AP US History Final (War on Banks-The End of the Civil War)

War on Banks

  • Andrew Jackson vetoed the Second Bank of the United States recharter, viewing it as an unconstitutional monopoly favoring northeastern interests.

  • He moved funds to state banks. (federal → state)

  • Despite the Supreme Court's ruling against him in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Jackson distrusted paper money.

  • His Specie Circular policy required government land payments in hard cash, leading to a money shortage and the Panic of 1837.

  • Congress repealed the Circular in Jackson’s final term.

Rise of the Whig Party

  • The Whig Party formed from religious, pro-government activists and anti-Democrats.

  • Martin Van Buren, Jackson’s 2nd Vice-President, won the 1836 election but faced an economic crisis due to Jackson’s policies.

  • In 1841, William Henry Harrison (Whig) won the presidency, but John Tyler (a former Democrat) took over and vetoed Whig bills, leading to his abandonment by the party.

Beginnings of Market Economy

  • America shifted from subsistence farming to a market economy due to manufacturing and transportation advances.

  • This favored specialization over self-sufficiency, increasing market dependence and economic instability.

Change in Imperatives

  • The War of 1812 pushed the U.S. to develop its economy and reduce import dependence.

  • Eli Whitney’s cotton gin (1793) increased cotton demand and expanded cotton plantations, increasing Southern dependence on slave labor.

  • Whitney’s interchangeable parts led to the machine-tool industry and assembly line production.

Regional Economics

  • North and Textiles: Post-1812, New England developed textile mills, enhanced by the power loom (1813).

    • The Lowell System offered housing, wages, and social events to workers.

    • The growth of textiles spurred clothing manufacturing, retail, banking, and transportation.

  • Farming: Mechanization increased market sales to 1/3 of all food grown by 1820.

    • The Midwest increased grain production, while the Deep South (cotton) and Upper South (tobacco) remained dominant.

  • Economic Reasons for Differences: The North became a commercial center due to technology. The South relied on agriculture and slavery, seeking more land. The West focused on farming, trapping, and speculation, distrusting the North.

Transportation

  • The National Road facilitated east-west travel.

  • Erie Canal: Funded by New York, it connected New York to the Great Lakes, boosting Midwestern profits and Northeastern commerce.

    • The canal was expanded in 1835 but was superseded by railroads by 1840.

  • Steamships and Railways: Steamships cut travel time between New York and England to 10 days.

    • Railroads linked major cities, aided by the telegraph for communication.

Social History

  • North American Cities: Rapid urban expansion led to wealth disparity and a toxic environment.

    • Cities offered craftsmanship jobs and social advancement, along with social services and leisure.

  • South and Rural Life: Limited commerce led to reliance on waterways and slower urbanization.

    • Southern aristocracy was based on plantation owners who believed in paternalism and Christianizing enslaved people.

  • West and Frontier Living: Settlers populated Texas, Mexico, the Pacific Northwest and California (by 1849).

    • The primary occupations were farming, ranching, and mining, with settlers facing climate and Native American challenges.

Religious and Social Movements

  • Second Great Awakening: Religious revival in the early 1800s among Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists, sparked by declining church attendance and secularism.

    • Temperance societies and movements against gambling and prostitution emerged.

    • Reform societies created penitentiaries, asylums, and orphanages, promoting social welfare.

  • Transcendentalism: Brook Farm (1841) was a Transcendentalist community inspired by European romanticism, emphasizing faith in humanity and societal perfectibility. → men can be divine

    • Notable authors included Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.

  • National Women Suffrage Association: Women's exclusion from antislavery movements led to the First Women’s Right Convention in Seneca Falls (1848).

Political Sides

  • Whigs: Supported internal improvements and had strong support in New England.

  • Democrats: Supported expansionism and believed the government should decide the fate of new lands, with the private sector in control. Strong support in the South.

Polk Presidency

  • James K. Polk’s four goals: serve one term, expand U.S. territories, restore government funds, and reduce tariffs.

  • Oregon Treaty: Resolved territorial disputes with Great Britain, establishing Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.

