Civilization of the United States
CIVILIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CIVILIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES
Introduction
•The period: 1600s to 1880
•Note on Native-Americans
•6 lectures
Colonial Times (1 & 2)
•Areas of settlement and phases of colonization
•Motives of English emigrants to the New World
•Colonial Episodes
•Colonial Heritage
Independence (1 &2)
•Events, facts, chronology
•Meaning of facts, global interpretation
•War of/for Independence (1775-1781)
•American «Revolution» (1763-1789)
From Young Republic to reconstruction (1790-1877) (1 &2)
Part One: Thematic Approach
•Territorial Expansion
•Population
•EconomicGrowth (4 maps)
•VotingRights
•The Peculiar Institution
•Native Americans (2 maps)
Part two: Three periods
° Young Republic (1789-1828)
° Antebellum Period (1829-1860)
° Civil War and Reconstruction (1861-1877)
Conclusion: The “First American Century”
A (Mostly) Historical Introduction to the Civilization of the United States
The period: 1600s to 1880
•«The beginning is half the whole»
•Aristotle
6 Self-Contained Lectures
•Colonial Times I (1600s-1770s)
•Colonial Times II
•Independence
•The Young Republic (1790-1830)
•The Antebellum Period (1830-1860)
•The Civil War and Reconstruction (1860-1880)
I. NATIVE AMERICANS
•A variety of native peoples lived within the present borders of the US
•No society had achieved literacy but many had developed sophisticated methods of farming, hunting or fishing, political and societal systems and far-reaching networks of trade and communication
•No sense of a single unified people
•But common features in religion (single creator, no clear distinction between natural and supernatural) ;relation to land and property (no devotion to the accumulation of wealth and property) ; gender relations
•In 1492 Indian population est. 2-5 million for present-day US (total est. of 50-90 million for America)
•Military Action/Brutality (The Spanish Conquistadores)
•Most important factor in catastrophic population decline : diseases (smallpox, influenza, measles). Indians had not developed antibodies to fight these diseases
•In North America, the effects of English colonization in keeping with general trend:
–Biological exchange
–Intensification of warfare between Indian tribes and peoples
II. COLONIAL
A. Areas of settlement
•Roanoke: the lost colony (1587-1590)
•Jamestown, Virginia, 1607
•New England: Pilgrim Fathers (Mayflower, Plymouth, 1620 ; John Winthrop, 1630)
•Middle colonies:
•Maryland (Lord Baltimore)
•Pennsylvania («The Holy Experiment», William Penn)
•The West…
B. Phases of Settlement
•Two successive phases
•By 1640: Virginia, New England, Maryland
•After 1660: Additional Southern colonies, New Netherlands (1664), Pennsylvania (1681), Delaware (1682), Georgia (1733)
•The Thirteen Colonies
C. Motives of Early Immigrants
•Religious
•Economic
•Political
•Utopian
•Any combination thereof…
First Impressions
•«starving time»
•«The air at 12 leagues’ distance smelt as sweet as a new blown garden»
•«Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man’s habitation»
•(John Smith, founder of colony of Virginia)
And many years later…
•«I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors’ eyes – a fresh green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees …had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams…»
•Francis Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, 1925
D. The Pilgrim Fathers
•«The place they had thoughts on was some of those vast and unpeopled countries of America, which are fruitful and fit for habitation, being devoid of all civil inhabitants, where there are only savage and brutish men which range up and down, little otherwise than the wild beasts of the same…»
•William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation
•«For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us… so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world»
John Winthrop, Model of Christian Charity, 1630
The business side…
•Charter companies/land grants
•Massachusetts Bay Company
•Expensive passage
•Colonizing agencies: contract laborers for life
•Indentured servant
•A widespread system in the early phase
E. Colonial Episodes
1. Indian Wars
•Pequot War in New England (1636_1637)
•King Philip’s War (1675-1676) or Metacom’s War
•French and Indian War (1756-1763)
•Episodes in Virginia
2. The beginning of slavery
•20 slaves in Jamestown (Dutch ship, 1619)
•An economic problem: indentured servants v. slaves
•1750 : 240,000 1790 : 680,000
•Tobacco, rice, cotton: towards the «peculiar institution»
3. The Great Awakening
•Jonathan Edwards (Northampton, Ma)
•George Whitefield
•Revivalism, evangelicalism:
- direct access to religious experience
- long term effects: revolt against Calvinism, unifying force, American experience
F. Colonial Heritage
•The English Speaking Colonies in North America (1770)
•The Common English Heritage
•Religion
•Ownership of property
•The American, a «new man» ?
