Apush Chap. 15-16 Short Essay

1. Mulatto population- a person who is born from one white parent and one black parent, or more broadly, a person of mixed black and white ancestry

2. Plantation system-The system used in the south that allowed for the rich of the south to have many slaves, and kept the poor the same way. A class system that did not allow for movement between classes

3. In what ways did American literature in the early nineteenth century reflect the New Democracy of the Jacksonian age?

4. The text’s authors contend that early-nineteenth-century Americans “were more interested in practical gadgets than in pure science,” and it is widely believed that Americans have always had a love affair with technology. Why?

5. To what extent were abolitionists extremists when they undertook to abolish slavery?

6. What was the relationship between industrialization and the women’s rights movement? What did women reformers want?

7. To what extent did extreme abolitionists do more harm than good, with regard to the slavery problem?

8. Theodore Dwight Weld- American abolitionist whose pamphlet Slavery As It Is (1839) inspired the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, a prominent abolitionist in the 1830's; Put together a group called the "Land Rebels"

9. Frederick Douglass-The most prominent black abolitionist leader; Slave that escaped to the north and became an influential African American writer and lecturer

10. Sojourner Truth-New Yorker abolitionist and feminist who was freed from slavery and became a leading advocate of the abolition of slavery and for the rights of women

11. Nat Turner-slave of Virginia that led a slave rebellion in the early eighteen hundreds, the rebellion failed and he was executed

12. Harriet Beecher Stowe-Author of Uncle Tom's Cabin that made Europeans and Americans alike dislikes the idea of slavery. Second great awakening author.

13. Arthur and Lewis Tappan-New York abolitionists who gained legal help and acquittal for the Africans and managed to increase public support and fund-raising for the organized return trip home to Africa for surviving members of the group

14. David Walker- Black abolitionist who called for the immediate emancipation of slaves; Wrote the "Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World"; It called for a bloody end to white supremacy; Believed that the only way to end slavery was for slaves to physically revolt

15. John Quincy Adams-Former president who fought for the right to discuss slavery in Congress

16. William Lloyd Garrison-White abolitionist, writer of the editorial The Liberator

17. Elijah P. Lovejoy-An American Presbyterian minister, journalist, and newspaper editor who was murdered by a mob in Alton, Illinois for his abolitionist views

18. Denmark Vesey-United States freed slave and insurrectionist in South Carolina who was involved in planning an uprising of slaves and was hanged (1767-1822)

19. Gag Resolution-Strict rule passed by prosouthern Congressmen in 1836 to prohibit all discussion of slavery in the House of Representatives

20. The authors claim that early-nineteenth century America, public schools “existed chiefly to educate the children of the poor.” Why were the upper and lower class Americans willing to support public education with their tax dollars?

21. Elaborate on the text authors’ comment that with the invention of the cotton gin, “the slave [was]… chained to the gin and the planter to the slave.

They meant that slavery, which was dying out, was reinvigorated. Because cotton was now the most viable crop, planters were forced to farm cotton with slave labor (the most efficient way at the time), or face ruin.

22. Assess the validity of the following statement, “slaves were better off than both wage earners in northern industry and free blacks back in Africa.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

The Northerners were dedicated to equal rights, but did little to help the free, Black individual find a livelihood. The Southerners liked individuals (they were valuable), but thought that Blacks were inferior (possibly to boost their ego).

23. To what extent did the “gag resolution” symbolize the threat that slavery posed for all Americans, North and South.

The Gag Resolution was a threat to both the North and South because it endangered free speech. When Congress passed the Gag Resolution, and abolitionist propaganda was banned in the South, Americans were concerned that their freedom of speech was being violated.

24. Monopolistic-markets in which there are many buyers but only one seller

25. To what extent was slavery an exceptionally cruel institution?

Cruelty is behavior that causes pain or suffering to a person or animal. Slavery was cruel because it was demeaning to slaves, and they often suffered indignities, if not corporeal punishments at the hands of their masters.

26. Assess the validity of the following statement, “white southerners…liked the black as an individual but despised the race. The white northerner…often professed to like the race but disliked individual blacks.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

I agree because the Northerners were dedicated to equal rights, but did little to help the free, Black individual find a livelihood. The Southerners liked individuals (they were valuable), but thought that Blacks were inferior (possibly to boost their ego).

27. What do you find the single most worthwhile reform movement of the early nineteenth century? Why?

I believe the early 19th century reform movements for abolition of slavery and women’s rights is the single most worthwhile reform movement because it was illustrated by a strong democracy in America and they were now speaking up for what they believed was right.

28. In the reform movements of the first half of the 1800s, historians have regarded some reformers in the abolitionist movement not so much as heroes, but as people who sought social control. What is your opinion?

I disagree. The Abolitionist movement in the United States of America was an effort to end slavery in a nation that valued personal freedom and believed "all men are created equal.”

29. Uncle Tom’s Cabin-Book that showed the life and events of a slave that hopped from different slaveowners

30. Abolitionism-The movement of people that were not only free soilers but also completely against the idea of slavery altogether.

31. It has been argued that both Britain and the North were tied to the south with “cotton threads.” Explain.

Both entities were dependent on the South for raw cotton, which fed the mills and factories, which sustained the economy. Without the cotton, industry would collapse, and unemployment would cause an issue.

