Introductory Lecture on American Culture and Geography PDF

Introductory lecture ==================== - official name: 1st use - in the Declaration of Independence in 1776 („the thirteen united States of America") - named after Amerigo Vespucci (1499) (another theory says it is after Richard ap - Martin Waldseemüller (1507) - the first map t...

Introductory lecture ==================== - official name: 1st use - in the Declaration of Independence in 1776 („the thirteen united States of America") - named after Amerigo Vespucci (1499) (another theory says it is after Richard ap - Martin Waldseemüller (1507) - the first map to use the name America (but for South America) - Gerhardus Mercator (1538) - mapmaker, also used the term America +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | European nation states *versus* | USA as immigrant country | | | | | - History of those who, | - Defined by those who turned | | according to national | towards common future | | mythologies, have lived there | | | | - Cultural plurality, diverse | | | languages and customs; | | | conscious choice | | - History, place, culture, | | | language, | - Common project | | | | | | - Intentionality of American | | | citizenship | | - Story of ancestors | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ Forming of the American character: - continual ingathering of the enormous diversity of peoples -- driven or drawn by religious, political, and economic forces - „hyphenated identities" (Afro-American, Asian-American, Irish-American, etc.) *versus* common citizenship - Diversity *versus* nationwide communication, constant mobility, homogenizing popular culture, standardization inherent in mass production and highly technological culture Geography and climate ===================== Old World: adjustment to environment came very slowly, gradually In the New World: abrupt, often violent encounter with the new land, adjustment -- had to be quick, consumed much of nation's energy; the new land -- stirred imagination Natural advantages: Oceans, waterways (big rivers, the sea), variety of environments Geography ========= Huge interior lowland drained by the Mississippi River (division East-West) East and west of the lowland -- two very different mountain ranges: the Appalachians, the Cordillera The Interior Lowlands tallgrass prairie: fine farmland, for grazing, moist years x dry years low-grass prairie: cattle ranches -- prosperous in moist years **1 Climate in the USA, Settlement Consequences and Landscape** **\#\# Geography and Climate** **\#\#\# Natural Features** \- Oceans, waterways (big rivers, the sea), variety of environments \- Huge interior lowland drained by the Mississippi River (division East-West) \- East and west of the lowland -- two very different mountain ranges: the Appalachians, the Cordillera **\#\#\# The Interior Lowlands** \- Tallgrass prairie: fine farmland, for grazing, moist years x dry years \- Low-grass prairie: cattle ranches -- prosperous in moist years **\#\#\# Settlement Impact** \- Old World: adjustment to environment came very slowly, gradually \- In the New World: abrupt, often violent encounter with the new land \- Adjustment had to be quick, consumed much of nation\'s energy \- The new land stirred imagination **\#\#\# Regional Characteristics** **4 main regions:** **Northeast** -- New York City, New England, Mid-Atlantic States **South** -- Virginia to Texas (except Missouri) **Midwest** **West** -- west of Great Plains, + Hawaii, Alaska **A Northeast** \- Hilly, not much farmland \- Coastal access led to development of shipbuilding, fishing, trade \- Simple, wood-frame houses adapted to climate **B South** \- Lowland areas suitable for large plantations \- Upland regions with poorer soil led to smaller farms \- Climate suitable for tobacco, rice, indigo, cotton cultivation **C Midwest** \- Excellent farmland \- Climate suitable for wheat and corn production \- Rectangular fields reflect agricultural adaptation **D West** **\#\#\#\# Southwest** \- Drier and emptier than the Midwest \- Harsh climate requiring specific adaptation \- Indigenous irrigation systems show early climate adaptation **\#\#\#\# Pacific Coast** \- Desirable climate in coastal areas \- Eastern parts more mountainous \- Supports diverse agriculture including wine production **\#\#\#\# Pacific Northwest** \- Rainy climate \- Dense forests led to logging industry \- Volcanic mountains shape landscape **\#\#\# Natural Resources** \- Abundant natural resources shaped settlement patterns \- Variety of environments allowed diverse agricultural development \- Water access via rivers and oceans crucial for development \- Mineral deposits influenced western settlement **2 American Cultural Regions and Sub-regions** 3 historical regions: New England, Mid-Atlantic, South **\#\# The Northeast** **\#\#\# New England Sub-region** \- States: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut \- Historically dominant role (American Revolution began there, center of abolitionism) \- Economic focus: shipbuilding, fishing, trade (mid-19th century possessed world\'s largest merchant marine) \- Cultural characteristics: \- Simple, wood-frame houses, white church steeples, small towns \- New Englanders considered shrewd, thrifty, hardworking, inventive, independent \- Often called \"the real Yankees\" **\#\#\# The Middle Atlantic Sub-region** \- States: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland (West Virginia) \- Urban center: New York \- More diverse than New England: \- Dutch along lower Hudson River \- Swedes in Delaware \- English Catholics founded Maryland \- Quakers, Mennonites, Amish in Pennsylvania \- 19th century: major centers of heavy industry (iron, glass, steelworks) **\#\# The Midwest** \- Location: From Ohio to the Rocky Mountains; from Great Lakes and N Dakota to Kansas and Ohio River \- Urban center: Chicago \- Characteristics: \- Small towns, barbed-wire fences for livestock \- Huge rectangular fields of wheat and corn \- Called \"the nation\'s breadbasket\" \- Cultural traits: \- People considered open, friendly, straightforward, down-to-earth, traditional, conservative \- Republican party formed here in the 1850s \- Notable artists: \- Grant Wood - painter **\#\# The South** \- Strong historical consciousness (defeat in the Civil War) **- Sub-regions:** **\#\#\# Lowland South** \- Large cotton plantations \- Large number of slaves historically \- After Civil War: majority of population uneducated, poor **\#\#\# Upland South** \- Inland, poorer soil \- Smaller farms, few slaves \- Mountains -- life hard, isolated \- Cultural characteristics: \- Associated with hospitality, friendliness, strong family values \- Relaxed, unhurried lifestyle \- Also known for dangerous independence, romantic charm \- Emphasis on personal honor and valor \- Major contributor to military forces \- Distinctive dialects \- Cultural contributions: \- Blues, jazz (associated with New Orleans) \- Country music (Nashville -- \"musical capital\") \- Rich literary tradition (Southern Renaissance, 1950s) \- Writers: William Faulkner, Flannery O\'Connor **\#\# The West** A diverse region with multiple sub-regions: **\#\#\# The Southwest** \- Drier and emptier than the Midwest \- Strong Native American cultural impact \- First colonized by Spanish **\#\#\#\# Interior Southwest:** \- Native American and Spanish influence - oldest cultures in US \- Arizona, New Mexico \- Harsh climate **\#\#\#\# Navajo Sub-region:** \- Arizona, New Mexico, Utah \- Home of the Navajo nation **\#\#\#\# Mormon Sub-region:** \- Utah, SE Idaho \- Salt Lake City - headquarters of Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) \- About 7 million Mormons in the region \- High moral, educational, and health standards **\#\#\# Pacific Southwest** \- California (Golden State) -- largest population \- Los Angeles -- largest city \- Hollywood \- Silicon Valley -- global technology center \- Wine production (90% of US wine) \- Gold Rush (1849) \- San Francisco earthquake (1906) \- Yosemite National Park **\#\#\# Pacific Northwest** \- Washington (Evergreen State), Oregon \- Urban centers: Seattle, WA, Portland (OR) \- Northern Cascades -- Mt. Rainier, Mt. St Helens (volcanos) **\#\#\# Rocky Mountains Region** \- States: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado \- Yellowstone National Park (1872) \- Little Bighorn battle site \- Notable features: skiing centers, mining regions **\#\#\# Alaska (49th State)** \- Largest state of US, sold by Russia \- Population: About 500,000 \- Demographics: Native (Indians, Eskimos, Aleut), Russian fur traders \- Economy: Oil, fishing, fur, military bases \- Gold rush (Yukon, Klondike 1890s) \- Cities: capital Juneau, Anchorage **\#\#\# Hawaii (50th State, 1959)** \- Discovered for Europeans by James Cook (1778) \- Early 1800s: Chief Kamehameha united islands \- Ancient Polynesian settlement (300 AD) \- Economy: sugar, pineapple, nuts, coffee, tourism \- Capital: Honolulu \- Features: Pearl Harbor naval base, Waikiki beach **3 America in Colonial Times** **\#\# First Settlers and Early Life** \- Life difficult, filled with danger: diseases, frontier life \- First homes: huts, caves \- Land had to be cleared for farming \- Conditions improved over time **\#\# America in the 1750s** \- Population composition: \- Most colonists English + Scottish, Irish, German, Dutch \- By 1750 -- about 1.5 million people in the colonies \- 90% were farmers (usually small, quite self-sufficient farms) \- Between 1717 and 1783, British transported over 50,000 prison convicts (about 9% of immigrants) **\#\# Colonial Farms** **\#\#\# Regional Characteristics** \- New England: rocky and hilly, small farms \- Middle colonies: excellent land, larger farms, climate for wheat and corn to be traded with England \- South: tobacco, rice, indigo, cotton -- few rich had huge plantations **\#\# Urban Communities** \- Philadelphia: \- Largest city -- 20,000 inhabitants \- Paved streets, street lamps (thanks to Benjamin Franklin) \- Other major cities: \- Boston, Charleston, Baltimore, New York -- in 1750 had 13,000 inhabitants **\#\# Life in Colonial America** **\#\#\# Food** \- Better fed than in Europe \- Common foods: \- Pork most frequent \- Venison, beef \- Oatmeal, cornmeal mush \- Vegetables, pies, cornbread \- French settlers introduced hot rolls and buns, popularized soups and omelets **\#\#\# Entertainment and Recreation** \- Early settlers -- having fun considered sinful idleness \- Later activities: \- House and barn raisings \- House parties