Chapter 6
The Federalist Era
Inadequacies
• Following Independence, the United States
faced new challenges
– Control of territory
– Redefining relationships with Europe
– Overcome a crippling depression
• Articles of Confederation were simply
inadequate
Inadequacies
• Britain and Spain stood in America’s way
– Britain still had forts outside of new “American”
territory
– Spanish Florida blocked commerce on the
Mississippi River
• Debt
– How to accrue funds?
• Tax British goods coming into the colony
• Measure required unanimous consent
– Rhode Island voted against it
Inadequacies
• Defeat of the tariff revealed need for revision
to the Articles
– Majority of states supported the measure, but the
consent of all were needed
• Many began to call for a stronger, central
government with practical control.
Shays’ Rebellion
• Massachusetts was badly in debt and relied
heavily on taxation
– Average farmer taxed nearly 1/3 of yearly income
• Foreclosures began to run rampant
• Throngs of disgruntled farmers became
mobile
– Forcibly stopped court hearings to stop
foreclosures
Shays’ Rebellion
• Rebellion was soon routed by Massachusetts
army
– Shays fled to Vermont
• Jefferson declared it a “little rebellion”
– Thought it was, in some ways, good for the new
nation
• Most Americans were threatened by it
– A central government must be in place to
maintain order
The Great Convention
• Delegates converged in Philadelphia again
– A unique combination of some of the brightest
minds of their day
• Lawyers
• Politicians
– “We…decided forever the fate of republican government”
The Great Convention
• All were on agreement of key issues
– Support of a federal system
– Combined power of independent state
governments and a strong central government
– No group within a government should have
unrestricted authority
– Ordinary people should have a say in government
– Power should be divided, and segments must
balance each other out.
The Great Convention
• The proceedings were initially kept secret
– Delegates wanted to avoid others interfering for
political reasons
• The Articles of Confederation would be
removed
– A new document would be drafted
What powers should the National
Government have?
• Right to
– Levy taxes
– Regulate interstate and foreign trade
– Raise and maintain an army/navy
• Following the uncontrollable events, like
Shays’ Rebellion,
– A power shift was created
Who shall control the National
Government?
• Larger states wanted representation based on
population
– Led by VA
– “Virginia Plan”
• Smaller states wanted equal representation
– Rhode Island, New Hampshire
– “New Jersey Plan”
• The debate nearly ended the great convention
The Great Compromise
• The delegates agreed on a legislature of two
separate houses
– The Lower House with representation based on
population (House of Representatives)
– The Upper House based on equal representation
(Senate)
Unresolved Issues
• The delegation moved on, and regional
differences became apparent
– North/South and Economic Differences
• States will be taxed according to population
– Would slaves be counted?
• If Slaves were counted, Southern states would
be taxed more
– However, they would also count toward
representation in the Lower House.
3/5 Compromise
• “Three-fifths of all other persons” should be
counted for both purposes
– 3/5 of total number of slaves would be included
Who Would Lead?
• Nation need an “Executive”
– Execute laws
– Act as Commander-in-Chief of the Army
– Supervise foreign relations
– Appoint federal judges
– Deliver reports on the “State of the Union”
How to Choose a Leader
• Constitution established a unique method of
electing a president
– Electoral College
• Each state would choose “electors” equal in number to
its representation in the Lower House
Checks and Balances
• Creation of Three Distinct Branches of
Government: Legislative, Judicial, Executive
– All would limit one another with countervailing
force
• Executive: President’s veto
– Passes Laws
• Legislative: Power of Impeachment
– Creates Laws
• Judicial: Judicial Review
– Interprets Laws
Ratification
• States would vote to pass the new
Constitution
– The Constitution met little resistance
• Most states had signed making the document legal
• New York held out
• Alexander Hamilton, a New Yorker, strongly
supported the new document
– Wrote “The Federalist Papers”
• Described why the Constitution was vital to protecting
freedom.
