American Society in The 1850s

Pages            Content & Question

241            “The Rise of Nativism”

            1.  What was the “alien menace”?

The alien menace was the growth of foreigners immigrating to the United States.

            2.  Who were The Know-Nothings?

Groups of Native Americans who wanted to ban Catholics or aliens from holding public office.

254-255            “The Rich and the Poor”

1.     How did economic conditions affect class and ethnic tensions?

The wealth was being distributed unequally: slaves, Indians, landless farmers, and many unskilled workers didn’t get as much pay as merchants and industrialists. The country started dividing in classes, there were either the really rich people who showed off their mansions or the really poor people who were mostly aliens and died because they didn’t have enough food or shelter. Some aliens were victims of native prejudice and had a hard time getting work

Ch. 11

267-269            “The Rise of King Cotton” (& slavery) in the 1800’s

268 map            1.  When and why did the cultivation of “short-staple” cotton increase drastically

                           in the American South?

            Short-staple cotton seeds were hard to take out but since the invention of the cotton gin that wasn’t much of a problem. Demand for cotton also increased rapidly with the growth of the textile industry in Britain.

            2.  How did the rise of King Cotton affect southern planters’ interests in the

                           Southwest?

            Most of the farmers in the southwest sold tobacco and since cotton was the crop in demand they suffered.