Final Exam Essay Outlines

Civil War
I. An unexpectedly drawn-out and bloody American war that took place during
Lincolns presidency, from 1861-1865. Although it was ostensibly fought over
the issue of slavery, it was actually more significant as an effort to keep the
Union as a cohesive whole.
II. By the 1860 presidential election, country was in political crisis
a. Republicans (free soil) picked moderate Lincoln
b. John Bell (Constitutional Union/quasi-Whig) ignores slavery
c. N/S Democrats split
d. No one representative of whole country
III. Lincoln elected South (fire-eaters who thought of South as own country
e.g., Edmund Ruffin) refuses to accept him seven states secede irrationally
(Democrats in control of House and SCOTUS, Lincoln willing to compromise
to protect Union) to protect slavery from perceived Northern attacks
a. SC first
b. Establish CSA in Montgomery, AL
IV. War begins at Fort Sumter no strategic significance, but symbolic
a. South Northern aggression, threat to independence
b. North symbol of federal authority in South
c. Lincoln resupplies fort w/non-military supplies, lets CSA know South
fires b/c hoping for war to enlarge CSA and win European recognition
i. South believed they were badass and North was cowardly
believed war would only last a few months
ii. In North, huge rush of volunteerism NOT to free slaves, but protect
Union
V. North had better industry and railroads, South had better generals
a. A.A. made up 10% of Union Army, even though <1% of N. pop.
b. Boys War (2 million were 21 or under) that killed 2% of American pop.
c. Surrender by Lee at Appomattox last battle (Confederate victory,
Palmito Ranch) occurred afterwards
VI. A triumph of American nationalism and defeat of Southern nationalism
(battle between localism and nationalism basically decided) as a result,
Congress dramatically increases power of federal government over states
Americans become more comfortable with idea of a powerful central
government provide for modern expectations of government
a. Huge effect on slavery; although white racism continues, structure
changed now that legalized institution of slavery is gone
VII. Changes of the Civil War:
a. Increase in patriotism (certainly in the North, Southerners over time)
b. Sped up assimilation process of immigrants into Northern society (I am
an American willing to fight and die for its ideals), heightened American
nationalism in the North
c. Destroyed political theory of secession forever (except Rick Perry b/c
Texas is different!!)
d. Broadened and strengthened the central governments powers (Morrill
Act, etc.)
e. Presidency in particular grew stronger because of Lincolns actions
f. Settled issue of slavery, even though began as a war to save the Union


Localism
I. Localism is a sociopolitical philosophy prevalent in pre-Revolutionary (pre-
1776) colonial America in which local (state, city, or regional level) concerns,
interests, and loyalties are more significant and command greater attention
that those of the nation-state.
II. Five contributing factors
a. British colonies established at different times for different purposes no
sense of a common purpose
i. Virginia English trading company; Massachusetts Puritans
city on a hill; Pennsylvania refuge and religious toleration for
Quakers; Georgia debtors safe haven
b. British didnt really do anything to encourage colonies to cooperate with
each other
i. Virginia governed by company; Pennsylvania/Maryland
proprietor colonies; Connecticut/Rhode Island corporate
colonies; rest were royal colonies ruled by king-appointed
governor
ii. Dominion of New England (1685) British tried to combine New
England, New York, and New Jersey into one entity under one royal
governor, but everyone hated it
1. Showed that England failed to understand Americas
political situation and demonstrated localisms strength
iii. English colonists used to tradition of local government
1. Consolidation of territory = attacking local control, and
therefore liberty and freedom!
c. American geography limited transportation and communication
i. Contributed to misunderstanding and mistrust in colonial America
d. Colonists came from many different places and backgrounds
i. i.e., nation of immigrants
e. Religious differences led to conflicts
i. New England Calvinists; Middle Colonies Pietists; Backcountry
N & S Evangelicals
III. Localism was a dominant cultural characteristic in colonial America that not
only initially hindered the progression towards nationalism and, therefore,
revolution, but also is still prominent today
a. Driving force behind states rights movement that began after the
formation of the new government and still continues today.

Nat Turners Rebellion:
Nat Turners rebellion was an uprising of black slaves in Virginia against local
white slave-owners during Andrew Jacksons presidency. The rebellion was instigated
by Nat Turner, a man who, before the rebellion, wholly conformed to the role of a good
slave. Although he wasnt necessarily treated any better or worse than any other slave,
he began to develop a messianic complex, believing that he had been personally chosen
by God to free the slaves from their bondage. After organizing a mob of about seventy
similarly discontented slaves, he began a violent revolt against his own slave-owner
before attacking slave-owners in the neighboring area in a confrontation that lasted
about forty-eight hours. Sixty whites were killed over the course of the rebellion, and the
Virginia militia later arrived to put down the rebellion, killing twelve slaves in the
process. Although Turner escaped from the violent scene, he was later found and
subsequently convicted and executed for his crimes.
Turners rebellion was a manifestation of the predominant attitude of blacks
toward the institution of slavery contrary to the beliefs of Southern slavery apologists
who spoke of slaverys mutualistic nature, most abhorred it and greatly desired freedom.
However, with the low success rate of escape attempts, slaves were forced to express
their discontent in ways such as slowing down and doing careless work, pretending to be
ill (e.g., with a swelling of the arms that was actually purposefully inflicted bee stings),
limb amputation, and criminal activity. Unfortunately, Turners rebellion ultimately was
a detriment to abolitionism rather than the inspiring spark of revolution and martyrdom
he perhaps intended it to be. His actions instantly caused a wave of fear to spread
throughout the South, which resulted in an increase in the severity of slave codes and
the collapse of the Southern emancipation movement as Southerners began to believe
that slavery was, in fact, a necessary instrument for their personal protection. In a
reflection of the deep-seated racial prejudices of American society, Southerners
interpreted the rebellion not as an outcome of dissatisfaction with slavery, but as caused
by outside agitators, such as the famous abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, from the
North, thus making Garrisons anti-slavery newspaper the Liberator, Garrison himself,
and abolitionism relevant to Southern society.