Mexican-American War

  • The Issue of Texas: Texas's independence from Mexico in 1836 led to conflict.

    • Polk's attempt to purchase the Southwest failed, leading to war in 1846.

  • The Issue of Slavery: Northerners feared the expansion of slavery, accusing Polk of supporting the expansion of slavery. The Whigs split, and the Free-Soil Party emerged.

  • The War’s End and Boons: The U.S. gained the Southwest in the Mexican Cession (1848) and the Gadsden Purchase for a southern railroad route.

The Compromise of 1850**

  • Sectional Strife: California's application for statehood as a free state caused debate.

  • The Compromise: California entered as a free state, with stricter fugitive slave laws. Utah and New Mexico were created under “popular sovereignty.” The slave trade was abolished in D.C., but slavery remained.

    • “Popular sovereignty” and the fugitive slave law caused issues.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

  • Kansas-Nebraska Act: Stephen Douglas promoted the Act to build a transcontinental railroad ending in Illinois. It led to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise.

    • The Act outraged antislavery groups and led to personal liberty laws in the North, angering Southerners.

  • A New Political Party: The Act led to the creation of the Republican Party from antislavery Whigs, Democrats, and Free-Soilers.

    • The Republican Party opposed slavery in the territories and supported national development. The American Party (Know-Nothing Party) formed around nativism.

Buchanan, Dred Scott, and the Election of 1860

  • Dred Scott v. Sanford: The Supreme Court ruled that enslaved people were property, not citizens, and Congress could not regulate slavery in the territories.

    • The decision split the Democratic Party and caused outrage in the North.

  • Election of 1860: Democrats split between Stephen Douglas and John Breckinridge. Abraham Lincoln won the election, leading to secession.

Civil War and the Confederacy

  • The Justification of the South: The South fought for self-governance, but the Confederate government increased centralized control.

    • Jefferson Davis aimed to modernize the southern economy but faced significant challenges.

  • Confederate Economy: Taxes and economic controls led to inflation and poverty.

  • Confederate Conscription: The 1862 draft and exemptions for the wealthy led to class tensions.

Civil War and the Union

  • Northern Government: Lincoln expanded federal power, implemented economic programs, and suspended habeas corpus.

    • National currency and greenbacks were introduced.

  • Northern Economy: The war boosted manufacturing but caused labor unrest and war profiteering.

    • Inflation was moderate compared to the South.

Emancipation of Enslaved People

  • Issue of Slavery: Radical Republicans pushed for emancipation to undermine the Confederacy.

  • Lincoln’s Cautious Approach: Lincoln viewed slavery as supporting the Confederate war effort.

    • Emancipation would prevent European support for the Confederacy and provide new soldiers.

  • The Price of Emancipation: The Emancipation Proclamation (1862) freed slaves in rebel states, changing the war's purpose.

    • Lincoln supported complete emancipation, leading to the Thirteenth Amendment.

End of the Civil War

  • Election of 1864: Both the North and South wanted to end the war.

    • Nativism increased in the North.

  • Freedman’s Bureau: Established to assist newly freed Black people in postwar society.

  • Sherman’s March: Sherman’s march destroyed Confederate resources and morale.

    • The Confederates surrendered in April 1865, shortly after Lincoln was assassinated.

    • The role of government expanded significantly during the war.

War on Banks

  • Jackson vetoed 2nd Bank, saw it as pro-North, unconstitutional.

  • Moved funds to state banks.

  • Despite SCOTUS ruling, distrusted paper money.

  • Specie Circular: land payments in cash à money shortage, Panic of 1837.

  • Congress repealed Circular.

Rise of the Whig Party

  • Whigs: religious, pro-government, anti-Democrats.

  • Van Buren (Jackson’s VP) won 1836 but faced economic crisis.

  • Harrison (Whig) won 1841, Tyler (ex-Democrat) took over, vetoed Whig bills.

Beginnings of Market Economy

  • US shifted to market economy due to manufacturing, transport.

  • Favored specialization, increased market dependence, economic instability.

Change in Imperatives

  • War of 1812: US developed economy, cut imports.

