Religion, Reform and the Market Economy in the North

Religion, Reform and the Market Economy in the North

1. The Changing Northern Economy

   • The War of 1812
     • With Britain. Widespread suspicion that Britain was encouraging Native Americans to uprise. Jefferson placed US embargo, ruined US economy.
     • James Madison elected President. Declared war on Britain 14th July 1812. Britain blocked the east coast and burned Washington. Battle of New Orleans, 2000 Britons killed, 21 US killed. Fought after the war was over.
     • War ended in 1814 with the Treaty of Ghent. No one compromised, all it did was stop fighting. News of battle and treaty spread. Speed of travel of info. Battle then treaty = people thought US won the whole war. Four consequences:
       • 1) Federalists opposed to war. Opposition = threaten to leave union, looked unpatriotic and lost a lot of support. Party died out, as did first party system
       • 2) The Monroe Doctrine 1823. Monroe = 5th President. European powers not to mess with Western hemisphere
       • 3) No winners, but NAs still lost. Abandoned by Britain and stopped resisting US expansion
       • 4) Increased demand for self-sufficiency in manufactures > market revolution
   • Population
     • Massive population growth. Natural increase, high fertility and low life expectancy.
     • Immigration. 1820s = 153,000. 1840s = 1,713,000. Firstly mainly Irish.
     • The slaves. 1808 Congress bans importation of slaves, slave trade. Slave population = natural increase like white population. By 1830s, 90% were US born
   • Transportation Technology
     • War demonstrated difficulty of moving stuff on land
       • James Madison spends money on improvements.
     • US had been limited largely by coastal trade. Road financed by government. Toll roads and expansion of canals. Erie canal, NY to Buffalo. Paid for itself in a few years. Lowered travel from 20 days to just 6 days.
     • Steamboats. Long journeys before, more upstream more easily. Reduced cost and time. Increased carrying capacity of the river. Dominant until the railroad
     • 1830s = railroad. Canal and railroad length almost equal. Twice as quick and year round.
   • Agriculture
     • Can ship quicker. Sell surplus to distant marchers, output per worker increased
     • Many became specialists, eg. fruit or dairy
     • More dependents on others. Commercial agriculture

2. Common Place: Democracy and Reform in the Age of Jackson

   • Political Culture of the 1830s
     • Andrew Jackson = hero of the Battle of New Orleans. 'Age of the Common Man' because of Jackson
     • Egalitarian ideas
     • Newer historians look at those who are not the 'common man'
   • Jackson as the Symbol of New Democratic Spirit
     • 1820/30s, democracy as a word rises. Equality and republic become values alongside. Natural elite (federalists). Federalists look more elitest because of few elections.
       • 20-30s, politics ceased to be being concern of just the elite, to all white males
     • Expansion of franchise - most white males could vote. Class differences, but all voted together (painting by Bingham). Notable also for what is missing eg women, anyone not white.
       • expansion was pushed by western states, which was attractive. This mean eastern states had to do it too to keep up
     • Indirect to direct election of the president
     • Working men's parties. Labour organisations encouraged for their interests
     • Jackson was elected in 1828
   • 'Old Hickory' (Jackson's Nickname), 1767-1845
     • Liabilities to his campaign:
       • 1) his roots. Came from Irish immigrant family who farmed in California. Veteran of revolutionary war - only 12 years old when captured. Image od courage. Everyone but one person from family died. By 17, decided to study law - luck and hard work. Slaver holder, which became cotton plantation
       • 2) backcountry culture. Immigrants in backcountry - considered many outsiders / foreigners. Fought against both sides in the Civil War. Described as difficult to get along with. Xenophobic culture - look to outsiders suspiciously. Men pinicle of household - boys taught to be aggressive,willing to fight, tough. Warrior culture. Though Jackson had worked to top of that culture, he was a product of it. Many thought of themselves as social betters
       • 3) chequered past. fan of duelling etc. Duel with Charles Dickinson (he had a good shot, gained good reputation) - Jackson knew this. Jackson shot but took it - tough image
       • 4) a military figure. Ruthless figure. Hero of Battle of New Orleans. People feared a possible military dictatorship.
     • Direct, popular campaigning. Large number of badges etc, satrts with Jackson. Campaign biography, pioneered by Jackson. 'The Wyoming Letters'. Emerged as man of the people - the people's candidate. Thus converted his image, to symbol of democracy. Not enough. 1824, first anti-Washington campaign.
     • The 'Corrupt' Bargain of 1824. HoR deadlocked. Jackson supporters complained. Adams' presidency cried elitism. Policies added and canals etc helped businesses. Dying of founders period - sense of change and crisis - many saw it as a sign
     • 1828, Jackson won massively. Resisting growing market economy. Internal improvements - roads and canals. Central banking > anti-elite. Didn't go unopposed though
   • Expansion of democracy - huge step. However, contradictions = only white men

