● America Before Columbus

○ Native Americans pre-European contact were a very diverse group affected by:
■ Geography
■ Fertile Soil? (Hunters or Farmers)
○ Surplus food + stable cultures lead to more advanced civilizations
■ Structures that provide this example would be pyramids
■ Groups in the South like Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans were more advanced
in this matter
● Europe Looks Westward
○ Middle-East and Arabs have control over the silk road and land routes, so they
start to look for a west-ward route for more profitable trades
○ Conquistadores in the South looked for God, Gold, & Glory
○ Northern outposts consisted mostly of people that did not fit into mainstream
European (Britain, Netherlands, etc) society (debtors, prisoners, and protestants)
○ Transatlantic slave trade began, bringing millions of Africans to the Americas,
profoundly impacting African societies and economics
○ The Spanish Empire was at the height of its power around the 16th century, with
its wealth and colonies everywhere
○ Columbian exchange traded foods, plants, technologies, and also diseases (which
wiped out the Native Americans)
● The Arrival of the English
○ The commercial incentive - wanted to mimic the success of the Spanish
○ The religious incentive - pilgrims and puritans
○ Wanted to do the same thing as they did in Ireland (like how they basically
conquered it)
● The French and Dutch in America
○ French and Dutch colonies focused particularly on the fur trade, maintained
decent relations with the Native Americans as they needed to know where the
beaver were if they wanted to make a profitable business
● Roanoke
○ The failed attempt to establish a permanent settlement on Roanoke island remains
a mystery, “Lost Colony”
● The Early Chesapeake
○ Colonists and Natives were marked by both cooperation and conflict
○ The Virginia Company reorganized its management, leading to more stable
governance and expansion of the colony
○ John Rofle introduced tobacco cultivation, which became the cornerstone of the
Chesapeake economy and increased demand for labor
○ Headright system encouraged settlement by granting land - rapid territorial
growth
 ○ Exchanges of agricultural technologies from Native Americans, improving their
survival and crop yields
● Maryland and the Calverts
○ Founded as a haven for Catholics, developed similarly to Virginia with a economy
and religious diversity
● Turbulent Virginia
○ Political and economic tensions, along with conflicts with Native Americans
● Bacon’s Rebellion
○ Nathaniel Bacon’s 1676 rebellion against governor Berkeley highlighted class
divisions and tensions between settlers and the colonial government
● The Growth of New England
○ Pilgrims established Plymouth Colony in 1620, seeking religious freedom and
creating the Mayflower Compact as a form of self-government
○ The Puritans founded Massachusetts Bay Colony aiming to build a “city upon a
hill” guided by strict religious principles to serve as an example for the rest of the
world
○ Puritans spread throughout New England, establishing towns with communal and
religious foundations
○ Initial cooperation with Natives (Squanto’s assistance), eventually gave way to
conflicts like the Pequot War and King Philip’s War which decimated Native
American populations - shifted the balance of power to colonists
● The Restoration Colonies
○ The English Civil War temporarily halted colonization efforts
○ The Carolinas were proprietary colonies that split after they developed distinct
economies and social structures from each other, both influenced by settlers from
the Caribbean, whose primary focus was to make money
○ The English seized New Netherland from the Dutch, renaming it New York, and
established New Jersey with diverse populations and economies
○ Pennsylvania was a colony founded by William Penn, became refuge for Quakers
and other religious minorities, promoting fair dealings with Native Americans
● Borderlands and Middle Grounds
○ Sugar production dominated the Caribbean economy, relying heavily on enslaved
African labor and creating brutal plantation colonies
■ Very harsh conditions led to high mortality rates and slave revolts
○ Spanish missions and forts in present-day Texas, New Mexico, and California
aimed to convert Native Americans and secure territory
○ Spanish influence in Florida and the Gulf Coast faced challenges from English
and French encroachments - established Georgia as a colony for debtors as a
buffer against Spanish Florida and Natives
 ○ The Middle Grounds is a term to describe areas of interaction between European
settlers and Native Americans where neither group had full control, leading to
complex relationships (fights and trades) and cultural exchanges (gradually
shifted inland as more Europeans landed in North America)
● The Evolution of the British Empire
○ The English government sought to tighten control over its colonies through
reforms and more direct governance
○ Tried to consolidate several colonies under a single administration, this attempt
got faced with fierce resistance and was dissolved
○ The “Glorious Revolution” - overthrew King James II in 1688 led to changes in
colonial administration, reinforcing the principles of constitutional monarchy and