in the South \- Fairs \- Fishing, hunting \- Picnicking \- Skating, sleighing in winter \- Religious holidays \- Entertainment venues: \- Theaters: only in New York (opened 1750), Charleston \- Public rooms for card-playing, backgammon, reading \- Billiard parlors \- Newspapers **\#\# Colonial Regions and Government** **\#\#\# Types of Colonial Government** \- Charter Colonies (Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay): \- Britain granted charter to colonial government \- Self-governed \- Proprietary Colonies (e.g., Pennsylvania, New Jersey): \- Territories granted by English Crown to proprietors \- Full governing rights under lord proprietor \- Royal Colonies: \- Ruled directly by the Crown **\#\#\# Regional Characteristics** **\#\#\#\# New England** \- Rocky and hilly terrain \- Small farms \- Township system \- Proto-democracy \- Religious tolerance in Rhode Island \- Utopian project + commercial venture **\#\#\#\# Middle Colonies** \- Good land, larger farms \- Wheat and corn traded with England \- Forests led to lumbering, shipbuilding \- Most diverse region \- William Penn -- advocate of religious freedom and democracy \- Founded Pennsylvania and Philadelphia **\#\#\#\# Southern Colonies** ***\#\#\#\#\# Chesapeake Bay Colonies (Maryland, Virginia)*** \- John Smith quote: \"Heaven and earth have never agreed better to frame a place for man\'s habitation\" \- Economy: fishing, tobacco \- Planter society \- Migration of southern English Cavaliers (Royalists) \- Rigid class system ***\#\#\#\#\# Carolina Province (South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia)*** \- Crops: tobacco, rice, indigo, cotton, sugar \- Eight lord Proprietors (later sold back to Crown) \- Large number of Huguenots (French protestants) \- James Oglethorpe -- social reformer: \- Got royal charter for Province of Georgia \- Imagined it as refuge for England\'s poor \- Against slavery \- Friendly with Native Americans **\#\# Colonial Art** \- John Singleton Copley -- painter **4 US in the First Half of 19th Century** **\#\# Westward Expansion and Territorial Growth** **\#\#\# The Louisiana Purchase (1803)** \- President Thomas Jefferson\'s initiative \- Purchased territory from French government \- Doubled the size of the United States \- Jefferson\'s vision: \- Essential for nation\'s health \- Nation based on independent small farmers (yeomen) \- Expansion necessary for republican values \- Agricultural empire of liberty **\#\#\# Manifest Destiny** \- Widely held belief in American expansion \- Concept implied divine approval \- Key impacts: \- Motivated western settlement \- Justified Native American removal \- Led to war with Mexico \- Shaped national identity \- Influenced foreign policy **\#\#\# Territorial Acquisitions and Conflicts** **1. Oregon Territory** \- Disputed with Britain \- American settlers moved in despite British claims \- Eventually negotiated with Britain **2. Mexican Territories** \- American settlers moved into: \- California \- New Mexico \- Texas \- Created international tensions \- Led to conflicts with Mexico **3. Texas Independence and Annexation** \- 1837: American settlers and Spanish Texans won independence \- 1846: Texas joined US as slave state \- Annexation increased sectional tensions **4. Mexican-American War** \- 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo \- Mexico lost about one-third of its territory: \- California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico \- Significantly expanded US territory \- Raised questions about slavery in new territories **\#\# Population and Settlement** **\#\#\# Demographics and Growth** \- 1850s: 85% of population lived in rural communities \- Regional development patterns: \- Northeast: trade and factory center \- South: agricultural dominance \- New territories: frontier settlement **\#\#\# Immigration Patterns** **1. Early 19th Century** \- Primarily from northern Europe \- Settlers became farmers and merchants \- Moved west of Appalachian Mountains **2. Mid-Century Immigration** \- 1830-1850: 2.5 million Europeans arrived \- 1840s-1850s: 1.5 million Irish settled \- Irish concentrated in eastern cities \- Changed urban demographics **\#\#\# Settlement Patterns** \- Continuous westward movement \- Development of transportation routes \- Growth of river cities \- Emergence of new urban centers \- Frontier settlements and communities **\#\# Economic Development and Industrialization** **\#\#\# Traditional Industries** \- Lumber mills continued operation \- Shipbuilding remained important \- Mining expanded significantly \- Agricultural production grew **\#\#\# New Industrial Development** **1. Manufacturing** \- Textile mills established \- Machine shops emerged \- Iron works expanded \- Railroad industry developed **2. Commercial Development** \- Banking sector growth \- Insurance industry emerged \- Real estate speculation \- Retail trade expanded **3. Labor Changes** \- Rise of wage labor \- Growth of clerical work \- Changes in skilled trades \- New employment patterns **\#\#\# Transportation Revolution** \- Canal construction \- Railroad expansion \- Steam navigation \- Road improvements \- Changed commerce patterns **\#\# Social and Cultural Developments** **\#\#\# Media and Communication** \- Growth