3. Westward Expansion and Indian Removal

   • Jacksonian Democracy and the Indians
     • Rise of AJ in response to changing society
     • In 1829, many people came for his inauguration. The people felt a sense of pride in his victory. Age of the common man
     • Expanding political equality. However, there was a clear set of opinions on unsuitably of Indians
   • Westward Expansion
     • More permanent farms. As transport improved, started growing things for markets eg wheat. Domesticated animals - part of civilising. High birth rates, market revolution etc = move to West
     • The Louisiana Purchase, 1803. Haitian uprising of slaves and impending war with British convinced Napolean he didn't want anything to do with the Western hemisphere. Solved this by selling Louisiana. Doubled size of the United States
       • expansion began almost immediately. Find incredible landscapes. Found animals eg bison and bears. A lot of people too eg Native Americans and Europeans already knew and traded
         • created more space for Jefferson's views eg farming BUT people already lived there
   • Indians Removal in the Southeast
     • Apadt, leave or die. 3 choices
       • Many tried to adapt. Became farmers and reconstructed family life
     • The Choctaws. 1805 - Jefferson's land allotments, to make Indians farmers. Didn't make sense to tribe, community owned land, went against tribe values. They'd already been farmers for a while before, mixed plots so looked differents. Choctaws turned to livestock as diet + market. Used black slaves
       • 1830, Missouri abolished Choctaw sovereignty. Tension between them heightened. Tried to convince Choctaws to move west or be removed.
         • Treaty of Rabbit Creek. Moved west of the Missouri River. Not all forced to leave, some got land grants. Whites moved in. After treaty, they started to move
     • The Cherokee 'Trail of Tears'
       • Adopted document similar to US Constitution. Several owned large plantations with slaves. Didn't save them from being removed.
         • 1829, Georgia extended authority over Cherokees. 1831, Georgia v Cherokees. Can only lose land if given up voluntarily.
     • Jackson believed strongly in state rights and Indian removal. Cherokees refused to leave. Jackson wanted Indian removal. Cherokees refused to leave. Government then ordered forced removal of Indians. More than 25% died on trail
   • Seminole Resistance under Osceola (Chief)
     • Pro and anti-removal groups - tension. Different tribes fought under Osceola. US finally gave up. 1858 many agreed to go to Oklahoma, land of no value
   • Jackson = market economy and expansion of democracy. However, race and gender

4. Religious Revivals and Cultural Change

   • Native American Experience
     • Shawnee tribe - Treaty of Grenville, gave 17m acres of their land to Americans. Scattered through Ohio, Missouri Game = scarce = hunger. White intruders still took land and disease rose - small pox. Killed more NAs than any others disease
       • Dependent on white for trade - done so for years. Cooking utensils (metal) - much easier. Blankets too. Also guns. Couldn't make them themselves - trapped in trade relationship - market relationship and dependent on it.
         • Domestic problems: growing violence between tribes, family coming apart, clans fell apart, mixed race children concerned conservative members = turbulent society
           • Black Hoof and Assimilation. He accepted a trade agreement. Followers settled in towns, took up agriculture, whites' clothes. Was going well, until gov decided to stop paying agent who taught them, Indians unable to support themselves - relied on gov money. 'the white people have spoiled us' - BH
             • Those who were unassimilated cut all ties. NA religion = important. Lalawathika sparked revival. He hunted, but not well, blinded himself in one eye. Shawnees concerned with beauty, Lalawathika considered unattractive. Rejected by many members.
               • A lot of members drank - destructibe for NAs. Excess drinking encouraged when trading so whites could take advantage - huge alcohol problems. So did Lalawathika - depended on alcohol. Experienced degradation. 1805, fell into deep trance, claimed he died and was reborn. Claimed he had visions of rebirth of Shawnee - CONVERSION. Gave up alcohol ad adopted new name of Tenskwatawa
                 • Message: renounce whiskey - white goods (but keep guns), eat traditional foods, don't dress like white men. Promoted monogamous marriages, cease all contact with whites. Bar mixed race childrem
                   • His brother was Tecumsah - a reknown leader, image of NA warrior. He decided spiritual revival alone - not enough after losing move. Tribes need to come together to resist. Shift FROM RELIGION TO POLITICS. Brought together many north west tribes, spoke in south but assimilated tribes not as receptive and refused to set aside fueds with tribes in the north
                     • Battle of Tippecanoe. Series of earthquakes - interpret as world strongly out of balance. Tecumsah = join with British who are on brink of war with them. Fought against Americans. Traditional Indian feuds hindered. Jackson and allies (other tribes) against Tecumsah's. Tecumsah was killed in battle. Quickly generated folk mythology - becomes hero. Major religous revival = political change
   • The Second Great Awakening, 1820s-1840s
     • Experienced market revolution - not only changed towns, economies etc but also changed fundamental aspects eg time by clock (rather than task), family (esp men worked further away), gendered roles become hierarchical. Domestic work less valuble - because not paid directly so market economy
     • Charles Grandison Finney (seminar notes). 1821 (midst market revolution) - experienced religious CONVERSION. Preach salvation can be attained through rebirth All who wanted could be saved. Complete reformation of the world
       • Temperance, education, anti-dwelling, abolition of slavery. Religious revivals advance new industrial world
   • Revivals
     • not the same, but still a connection
     • Revivals offer thought of cultural and material change. Define experience. Crucial role in bringing world into being
     • Similarities between white and Indian experience. Both wanted land. However, remember to consider both groups as people, not cliches