APUSH Period 4

Unit 4 Overview

  • Time Period: 1800 - 1848
      - Beginning: Election of Thomas Jefferson
      - End: Seneca Falls Convention

  • Central Theme: The Identity of the United States
      - Key Question: Who is the United States becoming?
      - Multiple identities are emerging; concurrent and sometimes competing identities.
      - Focus will be thematic (expansion and war) rather than chronological.

Major Themes

Expansion and Foreign Policy

  • Goal of Becoming a World Power
      - The U.S. aims for respect on the world stage.
      - International perspective shaped by European views of the U.S.
      - Struggle to be taken seriously by major powers.

1. Promotion of Foreign Trade

  • Embargo Act (1807)
      - Attempt to enforce neutrality during British-French conflict.
      - Outcome: hurt American economy significantly.

  • Non-Intercourse Act (1809)
      - Replaced the Embargo Act.
      - Allowed trade with countries other than Great Britain and France.
      - Only marginally improved the economy; largely considered a failure.

2. Territorial Expansion

  • Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)
      - Spain ceded Florida to the U.S.
      - Established western border of Louisiana Territory.

  • Anglo-American Convention (1818)
      - Joint occupation of Oregon Country with Great Britain.

  • Oregon Territory Treaty (1846)
      - U.S. possession established below the 49th Parallel.

3. War of 1812

  • Conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain.

  • Causes: Economic tensions, impressment of American sailors, British refusal to withdraw from American territory.

  • Result: Treaty of Ghent (1814) ended war in a stalemate.
      - Significant for U.S. national pride; instigated the "Era of Good Feelings".

4. Monroe Doctrine

  • Announced by President James Monroe (1823)

  • Declared the Western Hemisphere as a U.S. sphere of influence.

  • Stated that European interference would not be tolerated; the U.S. would not intervene in European affairs.

Development of a Modern Economy

  • The United States transitioned from an agricultural to an industrial economy.

Market Revolution

  • Definition: Transition from subsistence agriculture to industrial, commercial economy.

Causes of the Market Revolution

  1. Rise of Factories
       - Samuel Slater founded the first textile factory; Eli Whitney pioneered interchangeable parts.
       - Shift towards mass production and skilled labor.

  2. New Technologies
       - Steam engines powered factories; invention of the telegraph (1844) improved communication.
       - Cyrus McCormick’s mechanical reaper boosted agricultural productivity.

  3. Government Sponsored Infrastructure
       - Construction of roads (Cumberland Road), canals (Erie Canal), and railroads.
       - Improved transportation linked regional markets and contributed to national economy growth.

  4. Urbanization and Immigration
       - Shift to urban living caused by migration to industrial cities for work.
       - 2 million European immigrants (mainly Irish, German, Scandinavian) transformed city's social structure.

Effects of Economic Developments

  • Transition fostered a new political climate.

  • The emergence of modern democracy initiated by Thomas Jefferson's peaceful power transfer (1800).

Political Rivalries and Democracy

Continued Rivalry between Political Factions

  • Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans

  • Key Issues:
      1. Relationship to European powers (e.g., Embargo Act challenges).
      2. Limits of federal power (e.g., Louisiana Purchase's constitutional issues).
      3. Scope of judicial power (e.g., Marbury v. Madison established judicial review; McCulloch v. Maryland emphasized federal power superiority).

Expansion of Voting Rights

  • Early 19th century: Franchise limited to white landowning men.

  • Panic of 1819 initiated calls for the removal of property qualifications.
      - By 1825, most Eastern states abolished or reduced qualifications with a push toward universal white male suffrage.

Development of Political Parties

  • Emergence of two main parties: Democrats (Andrew Jackson) vs. National Republicans (Henry Clay) post-1815.

  • Shift to appeal to a broader electorate due to expanded voting rights.

  • Election of 1828 showcased these changes as Jackson thrived on a populist approach.

Social Changes Due to Market Revolution

Class Structure

  1. Business Elite
       - Smallest, wealthiest class composed of factory and shipping executives.

  2. Middle Class
       - Emerged due to industrialization; professionals like lawyers and teachers.
       - Notable changes in gender roles, emphasizing separate spheres for men and women.
       - Cult of domesticity emerged, glorifying women's roles as homemakers.

  3. Working Class
       - Composed mainly of factory workers earning low wages; heavily included immigrants.
       - Nativist backlash against Irish immigrants created tensions.
       - Lowell Girls exemplified working women's plight; unionized for better conditions.

National Culture Development

  • Art, literature, and philosophy reflect distinct American identity.

Artistic Movements

  • Romanticism influenced visual art (Hudson River School) and literature (James Fenimore Cooper’s works) emphasizing emotional and natural beauty.

