Benchmark 2 Flashcards
Impressment
British took American soldiers from their ships and forced them to serve in the navy
Embargo
suspended trade by ordering American ships to stay in port
Did the embargo work? Why or why not?
It didn’t work because the British found other markets in South America, bankrupting American merchants. It also threw American sailors out of work, and farmers could no longer export crops.
War Hawks
aggressive young politicians who took the lead in a Congress
Who did the War Hawks represent?
farmers and settlers from the southern and western states
Two famous War Hawks and where they’re from
John C. Calhoun (SC) and Henry Clay (KY)
Who did we fight in the War of 1812? Why?
Britain; we were humiliated by British impressments
What was the outcome of the War of 1812?
it was a tie; established a treaty that restored prewar boundaries
Biggest hero of the War of 1812
Andrew Jackson
causes of the War of 1812
British interfere with American shipping and expansion, southerners want Florida which is owned by Britain’s ally Spain, War Hawks want to expel Britain completely
Effects of the War of 1812
revealed need for a strong standing army, encouraged American nationalism, ended Federalist Party, shattered strength of Native American resistance, paved the way for American acquisition of Florida
Why did Thomas Jefferson purchase the Louisiana Territory? How did he alter his view of the Constitution while purchasing it?
He wanted to gain the port of New Orleans and the Mississippi River from the French. When he went to make the deal, they offered him a ton more land for $15 million instead of the little strip of land for $10 million. He changed his view by interpreting the Constitution loosely. Had he interpreted it strictly as usual, he would’ve had to go all the way back to America, approve the purchase with Congress and then go back and make the deal. By then, someone else might’ve gotten the land.
Define nullification.
states can nullify or void federal laws that they deem unconstitutional
Order of acquisitions
Louisiana Purchase, Texas Annexation, Oregon Territory, Mexican Cession
What was the Trail of Tears?
Jackson ordered American troops to move Indians from the southeast to Oklahoma. It was called the Trail of Tears because, out of 16000 Indians, 4000 died.
True or False: Southerners supported tariffs as a means of promoting domestic industry. Why or why not?
False. Southerners did not support tariffs because they didn’t benefit them at all. Tariffs supported the growth of northern industry and forced southerners to pay more for goods.
Explain Manifest Destiny.
19th century doctrine which stated that westward expansion of the US was not only inevitable but a God given right
What was the Monroe Doctrine? What type of impact did it have during the 19th century?
The Monroe Doctrine was issued by President Monroe and it discouraged European intervention in the Western Hemisphere. However, we couldn’t back this up and it showed that we were not yet a world power.
Describe the Missouri Compromise. What issue was behind the compromise?
At the time, there was an equal number of slave and free states. If Missouri entered as a slave state, it would tip the balance. To resolve this issue, Henry Clay came up with the Missouri Compromise. It stated that Missouri would be added as a slave state, Maine would break off from Massachusetts and be added as a free state, and there was an imaginary line drawn from the southeastern tip of Missouri to the west coast. Any states added above the line were free. Any states added below the line were slave states.
Why wasn’t Texas immediately annexed by the US? What was Texas after their war with Mexico?
They had to fight a war with Mexico, and they were known as the Lone Star Republic.
Why was the north more industrialized than the south?
The north had a lot of major ports and bodies of water. Also, the south had a perfect environment for farming. In the north, they had a shorter growing season and less fertile soil so they had to find another means of making money.
Which region(s) supported internal improvements?
The west bc they were trying to improve transportation to the west
How did Polk use Manifest Destiny to defend war with Mexico?
It was our destiny to expand west so we had to fight Mexico to achieve our destiny.
Describe Clay’s American system.
His plan included building roads and canals, reestablishing the national bank, and enforcing the protective tariff
