the politics of social reform

The Politics of Social Reform

Two parties developed Early 19th C

Whigs used government to improve individual morality and discipline Prostitution, temperance, public

education, asylums and penitentiaries Democrats felt morality through

legislation was anti-republican Social reform provoked angry

differences between the two parties

Public Schools Common school

movement Normal Schools

Female teachers Party differences

about organization of schools Whigs want state-

level centralization Democrats

preferred local school districts

Ethnicity, Religion, and the Schools

Issues for many Irish Catholic immigrant children Offensive texts and Bibles used in

schools Some parents refused to send children

to school State subsidy for Parish schools

Foreign language schools for bilingual instruction created

State-supported church-run charity schools

Prisons State governments built and supported

institutions for orphans, dependent poor, insane, and criminals Market Revolution increased visibility of

these groups and cut them off from family resources

Reformers assert these groups exist because of bad family situation

Both political parties favored state-support for criminals and dependents Whigs favored rehabilitation Democrats favored isolation and

punishment “Auburn system”

Asylums Dorothea Dix By 1860:

legislatures of 28 out of 33 states established state-run insane asylums

Few Democrats supported insane asylums

The South and Social Reform Social reform “expensive

and wrong-headed” Southern schools

Locally controlled Limited curriculum

Temperance succeeds for individuals, but no state level prohibition

Southern resistance to social reforms Doomed to failure because

of human imperfection Seen as self-righteous

imposition of Northeasterners

Ardent Spirits American Temperance Society (1826)

Lyman Beecher Six Sermons on

the Nature, Occasions, Signs, Evils, and Remedy of Intemperance (1826)

Temperance becomes badge of middle class respectability

Military ends traditional liquor ration 1832 Congressional Temperance Society 1833 Alcohol consumption cut in half by 1840

3.9 – 1.9 gallon year

The Origins of Prohibition Mid-1830s:

Whigs made Temperance a political issue

“Fifteen-Gallon Law” in Massachusetts 1833

Democrats: Forced temperance violates Republican liberty

Alcohol becomes defining political difference for many

Ethnicity and Alcohol 1840s-1850s: millions of Irish and

German immigrants Germans: lager beers, old-country

beer halls Irish: whiskey, bars

Legitimized levels of male drunkenness and violence

Nativism and temperance politics merge in the 1850s at expense of Democrats

The Politics of Race Traditional view: God gave white

males power over others Whig evangelicals

Marriage changes from domination to sentimental partnership

Emergence of a radical minority envisioning a world without power

Attacked slavery and patriarchy as national sin

Free Blacks North: states began to abolish

slavery Revolutionary idealism Slavery was inefficient and

unnecessary Gradual emancipation

(Pennsylvania model) Free black populations grew

and moved into the cities Many took stable, low-paying

jobs

Discrimination Discrimination rises

White workers drive blacks out of skilled and semi-skilled jobs

Blacks increasingly politically disenfranchised

Segregated schools Blacks build their own institutions

African Methodist Episcopal Church (1816)

Black Anti-slavery activism David Walker: Appeal to the Colored

Citizens of the World (1829) Harriet Tubman Frederick Douglass

Abolitionists William Lloyd

Garrison The Liberator (1831) American Anti-Slavery

Society (1833) Abolition a logical

extension of middle class evangelicalism

American Anti-slavery Society demands: Immediate

emancipation Full civil and legal

rights for African-Americans

Agitation Abolitionists minority of

Evangelicals Beecher - end of slavery will come

with conversion of masters Logical end of antislavery is civil war

“Postal Campaign” Petition campaign Jackson administration response

Censor mail Right to petition abridged

Lydia Maria Child was a leading voice in the anti-slavery movement as well as a champion of women’s

Lucretia Coffin Mott sheltered runaway slaves and became one of the early leaders of the women’s rights movement

Women’s Rights Women’s role as

missionaries to their family make them public reformers

Antislavery movement leads women to advocate for equal rights

State legislative changes in favor of women Married Woman’s Property

Act (New York 1860) Women’s Rights

Convention, Seneca Falls, NY (1848) Declaration of Sentiments and

Resolutions Female participation in

politics

Conclusion 1830s: most citizens firmly

identified with one of the two parties: Whig or Democrat

Whigs: embraced commerce and activist government

Democrats: localistic and culturally conservative

James Clavell’s The Children’s StoryCritical Thinking

Assignment  What is this story about and why does it matter?