parliamentary supremacy (parliament has more say in colonial affairs but no
drastic changes for the colonies for now)
● The Colonial Population
○ Indentured Servitude - working for a set number of years in exchange for passage
to America, later transitioning to a reliance on enslaved African labor
○ High birth rates and lower mortality rates compared to Europe -> rapid population
growth
○ Colonial medicine was rudimentary, with limited knowledge and practices based
on European traditions, high mortality rates due to diseases
○ Women in the Chesapeake colonies were more self reliant due to high mortality
rates (hotter, insects like mosquitoes, disease, etc) impacting family stability - had
to be able to take care of yourself, leads to a somewhat more egalitarian society
○ New England families were typically larger and more stable, strict religious and
social structures governing family life Women were more restricted than in the
South because of larger families and having to take care of children
○ Slavery became institutionalized in the 17th century, with laws codifying racial
slavery and the transatlantic slave trade supplying labor for tobacco plantations
(after Native Americans and indentured servants)
● The Colonial Economies
○ The Southern economies were based on cash crops like tobacco, rice, indigo,
heavily relying on slave labor
○ The Northern colonies developed diverse economies with small farms, trade, and
early manufacturing, benefiting from technological environments
○ Colonies adopted many European technologies, limitations on infrastructure and
resources sometimes hindered their application
○ Trade networks expanded within the colonies and with Europe, fostering
economic interdependence and growth of merchant classes
 ○ Increased availability of goods led to consumer culture, encouraged people to buy
stuff from elsewhere, which colonists seeked to display wealth and status through
acquisition of imported items
● Loosening Ties
○ Salutary Neglect - allowed the colonies significant self-governance, fostering a
sense of independence
○ The colonies were divided based on economy, geography, and social differences
which created regional identities - complicating unity
● The Struggle for the Continent
○ New France allied with Native American tribes such as the Iroquois Nation for
trade networks and military alliances
○ Conflict between England and France over territory in North America -> French
and Indian War -> 7 Years War
● The New Imperialism
○ The British Victory in the French and Indian War left them with new territories
and a lot of debt, leading to new colonial policies
○ The British sought to manage relations with Native Americans through the
Proclamation of 1763, restricting colonial expansion westward
○ The colonies resented the British restrictions and taxes -> increased resistance and
demands for greater autonomy
● Stirring of Revolt
○ The 1765 Stamp Act imposed direct taxes on the colonies, sparking widespread
protest and formation of the Sons of Liberty
○ Economic and political grievances led to various uprisings, such as the Regulator
Movement in the Carolinas
○ The Townshend Acts of 1767 taxed common goods like tea and paper, leading to
boycotts and heightened tensions between Britain and the colonies
○ The Boston Massacre - 1770, British soldiers killed five colonists during a
confrontation in Boston, fueling anti-British sentiment and propaganda
○ Enlightenment ideas about natural rights and government by consent influenced
colonial leaders and justified resistance to British rule
○ The 1773 Tea Act led to the Boston Tea Party, colonists dumped British tea into
Boston Harbor as a protest against taxation without representation
● Cooperation and War
○ The Continental Congress formed to coordinate colonial resistance, asserting a
new collective authority independent of British control
○ Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolution in 1775,
when British troops attempted to seize colonial arms and met with armed
resistance
● The States United
 ○ Initially many colonists sought reconciliation with Britain, but over time the aim
shifted to complete independence
○ The Continental Congress formally declared independence on July 4, 1776,
influenced by Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” -> escalates conflict
○ The Declaration of Independence excited support among colonists, though it also
deepened divisions with Loyalists who remained loyal to Britain
○ The colonies faced significant challenges in raising and sustaining armies,
securing supplies, and building alliances
● The War for Independence
○ Early battles - Siege of Boston and Battle of Bunker Hill, set the stage for
prolonged conflict
○ The British aimed to isolate New England by capturing New York City and
controlling the Hudson River Valley, facing resistance at battles like Saratoga
○ The Iroquois allied with the British, hoping to protect their lands from colonial
encroachment
○ American victory at Saratoga in 1777 convinced France to provide military
support, significantly bolstering the war effort
○ The war shifted to the southern colonies, where guerilla tactics and key battles
like Yorktown ultimately led to British surrender
○ The Treaty of Paris in 1783 formally ended the war, recognizing American
