Introduction to US History/Quiz Review 3

Andrew Jackson

• Explain the “New Democracy” and how it radically changed America
  • The "New Democracy" principle was a campaign that arose during Jackson's presidency and was established during JQA's reign. The principle expanded the voting rights to all white males, not just white men with land. This meant that people had a huge hand in the American government and really showed that any white male can become president. Also, the new generations, although lived tough lives, were more ambitious, energetic, and sound-minded (AL, for example). The population also boomed and influences arose from all parts of the US, not just the east.
• What happened to the Cherokee Indians in Georgia?
  • They were forced to move from their home in Georgia to the west (Oklahoma) from 1830-50, known as the "Trail of Tears".
  • Who were they?
    • The Cherokee Indians were a Native American tribe that presided in Georgia and emulated the white life with their own constitution and legal code
  • Describe their assimilation into American culture and why despite their transformation, they were removed from the state of Georgia.
    • They looked to emulate almost every political aspect of the Americans. They had their own Constitution, legal code, schools, cotton gins, and other documents/machinery that were inspired from the American way of life. They were removed from Georgia because gold was discovered in their fertile land and the Americans wanted to use it.
• In your opinion, what kind of President was Andrew Jackson?
  • Andrew Jackson was more of an oppressive dictator than a president

Immigration

• List/explain at least 2 reasons Irish immigrants came to America
  • Irish famine and a lot of land
• List/explain at least 2 reasons Germans relocated to America
  • Religious freedom and democracy
• How different was the Irish experience in America from that of a German immigrant? Describe each nationality’s journey across the Atlantic.
  • The Irish were the ones who faced the toughest challenges. The Irish came from a devastating famine, so they did not have much of the provisions/technology that the Germans might've had when they immigrated. Since the latter were more educated and wealthier, their journey towards America was a lot easier.

Industrial Revolution

• What made the Lowell Textile Mill so different from other factories in New England?
  • The Lowell Textile Mill housed their girls in a better environment and enjoyed improved working conditions in comparison to other factories. Also, the Lowell Textile Mill would spin cotton into a single thread and weave those threads into a single fabric - all in one go.

Texas & Manifest Destiny

• How did the Texans react to America’s rejection and refusal to annex them after they had won independence from Mexico?
  • They were shocked but made the best out of it
• Why did the US not annex Texas immediately following their successful revolution with Mexico?
  • They stayed neutral throughout their revolution and they did not want to upset the free/slave state balance
• How was President James Polk affected by the belief in Manifest Destiny?
  • James Polk believed in it so much that he started a war with Mexico over land and ego
• Be able to define “Manifest Destiny”
  • America's belief that they were entitled to colonize/rule the unorganized/foreign territory that was within their span of reach (land towards the west, Mexican territory).
• Was manifest destiny responsible for the Mexican-American war? Defend your answer with facts.
  • Yes as the manifest destiny principles were the reasoning for Polk to go to war with Mexico
• What is the connection (and yes, there is one) between the Compromise of 1850, the Missouri Compromise, and the outbreak of violence in the Kansas & Nebraska territories? Be very specific and able to define each of the compromises mentioned above. How did they speed up America’s collapse into Civil War?
  • The connection between all of them is that they revolved around the issue of states being admitted as free or slave. Essentially, the Compromise of 1850 created popular sovereignty and the Missouri Compromise of 1820 stated that slavery was not allowed north of 36.30 parallel. These all sped up America's descent into the civil war because the 1850 compromise led to the Kansas-Nebraska act, which eventually led to the 1820 compromise being declared unconstitutional. This sparked violence in Kansas & Nebraska, which was the first instance of organized violence between both sides. These violent altercations do not end until the civil war's outbreak in 1861.
• Describe the Oregon Trail and what it was like to travel on the trail.
  • The Oregon trail was a 2,000 mile-long pathway for settlers from Kansas to "seek a new life" and "new opportunities" in unexplored land in Oregon. The travel was hard and boring. The trial consisted of bumpy and rough roads marred with repetitive scenery. The wagons, which traveled at 1-2mph, were not prepared for the bumpy roads and harsh weather that fell onto the settlers. As a result of the environment they were in, most of them died due to diseases.

Antebellum South

• Who was John Tyler? How exactly did he become a US President?
  • John Tyler was the VP of William H. Harrison - he became president when Harrison died in office due to pneumonia
• What kind of President was John Tyler? Would you consider him successful? Why or why not?
  • He was a thoughtless president. He wasn't a successful president because his own party expelled him, the majority of his cabinet resigned, stubborn, and ultimately led to the Mexican-American war by annexing Texas.
• Define “abolitionist” and give at least one example.
  • Someone who advocated for the end of slavery. Example: John Brown
• Describe the events that made the abolitionists John Brown, Nat Turner & Harriett Tubman famous.
  • John Brown & Harper's Ferry in 1859, Nat Turner & his rebellion in 1831, Tubman & the Underground Railroad