U.S History Midterms

PART !: Indigenous settlements prior to Colombus and Europeans

Population Density

• Population was higher in coastal areas, less in landlocked areas and the population was least in the Great plains.

Sources of Food

• There were more plants in the Southern areas, more game (meat) in the northern areas and more balanced food sources in areas bordering Mexico.

Languages

• the most widely spoken language was Alonquin, least wiodely spoken was Shalishan and Yuman, people mostly spoke Uto-Aztecian and other unknown languages

Materials for clothing

• Cotton is used more in the South due to warmer climate there, Fur and hide were used up north due to cold temperatures, Border between north and south mostly used a mix of all clothing.

Part 2: Arrival of Christopher Columbus

• Indegenious people saw the Europeans has “unhuman” as they discovered items and culture they’ve never seen before.

• The Europeans saw the Indegenious as “backwards” and not what they expected as they thought they were at the Indies. They saw them as living outside of “civilization”

• They offered each other items and traded items such as fur, cloth, and metal tools.

• The Europeans stereotypes the Indegenious as “uncivilized and wild men who have no religion.

• During the Columbian exchange, many diseases were spread and new livestock were introduced

EARLY AMERICAN POPULATIONS

As the European population in the territory increases, the population of the Natives decreases

European colonization had devastating effects on Native Americans.

BEGINNING OF EUROPEAN COLONIZATION

• the main economic export in the New England colonies is dried fish and oil, this is due to the area being surround mostly by water.

• The main economic export of the Middle colonies is Grain, due to the area being more landlocked, not much water surrounding it and more trees & soil.

• the main economic export of the Southern colonies is tobacco and rice due to the area being in the south where warmer climates are prevalent supporting the growth of tobacco and rice.

COLONIAL FOUNDATIONS

House of Burgesses

• The House of Burgesses was the first democratically elected legislative body in British North America. Established in 1619 in the Virginia colony.

Indentured servants: Servants who chose to immigrate from Europe under a contract which ties them to their master, has a contract period.

Slaves: Captured Natives and Blacks who were forced to immigrate against their will from Africa, often kidnapped and sold to masters, little to no pay, lifelong serving.

Enlightenment Thinkers: John Locke

— Natural Rights: To be free from any superior power on Earth and not under the will or legislative authority of man.

• John Locke believed the responsibility of the Government was to protect the rights of man.

Mayflower Compact: Compact that was signed in 1620 that established a framework for government based on the consent of the governed (the people). It marked the first attempt at self governance in the new World.

Maryland toleration act: it was the first law in North America that provided religious freedom for Christians. It established a precedent for religious tolerance and separation of church and state.

Magna Carta: The first written document to establish the principal that even the King was subject to law. It marked the first step to limiting royal power and protecting individual rights.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

• Three European nations, Spain, Britain and France colonized North America.

British mercantilism: Goal of Great Britain to become self sufficient so they dont have to rely on others for trade, Colonies became producers of raw materials for Britain.

Navigation Acts: No other countries will trade with the colonies other than Great Britain, to keep European competitors out of the British colonies.

• Great Britain restricted manufacturing in the colonies, to restrict industrial growth in the colonies.

French and Indian War

• Both France and Great Britain want land in the Ohio River area

• Victory for France would mean the French get to take control over the colonies, if Britain wins, they can keep the colonies.

• The colonists side with Britain in this war

• The French had more troops and better supplies than Britain

• William Pitt took over and poured tons of money into Britains military because he dreamed of a vast British Empire.

Treaty of Paris: Britain won and gained Canada and all the land east of the Mississippi River.

• The French and Indian war negatively impacted Great Britain because Pitt borrowed a tons of money and it negatively impacted the economy. This caused Britain to heavily tax the colonies, leading to the American Revolution

Postwar

• Britain gained a lot more territories, while France saw their territories reduced.

NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

• British Colonists speak out against the taxes levied by Great Britain after the French and Indian war.

• the colonists were upset about taxes and had they had no representation in British Parliament.

Sugar Act (1764): British law that put a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies to help pay of war costs.

• This act upset the colonists because it imposed taxes and duties on them without consent

Stamp Act (1765): British tax that requires a physical stamp on various paper documents like legal papers, newspapers and playing cards to pay for British military presence in the colonies.

• This tax upset the colonists because it was imposed on them by the British parliament without their consent (they have no representation there)

Townshend Acts (1767): British taxes on glass, lead, paper and tea.

• This tax upset the colonists because it imposed taxes on small items such as glass, paper, and lead which people use in their daily lives.

Tea Act (1773): Granted the British East India company to monopoly sales in the colonies

• The final straw, this act angered the colonists because this act maintains the parliaments right to tax the colonies (basically Britain made a law to give themselves a right to tax the colonies)

Sons of Liberty: Men who organized protests against British tax laws, used force and violence to prove that they were protesting.

Daughters of Liberty: Wives and daughters who organized boycotting of British goods, and to make their own products.

Boston Tea Party: Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams dressed up as Native Americans and snuck on a British tea ship and dumped all the tea into the Boston Harbor. This was the first major rebellion against British tax laws.

The American Revolution

• Great Britain had a lot of money, better high quality rifles and other weapons.

• The revolution was taking place in the colonies, so the colonies have an advantage of having more troops.

Turning point battles

• Battle of Bunker hill - colonists were defeated, but proved they could hold against the British

• Battle of Trenton - The colonists won, marked the first American victory in the revolutionary war.

• Battle of Saratoga - Colonists won, defeated a superior british army, boosted morale.

End of War

Treaty of Paris: gave the colonies their independence from Great Britain, the 13 states are now free to make their own rules, create their own states and government.

