Lecture 47: Sectional Conflict and Regional Differences

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the effects of immigration from various parts of the world on American culture (1844-1877).
2. Explain how regional differences related to slavery caused tension leading to the Civil War.

Immigration and Cultural Effects (1840-1860)

• Irish Immigration

  • Potato famine in 1840s led to 2 million Irish immigrants.
  • Settled in urban areas (Boston, New York) due to financial constraints.
  • Worked in unskilled labor, faced nativism due to Catholicism and cultural practices (e.g., drinking whiskey).
  • Assimilated through political party machines, eventually becoming loyal Democratic voters.

• German Immigration

  • Fled 1848 revolutions in Central Europe, 1 million came to the U.S.
  • Settled in the Northwest; engaged in farming.
  • Maintained culture through German schools and parishes.
  • Significant influence in the Midwest, e.g., breweries in Milwaukee, cheese production in Wisconsin.
  • Experienced nativism, especially for language retention and alcohol use.

• Chinese Immigration

  • Approximately 65,000 by 1860, crucial in gold mining and railroad construction (Transcontinental Railroad).
  • Predominantly male migrants, facing harsh nativism, leading to exclusion by 1882.

Nativist Movements

• Anti-Catholic Sentiment
  • Movements aimed at limiting immigrants' political power.
  • Supreme Order of the Stars and Stripes evolved into the Know-Nothing Party.
  • Advocated for extended citizenship waiting periods and limiting political office to native-born citizens.

Regional Tensions and Slavery

• Northern Economy vs. Southern Economy

  • North: Manufacturing economy reliant on free labor, concerns about slave labor undermining free labor market.
  • Free Soil Movement aimed to stop slavery's expansion, emphasizing economic grounds over moral ones.

• Abolitionist Movement

  • Literature:
    • "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe highlighted the evils of slavery.
    • "The Impending Crisis of the South" by Hinton R. Helper argued slavery was economically unsustainable.
  • Underground Railroad:
    • Network for helping enslaved people escape, with figures like Harriet Tubman.
  • Violence:
    • John Brown's militant actions in Kansas and Harpers Ferry heightened tensions.

• Southern Defense of Slavery

  • Arguments presented slavery as a positive social good and constitutional right.
  • Literature like "Aunt Phyllis's Cabin" and "Sociology for the South" argued against abolitionist claims.
  • The 1857 financial panic bolstered Southern confidence in their economic model.

Recap

• Immigrants (Irish, German, Chinese) contributed to U.S. development but faced nativism.
• Free Soil Movement sought to halt slavery's spread.
• Abolitionists used literature, the Underground Railroad, and violence.
• Southern defenders of slavery became more forceful amidst perceived threats.

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Additional Resources

• Watch the next lecture.
• Visit apushlights.com for more AP exam practice.

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Wishing you success in your studies and see you in the next lecture!