of newspapers \- Magazine publication expanded \- Improved printing technology \- Faster information spread **\#\#\# Literary Development** First flourishing of American literature: **- James Fenimore Cooper** \- Frontier themes \- Native American portrayal **- Nathaniel Hawthorne** \- Moral and social themes \- New England settings **- Edgar Allan Poe** \- Gothic elements \- Literary innovation **- Herman Melville** \- Maritime themes \- Social criticism **- Harriet Beecher Stowe** \- Abolitionist themes \- Social reform **\#\#\# Educational Development** \- Public school movement \- Higher education expansion \- Women\'s education growth \- Technical training development **\#\#\# Reform Movements** **1. Religious Revival** \- Second Great Awakening \- Religious reform movements \- Moral reform efforts **2. Social Reform** \- Temperance movement \- Prison reform \- Mental health reform \- Educational reform **3. Women\'s Rights** \- Early feminist movement \- Educational access \- Property rights \- Marriage reform **\#\# Political and Social Issues** **\#\#\# Slavery and Abolitionism** \- Growing sectional tensions \- Abolitionist movement growth \- Underground Railroad \- Political debates over expansion \- Economic implications **\#\#\# Native American Relations** \- Forced relocations \- Treaty negotiations \- Resistance movements \- Cultural changes \- Territorial conflicts **\#\#\# Economic Issues** \- Banking controversies \- Tariff debates \- Internal improvements \- Land policy \- Currency questions **\#\#\# Social Transformation** \- Class structure changes \- Urban growth \- Rural transformation \- Gender role evolution \- Educational expansion **\#\# Technological Advances** \- Industrial innovations \- Agricultural improvements \- Communication advances \- Transportation developments \- Manufacturing changes **5 US in the Second Half of 19th Century (1860-1900)** **\#\# The Civil War (1860-1865)** **\#\#\# Significance and Scale** \- Considered the first modern war \- Considered the first \"total\" war: \- Deeply affected majority of civilians \- No longer fought mainly on battlefields \- Fought in towns, villages, farms \- Armies destroyed civilian targets \- Seized houses, burned properties \- Seized food, firewood, horses and supplies \- Many civilians, especially in the South, became refugees \- Armies used blockade to prevent trade **\#\#\# Military Statistics** \- About 5 million men participated \- Approximately 500,000 killed \- Germans captured 95,000 Americans (1,140 died) \- Japanese captured 25,600 Americans (10,650 died) **\#\#\# Economic Impact** \- Cotton trade crucial for Southern economy \- Union army blockade led Southern engineers to invent first ironclad warships \- Ended Depression unemployment \- Brought millions of married women into workforce **\#\#\# Innovation in War Coverage** **\#\#\#\# Development of War Journalism** \- War recorded by civilians \- Public interest in fate of wounded \- 1850s: only few paid correspondents \- During Civil War: journalism boomed \- Major daily papers sent reporters everywhere \- Reporters shared values that became standard: \- Devotion to facts \- Eyewitness description \- Speed \- Scoops \- Depended on telegraphs, railroads, and horses \- Had to master complicated wartime telegraph network \- \"Reporting for Northern newspapers was a logistical struggle, for South, it was a nightmare\" \- Reporters resisted military and government censorship \- Often became famous celebrities **\#\#\#\# Visual Documentation** \- Boom of visual culture \- Lithography and photography quickly adopted \- Used to document, participate in, and inform about war \- Patriotism, politics, battles, and memorials newly portrayed in printed images \- Soldiers had images captured quickly and cheaply for loved ones \- Correspondents and artists used visual material to show battlefield horrors \- \"Never before had a war been documented and experienced so visually\" **\#\#\# Matthew Brady\'s Photography** \- Documented the Civil War \- Called the \"father of photojournalism\" \- Offered cartes de visite - \"You cannot tell how soon it may be too late\" \- Created portraits of soldiers for their families **\#\# Post-Civil War Era** **\#\#\# The Reconstruction of the South** \- Major period of readjustment and rebuilding \- Challenges integrating freed slaves into society \- Rise of Ku-Klux-Klan **\#\#\# Social Changes** \- Changing of rural society into urban \- City slums emerged \- Issues with poverty \- Child labor \- Violence and crime increased **\#\#\# Cultural Developments** **\#\#\#\# Visual Arts** \- Notable artists: \- Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, James McNeill Whistler, Mary Cassatt **\#\#\#\# Literature** \- Development of new literary movements: \- Realism, Naturalism, Regionalism \- Notable authors: \- Theodore Dreiser, Jack London, Stephen Crane, Henry James, Kate Chopin, Edith Wharton **\#\#\# Infrastructure and Industry** \- Rapid industrialization \- Expansion of railroads \- Growth of cities \- Technological innovations \- Rise of big business and corporations **6 US in the 20th Century** **\#\# Turn of the Century and First Decade** **- Ford Model-T (1908):** \- First mass-produced car (assembly line) \- Relatively