Missouri Compromise

Missouri Compromise

Balance between Free & Slave states was the aim

States were usually admitted in pairs

Between 1816 & 1819

Slave states Mississippi & Alabama were admitted to balance Free states Indiana & Illinois (although the southern portions of these free states attracted many southerners – would the state remain free?

1820 – Missouri is to be admitted as a slave state – ferocious debate by abolitionists in North & West

Compromise achieved by taking the northern part of MA and making a free state, Maine

Additionally, a line was drawn in the West (36 30 parallel) North of the line, future states would be free – South, slave

A compromise w/ limited foresight, essentially dividing the country into two societies – also, ‘free’ west was vastly larger in the North

Jefferson said the compromise was the death knell of the union

Spirit of Improvement

1790 Noah Webster ‘act like independent beings ... you have an empire to raise and support ... national character to establish and extend by your wisdom & virtues...’

Webster wanted standards for American English – created the national spelling book (in use thru early 1900’s)

Though many state governments required free public education, few provided it...private schools filled in

MA state government called on school teachers to teach ‘ the principles of piety, justice, and a sacred regard to truth, love to their country...chastity, moderation, and temperance, and those other virtues which are the ornaments of human society...’

National character is connected to promoting certain values & virtues in the schools

These are known as REPUBLICAN virtues

Sacrificing individual needs for the good of the community, self-reliance, industry, frugality, and harmony

Industrial revolution

Textile mills (borrowed from the British)

Steam Engine James Watts 1785 (also British)

Britain forbid anyone who knew how these Steam Engines worked to emigrate

Americans received this technology from Samuel Slater (rewards were being offered to anyone who brought the knowledge to USA

Eli Whitney – interchangeable parts

He received a contract to make 10,000 guns in 2 years – because each gun’s parts fit only its particular unit (guns were made one at a time)

Though he actually took 10 years to make the 10,000 guns, he perfected the interchangeable parts – standardized parts

1824 other industries were borrowing this technology

Steam power – first steam boat in 1807 to navigate a round trip in an American river

Canals (artificial water ways) Erie Canal 363 miles of it, linked Hudson River W/ Lake Erie – canals were used to transport goods & help settled the new west

Roads – Cumberland Road started in 1811 (under Jefferson) liked Columbus, Ohio in 1833, later to Illinois today known are U.S. Route 40

Turnpikes – roads privately built to make a profit, by charging tolls – using gates *(known as pikes)

Rail Roads – technology again brought from Britain – adapting the Watts steam engine

1828 construction begins in Baltimore (B & O)

Communication – Feds expanded the postal service – from 75 in 1790 to 8450 in 1830

Created a national network of information

Newspaper & Magazine business expands

Education increases the literacy rate

Social Changes

Mobile Society – had two major effects

Americans were not tied to the land, could pick-up & move west, where land is available

Poor children could escape & begin anew w/o a label

Though this did not mean things were equal, but at least there was opportunities

Moving from place to place caused loneliness

This led to drinking & suicide

New social skills were needed to integrate into a life with strangers & make community with them