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<div>__NOTOC__<br />
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought on July 1-3, 1863, was a decisive victory for the Union forces led by Major General George Meade. The Confederate General Robert E. Lee had launched an unsuccessful Maryland Campaign to draw the Union Army away from Washington D.C., and his march towards Pennsylvania culminated in this battle near Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg began when Confederate forces under General Lee invaded the north in early May of 1863. This invasion was part of Lee’s plan to win a great victory for the Confederacy by entering into Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. With each day of fighting becoming more brutal and intense, Lee's army was eventually pushed back by Meade's reinforcements from Washington D.C., forcing them into a retreat back to Northern Virginia on July 4th. <br />
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The Union forces won the Battle of Gettysburg for a variety of reasons. First, the Confederate’s had chosen to take a defensive stance at Gettysburg, whereas the Union forces had more military objectives in mind. General Meade had assembled an army of nearly 90,000 men while General Lee was able to field only 75,000 troops; this disparity in numbers served as one major factor that led to victory for the Union armies. President Abraham Lincoln had declared martial law just before the battle and imposed a draft which increased Union power further by increasing their population advantage over the Confederates. <br />
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Although General Lee was able to use his defensive advantages in a complementary way during certain parts of battle such as Little Round Top and Culp’s Hill; ultimately these tactics were not enough to overcome Grant’s superior numbers and strategic planning.<br />
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This defeat ended any hope for a successful invasion into the North for the Confederates and marked an important turning point in the Civil War as it signified that the Union would eventually prevail over their southern adversaries in this conflict.<br />
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There were five key factors that swayed the battle towards the Union side. <br />
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====Strong defensive position==== <br />
The Union forces had a strong defensive position on Cemetery Hill, Cemetery Ridge, and Culp's Hill, which made it difficult for the Confederate forces to attack and take the high ground.<br />
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====Skilled leadership==== <br />
The Union forces were led by General George G. Meade, who was a skilled and experienced commander. Meade made good decisions during the battle, such as reinforcing the center of his line and ordering a counterattack that pushed the Confederates back.<br />
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====Effective use of artillery==== <br />
The Union forces had more artillery and used it effectively to support their troops and weaken the Confederate attacks.<br />
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====Confederate mistakes==== <br />
The Confederate forces made several mistakes during the battle, such as attacking the center of the Union line on the third day, which was well-defended, and failing to coordinate their attacks effectively.<br />
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====Union reinforcements==== <br />
The Union forces received reinforcements during the battle, which helped them to withstand the Confederate attacks and eventually push them back. The Union forces under General Meade had more men and supplies than the Confederate army and were better organized. The Union reinforcements during the battle helped turned the tide in the Union's favor. <br />
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Each of these elements led to the Confederate defeat. In a sense, all of these failures led to the disastrous Pickett's Charge on the the 3rd and final day of Gettysburg. The outcome permanently forced the Confederate Army back into the South and changed the Civil War. Pickett's Charge was a major Confederate assault on the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. It is widely considered to be one of the biggest and bloodiest military failures in American history. <br />
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====Pickett's Charge====<br />
After two days of fighting, with both sides suffered heavy casualties and losses. In an effort to tip the battle in his favor Lee ordered General Pickett's troops to attack the center of the Union forces. Lee's gambit backfired spectacularly. His attack on the Union troops was doomed by multiple mistakes and oversights. Lee failed to realize that Pickett would be forced to attack the strongest part of the Union lines.<br />
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The Union forces had taken up strong positions at Cemetery Ridge. Their positions were higher than the Confederates and defensible. They also benefitted from having a clear view of the battlefield. In anticipation of an attack, Union soldiers spent several days preparing their defenses which included building barricades and entrenchments which gave them an extraordinary advantage. <br />
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Pickett's forces also lacked support from Confederate artillery or additional troops. When they began their charge they lacked backup and they were slaughtered. During the attack, several Confederate officers were killed and wounded. The lack of officers led to chaos in the Confederate lines. Brigadier General Lewis Armistead led his men over the Union barricades before being mortally wounded. After his death the Confederate troops broke. <br />
