Transcript II. The Early Nineteenth Century

II. The Early Nineteenth
Century
1. The Constitution organized the first
government for the United States.
 False
 The first government was set
up by the Articles of
Confederation.
 The central government under
the Articles was weak and
ineffective. This was
demonstrated during Shays’
Rebellion.
 To improve the situation, a
Constitutional Convention
was held during the summer
of 1787 in Philadelphia.
2. The “Founding Fathers” never
really wanted to see the creation of
major political parties.
 True
 However, because the Constitution had
created a much stronger government, the
question of its ratification became a big
issue.
 This resulted in the first two parties:
– The Federalists, who supported the
Constitution because they wanted a
stronger central government.
– The Anti-Federalists, who wanted a
weaker Federal government
 The issue was resolved by a
compromise, the Bill of Rights.
Bill of Rights

Amendment I
–

Amendment II
–

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the
owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
–

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the
people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
–

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of
grievances.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue,
but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the
place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
–
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a
presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval
forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall
any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor
shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived
of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken
for public use, without just compensation.
Bill of Rights

Amendment VI
– In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and
public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime
shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII
– In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty
dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury,
shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than
according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII
– Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX
– The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed
to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
– The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the
people.
3. With the approval of a single treaty, the
United States doubled its size overnight.
 True
 The Treaty of Paris, which
ended the Revolutionary
War, had already extended
the U.S. border to the
Mississippi River.
 In 1803, a single treaty
with France doubled the
size of the nation
overnight.
 Lewis and Clark were then
sent by President
Jefferson to explore our
new purchase.
4. From the start, the United States has
played an active role in foreign policy.
 False
 In President
Washington’s farewell
address, he warned to
avoid foreign
entanglements.
 America’s geography
also supported this idea
of Isolationism.
 One exception came in
the 1820s with the
issuing of the Monroe
Doctrine.
 “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign
nations is in extending our commercial relations, to
have with them as little political connection as
possible. So far as we have already formed
engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good
faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary
interests which to us have none; or a very remote
relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent
controversies, the causes of which are essentially
foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be
unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in
the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary
combinations and collisions of her friendships or
enmities.”
5. The Industrial Revolution did not begin in the
United States, but would eventually make the
United States the richest nation in the world.
 True
 The Industrial Revolution began with the rise
of the textile industry in England during the
18th century.
 England possessed all of the essential
ingredients – natural resources, a plentiful
food supply, a growing population, good
transportation and a supportive government.
 The United States began to industrialize in
the early 1800s with the rise of the “American
System.” This idea, pioneered by Eli
Whitney, involved the use of interchangeable
parts. Full industrialization would wait until
the United States filled out its borders and
solved its slavery issue.
6. With the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783,
the British and the Americans launched a
friendship that has lasted to the present.




False
There was still much conflict
between England and the United
States along the frontier and on
the high seas when the United
States tried to avoid the conflict
between England and Napoleon's
France.
When English ships began to
“impress” American sailors into
their navy, war was declared –
The War of 1812.
After victories and defeats on
both sides, the war ended as a
stalemate in 1815.
7. For its first 100 years, the United States did
not place any restrictions on the number of
immigrants coming to its shores.




True
The United States expanded
significantly during the first half
of the 19th century. This theme
was characterized by the
expansion of territory, the
expansion of the economy and
the expansion of its population.
In terms of immigrants, the
largest numbers arrived from
Germany and Ireland.
The biggest “losers” during this
period were the native tribes,
especially after passage of the
Indian Removal Act, and the
growing number of slaves.
8. After 1808, it became illegal to import
African slaves into the United States.
 Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution
 True
reads: “The Migration or Importation of
 While the Constitution prohibited
such Persons as any of the States now
the importation of African slaves
existing shall think proper to admit,
after 1808, slavery continued to
shall not be prohibited by the Congress
grow and flourish.
prior to the Year one thousand eight
 In 1820, Missouri entered the
hundred and eight..."
union as a slave state. The
Missouri Compromise attempted
to resolve the issue of the
expansion of slavery into the
new territories.
 As Abolitionism became a large
movement, slavery continued to
fester as a very emotional and
divisive issue.
9. Texas was the prize awarded to the
United States after its victory in the
Mexican-American War.
 False
 Texas was populated mostly by Indian
tribes when Mexico acquired its
independence in 1820. Americans were
invited to settle there if they agreed to
become Mexican citizens. In 1835,
Texas revolted and the following year,
won its independence.
 In 1845, Texas was annexed by the
United States. A border dispute then
turned into the Mexican-American War.
 Two years later, American victories led
to a treaty where the United States took
the entire Southwest. This brought the
expansion of slavery issue back to the
surface.
Westward Expansion
10. Gold was the primary cause behind the rapid
growth of Oregon and the Oregon Trail.
 False
 Gold was discovered in California in
1848 and led to the rapid population
growth of that state. In addition,
gold and silver strikes would help to
populate other parts of the west.
 Settlers traveled to Oregon, however,
to take the fertile land of the
Willamette Valley. In addition, Utah
was quickly polupated by Mormons
looking for religious freedom.
 Much of the settlement of the west
was justified by the principle of
manifest destiny.
 “Other nations have tried
to check... the fulfillment
of our manifest destiny to
overspread the continent
allotted by Providence for
the free development of
our yearly multiplying
millions."