New York Signs
• The voting delegation of New York was greatly
swayed by Hamilton
– New York voted yes: 30-27
– Remaining holdout states soon followed
• North Carolina and Rhode Island
Mr. President
• Elections took place during January/February
of 1789
– No surprise, George Washington was the
unanimous choice
• Runner-Up, John Adams-Vice President
Washington’s Cabinet
• The Constitution did not designate that the
President assemble a cabinet
– Washington gathered his closest advisors to assist
him in making decisions
•
•
•
•
Secretary of the Treasury-Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of State-Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of War-Henry Knox
Attorney General-Edmund Randolph
Congress Takes Action
• With national matters underway,
representatives believed that certain
amendments were required to the
constitution.
– James Madison of Virginia referred to them as
“the great rights of mankind”
• Congress created The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights
• These new rights guaranteed many new
freedoms including:
– Freedom of Speech
– Freedom of the Press
– Freedom of Religion
– The Right to Bear Arms
– The Right to a Trial by Jury
– No One was to be “Deprived of life, liberty, or
property without due process of law.”
Hamilton’s Plan
• The new nation was in a great deal of debt
– Money had to be gained quickly
• Hamilton devised a plan
– American needed money to begin to process its
natural resources
– After acquiring the money, it would be possible to
make money
– To do so, money must be borrowed
• Borrowed from European nations
Hamilton’s Plan
• By borrowing from European nations,
Hamilton ensured America’s survival
– Countries would not stand by and watch America
fall if it still owed them money
• The Federal Government would assume all
dates accrued by individual states during the
American Revolution
Hamilton’s Plan
• Many prominent state representatives were
against Hamilton’s plan
– James Madison and Thomas Jefferson of VA
• Believed that many states have already paid off large
amounts of their debts
– A compromise was struck
• Hamilton’s Plan would be passed
• The New Nation’s capital would be in Virginia
– Washington, D.C.
The National Bank
• Hamilton believed that the country would
benefit from having a National Bank
– A National Bank could finance new American
business ventures
– The Bank would be ran by the Government, but
80% of the money would be privately owned
• The bill to create the Bank passed with ease.
• America was in dire financial straits, and
Hamilton’s innovation was priceless.
Indian Violence in the Ohio
• 1790-Miami Chief Little Turtle began a militant
effort to remove whites from the Ohio
Country
– Little Turtle’s warriors swiftly defeated Gen. Josiah
Harmar
– 1791-Little Turtle defeats General Arthur St. Clair
• The New Government raises 5,000 men
– Creates the first United States Army
Indian Violence in the Ohio
• President Washington selects an officer to
battle Little Turtle
– “Mad” Anthony Wayne
• Wayne soundly defeats the Natives
– Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794
• Both sides sign a treaty ending violence and
allowing white settlers to move freely
– Treaty of Greenville
The Rise of Party Politics
• Jefferson and Hamilton were in sharp
opposition on a number of issues
– Jefferson believed in states’ rights and a less
powerful central government
• Republicans
– Hamilton believed in a strong central government
• Federalists
The Whiskey Rebellion
• The federal government was unable to
enforce taxes in the west
– Specifically, the Whiskey Tax
• Corn farmers believed they were unfairly
taxed in Western Pennsylvania
– Mobs rioted and burned the homes of tax
collectors
• Attacked home of General John Neville
• Threatened to attack and burn Pittsburgh
The Whiskey Rebellion
• President Washington was determined to
defend the Constitution
– Raised an army and marched to Pittsburgh to
enforce the law
• The Rebels quickly dispersed
– First time that the Government raised troops
against its own people
– First and only time that the President led the U.S.
Army himself.
The Election of 1796
• The Republican Party nominated Thomas
Jefferson
– Easily seen as the leader of the movement
• The Federalist Party nominated Vice President
John Adams
– Hamilton, the ideological leader of the party, was
deemed as too controversial
• Adams wins the election, largely due to his
association with Washington
The Alien and Sedition Acts
• The Conservative Congress felt that
Republican fervor was reaching a boiling point
– The Alien Enemies Act
• Gave the President the right to expel enemies in a time
of war, or those thought to be dangerous
– The Sedition Act
• Made it a crime to instigate riot or insurrection
• Illegal to publish materials criticizing the government
– Republican Newspapers were considered Seditious
The Response
• Virginia and Kentucky passed bills claiming the
Alien and Sedition Acts to be unconstitutional
– Since individual states rights were violated, they
had the right to remove themselves from the
Union
– Jefferson proposed that no action be taken since
he was running for President
– Questions raised: If a state felt that its rights were
violated, could it refuse to obey it?
