Post on 21-Dec-2015
Disputed Election of 1824 John Quincy Adams wins over Jackson - chosen by
Congress b/c not ½ of electoral votes
Election of 1828 Jackson dominates over Adams Believed in Jacksonian Democracy
Spread of political power to more people Led to 2 new political parties
Whigs – Adams, programs 4 national growth, spur economy
Democrats – Jackson, roots of today’s party Began holding nominating conventions where all states
had a say who they were electing
Hired many ppl to work in gov. that were his supporters = spoils system Believed more citizens would prevent small group of
wealthy men from controlling gov. National Bank War
Thought National bank was unconstitutional & did not like private investors ran it
Whigs came up w/ plan to save bank & ruin Jackson’s re-bid for election of 1832
Plan backfired when ppl voted majority for Jackson Bank closed & helped bring economic crisis &
depression
Americans believed their nation & democratic gov. were best in the world
Believed we had right & duty to spread culture all the way to Pacific Ocean
Open new opportunities 4 economy Negative Side:
White Americans believed they were superior to N.A. & Mexicans
Oregon Country
Region west of Rocky Mounts.
Soil by coast fertile and forests in east
Britain & US agreed to occupy jointly
Fur trappers named mountain men worked in area Sold fur at
rendezvous
Missionaries were 1st white Americans to permanently settle Wanted to convert
N.A. to Christianity “Oregon Fever:
Led to Oregon Trail Met in Missouri and
took till October Had schedule to
follow daily Had many dangers w/
weather & sickness
The Republic of Texas Austin Family given land grants in Texas which
was part of Mexico Had to become Mexican citizens & worship Roman
Catholic Church 1830 – Texans stop following rules so Mexico
says no more Americans can come in & wants laws followed
1833 – Gen. Santa Anna become dictator of Mexico & wants Americans out
Tejanos – ppl of Mexican descent born in Texas who supported Americans drive to get rid of Santa Anna
Texans take position in Alamo, an old Spanish mission in San Antonio
Texans were severely outnumbered by troops
1836 – Mexicans began siege of bombarding Alamo for 12 days Most Texan survivors were executed
Gen. Sam Houston worked hard to gain volunteers & wanted revenge
Battle of San Jacinto – 1836 “Remember the Alamo” Lasted 18 min & although
they were outnumbered they captured Santa Anna
Signed treaty for Independence known as Lone Star Republic
U.S. was divided whether to annex (add on) Texas
Southwest
Spain owned New Mexico Territory & California Americans used Santa Fe Trail to N.M. Terr. Missionaries & Ranches throughout Cali
James Polk becomes President in 1844 Get U.S. & Britain to divide Oregon Territory @ 40
degrees North – US south of line Annexed Texas after pretending they would ally with
G.B.
Mexican War – 1846 War starts over land boundaries near Rio Grande
River Defeated Mexico in Santa Fe, Mexico City, San Diego Bear Flag Republic – Cali says they are indep. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildalgo
Mexican Cession – US gained N.M & all Cali US paid $15 million & respect rights of ppl in cession
Gadsden Purchase – 1853 Paid $10 million for Arizona and small part of N.M. today Many felt dream of Manifest Destiny completed
Americans Rush West Mormons came to Utah seeking refuge from
persecution after many places by Brigham Young Hard journey and lived in desert Became state in 1896
California Gold Rush 1848 – men from John Sutter’s mill were digging &
found gold near Sacramento Kept a secret for short time b4 masses in US & Europe
came 49-ners: ppl who came in 1849 to seek gold Most ppl did not strike it rich Led to California becoming a state in 1850, cities
booming, & a diverse population
Life in the North New Inventions like the sewing machine, plow and
telegraph (signals along a wire) sparked trade Factories started using steam power which was
cheaper to run Could build factories anywhere Produced goods @ lower cost so overall price lower
Railroad Boom 1829 – 1st steam powered engine created By 1850’s railroads all over country Linked towns all over for businesses from west to east
Clipper ships – faster ships with large masts
Horrible Factory Conditions Owners cared more about $ and # produced then
workers Whole families worked from 4am to 7pm Hazardous Conditions – no windows, heat, cold, no
safety devices, no laws regulating conditions
Trade Unions Workers organized for shorter workday, higher
wages, and better working conditions Wanted to strike (refuse) to work
New Wave of Immigrants 4 million people British– came for higher wages Irish – potato famine (shortage of food) Germans – food shortages & revolutions Worked in farms & factories Nativists – wanted to preserve US for native-
born, white citizens so they did not like new immigrants
African Americans Slavery outlawed in North Faced discrimination – policy that denies equal
rights Some small successes
Life in the South Cotton gin by Eli Whitney led to boom in
cotton production Needed new land to cultivate planting so
moved west Led to spread of slavery
Agricultural Economy Rice, sugar cane, tobacco, and livestock
production Very little industry b/c no one to buy
goods Cities: New Orleans, Charleston,
Richmond Were economically dependent on North
from $ from banks & tools/supplies
75 % of southern whites owned small farms w/ only 1 or 2 slaves
Wealthy families were few with large plantations & more than 20 slaves
Free Africans not allowed to travel or vote so as to not set a good example for slaves
1/3 of population slaves Had slave codes – kept slaves from running or
rebelling Couldn’t gather in groups larger than 3 Couldn’t learn to read or write
Most families were divided Some tried to escape or rebel