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Overall, Pickett's Charge was a desperate and poorly conceived assault that suffered from multiple strategic and tactical failures. The Confederate Army suffered heavy losses and was unable to break the Union defenses, effectively sealing its fate in the Battle of Gettysburg and, ultimately, the American Civil War. Overwhelmed by superior numbers, General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was forced to retreat back to Virginia after just three days at Gettysburg; the Confederate’s defeat marked a turning point in the Civil War as it was their greatest loss up until that point. <br />
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====Conclusion====<br />
Overall, the combination of strong defensive positions, skilled leadership, effective use of artillery, Confederate mistakes, and Union reinforcements all contributed to the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. Confederate General Lee underestimated Meade’s ability to respond quickly to his advances from Virginia and he had not accounted for how difficult it would be for his forces to march several days before engaging in battle. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought from July 1–3, 1863 and is widely regarded as the most important battle of the American Civil War. Lee’s invasion of the north had reached its climax at Gettysburg and it was unsuccessful.<br />
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====Cited Sources====<br />
<br />
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/05/27/6-simple-reasons-union-won-civil-war.html <br />
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https://www.wondriumdaily.com/american-civil-war-the-battle-of-gettysburg-and-its-significance/ <br />
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https://ohiohistorycentral.org/index.php?title=Battle_of_Gettysburg&mobileaction=toggle_view_desktop <br />
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https://www.history.com/news/battle-gettysburg-turning-point-civil-war <br />
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https://www.gettysburgpa.gov/history/slideshows/battle-history <br />
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https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/Article/581883/union-success-in-the-civil-war-and-lessons-for-strategic-leaders/<br />
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https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/gettysburg-and-vicksburg-july-4-1863 <br />
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg <br />
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https://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/historyculture/gettysburg-overview.htm <br />
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https://www.historyhit.com/why-was-the-battle-of-gettysburg-so-significant/ <br />
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https://www.gilderlehrman.org/news/battle-gettysburg-ends-day-july-3 <br />
<br />
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/gettysburg</div>Adminhttps://dailyhistory.org/Why_did_the_United_States_start_the_Mexican_American_WarWhy did the United States start the Mexican American War2023-02-10T23:54:53Z<p>Admin: </p>
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<div>The Mexican-American War began in 1846 when the United States claimed that the Mexican army had crossed over into their territory and opened fire on American soldiers. The dispute centered around a region of land between Texas, Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The United States wanted to acquire this part of Mexico, but Mexico disagreed, claiming that their border was further south along the Nueces River. When the Mexican army opened fire on American soldiers at a disputed border area near Texas, it sparked off a series of events which led to the declaration of war between both countries.<br />
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====Polk looked to Expand United States territory==== <br />
The United States had been eyeing Mexican territory for some time, and President James Polk had been looking for an opportunity to annex it. He saw the incident as an excuse to declare war and take advantage of an unprepared Mexico. Congress declared war on Mexico in May 1846, with most of the legislators backing Polk's expansionist political agenda of Manifest Destiny: the belief that American settlers should extend their control over the American continent all the way up to the Pacific Ocean. The Mexican-American War was fought primarily over disputed land that both countries claimed as their own, including Texas which had declared itself independent from Mexico a few years before. <br />
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In addition to this territorial dispute, Polk was also motivated by his desire to establish America's presence in Central America and expand its influence across Latin America. Through annexation he could also strengthen his party’s control over Congress while increasing economic development through new markets and resources. The expansionist ambitions of President James Polk ultimately led to a two year long conflict which resulted in Mexico ceding more than half its territory to the United States at its conclusion, in what became known as The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.<br />
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The spark that ignited the war was a dispute between the United States and Mexico over the border between the United States and Mexico. Polk argued that Mexican troops had crossed into American territory and initiated attacks against American soldiers. In order to gain public support for his position, Polk used news reports to paint Mexico as the aggressor in an effort to galvanize public opinion against them. Polk's claim was dubious at best. <br />
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====The United States invaded Mexico====<br />
General Zachary Taylor was sent with a large force of troops near the disputed region in an attempt to maintain peace, but tensions continued to escalate between both sides as Mexican forces moved closer to him. Eventually on April 25th 1846, President James Polk declared war on Mexico after their refusal of his offer of payment for any disputed territory or damages caused by previous skirmishes.<br />