Chapter 7
Jeffersonian Democracy
The Election of 1800
• Incumbent president John Adams ran again in
1800
– Adams ran as a Federalist
– Jefferson as a Republican
• Adams ran on the precedent set by George
Washington
• Jefferson, however, won the election in a tight
race
– 73 to 65
Jefferson Elected President
• The Constitution stipulated that the election
must be decided by the House of Rep.
– The result was again a tie
• The resulting vote would fall to Alexander
Hamilton
– Lobbied heavily on behalf of Jefferson
– Deeply resented Aaron Burr
Revolution of 1800
• Many historians will inappropriately refer to
this change of political party as a revolution
– The change was instituted as a will of the people
– Citizens exercised their constitutional right to vote
• The New Government passed its first test
– Proved that a change of Government could be
accomplished without destroying its basic
principles
Jefferson as President
• Jefferson made no major changes early on
– He did not dissolve the Hamilton’s National Bank
– The Alien and Sedition Acts expired
• Jefferson did not surround himself with pomp
and circumstance
– He wore a frayed coat and slippers in the White
House
– He treated all guests as equals, not by importance
Jefferson as President
• He did not however attempt Bipartisanship
– His cabinet was consisted exclusively of
Republicans
– He removed tenured Federalists from their
government positions
• He is said to have rewarded his friends and
punished his enemies with appointments.
The “Midnight Judges”
• The position of Court Justice was a
presidential appointment
– John Adams, immediately before his term expired,
appointed new Justices
– He is said to have waited until Midnight
– It was discovered later that many of the
commissions had not be processed
• New President Jefferson was angry
– Ordered the commissions to be frozen
William Marbury
• One of those who did not receive an
appointment
– Petitioned the Supreme Court to enforce his
appointment
• The case became known as Marbury vs.
Madison
– Chief Justice John Marshall declared the
placement unconstitutional
• It was based on the expired Judiciary Act of 1789
Chief Justice John Marshall
• Was placed in a difficult position
– If he did not appoint Marbury, he would be seen
as weak in the face of the President
– If he appointed Marbury, he was acting in direct
opposition to the President
• By declaring the law unconstitutional,
Marshall established
– Judicial Review
The Barbary Pirates
• The North African Arab states of Morocco,
Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli had made a lucrative
business out of piracy on the Mediterranean.
• Most European Nations found it much less
expensive to simply pay off the Pirate
Kingdoms than to fight
• Washington and Adams joined in that practice
during their terms as US President
The Barbary Pirates
• Jefferson saw that ransom as “spineless”
• The kingdom of Tripoli raised their rates in
1801
– Jefferson refused to pay
• Tripoli declared war and Jefferson dispatched
a squadron to battle in the Mediterranean.
The Barbary Pirates
• First Barbary War-1801 to 1805
• The United States Marines were dispatched
– Legacy still heard in the Marine Hymn “to the
shore of Tripoli”
– Because of the slashing weapon known as the
cutlass, Marines wore leather neck collars for
protection
• Origin of the term “Leatherneck”
The Barbary Pirates
• The Arabs found success early
– Destroyed the US vessel “Philadelphia”
The Barbary Pirates
• Piracy on the Mediterranean did not end
– The United States stood as the only Nation to fight
against the North African pirates
• Lt. Stephen Decatur
– Hero of the wars
– Captured two pirate ships
– Famous for battling a large Arab sailor with a
boarding pike
Cutlass vs. Pike
Jefferson’s Greatest Triumph
• Jefferson knew that access to the Mississippi
River was vital to America’s continued success
• France, under Napoleon, set their sites on the
region known as Louisiana
– Napoleon wanted it to serve as a “breadbasket”
for France
• Jefferson believed that a French presence in
North America would mean war
Attempts at New Orleans and Florida
• James Monroe was sent to France to offer ten
million dollars to acquire Spain and Florida
• Recent slave rebellions in the Caribbean
changed France’s view of the New World
– Without a stable base in the Caribbean, North
America was of no use to Napoleon
