7-9 Facts and Terms

Republican motherhood

Republican motherhood

A role for women that stressed the importance of instructing children in republican virtues such as patriotism and honor. Significance: changed the role of women and made it more important for women to become educated and literate.

Noah Webster

Educator and lawyer who felt schools should teach American students nationalistic and patriotic themes. Published a spelling book that simplified many English words (e.g. honour to honor). Significance: this dictionary would help establish and American form of English.

Deism

Belief that God created the universe in such a way that no divine intervention was necessary for its continued operation. Deists tended to deny the miracles in the Bible and the divine nature of Jesus as the Son of God. Franklin and Jefferson were Deists. Significance: helped develop a humanistic approach to religion in America. Reaction against Deism helped spark the 2nd Great Awakening.

2nd Great Awakening

Origins lay in the efforts of conservative theologians of the 1790s to fight the spread of religious rationalism, like Deism. Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians spread religious upsurge that included revival meetings and great emotionalism. 1800 to 1840. Significance: helped start many of the reform movements of the first half of the 19th century (abolition, temperance, mental care, etc.) Also gave women and African Americans a chance to participate in public religion.

Samuel Slater

In the 1800s Britain tried to protect its manufacturing pre-eminence by preventing the export of textile technology and the emigration of skilled mechanics. Slater memorized the blueprints and recreated these from memory for use in America. Created the first American textile factory in Pawtucket, RI. Significance: helped usher in the age of industrial growth in America with factories and working populations.

Eli Whitney

Growth of the textile industry in England created a huge demand for cotton. The greatest obstacle was separating the seeds from the cotton. In 1793 Whitney invented a machine that performed this task quickly and efficiently. Cotton gin was short for cotton machine. Whitney also created a process that would make interchangeable parts for guns, which improved repair and replacement. Significance: the cotton gin helped revive and spread the cotton industry. Interchangeable parts helped to increase the development of factories and mass production.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Act of Religious Toleration. 3rd President of the US, founded the Republican party, and believed in the strict construction of the constitution. Reduced the army and navy and bought the LA purchase. Sent Lewis and Clark to explore the west and accepted many federalist ideas and institutions. Got Congress to pass the Embargo Act in 1807.

Marbury v. Madison

William Marbury was one of Adam's "midnight appointments" but never received his commission from the secretary of state. Under the new administration of Jefferson he asked Madison to issue his commission. Madison refused so Marbury appealed to the Supreme Court. Marshall's court ruled that Marbury had a right to the commission but that the commission was illegal because it had been created by an unconstitutional law (Judiciary Act of 1789). Significance: Supreme Court relinquished a minor power (power to force commission delivery) but asserted a greater power (judicial review - declare a law unconstitutional).

Louisiana Purchase

The US purchase from France in 1803 of a vast tract of land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The land was bought for $15 million. Napoleon agreed to sell the entire area because his dream of creating a new French empire in North America vanished when his army was decimated by disease and fighting in Haiti. Significance: doubled the seize of the US and helped gain new land for Jefferson's dream of a nation of farmers.

Lewis and Clark

Before the LA purchase Jefferson had commissioned an expedition to cross the continent to the Pacific Ocean. They traveled up the Missouri River, down the Snake and Columbia to the Pacific. Significance: proved once and for all that there would be no easy water route to the Pacific. Obtained vital information on the West and helped establish relations with the Native Americans.

Chesapeake Affair

British Navy had been impressing American sailors off of American ships. In 1807 the American naval frigate Chesapeake was stopped by the British Leopard and ordered to allow them to search the vessel for British deserters. Chesapeake refused and the British opened fire, 4 sailors were taken off. Significance: Almost caused a war between US and Britain. Britain refused to renounce impressments.

Embargo Act of 1807

In an effort to keep the nation at peace in lieu of rising tensions between Napoleon and Britain, Jefferson prevented all American ships from leaving American waters to any nation. Jefferson argued that a ban only on ship travel to France or Britain would have been impossible to enforce. Jefferson ended the embargo in 1808 because it had only hurt Americans. Significance: unintended consequence was that it helped spur Americans to develop their own industrial output. Also created animosity in New England towards the Republicans.

Tecumseh and the Prophet

Tenskwatawa, known as the Prophet, experienced a mystical awakening trying to recover from alcoholism. The Prophet and his brother, Tecumseh tried to unite all the Indian tribes to resist the white encroachments in 1807. Significance: led to a major uprising of Indians. Eventually both the Prophet and Tecumseh were killed in the fighting.

Non-intercourse act

Replaced the Embargo Act and was passed just before Madison took office in 1808. Reopened trade with all nations except Great Britain and France. Significance: Failed and eventually was replaced.

Macon's Bill #2

A year after the non-intercourse act was passed, it was allowed to expire and was replaced by Macon's Bill #2. This law stated that the US would reopen trade with Britain and France. It stipulated that if either nation agreed to lift its restrictions on American shipping, then trading sanctions would be imposed on the other. Significance: France agreed on the stipulation and the US imposed sanctions on Great Britain. This led to the Orders in Council and eventually the War of 1812.