Romanticism vs. Transcendentalism

  • Movement led by Thoreau and Emerson rejecting Enlightenment rationalism; encouraged communion with nature for deeper truths.

Social Reform Movements

Second Great Awakening

  • Shift from personal religious reform to societal transformation across racial and class spectrums.

  • Revival meetings generated diverse participation across American demographics.

  • Promotion of utopian societies (e.g., Oneida community) and temperance movement against alcohol consumption initiated.

  • Growth of the women's rights movement spurred by abolitionist efforts (e.g., Seneca Falls Convention, 1848).

Tension between National and Regional Interests

Economic Policies Unifying vs. Dividing

  • American System aimed to unify regions through infrastructure and tariffs.

  • Regional specialization emerged in production and economic relations (South: agriculture; North: manufacturing; West: food production).

  • Indications of stronger regional divisions particularly over the slavery debate.

Development of Regional Attitudes about Slavery

Southern Identity and Slavery

  • Economic and social structures anchored by slavery, even among landless whites.

  • Ideology of white superiority developed to unite Southern population.

  • Shift in perception of slavery from "necessary evil" to "positive good" driven by politicians.

Northern Abolitionist Movements

  • Black Americans initiated the earliest abolitionist efforts; maintained strength through pamphlets and lecture tours.

  • White abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison advocated for immediate abolition without compensation, leading to significant laws against slavery practices by 1820.

Slave Resistance Movements

  • Two types: covert (daily acts of defiance) and overt (Nat Turner's rebellion as a turning point leading to repressed minority rights).

Conclusion

  • The United States is becoming a unified whole while simultaneously grappling with plural identities influenced by regional divisions, war, economic change, and social restructuring.

Unit 4 Overview

  • Time Period: 1800 - 1848
      - Beginning: Election of Thomas Jefferson
      - End: Seneca Falls Convention

  • Central Theme: The Identity of the United States
      - Key Question: Who is the United States becoming?
      - Multiple, sometimes competing identities are emerging, influenced by sociopolitical changes, economic transformations, and cultural developments.
      - The focus will be thematic (expansion and war) rather than purely chronological, allowing for an exploration of how these themes shape national identity through various events and movements.

Major Themes
Expansion and Foreign Policy

  • Goal of Becoming a World Power
      - U.S. Goal: Respect and recognition on the world stage
      - International perspective of the U.S: The US is shaped by European views, seen as a baby republic striving for legitimacy among established powers.   - The struggle for recognition involves diplomatic maneuvering and military engagement, with the U.S. attempting to assert its interests in the Americas and beyond.

1. Promotion of Foreign Trade

  • Embargo Act (1807)
      - Attempt to enforce U.S. neutrality during the ongoing British-French conflict, prohibiting American ships from trading with foreign nations.
      - Outcome: Horrible for the American economy, particularly harming merchants and leading to widespread smuggling.

  • Non-Intercourse Act (1809)
      - Replaced the Embargo Act, allowing trade with countries other than Great Britain and France.
      - Considered ineffective and a failure to resolve trade issues.

2. Territorial Expansion

  • Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)
      - Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and established the western border of the Louisiana Territory.

  • Anglo-American Convention (1818)
      - Allowed for joint occupation of the Oregon Country with Great Britain, setting the stage for future territorial conflicts.

  • Oregon Territory Treaty (1846)   - U.S. possession of territory below the 49th Parallel, asserting American claims against British interests in the region.

3. War of 1812

  • Between the U.S. and Great Britain

  • Causes:

    • Tensions from trade restrictions

    • Impressment of American sailors

    • British refusal to withdraw from American territory.

  • Result:

    • The Treaty of Ghent (1814) ended the war in a stalemate

    • Significant for U.S. national pride

    • "Era of Good Feelings"

4. Monroe Doctrine

  • Announced by President James Monroe (1823)
      - Declared the Western Hemisphere as a U.S. sphere of influence and asserted that European interference would not be tolerated.
      - U.S. vowed not to interfere in European affairs, establishing a foundational principle of American foreign policy.

Development of a Modern Economy

  • The United States underwent a dramatic transformation from an agricultural economy to one characterized by industrial growth, marking the beginning of a new economic order.

Market Revolution

  • Definition: A significant transition from subsistence agriculture to an industrial, commercial economy, reflecting profound social and economic changes.

Causes of the Market Revolution

  1. Rise of Factories
      - Innovations: Interchangeable parts, mass production, and emergence of a factory system.

  2. New Technologies
      - Steam engine, telegraph (facilitated rapid communication across distances)
      - Agricultural Innovations like the mechanical reaper revolutionized productivity, allowing for greater efficiency and output.

