The Crisis of the Union - Chapter 9

 Well... tis the season to be crazy! Haven't posted on this blog for a bit. This will actually be the last chapter and discussion we have from "A Patriot's History..." until January 5, 2011. This chapter covers the Civil War barely. It's amazing how much information is available on this important topic. I commend Schweikart and Allen on condensing it into 58 short pages. Our history and the legacy left to us never ceases to amaze me. At this Thanksgiving season, I am especially grateful for those men and women who stood for principles and values and fought to uphold our constitution. My gift to you is page numbers on where to find the answers! But I also included a couple of vocabulary words. Maybe you're offended because you already know what they mean. Good!! Hey - I'm an English teacher. Humor me. Happy reading!

THE CRISIS OF THE UNION 1860-65

CHAPTER 9

Electoral college

Spoils system:

Plebiscite

Jayhawkers

Electoral college: a body of special voters that pledge to vote for the pres. And VP chosen by their state.

Spoils system:  In the politics of the United States, a spoil system (also known as a patronage system) is a practice where a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its voters as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party—as opposed to a system of awarding offices on the basis of some measure of merit independent of political activity.
Plebiscite: a vote by the electorate determining public opinion on a question of national importance
Jayhawkers: is a term that came to prominence just before the Civil War in Bleeding Kansas, where it was adopted by militant bands affiliated with the free-state cause. These bands, known as "Jayhawkers", were guerrilla fighters who often clashed with pro-slavery "Border Ruffians". After the Civil War, "Jayhawker" became synonymous with the people of Kansas. Today the term is a nickname for a native-born Kansan.^[1]

1.     This is false and can be easily proven. Lincoln would have won even if all the What made the electoral college different in the election of 1860 than in the past? MAPS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ElectoralCollege1860-Large.png Split in the Dem. Party and a difference in ideology – slavery. Some writers blame the Democrats, and especially the Southern Democrats, for Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860. The split in the Democratic Party that summer is said to have opened the door for the new Republican Party. Because the divided Democrats could not agree on a candidate, this theory goes, the split in the party allowed Lincoln to capture the White House with a mere 39 percent of the popular vote.

non-Lincoln votes had gone to a single candidate. Yet the "divided Democrats" myth persists. So here's the math.

Lincoln got 180 electoral votes and 1,865,593 popular votes.

Breckenridge got 72 electoral votes and 848,356 popular votes.

Douglas got 12 electoral votes and 1,382,713 popular votes.

Bell got 39 electoral votes and 592,906 popular votes.

2.     Even if you take all the Democratic electors into one pool, they only have 123 electoral votes. Lincoln still wins. But what about the popular vote? As Americans learned again in 2000, elections can hinge on the distribution of votes among the states, and a candidate can win without a majority of the popular vote, so long as he has majorities in key places. So the thing to do is look at the vote by states in 1860. Surely 39 percent of the popular vote couldn't have carried Lincoln into the White House. What made the electoral college different in the election of 1860 than in the past? MAPS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ElectoralCollege1860-Large.png Split in the Dem. Party and a difference in ideology – slavery. Some writers blame the Democrats, and especially the Southern Democrats, for Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860. The split in the Democratic Party that summer is said to have opened the door for the new Republican Party. Because the divided Democrats could not agree on a candidate, this theory goes, the split in the party allowed Lincoln to capture the White House with a mere 39 percent of the popular vote.

United States history, the term Fire-Eaters refers to a group of extremist pro-slavery politicians from the South who urged the separation of southern states into a new nation, which became known as the Confederate States of America. Radically promoted secessionism.

3.      Who were the four candidates for president in the 1860 election? Why were there more than two? Steven A. Douglas – Northern Democrat,  John Breckinridge – Southern Democrat, John Bell – Constitutional Union party (dying Whig), and Abraham Lincoln – Republican. Steven A. Douglas had the majority of the popular vote but party rules required two-thirds to nominate. Southern Dems came demanding that slavery would be protected by law, but Douglas wanted a “loose” interpretation – not guaranteeing protection, and that the Congress would have discretion over the territories. Southern delegates “walked out” as promised, and found their own candidate: John Breckenridge of Kentucky. Remaining Northern Dems gave Douglas the weak nomination. Both of these incidences diluted Douglas’s chances.

4.      Describe the two simultaneous elections on November 6, 1860. Between Lincoln and Douglas in the North, and Bell and Breckinridge in the South. Lincoln carried all northern states except New Jersey – which he split with Douglas. Breckinridge carried the Deep South and Bell had only 39 electoral votes.

5.      What last ditch efforts were made by Lincoln and others to compromise with the South and hopefully avoid secession? What was the South’s response? Proposed a constitutional amendment that would prohibit interference with slavery in states where it existed. 1) restore the Missouri Comp. line. 2) prohibit the abolition of slaveholding on federal property in the south, 3) establish compensation for owners of runaways, and 4) repeal “personal liberty” laws in the North (these laws attempted to nullify the “Fugitive Slave Act”. They would even add the word “slavery” to the constitution. The south would not compromise a bit. Thank heaven!

*NOTES: The market plunged at the south leaving the union.

6.            Describe the political process in the south whereby secession “passed”. Sound familiar?? It barely passed. “697 wealthy men decided the destiny of over 9 million people, mostly poor, one-third enslaved. Most men fought for their “country” as a duty – not necessarily to promote slavery. They fought for states’ rights against a national government.

7.            What was unusual about Jefferson Davis’ view of slavery? He treated his slaves well, and just figured that other masters did the same. Since he did not travel much, he thought that the horrors of slavery were “pure fantasy” and that anyone questioning his opinion was offensive and wrong. He was also an advocate for industrialism and manufacturing.

8.            The south complained that the U.S. Constitution was “a failed experiment.” How was the CSA’s constitution different? They gave subsidies to slave owners while passing on the costs of enforcing slave laws on to non-slave owners. All appropriations bills must have 2/3 majority vote. There were virtually no checks and balances which gave Davis unchecked power. The document reflected southern weaknesses that lead to secession in the first place. Namely ideas of: white supremacy, a residual notion of “states rights”, the propaganda that “Cotton is King” and that a Southern republic would not only be freer, but economically superior to the North. (301)

9.           Define Southern arrogance and the view of the “Negro” according to President Jefferson Davis.(302) war officially begins.

