Final Study Guide Flashcards
Alien and Sedition Acts
passed by Federalists during John Adams’ presidency to silence Democratic-Republicans; Alien Act targeted immigrants; Sedition Act made it illegal to criticize the government in print, which violated the 1st Amendment
Election of 1800
tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr (both Democratic-Republicans) in the Electoral College; presidency was decided by the House of Representatives, who chose Jefferson on the 36th vote
Jefferson’s beliefs about government
Jefferson believed in a smaller federal government and was against government debt; he reduced the number of federal employees and reduced the military
Marbury vs. Madison
Supreme Court case that established judicial review by declaring a law unconstitutional for the first time
John Marshall
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for many years and led the court in upholding federal power; presided over Marbury v. Madison, Gibbons v. Ogden, McCulloch v. Maryland, and Worcester v. Georgia
Louisiana Purchase -Constitutional concerns
President Jefferson held a strict interpretation of the Constitution, so he was not sure if he had the authority to purchase the Louisiana Territory because the power for a president to buy land was not stated in the Constitution
Louisiana Purchase - details of acquisition
U.S. bought it from France in 1803 for $15 million (3 cents an acre); France’s leader, Napoleon, was willing to sell it because he needed quick money to pay for his war with Britain.
Louisiana Purchase - Geographic area
land west of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains; included the city of New Orleans (which was an important port); explored by Lewis and Clark with the help of Sacajawea
War of 1812 Causes
I - Impressment of US sailors by the British
S - Ships were being attacked
S - Supplying Native Americans in Northwest Territory
War of 1812 Effects
W - Weakened Native resistance making it easier for US settlers to expand West
I - Industry increased (as a result of the naval blockade in the Atlantic)
N - Nationalism/patriotism increased - US stood up against the British and held its own
Monroe Doctrine
statement issued by President Monroe telling European countries that the Western Hemisphere (the Americas) was closed to future colonization; US became the protector of the Americas (North & South)
Missouri Compromise
written by Henry Clay to maintain the balance of free and slave states in Congress; Missouri entered as a slave state and Maine as a free state; it also banned slavery North of the 36°30ˊ latitude
Gibbons vs. Ogden
Supreme Court ruled the federal government has the authority to regulate interstate commerce (trade between states); gave more power to the federal government
McCulloch vs. Maryland
Supreme Court ruled a state can’t tax its branch of the national bank; upheld federal authority over state
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney; allowed for cotton to be cleaned at a much quicker pace; resulted in an increase in the planting of cotton, which led to a much larger demand for enslaved labor
Telegraph
Samuel F.B. Morse; allowed people to communicate over long distances; increased national unity
Steamboat
Robert Fulton; allowed much quicker travel (including upstream); increased national unity
Steel Plow
John Deere; resulted in more efficient farming
Jacksonian Democracy
the idea of spreading political power to “common man” – most states no longer required property ownership to vote (did still have to be a white man). Jackson was supported by farmers and factory workers and his election in 1828; put an end to the idea that the government should be run by an educated elite.
Democratic Party
After Jackson lost the election of 1824 to John Quincy Adams (which he blamed on the “corrupt bargain”) the Era of Good Feelings was over and the Democratic Republican Party split. Jackson’s supporters became known as the Democrats
Whig Party
formed by Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and other Jackson opponents who were against the concentration of power in the chief executive (they felt like Jackson had too much power as a president)
Dealing with the National Bank
Jackson vetoed the renewal of the bank’s charter, saying that the bank was unconstitutional. In an attempt to run the bank out of business before its charter ended, Jackson withdrew government money from the national bank and had it deposited in state banks. The national bank went out of business, which was a victory for Jackson and his supporters but this contributed to a bad economic future.
Dealing with the Supreme Court
Jackson said the national bank unconstitutional even though the Supreme Court had already upheld it in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland; he also refused to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling in Worcester v. Georgia
Spoils System
giving government jobs to political backers (Jackson was criticized for doing this)
Trail of Tears
the forced journey of the Cherokee from Georgia to the Indian Territory; thousands died on this harsh march
Worcester vs. Georgia
Supreme Court ruled that only the federal government could deal with Indian Nations so Georgia state laws to move them out were invalid. Jackson’s response was “John Marshall has made his ruling, now let him enforce it.” Eventually Congress would enforce the Indian Removal Act and the Cherokees would be forced to leave.
Inflation
an increase in prices and a decrease in the value of money
Tariff of Abominations -Reason for southern outrage
This 1828 tariff raised the price of imported goods. Southerners were angry because they were selling cotton at low prices and having to pay high prices for imported manufactured goods due to their trade agreements with European nations (cotton for credit). Southerners felt like the Northeast was controlling national policy when it came to economics. The Southerners gave this tariff the nickname “tariff of abominations.”
Tariff of Abominations - Southern Response
South Carolina especially hated the tariff and even began talk of secession. John C. Calhoun (Vice-President of the U.S. and from South Carolina) proposed a way for South Carolina to remain in the Union: the Doctrine of Nullification. He said that a state should be able to void a federal law within its borders if it so chooses. Nullification is an extreme form of states’ rights.
Webster-Hayne Debate
debate over the doctrine of states’ rights/nullification, which centered on whether or not a state has the right to reject a national law. Daniel Webster, a Senator from Massachusetts, argued against nullification. Robert Hayne, a senator from South Carolina, argued for nullification. Webster said that the Union is made up of people not states.
James K. Polk
U.S. president during Mexican-American War; after Texas was annexed, he sent troops to disputed border area of the Rio Grande River; when troops were ambushed by Mexican soldiers, Polk asked Congress to declare war against Mexico
Manifest Destiny
term coined by journalist John O’Sullivan; the commonly held belief that westward expansion to the Pacific Ocean was not only good but it was bound to happen (inevitable)
Acquisition of Oregon Territory
U.S. and Great Britain both claimed the Oregon Territory; rather than go to war over it, they agreed to split it at the 49th parallel
Mexican Cession
large area of land received by the U.S. as a result of the Mexican War (includes present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado)
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
treaty that ended the Mexican War; gave Mexican Cession to U.S
Gadsden Purchase
bought from Mexico to build a transcontinental railroad; completed the continental United States.
California Gold Rush
Gold was discovered in California, thousands of people “rushed” there, including many Chinese immigrants. A “49er” was a miner who went to California to take part in the gold rush (in the year 1849). California’s population grew so rapidly it was able to apply for statehood by 1850.