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The Mexican government viewed this diplomatic mission, led by the Democratic politician, John Slidell as an affront to their nation's sovereignty. This prompted military incitements from both sides and led to quick American victories in many battles. Despite the swiftness of these successes, the war continued on for two years until it was officially ended in 1848. Politician James Polk is often credited with starting the war due to his failed attempt at diplomacy and Slidell's mission being viewed by Mexico as an insult.<br />
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On May 11, 1846, President Polk gave his war message to Congress in which he stated that Mexico had shed American blood on American soil. This was in reference to the Mexican troops who had killed some of the American troops at the Rio Grande. He further argued that the refusal by Mexico to accept America's right to annex Texas and its claim to the Oregon territory justified declaring war. Although Polk's actions were initially supported by many Americans, critics later charged that Polk had deliberately provoked a war with Mexico for political gain and territorial expansion.<br />
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====US Congressman John Slidell sent to Mexico to buy its territory==== <br />
In 1845, President James Polk dispatched Congressman John Slidell to Mexico City in an effort to purchase Mexican territory and resolve a border dispute. The Mexican government refused to negotiate, however, and Polk encouraged Thomas Benton to introduce a resolution in the US Senate declaring that war existed between the two countries. In 1846, American forces moved into disputed Mexican territory along the Rio Grande River and were attacked by Mexican soldiers. In response, Polk asked Congress for a declaration of war against Mexico. He argued that Mexico had invaded American soil first and that it was necessary for the US to defend its rights and interests in Texas as well as pursue its ambitions for expansion of the Union.<br />
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In addition to disputes over Texas's independence from Mexico, tensions between America and Mexico had been mounting since settlers began moving into Alta California after gold was discovered there in 1848. The American consul reported numerous complaints from Americans regarding mistreatment by Mexicans while attempting to traverse through or reside in Mexican settlements; this further encouraged President James Polk's decision to go forward with war against Mexico despite warnings from his cabinet members not do so.<br />
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The President and his expansionist Democrats were not content with only the annexation of Texas and felt that they had expansive border claims to New Mexico, Alta California, South Texas and other Mexican territories. They wanted complete annexation of all these regions. A border dispute broke out between the two countries after the annexation of Texas; this dispute was further intensified by Polk's request that Mexico relinquish its hold on Nuevo Mexico. This led to President Polk sending American troops into Mexican territory which escalated tensions even more.<br />
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The U.S. was hoping for Texas’s annexation, California and New Mexico as a result of a successful war against Mexico. President James Polk sent an American ambassador to negotiate with Mexico but the Mexican government refused his terms, leading to the declaration of war on May 13th, 1846 by President Polk himself. <br />
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====Conclusion====<br />
During this period, many Americans were eager for expansion and believed that diplomatic efforts would be unsuccessful in achieving it; thus they decided upon a military solution instead. The U.S., under President Polk’s orders, had started the conflict with hopes of annexing all or parts of California and New Mexico while also granting Texas its independence from Mexico as part of an overall strategy towards westward expansionism before the Civil War even began.<br />
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====Cited Sources====<br />
- https://www.britannica.com/event/Mexican-American-War 0<br />
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- https://www.mometrix.com/academy/the-mexican-american-war/ 1<br />
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- https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/mexican-american-war.html 2<br />
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- http://websites.umich.edu/~ac213/student_projects06/magsylje/history.html 3<br />
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- http://peacehistory-usfp.org/us-mexican-war/ 4<br />
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- https://digital.lib.niu.edu/illinois/lincoln/topics/mexicanwar 5<br />
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- https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/mexican-american-war 6<br />
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- https://pressbooks-dev.oer.hawaii.edu/ushistory/chapter/the-mexican-american-war-1846-1848/ 7<br />
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- https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/texas-annexation 8<br />
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- https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3264 9<br />
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- https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-mexican-american-war-in-a-nutshell 10<br />
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- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War 11<br />
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[[Category: United States History]] [[Category: Mexican-American War]] [[Category:Wikis]]<br />
