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HIST 121 – The American Nation to 1840
Important terms for the second exam: The questions on the exam will be based on these people, events and
concepts. I will discuss all of these in class, so if you pay attention and take good notes, you should do well on the
exam.
Shays Rebellion – a brief popular revolt against the government of Pennsylvania in 1786. The news of this was used by
American leaders to call for a new government.
James Madison – a Virginia leader and friend of Thomas Jefferson, Madison believed the U.S. needed a stronger
government. His design for one, called the “Virginia Plan” was the basis for the Constitution.
Constitutional Convention – held in Philadelphia in 1787, this gathering wrote the draft of the Constitution and carried
out the campaign for having the Constitution adopted (ratified) by the 13 states.
3/5 compromise – a deal struck at the convention, and written into the Constitution, it allowed a slave to be 3/5 th of a
person for population counts (which affected how many representatives a state would have in Congress).
George Mason – as a delegate to the convention, this Virginia leader helped spell out the impeachment process in the
Constitution. He later blocked Virginia’s ratification of the Constitution until a Bill of Rights was promised.
George Washington – as the victorious general of American forces in the Revolution, Washington was the obvious choice
for the first president. As political parties developed in the 1790s, Washington tried to remain neutral and “above” the
political maneuvers in the nation’s capitol.
French Revolution – the overthrow of the monarchy of France in 1789 created the first major challenge to the new
American government. While many hailed the French Revolution as an advance for Democracy, many Americans were
also shocked at the violence in France. The subsequent war between France and Britain also threatened American trade.
Alexander Hamilton – as the first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton designed the system for paying off the debts of the
Revolution, a system which rewarded the wealthier classes more than others. Hamilton also played a major role in
organizing his allies into a formal political party, the Federalists, which carried out his policies.
Thomas Jefferson – as the first Secretary of State, Jefferson was concerned that Hamilton’s policies would threaten the
people’s liberties. Jefferson and Madison worked together to establish a political party, the Democratic-Republicans,
which would challenge the Federalists for control of government policies. This party would later be known simply at the
Democratic Party.
Alien and Sedition Acts – concerned that the wars in Europe may threaten the peace in America, John Adams, the second
president, supported the passing of laws that would 1) allow for the incarceration of non-citizens living in the U.S. (aliens),
2) make it harder for aliens to become citizen, 3) allowed the Federal government to suppress publications that criticized
the president or Congressional figures. The Acts were not renewed after Jefferson defeated Adams in the 1800 election.
Marbury vs. Madison – this Supreme Court decision established the power of the Court to decide on the Constitutionality
of any law passed in the U.S. As a result, the Court’s power in the Federal system of government was greatly enhanced.
Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution – This amendment was very important because it established the system of
electing both a president as vice-president as a team (or slate). The amendment was created after Aaron Burr nearly
defeated Jefferson in the 1800 election. Burr’s subsequent killing of Hamilton in a duel was related to this incident.
Louisiana Purchase – When President Jefferson purchased the enormous block of land from France, it was uncertain that
1) France had the right to sell the lands (which had been part of the Spanish empire); 2) that the president had the power
(under the Constitution) to make such an arrangement without the prior approval of Congress. Thus, in buying the
Louisiana, Jefferson in effect enlarged presidential powers and more than doubled the size of the United States.
Lewis and Clark expedition – Jefferson sent the army officers William Clark and Meriwether Lewis (Jefferson’s former
personal secretary) to explore the lands purchased from France. This not only gave a clearer idea of the potential uses of
the land, it also allowed the U.S. to “show the flag” to Native Americans in the region.
Embargo Act (1807) – Faced with possible war against Britain or France (or both), Jefferson hoped that by stopping trade
with Europe he could bring about a negotiated peace between the two warring nations, This policy not only failed, it also
caused a financial depression that harmed the American economy.
War of 1812 – a war brought on by American anger over British interference with American ocean trading and the desire
of western states to expand by seizing territory in Canada. The war was an American disaster for the most part (the
American capital was burned by British troops), and ended in 1815 with a negotiated peace.