affordable \- Car became symbol of American mobility and individualism \- Contrasted with train travel (not private/individualized) **- Other symbols of modern times:** \- Skyscrapers, Electric street lights, Brooklyn Bridge **\#\#\# World War I** \- April 6, 1917: US enters war \- 4 million mobilized \- About 100,000 killed \- Period of isolationism \- Emergence of \"Lost Generation\" **\#\# 1920s - The Jazz Age/Roaring Twenties** \- Loosening of sexual mores, flappers \- 1920: Ratification of 19th Amendment - women\'s right to vote \- Prohibition enacted \- Discussion of personal freedom and pleasure \- Ideas of Marx and Freud debated \- Period depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald\'s \"The Great Gatsby\" \- Arts: modernism flourished **\#\# 1930s - The Red Decade** \- Interest in social, economic issues \- Great Depression \- Dust Bowl crisis \- Leftist ideas taken seriously \- Arts: \- Realism \- Social realism \- Nostalgia for past in painting \- The New Deal implemented \- Period depicted in John Steinbeck\'s \"The Grapes of Wrath\" **\#\# World War II Years** **- December 8, 1940: US enters war** \- Military statistics: \- 11 million soldiers mobilized \- Half a million killed \- Home front changes: \- Ended Depression unemployment \- Brought millions of married women into workforce \- Changes for minorities: \- African Americans found new opportunities \- Mexican Americans gained industrial jobs \- Japanese Americans relocated to internment camps \- Government expansion: \- War Production Board created \- Office of Price Administration established \- Manhattan Project launched **\#\# Late 1940s and 1950s** \- Post-war changes: \- Holocaust awareness \- Nuclear war threat led to disillusionment \- Mass media era: \- Radio popularity (Frank Sinatra, Sinatramania) \- Television replacing radio by late 1950s \- Social characteristics: \- Materialism \- Militarism \- Conservative attitudes \- Economic boom led to unprecedented prosperity \- Belief in US power to maintain world peace \- Major developments: \- Cold War begins \- McCarthyism emerges \- Baby-boom occurs \- Suburbs expand \- Racial segregation challenged in courts \- US becomes post-industrial society \- Arts: \- Anti-establishment movements: \- Beat Generation, J.D. Salinger, Ralph Ellison - racial protest \- Jackson Pollock - abstract expressionism \- Post-modernism emerges **\#\# 1960s** \- Decade of unrest, riots, violence \- Major assassinations: \- JFK \- Malcolm X \- Martin Luther King \- Robert Kennedy \- Civil Rights Movement \- Vietnam War \- Cultural developments: \- Hippie culture \- Woodstock Festival \- Music: \- Folk rock (Bob Dylan) \- Country (Johnny Cash) \- Psychedelic rock (Jefferson Airplane, the Doors) \- Pop Art movement \- Black Renaissance in literature \- 1969: Moon landing **\#\# 1970s** \- Characterized as decade of pessimism \- Major events: \- Defeat in Vietnam \- Watergate scandal \- Economic recession \- Oil crisis \- Social movements: \- Environmental awareness rises \- Second wave of feminism \- Gay movement emerges \- Technology: \- Birth of modern computing \- Cultural developments: \- Pop-rock, Jazz-rock, Disco, Rise of hip-hop **\#\# 1980s - The Reagan Era** \- Political changes: \- Lowering of taxes \- Increased military spending \- Conservative policies \- Reduced business regulation \- Hard line against trade unions \- Ending of Cold War \- International policy: \- Support of anti-communist regimes \- US turned from biggest money lender to biggest borrower \- Social phenomena: \- Economic growth \- Growing wealth gap \- Yuppie culture \- \"Shop till you drop\" mentality **\#\# 1990s and Early 21st Century** \- Clinton presidency (1993-2001): \- Relatively peaceful period \- Economic growth \- Military involvement in Yugoslavia \- Social developments: \- Multiculturalism \- Acceptance of diversity \- \"PC\" (politically correct) movement \- Improved position of minorities \- Technology boom: \- Internet \- Cell phones \- Email \- Notable achievements: \- Toni Morrison - Nobel Prize for literature \- Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice in high offices \- Barack Obama\'s presidency - first African American president **7 American Values, Core Values, and Beliefs** **\#\# Core Values** **\#\#\# Freedom** \- Individual freedom leads to self-reliance \- Relying on oneself: \- Financial independence \- Emotional independence \- \"Standing on one\'s own feet\" \- Receiving support: \- Allowed but never admired \- Seen as setting bad example \- Viewed as weakening American character **\#\#\# Self-reliance** Quote from Alexis de Tocqueville, 1830: \"They owe nothing to any man, they expect nothing from any man; they acquire the habit of always considering themselves as standing alone, and they are apt to imagine that their whole destiny is in their own hands.