Readings:
Clark, chaps. 2-4
Points of Entry:
Monroe Doctrine
Early U.S. material culture:
Early U.S. images:
Louisiana Purchase:
Questions for discussion:
The early American republic was largely agrarian. However, there were many proponents of a national, centralized economy based on industrial development. Which shaped early U.S. identity--coastal cities and early factories or farming?
What was the relationship between the "Old West" and slavery?
What role did Native American societies play during this period?
What role do you think women played during these years?
I believe farming for the most part shaped U.S. Identity for the reason that Anerica's industial might and factories at this point were at its very infancy and did not start to peak until the turn of the twentieth century also the majority of people lived in the countryside as opposed to the cities this did not changed until late until the 19th century. I also believe the relationship of the Old West and slavery was that of during that time period one to be determined but for the most part it was one of opportunity where both blacks and whites could find new oppotunities due to the sparse pop. and wide abundance of land that land for an increase of freedom that to a certain extent in cities was restricted. Native Americans during this time played a massive role and to a large part was the main deterrent for American settlements west of the Applachians. I think women played a wide and varied role during this time period and unlike what many said were not under as much subjugation from the husband as many perceive but were rather in charge of small farms and businesses as the husbands for the most part were away at war while simultaneously attempting to raise a family these women were of a special breed able to accomplish much in ways that today are all but gone.
ReplyDeleteI think that both the cities and the country shaped early U.S. identity. The city, factories, and trading posts were very dominant in the North and the countryside, farms, and plantations were very prominent in the South. Depending on what part of the country you were from influenced the way you viewed yourself, others, and the nation.
ReplyDeleteThe "Old West" and slavery were a very much debated topic. The North did not want slavery to be allowed in the new territories, "the West," but the South did. Most "western" states did not embrace slavery as their primary source of labor but some did, like Texas.
Native American societies became a problem for the frontier settlers again. U.S. citizens were moving into new territory that already had inhabitants. Armed struggles between Natives and settlers emerged again even though the government had already created policies dealing with these nations.
I think that women played a bigger part during the revolution than during the early formation of the country. They gained some freedoms and liberties under this new nation but they were still inferior to men and had no say in the political process.
Women played a pretty substantial role during this period. Interestingly enough despite critics and subjugation, women were allowed to own land. The notion of this was extremely controversial before then. This new responsibility was a huge step from the original, lacking stand in society they originally held. However despite this they were still not entirely free of their previous restraints. But this did in fact serve as a stepping stone towards women's rights and more.
ReplyDeleteI believe that farming was important in creating early American republic just because it is what helped created those coastal cities and early factories. Though I do think that those cities and industries defiantly shaped the U.S. dramatically. Sure the country and farms did form the basis of our country but without the early cities and industry, we would not have gotten anywhere as a country. The things that took place in those booming places are what helped push America forward and even ahead of other countries.
ReplyDeleteThe Old West were more forward thinkers when it came to the slavery. They saw how cruel and inhuman it was and decided not to get involved. As a result they did a lot of self farming and focused on the individual. Eventually slavery became something that only the southern states believed in and that the northern states wanted to get rid of. I believe it is because of the “Old West”’s influence on slavery that it does not exist in America anymore
Since early settlers took over their land on the east coast, the natives had to move westward. Eventually Americans began exploring the west, which presented a problem to the Natives. As a result of the American expansion, Native Americans were pushed into small reserves and made somewhat obsolete. Although some tribes chose to help out explorers find their way west. Soon men and some women were learning the ways of the natives which sparked the rise in cowboys/girls. There were also those native tribes that chose to fight against the explorers, resulting in many fights and battles which ended in loss of lives and land.
Women defiantly had more involvement in the expanding America. They were still taking care of the family and second to the father figure, but they had more of a voice. They were taught more useful techniques to use day to day, and were allowed to take on some more manly roles or traits. Although they were still suppressed in many ways, they did hold an important role during this time.
I feel that both the Farming and Cities played a role in shaping Americas identity. This is because America, has always had sections of rural farm areas and large cities, so it is hard to separate them and say one is more important than the other. The cities in the early formation of the US, helped to produce and create factories and jobs for immigrants. Immigration has played a huge role in America, since we are considered a "melting pot" and this influx of different races helped to promote that. However the farming helped supply the US with trade goods, and the materials that were being manufactured; which helped keep the US afloat and stable. Together these two things worked together, which created a bondage and reliance, that was more than just to support the Union.
ReplyDeleteSlavery drove a lot of the Southern migration into the west. Although southern farmers hoped to gain land and expand their farms, their main concern was the spread of slavery. The North felt that slavery was an old trend that was soon going to be ended, while the South knew that to keep it alive it must be spread to more states. Therefore it played a huge role in migration into the west.
The Natives played a role in being a "speed bump" in westward expansion. Americans had a mind set that the land was theirs, and therefore they were going to take it, no matter what. The Natives, although they fought back, but eventually lost the battle. Americans either tried to assimilate them into their culture, as seen with the Cherokees, or they killed them. Either tactic was used so they could gain land.
Women played a small but more significant role during this time, than years past. As they moved westward, they took on a more equal role, within the family structure, since the move was so tough and there were so few men, yet they still were considered less to the men.However back in the original thirteen colonies, women were thought to still subservient to men. Therefore they received few rights when it came to the government and property ownership.