10.         What happened at Fort Sumter? (302-303) VIDEO CLIP   The war officially begins. Lincoln resists.

11.         How did West Virginia come about? (305) Large pockets of Union support existed in the southern Appalachians. They were very much against slavery.

12.         How did gangs like Jesse James’ and others use the “Rebel” cause to commit crime? (306) they pretended to be fighting for the Confederate cause in order to “plunder and pillage”. Only after several crimes committed were they then sworn into the Con. Army.

13.         Compare and contrast the North’s and South’s strengths and weaknesses going into war. (306) NORTH: Controlled the navy, held the majority of factories that produced ammo, vital railroad tracks, clothing, food, backing of the Constitution. SOUTH: Determination that their cause was just, military expertise, cotton, which they felt was “King”, railroads running east and west bringing vital supplies down the Missouri River, which was choked off after the fall of New Orleans. BOTH: have met their match on the battle field having been trained in the exact same way by the same leaders, literally fighting “brother against brother”.

               NOTES:  Confederates berated the North as oppressing the rights of free men while ignoring the fact that the Confederacy forced more free whites under arms than the North. Both sides had huge numbers desert; 10% of Union forces, 12.5% for Confederates.

14.         Describe the organization of the military on both sides. (308-309) NORTH: standing army able to draw from a population of over 20 million but over half had deserted to the south. Both sides, therefore, relied on militias that lacked critical military discipline and irregular training of men 15-50. Militia units had tough-sounding names. One big problem was that men were enlisting so quickly that they did not have the means to provide for them.

15.         What was the “Conscription Act”? (310) Union issued to “all able-bodied men 18 to 35 to serve for three years.” Ages changed from 17-50. Exemptions granted to postal workers, CSA officials, railroad workers, religious ministry, and those employed in manufacturing plants. Draftees could also hire substitutes. 70,000 in the south compared with 118,000 in the north. Confederates felt that this violated the very cause they were fighting for.

16.         Define the strategic “Anaconda Plan” What were its strengths and weaknesses? (312) General Winfield Scott’s strategy to subdue to South. Blockade of Southern ports and called for an advance down the Mississippi River and cut the south in two. Some argued that this was not aggressive enough.

17.         How did the South misinterpret their “victory” at Bull Run? (314) They missed a great opportunity to follow the north and possibly end the war. They were very arrogant about this “win”.

18.         Describe the strengths and weaknesses of Union generals: McClellan, Pope, Grant, Baell (320) McClellan was boastful but couldn’t quite “close the deal”. He was soft – a lot of talk. Pope was a braggart who was more humiliated than McClellan, Buell was soft and lacked aggressiveness, Grant had to prove himself as he had struggled with alcohol in the past. H was extremely aggressive and successful

19.         Having a strong navy was critical to the outcome of the Civil War. Who was in control? Did the South have any advantage? (318) The North was definitely in control but the South had some ships namely the Merrimac that it had confiscated at the fall of Norfolk. It sank a few of the Union fleet.

20.         Describe the importance of the battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg. (321-322) Shiloh ( a church) was the bloodiest battle. General Sherman was in command. Vicksburg sealed the South’s doom. Grant was able to isolate Vicksburg and prevent two of the CSA armies from uniting. He cut off all supplies and literally starved the troops and citizens.

21.         Who was Salmon P. Chase? How did he attempt to pay for Union debt incurred from the war? (323-324) Head of U.S. Treasury who appointed many “party hacks who often could be relied upon for little else but their partisan loyalty” to fill positions in the department. Gov. increased from 383 in 1861 to 2,000 in 1864. Asked Congress for a tax on incomes over $300, requested new tariffs, expanded land sales, issued twenty-year bonds paying 7% interest.

22.         How did “greenbacks” come about? (324) Banks did not want to buy bonds if they had to pay for them in gold, and in Dec. 1861 the Northern banks suspended specie payments on all notes. (South went off gold standard immediately after Fort Sumter). Concerned that soldiers would go unpaid, Chase advanced a paper money concept to Congress that would allow the Treasury to issue $100 million in notes that would circulate as “lawful money, and a legal tender of all debts public and private.”  Enacted as the Legal Tender Act of February 1862, the proposal authorized the issue of more than Chase requested - $450 million of the new green-colored billed called greenbacks.

23.         What was the disastrous result of the South’s financial strategy? (325) Confederate money attained a reputation for worthlessness – previously seen in the Revolutionary War and not again until the Weimar Republic of Germany which produced hyper-inflation in the 1920’s. A Confederate dollar worth $.82 in gold or silver in 1862, had plummeted to only $0.17 in 1865.

24.         How did “free market” vs. “socialist” ideology determine the outcome of the Civil War? (326) Because of the South’s dire straits, it lacked an entrepreneurial base from which to thrive. The government literally confiscated property leaving the war and personal life in total control of the government. The Confederacy reached levels of government involvement unmatched until the totalitarian states of the twentieth century. Confederate officials eerily resembled King George’s  agents that Jefferson warned about. “The Confederacy died of big government.” READ P 326 PARA 2: “Six specific….”

25.         How did General McClellan get fired from his post? After he left, what events led to the Emancipation Proclamation? (327-328) He did not pursue General Lee after the Battle of Gettysburg. Lincoln fired him and was so upset that he decided to free all the slaves and “rip the heart out of the rebellion”.

26.         What were Lincoln’s four objectives of the Emancipation Proclamation? (330) Lincoln’s view of Emancipation was moral over military or political. 1) Save the Union by freeing the slaves 2) prove to Europe that the Confederates were “pariah” 3) freeing the slaves changed property into people which decimated their industry and physical assets 4) contributions of black troops

27.         How did the war effort in the North change after the Emancipation? (331) Blacks fought in battle instead of just building and clearing land,

28.         What happened to Southern General “Stonewall” Jackon? (334) Accidently shot by his own men.

29.         What is the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg? How was General Meade different than other Union Generals? (337) Tremendous loss

30.         Who was General William Tecumseh Sherman? What was his legacy to the war? (339)

31.         Define “Copperheads” and “Radical Republicans”. (342) Copperheads, a name given by Republicans to a vocal group of Democrats in the North opposed to the war likening them to a poisonous snake, The Radical Republicans were a loose faction of American politicians within the Republican Party from about 1854 (before the American Civil War) until the end of Reconstruction in 1877.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_Republicans

32.         Explain the emotional and complete surrender of Robert E. Lee. (346)

33.         What happened to Jefferson Davis? (347) Fled to Richmond and plead with his people to send troops and help defend him. They didn’t. He was granted amnesty by Pres. Andrew Johnson and became an embarrassment to the Confederate cause.

