Chapter 11: Imperial Ambitions

Chapter 11: Imperial Ambitions (1820-1848)

Essential Question

• How did the ideology of Manifest Destiny shape U.S. government policies and the experiences of ordinary people?

Overview of North America in 1820

• United States territory expanding westward.

• Mexico controlled present-day Texas, New Mexico, California, and parts of Colorado.

• Canada under British control; Alaska controlled by Russia; Oregon Territory is disputed.

Social Hierarchy in the Southern United States

• Planter Elites

  • Account for 5% of the population.

  • Own over 50% of enslaved people and produce 50% of Southern cotton.

  • Consider themselves an aristocracy.

• Other White Southerners

  • 20% own 5-20 slaves, possess some political power.

  • Small Freeholders: Farmers with 1-5 slaves, struggling for status.

  • 40% don’t own property or slaves, typically work for others.

Education and Wealth Disparity

• Poor whites often do not receive education due to reluctance from wealthy elites to fund public schools.

• Despite lacking power, poor whites felt superior to African Americans.

Mexican Independence and American Settlement in Texas

• 1821: Mexico gains independence and encourages American settlers to move to Texas.

• 30,000 Americans migrate; two factions emerge:

  • War Party led by Sam Houston, advocating for independence.

  • Peace Party led by Stephen Austin, seeking negotiation.

• Santa Anna mandates the end of slavery, inciting conflict.

The Texas Revolution

• Americans rally for independence, leading to significant events:

  • The Battle of the Alamo: notable figures include Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, whose deaths galvanize support.

  • Sam Houston ultimately defeats Santa Anna, leading to the Republic of Texas.

Enslaved African Americans in the South

• Enslaved peoples navigate a life under white supremacy while trying to sustain African cultural elements.

• Adoption of Christianity with uniquely African American practices emphasizing freedom themes.

• The Gullah dialect develops as part of cultural preservation.

Labor Systems in Slavery

• Task System: Assigns specific daily tasks, common in rice cultivation.

• Gang Labor System: Continuous labor setup typical in cotton production, leading to much longer working hours.

Resistance Among Enslaved People

• Forms of resistance:

  • Passive Resistance: Slowing work, faking illness, damaging tools.

  • Active Resistance: Running away, open rebellion, destruction of property.

• White southerners' fear of rebellion leads to brutal punishment methods.

• Slaveholders exercise enormous power over the conditions of enslaved individuals.

Chapter 11: Imperial Ambitions (1820-1848)

Essential Question

How did the ideology of Manifest Destiny shape U.S. government policies and the experiences of ordinary people?

Overview of North America in 1820

• The United States territory was expanding westward as part of a larger vision of Manifest Destiny, which was the belief that American settlers were destined to expand across North America.

• At this time, Mexico controlled significant territories including present-day Texas, New Mexico, California, and portions of Colorado, contributing to tensions between the U.S. and Mexico.

• Canada was under British control, Alaska was a Russian territory, and the Oregon Territory was a significant point of dispute shared by the U.S. and Great Britain.

Social Hierarchy in the Southern United States

• Planter Elites

  • Comprising only 5% of the population, they owned more than 50% of the enslaved population and produced about 50% of the cotton grown in the South, establishing their dominance in the agricultural economy.

  • They often considered themselves an aristocracy, showcasing their wealth and social status through extravagant living and elaborate estates.

• Other White Southerners

  • About 20% of white Southerners owned between 5-20 slaves, possessing some level of political power and social influence within their communities.

  • Small Freeholders were generally farmers who owned 1-5 slaves and often struggled for social status and economic security in a competitive environment.

  • The largest group, approximately 40% of the population, did not own property or slaves and typically worked as laborers for wealthier landowners, facing economic hardships.

Education and Wealth Disparity

• Poor white individuals typically did not have access to education, largely due to the reluctance of wealthy elite planters to fund public schooling systems, which they feared could elevate the social status of poor whites.

• Despite lacking political and economic power, many poor whites maintained a sense of racial superiority over African Americans, which upheld the existing social order.

Mexican Independence and American Settlement in Texas

• In 1821, Mexico achieved independence from Spain and actively encouraged American settlers to migrate to Texas, aiming to bolster its population and economy.

• Approximately 30,000 American migrants moved to Texas, spurring the formation of two distinct factions among settlers:

  • War Party, led by Sam Houston, advocated for Texan independence from Mexico.

  • Peace Party, led by Stephen Austin, favored negotiating settlement terms with the Mexican government.

  • Tensions escalated when Santa Anna, the Mexican president, mandated the abolition of slavery in Texas, inciting further conflict with American settlers.

The Texas Revolution

• The desire for independence galvanized American settlers, leading to pivotal events during the Texas Revolution:

  • The Battle of the Alamo became a symbol of Texan resilience, featuring notable figures like Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, whose deaths inspired a rallying cry for Texan forces.

  • Ultimately, Sam Houston led the Texan army to victory against Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, culminating in the establishment of the Republic of Texas in 1836.

Enslaved African Americans in the South

• Enslaved individuals navigated their existence under the oppressive system of white supremacy while striving to preserve elements of their African cultural heritage.

• The adoption of Christianity occurred alongside the development of unique African American practices and beliefs, with religious gatherings often emphasizing themes of hope and freedom in the face of oppression.

• The Gullah dialect emerged among enslaved individuals in coastal regions, serving as an essential form of cultural preservation and communication.

Labor Systems in Slavery

• The two primary labor systems in the South included:

  • Task System: Enslaved individuals were assigned specific daily tasks, which was common in rice cultivation, allowing for some autonomy upon completion.

  • Gang Labor System: In contrast, this setup involved continuous labor, particularly in the cotton production process, resulting in extended working hours and exerting increased pressure on enslaved laborers.

Resistance Among Enslaved People

• Forms of resistance included both passive and active strategies:

  • Passive Resistance: Enslaved people used subtle methods such as slowing down work, feigning illness, or damaging tools to undermine their labor conditions.

  • Active Resistance: More overt forms included fleeing from plantations, engaging in open rebellion, or committing acts of sabotage against property.

• The pervasive fear of rebellion among white southerners led to severe repressive measures and brutal punishments for enslaved individuals, solidifying the power dynamics that defined the institution of slavery.