[[Category: Antebellum History]] [[Category: 19th Century History]] [[Category: History of Science and Technology]]</div>Adminhttps://dailyhistory.org/How_did_railroads_in_the_1820s-1830s_change_the_United_StatesHow did railroads in the 1820s-1830s change the United States2023-02-10T22:19:35Z<p>Admin: Created page with "The introduction of steam railroads in the 1820s and 1830s changed America in a number of ways. With the invention of steam locomotives, it was possible for railroads to start..."</p>
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<div>The introduction of steam railroads in the 1820s and 1830s changed America in a number of ways. With the invention of steam locomotives, it was possible for railroads to start connecting cities and towns across the nation. This created a continental transportation system, allowing goods to be transported around the country in an efficient manner. By 1850s, most Americans had replaced horse-drawn carriages with trains as their primary mode of transportation.<br />
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The early railroads in the 1820s-1830s revolutionized America by changing transportation costs and diverting traffic away from the country's canals. The Erie Canal, which opened in 1825, connected the Great Lakes to New York City via the Hudson River. This allowed for more efficient transportation of goods between east and west coasts. Afterward, many canal companies were formed to extend this network across other regions of the country; one such company was Middlesex Canal Company, established in Massachusetts in 1803. The first railroad in America was built by the Erie Railroad Company to transport coal from southeastern Pennsylvania to New York City. This allowed for faster transit times than what could be achieved with canals alone and quickly diverted traffic away from them.<br />
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In 1807, Robert Fulton revolutionized water travel with his steamboat 'Fulton's Clermont', and Americans developed steamboats that could travel along the deeper eastern rivers. The success of this new method of transportation was demonstrated when the boat made its initial voyage from New York City to Albany in less than 30 hours. This development had a huge impact on America and led to an increase in trade along the eastern seaboard. The Erie Canal, built between 1817-1825, was one of the longest canals ever built at 363 miles long and it provided a crucial connection between Albany and Buffalo.<br />
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The Michigan Canal, built between 1825-1829, was a great engineering feat that connected the Great Lakes to the Illinois River. The Hudson Railroad, which opened in 1831 and ran from Albany to Schenectady, was the first railway line in New York. This line heralded the expansion of railroads across America and connected more towns and cities than ever before. The Chicago interests were also heavily invested in railroad construction with a canal commission established to oversee this project. In particular they were interested in connecting Lake Michigan with the other Great Lakes by railroad. This resulted in an unprecedented increase of traffic along these waterways as well as boosting trade and commerce between New York City, Schenectady and Chicago's lakefront areas.<br />
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The first American railroad companies emerged in the 1820s and 1830s, although it wasn't until the 1850s when they began to expand their network across the continent. This expansion of transportation infrastructure was made possible by the Erie Canal and other early canals that opened up western trade. It also enabled states like Ohio to launch its own Ohio Railroad, which connected Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati and Columbus. With this came stiff competition between railroads as they raced to serve more towns and cities. This competition was beneficial for consumers as prices were driven down but hurt American railroad companies’ profits. The growth of America's railroad network in the 1850s had a significant impact on America's economy at large. Not only did it open up new markets for farmers' goods from Midwestern states like Illinois, Indiana and Ohio but it also encouraged rapid growth in manufacturing industries such as steel production in Pittsburgh or locomotive building in Schenectady.<br />
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The early railroads in the 1820s and 1830s changed America in many ways. By replacing river travel as the primary means of long-distance transportation, railroads moved travelers quickly and reliably between towns and cities. The first rivers to experience this shift were those along the East Coast, where a small number of railroad tracks had already been laid before the Civil War. By 1890, an extensive system of more than thirty thousand miles connected almost every corner of the United States.<br />
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The early railroads of the 1820s-1830s transformed America by offering a fast and efficient mode of transportation that was much faster than previous transportation modes. Railroads replaced trafficked waterways, navigable rivers, and intracoastal ocean traffic with turnpikes, canals, railways, steamships, and trains. These new technologies allowed people to travel across the country in days rather than months. The development of these railroads also allowed for increased trade between East and West Coast cities along these waterways as well as access to distant markets through more efficient transportation systems.<br />
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This new mode of transportation changed the way Americans viewed their nation, giving them an optimistic view of the future. With the development of new steam locomotives, technological progress was made possible and railroads soon became the dominant mode of transportation. This surpassed canals which were previously used as a means for trade and travel in America. As a result, Americans were able to move goods and services more quickly than ever before and access markets that were previously inaccessible to them due to distance.<br />