34.         What was the “Lost Cause Theory”? (350) Sought to prove the irrelevancy of slavery to the cause of the war. That economic issues and the immoral North and the honorable south

35.         How did Marxism play into reconstruction? (351) Leftists complain that Lincoln was too conservative, and blocked genuinely radical(and to them, positive) redistribution of not only plantation owners’ wealth, but all wealth. America’s Civil War was ultimately and overwhelmingly about the idea of freedom: whether one group of people could restrict the God-given liberty of others. That the Republicans, in their zeal to free slaves, enacted numerous ill-advised taxes, railroad, and banking laws, was a minor consequence to the big picture. The South perverted classic libertarianism – libertarianism did not pervert the South.

The message of the election?

Well, by now, we've all had our little parties in our heads about the election. I must say it was glorious. Two big mysteries still remain, however.... California and Nevada. Thanks to the great democratic system in California, we here in AZ are closer than ever to actually having beach front. Thanks Senator "Please-don't-call-me-ma'am" Boxer.

   Just found this picture of former Congressman Alan Grayson of Florida in his new job as Wal-Mart security. What will happen to you if he catches you committing a no-no? You will "Die quickly! That's right! Die quickly". So... be nice to each other out there in Fla.
       What a remarkable gift our republic is! No more can anyone say, "my vote doesn't count." Congrats to the Tea Party people. You are a force for good. Keep up the good fight; all of us. It's so great to see people turn back to God who gave us these blessings in the first place. Let's remind each other not to be lulled back into "carnal security".... talkin' to you Republicans. You are definiately on probation this time. As we painfully found out, we must guard our freedoms with our very lives. Continue to pray night and day, and exemplify a grateful heart at all times. We are going to have to tighten our belts as the country resets itself, but we will do it together. God bless each of you. God bless America.

THE HOUSE DIVIDING, 1848-1860 CHAPTER 8

THE HOUSE DIVIDING, 1848-60

CHAPTER 8

1.      Describe the after-math of the John Brown/Harper’s Ferry incident. Include reactions from the following: the newspapers, politicians, citizens, etc.                                                                                          

  John Brown was an abolishionist who thought that if he could collapse Virginia, he could end slavery. His group of 17 whites and 5 freed blacks stormed Harper’s Ferry armory. Their insurrection planned to arm the slaves in revolt on October 18, 1859.  Unfortunately, reinforcements failed to show up before General Robert E. Lee’s forces surrounded and killed many of the rioters. Brown was bayoneted several times but lived to face trial. He was convicted and hung on December 2, 1859. This incident sparked a deep division between the north and the south.

SOUTH: triggered paranoia of slave rebellion in the south. They thought Brown to be crazy or insane. Many of his family members were in asylums and suffered from lunacy. They figured he was just a product of his family.

NORTH: Immortalized him as a true saint or martyr. Thoreau and Emerson wrote and eulogized him for good. A song written by David S. Reynolds, “John Brown’s Body” was later changed by Julia Ward Howe and renamed “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=amss&fileName=as1/as106750/amsspage.db&recNum=0

2.      What was the “dark side, nether side” of society at this time? Growing population and influx of immigrants. Most cities unable to deal with or keep up with the physical needs of everyday living.  New York’s Bowery, or “Hell’s Kitchen”, referred to by police because of its filth and crime. 30,000 orphans roamed the streets, prostitution. Gangs, Boss Tweed – a NY politician who swindled between $25-45 million from NY city taxpayers. (one historian estimated $75-200 million!) He was tied to Tammany Hall – similar to the unions and would attempt to intimidate voters going to the polls.

3.      Early America was made up of energetic and motivated immigrants. Generally, what contributions were the Irish known for? Germans? After the potato famine in Ireland, there were more Irish in the US than in Ireland! At this time, the gov. took no income tax.  The Irish suffered great persecution (Catholics) got involved in politics, government jobs such as policemen, Germans: more skilled than Irish: steel, mechanical, musical instrument trades, pianos, breweries, rifles, eyeglasses, Heinz ketchup,

4.      Slavery is stronger and woven more deeply into the fabric of American society. What three reasons are cited for this? NOTES: Profits – although the northern factories were more profitable, free market system that promotes the slave trade was also striving to abolish it, southerners needed the force of gov. to maintain and expand slavery and without it, a combination of the market and slave revolts would have ultimately ended the institution. NOTES:  population of 3.84 million slaves in 1860 represented “60% of agricultural wealth in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina. The census showed that slaves accounted for $3 billion in wealth; an amount more than the railroad and manufacturing wealth combined! Definition of property rights:

5.      Northern industrialists profited more on their return on their business investment than the south did with slavery. If this is true, why did the south continue with slavery? Why not transition into northern-like industry? Long-held family tradition of slavery. Southerners did not understand the industrial system, psychic gains – dominance and control. NOTES: laws were passed in the south making it illegal to educate slaves. They could not meet in groups, own land, or finance their own freedom. Capitalism could not work as long as slavery was permitted anywhere. The government provided loopholes for slave owners to circumvent the system.

6.      Describe George Fitzhugh’s Marxist view of man. What were Fitzhugh’s beliefs about slavery? George Fitzhugh believed in the Marxist labor theory of value http://www.isil.org/resources/lit/labor-theory-val.html and that all men were basically slaves; including whites. Being a strong proponent of slavery,  he taught that those employed in the evil Northern factories were really the ones being enslaved.  He said that “African slaves probably lived better than the Northern factory worker and that they were liberated from all decision making.” Their masters kindly did that for them! And he added (p 261)… “a Southern farm is the beau ideal of Communism; it is a joint concern, in which the slave consumes more than the master… and is far happier, because although the concern may fail, he is always sure of support.”

