Download Regents Review Sheet: Early 1800`s

Regents Review Sheet: Early 1800’s
I. Beginning of Political Parties. The groups that fought over the ratification of the Constitution formed the
basis for the first two parties in the U.S.
Federalists become the…
Anti-Federalists become the…
Federalist Party
Republican Party
Leader: Alexander Hamilton
Leader: Thomas Jefferson
Favor strong national government, including a
Fear strong national government, believes
national bank. Loose interpretation of
power should be in the hands of the people.
Constitution. More popular in urban areas.
Strict interpretation of the Constitution.
More popular in rural areas.
The American political system has remained a two-party system. In our history, third parties are generally
concerned with a single issue. They often bring that issue to national attention, but rarely succeed in
elections. Examples include the Populist Party in the late 1800’s (which attacked the concentration of
power in the hands of the rich) and the Right to Life Party today (which focuses on fighting against a
woman’s right to choose an abortion).
II. Nationalism
 Geographical Expansion:
o Manifest Destiny: God wants America to spread to the Pacific Coast.
o Louisiana Purchase: Jefferson bought this land from France, even though he had to use a loose
interpretation of the Constitution to find the authority to buy it.
o Mexican War: America went to war with Mexico in the mid-1800’s and won the territories that
later became Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California
o Geographical expansion is important because as we gained new territories, we had to decide whether
those new territories would become free or slave states.
 Foreign Policy:
o War of 1812: U.S. fought England when British ships were interfering with American boats. The
war ended in a stalemate, but the U.S. reinforced its independence and proved that it would not
tolerate interference from foreign powers.
o Monroe Doctrine: President James Monroe’s policy that European countries should stay out of the
affairs of the western hemisphere.
 Increase in power of federal government
o The court decisions Gibbons v. Ogden and McCullough v. Maryland gave federal government
authority over state governments. The Court decisions made under Chief Justice John Marshall
generally favored a strong federal government.
III. Jacksonian Democracy
 Before 1820, only property owners could vote. Andrew Jackson was the first President elected after this
requirement was dropped. He was a war hero who appealed to the masses. Jacksonian Democracy
describes this mass appeal.
 Jackson gave jobs to political supporters in a system known as the spoils system.
 During Jackson’s time, America began to push Native Americans away from their land. This was done
through the Indian Removal Acts of the 1830’s. One result of this was the Trail of Tears, during
which many Cherokees died.
IV. Early Reform Movements
Women: Seneca Falls Convention, 1848 Women’s Suffrage Movement Obtain the right to vote for
women
Slavery: Abolition movement, Underground Railroad