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The first railroad bridge was built over the Mississippi River in 1820, and within the next thirty years, fifteen lines were established between the east and west coasts. This enabled businesses to transport goods from coast to coast, with Chicago as a major hub of transportation. This expansion of railroad infrastructure sparked an economic boom across America as goods could be moved more quickly and in larger quantities than ever before.<br />
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The Ohio Railroad was one of the first to make a mark, connecting Lake Erie with the Ohio River in 1832. This enabled merchants to quickly transport goods from the Great Lakes region to New Orleans and beyond. The American Railroad Mania followed shortly afterward as entrepreneurs sought to capitalize on this new form of transportation. The Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company, for example, was incorporated in 1833 and began work on a canal system that would connect Charleston, South Carolina with Cincinnati, Ohio via the Catawba River Valley. The longest steam railroad at that time was Philadelphia's main line which ran from Harrisburg all the way down to Philadelphia in 1834. This opened up even more opportunities for trade between cities and regions as people could now travel further than ever before. <br />
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Many other lines soon followed suit including the Amboy Rail Road (now part of NJ Transit) which connected Camden with South Amboy across New Jersey in 1830; Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., which created an important connection between Albany & Buffalo along the Hudson River valley; and other lines throughout Pennsylvania such as Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroads (1850). The growth of railroads also allowed settlements to develop deep into areas previously inaccessible by land such as along mountain ranges like those found in Appalachia where coal could be mined more easily or timber harvested faster than ever before—all thanks to railroads!<br />
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====Cited Sources====<br />
-https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraid=5&smtid=1 0<br />
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-https://www.teachushistory.org/detocqueville-visit-united-states/articles/historical-background-traveling-early-19th-century 1<br />
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-https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ushistory1os2xmaster/chapter/on-the-move-the-transportation-revolution/ 2<br />
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- https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h67.html 3<br />
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- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transportation_in_the_United_States 4<br />
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- https://www.loc.gov/collections/railroad-maps-1828-to-1900/articles-and-essays/history-of-railroads-and-maps/the-beginnings-of-american-railroads-and-mapping/ 5<br />
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- https://www.american-rails.com/beginning.html 6<br />
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- https://americanhistory.si.edu/america-on-the-move/transportation-1876 7<br />
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- https://www.ushistory.org/us/25b.asp 8<br />
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- https://pressbooks-dev.oer.hawaii.edu/ushistory/chapter/on-the-move-the-transportation-revolution/ 9<br />
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- https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/passagetounion.htm 10</div>Adminhttps://dailyhistory.org/What_Caused_The_Economic_Panic_Of_1837What Caused The Economic Panic Of 18372023-02-09T23:01:58Z<p>Admin: </p>
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<div>[[File: Martin_Van_Buren.jpg|left|thumbnail|300px|left|President Martin Van Buren]]__NOTOC__<br />
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The financial panic of 1837 was the result of President Andrew Jackson's disastrous economic policies. The Jackson administration <br />
triggered an economic panic that led to a severe national depression. President Andrew Jackson's policies were blamed for triggering the panic, which caused many Americans to experience economic woes. President Andrew Jackson presidential term ended in 1836. His successor, Martin Van Buren, was forced to deal with the consequences of Jackson's actions. Although there is no single cause of this financial crisis, many attribute it to Jackson's political leadership and change in policy. While not the only cause, Jackson's elimination of the Bank of the United States played a key role in the economic crisis. <br />
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====The Elimination of the 2nd Bank of the United States==== <br />
During Jackson's presidency, his acolytes wanted to gain control of the economy and eliminate the nation's central bank, the Second Bank of the United States. This created a "bank war" when President Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill that would renew the bank’s charter and money policies. As a result, this caused many state banks to become insolvent due to their inability to access federal funds. Additionally, with President Andrew Jackson’s Specie Circular in 1836 all land purchases had to be made with gold or silver coins instead of paper money. The Specie Circular in 1836 required that land purchases be made with hard currency, such as gold or silver, rather than paper money. This policy helped to reduce the money supply, making it more difficult for banks to meet their obligations. This further limited the ability for banks to lend out money as they had less coins and gold in their vaults. This exacerbated the lack of capital and liquidity amongst state banks.<br />
