History 109

Prompt:  How did state regulation of citizenship and slavery inform the social, economic, and political development of the United States of America from the signing of the American Constitution in 1787 to the conclusion of the American Civil War in 1865?

Thesis: From the signing of the American Constitution in 1787 to the conclusion of the American Civil War in 1865 the U.S. has been shaped socially, economically, and politically. Throughout this period there was numerous historical events that shaped the United States into the U.S. we live in today. During this time a big issue was slavery causing tension between the north and the south. The south believed in slave labor in order to increase their cotton production and also increasing their riches. Furthermore, Citizenship was a cherished right to people at this time. Citizenship meant you had a say in what happen to your state, right to vote, own land.

 1. Cotton Gin: The Cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney in 1793. This machine helped revolutionize the production of cotton by speeding up the process of removing the seeds from the fiber of the cotton. Before it would take ten hours to separate one pound of cotton by slaves. After the invention of this machine the production of cotton rose as well as the labor for the slaves

Source: https://www.eliwhitney.org/7/museum/eli-whitney/cotton-gin

 2.  Missouri Compromise: In 1819 Missouri proposed to unite as a slave state, but was not approved. On the other hand Congress wrote up another compromise that if Maine became a free state in exchange Missouri would be a slave state. This also drew a line across the former Louisiana Territory. During this time the U.S. contained twenty two states and they were evenly divided between slaves and free. The compromise was congress’ effort to stop the sectional and political conflicts happening at this time. This compromise was the first to actually divide the North and the South.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Compromise

3. Indian Removal Act: President Jackson knew he could not protect the Cherokees and other tribes’ from the state. Therefore, on May 28, 1830 the law authorized the president to negotiate with southern Indian tribes or their removal to federal territory west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their ancestral homelands. This act forced Indians off of their land. American troops forced then out of their homes at gunpoint and made the relocate.

4.   Twenty Negro Law: In 1862 passed a law exempting one white man for every twenty slaves on the plantation. The law’s purpose was to exempt overseers or owners who would ensure discipline over the slaves and keep up production. The purpose of this provision is to ensure that enough white males remain behind to prevent violent slave revolts, particularly after President Lincoln announces his Emancipation Proclamation, which may encourage slaves to rebel.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty_Negro_Law

 5.    Cotton Belt: A region specializing in cotton production that stretched south form South Carolina into Florida and west to eastern Texas by the mid-19th century. a region where cotton is mostly grown and produced. This is the main cash crop region of the Southeastern U.S.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_Belt_(region)

6.    Dred Scott: Scott was a slave that went to trial to sue for his freedom.  It was unsuccessful when the ruling was that he was not a citizen and neither was other African American, so he couldn’t sue federal court. He was considered property, therefore, he wasn’t a free man. Scott eventually was considered free, but it was short lived seeing he passed away 18 months later.

Source:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2932.html

7.    Underground Railroad: Helped spirit slaves out of bondage took on legendary status. This was an organization that helped escape and free slaves. This was numerous safe houses running from the south to the north leading slaves to freedom. This routes were not underground nor near a railroad contrary to its name. People who helped the slaves to freedom were called conductors and their fees were known as packages.

Source: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/underground-railroad

8.    Kansas- Nebraska Act: This act was passed on May 30, 1854. This act was proposed by Stephen Douglas who was a democrat.  The act allowed the people within the Kansas and Nebraska borders, decided if they wanted to allow slavery. The act would divide the Missouri territory into two states Kansas and Nebraska. This gave the ability to choose whether or not to allow silvery within the borders of Kansas and Nebraska.

Source:http://www.ushistory.org/us/31a.asp

 9.    Personal Liberty Laws: This law prohibited the use of state facilities in the recapture of fugitives. Use the state refers to courts, jails, police, or sheriffs etc.It helped runaway slaves and freed blacks in the north. State authorities wanted nothing to do with the capture and return of slaves 

Source: http://study.com/academy/lesson/personal-liberty-laws-definition-lesson.html

 10.  Sojourner Truth: Sometimes known as Isabella,  was separated and sold to another master at the early age of 9.She overcame her obstacles as a slave and become an abolitionist and women’s rights activist. Sojourner Truth collected supplies for African American regiments during the Civil War and advocated for freed people.

Source: http://www.biography.com/people/sojourner-truth-9511284

11.  John Dumont: Dumont was the last salve to own Isabella, he bought her for $175. John was fond of Isabella’s hard work and would say she could outperform any of his male slaves or servants. On the other hand, Sally, John’s wife did not agree with her husband and would say Isabella did her work poorly. Dumont promised Isabella that he would free her a year before the deadline, but due to an injury she had to work the entire term.

Source: http://www.biography.com/people/sojourner-truth-9511284

Twenty Negro Law: In 1862 passed a law exempting one white man for every twenty slaves on the plantation. The law’s purpose was to exempt overseers or owners who would ensure discipline over the slaves and keep up production. The purpose of this provision is to ensure that enough white males remain behind to prevent violent slave revolts, particularly after President Lincoln announces his Emancipation Proclamation, which may encourage slaves to rebel.

