TRANSCONTINENTAL
TURNING POINTS LEARNING TRAIN
BY:
THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT
WORKING WOMEN
THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING
TRANSCENDENTALISM
RISE OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY
THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
GLOSSARY
THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING
THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
THE RISE OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY
THE MEXICAN - AMERICAN WAR
TRANSCENDENTALISM
THE
DEBATE
CONNECTIONS
GLOSSARY
SOURCES
INSTRUCTIONS: Click on each freight car to visit that turning point in American History. If you see an orange arrow move to the next slide, you know you’re at the end when the “Train Station” icon shows up. Repeat this process until you’ve explored the six turning points and the additional topics.
Before the Abolitionist Movement, the South had many slave owners and Americans hadn’t taken action to abolish slavery. When the cotton gin was created the demand for slaves increased. Seeing slavery in a different perspective made many grow to resent the ownership of people because it went against the Declaration of Independence. Throughout the movement, the South grew further from the Union with rage from slave owners and cotton producers that gained their income from slave labor. Ideas such as the Underground Railroad and Uncle Tom’s Cabin were created to free slaves from captivity. This turning point began the road to the Civil War. By the time the Civil War began, conflicts between the North and South were not only over the social aspect of slave ownership. But over the political, economic, and technological ideas the Americans were dealing with at the this time. Many people contributed to changing the overall view of slave owners. William Lloyd Garrison’s philosophy of “moral persuasion” proved to be efficient when appealing to the American population. People began to see slavery as evil after the movement dissolved.
THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON
William Lloyd Garrison, a white journalist from Massachusetts, was known as the “Voice of Abolitionism”. He wrote and published many newspaper articles bringing out the malicious side of slavery. In 1831, one of his most notable newspapers, The Liberator points out the imperfections of the Declaration of Independence…
“... Assenting to the "self-evident truth" maintained
in the American Declaration of Independence, "that
all men are created equal, and endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable rights -- among which
are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," I shall s
trenuously contend for the immediate enfranchisement
of our slave population.” - The Liberator, 1851
THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT
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Women’s role in america before this turning point was to stay at home and care for the house, children, and the needs of the husband. Some worked outdoors on farms before the introduction of mills and factories in 1790. The women of the house began to work for small wages, which were significantly lower than wages paid to men. These new opportunities for women showed progression in the journey for women’s rights. In entering the work force, women could now contribute to their economy, which they did. During the course of this period, female labor brought factories a lot of money when it came to mass production. With these jobs, activists were determined to be equal to their male peers. Conventions were held to voice their ideas to the American government. This period of the continuous fight for women’s rights ended near the start of the Civil War. However, women played important roles in the Civil War as spies, nurses, and filled the jobs while men were away at war. The drive to gain equal rights as said in the Declaration is what has led the social aspects of America to be the way they are today. Even today, there are times when inequality is obvious in the workforce and personal households.
WORKING WOMEN
Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Stanton modeled how the Declaration should have been written, it details “that all men and women are created equal” and changes many statements of the Declaration to be more inclusive. This document was titled, The “Declaration of Sentiments for the Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention”
WORKING WOMEN
LUCRETIA MOTT
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In the time before this turning point, people in American weren’t as religiously driven. They were still Congregationalists, who were descendants of Puritan Churches and the Anglicans to more Evangelical Methodists and Baptists. Everyone was in one place focused on industry and didn’t have an idea of “Free Will”. During the time of the Awakening, the Founding Fathers were looking for a country separate from the church. With these ideas, many people led the movement to give people hope of religious individualism. People began viewing religion with new sight, they now saw a life bigger than their own. This was when they recognized that they should live life to the fullest on Earth. The reformation of religion brought many social changes. After the Awakening, people wanted to spread their religions and migrate to western territories. The idea of Manifest Destiny was born and people began following what they thought was their divine right. With these ideas a more protestant nation was created, more separate from the British churches than ever before. The Second Great Awakening was a movement towards becoming a totally independent nation.
THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING
CHARLES FINNEY
Charles Finney was a presbyterian minister known as the father of revivalism for preaching in along the Erie Canal in New York. One lecture given in New York by this famous evangelist reflects the idea that individuals can assert “Free Will” as a way of salvation and means of change. He explains...
“Religion is the work of man. It is something for
man to do. It consists in obeying God. It is man’s
duty. It is true God induces him to do it. He influences
him by His Spirit, because of his great wickedness and
reluctance to obey. If it were not necessary for God to
influence men, if men were disposed to obey God,
there would be no occasion to pray”
THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT
THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING
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Americans were not open to the transcendentalist ideas before the many leaders changed the way the people thought. People went by the rules of life and lived without the idea of a force greater than themselves waws relieving them of sorrow. Philosophers at the time began teaching Americans of these ideas which led to people having a different outlook on life. During this new wave of thinking, people began to cherish the individualism of each. Other. When everyone uses their imagination to create world beyond reality it brings people together. This was a philosophy that capitalized on the importance of each individual. With these ideas Americans now felt a new form of confidence and began the road to acceptance of many Americans. After these ideas were spread many people sought to join clubs such as the Transcendentalist Club which focused on the philosophy believed by many. The ways of thinking reflected on the America that the citizens wanted to see. With a mindset of what they wanted the future, people taking action taking the necessary steps to reach a point where these ideas were a part of reality.