Early on in its history, the United States was characterized by a diverse economy, entailing both agrarian and industrial features. On the one hand, many cities along the Atlantic coast were industrially based, since their proximity to seaports would give them quicker and cheaper opportunities to ship finished products overseas. Towards the East, the economy was based off of agriculture, since these regions were not yet developed enough to establish factories. Also, finished products would have to be sent long and expensive distances over land before they could reach seaports and be exported. British mercantile policy had largely geared the U.S. to maintain an agrarian economy, leaving manufacturing to British factory and shop owners, so it can be argued that the U.S. was largely agrarian in its early history. Note that the acquisition of British technology had slightly positioned the U.S. towards an industrial economy, but the Louisiana Purchase had been far more effective in promoting an agriculturally based economy.
ReplyDeleteThe Old West was divided in regards to how slavery would be permitted to exist in the U.S. economy as it continued to expand. The northerners opposed slavery since it left free white men without work, but southerners claimed that cheap and expendable labor was essential to an agrarian economy. The northern and southern states would eventually pass the Missouri compromise in 1820, thus confining slavery to the southern United States until the victory of Union forces in the the Civil War. It should be noted that the system of slavery tended to concentrate wealth and influence in the hands of a small planter elite, leaving poor free white landless people with little economic opportunity. The system of slavery drove many landless white people further into the western regions of the nation to stake out new lands and hopefully purchase slaves. Therefore, slavery sped American expansion into the Old West.
Following the conclusion of the French and Indian War, the Native Americans lost their ability to bargain with competing imperial powers, leaving them to endure the brunt of British, and then later American oppression. The Cherokee Indians established a short-lived westernized nation in Georgia, but was eventually dissolved during the Jackson administration. The Native Americans were sent on the Trail of Tears, forced off their lands by American forces and left to establish new villages and civilizations in the west. The Native Americans did not impact American politics so much as they themselves were impacted by the politics of the U.S.
Women did not make great strides towards suffrage and political equality until later in the 19th century. This period witnessed an increase in gender stratification, in which labor divisions began to emerge and behavioral conventions between the sexes were emphasized. However, women did exercise limited participation in politics, erecting and running numerous temperance movements such as the Washingtonians. They aimed to strike at spousal abuse and the ills that it incurred on families. The temperance movements that women promoted would prepare men for the increasing level of industrialization of the U.S. economy, which would demand sobriety and painstaking effort by employees towards their employers.
During this time, the U.S. was divided north and south pretty much. The south was the site of mainly farming and plantation while the north was filled more with cities and trading post. So i wouldn't say that one shaped the U.S. identity more than the other.
ReplyDeleteThe connection between the "Old West" and slavery is that with the expansion of that territory the south and north states were arguing to see if there will be slavery allowed or not in this new territory. The south was for it, while the north was not.
With the expansion of the U.S. to the west Native Americans came to the picture once again. The west territory that the U.S had gotten was already settled by Native Americans, so this created a conflict. The Natives lost battles.
During this time women had more of a role than in past years. Women had more roles that they participated in. They were still seen as being less than men but were definitely involved in more stuff than past years
I think that coastal cities and early factories as well as farming played a vital role in shaping early U.S. identity. The cities and factories created ideas and manufactured goods in the U.S. while farming produced the means necessary to succeed. Only with both the coastal cities and factories and farming could U.S. identity be shaped.
ReplyDeleteThe “Old West” was divided on thoughts of slavery. The North was against slavery while the South embraced slavery. Due to slavery many people were drawn to the “Old West” in the hopes of prosperity.
Native American societies were an “obstacle to overcome” for the U.S. during this period. Native American societies tried to hold on to their land and culture and put up a fight while the settlers tried to take it away from them.
The role women played during these years increased compared to the role women had played in the past. The further west they travelled, the more they did manual labor and the more roles they took on. However, from that perspective, women were still not equal to men, no matter how much they actually did and had thus less rights than men did during that period.
I believe that it was a combination of both industry and farms that created and shaped America. This is due to the fact that America today is still a combination of these two things. Industry caused more jobs and development of technology within cities which caused large major cities to form. However farms still played a large role. Although perhaps not as booming as cities, farms were still the major resource for food and supplies for the majority of America.
ReplyDeleteWhen beginning to expand westward, there was much debate over whether or not slavery from the South would expand with the settlers. The North wanted slavery to stay in the South and then eventually fizzle out; however the Southerners wanted Slavery to expand. Thorough the Fugitive Slave Act, slaves that traveled into free states were still considered slaves. This conflicted with the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which stated that the slavery issue was decided upon individual states. This rose the question-will slavery die or grow in the West. The answer ultimately was die-this was due to the fact that the settlers that went westward did not associate with plantation style farming.
Native American societies played an important role in the expansion westward. On the East Coast Native were relatively gone. This was because they had all been pushed into the West, an area that the United States thought was appropriate for them, and that the settlers would not be traveling that far into. This however changed through a series of events. This lead to the United States withdrawing from previous agreements and treaties they had made with Native Americans. Also, this lead to many violent conflicts between settlers and natives. There was some attempts to assimilate natives. However most attempts failed. All in all, natives once again were pushed back.
Womens role in society changed slightly in this time period. However like in the past they still were not equal with men. As more and more settlers traveled Westward, there was more need for women to work. Women began participating in more manual labor jobs to help maintain a functioning household. There began to be a shift in womens status in the west compared to the east. In the East men were still clearly and largely superior to men, however in the West women had more power, sometimes even running shops/stores/households alone.