American

Class Schedule and Changes

• No class on Monday due to Martin Luther King Day; class closure precedes quiz due on Sunday.

Lecture Structure

• Lecture on Wednesday will cover the antebellum period and the origins of the Civil War.

• Encouragement for questions and clarifications during the lecture.

• Importance of taking notes, particularly writing down key terms and PowerPoint content.

Antebellum United States

• Definition: The term "Antebellum" translates to "before the war," applied here to the period before the American Civil War.

• Importance of Civil War in American history as a dividing line that significantly changed societal dynamics.

• Development of the US established by English settlers creating the 13 colonies along the Eastern Seaboard.

North vs. South: Economic & Social Characteristics

• Distinctions between the Northern and Southern colonies:

  • Northern States:

  • More urban, densely populated, ethnically diverse economy.

  • Economic activities beyond agriculture.

  • Southern States:

  • Primarily agricultural.

  • Economic reliance on cash crops like cotton.

Economic Differences Leading to Tension

• Rivalry over Economic Policies:

  • Federal policies favoring one economy, typically leading to conflict and disagreement between Northern and Southern politicians.

• Key Cash Crops:

  • Cotton: Main crop of the American South, requires suitable climatic conditions: long, dry hot growing seasons and short mild winters.

  • Sugar: Still important in areas like South Louisiana.

Cotton’s Impact on Society

• Invention of the Cotton Gin by Eli Whitney (1790s): Revolutionized cotton production, leading to its dominance as a cash crop.

• Cultural Importance: Cotton’s economic value sparked high demand; it is a durable and versatile product, influencing daily lives.

• Labor Force and Expansion: As cotton exploded in demand, planters sought more land, necessitating a labor force, primarily met through slavery.

Historical Context of Slavery in America

• Early American Colonies and Slavery:

  • Slavery was practiced in all 13 colonies.

  • Slavery existed prior to European intervention, often taken from tribal warfare or debt.

• Transatlantic Slave Trade:

  • Increased demand for labor on cash crop plantations led to the international slave trade, with varying mortality rates among enslaved populations.

  • USA received a small percentage (less than 4%) of African slaves compared to Brazil.

North and South's Attitudes Towards Slavery

• Differences in Slavery Usage:

  • In Northern colonies: slaves often seen as status symbols rather than integral to the economy; however, in the South, enslaved people were essential for agricultural productivity.

• Post-1776 Developments:

  • Northern states moved to outlaw slavery incrementally; Southern states remained entrenched in the system, bolstered by cotton’s economic importance.

Economic Motivations Behind Slavery's Persistence

• Historians argue had cotton not emerged as a leading crop, there might have been a natural decline in slavery.

• Demographics and Labor Issues:

  • Population growth among enslaved individuals in the US due to better living conditions versus other regions, leading to self-reproduction of the slave population.

Tariffs and Political Debate

• Tariffs' Role in North-South Discontent:

  • Tariffs imposed to protect Northern manufacturing from British imports, creating economic tension as Southern states opposed them.

• Political Dynamics in the 19th Century:

  • Describes the rising conflict rooted in economic interests, shaping national policies and laws, especially in Congress.

Territorial Expansion and Manifest Destiny

• Manifest Destiny: The belief that the US was destined to expand from coast to coast.

• The acquisition of new territories raised contentious debates over the status of slavery, leading to further sectional conflict.

The Mexican War and Its Aftereffects

• The war resulted in significant American territorial acquisitions, which stirred debates on the extension of slavery into new states.

• As new territories formed, the question arose whether these states would support free or slave labor systems, driving rivalry between the North and South.

Growth of Sectionalism in the 1850s

• Emergence of pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions led to escalated tensions, including incidents like Bleeding Kansas, where conflicts erupted over the status of slavery in new territories.

• The dissolution of the Whig Party and the rise of party lines based on geography and sectional allegiance.

The Rise of the Republican Party

• The Republican Party formed as a Northern response advocating for free-soil policies, running Abraham Lincoln as a presidential candidate in 1860.

• Lincoln as a Candidate:

  • Moderate, anti-slavery expansion stance; aims to halt slavery's spread into Western territories without addressing its existence in the South directly.

The 1860 Presidential Election

• Political dynamics in the 1860 election saw a split in the Democratic Party, weakening Southern influence.

• Lincoln’s election prompted Southern states to consider secession, a response grounded not in morality but political power and influence.

Initial Secession and Formation of the Confederacy

• Following Lincoln's victory, South Carolina became the first state to secede and formed the Confederate States of America (CSA).

• Fire-Eaters: Radical pro-secessionists in the South advocating for independence from the Union.

Responses from Lincoln and Federal Authority

• Lincoln's inaugural address underscored a commitment to preserve the Union, declaring secession illegal, thus setting the stage for imminent conflict.

In Summary: Prelude to Armed Conflict

• The confiscation of federal properties, including crucial forts, and direct challenges to federal authority led to escalating tensions.

• The first shots of the American Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, marking the official beginning of hostilities between the North and the South.