• Napoleon shocked Monroe when he offered
him all of Louisiana
The Louisiana Purchase
• The United States paid fifteen million dollars
for over 828,800 miles
• "This accession of territory affirms forever the
power of the United States, and I have given
England a maritime rival who sooner or later
will humble her pride.“-Napoleon
The Louisiana Purchase
• No one, at the time, knew exactly how much
land they had purchased
– No one believed that it would be as big as it was
• Jefferson did not believe that the Constitution
allowed for the acquisition of territory
– Likewise didn’t believe that it could grant
citizenship
• Jefferson relented and completed the
purchase
The Greater Consequences
• The United States of America doubled in size
over night
• The purchase made Jefferson wildly popular
– His re-election was nearly guaranteed
• Hamilton openly supported the maneuver
– But its success would signal the end of his
Federalist Party
The Essex Junto
• Northern Federalists were now growing
desperate
• A Northern conservative named Thomas
Pickering began to discuss secession
– Desired the creation of a “Northern Confederacy”
• The Essex Junto needed a political leader to
back their cause
The Essex Junto
• Vice President Aaron Burr was running for
Governor of New York
– Running against a long standing Republican
– Burr did not openly support secession, but he won
the separatists'’ support
• The Junto unravels
– Burr loses the Gubernatorial election badly
The Consequences
• Hamilton greatly disliked Burr and
campaigned against him during the election
• After the election had ended, Hamilton
continued to disparage Burr
• Burr, hurt and angry, challenged Hamilton to a
duel.
• Hamilton agreed and was shot dead.
Lewis and Clark
• Jefferson was anxious to explore the newly
acquired land
– Seeking a waterway connecting the Mississippi to
the Pacific
• Jefferson selected two men to lead the
mission
– Mariwether Lewis
• Jefferson’s Private Secretary
– William Clark
• A veteran of the Battle of Fallen Timbers
Lewis and Clark
• The men set off from St. Louis with 48 other
men in the winter of 1803-1804
– By late fall they had reach North Dakota
– Established Fort Mandan
• Lewis and Clark sent boxes of samples back to
Washington DC including plants and wildlife
Lewis and Clark
• The expedition continued after the winter
– Accompanied by Sacagawea
– Acted as interpreter and guide
Lewis and Clark
• Lewis and Clark continued westward
– Easily accessed the Pacific using the Clearwater
and Columbia River
• The country was overjoyed and awed at the
news of their travels
Chapter 8
A Continuing Experiment
The Election of 1808
• Vice President James Madison wins easily
– The popularity of Jefferson made the victory an
easy one
Growing Resentment
• The United States was pressed into a difficult
decision by Great Britain
– G.B and France were fighting an extended war
– To avoid taking sides, the U.S. operated under the
rules of “Neutral Trade”
– G.B. began taking U.S. ships in their waters
• To save national pride, Madison felt that only
declaring war could settle the issue
Other Issues-Indian Resistance
• Americans believed that Native Tribes should
behave as whites
– Encouraged the assumption of farming practices
• Many frontiers settlers had pushed Indians
from the Ohio Valley
• Indiana Territorial Governor equally
responsible
– General William Henry Harrison
The Scourge of the Frontier
• Harrison gradually assumed land by deceiving
native tribes
– Deals of false promises and undeserved
punishments
The Prophet
• Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa
– Brothers, the Genius and the Prophet
– Encouraged fellow Indians to remove themselves
from white ways
• The Brothers secured thousands of tribes to
join together and battle American settlers
The Battle Rages
• Alarmed, settlers responded
– Harrison marched on Indian village at
Prophetstown
• Tecumseh was on a recruiting mission
– The less experienced Tenskwatawa led an ambush
on Harrison’s camp
– Convinced his fellow tribes that his magic would
guarantee victory
The Battle of Tippecanoe
• The Americans were caught off-guard, but
prepared
– The Natives were quickly forced to retreat
• Indian tribes lost confidence in the movement
– A moral victory for the Americans
• Great Consequence
– Americans believed that the British incited the
Indians to rebel
– The Frontier began to call for war.
