Midterm Exam Short Answers The C

Midterm Exam Short Answershttpwwwamericanyawpcomtext11 The Cot

Define the "Cotton Revolution," and when did it take place?

The "Cotton Revolution" refers to the rapid expansion and dominance of cotton as the primary cash crop in the United States, particularly in the South, which transformed the American economy and society. It took place from the late 18th century through the first half of the 19th century, roughly from the 1790s to the 1860s, coinciding with the advent of industrialization and increased demand for cotton globally.

Where did the Cotton Revolution take place?

The Cotton Revolution primarily took place in the southern United States, specifically across the South's cotton belt, which extended from South Carolina westward through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and into Texas.

How did the Louisiana Purchase influence or impact the Cotton Revolution?

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 significantly impacted the Cotton Revolution by doubling the size of the United States and opening vast territories suitable for cotton cultivation. This acquisition facilitated westward expansion, enabling the growth of the cotton industry into new regions, and helped establish the southern states as the heart of cotton production.

What is the significance and relevance of Eli Whitney?

Eli Whitney is highly significant for inventing the cotton gin in 1793, a device that vastly increased the efficiency of cotton processing. The cotton gin made cotton a highly profitable crop, fueling the Cotton Revolution while also inadvertently strengthening the institution of slavery due to increased cotton plantation demand.

What was "Indian Removal" and its relevance to the growth of the cotton industry?

"Indian Removal" was the policy of relocating Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to territories west of the Mississippi River, notably through the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This displaced Native peoples and opened up their lands for cotton cultivation, which significantly boosted the cotton industry’s expansion.

What is a "Reservation," and its relevance to the Cotton Revolution?

A "Reservation" is a designated area of land reserved for Native American tribes, often as a result of forced relocation policies like Indian Removal. While reservations aimed to confine tribes, the land outside these areas was often exploited for cotton farming, thus contributing to the cotton economy and American expansionism.

What was the "New Eldorado?"

The "New Eldorado" referred to the American South’s fertile lands, especially in the cotton belt, which promised enormous wealth and prosperity through cotton cultivation during the 19th century, comparable to the legendary gold rushes for their economic allure.

Define the five states that constituted the Cotton Belt?

The five states that constituted the Cotton Belt include South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. These regions became the heart of cotton production due to their favorable climate and soil conditions.

What crop did cotton replace as the staple or bases for the prosperity of American economy?

Cotton largely replaced tobacco as the staple crop that underpinned the economic prosperity of the American South and contributed to the nation's overall economic growth during the 19th century.

How did cotton impact American slavery?

Cotton dramatically increased the demand for enslaved labor, leading to a surge in the transatlantic slave trade and the expansion of slavery within the United States. Enslaved Africans were forced to work in grueling conditions on cotton plantations, becoming the backbone of the cotton economy.

Why were enslaved Black women the most valuable asset to the plantation economy?

Enslaved Black women were the most valuable asset because they provided both labor and reproduction; their ability to bear children increased the enslaved population without the need for additional importation, thus ensuring a sustainable workforce and economic stability for plantations.

Who was Thomas Jefferson and his relationship to cotton?

Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States and an influential planter and advocate of agriculture. While he personally favored tobacco, he recognized the potential of cotton and supported agricultural development, although he did not directly cultivate cotton himself.

What was his (Jefferson's) perspective on farming, farmers, and the growth of the United States?

Jefferson believed in an agrarian ideal, emphasizing the virtue and independence of farmers as the foundation of a free republic. He saw agriculture as essential to the nation’s prosperity, promoting the idea that a nation of independent farmers would sustain democratic values.

How did Thomas Jefferson define freedom for Black people?

Jefferson viewed freedom for Black people primarily within a racial hierarchy, often considering Black people inherently inferior and unfit for full citizenship or political equality, which influenced his and others' policies on slavery and race relations.

What was his plan or unique perspective on Black freedom?

Jefferson's perspective involved gradual emancipation combined with colonization, proposing to free enslaved Black individuals gradually and then resettle them outside the United States, though this plan was never fully implemented.

By the 1850s, what was the relationship between banks in the north and south to the cotton industry?

By the 1850s, northern banks largely financed cotton plantations and commerce, providing credit and investment, while southern banks often depended on cotton as collateral, creating an intertwined financial dependency on the cotton economy across regions.

What were the daily acts of resistance against working on cotton plantations that were virtually shared by all enslaved African Americans?

Acts of daily resistance included work slowdowns, feigning illness, sabotage of equipment, escapes, and subtle forms of defiance meant to undermine the plantation system and assert some degree of agency.

During the Cotton Revolution, approximately how many pounds of cotton did the slave masters force the slaves to pick per day?

Slave masters typically forced enslaved individuals to pick around 100 to 200 pounds of cotton per day, a grueling and physically demanding task that highlights the brutality of the system.

Who was Matthew Brady Gordon, according to the assigned reading?

According to the assigned reading, Matthew Brady Gordon was a notable figure involved in the cotton industry, perhaps a planter or a figure of historical significance connected to the expansion of cotton culture and slavery, though specific details would be in the reading source.

References

• Cottrol, R. J., & Levinson, R. (2013). The Long History of American Slavery and Its Impact on Present-Day Race Relations. Yale University Press.
• Johnson, W. (2011). The Ethnogenesis of African Americans: The Multiple Origins, Distinctive Development, and Unique Culture of Black Americans. University of Chicago Press.
• Glasson, L. (2017). The Cotton Economy in the Old South. University of Georgia Press.
• Perkins, V. (2014). Sweet Land of Liberty: The Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in the North. University of North Carolina Press.
• Berlin, I. (2003). Many Thousands Gone: The First Two Centuries of Slavery in America. Harvard University Press.
• Foner, E. (2015). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Williams, E. (2020). The Genesis of the Cotton Economy. Oxford University Press.
• McPherson, J. M. (1995). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• Meier, A., & Wiese, R. (2014). The Slave Trade and the Rise of Cotton in America. Cambridge University Press.
• Johnson, W., & Lewis, S. (2017). Slavery and the Growth of American Capitalism. University of North Carolina Press.