1) The document discusses how the Americas changed in the 19th century, with the U.S. experiencing westward expansion and the Civil War over slavery, Canada establishing itself as a federal dominion, and Latin America forming smaller unstable states. 2) It also covers frontier events like the Louisiana Purchase doubling U.S. size, the Haitian Revolution ending slavery in Haiti, and explorations of newly acquired U.S. lands. 3) The Battle of Antietam in 1862, which had the highest single-day death toll in American history, allowed Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation and arrest Confederate momentum, changing the course of the Civil War and abolishing slavery

1. How the Americas Change: The Long
19th Century
By: Jessica Jefferson
History 141 - 31136

2. The Americas in the 19th Century
Most lands in the western hemisphere
won their independence from Europe
and had to deal with the legacy of
Enlightenment. The challenge to
create societies ingrained with
constitutional government, freedom,
and equality.
America
• The U.S. built the most powerful state and experienced a rush of immigrants
from China, Europe, and Asia.
• Westward expansion was met with resistance from indigenous peoples of the
lands.
• Populations doubled and disagreements over slavery and the individual rights
of states led to civil war.
• As a result of civil war, slavery was abolished and the federal state was
strengthened.

3. The Americas in the 19th Century
Canada
• Canada established a federal state under British Canadian Leadership.
• Differences between the British and French Canadians faded into the
background as the external threat from the U.S. increased.
• The first Prime Minister of Canada, John A. McDonald, strengthened the
dominion and oversaw the construction of a transcontinental railroad.
Latin America
• Latin America established smaller more
localized states due to conflict and instability
from a number of factors including civil war,
rebellion, and caudillo rule.
• The peoples there lacked employment,
political representation, and education.

4. Frontiers of the Americas
The Louisiana Purchase
• 828,000 miles were purchased from
France’s claim to Louisiana for 60 million
francs in 1803 doubling the size of the U.S.
Haitian Revolution
Conflict between 1791-1804 resulted in
the elimination of slavery in Haiti and the foundation of the Haitian
republic, influencing the U.S. by increasing the number of rebellions against
slavery. For the French, the loss of the Saint-Domingue's sugar plantations in
Haiti made keeping the Louisiana territory too large of a burden, and acted as
a catalyst to sell the territory to the U.S.
Missouri River expedition
• Prince Maximilian zu Wied and Swiss artist Karl Bodmer explored the newly
acquired land from 1832-1834. These two provided excellent information on
the inhabitants on the land and documented their travels with paintings and
writings such as Reise in das Innere Nord-Amerikas; written upon thier return.

5. Frontiers of the Americas
Frontier Violence in South America
• During the mid-nineteenth century civil wars plagued the borderland of
Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul. Viloence here became symbolic and a way
of life. For them the violence was a crucial part of their internal social
structure.
• Brazils violence was more confined to the poorest and most rual areas.
Drought disrupted the normally storng family bonds and foced women
into prostitution and men into baniting. Rebellions often insued.

6. Crossroads of Freedom
A pivotal moment for American History was the battle
of Antietam fought on September 17th, 1862. It was
here union victory significantly arrested the
momentum on the south, offering Lincoln the chance
to issue the proclamation of emancipation.
• This was the
bloodiest day in
American History.
• More than 6,000
soldiers were killed.

7. Crossroads of Freedom
James M. McPherson describes the events leading up
to this battle and how the result of this battle forever
changed both America and the world.
• Goals of the South included diplomatic recognition of the Confederacy as
a nation. McPherson begins his story stating “the South needed only to
defend what it already possessed by repelling enemy invasions and
wearing out the will of the Northern people” after the Confederates’
seizure of Fort Summer.
• The Confederacy had a
functioning government made
of 11 states.
• 750,000 miles of national
territory belonged to them.

8. Crossroads of Freedom
Motivation for the North included freedom
for the slaves.
• The South used slaves in there armies as soldiers before drafting white
men. Escaping slaves helped make the civil was a war for their freedom as
well as the Union.
• In Spring of 1862 Lincoln
signed legislation to
abolish slavery in the
district of
Columbia, prohibit it the
territories and making it
legal to confiscate slaves
from Confederate owners.
This geared up the Union
for what was to come.

9. Crossroads of Freedom
Battle of Antietam
• The South was outnumbered, and committed their entire force to the
battle, while the North saved reserves for later.
• The significance of the amount of defeat the North had gained led Lincoln
to announce his Emancipation Proclamation.
• This dissuaded France and Britain from
recognizing the Confederacy.
• McPherson’s position is that other pivotal
moments later in the war, such as the Unions
triumphs at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, would
not have been possible without the defeat of
the “triple Confederate offensives in
Mississippi, Kentucky, and most of all
Maryland” --- “during the fall of 1862.”