Tecumseh -- Native American leader with managed to (temporarily) united many of the Indian groups in the Great LakesOhio River region in a war against the western movement of American settlers. During the War of 1812, Tecumseh
received aid from the British. But his “First Nation” coalition collapsed and Tecumseh was killed in battle.
Battle of New Orleans – This battle was ironically fought after the British and Americans had negotiated an end to the War
of 1812 (news of this had not reached either side at New Orleans). The fact that the battle was disastrous defeat for Britain
helped the U.S. salvage their pride and claim a “victory” in the war. The battle also made a national hero of the American
leader at the battle, Andrew Jackson.
Treaty of Ghent – the name of the treaty in which Britain and the United States ended the War of 1812. Under it, Britain
promised to abandon forts in the upper Midwest being used for the fur trade. This opened the “Minnesota” region to
American settlement and the establishment of Fort Snelling.
Hartford Convention – a gathering in New England (Hartford, Conn.) where Federalist leaders prepared a document for
revising the Constitution to strengthen state power over the national government. Because the war ended before this plan
was proposed in Washington, Jefferson’s followers charged that the Federalists had planned to form a separate nation in
New England. This charge effectively brought about a collapse of the Federalist Party.
“Era of Good Feelings” -- the term given to the period from 1816 to 1840, when the Democratic-Republican Party had a
near monopoly on political power. In reality, the era was anything but a period of good feelings, as political rivals fought
one another and as the party divided over issues concerning slavery and economic development.
Bank of the United States – The first B.U.S. charter (arranged By Alexander Hamilton) was allowed to lapse during
Jefferson’s presidency. Because of the heavy expenses of the War of 1812, Congress granted a new charter (for 20 years)
to a second B.U.S. in 1816. Once again, American businesses in the east liked the bank, while farmers and most people in
the western states disliked the bank.
Bonus Bill – Another controversial action of Congress, in 1817, this bill would have permitted the Federal government to
spend money on “internal improvements” (roads and canals) that would make west-to-east commerce easier. President
Monroe vetoed the bill because he doubted it was constitutional to choose which states would get the roads.
Tariff of 1816 – Another controversial action, Congress raised the taxes on imports to the U.S. in order to help growing
manufacturing businesses (like woolen mils and iron works factories) compete with European products. Southern states
disliked the tariff because it interfered with the export of cotton to Europe.
Robert Fulton – the inventor who perfected the use of steam engines on boats. His paddle-wheel ship, the Clermont,
opened a new era in harbor and river transportation.
Eli Whitney – another inventor, who revolutionized factory work by designing machines with “inter-changeable parts.”
Whitney also perfected a “cotton gin,” a machine that could easily separate cotton fibers for use in making cotton cloth.
This inexpensive device advanced the cotton agriculture in the South – and the expansion of slavery.
American Anti-Slavery Society – the most respected anti-slavery organization before the mid 1830s, this group was
dedicated to the gradual end of slavery, but also to the idea of encouraging ex-slaves to “re-immigrate” to Africa.
Abolition – the idea of ending slavery immediately through Federal government action to outlaw the practice. The
followers of this idea, the abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison, were unpopular in both the northern and the
southern states for many decades.
Erie Canal – an enormous (and successful) engineering project that created a continuous waterway across the state of New
York, from the Hudson River (and New York port) to Lake Erie. The project was the basis of New York wealth.
Monroe Doctrine – a policy initiated by President Monroe, stating the U.S. would not tolerate European interference in the
regions of Latin America. This policy ensured American domination of the western hemisphere.
National Intercourse (Trade) Act of 1818 – a Federal law that required the owners of businesses that were engaged in
international trade (fur traders for example) to be American citizens. Meti traders were most affected by this.