7.      How did perverted Christian views and doctrines to attempt to justify slavery? Mid-1800’s  said that the bible condoned slavery as a positive good and was the only hope of salvation for Africans. Believed that “Christianizing” Africans was not possible without the intervention of slavery.  Came to view slavery as “social control”

8.    Who fomented and perpetuated slavery uprisings? What affect did the uprisings have? Nat Turner and Denmark Vesey. Nat Turner won his freedom in a lottery and started a Methodist Church with over 1,000 members. Vesey started a rebellion that was later determined to not be a rebellion at all. Denmark Vesey was born on the island of St. Thomas in 1787 and was captured by the owner of a slave ship, Capt. Joseph Vesey. Became educated and won $1,500 in a lottery; $600 of which he used to buy his freedom. Day after day, he witnessed the injustice suffered by his people and therefore planned a rebellion sort of like the one John Brown would attempt years later. Vesey had approx. 9,000 slaves at the ready to revolt. A white house servant got wind of the plan and told his master. Vesey called off the insurrection but many, including him, were hanged. Affect was that southerners became even more paranoid about blacks uprising. It was a crime to teach a slave to read or write. White masters’ determined that blacks had to be kept away from Christianity and Christianity away from blacks. Religion and government worked together to enforce slavery laws. Civil disturbances, censorship of mails and newspapers from the North, infringement of free speech, right to assemble. One Maryland county enacted a resolution requiring vigilante committees to visit the houses of every free black “regularly” for “prompt correction of misconduct.”   http://www.nndb.com/people/937/000110607/

*Turner felt that he was lead by God to lead an insurrection. “The last shall be first.” Sight of a solar eclipse in February 1831 would be the sign to begin. He and several others stormed the house of his master, Joseph Travis and murdered all inside. They stole horses, liquor and guns and repeated this at other homes until U.S. troops and marines stopped them. He was later hanged after hiding out for six weeks.

9.      Who was William Lloyd Garrison? What did he contribute? A fanatic who badgered others for vices that he did not agree with: drinking, gambling, lotteries, Sabbath violations, and war. Abandoned by his father when he was 3 years old, he spent his life trying to get attention and his “15 minutes of fame” by meddling in others’ lives. He became a celebrity and posted his beliefs in the National Philanthropist. He accused a merchant of slave atrocities for which the man threw him in jail. This fomented his “martyr” personae. He ripped up his copy of the constitution because many people believed that the document promoted slavery. Joined with Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and other abolitionists to fight against slavery.

10.   Define “popular sovereignty”. How did politicians use it to their advantage? People could decide the rules and regulations of each state; (slavery being the top issue) as opposed to the government making those decisions. Majority ruled. Crooked law makers could “rig” vote by bringing in immigrants for support of their cause. Many times, the immigrants would not know what they were voting for, but the structure was nonetheless in place.

11.   Define the unintended consequences of the “Fugitive Slave Law”. Discuss a current law that has resulted in unintended consequences. Example: Prohibition in 1920 was to abolish alcohol and its evils. Unintended consequences were many small businessmen lost their livelihoods, increased violent crime, etc. This law contained several provisions that Southerners saw as reasonable and necessary but soon turned against them. Runaway slaves were denied any aright to jury trial. Commissioners received ten dollars for every runaway delivered to claimants, but only five dollars for cases in which the accused was set free. Any free citizen could help capture slaves. As a result, innocent people were captured, many Northerners were looked as accomplices to slavery as they were sending slaves back into slavery! Enforcement was expensive. Five thousand dollars was spent to capture one slave. And after that, the law was no longer enforced. The Underground Railroad played a huge role in this – assisting almost 50,000 slaves to escape.

NOTES: Henry Clay’s fifth time to run for president vs. Zachary Taylor!! He gets killed again because he is completely anti- slavery in new territories gained from the Mexican War. He also was against annexing Texas. That got him. Taylor, a Louisiana slave holder, was not affiliated with any party. Believed in “popular sovereignty” and that the Wilmot Proviso was not needed (permitting no slavery in lands accrued from the Mexican War.)

12.   What was the “Kansas-Nebraska Act”? How did it lead to the Civil War?  Desire for a mid-eastern transcontinental railroad with a major hub in Chicago, whose expenses would be offset by grants from public lands. Steven A. Douglas, attempting to assuage contention between north and south, and win potential votes for the upcoming presidential election, wrote into the bill the “popular sovereignty” law thereby abolishing a thirty year covenant and allowing possible slavery to the entire Louisiana Purchase. Turned out to be a disastrous bill. This nearly destroyed the Democratic party and started a national crisis. *NOTES: Virtually anyone could cross state or territorial lines to vote. People came from all over to “stack the deck” for their side. But if Kansas became a free soil state, it would cause a “free zone” below the slavery line for the first time in American history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Missouri_Compromise_Line.svg

13.   Explain the media coverage of the “sack of Lawrence”, “Brook’s canes”, and the “Harper’s Ferry” incident. The press greatly exaggerated these stories to promote violence, inflame and propagandize their own ideology. The lid was finally starting to blow off the slavery pot.

*NOTES: Two new parties were partially responsible for dismembering the Whigs. One was the American Party whose platform was against the massive immigration of Irish and Germans. They banded together, secretly and voted in massive blocks of power. They became known as the “Know Nothings” because they would deny or not answer any questions asked about their group. They sealed their doom by shunning the very people who were also against slavery and could have gained much politically from their support. The other was the Anti-Nebraska Party or the Republicans. Attacked slavery head on instead of dancing around it.

14.   What made the “Dred Scott” case so controversial? Why did the judges overturn the ruling? What affects did it have? Dred Scott was a slave who went all the way to the supreme court to appeal for his own freedom. The St. Louis circuit court ruled that he was free. Two years later, the Missouri supreme court stepped in and overturned the rule. He finally ended up at the federal supreme court where Justice Roger B. Taney made the shocking decision that “because he was black, he had no right to sue in the first place. Africans were not protected by the Constitution because they were not US citizens, and therefore had no rights at all.” The court overturned the rule because it was such a monumental and controversial issue. Even though he lost, it put slavery in the forefront of social discussion.

15.   Define the Lecompton Constitution and its role in fomenting the inevitability of the Civil War. The Kansas election of 1857 was heated and in turmoil. Governor Walker observed much voter fraud as pro-slavery Democrats illegally wrote their own Lecompton Constitution.  While free soilers, or Anti-slavery factions boycotted this constitution crying out the “popular sovereignty” rule, but to no avail. They then went to Topeka, Kansas and drew up their own constitution, both sides even elected their own state representatives which increased divisiveness and tensions! Both sides fought for their agenda as the legitimacy of the Lecompton constitution went back and forth through referendums and legalities only fomenting more tension.

