The southern colonies were not as large as the middle colonies, or as multicultural, but they were more diverse than the New England colonies.  Most of the southern colonists were British, but there was a large group of Scots Irish migrated south.  This group came to the Middle Colonies first.  They traveled west and when … Continue reading Class Notes →

When it came to government involvement in the Gilded Age, the only real way it helped promote the general welfare was to pass tariffs. Republicans believed they would help American industry and create more jobs, while Democrats wanted them lower because they hurt prices for consumers.  While most Americans today have no idea what the … Continue reading Class Notes →

In 1770, there were twice as many people living in New England than in the Middle Colonies.  However, by the time of the Revolution the Middle Colonies will have grown by 10 times and become the most populated region in British North America.  Philadelphia will even become the second largest city in the British Empire … Continue reading Class Notes →

With America still in a difficult situation in 1876, not being far removed from the Civil War and in the midst of Reconstruction, Grant put it out there that he was willing to run for a third term, so America could have stable leadership.  The problem was the economy had taken a turn for the … Continue reading Class Notes →

The Netherlands was different than other European nations in the 17th Century. Most nations were fighting religious wars while the Dutch allowed for religious freedom, the reason the Pilgrims went there originally. They practiced a form a democracy where each town was basically independent and would come together when needed under the House of Orange. … Continue reading Class Notes →

Even though we associate the witch trials with the Puritans, witches were being tried in all thirteen colonies.  The Puritans just did it better.  There were also around 344 people accused of witchcraft in the colonies and about 80% of them were women.  Of the males, most were accused because of association with a female … Continue reading Class Notes →

Even though in the years after the Civil War the Republican Party dominated, they did begin to see few cracks in the 1872 election. Some of the liberal Republicans did not support Grant for a second term. They feared the corruption in the Grant administration and Republican corruption in the South with Reconstruction. These Republicans … Continue reading Class Notes →

Puritan theology came from two covenants.  The Covenant of Work came from Adam.  Adam was promised he would live forever if he kept God’s law.  Adam broke the covenant when he ate the fruit and was expelled.  All of Adam's children are under the same covenant and would now all die because of sin.  However, … Continue reading Class Notes →

 During Reconstruction the thing that scared white southerners the most and pushed them towards secession happened anyway; the Republican Party got a foothold in the South. Districts with a White majority still voted Democrat, but with the army in the South protecting the Black vote, districts with Black majorities voted Republican, often times Black Republicans. … Continue reading Class Notes →

The Puritans who settled in Massachusetts were a religious sect of the Church of England.  When Henry VIII died his young son Edward took over the crown and ruled as a Protestant.  After his young death, his older sister Mary (Bloody Mary) took over and switched England back to Catholicism.  When she died after a … Continue reading Class Notes →