Hector St John de Crèvecoeur (1782)
•«What then is the American this new man? He is either a European, or the descendant of a European, hence a strange mixture of blood, which you find in no other country… He is American, who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced…»
G. Population
•1629: est. 2500
•1640: est. 5700
•1700: est. 265,000
•1770: est. 2,300 000
•1492-1770: sharp decline
of Indian population
The birth and growth of the American constitution from
1787 to 1937
Lecture 1: 1600-1787: from the 1st colonial charter to the 1787
Constitution
Historical and political context:
Constitution: the system of beliefs and laws by which a country or a state is governed
A document that describes this system
Physical health and condition of a person or an animal
(read the constitution)
- American political culture before the revolution:
American colonies were organized differently
The Virginia charter had 3 distinctive features:
- Written for another continent far away from London
- Created a colony, derived its force and authority from the king and private investors
- Very specific purpose: small government “meant to spread christanity”=> to make money
- The 1st American colony soon enjoyed autonomy and economic power
“No taxation without representation”
They compared their constitution to those of Great Britain: resorted to a political theory: mixed government thought to be a good government.
To prevent tyranny-> represent the interest of 3 entities: King, Lords, people => balance
The American faced many problems
They believed that the interests of people elected
Colonial governors: extensive power -> budget-> lack of taxing, they were unable to get the law respected
Extensive but uncompleted power of elected assemblies=> political crisis
- From Independence to the Federal convention of 1787:
4 July 1776: Declaration of Independence
A revolution ->specific form of government, they asked for freedom
(look: moodle “free and independent states”)
Articles of confederation: drafted in 1777= a looser form of federation, the parts are less close
Created kind of a united states
It created a loose reliance (article 8): the states contributed voluntarily in the national budget
=>money problems
USA-> no money to defend the state against Indians and British-> virtual and disunited country
Some American bet that a new government was needed
Gradual change: 1786: American state decided to sign Annapolis*to solve commercial disputes
Another meeting would be necessary to discuss the future of the USA
1786: articles of confederation should be amended, new provisions should be added (boundary disputes, commercial disputes), were set for the next year=> federal convention: Philadelphia convention
Surprise! Some representatives of American state came not to amend the articles but with a plan to remove them
They came with a plan for a constitution. One of them Is James Madison: stated that a national government ought to be established (moodle) => that plan was the first draft of the American Constitution
New theories: new form of government:
- not to be a mixed country
- new constitution for a country without a king and a very large country (13 countries)
- Politicaltheoriesin 1787: inspiration ->ancientphilosopher: Aristotle…
(Three ratification debates)
Natural rightsphilosophers: John Lock
British philosophy (glorious revolution) -> theory of government which made men source of government
Sovereignty came from people and not from God =>popular sovereignty
Montesquieu: 1689-1755 de l’esprit des lois : separation of power between 3 branches: executive, legislative and judicial
The framers were political innovators, borrowed from John Lock theories
Political innovation are explained in the federalist papers (wikipédia): series of essays promoting for the ratification of the constitution, explained the constitution: best seller, best guide book for the constitution
October 1787-August 1788
Political innovation constitution: Montesquieu: explained that republics as a political model who works in small republics-> framers-> large republic-> contribution to a stable form of government (moodle page 14)
It was not enough to have 3 separate branches (moodle page 15)
Ambition must be made to contract ambition: every branch had to check the two others.
