The early republic era and civil war

key terms

Market revolution

A dramatic expansion of the marketplace in the early 19th century, characterized by the rise of manufacturing, transportation, and communication innovations that transformed economic practices and social relationships in the United States.

cotton gin

A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that significantly increased the efficiency of cotton processing, leading to the expansion of cotton plantations in the South.

American system

A set of economic policies proposed by Henry Clay in the early 19th century aimed at promoting national economic growth through internal improvements, a national bank, and protective tariffs.

eerie canal

A significant waterway completed in 1825 that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, facilitating trade and transportation across New York and greatly contributing to the economic development of the region.

Lowell, Massachusetts

A key center for textile manufacturing in the early 19th century, known for its factory system that employed young women and became a model for industrialization in the United States.

Lowell girls

The young women who worked in the textile mills of Lowell, Massachusetts, during the early 19th century, notable for their role in the industrial workforce and the changes they brought to gender roles in society.

“Turn out”

is a term used to describe the organized gathering of workers, particularly in the context of labor strikes or protests, aimed at advocating for better working conditions and rights.

Domestic slave trade

The trade of enslaved individuals within the United States, particularly in the antebellum South, which involved the buying and selling of slaves across state lines.

The rape of enslaved female Africans

refers to the sexual exploitation and abuse of enslaved women by slave owners and other individuals, a pervasive violation of their rights and dignity during slavery in the Americas.

expansion of cotton production in the south

refers to the significant increase in cotton cultivation, which became a dominant cash crop in the southern United States, driving the demand for slave labor and shaping the economy and society of the region in the 19th century.

John C. Calhoun

A prominent Southern politician and statesman who served as Vice President and was a strong advocate for states' rights and the expansion of slavery.

pro slavery arguments

justifications used to defend the institution of slavery, including economic, social, and racial theories that claimed slavery was beneficial for both enslaved people and society.

Racism in the north

refers to the attitudes and beliefs held by some individuals in the northern United States that perpetuated discrimination and inequality against African Americans, despite the absence of slavery in the region.

freedom’s journal

the first African American owned and operated newspaper in the United States, founded in 1827, which aimed to advocate for the rights and freedoms of black Americans.

Frederick Douglas

an influential African American abolitionist, writer, and orator who escaped from slavery and became a prominent advocate for social justice and equality in the 19th century.

Arguments against slavery

were moral, economic, and political reasons that highlighted its inhumanity, the negative impact on society, and the contradiction to American values of liberty and justice.

underground railroad

a clandestine network of routes and safe houses used by enslaved Africans to escape to free states and Canada, facilitated by abolitionists and sympathizers in the mid-19th century. Led by Harriet tubman

Slave rebellions in the south

were uprisings by enslaved people against their enslavers, aiming to escape bondage and demand freedom, including notable events such as the Nat Turner Rebellion in 1831.

Nat Turner’s rebellion

was a significant slave uprising led by Nat Turner in 1831 in Virginia, which resulted in the deaths of many enslavers and increased fears among white slave owners, leading to harsher slave laws.

Democratic Republican party

Initially, the party promoted limited govt and individual liberties. However, as they gained power over time, esp during jefferson’s presidency, they began to embrace a more flexible interpretation of the constitution, leading to greater federal involvement in economic affairs. the war of 1812 boosted national pride and unity, leading to the decline of the federalist party.

Louisiana purchase

was a land deal in 1803 in which the United States acquired approximately 827,000 square miles of territory from France, effectively doubling the size of the nation and providing resources for westward expansion.

Marbury v Madison

was a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1803 that established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to invalidate legislation that it deemed unconstitutional.

Judicial review

is the power of the judiciary to review and nullify actions of the legislative and executive branches that are found to be unconstitutional.

Dismantling the bank of the U.S

refers to the political efforts, primarily led by President Andrew Jackson in the 1830s, to destroy the Second Bank of the United States, which he believed favored elite interests over the common people.

Nullification crisis

was a political conflict in the early 1830s between the federal government and South Carolina over the state's right to nullify federal laws they found unconstitutional, particularly tariffs.

Universal white male suffrage

is the expansion of voting rights to all white males, regardless of property ownership, during the 19th century, marking a significant shift towards more democratic participation in the United States.

Sectionalism

refers to the growing divide and loyalty to regional interests, particularly between the North and South, leading up to the Civil War. This included economic, cultural, and political differences that intensified conflicts over slavery and states' rights.