independence and ceding significant territory to the new nation
● War and Society
○ Loyalists faced persecution and many fled to Canada or Britain; minorities,
including African Americans and Native Americans, had varied roles and
experiences in the war
○ War disrupted slavery, some enslaved people gained freedom by fighting for the
British while others remained enslaved or were re-enslaved
○ Women contributed to the war effort as nurses, spies, and supporters on the home
front, and the war sparked discussions about women’s rights
○ The war disrupted trade and agriculture, leading to inflation and economic
hardship, but also stimulated domestic manufacturing since they could not just
buy supplies from Britain
● The Creation of State Governments
○ New state constitutions reflected republican ideals, emphasizing civic virtue,
limited government, and the protection of individual rights
○ The first state constitutions established frameworks for government, often
including bills of rights to protect citizens’ liberties
○ Some states began to adapt policies of religious toleration, while the institution of
slavery was kept otherwise the cost would be disunity
● The Search for a National Government
 ○ The Articles of Confederation created a loose alliance of states with a weak
central government, lacking the power to tax or regulate
○ The Confederation government struggled to negotiate effectively with foreign
powers, undermining its authority and credibility
○ Policies like the Northwest Ordinance established orderly settlement and
governance of western territories, banning slavery in the Northwest Territory
○ Expansion into western territories led to conflicts with Native American tribes,
who resisted the loss of their lands and sovereignty
○ Economic distress and high taxes sparked Shays’ Rebellion in 1786, highlighting
the weakness of the Confederate government and prompting calls for reform
● Framing a New Government
○ Federalists led by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison argued for a strong
central government to address the weaknesses of the Article of Confederation
○ The Constitutional Convention of 1787 saw intense debate between delegates
advocating for state sovereignty and those favoring a powerful national
government
○ The U.S. Constitution established a federal system with checks and balances
among three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial
○ The Federalists supported the new Constitution, white Anti-Federalists feared
centralized power after they just broke off from Great Britain and demanded a Bill
of Rights to protect individual liberties
○ The ratification process included a promise to add a Bill of Rights, accomplished
with the first 10 amendments to the Constitution
● Establishing National Sovereignty
○ The new government faced challenges in establishing control and protecting
settlers in the western territories
○ The U.S. government negotiated treaties with Native American tribes, often
resulting in the cession of tribal lands and relocation of tribes
○ President Washington’s policy of neutrality kept the U.S. out of European and
foreign conflicts, particularly wars between Britain and France
○ Jay’s Treaty and Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain secured American interests and
access to western territories and trade routes
● The Downfall of the Federalists
○ The Election of 1796 - John Adams won the presidency, but his administration
faced internal divisions and external challenges that weakened the Federalist party
○ The Quasi War with France was an undeclared naval war strained U.S. resources
and led to Alien and Sedition Acts
○ The Alien and Sedition Acts aimed at silencing opposition (French immigrants
who supported democratic republicans and aiding the French), prompting
 backlash (since they saw this a law made by the Federalists to get rid of
oppositions to the party) and contributing to the decline of the Federalists
○ The “Revolution” of 1800 - significant for the peaceful transition of power
between different political parties or groups (Federalist ->
Democratic-Republican)
● Rise of Cultural Nationalism
○ Promotion of public schools, growth of high schools and colleges -> higher
education
○ Efforts to professionalize the field of medicine
○ Growth of literature - celebrating the Great American West
○ Enlightenment taught people to be skeptical about religion -> separation of church
and state
○ The Second Great Awakening - religious revival movement that swept through the
United States, promoting evangelicalism, social reform, and the establishment of
new denominations
○ Urbanization increased as cities grew rapidly
● Jefferson the President
○ Jefferson’s presidency emphasized simplicity and republicanism
○ Jefferson’s administration focused on reducing the national debts and minimizing
military expenditures, including the reduction of the navy
○ Conflict with the Courts, Marbury v. Madison's (Madison because he was in
charge of overseeing the commission and was secretary of state during Jefferson’s
presidency) case established the principle of judicial review, allowing the
Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional (declared the law that John
Adams used to choose his midnight appointments was unconstitutional.)