TRANSCENDENTALISM
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
TRANSCENDENTALISM
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American philosopher that led the Transcendentalist Club. People followed him because of his scholarly practices of idealism, morality, and beauty. These ideas set the basis for the philosophy people imagined. This made a way to improve well being by embracing outside ideas.
TRANSCENDENTALISM
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Before the inventions of the Industrial Revolution, many people did not have jobs in factories. This was before the invention of the cotton gin which eventually led to the construction of mills and factories in the North. These people originally worked on farms and liked the idea of self-sufficiency. They would use or sell their crops locally because there was no way to transport them to the north yet. However this all changed with invention and creation of canals and railroads. With these new developments, steamboats became a usual means of quick trade with the Northern states. During this time, Ohio could now send their resources to factories. These inventions also created new jobs which boosted the economy and changed the social aspect of America. After the inventions, many political reforms happened, with a rise in female participation in the economy. With different people working people finally had the chance to get financial stability. This is what many people did. Overall, these inventions brought great pride to America but some effects as increased slavery would cause future conflict. The legacy of inventors such as John Deere and Charles Goodyear are still influencing the mechanical industry today.
THE RISE OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY
ELI WHITNEY AND THE COTTON GIN
TRANSCENDENTALISM
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin which brought high demands for slavery. This invention also strengthened the economy of the South and brought factories to the North. He also did work to develop “interchangeable parts” that can be used in mass production. These inventions introduced a new way of manufacturing and selling goods.
TRANSCENDENTALISM
Solvay Process Co.'s works, Syracuse [i.e. Solvary]
This primary source shows the spread of factories in the North. The first factories relied on child labor and many were girls. This way owner’s could spend less money by paying workers less
THE RISE OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY
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Before the annexation of Texas and the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, Americans adopted the philosophy of Manifest Destiny. This new philosophy meant that expansion west was meant to be, it their divine right. In the events leading up to the annexation of Texas in 1845, Texan-Americans wanted to become apart America. The mexican government encouraged immigration to Texas but they required immigrants to become Mexican. This caused conflicts which eventually led to James K. Polk declaring war on Mexico. During the time of the war, 60,000 volunteers join the force to gain the land they believed was destined to be theirs. The winning of the war required the motivation of Americans who were driven by the longing to expand. After the eventual settlement to gain the land of Texas, Texas was admitted to the Union which angered the South, furthering them to their eventual secession. With these new lands, people flocked to spread the ideas, religious, and technological advancements that were developing in the reforming society. This political turning point allowed for expansion of new ideas and allowed for new economic and social changes to take place.
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
JAMES K. POLK
TRANSCENDENTALISM
James K. Polk served as the 11th president of the United States. He played a significant role in the annexation of Texas, sending troops to occupy mexican territories to provoke war. This strategy proved to be efficient, Mexico attacked and war was declared. This role helped in win the election, with Texas admitted to the Union days before his inauguration.
TRANSCENDENTALISM
THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
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This fight for total equality is still evident today. Many movements like this turning point are in effect today such as the Times Up Movement. The main focus of these organizations is to show the world the women should have equal pay, but sadly it’s still a debate today. Just as in the 1800’s, men are seen as superior in many social situations. One reason this is still a debate is people’s ignorance to the idea of change. Plus many people think women are unfit. It takes activist like Lucretia Mott to give these people different world view.
TRANSCENDENTALISM
TRANSCENDENTALISM
DEBATE
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THE DEBATE: THE GENDER PAY GAP
WORKING WOMEN
THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT
Today, the fight for an America free of discrimination against African Americans is still being battled. Activists whether they’re actors, politicians, or common people are speaking out to end the racial discrimination left by slavery after it was abolished years ago.
WORKING WOMEN
Women are associated with roles that are “meant” for women. In medical industries expectations are for male doctors and female nurses who are below the doctors. Women also don’t get as much respect as men today.
THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING
Across the country, many churches use the ideas from the Second Great Awakening to spread the word of their religion. Evangelists can be seen on TV today just as they were seen preaching words to the public in the 1800’s.
TRANSCENDENTALISM
TRANSCENDENTALISM
CONNECTIONS
TRANSCENDENTALISM
Many people today represent the views of a transcendentalist during this turning point. The mindset of meditation with a greater force is apart of many people’s lives and it keeps many healthy and stress free.
THE RISE OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY
The inventions of the Industrial Revolution are still used as references to developing better technology today. The steamboat was improved, now we have yachts, speed boats, and cruise ships that all started with the basic steam technology.
THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
In Texas today, many people discriminate against the Mexican people because of the conflicts all the years ago. Relations between America and Mexico are steady but the social aftermath can still be seen today.
TRANSCENDENTALISM
TRANSCENDENTALISM
CONNECTIONS
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