\" **\#\#\# Individualism** \- Term first used by Alexis de Tocqueville \- Seen as inevitable consequence of democracy and equality \- Distinguished from egoism and selfishness **\#\#\#\# Positive Aspects** \- American as pioneer \- Indifference to governmental control \- Right to challenge authority \- American as entrepreneur \- Encourages diversity **\#\#\#\# Negative Aspects** \- Arrogant self-confidence \- Lack of care/indifference to environment, workers, etc. **\#\#\# Connection to Frontier Life** \- Early period: man against wilderness \- Embodied in character of Daniel Boone \- Later period: Wild West -- man against man \- Embodied in characters like Jesse James, Wyatt Earp **\#\# Equality of Opportunity** \- Chance to succeed, second chance \- No hereditary aristocracy \- No formal class system \- Everyone should have equal chance to enter \"race for success\" \- Race should be fair Quote from Alexis de Tocqueville, 1830: \"The more I advanced in the study of American society, the more I perceived that\... equality of condition is the fundamental fact from which all others seem to be derived.\" Quote from Abraham Lincoln, 1860: \"We\... wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else. When one starts poor, as most do in the race of life, free society is such that he knows he can better his condition; he knows that there is no fixed condition of labor for his whole life.\" **\#\#\# Competition** \- Encouraged; even seen as duty to compete for success \- People often seen as winners or losers \- Creates constant pressure \- Non-competitive people do not fit into mainstream **\#\#\# Historical Limitations** \- For long time, valid mostly for white men \- Not applicable to: \- Slaves \- Aboriginal people \- Women \- Non-Anglo-Saxon immigrants **\#\# Material Wealth** \- Immigrants sought better life, higher standard of living \- Abundant natural resources led to \"land of plenty,\" \"land of abundance\" \- Concept of \"from rags to riches\" \- Material wealth as value and accepted measure of social status \- Seen as result of hard work \- Prosperity viewed as reward for hard work \- Prosperity equals evidence of hard work and ability Quote from James Madison, 18th century: \"The difference in material possessions reflects the difference in personal abilities.\" **\#\# The Declaration of Independence** Statement of national principle: \"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain undeniable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.\" **\#\# The Constitution** Key principles: \- Separation of church and state \- Forbidding of aristocratic titles \- Emphasis on individual freedom **\#\# \"The Promised Land\" - Various Meanings** \- For the Puritans \- For other immigrants \- As a myth **\#\# Other Important Values** \- Faith, Family, Concept of self-improvement, Work ethic, Health, Democratic principles, Individual rights, Religious freedom, Innovation and progress **8 Native Americans** **\#\# Terminology and Names** \- In both Americas -- called American Indians (as opposed to Indians from the Indies) \- Native Americans -- used in US \- Current preference: term \"nation\" rather than \"tribe\" (i.e., Navajo Nation rather than Navajo tribe) \- First Nations -- used in Canada **\#\# Historical Origins** \- First Native Americans arrived during last ice-age 20-30 thousand years ago \- Came from NE Siberia across the Bering Strait to Alaska **\#\#\# Oldest Documented Cultures** \- Sandia (15,000 BC) \- Clovis (12,000 BC) \- Folsom (8,000 BC) **\#\# Early Native American Settlers** \- Moved south to warmer climate \- Activities and developments: \- Hunting, fishing \- Art, crafts, dances, singing \- Religion \- Some groups planted corn, created permanent settlements \- Developed weaving, pottery, baskets \- Established laws, government \- Some kept records **\#\# Native American Cultural Areas/Culture Groups** **\#\#\# Eastern Woodland Indians** \- Location: East part from Maine to Florida, to the Mississippi River \- Housing: Villages (wigwams, long houses) \- Seasonal adaptation: SE had winter and summer houses \- Agriculture: Planted corn, squash, beans \- Transportation: Traveled on birchbark canoes \- Clothing: Made from deerskin \- Settlement: Made clearings by burning forest for villages \- Nations: \- Iroquois, Mohicans, Narraganset, Delaware, Powhatan, Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Shawnee **\#\#\# The Great Plains Indians** \- Location: Lived west of Mississippi, on grassland \- Lifestyle: Dependent on buffalo \- Housing: Lived in tepees -- framework of poles, buffalo hides stretched on it \- Movement: Nomadic \- Nations: \- Blackfoot \- Sioux (Dakota, Nakota, Lakota) \- Arapaho \- Cheyenne \- Osage \- Comanche **\#\#\# The Southwest Tribes** \- Location: High, dry region of Arizona, New Mexico \- Agriculture: \- Farmers: corn, beans, squash, melons, pumpkins, turkeys \- Grew cotton for cloth \- Crafts: Pottery \- Housing: Large dwellings (pueblos), cliff dwellings or hogans \- Technology: Irrigation systems \- Nations: \- Hopi, Zuni, Navajo, Anasazi **\#\#\# The California-Intermountain Indians** \- Location: East California, Nevada, Idaho \- Subsistence: Seed gatherers (berries, roots, seeds, nuts) \- Housing: Huts of grass \- Crafts: Baskets \- Nations: \- Shoshone \- Paiute **\#\#\# The Northwest Coast** \- Location: Rainy Pacific coast of Oregon, Washington \- Subsistence: Fishing, hunting \- Housing: Permanent homes -- sturdy cabins from logs \- Transportation: Strong canoes, carved, decorated \- Nations: \- Chinook \- Nootka \- Yakima **\#\# Myths and Contemporary Issues** **\#\#\# The Vanishing Indian Myth** \- Myth that Indians are a