● Doubling the National Domain
○ Jefferson and Napoleon - diplomatic negotiations with Napoleon Bonaparte of
France led to the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, doubling the size of the
United States
○ Lewis and Clark explore the newly acquired western territory - establishing
American presence + paving the way
○ Aaron Burr alleged plot to create an independent nation in the West led to his
arrest and trial for treason, though he was acquitted
● Expansion and War
○ British and French interference with American shipping including the
impressment of sailors (Embargo Act, and later Macon’s Bill No. 2)
○ Led to the war of 1812
● Building a National Market
 ○ The second bank of the United States was established to stabilize the economy,
regulate currency, and provide credit; protective tariffs supported American
industry
○ The construction of roads canals linked regional economies and promoted
national unity
● Expanding Westward
○ Large number of settlers moved westward, driven by the availability of land and
opportunities for economic advancement
○ The plantation expanded rapidly, heavily relying on slave labor, entrenching the
institution of slavery in the southwestern territories east of the Mississippi River
○ Fur trade attracted trappers and traders to the Far West, leading to increased
Native American tribes and the exploration of new territories
○ Popular culture and literature began romanticization of the West as a land of
opportunity and adventure, encouraging further migration and settlement
● The “Era of Good Feelings”
○ Decline of the Federalist Party after the War of 1812 (seen as a treasonous party
through Hartford Convention since they thought that they would lose the war)
○ As Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams negotiated the Adams-Onis Treaty,
acquiring Florida from Spain and settling boundary disputes
○ Panic of 1819, first major financial crisis in the United States, caused by
speculation, banking practices, and falling agricultural prices, leading to economic
depression and discontent
● Sectionalism and Nationalism
○ The Missouri Compromise - admit Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free
state to maintain balance, also established the 36°30` parallel
○ Chief Justice John Marshall’s decisions strengthened the power of the federal
government over state governments and supported economic development such as
McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons V. Ogden
○ The Supreme Court under Marshall made significant rulings regarding Native
American sovereignty, including Worcester v. Georgia, affirming tribal
independence
○ While neutral in European military conflicts, the Monroe Doctrine declared the
Western Hemisphere was closed to further European colonization and
interference, asserting U.S. influence in the region
○ The Monroe Doctrine influenced the Latin American Revolution which were a
bunch of Spanish colonies who raised opposition against Spanish colonialism
● The Revival of Opposition
○ “The Corrupt Bargain” - 1824 presidential election ended in controversy when
John Quincy Adams was elected by the House of Representatives with allegations
of a deal with Henry Clay
 ○ John Quincy Adams’ presidency faced opposition and criticism with limited
success in implementing his ambitious nationalistic agenda
○ Andrew Jackson wins the election of 1828 and marked the rise of Jacksonian
Democracy, emphasizing the power of the common man and a more inclusive
political system - it was a state qualification prior for only land-owning white men
to vote but now they dropped the property requirement -> so many common white
men who could relate to Jackson voted for him, securing his second term
● Jacksonian America
○ Andrew Jackson’s populist appeal and military heroism catapulted him to the
presidency, representing the common man against the elite
○ Many states eliminated property rights for voting
○ Political parties became more organized and accepted as essential to the
democratic process, with the rise of the Democratic Party and the Whig Party
● “Our Federal Union”
○ Vice President Calhoun pushed for states rights
○ Nullification Crisis, South Carolina decided that they would nullify the Federal
Tariffs since they thought it was unconstitutional -> Andrew Jackson would
respond with a Force Bill, threatening to take military action
○ The above was a precursor for Lincoln’s reasoning for the Civil War - the
preservation of the Union and Federal Law above States
● The Removal of the Indians
○ Many White Americans viewed Native Americans as obstacles to progress and
