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Episodes from "The United States: A New Nation, 1776-1836," Wheaton College (Fall 2007): 1 through 10 of 19

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  1. Spontaneous Combustion of a Drunkard
    date December 7, 1831map FAYETTE, Kentuckytags Church/Religious-Activity, Health/Death

    In the year 1831, Dr. Peter Scholfield was invited to speak at the formation of a temperance society in the small town of Rustard, in Upper Canada. His speech was a direct attack on drunkenness and the dangers it entailed. Dr. Scholfield began his speech with the remark, "It is well authenticated, that many habitual drinkers of ardent spirits are brought to their end by what is called 'spontaneous...

  2. Recognizing the Importance of Female Education
    date December 10, 1831map KINGS, New Yorktags Education, Women

    "Let me not be misunderstood, when I thus earnestly insist upon the necessity of female education," insisted Emma C. Embury, a strong advocate for female education who spoke at the Anniversary of the Brooklyn Collegiate Institute for Young Ladies in December 1831. The idea of women's education was being discussed far more in the 1830's than it ever had been before. Embury was just one of many advocates...

  3. Christian Women and Fashion
    date April, 1825map SUFFOLK, Massachusettstags Church/Religious-Activity, Women

    In an 1825 essay entitled "The Female Character," a Dr. Springs wrote "a Christian woman ought to be distinguishable by her simplicity." The desire for simplicity was a common trend seen in many Christian communities in the early to mid 1800's. For many, clothing choice reflected how a woman was viewed by her society. In early American Christian towns men wanted their wives and daughters to be seen...

  4. Cholera
    date 1831map SUFFOLK, Massachusettstags Health/Death

    A Cholera epidemic struck the citizens of the United States of America in 1831. Doctors all over the Nation treated its victims without much success. Many doctors published their feelings and findings in medical journals. A Doctor Smith from Boston wrote about his voyage to Russia that year to compare their epidemic to the one in America. Dr. Smith was horrified to see so many helpless poor Russian...

  5. Missionaries and the Choctaws
    date 1831map INDIAN LANDS, Georgiatags Church/Religious-Activity, Native-Americans

    Mr. Cushman and his fellow missionaries broke ground in the "unbroken wilderness" of Choctaw Nation on October 15, 1827 and on July 31, 1831 he published a letter about his experiences in The Missionary Herald titled, Effects of the Gospel on the People. Upon his arrival in 1827, Cushman found the members of the Choctaw tribe to be entirely heathen and uncivilized in both appearance and practice. He...

  6. Mulatto Man Granted Freedom
    date December, 1831map KNOX, Tennesseetags African-Americans, Law, Slavery

    In December 1831, Quaker abolitionist Benjamin Lundy published a small article in his newspaper The Genius of Universal Emancipation entitled "Important Legal Decision." The article told the story of a free mulatto man named Batkin who, after being convicted of a crime in Virginia, had been sold into slavery. Batkin had been sold to a man in Tennessee, and he petitioned that state's court for his...

  7. Nat Turner's Rebellion
    date February 12, 1831 to November, 1831map SOUTHAMPTON, Virginiatags African-Americans, Crime/Violence, Race-Relations, Slavery

    Nat Turner was an American slave who lived in Southampton County Virginia, from 1800 to 1831. Nat grew up very religious, and had the ability to read and write. Along with his education, his spirituality gave him a distinct view of the injustices of slavery taking place around him. Turner believed that he could lead a successful revolt, and in February of 1831 he executed his plan. Turner's original...

  8. Alabama against the American System
    date December 21, 1831map PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvaniatags Economy

    The early nineteenth century was full of civil unrest between the states. Many of the southern states saw this time as a period of northern aggression and disregard for southern interests. "Alabama," an article published in The Banner of the Constitution provides an example of southern government officials becoming fed up with the northern led tariffs and political parties, particularly the American...

  9. The Washingtonian Temperance Society and the Influence on Women
    date May, 1840 to 1842map NEW YORK, New Yorktags Crime/Violence, Women

    The Washingtonian Temperance Society started in May 1840 by six Baltimore drinking buddies who decided to write and sign a pledge stating that they would no longer consume alcohol. This six-person pledge began to turn into one of the largest movements in America. Men would lecture around the country showing people real life stories about what life is like when abusing alcohol. By the end of 1841...

  10. Judge Clayton Removed from Office
    date December 6, 1831map GWINNETT, Georgiatags Law, Native-Americans, Politics

    Augustin Smith Clayton was a lawyer, congressman, and judge for the state of Georgia. Most of his decisions as a judge in Georgia favored state over federal laws. In 1831, however, Clayton declared unconstitutional a Georgia law that prohibited Indians from digging gold on their own land. After this decision he was not reelected for another term. Clayton was curious about his loss at reelection and...

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