  • Cotton gin: increased cotton demand, Southern slave labor.

  • Interchangeable parts: machine-tool industry, assembly line.

Regional Economics

  • North & Textiles: NE textile mills, power loom (1813).

    • Lowell System: housing, wages, social events.

    • Textiles spurred clothing, retail, banking, transport.

  • Farming: Mechanization increased market sales by 1820.

    • Midwest: grain. Deep/Upper South: cotton/tobacco.

  • Economic Differences: North: commerce. South: agriculture, slavery. West: farming, distrusted North.

Transportation

  • National Road: facilitated east-west travel.

  • Erie Canal: NY to Great Lakes, boosted Midwest/NE commerce.

    • Expanded in 1835, superseded by railroads by 1840.

  • Steamships & Railways: Steamships cut NYC-England time.

    • Railroads linked cities, aided by telegraph.

Social History

  • North American Cities: Urban growth à wealth disparity.

    • Cities: jobs, social advancement, services, leisure.

  • South & Rural Life: Limited commerce, slower urbanization.

    • Southern aristocracy: paternalism, Christianizing enslaved.

  • West & Frontier: Settlers in TX, Mexico, Pacific NW, CA.

    • Farming, ranching, mining vs. climate, Native Americans.

Religious & Social Movements

  • 2nd Great Awakening: Revival due to declining church attendance.

    • Temperance, anti-gambling/prostitution movements.

    • Reform societies: penitentiaries, asylums, orphanages.

  • Transcendentalism: Brook Farm, faith in humanity.

    • Authors: Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau.

  • National Women Suffrage Association: Seneca Falls (1848).

Political Sides

  • Whigs: internal improvements, strong in NE.

  • Democrats: expansionism, government control of new lands, strong in South.

Polk Presidency

  • Polk's goals: one term, restore funds, reduce tariffs.

  • Oregon Treaty: Resolved border, established OR, WA, ID, WY, MT.

Mexican-American War

  • The Issue of Texas: TX independence (1836) à conflict.

    • Polk's purchase failed, war in 1846.

  • The Issue of Slavery: feared expansion, Free-Soil Party emerged.

  • War’s End: US gained Southwest (1848), Gadsden Purchase.

The Compromise of 1850

  • Sectional Strife: CA statehood debate.

  • The Compromise: CA free, stricter fugitive slave laws, Utah/NM "popular sovereignty", DC slave trade abolished.

    • "Popular sovereignty", fugitive slave law problematic.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

  • Kansas-Nebraska Act: Douglas wanted railroad to IL, repealed MO Compromise.

    • Outraged antislavery groups, personal liberty laws.

  • A New Political Party: Republican Party formed.

    • Opposed slavery in territories, supported development. American Party (nativism).

Buchanan, Dred Scott, & Election of 1860

  • Dred Scott v. Sanford: Slaves = property, no Congress control of territories.

    • Split Democrats, outraged North.

  • Election of 1860: Democrats split, Lincoln won, secession.

Civil War & Confederacy

  • South Justification: self-governance, Confederate control increased.

    • Davis aimed to modernize S economy.

  • Confederate Economy: taxes, controls à inflation, poverty.

  • Confederate Conscription: 1862 draft à class tensions.

Civil War & Union

  • Northern Government: Lincoln expanded power, economic programs, suspended habeas corpus.

    • National currency, greenbacks.

  • Northern Economy: War boosted manufacturing, labor unrest, profiteering.

    • Moderate inflation.

Emancipation

  • Issue of Slavery: Republicans pushed emancipation.

  • Lincoln’s Approach: Saw slavery as supporting Confederacy.

    • Emancipation à no European support, new soldiers.

  • Price of Emancipation: Emancipation Proclamation (1862) freed slaves in rebel states.

    • Lincoln supported 13th Amendment.

End of Civil War

  • Election of 1864: Both sides wanted to end war.

    • Nativism increased.

  • Freedman’s Bureau: Assisted freed Black people.

  • Sherman’s March: Destroyed Confederate resources.

    • Confederates surrendered, Lincoln assassinated.