The War of 1812 Begins
• The War is initially fought in three theaters
• American learned that it was not prepared for
battle
– On the Seas
• US Naval vessels found early success but were
permanently docked once British troops had landed
– In Canada
• American Frontiersmen claimed to be hungry for
action, but only 400 men enlisted when authorized
– In New York
• An American army planned on marching on Quebec,
but would ultimately refuse to cross the border.
Hope Springs
• The British had taken control of Fort
Michilimackinac and Fort Dearborn in
Michigan
– Americans could not reclaim the forts because of
the British Navy in Lake Erie
• President Madison commissioned Oliver
Hazard Perry to build a fleet and do battle
– Perry defeats the British Navy in Lake Erie
“Old Tippecanoe” Returns
• With the British Navy out of the Great Lakes,
the land forces were helpless
– General William Henry Harrison chased and
defeated them soon after
• Perry was viewed as a hero
– “The color of a man’s skin was no more an
indication of his worth than the cut and trimmings
of his coat.”
– “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”
Britain Assumes the Offensive
• To this point, Britain was never able to focus
solely on America
– Britain had been fighting France
– Following Napoleon’s defeat, 14,000 troops were
sent to America
• Officials quickly devised a three pronged
attack
British Plans
• 11,000 would march from Montreal to the
south
• A small amphibious force would land in
Virginia
– Goal: Destroy Washington and Baltimore
• Another would attack New Orleans from the
South
– Based out of Jamaica
Plans Unfold
• While troops gathered in Canada, others
began their mission
• British gunboats from Bermuda began to land
on Maryland shores
• Redcoats were quickly within range of
Washington, D.C.
Who Could Save Washington?
• An American armed group led by General
William H. Winder
– Winder was a lawyer by trade
• President Madison was able to see the
oncoming battle from the White House
• When the British reached Winder
– He and his men turned and ran
• Washington was open for the taking
Washington Burns
• British officials ordered most of Washington’s
buildings burned
– Including the White House
– The President was able to evacuate, and his wife
salvaged one item of particular importance
Our Flag Was Still There
• After destroying Washington, British troops
marched toward Baltimore
– American troops held them back
• Redcoats soon marched to Fort McHenry
– Francis Scott Key bore witness
– Soon wrote “The Star Spangled Banner”
– Key believed that the long bombardment was
ending as dawn approached
– He was right
Rallying Around the Fallen Flag
• News of Washington’s destruction united
Americans
– Thousands enlisted in the United States Army
• Britain abandoned their plan to capture
Baltimore and Ft. McHenry
– Most troops left in preparation for an attack on
New Orleans
Movements in Canada
• British troops moved south from Montreal as
planned
• They met resistance from an American group
in Plattsburgh, NY
• Americans quickly gained an upperhand
• British retreated to Canada
The Treaty of Ghent
• The British were still hopeful that their three
pronged attack would bring victory
– Upon hearing of Plattsburgh, they decided to
concede
• They did not gain or lose territory to the
America
– They agreed on Status Quo Ante Bellum
• The Peace Agreement was signed on
Christmas Eve, 1814
The Battle of New Orleans
• Without knowledge of the Peace Treaty,
British forces began their assault on New
Orleans
• Leading the Americans was Andrew Jackson
– Jackson had positioned himself between the
Mississippi River and an impassible swamp
• The victory was a complete one
– Only 13 Americans had been killed
– 2,100 British casualties were suffered
The Losers?