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This caused numerous businesses to become bankrupt and the Whigs blamed President Andrew Jackson for his impatience and federal banks restraint upon bank credit. As a result, approximately eight hundred banks closed their doors and the economy was stifled. Jackson had removed government funds from the Second Bank of the United States, which he viewed as corrupt, causing a large amount of money to be in circulation. This removed restraints on banking, leading to an economic panic as banks recklessly lent money without sufficient capital.<br />
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====The United States began printing paper money====<br />
The government began printing more paper money, and the 850 banks that began operating in the country started printing their own currency. This caused inflation and led to sky high unemployment. Banks loaned large sums to governments and businesses, as well as foreign governments, which ruined many businessmen in the United States. With no central bank to regulate it, each bank printed its own currency which further hurt the economy of the United States. Furthermore, without any regulation on banks or mints, they recklessly loaned out huge sums of money - something that could not be sustained indefinitely.<br />
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This caused a chain reaction when some of the most important state banks refused to accept the paper notes from other banks. This eventually led to the other banks halting specie payments, which in turn halted all banks. As investors began to withdraw their funds, these banks suspended both paper currency and specie payments, further depleting already falling monetary reserves. British investment bankers also refused to lend money, forcing deposit banks in New York City and other cities to suspend currency withdrawals as well. This crisis quickly spread throughout the entire financial world as investors rushed to withdraw their money from all sources.<br />
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====The Bank Panic and ==== <br />
The Bank Panic was compounded by the own financial troubles of many banks, when English banks stopped lending money to American Banks. This made it difficult for American banks to scale their loans and caused many Southern Banks to fail. As a result, there were massive runs on vaults of major banks and other financial institutions as people scrambled to withdraw their money from these sources. This banking crisis created a domino effect on the American economy, with other industries such as real estate crashing due to lack of liquidity in the market and lower monetary reserves for lenders. The crisis was further worsened by plantation owners who had been cultivating many crops but pumping money into land speculation instead of reinvesting in their plantations.<br />
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====The Cotton Bubble====<br />
This led to a bubble in cotton prices, which subsequently fell and caused severe financial losses for the farmers. This was exacerbated by the banking policies of the time, as banks had issued far too much currency, causing it to lose value and leading to further losses for farmers. In addition to this, fiscal and monetary policies of the time also played a part in the panic as they were unable to prevent the bubble from falling cotton prices or address movements collapsing land bubbles. The economic crisis was catastrophic for farmers, merchants, business owners and banks alike; hundreds collapsed as their losses ruined them. <br />
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====The Combination of a Speculative land boom and Bank Failures====<br />
The Panic of 1837, as it became known, was a brewing major economic crisis that had been led by an ailing economy and the revocation of the national bank charter under president Andrew Jackson. In the 1830s, there was a speculative boom in land, particularly in the western United States. People were buying land with the hope of selling it later at a higher price, and banks were lending money to finance these purchases. <br />
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The loose state banking practices, such as granting loans to anyone regardless of their credit history, coupled with a lack of control over monetary policy and inflationary practices, gave way to a series of bank runs and credit contraction. This led investors to pull out their money from banks and investments, greatly exacerbating the panic even further. When Martin Van Buren took office in 1837, he sought to implement new policies to combat the crisis. Many of the banks that were lending money to speculators were poorly managed and had inadequate reserves. When the banks started to fail, depositors rushed to withdraw their money, causing even more bank failures.<br />
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====The Panic Arose from the misguided policies of Andrew Jackson====<br />
Jackson's elimination of the 2nd Bank of the United States triggered as series of events that ultimately spiraled out of control. In addition to destroying the US Bank, he also sought to limit the actions of state banks, which had caused runaway inflation. He removed government deposits from these banks, and this became one of the first angry measures taken by Andrew Jackson when he became President in 1829. Jackson wanted to reduce government bonds and regulate printing of currency. His policies, which quickly became known as “Jackson's” policies, distributed currency through banks with little oversight or national direction for printing issuance. This lack of regulation helped create a lack of confidence in national banks and a surge in inflation.<br />
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====Conclusion====<br />