Whig party

was a political party in the United States founded in the 1830s that opposed the Democratic Party and supported policies such as modernization and economic protectionism.

Missouri compromise of 1820

was a federal statute that regulated the slavery issue in the western territories, admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain the balance between free and slave states.

Indian removal

was a policy implemented by the US government in the 1830s that forced Native American tribes to relocate from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to designated Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.

Trail of tears

refers to the forced relocation of Native American tribes, particularly the Cherokee, from their homelands to Indian Territory during the 1830s, resulting in significant suffering and loss of life.

American Indian wars

were a series of conflicts between European settlers and Native American tribes throughout the 19th century, often over land and resources, resulting in significant territorial changes and loss for Indigenous peoples.

Second great awakening

was a religious revival movement in the early 19th century that emphasized individual piety, moral reform, and a personal relationship with God, leading to the growth of various religious denominations and social reform movements.

Anti slavery society

was an organization formed in the early 19th century aimed at advocating for the abolition of slavery and promoting the rights of enslaved African Americans, fostering public awareness and political action against the institution of slavery.

The liberator

was an influential abolitionist newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison, advocating for the immediate emancipation of all enslaved individuals and the promotion of equal rights for African Americans.

William Lloyd garrison

was a prominent American abolitionist, journalist, and social reformer best known for founding "The Liberator," which called for the immediate emancipation of all enslaved people and was a key figure in the abolitionist movement.

Federick Douglas

was a former enslaved person who became a leading abolitionist, orator, and writer, advocating for the rights of African Americans and women's suffrage, and famously wrote his autobiography detailing his experiences.

Seneca falls convention

was the first women's rights convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, where activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott gathered to discuss and advocate for women's suffrage and equal rights.

declaration of sentiments

was a document signed at the Seneca Falls Convention, outlining the grievances and demands for women's rights, modeled after the Declaration of Independence.

Cult of domesticity

was a prevailing value system in the 19th century that emphasized the role of women as homemakers and moral guardians of the family, promoting ideals of piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity.

Prohibition

refers to the legal act of prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States, primarily enforced by the 18th Amendment from 1920 to 1933.

Common schools

were public schools established in the 19th century aimed at providing free, universal education to children, promoting equal opportunities regardless of social class.

Dorothea Dix

was an American social reformer and activist dedicated to the care of the mentally ill and advocating for better treatment and conditions in asylums.

War of 1812

a conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815, primarily over trade restrictions and territorial expansion.

Monroe Doctrine

a U.S. policy established in 1823 that warned European powers against further colonization or intervention in the Americas, asserting that any such actions would be viewed as acts of aggression.

Atlantic ocean trade

refers to the exchange of goods, resources, and slaves between Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the eras of exploration and colonization.

cotton exports

refers to the trade of cotton produced in the southern United States to international markets, which became a crucial part of the economy before the Civil War.

German and Irish immigration

refers to the large influx of German and Irish immigrants to the United States during the 19th century, particularly in the 1840s and 1850s, driven by factors such as economic hardship, political unrest, and the Great Famine in Ireland. Ameri

American colonization society

was an organization founded in 1816 that aimed to resettle free African Americans in Africa, most notably in Liberia, as a solution to the perception of racial conflict in the United States.

Back to Africa movement

refers to the social and political movement advocating for the migration of African Americans back to Africa, particularly in the context of the American Colonization Society's efforts in the 19th century.

Mexican American war

was a conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, primarily over territorial disputes following the annexation of Texas.

Annexation of Texas

the 1845 incorporation of the Republic of Texas into the United States, which escalated tensions with Mexico.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

the agreement signed in 1848 that ended the Mexican-American War, leading to the U.S. acquisition of territories that include present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah.

Mexican cession

the 1848 agreement that ended the Mexican-American War, leading to Mexico ceding large territories to the United States.