 Author of fiction James Clavell wrote this short manuscript to explore social and political issues. Write A 1500 word paper (+/- 10%) describing what you believe to be the most important issue or issues raised in the piece and whether these same issues have been seen in one or more occasion of American history in both, national and international relations.

 Due Thursday 3rd December

Manifest Destiny

John L. O’Sullivan Democrat Journalist New York City“our manifest destiny to overspread and to posses the whole of the continent

which Providence has given us for the

development of the great experiment of liberty and federated self-government

entrusted to us” 1840s Growth

became watchword of AmericaLand acquired

through annexation, negotiation, and war

Relentless pressure on limits of Indian settlements

1850 Native American population > ½ Million Appeal of West as source of

expansionOregon and California were especially attractive

Travelled through America, Mexico and Britain

Missions and presidios in California

Overland Trails

Mormon migration to Utah, 1847

New York – Ohio – Illinois

15,000 people in Nauvoo

Joseph Smith Polygamy June 1844 mob

killed him in jail

New leader Brigham Young

Led group to Salt Lake

“This is the right place”

July 24, 1847 At time Mexican

territory Territorial

governor 1850 -57 Uneasy peace with

DC

Texas1824 the Mexican

government begins to encourage American settlement in Texas

American slave holders conflict with Mexican authorities (slavery would be abolished in 1829)

Mexico bans immigration in 1830

1834 President Antonio López de Santa Anna

passes a series of laws that restrict powers of regional governments

Many locals rebelled In Texas Stephen Austin and

other Americans become determined to push for Independence from Mexico

Sam Houston becomes leader of American Forces

Initially success for Santa Anna’s forces

The Alamo Golliad Texans regroup

Deal crushing blow to Santa Ana at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836

To join the US or Not? Originally the idea was popular in

Texas Texas begins to form ties with Europe

Britain interested access to the cotton and other trade items Hope to persuade Texans to become pro-

abolition Santa Anna threatens war with USA if

Annexation occurs Conflict over the position of slavery in

Texas leads to uncertainty 1838 the idea is rejected

Election of 1844 in USA James Polk elected Pro

annexationresult was a mandate for

territorial expansionBy February of 1846 Texas

was officially part of USATexas was added as a slave

state due to the Missouri compromise

Missouri Compromise1819 Missouri appealed for

statehoodMissouri was a slave state If added to the US this would

upset the balance of slave and free states

Questions arose about the roles of the Federal government making laws for the States

The Solution

1) Missouri admitted as a slave state along with

the addition of Maine as a free state

2) Territory north of 36´ 30º free forever

All looked good until ……. Missouri adopted a STATE

constitution that disallowed free African Americans from entering state

Congress passed a law that Missouri could never deny any citizen of other states their rights under the FEDERAL constitution

A situation had arisen within the debate over the Missouri compromise whereby

The North expressed its political and moral opposition to slavery

The South had defended and promoted the “peculiar institution” that was slavery

Meanwhile back in Texas…..

Mexico considered annexation of Texas a hostile act

America was unable to get money from Mexico to pay the damage claims that American Texans had

dispute over the southern boundary of Texas

Mexico wanted the old border Nunces

USA wanted the Rio Grande

At the same time Americans were pushing into California

In 1843 Mexico had ordered the expulsion of Americans from California

US president Polk sent Slidell to Mexico to negotiate

the offer was US government would assume

damage claims in return for Mexican acceptance of lower border line

Offer of $5 Million for New Mexico

Offer of $20 Million for California

Mexico refused to negotiate - in part due to the political upheavals in Mexico

USA Declares war on May 12, 1846

TaylorNorthern Mexico defeats Santa Anna at

Buena Vista

KearnyNew Mexico and

CaliforniaMarched to California

along Santa Fe Trail and met up with Freemont and the Bear Flag Republic soldiers

