hamilton's debt payment proposal?

Many Americans protested against paying full value to speculators who had purchased debt at a fraction of its worth.

What was proposed in Hamilton's 'Report on a National Bank' released in 1790?

To create a national bank that would hold government funds, issue bank notes, make loans to the government, and finance federal assets.

What revenue-raising measures did Hamilton propose in his 'Report on Manufactures' in 1791?

Tariffs on imported goods and a tax on whiskey.

What was the main concern of farmers regarding Hamilton's economic policies?

Farmers believed they would bear the burden of taxes and that the policies favored urban manufacturers and speculators.

What is the difference between strict constructionists and those who support the 'Necessary and Proper' clause?

Strict constructionists, like Jefferson, argue for limited federal powers strictly defined by the Constitution, while others, like Hamilton, believe the 'Necessary and Proper' clause allows for implied powers.

What did Thomas Jefferson believe about Hamilton's policies?

He believed they disproportionately benefited elites and unfairly taxed farmers.

How did Federalists justify the creation of a national bank?

They argued it was a necessary and proper use of federal power to perform functions enumerated in the Constitution.

What was the significance of the guillotine during the French Revolution in relation to American politics?

It inspired Federalists to fear that democracy could lead to chaos without elite management.

What sparked the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794?

Farmers were upset about Hamilton's whiskey tax, which they felt unfairly targeted them to fund the national debt.

What actions did farmers take during the Whiskey Rebellion?

They assembled to block the collection of the whiskey tax, using revolutionary language and symbols.

How did President Washington respond to the Whiskey Rebellion?

He dispatched 13,000 soldiers to Pennsylvania to suppress the revolt and even rode part of the way with them.

What was the outcome of the Whiskey Rebellion?

The organizers of the rebellion backed down in the face of military force.

What was the role of Democratic-Republican Societies during this period?

They were formed to oppose Federalist policies and advocate for the rights of the common people.

Who was Judith Sargent Murray and what was her significance?

She was an early advocate for women's rights and education, contributing to discussions on gender equality.

What was Gabriel's Rebellion in 1800?

A planned slave uprising in Virginia aimed at gaining freedom and equality.

What was the Jay Treaty of 1794?

An agreement between the United States and Great Britain that aimed to resolve lingering issues from the Revolutionary War.

What was the impact of the Articles of Confederation on federal power?

They granted the federal government little power to tax, making it difficult to settle national debt.

What was the significance of the 'necessary and proper' clause in the Constitution?

It allows Congress to make laws required to execute its enumerated powers, providing flexibility in governance.

How did the Federalists view the role of elite management in a democracy?

They believed that elite management was necessary to prevent chaos and maintain order in the republic.

What was the primary concern of strict constructionists regarding Hamilton's policies?

They were concerned that these policies favored the wealthy at the expense of farmers and the common people.

What were the Democratic-Republican Societies?

Groups formed by artisans and small farmers protesting the Washington administration, its ties to England, and its bias toward the wealthy.

What was George Washington's view on self-created permanent bodies?

He believed they were absurd, arrogant, and harmful to society, especially when declaring acts unconstitutional or accusing voters of selfish motives.

How many Democratic-Republican societies were established between 1793 and 1800?

More than forty societies, with sizes ranging from 315 members to 20 or 25 members.

Who was Judith Sargent Murray?

An advocate for women's education who published 'On the Equality of the Sexes' in 1790, arguing for equal educational opportunities for women.

What concept did Judith Sargent Murray propagate?

The idea of 'republican motherhood,' which emphasized the importance of educating women to raise competent citizens.

What was the Societe des Amis des Noirs?

An abolitionist group active during the French Revolution that sought to apply ideals of freedom and citizenship to enslaved persons in France's West Indian Empire.

What impact did the Societe des Amis des Noirs have in the West Indies?

Their ideas inspired enslaved persons who believed emancipation was imminent.

Who led the Haitian Revolution?

Toussaint L'Ouverture.

What significant event occurred in Saint-Domingue (Haiti) in August 1791?