• The British gave up all the land between the Atlantic ocean and the Mississippi river, Canada to the north and Florida to the south

Articles of Confederation - Weaknesses

• No power to tax - government couldnt collect taxes, made it impossible to pay off war debts.

• No executive branch - There was no president to enforce laws

• No national army - No army to defend the country.

• No judicial branch - There was no court system, so no way to resolve disputes

• Weak Central government - Government was too weak to enforce trade or to make laws, so each state remained independant and not united.

• Desicion making problems: Each state only had one vote in congress, frustrated bigger states.

Legislative Branch - Writes laws based on the representation of the people (makes laws)

Executive Branch - Enforces the laws of the nation (Pushes out laws)

Judicial Branch - Responsible for reviewing laws, weather they are legal or not (reviews the laws made from legislative branch)

Checks and Balances: Keeps each branch in check, line

Three-Fifths compromise: 3 out of 5 enslaved people counted towards population and taxation.

Shays Rebellion

• Many veterans of the Revolutionary War, now farmers, faced crushing debt, high taxes and hardships after the war.

• These farmers wanted the government to lower the taxes and offer some form of debt relief. They demanded reforms.

• this rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of confederation, and caused a new constitution to be written.

George Washingtons Presidency

George Washington was chosen as Americas first president, but he had no example to follow. Although he established key precedents during his term.

Whiskey Rebellion

• Government imposes taxes on Whiskey, first taxes imposed by a new government. Colonists were upset at this tax as it was too similar to Great Britains taxes on goods

George Washingtons farewell address

1) Peaceful transition of power

2) Risk of 2 political parties

3) Be careful of getting involved with alliances (and other countries issues)

American nationalism, sectionalism, and expansion

Jay’s treaty: Granted U.S access to specialities in and privelages in trading with Britain and the East Indies.

Federalists win in the presidental elections: John Adams

Conflict was growing between Britian and France, Adams wanted neutrality, but relations grew tense with France, due to Jays treaty showing favor to Britain

The XYZ affair: To avoid war, Adams sent a group of diplomats, X, Y, Z to negotiate peace with the French Government. But they were instead met with secret agents.

• France demanded a bribe, and an apology from Adams The diplomats refused.

• Adams informed congress about the negotiation, when public learned that France demanded a bribe, they were furious.

The Quasi war with France - Outrage from the affair led to naval conflict with France, U.S strengthened its navy, Congress ended the alliance with france that existed since the American Revolution.

Dangerous Precident set by John Adams

Alien and Sedition act of 1798: Raised the residency requirements to 5-14 years, authorized the president to deport “aliens”, permitted their arrest and deportation.

• This act violates the freedom of speech and also because it sets a bad precedent that future presidents might follow.

Virginia and Kentucky resolutions: Virginia and Kentucky claimed the right to declare they will not follow the alien and sedition acts because it violates the Bill of Rights.

Marbury v. Madison: It is the job of the Judicial branch to determine the law, determine weather they are constituitonal. States can institute their own laws with the supreme courts approval

President Thomas Jefferson and the Manifest Destiny

France makes a deal with the U.S, to sell a territory costing 15 million. Jefferson accepts the offer, this purchase being known as the Louisiana Purchase.

• This territory benefitted the U.S as it provided more farmland and agriculture.

• The land was still occupied by Natives

Lewis & Clark’s expedition to the west

• Lewis and Clark were explorers who led the ‘Corps of Discovery’. They travelled over 8000 miles, through hot humid weathers and cold snowfall in the mountains.

Economic war

Embargo Act 1807: No American products will be traded with Great Britain, No British products will be traded with the U.S

Impressment: Britain hijacked American ships and forced the American crew against their will to become members of the British military.

• Tensions and war grew between Britain and France, Britain wanted another war with the U.S

War of 1812

Battle of Lake erie: Became a turning point in the war because it showed how America can defeat a major country like Britain

Burning of Washington: British set fire to the Capitol, the treasury and the white house. Major blow to american morale, made the country weak

Outcomes of the war/ U.S weaknesses

Treaty of trent: restored power boundaries, did not resolve the iossues of impressment or trade restrictions

• War of 1812 exposed Americas weak infrastructure, small and poorly trained army, and lack of national unity.

Monroe Doctrine: Declared Americans are no longer open to European colonization.

Beginning the Industrial Revolution

Tariff of 1816: tarrifs on cotton and manifactured goods from Britain, wanted the U.S to transition into an industrial country.

• Southern plantation owners were upset at this tariff since it reduced their industry.

Eli Whitneys Cotton Gin

• the cotton gin fueled the textile industry, expanded slavery, increased labor needs, and upset the south further.

Northern factory workers: Chose to work, get minimum wage, get breaks between work.

Slaves: Forced to work, little to no pay, no breaks, no freedom.

Presidency of Andrew Jackson

Spoil System: Was the practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs after an election victory

Patronage: Giving a position of power to someone who is a friend and are not qualified for the position.

VETO: A constitutonal right to reject a decision or proposal

Suffrage and Abolishment Movements

Suffrage movement: To secure the right for women to vote and to hold office.

Abolishment movement: To formally end the system of slavery

Underground Railroad: A secret network of routes and safe houses that helped enslaved African Americans escape the south and retreat to the North.

Harriet Tubman - An enslaved African american woman that escaped her plantation and helped over 70 other enslaved African americans escape through the underground railroad.

Frederick Douglass: An important figure that led the Abolishment movement for African American civil rights and women’s suffrage.

Slave issue turns Violent

Dredd Scott ruling: Enslaved people were not citizens of the U.S, therefore they have no protection from the government.

Fugitive slave law: Act that required slaves must be returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state.