ScottLanded at Vera Cruz -

fought his way to Mexico city

Forced Peace treaty on Mexicans

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

February 1848 Mexico cedes New Mexico and

California Mexico recognizes Rio Grande

boundary USA pays Mexico $15 Million USA assumes America damage

claims

Sectional Crisis

Slavery in the New Territories

From the southCongress has no right to exclude

slavery in new territoriesFrom the NorthCongress has the right to make laws

for the new territoriesModerate view proposes “Squatter Sovereignty” later known

as “Popular Sovereignty”

1850 Compromise Senator Henry Clay Attempted to introduce a bill that

would settle the question over slavery in the new territories

The collection of issues he wished to introduced became known as the Omnibus Bill

He died without getting it passed

Stephen A Douglas took on the compromise legislation and after separating it he got it

passed CA admitted as a

free state NM & Utah

admitted with no reference to slavery

Texas debt assumed and boundary restricted

Slave trade but not slavery banned in DC

New slave fugitive law passed

The disputes of the 1840sOver the role that slavery would play in the development of the USA

Would transform the abstract idea of secession

into a real possibility to some appeared necessary to others unavoidable

Fugitive Slave Law Constitution provided for return of

escaped slaves Antislavery movement hampered

state compliance after the 1830sPrigg v. Pennsylvania (1842)

enforcement a federal responsibility Northern states passed

personal liberty laws to prevent recapture of fugitive

slaves

Northerners who did not necessarily oppose slavery opposed return of fugitives

Southerners saw return as matter of honor and rights

Law created extensive system for capturing and returning runawaysAbolitionists vowed to resistEven non-abolitionists were

shocked at reality of enforcing the law

Horror stories of capture 1854 Federal marshals arrest Anthony Burns in

Boston Abolitionists poured into Boston A number attacked the federal court house

Deputy killed Eventually 200 marines and soldiers escorted While abolitionists held the American flag

upside down Signifying loss of liberty in the cradle of the

revolution

Second case Margret Garner Escaped from Kentucky to Ohio with her

children Rather than return herself and children she

attempted to cut throats Succeeded only with three year old daughter Toni Morrison “Beloved”

Led to writing of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1851

Harriet Beecher Stowe

published in 1852Runaway best-seller

Helped shape an entire generation’s view of slavery

Break up of families

Wide but hostile readership in South

Dozens of pro slavery novels produced little impact

“The book that started a war”

In part as a possible cross country railroad path

1853 saw another land purchase by the US The Gadsden Land purchase

Stephen A Douglas Pushing for a northern

route west from Chicago January 1854, introduced a

Bill that became known as the

Kansas-Nebraska ActA railroad bill that turned

into much more

In order to get his bill passed he needed broad support including

southern congressmen “All questions pertaining to slavery in the

Territories, and in the new States to be formed therefrom are to be left to the the

people residing therein, through their appropriate representatives”

He also put in a clause repealing the Missouri compromise

Once more this was there to draw southerners to vote for his plan

However, he underestimated the feelings over the issue of slavery

It was assumed, correctly, that Nebraska would go to the abolitionists

Kansas however, was less certain

It was next to a slave state in Missouri

For many the campaign for Kansas was a precursor for the civil war

Bleeding Kansas In order to ensure that the

“right” decision would be made supporters from both the

Pro slavery and Anti slavery groups began to

move into Kansas

Anti Slavery William H. Seward

“Since there is no escaping your challenge, I accept it in behalf of the cause of freedom. We will engage in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas, God give victory to the side which is stronger in numbers as it is in right”

Pro slavery Senator David Atchison

“We are playing for a mighty stake”

“If we win in we carry slavery to the Pacific ocean; if we fail we lose Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and all the territories; the game must be played boldly”

Struggle for control of Kansas became intense after 1854 Border ruffians from Missouri crossed into

Kansas to vote illegally for slave government Majority favored free soil and opposed slavery

Kansas became the leading issue in politics Two competing legislatures by 1856

Dispute led to caning of Senator Charles Sumner

Lawrence

May 1856 Pro slavery group attacks Lawrence Newspaper offices destroyed Abolitionist Governors house burned Free State Hotel Destroyed

Pottawatomie Creek Radical abolitionist John

Brown led his 4 sons and 3 other men to Pottawatomie Creek

Dragged 5 pro slavery men from their homes

Hacked them to death in front of their families

End 1856 250 dead and $2 million in property damage