  3. Government-Sponsored Infrastructure
      -Construction: Cumberland Road and the Erie Canal, railroads, improved transportation networks.
      - Linked regional markets, spurring economic growth and contributing to a national economy.

  4. Urbanization and Immigration
      - The market revolution prompted a shift towards urban living, as individuals migrated to industrial cities seeking work.
      - 2 million European immigrants, primarily from Ireland, Germany, and Scandinavia, fundamentally altered city social structures and dynamics, leading to increased diversity but also nativist tensions.

Effects of Economic Developments

  • The transition to a market-driven economy fostered a new political climate marked by the emergence of modern democratic ideals, initiated by the peaceful transfer of power from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson in 1800.

Political Rivalries and Democracy

Continued Rivalry between Political Factions

  • Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans

  • Key Issues:
      1. Relationship with European powers: Debates over trade policies and the effectiveness of the Embargo Act.
      2. Limits of federal power: Constitutional interpretations of the Louisiana Purchase.
      3. Judicial power scope: Marbury v. Madison (establishing judicial review) and McCulloch v. Maryland (emphasizing federal authority).

Expansion of Voting Rights

  • Before: Limited to white landowning men // Now: Inclusive voting rights in response to demands for representation.

  • Panic of 1819: Helped calls for the removal of voting qualifications, leading to significant political reforms.
      - Eastern states pursued the abolition or reduction of property qualifications, pushing towards universal white male suffrage.

Development of Political Parties

  • Two parties emerged following 1815: the Democrats, led by Andrew Jackson, and the National Republicans, led by Henry Clay.

  • Voting rights expanded: shifted strategies to appeal to a broader population.

  • Jackson's populist approach resonated with many newly enfranchised voters.

Social Changes Due to Market Revolution

Class Structure

  1. Business Elite
      - Smallest class, included factory owners and shipping magnates, gaining enormous wealth through industrial ventures.

  2. Middle Class
      - New classes arose due to industrialization, including professionals such as lawyers, teachers, and managers.
      - Social changes: distinct gender roles guiding family dynamics, leading to the cult of domesticity (< women's roles within the home)

  3. Working Class
      - Predominantly factory workers, many immigrants earning low wages with harsh working conditions.
      - Nativist backlash against Irish immigrants, adding to class antagonism.
      - Working women were epitomized by the Lowell Girls, who organized to demand better working conditions and wages.

National Culture Development

  • American identity: Expression through artistic movements, literature, and philosophy, reflecting a unique national spirit distinct from European influences.

Artistic Movements

  • Romanticism: Emphasized emotional responses to nature and glorified American landscapes.

  • Romanticism vs. Transcendentalism

  • Transcendentalism emerged as a philosophical movement challenging rationalism.
      - Encouraged individuals to seek communion with nature and appreciate spiritual truths through personal experience, influencing future social movements.

Social Reform Movements

Second Great Awakening

  • Personal religious reform to societal transformation

  • Appealed to diverse racial and class demographics.

  • Revival meetings invigorated community engagement

  • Movements advocating for social causes(Abolition and women's rights).

  • Utopian societies: Oneida community

    • flourished alongside the temperance movement

    • curb alcohol consumption

    • desire for moral reform.

Tension between National and Regional Interests

Economic Policies Unifying vs. Dividing

  • American System Goal: Unify regions through infrastructure investments and protective tariffs to support American industries.

  • Specialization emerged: the South focused on agriculture, the North on manufacturing, and the West on food production.

  • Growing regional divisions surrounding slavery.

Development of Regional Attitudes about Slavery

Southern Identity and Slavery

  • Southern economy and social structures were deeply intertwined with slavery, generating a unique social identity centered around agrarian interests.

  • White superiority emerged and unified the population around economic interests to justify slavery in the South

  • Southern perceptions of slavery: "necessary evil" to a "positive good,"

    • narrative promoted by influential Southern politicians and intellectuals.

Northern Abolitionist Movements

  • Abolitionist efforts: spearheaded by Black Americans using pamphlets and public speaking to advocate for freedom.

  • White abolitionists gained prominence for their radical stance on immediate abolition without compensation, contributing to significant legislative changes regarding slavery.

Slave Resistance Movements

  • Resistance manifested in two forms: covert acts of defiance (work slowdowns and sabotage) and overt rebellion (Nat Turner's rebellion in 1831),

  • Lasting repercussions on slavery laws and increased repression against enslaved populations.

Conclusion

  • The United States is evolving into a unified entity while wrestling with multiple identities shaped by regional differences, warfare, economic transformations, and ongoing social restructuring.
      - Complexities of national identity amidst the broader historical context of conflict, change, and reform.