Source: http://www.civilwaronthewesternborder.org/timeline/confed-twenty-negro-law

Copperheads: Northerners is opposition to the Civil War. Copperheads were considered traitors to the North for their insistence on peace with the south. This was another term for Democrats used by Republicans, after the poison snake.

Source: http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/history/civil_war/cwcr/copperheads.htm

Bounty Jumper:  Men who enlisted in the Union army to collect the bounties offered by some districts to fill military quotas; these men would enlist and then desert as soon as they got their money.

Source:http://thecivilwarparlor.tumblr.com/post/71065556251/bounty-awards-and-bounty-jumpers-in-the-civil-war

Compensated Emancipation: A method of ending slavery used by Lincoln in 1861. Lincoln proposed to a Delaware congressman that the state of Delaware should provide a plan that would compensate slave owners from federal funds if they freed their remaining slaves It gave slave owners a monetary compensation for the freedom of their slaves. This idea was later rejected the idea because he believed that the federal government should not deal with a an internal situation.  

Treasury Notes:  A note issued by the US Treasury for use as currency. This was paper money used by the union to help the Civil War. 

Source: http://www.antiquemoney.com/treasury-notes/

Robert E. Lee: Robert was a promising officer in the U.S. Army. Lee believed that southern states had no legal right to secede. He was later forced to resign after the Virginia convention passed an ordinance of secession on April 17.

Source:http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/robert-e-lee.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Rifling: It’s the arrangement of spiral grooves on the inside of a rifle barrel.   The process of cutting spiral grooves in a gun’s barrel to impart a spin to the bullet. Perfected in the 1850s, it produced greater accuracy and longer range.

Source:http://www.firearmsid.com/a_bulletidrifling.htm

Blockade runner:  A Blockade Runner is usually a lighter weight ship used for evading a naval blockade of a port. A small group of sailors who sailed goods in and out of Southern seaports under the guns of Northern ships.

Dred Scott: Scott was a slave that went to trial to sue for his freedom.  It was unsuccessful when the ruling was that he was not a citizen and neither was other African American, so he couldn’t sue federal court. He was considered property, therefore, he wasn’t a free man. Scott eventually was considered free, but it was short lived seeing he passed away 18 months later.

Source:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2932.html

Kansas- Nebraska Act: This act was passed on  May 30,1854. This act was proposed by Stephen Douglas who was a democrat.  The act allowed the people within the Kansas and Nebraska borders, decided if they wanted to allow slavery.

Source:http://www.ushistory.org/us/31a.asp

John Brown: Brown was a radical abolitionist who didn’t believed the slavery system. He became a hero in the eyes of Northern extremists. John was known for building rebellions with slaves.

Source: http://www.history.com/topics/john-brown

Lincoln-Douglas debates: Series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in their contest for election to the U.S. Senate in 1858. These debates focused on more than just slavery and state’s rights and the course of the debates reflected whether the Union would be able to maintain its unity.

Underground Railroad: Helped spirit slaves out of bondage took on legendary status. This was a organization that helped escape and free slaves.

Source: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/underground-railroad

Personal Liberty Laws: This law prohibited the use of state facilities in the recapture of fugitives. Use the state refers to courts, jails, police, or sheriffs etc.It helped runaway slaves and freed blacks in the north. State authorities wanted nothing to do with the capture and return of slaves 

Source: http://study.com/academy/lesson/personal-liberty-laws-definition-lesson.html

Fugitive slaves: A law stating that i a slave was found the owner had the right to take them back.

Source:http://www.usmarshals.gov/history/fugitive_slave_law.htm

The Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo: This treaty ended the Mexican American was on February 2, 1848, it gained America a huge amount of territory. The territory that is now Arizona, Nevada, California, and Utah. 

Indian Removal Act: President Jackson knew he could not protect the Cherokees and other tribes’ from the state. Therefore, on May 28, 1830 the law authorized the president to negotiate with southern Indian tribes or their removal to federal territory west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their ancestral homelands.

Source: http://indianremovalactproject.weebly.com/background-information.html

Monroe Doctrine: A U.S policy towards the western hemisphere. This policy warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the western hemisphere. The U.S. would not tolerate further colonization or puppet monarchs.

Source: https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=23

Congressional Caucus: A group of members of the United States Congress that holds meetings to discuss legislative objectives. The body that traditionally chose the party’s presidents candidates, the public distrusted these members as undemocratic.

Source: http://www.tc-america.org/news-events/events/past-events/the-congressional-caucus-on-turkey-and-tca-organized-a-meeting-12.htm

Civilized Tribes: Any Indian tribe that understands the way of western society, and has full knowledge about how the western society operates. This makes them a part of the civilized tribes because they are only understood of the white man’s world.