Chapter 10 - A Democratic Revolution, 1800-1844 Flashcards
franchise
the right to vote
notables
northern landlords, slave-owning planters, and seaport merchants who dominated politics in early America
“political machines”
term referring to political parties, given that they efficiently wove together the interests of diverse groups
Martin Van Buren
chief architect of emerging party government system and eighth president
spoils system
the process of leaders distributing offices to supporters, friends, and relatives after winning an election
caucus
a meeting of party leaders
American System
integrated mercantilist program of national economic development
internal improvements
public works (roads and canals)
Twelfth Amendment
established that the House would choose the president among the three highest vote-getters in the case of no absolute majority (important in election of 1824)
corrupt bargain
a government deal made for personal gains; committed by John Quincy Adams when he appointed Henry Clay to Secretary of State after he helped Adams win the election in 1824
consolidated government
a powerful and potentially oppressive national administration
Tariff of Abominations
1828 tariff that significantly raised duties on raw materials, textiles, and iron goods, leading to southern resentment
Andrew Jackson
lost the 1824 election, War of 1812 hero, rallied massive support (Democratic Party) to be elected the seventh president, first “commoner” to hold office
nullification
the argument that a state has the right to void laws passed by Congress within its own borders
John C. Calhoun
contender in the election of 1828, vice president under Jackson, promoted the localist interpretation to the federal union
states’ rights
an interpretation of the Constitution declaring that states could interpret and decide whether or not to follow federal laws
Second Bank of the United States
privately managed and operated bank under a twenty-year charter from the federal government, which owned 20% of its stock
Daniel Webster
Senator of Massachusetts; presented nationalist interpretation of the Constitution
Nicholas Biddle
arrogant president of the Second Bank
Roger B. Taney
head of Treasury Department under Jackson who transferred federal government’s gold and silver from the Second Bank to various state banks; later appointed Chief Justice
Indian Removal Act of 1830
authorized president to negotiate with Indian tribes in the south for their removal to federal territory west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their ancestral homelands
Black Hawk
Sauk leader who refused to leave his land; 85% of his warriors were killed in the Bad Axe Massacre
Trail of Tears
1,200 mile resettlement journey of Cherokees to the Indian Territory
classical liberalism (laissez-faire)
principle of limiting government’s role in the economy
Whigs
the second national party; arose out of anger over Andrew Jackson’s policies and conduct
Anti-Masons
short-lived party formed to oppose the Order of Freemasonry (eventually gravitated toward the Whig Party)
Panic of 1837
1837-1843; second major economic crisis in the United States
Working Men’s Parties
coalitions of artisans and laborers
Specie Circular
executive order that required the Treasury Department to accept only gold and silver in payment for lands in the national domain
William Henry Harrison
military hero of the War of 1812; ninth president and first to die in office
John Tyler
Harrison’s vice president who became the tenth president after his death
ethnocultural politics
the practice of voting along ethnic and religious lines