This economic panic in 1837 was caused by the interconnected global economic system that was present in the 1830s. The open economy allowed for Pennsylvania's financial crisis to be transmitted to other states. This caused monetary policies to be weakened and a panic spread throughout the Midwest. The hegemonic power of the United States government at this time had weak trade barriers, allowing for the spread of panic from Pennsylvania to Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois. This lack of regulation and free trade created an environment where banking crises could easily be transmitted across state lines. <br />
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====Cited Sources====<br />
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https://www.ncpedia.org/panics-economic 0<br />
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https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Panic_of_1837 1<br />
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https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-panic-of-1837 2<br />
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https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/living-through-panic-1837 3<br />
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https://lehrmaninstitute.org/history/Andrew-Jackson-1837.html 4<br />
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https://historyincharts.com/panic-of-1837-causes/ 5<br />
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https://sites.google.com/site/jacksonianera/Home/panic-of-1837 6<br />
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http://www.ancestry.com/historicalinsights/panic-of-1837 7<br />
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https://home.treasury.gov/about/history/freedmans-bank-building/financial-panic-of-1873 8<br />
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https://www.exploros.com/summary/Martin-Van-Buren-Domestic-Affairs-Section-on-Economic-Panic-of-1837 9<br />
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_of_1837 10<br />
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https://economic-historian.com/2020/11/panic-of-1837/ 11<br />
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united states, andrew jackson, national bank, currency, economy, president andrew jackson, inflation, investors, cotton prices, depression, martin van buren, financial crisis, specie circular, doors, growth <br />
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[[Category: United States History]] [[Category: Jacksonian America]] [[Category:Wikis]]<br />
[[Category: Antebellum History]] [[Category: 19th Century History]] [[Category: Political History]]</div>Adminhttps://dailyhistory.org/Why_did_Andrew_Jackson_want_to_destroy_the_Bank_of_the_United_StatesWhy did Andrew Jackson want to destroy the Bank of the United States2023-02-09T05:04:24Z<p>Admin: </p>
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<div>[[File: Andrew_Jackson_Portrait.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left|The Seventh American President, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) (In Office 1829-1837)]]__NOTOC__<br />
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Andrew Jackson fundamentally believed that the 2nd Bank of the United States was unconstitutional because it maintained monopoly power over the United States. He also believed that the Bank violated the idea that the role of a government that should stand for honesty, equality, and fairness. Jackson also argued that the bank's abuses of power made it unfit to store the nations public deposits. With help from his cabinet members and supporters in Congress, Jackson successfully removed federal government funds from the bank in 1833. <br />
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Jackson had been influenced by the experiences of Philadelphia banker William Duer, who had gone bankrupt during the Panic of 1792 and argued that a central bank was necessary for economic stability. Jackson believed that state banks should be given more control over the nation’s money supply and that it should not be concentrated in a single institution. He also resented Bank president Nicholas Biddle, who he saw as an elitist power broker in cahoots with Treasury Secretary William Crawford and banker Stephen Girard. Jackson also opposed the fact that many private stockholders like Jacob Astor and John Jacob Astor owned large percentages of Biddle’s bank and profited off of nations public deposits. Jackson saw this as a threat to America’s democracy because these private interests would have too much influence over American monetary policy and the national economy if they were left unchecked. He believed that only state banks could be trusted to act in America’s best interests rather than their own personal gain. <br />
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However, Biddle turned to members of Congress and businesspeople sympathetic to the bank to fight President Jackson, Biddle's action led to a split in Jackson's cabinet and eventual showdown over the bank's charter. The bank became a political issue in 1832 when Congress passed a bill to recharter it. Andrew Jackson vetoed the recharter bill and thus doomed central banking in America for almost one hundred years. His critics argued that his economic ignorance and political motives outweighed his constitutional principles. The creation of a new national bank was delayed until the early twentieth century when another President, Teddy Roosevelt, finally signed legislation creating the Federal Reserve System. <br />
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Andrew Jackson wanted to end the Bank of the United States due to his belief that it was unconstitutional and corrupt. He wanted to remove federal government funds from the Bank of the United States and place them in select state banks instead. This was a move that favored state banks, allowing them to control more money, while also giving Andrew Jackson more power over regulating the national economy. Jackson worked with his Treasury Secretary, Roger Taney, to remove public deposits from the Bank of the United States and transferring these deposits into state banks. This would take away some of the power from a central bank and store nations public deposits in different locations instead. The Bank of the United States had violated its 20-year charter when Congress failed to renew it so Jackson seized this opportunity for his own gain. He began moving federal governments deposits out of this institution which eventually led to its failure as it ceased operations in 1836. <br />
