Question 1

What happened in New Orleans in 1832 and 1833?

Accepted Answer

In 1832 and 1833, New Orleans was struck by a devastating epidemic of yellow fever and cholera, which killed approximately 1/5 of the population.

Question 2

What was one of the purposes of the lyceum lectures?

Accepted Answer

The lyceum lecture system was created in the early 19th century as a way to spread knowledge and education to the American public. These lectures covered a wide range of topics, from science and philosophy to literature and politics, and were intended to encourage self-improvement and critical thinking.

Question 3

Why did movements for rural cemeteries and urban parks develop during the antebellum period?

Accepted Answer

During the antebellum period, as urban growth continued to accelerate, many people began to fear that a growing distance from nature was negatively affecting their spiritual and emotional well-being. Rural cemeteries and urban parks were developed as a way to provide an opportunity to commune with nature and find spiritual solace outside of the city.

Question 4

What technological improvements increased industrial productivity between 1840 and 1860?

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Question 5

How did technological advancements in the antebellum period influence the development of agriculture? How and why did these developments increase the differences between the North and the South?

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Question 6

Which of the following scents would have been present in most antebellum cities?

Accepted Answer

Most antebellum cities did not have proper sanitation systems, leading to the presence of human waste and animal manure. The lack of adequate hygiene practices also contributed to the prevalence of body odor. Therefore, all of these scents would have been present in most antebellum cities.

Question 7

During the pre-Civil War decades, what did most American painters prefer to paint?

Accepted Answer

During the pre-Civil War decades, American painters preferred to paint landscapes. This was known as the Hudson River School, a movement that emphasized the beauty of American landscapes and the sublimity of nature.

Question 8

Examine changes in publishing in before 1860. How did these changes influence what types of reading materials were produced? How did they change the quality of what was produced? Did the changes affect readership? Explain.

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Question 9

What was the "American system of manufacturing"? Why did it intrigue Europeans? What were its advantages?

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Question 10

Explore some of the major public health issues in the antebellum period. What major health problems existed? How did Americans attempt to deal with them? How successful were they in either eliminating and/or improving the conditions?

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Question 11

How did railroads grow in the decades before the Civil War? What impact did they have on the economic development of the antebellum United States? In what sense were railroads the nation's first "big business"?

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Question 12

How did technology help to improve the quality of life for the antebellum American? Who benefited the most, and who benefited the least, and why did the gap between some classes widen? Discuss especially the impact of house construction, furniture, heating, and diet.

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Question 13

How did Americans' relationship to and understanding of the land contribute to agricultural innovation in the decades before the Civil War? How did other factors contribute to innovation?

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Question 14

Why did many antebellum Americans turn to practical or popular science? How does that interest demonstrate a basic American optimism about life and society?

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Question 15

Analyze American entertainment before 1860. What were the principal forms of entertainment, and how did they reflect American stereotypes and prejudices?

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Question 16

In what ways did antebellum Americans express a growing sense of nationalism and an increasing consciousness of the land through their literature and art? Discuss as examples some of the major literary and artistic achievements of the period.

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Question 17

How did the writings of Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman differ from those of Hawthorne, Poe, and Melville?

Accepted Answer

Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman were known for their optimistic views of the individual potentially rising to greatness, while Hawthorne, Poe, and Melville had a darker view of human nature and often explored themes of sin and guilt.

Question 18

How did American pastimes and entertainment change between 1840 and 1860?

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Question 19

How did technology transform the daily lives of middle-class Americans between 1840 and 1860?

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Question 20

What were the goals of the Hudson River school of painters?

Accepted Answer

The Hudson River school of painters sought to preserve a record of a disappearing wilderness, as they were concerned about the impact of industrialization and urbanization on natural landscapes. Their paintings often depicted dramatic landscapes, such as the Hudson River, the Catskill Mountains and the Adirondack Mountains, and were intended to evoke feelings of awe and admiration for nature. They did not aim for photographic accuracy or depict scenes of ruined castles and crumbling temples. While some of the painters were based in New York City, their work was focused on nature, not on promoting the city as a hub of artistic activity.

Quiz 11: Technology, Culture, and Everyday Life, 1840-1860