CONTEMPORARY HISTORY
Lecture 4
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
The United States gained independence in 1783 from Britain, so even before the wind of revolution
started in France.
Influence of the American Revolution
The Founding Fathers of the United States knew and appreciated the enlightenment ideas and
incorporated values in important documents like the “Declaration of Independence”. On the other
hand, French Revolutionaries were inspired by the American victory against the British.
Reasons behind the Rebellion:
American colonists were upset over the policies imposed by the british
“ No taxation without representation” - taxes were decided in London by the british
Parliament and payed by Americans
Other policies, limiting judicial powers,suspending trials, quartering soldiers
Colonists expressed concerns but the british did not take them into account
Congress appointed 5 delegates, one of which thomas jefferson, to write the document to
declare independence from British
o The document also listed complaints against the king and at the end of the document
came the declaration of independence
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (1775-1783)
At the end of the war, the Mississippi river marked the Western boundary of the new state. → natural
border.
As the United States filled with more people, the Government and the state needed new laws.
Therefore, the Government helped people buy new territory.
One of the most important acquisition of land was in 1803 : Louisiana Purchase
o Decide by President Jefferson who got the territory from France (15 million $),
doubling the territory’s size (now includes 15 states) → considered as the greatest
bargain in the American History
Another important acquisition was in 1819: Spain gave up Florida to the US
1846: Oregon → obtained through a treaty with Great Britain
By the mid 19th century the expansion was completed and the new nation stretched from the Atlantic
to the Pacific Oceans.
POLITICAL EXPANSION
After the two terms of Jefferson, and then Madison,, it was now the turn of James Monroe (the 5th
president of the US). He was the one who played one of the important roles in the independence war,
taking part physically.
elected with overwhelming support for two terms, 1816 and 1820
democratic Republican and the protagonist of the “era of good feelings” called this because of
the lack of conflict, wars and dominant mood of nationalism.
During his terms, President Monroe devised the “Monroe Doctrine” (1823) according to
which the Us will not be part of European Affairs and at the same time he wouldn’t accept
any European interference in American affairs. → “leave us alone because we are great”
message
Great feeling of pride and very positive mood in the nation
But, unfortunately, the political harmony started to decrease towards the end of Monroe’s
second term in office → the problem of slavery was the most evident, dramatic manifestation
of national division.
, The political struggle over the question of slavery was the most evident/ dramatic manifestation of
national division- happening at the same time the Us was buying and getting more territories- which
laws and which customs should be followed in the west. The differences between the North and South
and between the Eastern and Western.
NORTH & SOUTH
o Since the early days of America the northern and southern parts of the US followed
very different ways of life
o drawing expansions, those differences remained but there was a political struggle
over which kind of nation they wanted to become - main difference - ECONOMY
o NORTH:
diversified economy with both farms and industries with free workers
people driven by a sense of morality and also economic interest in protecting
free labor, believed that slavery needed to be eradicated
o SOUTH
economy based on few crops, mainly cotton → planters in the south relied
solely on slave labor (slavery as a “peculiar institution”- essential for
economy)
o Tensions over the Slavery Issue continued to grow over the years and threatened to
reach a boiling point in 1818.
1818- Missouri asked to be admitted into the United States → Congress
needed to debate before accepting a new territory
The problem : Missouri was a slave territory → In Congress at that
time there was a balance between slave and free states.
With the admission of Missori, slave states would become majoritar
For more than 2 years, the Congress debated over the idea of accepting
Missouri before reaching a decision.
1820- “Missouri Compromise”
stated that the territory would be admitted to the Us, but a new
territory called Maine had to enter the US as a free state in order to
preserve balance.
also stated that Missouri should be the last slave state to be admitted
in the US, because no new slave states would have been allowed
North of Missouri’s southern borders
o This didn’t solve the problem, but postponed the crisis → temporary solution. In the
Congress each state has 2 representatives regardless of the size of the state.
o 1850- “ Compromise of the 1850 “ allowed California to be a free state
o 1854- “Kansas-Nebraska Act” canceled the Missouri Compromise
Thomas Jefferson described the feeling like a bell that rang for fire in the night. The political and
social antagonism was an old question in American History, starting almost 40 years before the actual
war.
In 1860, the conflict between the North and the South reached a climax. The new political elections
make way for a new president: Abraham Lincoln. he wins the elections despite not receiving any
votes from the South.
During his campaign, Lincoln had pledged to stop the expansion of slavery, but he had
promised not to interfere where slavery had already existed → The South clearly disagreed.
In December, after his elections and inauguration, South Carolina proclaimed its withdrawal
from the Union. After this, all the Southern states began to withdraw.
In February 1861 all southern states came together and established the Confederate States of the US.
Besides disagreement over slavery, there was a disagreement over rights of individual states and of
the Federal Government.
