390 likes | 400 Views
Discover how North Carolina transitioned from being the "Rip Van Winkle State" to embracing change and reform in the early 19th century. Explore key factors that led to the state falling behind in agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and education, and learn about the initiatives proposed by influential figures like Archibald Murphey and Governor David L. Swain. Delve into the impact of the Great Revival on religion, the establishment of new colleges, the Buncombe Turnpike, and the gold rush that brought economic change. Witness the birth of public schools, hospitals for the mentally ill, and schools for the blind and deaf that marked a new era of progress. Engage with the political climate under Presidents James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, and reflect on the essence of change in North Carolina during this transformative period in history.
E N D
Antebellum North Carolina:Asleep and Awake 1820-1850
North Carolina:“The Rip Van Winkle State” • North Carolina Fell Behind the Rest of the Nation in: • Agriculture • Transportation • Manufacturing • Education Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving
“Why depart from the good old ways which has kept us in quiet peace and harmony? Why leave the road of experience, which has satisfied all, and made all happy.” NC Senator 1820Nathaniel MaconDo you agree or disagree with a statement like this?
What Caused North Carolina to be Lagging Behind in the Early 1800’s? • Rivers in most of the state were not suitable for navigation. • More than 1/3 of the state could not read. • UNC was graduating less than 100 per year • Coastal geography was not suitable for navigation. • There was one cotton mill in the state. • Mountain region was almost completely isolated. • New Bern was the largest city with only 3500 citizens, including slaves. • Eastern county slave owners controlled the General Assembly.
A Program for Reform! Archibald Murphey , state senator from Orange County, believed that state government should take an active role to solve society’s problems and safeguard its citizens.
Murphey’s Plan for Change Rewrite the 1776 NC Constitution that gave each county the same number of senators and representatives. Base Representation on population Make coastal inlets deeper Connect western rivers with canals to the Cape Fear River New roads created in the Mountains and Piedmont Free Public Schools Which of the above do you think is the most important?
David Swain Is Elected As Governor to Bring Reform! • Born in Beaverdam Valley north of Asheville • Pushed many of Murphey’s ideas • Believed taxes should be higher to make improvements • Elected from Whig Party that had been formed to oppose Andrew Jacksonand the Democrats who were against additional taxes of any kind. • Are tax increases always a bad thing? Governor David L. Swain 1832-1835 Buncombe County
Changes in NC Religion: “The Great Revival” • Baptists and Methodists begin to have outdoor evangelistic meetings called Camp Meetings. Based on the depiction below, what were these religious meetings like?
How Would the Great Revival Help Bring Change and Reform to NC? • The Baptists and Methodists taught democratic ideas and the value of self-concept. • Methodism urged members to be anti-slavery. • Presbyterians, though not as supportive of the Great Revival, competed with the Methodists and Baptists. The Presbyterians emphasized education to improve the lives of North Carolinians. • Three Colleges Founded • Wake Forest-1834, Baptist (Wake County near Raleigh, moved to Winston-Salem in 1950’s) • Davidson-1836, Presbyterian (Mecklenburg County • Trinity-1837, Methodist (Randolph County, later moved to Durham and renamed Duke family,tobacco industrialist)
Wake Forest University Winston- Salem, North Carolina
DAVIDSON COLLEGE Davidson, North Carolina Early Photograph at Davidson College in Mecklenburg County
Duke University Durham, North Carolina Trinity College Randolph County Before the Duke Gift to the College and Its Move to Durham 1891
A New Road for the Mountains:The Buncombe Turnpike • The Road followed the French Broad River. • Livestock was driven along the road eventually reaching Charleston, SC. • The road passed through present downtown Asheville.
French Broad River that the Buncombe Turnpike Followed Through WNC
Gold Brings Change to North Carolina Little Meadow Creek Where Reed Found Gold • 1799- Teenager Conrad Reed finds a 17 pound gold nugget in Cabarrus County near Charlotte. • North Carolina will lead the nation in gold production until the California Gold Rush in 1849. • The Betchtler Mint in Rutherfordton produced gold jewelry and coins worth $3.6 million between 1831-1857.
Free Public Schools are Opened in 1839. The Dorthea Dix Hospital for the mentally ill is opened in Raleigh. Another state hospital for the mentally ill is opened at Morganton ( Now Broughton Hospital). North Carolina School for the Blind is opened in Raleigh. North Carolina School for the Deaf is opened at Morganton in Burke County. More Reform for North Carolina Typical Early School Building Dorthea Dix
James Monroe(1817-1825, Democratic-Republican)The Era of Good Feelings • Born 1758, Charlottesville, Virginia • Wounded at the Battle of Trenton,1776 • Proclaimed “Monroe Doctrine”-Foreign nations should stay out of the Western Hemisphere. • Missouri Compromise: Missouri Slave/Maine/Free • States Admitted: Mississippi 1817, Illinois 1818,Alabama 1819, Maine 1820, Missouri 1821
John Quincy Adams(1825-1829)Democrat-Republican • Born at Braintree, Mass. July 11, 1767 • Ancestry: English • Married Louisa Johnson • Children:2 sons, 1 daughter • Religion: Unitarian • No States Admitted John Quincy Adams Photograph Taken After Presidency-1st Photo of Any President
Andrew Jackson-Democrat(1829-1837) “Old Hickory” • Born in Waxhaws, SC? NC? • Married: Rachel Donelson Robards • Ancestry: Scots Irish • Children: 1 adopted son • Religion: Presbyterian • Home: Hermitage Plantation, Nashville, Tenn. • Indian Removal Act “Trail of Tears’ • Texas declares Independence from Mexico • Siege of the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas • Whig Party formed to oppose Jackson • Samuel Morse invented the telegraph • States Admitted: Arkansas 1836, Michigan 1837
Martin Van Buren 1837-1841 • Born in Kinderhook, New York • Weak President
William Henry Harrison-Whig(1841-1841) • Born Charles County, Va. Feb. 9, 1773 • Ancestry: English • Wife:Anna Suymmes • Religion: Episcopalian • Harrison dies after serving one month.
John Tyler-Whig(1841-1845) • Born in Charles County, Va. 3/29 1790 • Wives: 1st-Letitia Christian, 2nd-Julia Gardiner • Children:1st wife-3 sons, 4 daughters,2nd-wife-5 sons, 2 daughters=14 children • Religion: Episcopalian • States Admitted: Florida
James Knox Polk- Democrat(1845-1849) • Born: Mecklenburg County, NC 11/2 1795 • Ancestry: Scots Irish • Wife: Sarah Childress • Graduate: UNC-Chapel Hill • Children: None • Religion: Presbyterian • Home: Nashville, Tennessee • Gold discovered in California • Mexican War ( Gain California and Southwest) • Gain Oregon Country from British • Brigham Young Moves Mormons to Utah • States Admitted: Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin Polk Birthplace 1 mile from Carowinds
Local History Notes (1820-1850) Dr. Elisha Mitchell, UNC professor, begins to explore the Black Mountains in Yancey County. By 1857, he determines that the Black Dome( now Mount Mitchell) is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.
Early Picture of Eagle HotelBiltmore Avenue, Asheville Located Across from Present Double-Decker Bus Coffee Shop
Special Local History Note from Early 1800’sDavey Crockett Born near Jonesboro, Tennessee (still a part of NC then in 1786) Married Elizabeth Patton, a native of Buncombe County (Swannanoa Valley) in 1815 Lived near the present site of Buncombe Community School in Swannanoa Celebrated Indian Fighter, guide, trailblazer, and US Congressman Killed defending the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas against Mexican troops in 1836