• The war had ended:
– America suffered very few deaths
– Britain had lost no land
• The Native Peoples were the ultimate losers
– Jackson defeated a united Creek tribe and
acquired 23 million acres
• Roughly 2/3 of Georgia and Florida
• Europe would enjoy nearly a century of peace
Adams-Ónis Treaty
• The United States needed to address other
claims in the America
– Spain controlled large parts of the country
– Florida and the Southwest
• Andrew Jackson was battling Seminole tribes
in Georgia
– The Seminoles would seek refuge in FL
– Americans could not “invade” a foreign country
Jackson’s Invasion
• First Seminole War
– Jackson was ordered to “terminate the conflict”
– He invaded FL and captured two Spanish forts
– He also executed two British citizens who were
supplying the Seminoles with weapons
• Jackson’s invasion was an act of war
• Spain proved that it had no real power in
America
Adams-Ónis Redux
• The Treaty gave America FL and a definite line
to the Pacific
– John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State
– Luis de Ónis, Spanish Minister
Total European Separation
• America was concerned about European
involvement in the Western Hemisphere
– Russia established trade routes from Alaska to
modern day Washington state
• The Czar “forbid” any other ships from entering these
waters
– Spain and France developed a growing interest in
Latin America
• Rumors of a large French army being sent to Latin
America
Addressing the Issues
• President Monroe addresses the Russians
– “The American continents are no longer subjects
for any new European colonial establishments”
– Russia only wanted trade, not colonies
– Russia promptly removed its claims on shipping
The Monroe Doctrine
• In his address to Congress, Monroe stated
– Any colonial establishment in North or South
America would be seen as an “unfriendly
disposition”
– America would avoid any involvement in “strictly
European affairs”
– Announced that the United States had completed
its independence
– It would now focus on addressing its own needs
The Emerging Conflict
• Regional conflicts were emerging over:
– National Bank vs. State Banks
• Northern congressmen voted against reform,
Southerners in favor
– Land Conflict
• Westerners wanted cheap land
• Northern/Southerners wanted to make a profit from it
– Slavery
Slavery
• As the nation expanded, free and slave states
maintained a balance
– New Free States: Ohio, Illinois, Indiana
– New Slave States: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
• The West tended to sympathize with the
South
– Most of its people came from Southern States
– Western goods were consumed on Southern
plantations
Battleground Missouri
• When Louisiana became a state, the rest of
the “Louisiana Purchase” became known as:
– The Missouri Territory
• As St. Louis grew, it petitioned for statehood.
– Many of its inhabitants owned slaves
• Congress soon became divided
– Northern States believed that according to the 3/5
Compromise , Missouri would be overrepresented
• A compromise was soon reached
The Missouri Compromise
• Missouri would be admitted as a slave state
– Maine would be created as a Free State
• Slavery would be considered illegal over the
line 36⁰, 30 min
– Both sides were pleased, but the conflict was only
beginning.
– If an issue as small as Missouri could so hotly
divide the Union, what would be next?
The Election of 1824
• One of the most hotly contested elections in
US History
– John C. Calhoun of South Carolina
– William Crawford of Georgia
– Andrew Jackson
– John Quincy Adams
– Henry Clay of Kentucky
The Election of 1824
• Calhoun elects to run for Vice President
– Wins easily
• Crawford is favored
– However several strokes cause him to fall behind
• Adams, Clay, and Jackson go to a vote
– Electoral College: Jackson-99, Adams-84, Clay-37
The Election of 1824
• No majority is won, the House must vote
– Clay had great influence over the house, but had
no chance of winning
– Clay did not want to give his support to Jackson, a
Westerner
– Clay used his power to sway the House in favor of
Adams
• Henry Clay became Adams’ secretary of state
– The event is known as “The Corrupt Bargain”
Chapter 9
Toward a National Economy
The Industrial Revolution
• The factory revolutionized industry in America
– Britain had been using mechanization to create
goods faster and of better quality
– Made it illegal to export machines for
manufacturing
• Samuel Slater, a British immigrant, brought his
machines to Rhode Island
– Changed the textile industry forever
Textiles
• Americans soon contributed by introducing
new methods of operation
– Water Power
– Produced the finest fabrics ever seen in America
• By 1830 mills and factories were
commonplace
– Most were concentrated in the North
Results of Mechanization
• Opportunities were given to men young men
for easy, accessible work.
– Low pay and poor conditions were serious
problems of the time
• Women were able to contribute as well
– The simplicity of the machines removed the need
for large, muscular frames
Immigrations: Push vs. Pull
• By 1820, immigrants flooded into America
– Irish and Germans being the most predominate
• Historians describe their journey as “Push vs.
Pull”
– Pull Factors
• Abdundant Land
• Good wages
• Economic opportunity
Immigrations: Push vs. Pull
• Push Factors
– Remaining in Europe meant starvation
– Little opportunity for advancement
– Little privately owned land
– Poor outlooks for children
• From the historical perspective, Immigration
stimulated the economy
– At the time, it depressed the standard of living.