Lecture 4
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
The United States gained independence in 1783 from Britain, so even before the wind of revolution
started in France.
Influence of the American Revolution
The Founding Fathers of the United States knew and appreciated the enlightenment ideas and
incorporated values in important documents like the “Declaration of Independence”. On the other
hand, French Revolutionaries were inspired by the American victory against the British.
Reasons behind the Rebellion:
American colonists were upset over the policies imposed by the british
“ No taxation without representation” - taxes were decided in London by the british
Parliament and payed by Americans
Other policies, limiting judicial powers,suspending trials, quartering soldiers
Colonists expressed concerns but the british did not take them into account
Congress appointed 5 delegates, one of which thomas jefferson, to write the document to
declare independence from British
o The document also listed complaints against the king and at the end of the document
came the declaration of independence
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (1775-1783)
At the end of the war, the Mississippi river marked the Western boundary of the new state. → natural
border.
As the United States filled with more people, the Government and the state needed new laws.
Therefore, the Government helped people buy new territory.
One of the most important acquisition of land was in 1803 : Louisiana Purchase
o Decide by President Jefferson who got the territory from France (15 million $),
doubling the territory’s size (now includes 15 states) → considered as the greatest
bargain in the American History
Another important acquisition was in 1819: Spain gave up Florida to the US
1846: Oregon → obtained through a treaty with Great Britain
By the mid 19th century the expansion was completed and the new nation stretched from the Atlantic
to the Pacific Oceans.
POLITICAL EXPANSION
After the two terms of Jefferson, and then Madison,, it was now the turn of James Monroe (the 5th
president of the US). He was the one who played one of the important roles in the independence war,
taking part physically.
elected with overwhelming support for two terms, 1816 and 1820
democratic Republican and the protagonist of the “era of good feelings” called this because of
the lack of conflict, wars and dominant mood of nationalism.
During his terms, President Monroe devised the “Monroe Doctrine” (1823) according to
which the Us will not be part of European Affairs and at the same time he wouldn’t accept
any European interference in American affairs. → “leave us alone because we are great”
message
Great feeling of pride and very positive mood in the nation
But, unfortunately, the political harmony started to decrease towards the end of Monroe’s
second term in office → the problem of slavery was the most evident, dramatic manifestation
of national division.
, The political struggle over the question of slavery was the most evident/ dramatic manifestation of
national division- happening at the same time the Us was buying and getting more territories- which
laws and which customs should be followed in the west. The differences between the North and South
and between the Eastern and Western.
NORTH & SOUTH
o Since the early days of America the northern and southern parts of the US followed
very different ways of life
o drawing expansions, those differences remained but there was a political struggle
over which kind of nation they wanted to become - main difference - ECONOMY
o NORTH:
diversified economy with both farms and industries with free workers
people driven by a sense of morality and also economic interest in protecting
free labor, believed that slavery needed to be eradicated
o SOUTH
economy based on few crops, mainly cotton → planters in the south relied
solely on slave labor (slavery as a “peculiar institution”- essential for
economy)
o Tensions over the Slavery Issue continued to grow over the years and threatened to
reach a boiling point in 1818.
1818- Missouri asked to be admitted into the United States → Congress
needed to debate before accepting a new territory
The problem : Missouri was a slave territory → In Congress at that
time there was a balance between slave and free states.
With the admission of Missori, slave states would become majoritar
For more than 2 years, the Congress debated over the idea of accepting
Missouri before reaching a decision.
1820- “Missouri Compromise”
stated that the territory would be admitted to the Us, but a new
territory called Maine had to enter the US as a free state in order to
preserve balance.
also stated that Missouri should be the last slave state to be admitted
in the US, because no new slave states would have been allowed
North of Missouri’s southern borders
o This didn’t solve the problem, but postponed the crisis → temporary solution. In the
Congress each state has 2 representatives regardless of the size of the state.
o 1850- “ Compromise of the 1850 “ allowed California to be a free state
o 1854- “Kansas-Nebraska Act” canceled the Missouri Compromise
Thomas Jefferson described the feeling like a bell that rang for fire in the night. The political and
social antagonism was an old question in American History, starting almost 40 years before the actual
war.
In 1860, the conflict between the North and the South reached a climax. The new political elections
make way for a new president: Abraham Lincoln. he wins the elections despite not receiving any
votes from the South.
During his campaign, Lincoln had pledged to stop the expansion of slavery, but he had
promised not to interfere where slavery had already existed → The South clearly disagreed.
In December, after his elections and inauguration, South Carolina proclaimed its withdrawal
from the Union. After this, all the Southern states began to withdraw.
In February 1861 all southern states came together and established the Confederate States of the US.
Besides disagreement over slavery, there was a disagreement over rights of individual states and of
the Federal Government.
