1. How the Americas Change:
The Long 19th Century
By Susan Hiner
History 141
Fall 2011

2. The Americas in the 19th Century
• The Creole elites of Latin America • Civil wars occurred both in Latin
dominated and conquered the native America and the United States. North
people. America fought over slavery and
• Mexico had many governments ruled by individual state rights and Latin
armies too powerful for the middle-class America’s war was for independence
and peasant workers who fought for land from Spanish and Portuguese rule.
and liberty in the Mexican revolution • The Americas won their independence
(1911-1920)
from European powers, however, we
are struggling still today to obtain
freedom, equality and a constitutional
government.

3. The Americas in the 19th Century
• Growth and power caused the • Canada’s growth was due to the
natives of each nation to be either British loyalists moving from the
relocated or forced into a society U.S. Britain granted Canada their
formed by the new government independence and although there
leaders. were political and ethnic differences
• Millions of immigrants from between the French and British
Europe and Asia to America Canadians, they were resolved for
increased the population and fear of a U.S. invasion of their
economic growth, causing western territories.
expansion and the Mexican-
American War.

4. The Little Ice Age
• Northern Europeans • Napoleon retreats from Russia to
immigrated to the U.S due to Vilnius resulting in the death of
the cold weather. 90,000 men who starved or froze
during their trek, and only 4-5
• English defeated the Spanish thousand survived of the 40,000
Armada by blocking their who made it to Vilnius.
ships which were later • George Washington’s Battle of
destroyed by the storm. Trenton was won with his surprise
attack against Britain, crossing an
ice clogged Delaware River.

5. Frontiers of the Americas
• Colonial wars in South America between the
Spanish and Portuguese as well as civil wars
from 1763 lasting for 160 years were major
factors in the culture and politics, including the
Catholic Church.
• Brazilian politics focused on family and their
differing government views resulting in revolts.
• Due to the type of land in Brazilian-Uruguayan
area, cattle slaughtering was the accepted
gaucho culture which led to brutal human
violence. It was socially accepted and honorable
to slit someone’s throat in public to settle a
dispute between class and race differences.
• Pride, greed, hatred and competition led men to
violence to determine who was better with a
knife and who his enemies were.

6. Frontiers of the Americas
• In 1803 the U.S. purchased all or part • The Haitian Revolution occurred
of 15 states and two Canadian between slaves and French colonists who
provinces from France for $15 million, owned the profitable colony of Saint-
known as the Louisiana Purchase, Domingue.
which doubled the size of the U.S. • If the Haitians had not revolted and
• New Orleans was a major trade port to succeeded, the slave rebellion in the U.S.
France and Spain. The purchase by may have decreased as well as the
Thomas Jefferson ensured American number of refugees. Expansion would be
trade access, previously blocked by reduced if France decided to keep
Spain. Louisiana.
• A Swiss artist, Karl Bodmer and a
German scientist and native cultural
historian, Prince Maximilan zu Wied,
visited the native U.S. Indians
resulting in important historical
records of the tribes from their
paintings and diaries.

7. Crossroads of Freedom
European Powers
• Battlefield events and cotton • Both Britain and France abolished
exports from the south were slavery and Britain opposed the
important to Britain and France. Confederates of America issue on
• The Confederates wanted to slavery, even though it was slaves
persuade the British to break the that grew the cotton.
Union blockade of exports. Also, • After Antietam and the
they wanted diplomatic recognition Emancipation Proclamation by
to ensure Confederate success, President Lincoln, the majority of
which may have provoked a the British people thought it was a
possible war with the United turning point in our history. It had a
States. positive and wide effect on the
British politicians and other
European nations.

8. Crossroads of Freedom
News & Morale
• Newspapers were widely read and the editorials were sometimes
exaggerated as in the case of Lee’s invasion of Maryland. The New York
Herald predicted mass destruction and farmers in Pennsylvania moved
north and the archives were shipped to New York.
• Wall Street stocks and value of the dollar fell after the North was defeated
in the Seven Days Battles in July 1862. The press predicted a July 4th victory
at Richmond before the battle engaged. Northern newspapers wrote
upsetting stories of British intervention before the news reached Europe.
• After the Union captured Norfolk, the New York Herald wrote that Virginia
would be next. Panic arose, gold reserves set for evacuation as well as
Jefferson Davis’ family and Cabinet members. Rumors flew and denials of
them were ignored.
• Public Opinion and morale was an important factor
• Army of the Potomac received a warm welcome from the Maryland folks
which increased morale.

9. Crossroads of Freedom
George B. McClellan
• “The Young Napoleon” George B.
McClellan was a Union General who was
much admired by his troops. He always
overestimated enemy strength, however
he succeeded in organizing his men.
• McClellan frequently held back on
attacking or waiting for Washington to
send more men or voicing his concerns
about being outnumbered or the road
conditions. He took no initiative without
absolute assurance of success.
• President Lincoln was urged by his
cabinet members to dismiss McClellan,
however there was no other alternative,
until November 7 1862 when he finally
ordered General Burnside to take
command.

10. Crossroads of Freedom
Sharpsburg
• General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson was
brilliant, bold, mobile and took chances.
• General Robert E. Lee decided to divide his
army to attack in four areas. He issued
Special Orders No. 191 which was found by
a Corporal in the Union army. McClellan
was made aware of the plans but did not act
immediately, which gave Lee time to attack.
• Harpers Ferry surrendered to Jackson’s
army.
• Lee’s confederate army was not totally
destroyed or beaten but they did retreat,
and lost almost a quarter of all troops
because they were outnumbered.
• The Union was victorious at Antietam,
however more lives were lost on September
17, 1862 than in any other day in American
history.