• Irish Catholics were at odds with the Protestant
Majority
Results
• The American City became a diverse and
thriving ideal
– Small “enclaves” develop among immigrants,
outward prejudices become apparent
• America became increasingly inward looking
– It relied less on foreign goods
• Farmers benefitted from growing populations
– As cities grew, the need for food grew
exponentially
Cotton Revolutionizes the South
• As Britain was ahead of America in
manufacturing, its demands grew
– Textile mills required raw materials
• Cotton was never seen as truly profitable for
growth
– Its production was labor intensive
– There was a low demand
Cotton Revolutionizes the South
• As mechanization made production easier and
faster, Britain bought cotton in massive
amounts
– Most cotton came from India, Egypt, and the West
Indies
• The American South was ideally suited for
growing the crop
• Cotton would become the new booming crop
Problems of Cotton
• Two types:
– Sea Island Cotton
• Grown in South Carolina and Georgia
• Contained long, silky strands similar to Egyptian Cotton
• Was easily damaged by frost
– Green-Seed Cotton:
• Easily grown, but difficult to process
• Seeds were deeply imbedded making removal difficult
• One slave working all day could produce roughly one
pound of clean product
Eli Whitney-The Mastermind
• Devised a machine that would make
separation cheap and easy
– Imagined a cylinder filled with rows of teeth
– Cylinder would rotate in a box of cotton
– Cotton would be sent through the teeth, and the
seeds would be too large to pass
• The face of the American South was changed
by a free black man.
The Cotton Gin
• Easily manufactured
– Whitney was never able to properly patent his
idea
– His invention was stolen and remade several times
over
• A slave could produce 50x more cotton than
by hand
• 1790-3,000 Bales…1820-400,000 Bales
The Results of the Cotton Gin
• Slavery had been on the decline in the South
– Described by many as “stagnant”
• The easy use of the cotton gin required more
workers to operate them
– Slavery is soon revitalized
Slavery’s Journey
• Revolutionary Generation had a deep respect
for personal freedoms
– Property rights, Independence, Etc.
– Most whites viewed slaves as property
• Right to property more important than slaves’ rights
• The Independence movement became
popular among slaves
– Fears of slave revolts spread across the landscape
Slavery’s Journey
• The Revolutionary Era led to many slaves
being released by their masters
– It also caused many to fear releasing their
enslaved
• The “Negro Problem” came to be considered
– Abolition
– Colonization
• “The American Colonization Society”
Colonization
• Various groups proposed deporting slaves to
Africa
– The African nation of Liberia was established for
this purpose
– Other places of deportation included Sierra Leone
• The idea of both races living amongst one
another was generally unpopular
Cotton Emerges
• The sudden need for cotton labor changes
attitudes
• No longer do Southern Plantations “need” to
find a solution to slavery
– The price of slaves soon doubles
– Though the Slave Trade was outlawed, states
begin to smuggle human beings into the country
– South Carolina reopens the Slave Trade in 1804
The New Slavery
• By 1820, laws began to change on a massive
scale
– Slave Trade became regular business throughout
the South
• Most frowned on the practice
– Anyone who needed labor however used it
• A cruel and disparaging institution soon
developed
The Development of Roads
• Travel was incredibly difficult
– Terrain was rough and rocky
• Transportation was done using rivers
– Travel upstream was difficult and laborious
• Most trade occurred from East to West
• Roads began to be constructed locally, but
most were of poor quality
– Maintained by local people
The Steamboat
• Travel upstream was difficult
– Upstream in the Mississippi was nearly impossible
• The Clermont introduced the age of
steamboat travel
– Averaged about five miles per hour
– Required all parts (engine, boiler, paddle, wheels)
to work in proper balance
• By 1820 there were 200 steamboats on the
Mississippi
The Canal Age
• Midwestern rivers all empty into the Gulf of
Mexico
– No available connection to the East Coast
• Mayor DeWitt Clinton proposed a canal that
connected
– Lake Erie to the Hudson River
– 363 miles long
• Next longest was only 28 miles
The Erie Canal
•
•
•
•
Completed in 1825
Brought over $500,000 in its first year
Soon made three million dollars per year
New York’s cities began to flourish
– Rochester
– Buffalo
– Syracuse
• New York City becomes the Emporium of the
Western World
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