The original application for statehood would have granted 23 million acres of federal land to pro-slavery Kansas if the people accepted the Lecompton Constitution but this was cut substantially to 4 million acres. There was also a bribe attached: If the people did not accept the constitution, they would not only be denied statehood, but they would not be allowed to reapply until the population reached ninety thousand. Buchanan was shocked and delivered a crushing blow when the people rejected the offer. In the ten years of fighting and negotiations, advocates had not achieved one inch of pro-slavery land.

16.   What were Abraham Lincoln’s feelings about organized religion? About the separation of church and state? How would you describe his relationship to God? How did Gettysburg affect that relationship? Lincoln did not believe in organized religion until he experienced severe trials in his own life; the deaths of his mother, his son, Tad and especially what he saw at Gettysburg. He believed in the separation of church and state. He was a devout believer in the scriptures and in “doing good to all men”. He lived his “religion” in everything he did – based on his love of Jesus Christ.

17.   Define the debates between Lincoln and Douglas. Why do you think Lincoln was more appealing to the masses than Douglas? Both parties agreed to seven debates – all centering on slavery - vying for the Illinois senator seat. Douglas was the incumbent and won despite the Republicans winning the popular vote – an ominous sign to Dems. Unlike political debates of today, these were festive gatherings where true debates about the issues prevailed. The opponents often took friendly jabs at each other, but left shaking hands leaving it up to the voters to decide which view they supported. Lincoln managed to shift the slavery issue to the morals of it not the economic value which had prevailed for so many decades. *What made Lincoln stand out and again credibility with the voters was that he embraced the moral and logical designation of slavery as an inherent evil, while distancing himself from the fanatics like the Grimke sisters of William Lloyd Garrison. He focused on the law of the constitution in the Republic. (READ: page 290 – red)

18.   Why did 90 percent of southern congressmen vote to not reopen the African slave trade?  At this point, Southerners had to rationalize their belief in the slave trade, but had to come up with a reason not to re-open the slave trade to Africa. They reasoned that slaves already here were content, and the blacks in Africa were “cannibals”. The issue of morality was at the heart of this debate. “If it was right to buy slaves in Virginia and carry them to New Orleans, why is it not right to buy them in Africa and carry them here?” asked William Yancey. Lincoln would have reversed the question. “If it’s wrong to enslave free people in Africa and bring them to Virginia, why is it acceptable to keep slaves in either Virginia or New Orleans.

19.   What was the Wanderer and how was it involved in a crime? What happened to Charles A. L. Lamar? The issue intensified after the “Wanderer” case where cotton trader, Charles Lamar, purchased the ship that went to Africa. He purchased 600 slaves of which only 300 survived. When rumors of the docked slave ship reached authorities, a federal investigation ensued. Corruption in the southern courts was even more evident when Lamar was not arrested, and no legal action against the criminals was taken. When the ship was put up for auction, Lamar, the only bidder, ?” announced that “the episode had given him good experience in the slave trade and that he would apply it in the future.” It was obvious that the south had no intension of upholding anti-slave laws – or any laws, for that matter. This ultimately started the Civil War.

Trancendentalism...I finally get it!

   I have to admit... my years at BYU majoring in English were sometimes grueling! I started off in nursing because two of my sisters were nurses. However, I soon discovered that you have to be good at blood, bed baths and numbers so.... that changed pretty quickly. What could I do? What was I good at? There were no majors for experts in "Mad Magazine" trivia, so I did the second closest - English Literature. I was excited until I saw the people in my "neighborhood". My classmates were mostly pre-law brainiacs that sat with one arm perched on their worn briefcases that hid the remains of a pb&j, the other arm shooting directly and permanently into the ceiling because they knew the answers to EVERYTHING! Case in point, discussing Hermann Melville's "Moby Dick". This one I get.  So this guy, Captain Ahab, is kind of a lunatic who goes out into the ocean by himself on a mission to kill this massive killer whale that is tormenting him. And... who wouldn't be tormented by a massive killer whale? Solution? Stay away from the whale. But... I digress...The professor asks, "Can anyone tell me what the fishing line is symbolic of ?" I think... duh.... dinner? But I hesitate raising my hand thinking that is too easy. Mr. Law Guy practically bursts a neck vein trying to answer. "Yes, Merwin?" 
    "Well, as I sat in my cubicle on the 4th floor of the library last night and purused the meaning of Captain Ahab and this fish who metamorphizzified into Ahab's metaphysical preponderacismist (see blog post September 14, '10) child, it dawned on me that the fishing line represented a sort of societal dental floss, if you will. Ahab is so focused on destroying this mammoth creature, that he doesn't realize the spinach, or little common annoying people, that are crowding between his teeth which are his entrenched beliefs taught to him by an obviously abusive father and sickly, fish-loathing stepmother- which will eventually decay his enamel - family. That fishing line is death to Ahab, death to Moby Dick, death to Amedika!"
"Why, yes Merwin. How insightful of you!"
   Now I'm flipping through the pages thinking I'm in the wrong class.That's about how it went for the first year. Then I slowly began to understand. You gotta have a dorky briefcase to survive in English. Anywho...
   This chapter of "A Patriot's History..." I loved! It's all about the emerging literature and arts. Granted, you have the loonies who believe in "social reform, social justice, all religion stinks" crowd (some things never change, eh?) But it's been so fun to actually understand what the Naturalists, Transcendentalists, Romanticists all believed and why. It was a dark and sad part of our history. They had to escape somehow. Worst of all Alfred E. Newman was just a twinkle in Howard Kurtsman and William Gaines' eyes.
  

Red Foxes and Bear Flags

Chapter Seven Study Guide

Red Foxes and Bear Flags

1.      The Jacksonian period is associated with a time of great social reform. Explain.

2.      Why did people feel that they especially needed “spiritual sustenance” at this time?

3.      What are the similarities and differences of the First and Second Great Awakenings?

4.      Define communalism, Transcendentalism, Bible Communism, Individualism, Abolitionism

5.      How have the roles of women changed?

Describe the typical education under Horace Mann and other educational reformers.

6.      Artists of the day were most famous for painting what?

7.      Discuss the literary authors of the period. What were the popular topics they wrote about?

8.      As far as the arts are concerned, what seemed to be the recurring theme of the American ways of life?

9.      Describe the economy as Van Buren takes office and the “free market” solutions he proposes to fix it.

10.   How did John Tyler become president? How would you define his presidency?

11.   Describe America’s expansion into Texas. “Remember the Alamo!”

12.   Why was Texas initially denied statehood?

13.   How did Polk incite war against Mexico? Why did he do that?

14.   Describe the “Wilmot Proviso”.

15.   How did the Mormon Battalion play into America’s annexing of California?

16.   Define the provisions of “The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo”. Why was Polk furious about it?