Slaves rebelled against their oppressors.

How did images of slave revolts affect white southerners?

They emphasized fears of widespread violence against whites and echoed depictions of the Haitian Revolution.

What was Gabriel's Rebellion?

An attempted slave revolt in 1800 led by Gabriel Prosser, aiming to take Richmond and overthrow slavery.

What inspired Gabriel's Rebellion?

The French Revolution, news of the Haitian Revolution, and the ideas of the American Revolution.

What happened to the planned attack on Richmond during Gabriel's Rebellion?

A storm flooded the area, blocking access, and a slave named Pharaoh alerted authorities.

What was the outcome of Gabriel's Rebellion?

Governor James Monroe executed thirty-five conspirators and tightened laws on slaves.

What was the Jay Treaty of 1794?

A treaty negotiated by John Jay to improve trade relations with Britain and keep America out of war, despite British harassment of American trade.

What were the British doing that led to the Jay Treaty?

They were harassing American trade with France, impressing soldiers, and confiscating American goods.

What was a significant criticism of the Jay Treaty?

It was seen as evidence that the Washington Administration favored England over Democratic France.

What did the Jay Treaty fail to require from the British?

It did not require the British to end harassment of American ships.

How did the Jay Treaty affect American public opinion?

Many Americans were dissatisfied, feeling it favored Britain and did not support France.

What was the significance of the Haitian Revolution in the context of slave revolts in the South?

It haunted white southerners and inspired slave revolts throughout the South.

Who invented the Cotton Gin?

Eli Whitney.

What was the primary function of the Cotton Gin?

Automated the cleaning of seeds from short grain cotton.

What type of cotton could only be cultivated before the invention of the Cotton Gin?

Long staple cotton, which only grew in coastal areas.

Where was the highest concentration of slaves in the United States by the time of the Civil War?

In the deep south, particularly hospitable to cotton production.

What was the impact of the Cotton Gin on the internal slave trade?

It boosted the profitability of the slave trade in regions like the Chesapeake.

What was the practice of 'Sleight' in cotton production?

Picking cotton with both hands simultaneously, enforced through violence.

What does the term 'Second Middle Passage' refer to?

The domestic slave trade that brought slaves from the upper south to the deep south.

How did the Second Middle Passage affect the value of slaves?

The value of planters' slaves tripled.

How many slaves were involved in the Second Middle Passage compared to the original middle passage?

Two and a half times as many slaves made the Second Middle Passage.

What were 'Fancy' slaves?

Female slaves sold for unusually high prices due to their appearance, often forced into prostitution.

What ideology hardened in the South as slavery became more profitable?

Pro-slavery ideology, leading to a strict color line where black was synonymous with slave.

What did the planter aristocracy propagate regarding Christianity?

A form of Christianity that emphasized conservatism and argued that the existing social order was ordained by God.

Who was George Fitzhugh?

A prominent pro-slavery intellectual from Virginia, author of 'Cannibals All: Slaves Without Masters'.

What did Fitzhugh argue about slavery compared to free society?

He claimed that the unrestricted exploitation in free society is more oppressive than domestic slavery.

What was Fitzhugh's view on the Declaration of Independence?

He claimed it was exuberantly false and aborescently fallacious.

What did Fitzhugh criticize about Enlightenment ideas?

He rejected them as too focused on reason rather than faith and too egalitarian.

What did Bishop Stephen Elliot claim about the American Revolution?

He argued it cast away conservatism and laid down principles contrary to Revelation.

What was the fate of free blacks in the more recently settled areas of the lower south?

They were almost non-existent.

What were some techniques used by enslavers to increase cotton production efficiency?

Violence and the practice of Sleight.

What was the relationship between slave owners and their slaves according to Fitzhugh?

Slave owners provided stability and protection, unlike Northern employers.

What was the significance of the internal slave trade in relation to the Chesapeake region?

It represented the growth of the slave trade as planters sought more profitable land in the deep south.

What was the effect of slavery on the social structure in the South?

It led to a strict social hierarchy with a clear distinction between free and enslaved individuals.