32. Write your definition of paternalism. Then use this definition to argue that early-nineteenth century American reform efforts were in part paternalistic endeavors by middle-class Americans to “do something for” the less fortunate.

Paternalism is a synonym for fatherhood. People of that era felt a "fatherly" duty to protect, provide, and educate. It was the people who felt more superior, taking it upon themselves to take care of the less fortunate. They would take care of blind, deaf, and other handicapped type people.

33. What would be your view on slavery if you were a typical a) Planter aristocrat- I would not consider slaves to be human beings, but instead property, as I would horse or oxen. They are very expensive, but also very useful, so I would treat them in such a way to maximize profit b) Small slaveowner- I would agree to it. They were a main source of income and hard laborers. Getting rid of them wouldn’t help my family survive. c) Nonslaveowning white- I would be afraid that if the slaves were set free, they would turn on all whites and provoke violent revenge for mistreatment and also I would be depending on some labor of slaves so I would have to agree to some type of slavery. d) Mountain southerner- I would view slavery as a source of special privilege for wealthy white slaveholders down in the flatlands. While I might not have opposed slavery, I would have opposed the power of slaveholders. e) Free black- I would oppose it but also work very cautiously and secretively to aid the slaves.

34. How did each of the following encourage social reform: Second Great Awakening, industrialization, nostalgia for the past?

All three played a very important role and had key people who helped jump start an era of reformation. People knew that it was time for a change and they knew they had to do something about it. They encouraged an lively evangelicalism that bubbled up into a number of areas in American life, including prison reform, the temperance movement, the woman’s rights movement, and the cause to abolish slavery.

35. Oligarchy- rule by small elite

36. Describe the arguments and the ways in which the south reacted to antislavery arguments after the 1830s.

The South’s “positive good” argument for slavery claimed that slaves were treated better/led better lives than the equivalent class in the North.

37. Why were women prominent on the reform crusades of the early nineteenth century? What contribution did they make to social reform?

Women have always been concerned with charitable causes. Helping the poor etc. was always traditionally part of a woman's role. It naturally extended into the field of social reform.

38. American Anti-Slavery Society- Founded by Garrison and wanted immediate emancipation of all slaves

39. The Liberator- antislavery newspaper written by William Lloyd Garrison

40. What role did women play in the intellectual and literacy movements in the early 1800s?

They started to emerge as writers and contributors.

41. Based on Varying Viewpoints, discuss the various ways in which historians have viewed the relationships between master and slave.

Some views portray the slave owners as “fathers”, who want the maximum return from their “investments.” The slaves on the other hand, had a cultural space. Another view says that slaves constantly resisted their masters in ways both obvious and furtive.

42. Breakers-people who had a knack for punishing the most strong willed of slaves

43. “positive good”- it was believed that slavery benefited slaves by providing them with food, shelter, and often Christian religion

44. To what extent was cotton production and slavery more a burden to the South than a benefit?

Cotton can be a very difficult crop to raise. You have to time the planting and the harvesting just right and it's very susceptible to disease and weather. One good storm at the right time will destroy an entire crop. Slaves were expensive because you had to take care of them which meant food, clothing, and shelter. 45. Why was the proposal for colonizing blacks back to Africa attractive to many whites, even as late as the onset of the Civil War?

In the early 19th century, the black population in the United States increased big time. Many of these black people were free people seeking a better life. Many Southern freed blacks migrated to the industrial North to seek employment while others moved to surrounding Southern states. But their progress was sometimes met with hostility as many whites around that time were not used to so many blacks being free.

46. How do the Knickerbocker group, Hudson River school, and transcendentalists all reflect the “nationalism” of early nineteenth century America? What particularly “American” values did each reflect?

These groups can be considered to be "nationalistic" because they were some of the first Americans to produce high quality things in the arts. They were the first to make active use of what was available in America for literature, and were extremely vital in getting American literature recognized throughout the world.

47. Explain why the Mormons became a target for religious intolerance in America.

It was only when they learned that Mormons would use block voting, land speculation, special civic privileges, polygamy, lying, and would eventually claim God meant them to have the land that the locals rebelled against the Mormon onslaught.

48. Assume the role of a southern slave. Describe what life is like for you. What experiences have you had, what have you seen happen, what emotions have you felt, and what do you believe and value?
Life is depressing, waking up working outside every day, not being able to see my family, and being traded at any time of the day. The best part is forming a bond with others and singing while planting cotton. Master do not tell us we cannot sing, laugh, and play as long as we getting the work done. I believe that we will be freed one day, there is not a day that go by without me thinking of freedom, but then I think about how all I know is slavery so I will I survive. The person I value most is God, Masters think I don’t know him, but I do and he is watching over me and waiting to set me free.

49. Why did the communitarian movement flourish in the early nineteenth century? What were communitarians trying to prove? Why did most fail?

It flourished because people were trying to make utopian idealistic societies where the whole community could be that way where everyone there could be peaceful and sinless. Most of them failed because they practiced celibacy so they became extinct, in the Oneida's case-it's illegal and sinful from the Bible. They didn't flourish because it was too hard for people to remain sinless-Utopia's don't exist really

50. The text’s authors label Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville “literary individualists and dissenters.” Against what were they dissenting? Why?

Poe and Hawthorne opened up about things that weren't really considered appropriate to discuss in that time. They were individualists because since they had a non-cliché philosophy