Chapter 6: The Age of Jefferson Lesson 3: Daily Life in Early America

Creating a Democratic Society During Jefferson’s presidency, nationalism, a feeling of pride in a nation and loyalty to its goals, spread throughout the country.

Many Americans came to believe a strong democracy depended on education. The success of public schools in Massachusetts and Philadelphia increased demands for a nationwide system of public schools.

A religious revival known as the Second Great Awakening stressed the equality of all believers before God and the promise of salvation for all who believed.

Many African Americans formed their own churches and denominations at this time.

Question Break #1 A strong spirit of __________, a feeling of pride in the nation, emerged during Jefferson’s time in office. What message was stressed by preachers during the Second Great Awakening?

An American Culture American writers began using settings and characters that were typically American. Washington Irving wrote The Sketch book, a collection of short stories set in America.

James Fenimore Cooper wrote novels about American folk-heroes. William Cullen Bryant wrote poems about nature.

American artists began focusing on American subjects. George Caleb Bingham painted fur traders, riverboat workers, and political speakers. George Catlin painted scenes of Native American daily life. Thomas Doughty painted views of the Catskill Mountains. Painting by George Catlin Painting by George Caleb Bingham

Americans developed their own forms of music and instruments, such as banjos and pianos. Stephen C. Foster composed songs about the American South.

American architects created their own forms of building based on classical Greek and Roman styles. These styles became the models for public buildings.

Question Break #2 During the early 1800s, Americans began to develop a unique __________, including forms of literature, painting, music, and architecture. What was the name of the school of American painting from the early 1800s that painted landscapes of New York?

A Rural Nation People in the North lived in villages and towns, with farm communities on the outskirts. Farming was the major economic activity in the North.

People in the South lived on widely separated farms, and their economy depended on slavery. Slavery set the South apart from the rest of the country.

Planters, or large landowners, became the South’s economic and social leaders. They began farming cotton as a cash crop. It was very successful and the growth of the textile industry led to increased demand for enslaved people to work in the cotton fields.

Most enslaved people worked on farms and plantations. Enslaved men generally worked in the fields, and enslaved women generally performed housekeeping chores. Some enslaved people worked in the South’s towns and cities as coach drivers, household servants, and artisans.

More Americans began living in cities. Cities in the North were booming. The South had fewer towns and cities.

Mills and factories in the North grew in the 1800s, and the rise in industry increased the gap between the rich and the poor. Wealthy merchants controlled urban economic and social life. A middle class of artisans, shopkeepers, and professionals had some prosperity. A growing working class had to struggle to survive.

Northern cities drew many free African Americans. Although many Northerners opposed slavery, free African Americans faced many barriers to full equality.

Question Break #3 What was the main crop shipped from Southern ports? Why did slavery in the North decline after the Revolutionary War? The rise of industries in the North created a growing __________ class whose members often struggled to survive.

Westward Movement Settlers moved West to escape growing populations and taxes in the East and to claim land.

Settlers cut down trees to build log cabins and clear land for farming. Pioneers met with many struggles on the frontier, including an uncertain climate, limited supplies, crops that failed, loneliness, and difficult transportation conditions.

Westward-moving settlers came into conflict with Native Americans, who developed ways to resist and survive the settlers. Some Native Americans, such as the Cherokee, tried to adjust peacefully, but others, such as the Shawnee and Creek, prepared for armed resistance.

Irving - The Sketch Book Cooper - The Last of the Mohicans Bingham paints fur traders, riverboat workers, and political speakers Doughty paints landscapes and leads Hudson River School of painting Foster combines African and European music to create unique American sound Classical designs become model for public buildings Greek Revival used for plantation houses in the South

Question Break #4 Give two reasons why people were eager to move west.

Essay Question #1 Explain the significance of the Supreme Court case of Marbury vs. Madison. Chief Justice John Marshall extended the power of the Supreme Court. He set out 3 principals of judicial review: The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. When there is a conflict between a law and the Constitution, the Constitution must be followed. The judicial branch’s duty is to uphold the Constitution. The courts must be able to cancel unconstitutional laws. The powers of judicial review served as an important check on the legislative (law making) branch.

Essay Question #2 Describe the journey to the Western frontier. Where did most pioneers settle? Why? Traveled in Conestoga wagons & headed west over the Appalachian Mountains. Rough, muddy roads and through dangerous forests. Took rifles to protect themselves & hunt. Took axes to hack through forests & build homes. Settled along the Mississippi River and established farms. It was critical to settle near a water source. Waterways allowed them to send goods down river to New Orleans and then to markets on the East Coast.