Questions and Answers
The American middle class first developed among ______________________.
commercially successful people in the North
What are some values of the middle class that emerged during the first half of the 19th century?
an emphasis on hard work and ambition, a belief in personal responsibility
"Individual aspirations can and should be fulfilled through hard work." Who is this associated with?
Middle Class Northerner
"Women and children should never question the decisions made by the head of house." Who is this associated with?
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"The social order is man-made, not divinely ordained." Who is this associated with?
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"Loyalty to the family is more important than individual ambition." Who is this associated with?
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In the north, the extension of political rights to free blacks was most strongly opposed by ____________.
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Newspaper and popular literature increased in readership during the 19th century largely because of ______________________, and __________________________.
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What was the outcome of the expansion of voting rights in the early 19th century?
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Nearly any religious person in the 19th century would agree:
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What contributed to the growth of Baptist and Methodist congregations during the early 19th century?
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What aspect made Baptists appealing during the early 19th century?
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The success of Methodism was based on...
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What message did Methodists convey that appealed to many ordinary Americans?
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Baptists and Methodists differed from the sects popular with the emerging middle class because they...
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Study Notes
Development of the American Middle Class
- Emerged primarily among commercially successful individuals in the North.
- Characterized by values emphasizing hard work, ambition, and personal responsibility.
Attitudes and Beliefs
- Middle class Northerners believed individual aspirations could be fulfilled through hard work.
- Southern white planters upheld traditional views, such as the idea that women and children should not question house decisions.
- Middle class Northerners maintained that the social order is constructed by humans rather than being divinely ordained.
- Southern white planters prioritized loyalty to family above individual ambition.
Political and Social Changes
- Poor whites in the North were the strongest opponents of extending political rights to free blacks.
- The growth of newspapers and popular literature in the 19th century resulted from advancements in printing and improved distribution systems.
- The expansion of voting rights during this period led to increased restrictions for nonwhites and women.
Religious Trends
- Most religious individuals of the 19th century viewed new popular amusements as sinful and detrimental to society.
- The rise of Baptist and Methodist congregations was influenced by the democratic sentiments of the American populace.
- Baptists attracted followers through their emphasis on congregational democracy and local governance.
- Methodism’s success stemmed from its skilled organization and messages of hopefulness, appealing to ordinary Americans.
- Unlike the emerging middle class, Baptists and Methodists urged individuals to resist the temptations of market society.
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Description
Explore the emergence of the American middle class in the 19th century with these flashcards. Learn about the values, beliefs, and social dynamics that shaped this important societal group. Test your knowledge of the key concepts and figures related to middle class development in U.S. history.
