Sectionalism North West South Mr Owens Essential Questions

Sectionalism! North, West, South Mr. Owens

Essential Questions • What were the causes and effects of the rise of the cotton industry in the South and how did connect with the industrial and more urban North? • How did the continued growth and reliance on agriculture contribute to a growing regional identity in the South? • How did regional interests (sectionalism) often trump national political concerns especially on economic policy and slavery?

Industrial & Urban Northeast: textiles, & variety of other goods: farm machinery, clocks & shoes etc. • Organized labor: Working Man’s Party, MA Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842) unions had right to organize & strike • Urban Life: 15% of pop. By 1850, opportunities & problems • African Americans: 250, 000 by 1860 (50% of free blacks) faced major discrimination, denied from unions, limited jobs (used as scabs) Agricultural Northwest: corn & wheat production • Technology: steel plow (John Deere) & mechanical reaper (Cyrus Mc. Cormick) more efficient • New Cities: Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Buffalo Immigration: surged primarily in North & Northwest The North

Immigration & Nativism Immigration 1820 -1860 Surge due to transportation, problems in Europe & opportunity in America 1. Racism - new immigrants viewed as inferior 2. Belief that they were socially unfit to live alongside “natives” (slums) 3. Workers: immigrants lowered wages or were stealing jobs 4. Protestants - objected to most immigrants being Irish or German Catholics 5. Whigs - Immigrants supported Democrats 6. Politicians - immigrants corrupted politics by selling their votes (political machines) 1840 s in response to surge of Irish & Germans Know-Nothing Party: “The Supreme Order of the Star-Spangled Banner”

The West • American Indians: Exodus west by force or choice west of Mississippi & many adapt to the Great Plains Cheyenne & Sioux (Lakota) nomadic with use of horse • The Frontier: lure of freedom “Mountain Men” ventured West after tales of Lewis & Clark • Settlers on Western Frontier: difficult life in log cabins & “soddies”, disease & malnutrition, conflict w/Native Americans • Women had more responsibilities, difficulties & shorter lifespan • Poor farming techniques led to soil exhaustion & overhunting brought buffalo & beaver to near extinction in certain areas.

The South 1. Primarily agrarian. 2. Economic power shifted from the “upper South” to the “lower South. ” 3. “Cotton Is King!” * 1860 5 mil. bales a yr. (57% of total US exports). 4. Lack of industrialization - De Bow’s Review. 5. Rudimentary (basic) financial system “factors”. 6. Inadequate transportation system.

Southern Society (1850) 6, 000 “Slavocracy” “Cavalier Image” [plantation owners] The “Plain Folk” [white yeoman farmers] Poor Whites - 500, 000 Black Freemen 250, 000 Black Slaves 3. 2 million (4 million by 1860) (up from 1 mil. in 1800) Total US Population 23, 000 [9, 250, 000 in the South = 40%]

Southern Population

Southern Agriculture

Changes in Cotton Production 1820 1860

US Laws Regarding Slavery 1. U. S. Constitution: * 3/5 s compromise [I. 2] * Article IV Section 2 fugitive slave clause 2. 1793 Fugitive Slave Act illegal to assist escaped slaves fugitives for life - slave catching industry 3. 1850 stronger Fugitive Slave Act - stronger punishment and slaves couldn’t testify - rewards.

Emancipation in the North But these dates are misleading - PA law freed newborns at 28 - some slaves in 1830 s - NJ 1860 s.

1. The Culture of Slavery Black Christianity [Baptists or Methodists] * more emotional worship services. * negro spirituals. 2. “Pidgin” or Gullah languages. 3. Nuclear family with extended kin links, where possible. 4. Importance of music in their lives -esp. spirituals RESISTANCE 1. “Sambo” - slaves playing up to stereotypes around owners 2. Defiance - Refusal to work hard. 3. Theft & isolated acts of sabotage. 4. Escape via the Underground Railroad. 5. Revolt – Nat Turner’s Rebellion 1831, VA

“Sold Down the River” • Upper South - years of tobacco had exhausted soil in Virginia, Maryland, & NC • Expanding demand for slaves in Deep South for cotton • “Breeding plantations” • 1790 -1860 1 million slaves sold “down the river” - also used as punishment • 250, 000 slaves shipped in 1850 s alone

Southern Pro-Slavery Propaganda What is the message?