1- Where does the Anti-Federalist label come from?
2- Who were the Anti-Federalist?
3- What Anti-Federalists believed?
1.
Group of people on the losing side of history, in 1787-1789. Their ideas haven't disappeared completely.
Anti-federalists are defined by what they didn't believe, and not by what they actually believed.
The Federalists believe in favoring the establishment of a strong federal, i.e. central government.
Federalists are in favor of 1787 constitution. The opposition with anti-fed lasted two or three years. Anti-Fed advocated against the writing of this constitution.
Anti-Fed wanted to take it slow, whereas the Feds wanted to change as quickly as possible. New Jersey Plan for anti-fed (contrary to Philadelphia Proposition for Feds, I think).
Anti-fed were conservatives, they were against change. They believed that any reform should be well thought out and incremental. They were patriots, were concerned by the health and well-being of any citizens.
We don't know all of them. Some of their names, identities or biographies are a mystery. They used pseudonyms.
For example, Johan de Witt (17th century) was the governor of Holland in the Netherlands. At that time, the Netherlands were a confederation, an alliance of provinces (a bit like the USA). Holland was the most important of those provinces. He was a kind of President for the Republic of the Seven United Provinces. He brought peace and stability to the provinces. He was a republican (in favor of a government without a king). He didn't change a national government, he didn't turn the seven provinces into one country; he worked to have the seven provinces work and trade together.
The achievements of Johan de Witt inspired John de Witt (an anti-Fed at the end of the 18th century). He promoted peace, unity amongst the States, without having one republic.
Johan de Witt was lynched by a mob of royalists led by William of Orange... who was the first of a dynasty that would tyrannize the United States.
2.Robert Yates was born in upstate New York in 1738. He was a member of the gentry: he was moderately wealthy. He studied law, was a patriot, took part in the Am Revolution. He helped draw the first Constitution of New York (1775-1777). He was against a national tax, against a strong government. He attended the Philly Convention, as a member of the New York (representation); he left the Convention early to warn his friends/collaborators.
George Clinton (gov. of New York): one of the most vocal opponent of the Constitution during the Philadelphia Convention.
Patrick Henry: gave a famous speech ending with “Give me liberty or give me death!”. He was born in 1736 in VA (about the same age as Yates). He was a member of the elite (born in plantation); he did not study much and started to work at 15. He was a failure, didn't succeed on his own. His father was a wealthy man. Henry was a skilled orator, and that's how he became a lawyer (at that time, no law school, no law degree). He became a prominent lawyer in colonial Virginia by defending Virginia against the Anglican Church (wanted to be paid more taxes from Virginians). The judge was his father... Patrick Henry was then elected to the VA colonial assembly, led opposition to the Stamp Act in VA, gave his famous speech to encourage his fellow Virginians to go to war. After the war, became governor of VA.
3.Anti-fed are reminding that the Philadelphia Convention was exceeded (?). They accused the Fed to have staged a legal coup, to change the articles of the Constitution.
Another argument: the Constitution lacked something essential, something the 13 States had: a Bill of Rights.
The Fed won their battle in 1788, when New Hampshire became the 9th State to ratify the Constitution (two thirds of the 13 States were needed). The Feds had won, and were ready to make concessions => Bill of Rights (10 first amendments of the Constitution).
The Bill of Rights protects the individuals liberties (freedom of speech, of expression, of conscience, of thought); freedom of press, of worship (separation between State and Church); right to bear arms, etc...
The Constitution created a strong national government.
Art 1, Sec 8: “elastic clause”, strong tool for the Feds; possibility for the national government to be as strong as possible.
10th Amendment: powers not listed in the Constitution, go to the States.
There's a balance of powers between the federal governments and the States.
Fed: trustees
Anti-Fed believed that … should be delegates, had to be told directly by electors what to do
Americans still celebrate the Constitution today, but forget about the Anti-Fed.