17.   Describe expansion into California and Oregon. What was the “Mormon Trail”?

What do Barney Frank and Willie Wonka have in common??

Hey kids! Just in case there was any question of the government's authority whatsoever.... here ya go! Thanks to Debbie Allen for this entry. Gosh Deb... not sure if this qualifies for "mind-numbing nonsense" because it's all true. But good luck! We'll be pullin' for ya!

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2eh6f5Go0

 

Congrats to Linda for mind-numbing nonsense!

Way to go Linda! Your comment on "Eight countries suing AZ over 1070" took the cake this week. Three weeks left in October and then we'll vote on the best one of the month! Keep them coming everyone!

Only 2 more days to enter and vote!!

This is almost as important as the November election!! And beieve me... there's enough "mind-numbing nonsense" out there for all! Hurry!

Chapter Six

THE FIRST ERA OF BIG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

Chapter six

1.      What was “The Era of Good Feelings”? What positive aspects were its results? James Monroe took a “Goodwill” tour of the Northeast in 1816 which was then reported in a Boston newspaper initiating “The Era of Good Feelings”. Partisan bickering abated for a while thanks to President James Monroe purposefully downplaying differences. States reduced or waived property rights as requirement to vote, religious revivals caused people to renew their spiritual efforts, a single-party unity emerged.

*NOTES: Banking practices of the day:

*             Any state-chartered bank could print money as long as it was backed by gold or silver. During the War of 1812 most banks outside New England suspended specie payment even though they continued to print bank notes without the gold or silver backing.

·        Because congress had refused to renew the charter of the BUS in 1811 – this accelerated the need for money to fund the War of 1812.  Most banks kept 5% to 20% specie in their vaults but panic, war, etc. contributed to it increasing, generating inflation.

2.      What were the pros and cons of chartering the second BUS? How did it contribute to the Panic of 1819? Any similarities to the current Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mess?  Funds were desperately needed to pay for war, etc. The $35 million capitalization was huge, a branch could be opened in any state and the state’s capacity could not compete, depository of federal funds dwarfed state bank deposits. SUSPICIONS: First, it was done out of panic and haste, “special privilege” was a vague term that led to conspiracies. Did the British really control it? What politicians had their hands in it? Is there a limit or a cap to “special privilege”?

*NOTES: BUS carried strong overtones of Hamilton’s Federalist beliefs.(wealthy, educated should lead the country, strong central government, loose interpretation of the constitution, favored BUS, and tariffs.) The bank dealt with economic fluctuations as it attempted to rein in inflation that had followed the Treaty of Ghent which ended the War of 1812. Calling in many outstanding loans, the BUS contracted the money supply, producing lower prices which gave people more expendable income, but caused falling farm prices and a widespread difficulty in obtaining new loans for agriculture or business. Cotton prices crashed and British buyers started importing Indian cotton. Even though the BUS was only partially to blame, the new bank president, Cheves, continued “credit contraction” “which left the bank with multiple mortgage foreclosures, and added to complaints that the BUS existed for the privileged elite.” People lost their jobs. “The bank was saved, but the people were ruined.”

The use of a credit contraction is normally associated with the desire to slow the rate of inflation in the general economy. By creating a state of recession, credit contractions help to slow or even possibly stop any growth of inflation for a period of time.

The use of credit contractions makes it harder for consumers to obtain credit. At the same time, credit contractions may also help to encourage saving money in standard savings accounts and Certificates of Deposit. A result is that banks and other financial institutions improve their capital ratios and carry less debt in the form of mortgages and loans.

3.      Supreme Court Justice, John Marshall, defined the constitutional powers of the United States. In the cases listed that he argued, (pg. 182-183) what powers did the Supreme Court hold? How did his decisions affect states’ rights? The case of McCulloch v. Maryland brought up two constitutional issues: Did states have the power to tax federal institutions within their borders? And since the BUS wasn’t even mentioned in the constitution in the first place, was it even legal? Judge Marshall turned to Article I, Section 8 which Hamilton had also used to justify the first BUS.  Congress has the authority to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers.” Referred to as the “necessary and proper” clause. This clause establishes the "implied powers," by which Congress has authority to pass legislation in areas not specifically listed in the Constitution.

·        NOTES: this vague clause would later be the justification for Social Security, welfare, funding for the “arts”, establishing scientific and medical agencies, Dept. of Energy, Education, and Commerce.

·        Marshall’s influential rulings reshaped American government, making the Supreme Court the final arbiter of the Constitution. Marshall's Court defined the constitutional standards of the new nation. The great work of the Marshall Court was done in a handful of great cases, especially Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, Cohens v. Virginia and Gibbons v. Ogden.

·        Marshall slowly chipped away at states’ rights while maintaining that “the powers of the government are limited…. And its limits are not to be transcended.”

Pg 184 The Virginia Dynasty Cont.

4.     James Monroe – 1816: What was the Monroe Doctrine?  The Monroe Doctrine asserted that the Western Hemisphere was not to be further colonized by European countries and that the United States would neither interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal concerns of European countries. Its primary objective was to free the newly independent colonies of Latin America from European intervention and control (thus ensuring US dominance). The doctrine put forward that the New World and the Old World were to remain distinctly separate spheres of influence, for they were composed of entirely separate and independent nations.^[3]

·        Monroe – what was he like? Had a reputation for the highest integrity. Genial personality and willingness to work with others that inspired him to take a good will tour to the Northeast in 1816 initiating the “Era of Good Feelings”. He favored a weak executive, seeing the power as emanating from the people through the legislature.

·        Internal Improvements – Monroe was a strict constructionist who agreed to fund internal improvements if they related to national defense. If not, he would not allow funding without a Constitutional amendment.

5.      Define de Tocqueville’s view of America’s “Restless Spirit”. How did this relate to the American inventive spirit and the influx of industrial entrepreneurs? He felt that Americans were always on the move to improve or invent or develop a better way to do something. Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Gail Borden, John Deere – all entrepreneurs that embodied the “restless frontier spirit.”

·        Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Levi Strauss, “There is not one who does not desire, even confidently expect, to become rich.” – reporter for Cincinnati newspaper.