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Andrew Jackson was driven to his mission to destroy the Bank of the United States by the banks abuses he had witnessed and news of a new bank chartering. He saw it as a monopoly that would raise the cost of borrowing and hurt small farmers, which eventually led to him vetoing its re-chartering in 1832. There were also constitutional questions surrounding stockholding and Congress' power over banking. Andrew Jackson received his severest censure for this decision, but he did not waver in his stance. His Vice President, Martin Van Buren, filed a protest against its re-charter with Congress arguing that it went too far in its favoritism of wealthy stockholders. Andrew Jackson then began an intense fight against the Bank of the United States in an effort to prove its unconstitutionality and corruptness. He bought favorable press coverage about himself and political allies as well as spreading false rumors about powerful enemies who opposed him. <br />
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President Andrew Jackson and his cabinet, led by powerful Kentucky Senator Henry Clay, were determined to destroy the Bank of the United States. He was motivated by a desire to increase his own political power as well as economic power. The bank had been created in 1816 with leading businessmen, including Clay, as its directors. The bank was very powerful and Jackson wanted to flex his own muscle. He vetoed the attempt by Congress to renew its charter despite pleas from Clay and other supporters. He also wanted to end congressional oversight of its business dealings which he believed would lead to more corruption. <br />
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Andrew Jackson resented the Bank's power and its ability to control the United States economy. He believed that it was too powerful and was destabilizing the United States economy. He also accused it of bankrolling his Republican opposition in elections. Jackson saw the bank as a form of central banking, which he opposed on principle. He was also under electoral pressures from his supporters in Kentucky who wanted him to veto the bank bill proposed by Senator Henry Clay. Believing that Clay's younger board member, Henry Clay, had overstepped one man's power with his bill, Jackson warned younger board members that if they continued with their agenda they would face vetoes from him. Jackson vetoed the Bank Bill and Congress failed to override his veto due to opposition from Kentucky supporters. This made Andrew Jackson very powerful and caused much unease among settlers in unsettled western territories who felt nervous about having only one man in power over them. <br />
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Jackson was also angered that the recharter of the bank would have made Henry Clay a board member of Bank of the United States. This veto had been expected by Jackson loyalists who were in opposition to Clay's candidacy for president and hoped it would lead to their candidate's victory in the election. The veto caused a fatal confrontation between Jackson and Daniel Webster, who had been making decisions in favor of renewing the charter for the Bank of The United States since he was its last President. Webster argued that killing this veto would be bad for banks and citizens alike, but Jackson was determined to restore a younger board member and kill his veto. Jackson's opposition went beyond Daniel Webster, as Kentucky also opposed him and his decision to kill his veto. The state had supported Clay during the election, so they were looking for an opportunity to oppose Jackson's decision and arouse their own veto against him. This caused tension between Kentucky and Jackson that lasted until after he was no longer president.<br />
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Andrew Jackson's destruction of the bank was ultimately calamitous. The elimination of the Bank in 1836 lead to the Panic of 1837 and a broad based economic crisis. Since Jackson's term ended in 1836, President Martin Van Buren was left to pick of the pieces of the US economy after the collapsed in 1837.<br />
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====Works Cited====<br />
- https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ushistory1ay/chapter/the-bank-war/<br />
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- https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/andrew-jackson-shuts-down-second-bank-of-the-u-s <br />
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- https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/bank-war <br />
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- https://www.ushistory.org/us/24d.asp <br />
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- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_War <br />
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- https://sites.google.com/site/jacksonianera/Home/national-bank<br />
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- https://lehrmaninstitute.org/history/Andrew-Jackson-1837.html<br />
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- https://thehermitage.com/andrew-jackson-and-the-bank-war/<br />
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- https://www.sparknotes.com/biography/jackson/section10/ <br />
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- https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/andrew-jacksons-veto-of-the-national-bank<br />
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- Brinkley, Alan - American History - A Survey, McGraw Hill, (2003)<br />
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[[Category: United States History]] [[Category: Jacksonian America]] [[Category:Wikis]]<br />
[[Category: Antebellum History]] [[Category: 19th Century History]] [[Category: Political History]]<br />
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