vanishing race \- Depicted already in J.F. Cooper\'s works \- Tendency among anthropologists to document cultures \"before they vanish\" **\#\#\# Contemporary Status** \- Population increase: \- 1900: about 300,000 \- 2000: about 2.5 million (self-identification) \- 2/3 live in cities \- Declared war on New Age\'s appropriation of their religion **\#\# Notable Native American Artists** **\#\#\# Writers** \- Mourning Dove \- N. Scott Momaday -- \"House Made of Dawn\" (1968) \- Leslie Marmon Silko -- \"Ceremony\" (1977) \- Louise Erdrich -- \"Love Medicine\" (1984) \- Gerald Vizenor \- Sherman Alexie **\#\#\# Painters** \- T.C. Cannon \- Fritz Scholder **\#\# Historical Treatment and Policy** \- Indian Removal Act 1830: \- Tribes from east moved west of Mississippi River \- Cherokee Supreme Court victory ignored by President Jackson \- Resulted in Trail of Tears \- General Allotment Act (Dawes Act) 1887: \- Aimed to end tribal life \- Goal to turn Indians into farmers \- 1940s-1960: \- Policy to terminate tribes \- Attempt to assimilate Native Americans into taxpaying citizens **9 Slavery in America** **\#\# Historical Context and Origins** \- Has existed as system in human history since ancient times \- Existed in Africa prior to arrival of whites (serfdom) \- The English originally enslaved non-Christians regardless of skin color \- Usually for limited time initially **\#\# Development of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade** \- European slave trade began 1444 \- Continued for approximately 400 years \- Africa lost estimated 40 million people \- Considered greatest migration in recorded history \- First African slaves brought to America in 1619 by the Dutch **\#\# The Journey to Slavery (\"Middle Passage\")** **\#\#\# Process of Enslavement** **1. African traders captured/kidnapped villagers** \- Marched them to trading posts \- Almost half of the captives died during march **2. Waited for ships at trading posts** **3. Sailed 60-90 days to US - The Middle Passage** **4. About 54,000 voyages made to buy and sell slaves** **\#\# Opposition and Abolition** **\#\#\# Early Opposition** \- Strongest opposition from the Quakers (religious group) \- 1772 -- Slavery abolished in Britain \- 1775 -- The Northern US made slavery illegal \- 1808 -- U.S. Congress abolished Atlantic slave trade **\#\#\# Continued Practice in South** \- Domestic trade flourished despite Atlantic trade ban \- Slave population tripled over next 50 years \- By 1860: approximately 4 million slaves \- More than half living in cotton-producing states of the South **\#\#\# Final Abolition** \- 1863 -- Emancipation Proclamation \- 1865 -- 13th Amendment to the Constitution **\#\# Impact on American Society** \- Only group who came to America involuntarily \- Enslavement represented complete denial of traditional American values \- Created division in society (pro-slavery vs abolitionists) \- Led to fundamental conflicts about states\' rights \- Contributed to economic divide between North and South \- Impact continued long after abolition through segregation and discrimination **\#\# Unique Features of American Slavery** \- Racial basis of slavery developed over time \- System became hereditary \- Integrated into economic structure of South \- Created distinct cultural patterns \- Led to long-term social and economic consequences \- Central role in causing Civil War **\#\# Geographic Distribution** \- Concentrated in Southern states \- Particularly prevalent in: \- Cotton-producing regions \- Tobacco-growing areas \- Rice plantations \- Sugar cane territories **\#\# Economic Impact** \- Essential to Southern plantation economy \- Created wealth disparity in South \- Influenced international trade patterns \- Shaped agricultural development \- Affected industrialization differences between North and South **\#\# Legacy and Long-term Effects** \- Reconstruction period challenges \- Emergence of sharecropping system \- Development of segregation \- Ongoing civil rights struggles \- Economic disparities \- Social and cultural impacts continuing through generations **\# Immigration in America** **\#\# Colonial Immigration** **\#\#\# Early Period** \- Tremendous need for labor \- Lack of diversity - most immigrants from northern Europe, especially England \- By 1700s -- Two streams of immigration: \- Free -- mostly white Europeans \- Non-free -- white indentured slaves, African servants, indentured slaves, slaves **\#\#\# Colonial Demographics** \- 1790 -- First census: population of 3.9 million \- Majority (65%) of British descent \- 19% from Africa \- Remainder from Netherlands, France, Sweden or Jewish \- Between 1717-1783: British transported over 50,000 prison convicts (9% of immigrants) **\#\#\# Early Restrictions** \- George Washington refused any but \"Native Americans\" (i.e., white men of English stock born in US) into his army \- Alexander Hamilton warned against granting citizenship to too many immigrants \- \"Whites only\" policy emerged **\#\#\# Early Legislation** \- The Naturalization Act of 1790: \- Naturalization limited to free white persons \- Required good moral character \- Two years of US residence \- 1795 amendment extended residence requirement to five years **\#\# Mass Immigration (1815-1890s)** **\#\#\# Scale