CHAPTER 8 Creating a Republican Culture 1790–1820 James A. Henretta Eric Hinderaker Rebecca Edwards Robert O. Self America’s History Eighth Edition America: A Concise History Sixth Edition CHAPTER 8 Creating a Republican Culture 1790–1820 Copyright © 2014 by Bedford/St. Martin’s

1. What are some of the ways this painting of Grace Allison McCurdy and her daughters, Mary Jane and Letitia Grace, reflects the influences of republican culture in the early nineteenth century? (Answer: The subjects are simply but elegantly dressed, suggesting their embrace of republican simplicity. The family portrait that includes only women and girls shows the influence of new ideas about their importance and value for families.) 2. What does the portrait suggest about the relationships between mothers and their children in the republican families of this era? (Answer: The portrait is a classic depiction of republican motherhood and sentimentalism. The physical connections and matching dresses convey the intimacy and affection that existed between mothers and children.)

I. The Capitalist Commonwealth A. Banks, Manufacturing, and Markets 1. Banking and Credit 2. Rural Manufacturing 3. New Transportation Systems

I. The Capitalist Commonwealth B. Public Enterprise: The Commonwealth System 1. “Public utility” 2. Critics

II. Toward a Democratic Republican Culture A. Opportunity and Equality — for White Men 1. Social divisions 2. Discrimination

II. Toward a Democratic Republican Culture B. Toward Republican Families 1. Republican Marriages 2. Republican Motherhood 10

II. Toward a Democratic Republican Culture C. Raising Republican Children 1. Two Modes of Parenting 2. Debates over Education 3. Promoting Cultural Independence 11

III. Aristocratic Republicanism and Slavery A. The Revolution and Slavery, 1776–1800 1. Manumission and Gradual Emancipation 2. Slavery Defended

1. What is happening in this 1828 painting of a family in York, Pennsylvania? Who are the people depicted in the portrait? (Answer: This is a family portrait, depicting a family gathering in front of the hearth in a well-appointed drawing room. The mother is seated, reading to the two young children. The father stands by, admiring the scene. In the corner, an African American servant takes care of the family infant who is too young to take part in the family’s activity. The servant and baby are separate, but not removed from the family.) 2. What can you determine about the social and economic status of the family, based on the scene? (Answer: This is clearly a well-to-do family. Their drawing room is appointed with colorful rugs, wallpaper, glass windows, finely made furniture, art, and lace curtains. The family is dressed in elegant clothing. They have the funds to employ domestic help.) 3. Which elements of republican family life are evident in this portrait? (Answer: Companionate marriage, republican motherhood with the mother taking charge of education for both male and female children, smaller family size with three children instead of many more; more intimate family life.)

III. Aristocratic Republicanism and Slavery B. The North and South Grow Apart 1. Slavery and National Politics 2. African Americans Speak Out

III. Aristocratic Republicanism and Slavery C. The Missouri Crisis, 1819–1821 1. Constitutional Issues 2. The Missouri Compromise

IV. Protestant Christianity as a Social Force A. A Republican Religious Order 1. Religious Freedom 2. Church-State Relations 3. Republican Church Institutions

IV. Protestant Christianity as a Social Force B. The Second Great Awakening 1. A New Religious Landscape 2. Black Christianity

IV. Protestant Christianity as a Social Force C. Religion and Reform 1. Benevolence and reform 2. In political life

1. Describe the scene depicted in this painting 1. Describe the scene depicted in this painting. What is taking place here? (Answer: Image depicts a religious camp meeting. Itinerant evangelical preachers are speaking from the stage while hundreds of the faithful gather to listen. Their tents surround the stage. Many of the listeners appear to be women, and many seem to be overcome by the power of the preachers’ messages.) 2. What impression does this illustration give of the camp meetings that took place during the Second Great Awakening? (Answer: Event looks quite informal. Stage and benches appear to be rough and temporary structures. The preachers themselves look quite staid, while the audience looks more raucous. The painting conveys the notion that the scene was noisy with preachers’ speech and listeners’ responses.) 3. Does this painting give any hint of the artists’ view of the evangelical movement and its revivals? (Answer: Painting might be simply representative, showing the size of the crowds and the emotionality of the scene. It might be judgmental, however. The artist could be insinuating that the audience is irrationally moved by the preachers’ religious messages.)

IV. Protestant Christianity as a Social Force D. Women’s New Religious Roles 1. A Growing Public Presence 2. Spiritual authority vs. political power