advocates for their removal to lands west of the Mississippi River
○ The Trail of Tears - Removal of the Cherokee Nation to Oklahoma in 1838-1839,
resulting in the death of thousands due to harsh conditions
● Jackson and the Bank War
○ Biddle’s Institution - Nicholas Biddle president of the Second Bank of the United
States, sought to renew the bank’s charter, leading to conflict with Jackson
○ Jackson vetoed the renewal of the bank’s charter and withdrew federal deposits,
leading to the bank’s demise and financial instability
○ The destruction of the national bank and speculative lending practices contributed
to economic instability, culminating the Panic of 1837
● The Changing Face of American Politics
○ The Democratic Party, led by Jackson, supported states’ rights and limited
government, while the Whig Party favored a strong federal role in the economy
○ Martin Van Buren’s legacy was marred Panic of 1937
○ The Log Cabin Campaign - The Whigs successfully used populist imagery and
slogans to elect William Henry Harrison in 1840, portraying him as a man of the
people
 ○ The Frustration of the Whigs - Harrison’s death shortly after taking office and his
successor John Tyler’s opposition to key Whig policies led to internal party strife
● The Changing American Population
○ The U.S. population grew rapidly due to high birth rates and immigration,
doubling between 1820 and 1840
○ Large waves of immigrants, especially from Ireland settled in urban areas,
contributing to the growth of cities. Germans settled more outwest into farmlands,
generally richer than Irish immigrants
○ Anti-immigrant sentiment led to the rise of nativist movements and political
parties, such as Know-Nothings, which sought to restrict immigration
● Transportation, Communications, and Technology
○ Canals like the Erie Canal linked major waterways, reducing shipping costs, and
spurring economic growth
○ Early railroads in the 1830s and 1840s further transformed transportation,
facilitating faster and more efficient movement of goods and people
○ Railroads became the dominant mode of transportation by the mid 19th century,
connecting distant regions and promoting national integration
○ Innovations such as the telegraph and rotary printing press improved
communication speed and efficiency, revolutionizing journalism and information
dissemination
● The Cotton Economy
○ The invention of the cotton gin and high demand for cotton (due to British textile
manufacturing industry) made it the dominant cash crop, driving the economy and
increasing demand for slave labor
○ The South remained predominantly agricultural, some regions developed
industries related to cotton and transportation
○ The South’s reliance of slavery and plantation agriculture created distinct social,
economic, and political structures compared to the North
● White Society in the South
○ The planter class were wealthy plantation owners who held significant economic
and political power, controlling large tracts of land and numerous enslaved
workers
○ Southern society valued personal honor and reputation, influencing social
interactions and defense of slavery
○ Southern women of the planter class expected to adhere to strict codes of
domesticity and piety, overseeing the household and supporting their husbands
○ The majority of white Southerners were small farmers who owned little to no land
and lived modestly, often supporting the planter elite’s dominance
● Slavery: “The Peculiar Institution”
 ○ Slavery varied across regions with different labor systems on plantations, in cities,
and in domestic settings
○ Enslaved people faced brutal conditions, including hard labor, physical
punishment, and severe restrictions on their freedoms and rights
○ Urban slavery involved skilled labor and domestic work, offering slightly more
autonomy but still subject to harsh treatment
○ Free African Americans did exist in both the North and South, facing significant
legal and social discrimination
○ The domestic slave trade still persisted despite the abolition of the international
slave trade in 1808, forcibly relocating enslaved families across the South
○ Enslaved people resisted their conditions through various means, including work
slowdowns, sabotage, escape, and revolts
● The Culture of Slavery
○ Enslaved people developed a rich cultural heritage, blending African traditions
with new American influences, particularly in language, music, and religious
practices
● The Romantic Impulse
○ Romanticism arose and artists like Thomas Cole and the Hudson River School
celebrated American landscapes, emphasizing natural beauty and national pride