and Demographics** \- 1815 -- US population: 8.5 million \- 1820-1840 -- 0.5 million immigrants \- 1840-1850 -- almost 2 million immigrants **\#\#\# Causes** \- Famine in Germany \- Irish potato famine \- Social unrest due to industrialization \- Political unrest (failed revolutions of 1848) \- End of 1840s - immigration from Mexico and China began **\#\# Anti-immigration Movement** **\#\#\# Concerns** \- Fear of country being overrun by German and Irish Catholics \- Concerns about Papal control \- Loss of Republican values \- In California -- resentment towards Chinese immigrants **\#\#\# Organizations** \- The Native American Party (Know Nothings): \- Membership restricted to Protestant men \- Wanted to \"purify\" society through immigrant restrictions **\#\#\# Legislative Restrictions** \- Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882: \- First law preventing specific ethnic group from immigrating \- Motivated by racism \- Excluded Chinese laborers \- Repealed in 1943 (China became ally in WWII) **\#\# Peak Immigration Period (1890-1910)** **\#\#\# Statistics** \- 1890-1900: 3.5 million immigrants \- 1908: 1 million immigrants arrived \- Facilitated by advances in technology (cheaper travel) **\#\#\# Demographics** \- 1900-1910: 8.8 million immigrants \- Italians, Poles, Greeks, Lithuanians \- 1.2 million eastern European Jews -- majority settled in New York City \- 1900-1907: 30,000 Japanese **\#\#\# Settlement Patterns** \- Nationality or language-specific communities formed in cities \- Little Italy \- China Town \- Other ethnic enclaves **\#\# Restrictive Period (1920s-1960s)** **\#\#\# Immigration Act of 1924** \- Included National Origins Act and Asian Exclusion Act \- Restrictions by national origin \- Limited annual immigrants to 2% of 1890 population \- Restricted Southern and Eastern Europeans \- Banned Asians and Arabs \- Opened immigration from Mexico, Caribbean, Central/South America \- Reduced immigration from 1 million to 150,000 per year \- Favored western and northern Europeans **\#\#\# Immigration Act of 1952** \- Reinforced national origins quota system \- Ended Asian exclusion \- Introduced skills and family reunification preferences **\#\# Modern Era (1965-Present)** **\#\#\# Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965** \- Hart-Celler Act abolished national-origin quotas \- Led to increased immigration: \- 1960: 300,000/year \- 1990: 1 million/year **\#\#\# Changed Demographics** \- 1950s: 1/2 of immigrants European, 6% Asian \- 1990s: 16% European and 31% Asian \- Increased percentages of Latino and African immigrants **\#\#\# Contemporary Trends** \- US admits more immigrants than all other industrialized countries combined \- Immigration highest in almost 100 years \- Immigration = 1/3 of yearly population growth \- 90% of immigrants from Latin America, Caribbean, and Asia \- Almost 1 in 10 US citizens now is foreign-born **\#\# Reasons for Immigration** Common motivations based on American values: \- Freedom \- Equality of opportunity \- Material wealth \- Better life opportunities \- Religious freedom \- Political freedom \- Economic advancement **\# US in the First Half of 19th Century** \#\# Westward Expansion \#\#\# The Louisiana Purchase \- 1803: President Thomas Jefferson purchased territory from French government \- Doubled the size of the United States \- Jefferson believed expansion essential for nation\'s health \- Vision of nation based on independent small farmers (yeomen) \#\#\# Manifest Destiny \- Generally held opinion that US was destined to expand from coast to coast \- Helped fuel: \- Western settlement \- Native American removal \- War with Mexico \#\#\# Territorial Expansion \- People moved to: \- Oregon territory (belonging to Britain) \- Mexican territories of California, New Mexico, Texas \- 1837: American settlers in Texas + Spanish Texans won independence from Mexico \- 1846: Texas joined US as a slave state (annexation of Texas) \- 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo \- Mexico lost about one-third of its territory (California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico) \#\# Population and Settlement \#\#\# Demographics \- 1850s: 85% of population in rural communities \- Northeast developed as trade and factory center \- South remained more dependent on agriculture \#\#\# Immigration \- First half 19th century: immigrants from northern Europe became farmers and merchants west of Appalachian Mountains \- 1830-1850: 2.5 million Europeans arrived \- 1840s, 1850s: 1.5 million Irish settled in cities on East coast \#\# Industrialization \#\#\# Economic Development \- Old industries continued: \- Lumber mills \- Shipbuilding \- Mining \- New industries emerged: \- Textile mills \- Machine shops \- Iron works \- Railroad \- Clerical work \#\# Cultural Development \#\#\# Media and Literature \- Growth of newspapers and magazines \- First flourishing of literature with authors such as: \- James Fenimore Cooper \- Nathaniel Hawthorne \- Edgar Allan Poe \- Herman Melville \- Harriet Beecher Stowe \#\# Slavery and Abolitionism \- Conflict over slavery in new western states \- Growth of abolitionist movement \- Division between North and South deepening \- Debates over states\' rights and slavery expansion