·        People got greedy with land speculation and the move westward. Jim Bowie, who died with Davy Crockett at the Alamo, became a crook and swindled people out of money through fraudulent land grants.

·        Canal Era – Erie Canal – 363 miles, 40 ft. wide, 18 ft. deep. Goal was to link Lake Erie with other Great Lakes, and to the Atlantic. Dug with shovels and horsepower.

6.      Discuss the controversial acquisition of Florida. Spain, at this time, was in a political mess. They did not have the manpower to control their own borders. Monroe and Adams felt that the time was right to take Florida, but they didn’t want to outright seize it. Meanwhile, General Andrew Jackson had been sent to Florida to fight the Seminole Indians who had repeatedly crossed international lines into “Alabama and Georgia to attack planters and harbor escaped slaves.” TV MAP

(pg 192). Jackson seized Florida upon the orders of John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War. Though it was not clear whether permission was given for him to cross internatoinal lines, Jackson later claimed that he had the “go ahead” from the government which they denied. He even told Monroe that he would take Cuba too if given permission. When confronted later about the expansionist and crazy General Jackson, Monroe pleaded “ill health.”

    Jackson continued his raid on the Seminoles. He captured their leaders and two Englishmen whom he executed because he was convinced they had encouraged the Indian uprising. Though many demanded his punishment, Jackson was never censured by the government and almost applauded for what he gained for the American government through the Adams-Onis Treaty. . Facing the grim fact that he must negotiate with the United States or possibly lose Florida without any compensation, Spanish foreign minister Onis signed a treaty with Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. The United States agreed to pay Spain $5 Million for ceded Florida. Adams agreed that Texas was NOT part of the Louisiana Purchase, Spain relinquished all claims to the Pacific Northwest. TV MAP

  

7.      After the Adams-Onis Treaty, Monroe sent Major Stephen H. Long on an expedition to explore these “worthless and bleak Great Plains” that he described as “suitable only for a permanent Indian frontier.” However, with American ingenuity and hard work, this area turned out to be extremely valuable. In what ways? A trade route opened that would ultimately encourage Americanization of the Great Plains. After the Mexican Revolution in 1820, the Santa Fe Trail opened bringing traders from Missouri. They brought steamboats with cargo up from St. Louis up the Missouri River to Independence. There they outfitted Conestoga (covered) Wagons with goods like cloth, cutlery, and hardware. They returned with Mexican silver, fur and mules. (pg. 193)  They required military escorts because of the threat of the Kiowa and Comanche Indians. Slowly the Great Plains were settled and towns along the Missouri river that would later service pioneers and other immigrants traveling along the Oregon Trail. The American Fur Company established Fort Union on the Missouri River. “Mountain Men” from the Rockies pursued the fur trade between 1820-1830 mapping the Rockies and paving the way of the Oregon Trail.

·        Monroe leaves what seems to be a happy little environment for the incoming administration. There are no wars, no foreign entanglements, a robust economy, no party bickering. But, as always, he has managed to sidestep the “800 lb. elephant” in the room… slavery.

8.      Discuss the debate in admitting Missouri to the Union. Eleven slave states, eleven free states. What would Missouri be? It would threaten to shift the balance of power in the federal government, and set a precedence for the entire Louisiana Purchase territory. Congressman James Tallmadge and Senator Rufus King introduced legislation to prevent slavery in Missouri and to make prohibition a prerequisite for admission into the Union. Senator William Pinckney asserted that the US was a collection of individual sovereignties and that Congress lacked the constitutional authority over those sovereignties.

9.      Define the Missouri Compromise. What affect(s) did it have?

·        Constitution never said anything about territories. Even though the Northwest Ordinance dealt with slavery, it was written before the Louisiana Purchase and the frenzied move westward. Maine soon applied for statehood and would be a “free” state which would maintain balance of powers. The Missouri Compromise was an agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress, involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30' north except within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri. Prior to the agreement, the House of Representatives had refused to accept this compromise and a conference committee was appointed. The United States Senate refused to concur in the amendment, and the whole measure was lost.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Compromise

·        Henry Clay was the Great Compromiser of this bill. Known for his being wishy washy, He tried to appease all sides of the issue but it just caused more hard feelings and emotion. Freed blacks could not go into slave states. Masters could not take their slaves into free states, etc. Slavery could have worked assuming: that the South could hold on to pro-slavery presidents, that the newly admitted states would not tip the balance of power, and that they could control the judicial branch through the pro-slavery president.

·         The ability of non-slave states would only grow and have more electoral clout and more power in both houses of Congress. Also, if slavery was evil in the territories, how could it be ok in the southern states? If morally acceptable in Mississippi why not in Minnesota?

10.   With Van Buren’s new Democratic party, most states had abandoned property requirements for voting, but voter turnout fell quickly. Why? Despite the heated and moral issues of the day, how does Van Buren put politics before the country? (include slavery, job creation, hypocrisy  bribery) Voter turnout was higher when tied to property rights because people felt a sense of pride. When you get “something for nothing” it loses its value. One of Van Buren’s main goals was to stick it to the Federalists and the hated John Quincy Adams for “stealing” the election. (After Henry Clay dropped out of the presidential race with too few electoral votes, opponents felt that he corroborated with Adams to “steal” the presidency. Corrupt Bargains, pg. 201) He knew slavery was immoral and evil, but more important to him was to win and gain power. His strategy was to simply not talk about slavery or bring it up in debate. He claimed he wanted to get rid of corruption but he was corrupt. His strategy was to “buy” votes with promising jobs “for the noble purpose of saving the nation.”

11.   HoWhat were the similarities and differences of John Quincy Adams and his father? Why was JQA’s presidency referred to as “stillborn”? Benefited from the family name, associated with his father’s Anglophobia, a feeling of distrust from the people, suffered from chronic depression, was very self-righteous, he abandoned the Federalists and became a Republican, excellent foreign policy, political astuteness, unable to admit to his faults. His presidency was “stillborn” because his opponents felt that he stole the election and would not allow him to pass any legislation. Plus Adams stuck his foot in his mouth when he said that Congress should not be “palsied by the will of our constituents.” The Tariff of Abominations was his baby.