○ American writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau
explored themes of individualism and personal freedom
○ Southern writers focused on themes of honor, tradition, and the defense of slavery
○ Transcendentalist thinkers, including Emerson and Thoreau, advocated for
self-reliance, intuition, and the spiritual connection to nature
○ Transcendentalists and other reformers promoted preservation of nature and
appreciation of natural environment
○ Utopian communities like Brook Farm and New Harmony tried to create perfect
societies based on communal living and equality, they were influenced by
transcendentalist ideals (spirituality, nature, away from greed)
○ Reform movements challenged traditional gender roles, advocating for women’s
rights and greater social participation
○ The Mormons founded by Joseph Smith, the Mormon movement emphasized
community, religious revelation, and westward migration to establish a theocratic
society, settled in modern day Utah. Tried to establish another “city upon a hill,”
heavily persecuted as other Christian sects saw them as heretics
● Remaking Society
○ The Second Great Awakening inspired religious revivals that promoted moral
reform and social order
○ The temperance movement sought to reduce alcohol consumption and its
associated social problems, gaining widespread support
 ○ Antebellum Americans embraced various health fads and pseudoscientific
practices like phrenology to improve well-being
○ Advances in medical science included improved surgical techniques and the
development of new treatments, though practices remained rudimentary
○ Education reformers like Horace Mann advocated for public schooling and
standardized curricula to promote literacy and civic virtue - educated population
meant educated voters and society
○ Reformers sought to improve conditions in prisons and asylums, emphasizing
rehabilitation over punishment - bring them back into society
○ The establishment of Indian reservations aimed to isolate and control Native
Americans populations while promoting assimilation - more legally recognized
now instead of basically being just relocated somewhere else in “reservations”
○ Women’s rights activists, including leaders like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan
B. Anthony, advocated for suffrage and gender equality - Seneca Falls Convention
● The Crusade Against Slavery
○ Early opposition to slavery included Quakers and some evangelical Christians
who condemned slavery on moral and religious grounds
○ William Lloyd Garrison, through his publication “The Liberator,” called for
immediate emancipation and the end of slavery
○ Prominent black abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth played
crucial roles in advocating for freedom and civil rights
○ Pro-slavery advocates resisted efforts with many defenses such as the mudsill
defense, and the idea that they treated them better than Northerners treated
industrial factory workers, and that they were doing a good by providing slaves
with food and shelter
○ The abolitionist movement faced internal divisions over strategies, with some
favoring political action and others supporting direct resistance; they also had
different levels of extremity such as just the prevention of expansion, overtime
abolition, or immediate abolition
● Looking Westward
○ The ideal of Manifest Destiny had existed for quite some time for now, and it was
the belief that the United States was destined and had the god-given right to
expand across the continent, justified by spreading democracy and civilization
○ In Texas, American settlers rebelled against Mexican rule, leading to the
establishment of the Republic of Texas and its eventual annexation by the U.S.
○ Thousands of settlers traveled the Oregon Trail to the Pacific Northwest, seeking
fertile land and new opportunities
● Expansion and War
○ The Democratic Party, under leaders like James K. Polk, strongly supported
territorial expansion
 ○ The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) resulted in significant gains for the
United States, including California and the Southwest
● The Sectional Debate
○ The question of whether new territories should permit slavery fueled intense
sectional conflict between the North and the South
○ The discovery of gold in California in 1848 prompted a massive influx of settlers,
accelerating the push for statehood and raising the issue of settlers
○ The Compromise of 1850 intended to balance the interests of slave and free states,
including the admission of California as a free state, Fugitive Slave Act, popular
sovereignty in the Mexican cession, and ban slave trade in D.C.