“King Cotton” – as cotton-growing developed in the southern states, the phrase “cotton is king” was frequently used to
emphasize the vital role of cotton in the region’s economy. “King Cotton emphasized the importance of slave-holding
cotton growers in southern politics, the Democratic Party, and the Federal government.
Missouri Compromise – the agreement framed in 1820 that permitted Missouri to enter the Union as a slave-holding state.
Territories south the Missouri (southern0 border would thereafter permit slavery, while those north of it would not permit
slavery. A balance would kept in the US Senate between slave and free states – this agreement was not openly challenged
until the creation of the Kansas Territory in the 1850s.
Denmark Vesey – a slave who was charged for plotting rebellion against slavery in South Carolina, he was hanged with
others in 1822. One historian has suggested that Vesey was the victim of a “fake plot” engineered by southern
slaveholders.
Nat Turner – Turner was a slave who definitely led a rebellion, in Virginia, in 1831, the rebelling slaves killing about 60
Virginians. After the rebellion was repressed, Turner was hanged with many others. Fears of future rebellions led southern
political leaders to regard anti-slavery spokesmen as dangerous “agitators” who could trigger further violence.
John Quincy Adams – son of John Adams and Secretary of State for James Monroe, he played a major role in the
formation of the Monroe Doctrine. He also completed the negotiations for the Adams-Onis Treaty in which Spain sold
their territories in Florida to the United States. This became the basis for his presidential victory in 1824.
Andrew Jackson – as a victorious general in numerous battles against Indians, Jackson crossed into Spanish Florida in
1818, where his threats helped convince Spain to sell their lands to the U.S. Jackson defeated Adams in the 1832 election
after charging that Adams’ victory in 1824 was the result of a “corrupt bargain” between Adams and Henry Clay.
Reform movements – the 1820s saw the rise of number of movements designed to “reform” and even “perfect” American
society. These movements included the creation of numerous new prisons, orphanages, and asylums, a common school
movement, a peace movement, new anti-slavery groups, a temperance movement, a campaign for women’s suffrage, a
labor movement, and communal experiments.
Lowell mills -- New England’s economy benefited by the construction of water-powered mills for the making of woolens.
In Lowell, the labor force for the mills was made up of young women, who were housed in dormitory-like conditions and
closely supervised. Some of the women resented this and formed labor unions to gain better pay and work conditions.
Postal suppression of anti-slavery publications – during the presidency of Jackson, the post offices, with Jackson’s
approval, refused to delivery anti-slavery newspapers, pamphlets and handbills. Some offices in the South burned them
Bank War -- the term given to Jackson’s refusal to renew the charter of the Bank of the United States. As a western
landowner, Jackson regarded the Bank as dangerous (especially after it supported his opponents in 1828 and 1832). He
removed all Federal deposits from the Banks and deposited the funds in selected state-chartered “pet banks.”
Nullification movement –when the government of South Carolina ordered harbor agents not to collect the Federal import
tariffs in its ports, Jackson threatened to invade the state to enforce “National supremacy.” The threat of civil war was
avoided after Henry Clay reached a compromise with Southern leaders to slightly lower the tariff rates. Because of
Jackson’s aggressive behavior in this issue and the Bank War, his opponents called him “King Andrew.”
Panic of 1837 – as the nation’s financial situation declined, and people lost their jobs, Jackson’s opponents blamed the
depression (or panic) on Jackson’s interference with the Federal money in the Bank War. This panic greatly hurt the
administration of Martin Van Buren, who was president after Jackson.
William Henry Harrison – another hero from the various Indian wars, Harrison was elected president in 1840 as the
candidate of the Whig Party which was formed to oppose Jackson’s financial policies. In general, Whigs (including
Abraham Lincoln) favored a Federal government that would be more active in developing the nation’s resources and
wanted power to be concentrated more in Congress than in the presidency. Many Whigs also leaned toward limiting the
growth of slavery (which hurt the party in the South). But Harrison served only one month in office before dying, and his
vice-president, John Tyler, did not carry out the Whig party platform. This greatly harmed the Whig Party’s future.