1798: KY and VA Revolution. Jefferson and Madison (leaders) believed that the Constitution was written in the name of the States, and not in the name of the people. Thus, they had a right to ignore the Constitution when they saw it fit. Even though the Constitution was adopted, it was not accepted by everyone. Some people wanted to nullify federal laws.
I)The 1820s: a decade of change
II)“Is not the whole Union a rope of sand?”
Delegate: choose someone to do something; to give control/responsibility/authority to someone
Trustee: believe that someone is reliable to do something; more freedom of will for the trustee
(see more definition on Moodle)
Biggest problem of the US in the 19th century: slavery. In some states, more than half the population were not free, were black slaves. Big difference, even in 1790, between North and South! For some people, Americans were too different in their habits to have a good federal government. It's difficult to rule all the Americans as one nation, to treat every American the same.
The situation was even worse in 1830. Cotton was the n°1 export, the most valuable export, in the US economy in the 19th century. Hard to ban slavery...
The US in the 1820s was a very different country than the US at the end of the 18th century. Territorial expansion: Louisiana purchase at a bargain price; new States admitted in the Union (IL, AL, Mississippi, Louisiana); the American expected the Pacific Ocean to be their natural western border; war of 1812 against the British (victory) that generated an intense feeling of patriotism (it was the year the Star Spangled Banner was written) => need for strong army, strong navy, transportation infrastructure, strongly reliable banking system to fund these. Need for tariffs, too.
The federal government decided to build a national road, to connect the Atlantic coastline to the Mississippi River (Baltimore → Cumberland → Columbus → Indianapolis → St Louis/Alton).
The Americans needed tariffs needed tariffs to protect their products, their market, from the British manufacture, who was more productive (industrial Revolution). Steam engines, machines, tools, mills, guns...
In 1816 a tariff law was passed. People from the South didn't benefit from those tariffs: British started to go elsewhere for their cotton, somewhere cheaper like Egypt and India; and everything made of steel had its price doubled, which was not convenient for producers in the South, who used those items.
Sectionalism: definition on Moodle
Many States on the East Coast felt that they did not need to pay for the National Road; they didn't need it and it was going to benefit only other States.
Before the 1816 National banks, there were local banks, States banks. They printed their own money, applied their own rules, economic systems weren't reliable, interstate trades were risky...
President Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) left quite a print in US History. Great amount of character. General in the Army, attorney, planter. He promised to respect the autonomy of the States.
New tariffs in 1828. Southerners felt insecure (competition of other countries, slave revolts...)
Calhoun: southerner. Born in SC, classical curriculum (studied law, became an attorney). Supported federal government (national bank, protective tariffs).Vice-President from 1825 to 1832 (JQ Adams + A. Jackson).
His stance on nullification grew from a personal dispute with Andrew Jackson. Rivalry and bitterness emerged out of the Calhoun-Jackson relationship. The nullification crisis could have been avoided, even though it shows the distinction between North and South.
Roots of the Nullification:
The States didn't surrender their sovereignty, they're at the base of the 179... Constitution. Sovereignty is indivisible, can't be divided.
(To elect popular convention, and to cancel federal laws)
The amendment process: Calhoun says nullification can be justified because the Constitution make possible for amendments to be added (and ¾ of the States need to agree on that)
Radical theory: secession
South Carolina wanted to nullify the 1828 tariff law. The State was on the verge of declaring secession.
Jackson answered that the US government was not a compact between the States, but a compact between the people. He also led Congress to pass the 1833 Force Act (number of laws) → Compromise Tariff Act of 1833 (gradual reduction of the 1828 Tariff over the next 20 years). South Carolina could import products at reasonable price, and the Union was still, well, united.
Lecture 4: Clash #2, the American Civil War
- The many sources of a traumatic conflict
- The “Reconstruction” and its consequences
Only one civil war in the History of the country, contrary to numerous European countries. It showed that the United States of America were not that united.