Assignment 1 - A Difficult Past How the Americas Change
1. Tadd Mannino History 141, Spring 2011 Palomar College A Difficult PastHow the Americas Change
2. The Americas in the 19th Century Louisiana Purchase, 1803 23% of current U.S. area 828,800 square miles, $15 million – 3¢ per acre Doubles size of U.S. Secures New Orleans as U.S. port for American imports/exports Jefferson concerned with: President’s right to buy territory Not spelled out in Constitution Would increase executive branch power Decrease states power France blocking U.S. access to New Orleans Domestic opposition Expedition of Lewis and Clark Jefferson sets expeditionary goals Lay claim of discovery to Pacific Northwest Compete with British/Russian/Spanish for land/fur trade Map and collection of scientific data Make U.S. contact with native tribes Assess resources gained through Louisiana Purchase
3. The Americas in the 19th Century Prince Maximillian Zu Weid A product of the Enlightenment Became early Anthropologist 1832 – leads expedition up Missouri River Studies/documents Indigenous peoples Customs Dress Flora/Fauna Geography 1849 - Publishes “Travels in the Interior of North America” Karl Bodmer Swiss painter Accompanies Prince Max His paintings document Native Americans
4. The Little Ice Age 13th to 19th century, worldwide temperatures dropped Causes unknown, possibly: Solar activity Volcanic activity Ocean currents changing Decreased human population, reforestation Black Plague, Native American death from disease Normal climate variation Affected: Crops Cultures/Nations Outcomes of wars Migrations of people Rise/Fall of Empires
5. Frontiers of the Americas United States 1800 – 1900 Quadruples in size by 1803 Britain cedes lands west to Mississippi River France sells Louisiana Purchase Ideas of Manifest Destiny begin Westward movement led to conflict with Native Americans Mexico 1845, Mexican American war Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California added as US territory 1860 – 1864 Civil War South succeeds from Union over: Nature of the Union united STATES vs. UNITED states States right’s VS. Federal power (re. slavery) Immigration/growth as nation expands 1790 pop. 3.9 million 1900 pop. 76 million
10. Crossroads of Freedom Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) Sept. 17, 1862 1st battle on Northern territory Single bloodiest day on American soil 23,000 casualties North – 9540 wounded, 2108 dead South – 7752 wounded, 1546 dead A tactical draw McClellan fails to destroy Lee’s retreating forces Lee’s abandons the invasion of the North
25. Crossroads of Freedom Implications Europe did not intervene North’s materiel advantage/victory assured Emancipation Proclamation Issued five days after the battle Antietam “victory” validated Lincoln’s new policy Freed slaves only in Southern states As a military strategy Led to 13th Amendment Abolishing slavery in US Solidified Northern support for: Preservation of the Union by Military defeat of South Created the modern United States A Federal nation Not a union of States
