Period 5 Reading 4

Page 1: The Ferment of Reform and Culture, 1790-1860

The Whaling Industry

• "Capturing a Sperm Whale": Painting by William Page (1835) highlighting the dangers of whaling. Despite these dangers, whaling was a significant industry from colonial times until the end of the 19th century.

Historians Emerging in the 19th Century

• George Bancroft (1800-1891): Known as the "Father of American History," he published a patriotic history of the United States up to 1789 in six volumes (successor to ten). His research was extensive, drawing from both American and European archives.

• William H. Prescott (1796-1859): Notable for his works on the conquests of Mexico (1843) and Peru (1847), he published while managing significant visual impairment after an accident.

• Francis Parkman (1823-1893): Chronicled the colonial struggle between France and Britain in North America in a series of volumes starting in 1851, written under challenging conditions due to his eyesight.

Historical Bias and Perspective

• Early American historians often had New England roots due to access to literary traditions and libraries. Many were abolitionists, which influenced their perspectives on the South and slavery.

• A prevailing sentiment claimed that history was predominantly written by New Englanders, leading to perceived biases against the South, as encapsulated in the critique: "The history of the United States has been written by Boston"—a complaint from southern historians regarding accuracy and interpretation.

Page 2: Chapter Review

Key Terms

• The Age of Reason: A period noted for the emergence of reason and rationality in philosophical discourse.

• Deism: A belief in a rational God, emphasizing morality and reason over religious dogma.

• Second Great Awakening: A revivalist movement emphasizing individual salvation and social reform.

Major Groups and Movements

• Mormons: Founded by Joseph Smith; their migration to Utah became a notable historical event.

• American Temperance Society: Advocated for the reduction of alcohol consumption; led to the Maine Law of 1851.

• Women's Rights Convention: First held at Seneca Falls in 1848, marking the formal beginning of the women's rights movement.

Cultural Developments

• Romanticism & Transcendentalism: Two significant literary and philosophical movements influencing American thought.

• Hudson River School: An influential art movement focusing on landscape painting in the early 19th century.

People to Know

• Notable figures like Charles Grandison Finney (revivalist), Lucretia Mott (women's rights advocate), and Walt Whitman (poet) are key to understanding this era's cultural landscape.

Chronology of Events

• Key dates from the era, including the establishment of religious and educational institutions, and the publication of significant literary works, are pivotal for contextualizing the historical timeline.

Page 3: Focus on Success

Important Historical Questions

1. Slavery and Regional Interests: Understanding why some leaders prioritized regional interests over national concerns regarding slavery.

2. State Restrictions on Rights: Exploring how state governments limited African Americans' rights.

3. Abolitionist Efforts: Investigating the effectiveness and limitations of antislavery movements in the South versus the North.

4. Economic Ties: Examining how cotton production interconnected national and international economies.

5. Cultural Impact: The role of slave communities in shaping social and political identities.

Themes and Skills

• Emphasizes the importance of understanding historical context through thematic analysis and historical thinking skills.

Page 4: Continuing Exploration

Thematic Connections

• Emphasizes the importance of understanding the changes in slavery's ideological and economic implications from 1793-1860.

• Social Structures: Observing how social categories influenced economic systems and shaped government policies throughout American history.

Ideological Change Over Time

• Noticing how views on slavery evolved and affected both local and national discourse.

Page 5: Slavery's Impact and Evolution

Economic Growth and Slavery

• The introduction of the cotton gin revolutionized cotton production, making it the primary crop and thus solidifying the role of slavery in the southern economy.

Cotton Kingdom

• Cotton became a significant export commodity, linking the Southern economy to both national and international markets, particularly Britain, where textile manufacturing thrived.

Plantation Aristocracy

• The South operated under an oligarchy rather than a democracy, dominated by a few wealthy families who owned large numbers of slaves and influenced political dynamics.

Page 6: Oligarchy and Aristocracy

Role of the Planter Elite

• Southern aristocrats enjoyed power, wealth, and education, impacting national politics; however, this concentrated wealth led to significant economic and social disparities.

Education and Social Mobility

• Wealthy planters could afford quality education for their children, reinforcing class divides and social hierarchies.

Page 7: Economic Dependencies

Whiteness and Class

• The majority of southern whites did not own slaves. Economic realities forced poor whites into support of the slave system, instilling aspirations of social mobility.

Slave Ownership Dynamics

• Ownership patterns and slave population demographics highlight the prominence and disparity within southern society.

Page 8: Social Hierarchies

Racial Hierarchy

• The rigid social structure in the South dictated lifestyle and economic participation among different classes and enforced a hierarchy that disadvantaged African Americans.

Changing Population Dynamics

• Increased competition for land and resources altered the socio-economic landscape, pushing poverty amidst poor white farmers who owned no slaves.

Page 9: The Slave Experience

Free Blacks

• A significant population of free blacks existed in the South and North but faced discrimination, restrictions on rights, and constant risk of being re-enslaved.

Plantation Life

• The conditions and realities of enslaved individuals were marked by brutal living situations and vulnerability to exploitation.

Page 10: Social and Cultural Isolation

The Condition of Free Blacks

• Free blacks straddled a precarious line of acceptance, often facing hostility from both white southerners and northern whites, showing the pervasive racism of the era.

Struggles Against Slavery

• The internal slave market thrived despite the prohibition of slave imports, highlighting economic motivations driving the institution of slavery.

Page 11: The Nature of Slavery and Cultural Reflections

Slave Families

• The internal slave trade and the family structure were deeply affected by the economic needs of plantation owners, demonstrating the human cost of the slave economy.

Artifact of the Past

• Slavery was characterized by a material culture—including crafted items by slaves—testifying to resilience amidst oppression.