California gold rush

a mass migration of people to California following the discovery of gold in 1848, significantly impacting the state's population and economy.

opening of japan

the 1853 arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry's fleet, which led to Japan's emergence from isolation and the signing of treaties with Western powers.

free soil movement

a political movement that emerged in the mid-19th century advocating for the prohibition of slavery in the territories acquired during the westward expansion of the United States.

popular sovereignty

the principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, typically through their elected representatives.

compromise of 1850

a series of legislative measures aimed at resolving territorial and slavery disputes following the Mexican-American War, including California's admission as a free state and the implementation of the Fugitive Slave Act.

fugitive slave act of 1850

a law that required the return of escaped slaves to their owners and imposed penalties on those who aided their escape.

kansas Nebraska act

a 1854 law that allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise.

dred Scott v sandford

a landmark Supreme Court case in 1857 that upheld the property rights of slave owners, ruling that enslaved people were not citizens and therefore had no legal standing to sue in federal court.

election of 1860

A decisive presidential election in which Abraham Lincoln, representing the Republican Party, was elected, leading to the secession of several Southern states.

confederacy seceding from the U.S

The collective act of eleven Southern states, including South Carolina and Alabama, withdrawing from the United States between 1860 and 1861, primarily in response to the election of Abraham Lincoln.

battle at fort sumter

the first battle of the American Civil War, occurring in April 1861, when Confederate forces fired on the Union garrison at Fort Sumter in South Carolina, leading to the start of the conflict.

ironclad warship

a steam-powered warship armored with iron plates, used during the Civil War for naval battles.

Generals Robert e Lee and stonewall jackson

were key Confederate military leaders known for their significant roles in battles such as the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Chancellorsville, showcasing strategic prowess during the Civil War.

Limited industrialization in the south

resulted in a reliance on agriculture and slavery for the economy, which affected the South's ability to supply troops and resources during the Civil War.

Confiscation acts

laws passed during the Civil War that enabled the Union to seize and liberate enslaved people from Confederate states, aimed at undermining the Confederacy's workforce and resources.

Border states

slave states that bordered free states, playing a crucial role during the Civil War by being strategic locations for both the Union and Confederacy.

Emancipation proclamation

an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory, aimed at weakening the Confederacy and redefining the Civil War's purpose.

Battle of Anietam

a significant battle in the Civil War fought in 1862, marking the bloodiest single day in American history and leading to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

“To preserve the union”

was the primary objective of the Union during the Civil War, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the United States as a single nation.

Anaconda plan

a military strategy proposed by Union General Winfield Scott that aimed to defeat the Confederacy by blockading southern ports and controlling the Mississippi River to suffocate the South's economy.

Vicksburg campaign

a series of battles in 1863 aimed at capturing the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi, which was crucial for Union control of the Mississippi River.

black soldiers in the union army

were recruited to fight for the Union during the Civil War, playing a vital role in various battles and advocating for their own rights and freedoms.

Reconstruction

the period following the Civil War when the United States sought to reintegrate the Southern states and address the rights of freed slaves.

radical reconstruction

a phase of Reconstruction characterized by significant Congressional control over the South, aimed at promoting civil rights and establishing greater political participation for African Americans.

13th amendment

abolished slavery in the United States, ensuring freedom for all enslaved individuals.

14th amendment

granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves.

15th amendment

prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

freedmen’s burea

a federal agency established in 1865 to aid freed slaves in transitioning to freedom and ensure their civil rights. job opportunities, education, etc

Civil rights act of 1875

federal law that guaranteed equal treatment in public accommodations and prohibited racial discrimination in jury selection.

White backlash

a reaction against the civil rights of African Americans, marked by violence and discriminatory policies.

Sharecropping

a system of agriculture where farmers rent land and pay landowners with a share of the crops produced, often leading to a cycle of debt and poverty.

Ku Klux Klan

a white supremacist hate group founded in the post-Civil War era that used terror and intimidation to oppose African American civil rights.

Black codes

laws enacted in the South after the Civil War to restrict African Americans' freedoms and enhance white control.

Prison slave labor

a system where inmates work for little or no pay, often in harsh conditions, as a way to profit from incarceration and perpetuate exploitation.

Jim crow laws

state and local laws enacted in the Southern United States enforcing racial segregation and disenfranchising African Americans after the Reconstruction era.

Lynching

the unlawful execution of individuals, often by mob action, typically targeting African Americans, to instill fear and maintain white supremacy in society.

Plessy v Ferguson

a landmark Supreme Court case in 1896 that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

Literacy tests

measures administered to prospective voters aimed at disenfranchising African Americans by requiring reading and writing skills, often applied subjectively.

Poll taxes

fees required to vote, often used to disenfranchise poor and minority voters.