● The Crisis of 1850s
○ Temporary compromises like the Compromise of 1850, failed to address the
underlying sectional conflicts over slavery
○ “Young America” - a movement promoting expansion and modernization,
emphasizing American exceptionalism and the spread of democratic ideals
○ The expansion of railroads and settlement in the West highlighted the debate over
the extension of slavery into new territories
○ The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed territories to decide on slavery
through popular sovereignty, leading to a violent conflict known as “Bleeding
Kansas” - violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas
○ The Free-Soil Party opposed the expansion of slavery, under an economic reason
for white settlers who did not want to compete with large plantations with slaves
○ Southerners defend that slavery was a positive good for both slaves and society,
essential to the Southern economy and way of life
○ President James Buchanan administration faced economic turmoil and failed to
effectively address the growing sectional crisis
○ Dred Scott Decision - in 1857 Supreme Court ruling declared African Americans
were not citizens and had no right to even sue for his freedom -> also that
Congress had no authority to ban in the new territories that they were allowed to
bring slaves into anywhere they wanted because the Constitution gives them the
right to bring their “property” wherever they wanted
○ Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln-Douglas Debates rose him to prominence in the
Republican Party and marked by his strong opposition to slavery
○ John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 aimed to incite a slave uprising but
failed - this angered Southerners who thought of him as a terrorist and thought
that the Northerners were out to get them, the North saw him as a martyr
○ Abraham Lincoln won the election in 1860, without any Southern electoral votes,
which prompted Southern States to secede - he was able to be elected by president
even though none of them voted for him, they thought it was unfair
● The Secession Crisis
 ○ Following Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, Southern states began seceding
from the Union, starting with South Carolina due to fears that their right to
maintain slavery were under threat. This led to the formation of the Confederate
States of America, with Jefferson Davis as their president
○ There were failed efforts to compromise such as the Crittenden Compromise,
which failed to address the deep rooted issues over slavery
○ The Civil War officially began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired
on Fort Sumter, a federal fort in Charleston, South Carolina. A war for the
preservation of the Union had started
○ The Union had a larger population, more industrial resources, more extensive
railway network, more centralized government while the Confederacy had
experienced military leaders and a strong motivation to defend their way of life
● The Mobilization of the North
○ The Union financed the war through variable means, including war bonds, taxes,
and the creation of the national banking system. The Legal Tender Act of 1862
introduced greenbacks, paper currency not backed by gold or silver, to help
finance the war effort
○ The Union initially relied on volunteers, but as the war dragged on, it
implemented its first federal conscription law in 1863. The draft system faced
resistance and led to riots, most notably the New York City draft riots (since you
could avoid the draft through payment, angered poor Irish immigrants)
○ President Lincoln navigated complex political challenges, issuing the
Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and also his controversial suspension of
Habeas Corpus, a constitutional right
○ The Emancipation Proclamation after the Battle of Antietam shifted the wars
focus to the abolition of slavery as the main goal, prevented further British
intervention and later allowed African Americans to enlist in the Union Army
○ Approximately 180,000 African American soldiers and sailors served in Union
forces, facing discrimination and lower pay but contributing significantly to the
war effort
○ The Civil War accelerated industrialization and technological innovation in the
North, with increased production of weapons, railroads, and other wartime
necessities.
○ Women played crucial roles in the war effort, serving as nurses, spies, and support
workers. Figures like Clara Barton, who later founded the American Red Cross,
highlighted significant contribution of women to both Union and Confederate
causes
Chapter 1-6 40 MCQs
1. A - Mayans are in the Yucatan Peninsula like central Mexico, Aztecs are also around
central Mexico, more west though. Incas were along the west coast of South America
2. C
3. D
4. B
5. D
6. B
7. C
8. C
9. D
10. B
11. B
12. E
13. B
14. D
15. C
16. B
17. A
18. C
19. A
20. B -
21. D
22. C
23. C
24. D
25. B
26. C
27. B
28. A - Virginia Plan wanted population based voting, New Jersey plan wanted equal voting
29. C
30. C Major federalists were Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, John Adams, James
Madison, John Jay. Anti-Federalists were Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, Patrick
Henry, Samuel Adams (Samuel Adamgs changes his view a little bit after due to bill of
rights)
31. B
32. D
33. B
34. C
35. B
36. B
37. D
38. B
 39. B
40. A

Chapter 7-12 39 MCQs

1. B
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. D
6. B
7. C
8. B
9. C
10. B
11. B
12. B
13. C
14. C
15. A
16. C
17. C
18. D
19. - Samuel Morse invented Telegraph -> morse code
20. D
21. B
22. E
23. C
24. - Nat Turner’s Rebellion
25. C
26. B
27. A
28. C
29. B
30. C
31. A
32. B - Main goal of the American Colonization Society, founded in 1816 was to resettle free
African Americans in Africa
33. B
34. - Emma Willard in 1821 founded the Troy Female Seminary to provide higher education
for women, at first they were just religious schools
35. A
36. B
37. B
38. A
39. - Jonathan Edwards was one of the main pastors during the First Great Awakening,
Charles Grandison Finney was one of the major leaders during the Second Great
Awakening