Embedded Files
Irish Immigrants:
Nearly 2 million Irish, mostly poor tenant farmers, immigrated to the U.S. during the 1840s to escape famine. Settling primarily in Northern cities, they faced discrimination, largely due to their Roman Catholic faith.
German Immigrants:
Following economic difficulties and the failed 1848 revolutions, over 1 million Germans immigrated to the U.S. They generally prospered in the Midwest, bringing skills in farming and crafts, and often supported progressive causes like public education and anti-slavery efforts.
Nativism:
Definition: Nativism is the defensive response by native-born citizens who perceive immigrants as threats to their jobs and cultural identity. This sentiment was especially strong against Irish and Germans, who were predominantly Roman Catholic, clashing with the Protestant majority.
Know-Nothing Party: Emerging from secretive anti-immigrant groups, the Know-Nothing Party, officially the American Party, gained political traction in the 1850s. Advocating for restrictive immigration laws and policies that favored native-born Americans, they proposed extending the naturalization period to 21 years and restricting public offices to native-born citizens.
Industrial Technology:
Post-1840, industrialization expanded beyond New England to other Northeastern states, diversifying into sectors like footwear, sewing machines, and iron products. Innovations such as Elias Howe's sewing machine and Samuel Morse's electric telegraph significantly enhanced manufacturing and communication.
Railroads:
The era of canal building gave way to rapid railroad expansion, particularly across the Northeast and Midwest, making railroads America's largest industry by requiring substantial capital and labor. The U.S. government supported this growth through land grants, starting with 2.6 million acres for the Illinois Central Railroad, which helped integrate Midwest agriculture with Northeastern markets.
Panic of 1857:
A financial downturn marked by falling agricultural prices and rising unemployment in the North, while the South, buoyed by stable cotton prices, felt less impact. This disparity led some Southerners to tout the superiority of their plantation economy and question the value of remaining united with the North.
Fugitive Slave Law (1850):
Purpose and Impact: Enacted to assist in the retrieval of runaway slaves, this law called for federal involvement, denying jury trials for the accused and compelling local officials to participate in captures. It deepened the North-South divide, as many Northerners vehemently opposed it, supporting significant resistance and aiding the abolitionist cause.
Underground Railroad:
Operation and Significance: A network led by both Black and White abolitionists, including notable figures like Harriet Tubman, that facilitated the escape of slaves to the North and Canada. This movement not only helped hundreds of slaves gain freedom but also symbolized the active resistance against the oppressive laws of the South.
Influential Literature on Slavery:
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852): Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, provided a vivid and harrowing portrayal of the harsh conditions faced by slaves in the American South. It played a crucial role in shaping Northern attitudes towards slavery and significantly bolstered the abolitionist movement. The novel's compelling narrative also captured the attention of European audiences, amplifying international criticism of the institution of slavery.
Impending Crisis of the South (1857): Hinton R. Helper’s work critiqued slavery's economic impact on the South using statistical evidence, suggesting that it hindered Southern economic development, which led to the book being banned in Southern states but widely circulated in the North.
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