12.    What did Henry Clay contribute to our nation’s legacy, if anything? Lincoln and JFK thought he was one of the most outstanding senators in US history. The American System, originally called "The American Way", was a mercantilist economic plan based on the "American School" ideas of Alexander Hamilton, consisting of a high tariff to support internal improvements such as road-building, and a national bank to encourage productive enterprise and form a national currency. This program was intended to allow the United States to grow and prosper, by providing a defense against the dumping of cheap foreign products, mainly at the time from the British Empire. He was the “Great Band-Aider”

13.   How did Andrew Jackson handle the “Indian” situation? Did that help or hurt America’s expansion westward? Explain. Jackson believed in “Manifest Destiny” which, he felt, guided him to break treaties with the Indians and expand westward. He called it a “just, humane, liberal policy” that would remove the Indians west of the Mississippi River. John C. Calhoun and James Monroe as well as others felt the same way. Louisiana Purchase led to the Homestead Act.

14.   Explain Jackson’s “thorn in the flesh” left for him by John Q. Adams. In 1828 the U.S. Congress passed a bill putting high tariffs (government taxes) on imported goods. The measure was intended to protect industries of New England, where numerous factories had opened during the first three decades of the century and the manufacture of finished goods defined the region's economy. Congress figured that by placing high taxes on goods from other countries, Americans would buy American-made products. But southern farmers had come to rely on cheaper imported goods. Believing the 1828 legislation was overly protective of the nation's industrial interests, southerners dubbed it the "tariff of abominations." Vice President John C. Calhoun (1782-1850), from South Carolina, openly and strongly criticized the tax, pronouncing that any state could declare null a federal law it deemed unconstitutional. In response, Congress took measures to lower the tariffs, but not eliminate them. South Carolina remained dissatisfied with the legislation, and in 1832 the state declared the tariff act null and void. Further, it threatened secession from the Union. President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), unwilling to tolerate such rebelliousness and determined to enforce the federal law at all costs, asked Congress to pass the Force Bill-legislation allowing the nation's armed forces to collect the tariffs. Jackson's move inspired tremendous opposition in Congress. The Senate leader of the anti-Jackson contingency was Henry Clay (1777-1852) of Kentucky. Clay, who had earned himself the nickname "Great Pacificator" for his work in crafting the Missouri Compromise (1820), presented another compromise in 1833. He proposed that duties on certain goods could remain high but others should be gradually reduced over time. The Compromise Tariff authored by Clay averted an all-out conflict in the nation. The measure was passed and thereafter tariffs were adjusted depending on the prevailing economic conditions. But the fury over the Tariff of Abominations further revealed the North-South differences and the federal-government-versus-states'-rights issues that would inspire the southern states-led by South Carolina-to secede from the Union in 1860 and 1861, bringing on the American Civil War (1861-65).

15.   Define “Jacksonianism”. Promoted the strength of the executive branch at the expense of congress, Voters included ALL white males, not just property owners, broadened the public’s participation in government, Trail of Tears, Common Man, instituted two-party system Strongly avoided by the forefathers in the constitution. Favored westward expansion – Manifest Destiny

16.  What events can you (or have you seen) that foreshadow the inevitable Civil War? The Missouri Compromise, The Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations), Compromise of 1850 which addressed ceded states gained at the end of the Mexican War whether they would be slave or free states. California was free and Utah and New Mexico could choose.

2. Fugitive Slave Act – 1850The Fugitive Slave Act was passed as part of the Compromise of 1850. This act forced any federal official who did not arrest a runaway slave liable to pay a fine. This was the most controversial part of the Compromise of 1850 and caused many abolitionists to increase their efforts against slavery. This act increased the Underground Railroad activity as fleeing slaves made their way to Canada.

3. Uncle Tom's Cabin Was Released Uncle Tom's Cabin or Life Among the Lowly was written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Stowe was an abolitionist who wrote this book to show the evils of slavery. This book, which was a best seller at the time, had a huge impact on the way that northerners viewed slavery. It helped further the cause of abolition and even Ab

6. Dred Scott Decision In 1857, Dred Scott lost his case proving that he should be free because he had been held as a slave while living in a free state. The Court ruled that his petition could not be seen because he did not hold any property. But it went further, to state that even though he had been taken by his 'owner' into a free state, he was still a slave because slaves were to be considered property of their owners. This decision furthered the cause of abolitionists as they increased their efforts to fight against slavery. Abraham Lincoln recognized that this book was one of the events that led to the outbreak of the Civil War.

7. John Brown Raided Harper's Ferry

John Brown was a radical abolitionist who had been involved in anti-slavery violence in Kansas. On October 16, 1859, he led a group of seventeen including five black members to raid the arsenal located in Harper's Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). His goal was to start a slave uprising using the captured weapons. However, after capturing several buildings, Brown and his men were surrounded and eventually killed or captured by troops led by Colonel Robert E. Lee. Brown was tried and hanged for treason. This event was one more in the growing abolitionist movement that helped lead to open warfare in 1861.

8. Abraham Lincoln Was Elected President

With the election of Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln on November 6, 1860, South Carolina followed by six other states seceded from the Union. Even though his views about slavery were considered moderate during the nomination and election, South Carolina had warned it would secede if he won. Lincoln agreed with the majority of the Republican Party that the South was becoming too powerful and made it part of their platform that slavery would not be extended to any new territories or states added to the union.

17.   What current headaches do the national BUS present? Why did Jackson declare “War” on the BUS? Contrary to the long-held belief that Jackson was a “hard money” man and wanted to get rid of all paper specie, he declared war on the BUS because it presented a political threat to him. As he was against the BUS early on, he benefitted from the prosperity it brought. He then changed his mind, but used the “big evil bank” to his political advantage.

18.   What was the real cause of the Panic of 1837? (Hint: it was not Jackson’s BUS policies) Falling cotton prices resulted from the BUS calling in many of its outstanding loans. Loans were harder to get, and the British buyers started to import Indian cotton. Land prices fell which caused a mortgage mess. The BUS became an easy political target even though it had little influence. Large amounts of silver from Mexico coming across the Santa Fe Trail had dried up which caused the British to raise interest rates on American loans which caused inflation. “No matter how petty and ill conceived Jackson’s attach on the bank was, he must be absolved of actually causing much directly harm to industrial growth – although new research suggests that his redistribution of the surplus probably contributed to the damage in financial markets.

19.   What, in your opinion, is Andrew Jackson’s legacy? What did he leave us? Commander of American forces in the Battle of New Orleans,Manifest Destiny and the Indian Removal program, “Old Hickory” because he was so tough. First president to be associated with the American frontier.