Exam 3 Flashcards
John Quincy Adams becomes president in contested election
1824
Andrew Jackson (Democratic-Republican) elected to first of his two terms as president
1828
Tariff of Abominations
1828
Anti-Masons convene first ever national political convention
1831
Bank War begins
1832
Second Party System emerges
1834
Between 100,000 and 300,000 people belong to labor unions
Mid 1830s
Texas becomes independent from Mexico
1836
Martin Van Buren (Democrat) elected president
1836
William Henry Harrison (Whig) elected president
1840
Newly formed Liberty Party enters the presidential race
1840
Harrison dies after just one month in office, John Tyler becomes president
April 4, 1841
U.S. slaves seize the Creole, a ship transporting slaves from Virginia to New Orleans
1841
Democrat James K. Polk elected president
1844
Martin Van Buren (1782–1862)
Eighth president of the United States (1837–1841). A powerful Democrat from New York, he served in the U.S. Senate (1821–1828), as secretary of state (1829–1831), and as vice president (1833–1837) under Andrew Jackson before being elected president in 1836. He unsuccessfully sought reelection in 1840 and 1848.
election of 1840
Whig innovations in campaign slogans, large rallies, and efforts to involve women supporters in this election marked a new style of political campaigning. The election, between Democrat Martin Van Buren and the Whig party’s William Henry Harrison, was won by Harrison.
Era of Good Feelings
Period in U.S. history (1817–1823) when, the Federalist party having declined, there was little open party feeling.
Henry Clay (1777–1852)
American statesman and a founder of the Whig party. He pushed the Missouri Compromise through the U.S. House of Representatives (1820) in an effort to reconcile free and slave states and served as secretary of state under John Quincy Adams (1825–1829).
John C. Calhoun (1782–1850)
Vice president of the United States (1825–1832) under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. In his political philosophy he maintained that the states had the right to nullify federal legislation that they deemed unconstitutional.
spoils system
Initiated by President Andrew Jackson, civil service system by which the victorious political party rewarded its supporters with government jobs.
Creole
Slaving ship sailing from Virginia to New Orleans in 1841 when it was seized by captives and sailed to the Bahamas, a British colony. Britain, which had recently emancipated its own slaves, gave sanctuary to the slaves.
nullification (1828–1833)
Argument between leaders in South Carolina and in Washington, D.C., especially President Andrew Jackson, over the relationship between federal and state power. Theorists of nullification, especially John C. Calhoun, argued that a state had the authority to “nullify” a federal law within its own boundaries. The precipitating issue was a tariff, but the debate—eventually settled by compromise over the tariff and a threat of force by the federal government over the issue of authority—was seen as a trial case for slavery.
Ancient Order of Masons
Associated with freemasonry - the practice of belonging to a secretive fraternal organization with deep roots in European guilds comprised of skilled laborers - members pledged brotherly love and charity. Known for their secrecy and use of mysterious symbols, Masons in the United States included many prominent political figures who used the organization for political and economic gain.
Bank of the United States (1816–1836)
New national bank created to stabilize the economy and distribute scarce money across the country. President Jackson believed the bank had too much power, and he vetoed the rechartering of the bank in 1836.
Bank War (1832–1834)
Attacks by President Andrew Jackson on the Second Bank of the United States. By vetoing the renewal of the bank’s charter and removing federal funds to state banks, he effectively destroyed the central bank.
Liberty Party
U.S. political party formed in 1839 to oppose the practice of slavery; it merged with the Free-Soil party in 1848.
Stephen Austin (1793–1836)
Virginian who led efforts to settle U.S. citizens in Texas, negotiated with the Mexican and U.S. governments, commanded Texas forces in the early period of the Texas Revolution, and served as secretary of state for the Republic of Texas.