Hartford Convention

Meeting of New England Federalists in 1814 in which they protested the War of 1812 and demanded constitutional changes to protect the commercial interests of New England. Proposed amendments included the abolition of the 3/5 compromise, limit of one term for the presidency, repeal of the Embargo Act of 1813. Federalists threatened to secede from the Union if demands were not met. Significance: when the Hartford resolutions showed up in Washington DC at the same time as the news of the victory at New Orleans and the Treaty of Ghent, it helped bring about the death of the Federalist party.

Nationalism

Feeling proud about one's nation and feeling an identity with it. Significance: American nationalism grew rapidly after the War of 1812 and up until the 1830s.

Sectionalism

Loyalty toward your own section of the country. Sectionalism was reflected in the Hartford Convention, the Missouri Compromise, and especially with the approach of the Civil War.

Internal Improvements

The nation's most pressing problem after the War of 1812 was its transportation system. A debate emerged over which part of the government was responsible for funding such improvements - the state or federal government. Gallatin, the Secretary of Treasury, recommended using revenue from the sale of lands in the Ohio territory. Madison vetoed a bill introduced by Calhoun and passed by congress. Madison felt the law was unconstitutional even though desirable.

Era of Good Feelings

Monroe became President in 1817 and made a tour of the nation. The Columbian Sentinel noted Monroe's willingness to appoint both northerners and southerners and said that an era of good feelings had come. In 1820 the Federalists didn't even nominate a candidate to run against Monroe and some felt that party competition had died out. However, there were still many issues that deeply divided the nation.

Adams-Onis Treaty

Negotiated by Secretary of State John Q. Adams and Onis from Spain. Gave Florida to the US in exchange for US abandoning claim to Texas and parts of Northwest. Defined the LA territory, though vaguely when it got to the Rocky Mountains.

Trail of Tears

Occurred after the Congress passed the Indian Removal Act and appropriated money to remove the Indians west of the Miss. River. In 1835 the US obtained a treaty from some of the Cherokee Indians to take Cherokee lands, but thousands of Cherokees refused to give up their claims to the land. In the winter of 1838 the Indians were forced to settle the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and hundreds died of exposure along the way. Significance: proved to the Indians that assimilation did not work, because the Cherokee had tried to adopt the white man's ways. Also, showed how callous Andrew Jackson was to Native Americans.

Panic of 1819

Followed a period of high demand for American farm goods and a massive increase in speculation of western land. Speculators had borrowed money to but the land, but when banks called in the loans they couldn't pay them off. Land values declined and the state banks began to fail, starting a 6 year depression. Significance: many blamed the national bank for the depression and the Panic started a strong debate on the issue.

Missouri Compromise

When MO applied for admission into the US, slavery was well established in that territory. Northerners did not want another slave state because it would upset the slave/free state balance. The compromise called for the addition of MO to the union as a slave state and for Maine to be added as a free state. Also, all LA territory north of the Southern border of MO (36-30) would be free territory. All territory south of the border would be slave territory. Significance: Settled a strong division in the country, but many felt that the establishment of a geographical line dividing the country into slave and free would destroy the Union (Jefferson was one of these).

John Marshall

Supreme court Chief Justice from 1801- 1835. Dominated the Supreme court and increased its power with Judicial review. Increased the power of the federal government at the expense of the states. Advanced the interests of the propertied and commercial classes by holding as sacred the rights of property and inviolability of contracts. Confirmed the implied powers of Congress by upholding the BUS. Main cases: Marbury v. Madison, Cohen v. VA, McCullough v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Ogden, Dartmouth v. Woodward.

Monroe Doctrine

Asserted nationalism in foreign policy. Brain child of John Q. Adams. British had proposed a joint declaration that would prohibit further colonization of the Western hemisphere, Adams insisted the US should issue its own declaration. Main parts: western hemisphere off limits for further colonization, US stays out of European affairs. Significance: key document in American foreign policy, at first enforced by British navy, in late 19th and 20th century it was justification for frequent US interventions in Latin America.

Tariff of Abominations

Passed by Congress in 1828, outraged southerners because it protected northern woolen products, but made south pay more for imported goods. Led to big battle with Calhoun and southern states, reintroducing the questions of nullification. Significance: helped reintroduce feelings of sectionalism that threatened the Union.

Corrupt Bargain

In 1824 election there were four major candidates: JQ Adams, Clay, Crawford, and Jackson. No one got 50% of the electoral votes and the decision went to the house of reps to pick among the top 3. Clay was speaker of the house and was eliminated, he met with Adams and after the meeting supported Adams. Adams won the election in the House of Representatives. Clay was named Secretary of State, which was seen as a stepping stone to the Presidency. Significance: doomed Clay's presidential aspirations and made many Americans desire a more democratic system of politics.

King Mob

Jackson was inaugurated as the new president and on March 4, 1829 he invited anyone who wanted to attend to a party at the White House. Thousands of commoners attended and it turned into a mob of people destroying and stealing things. The only thing that saved the White House was that the booze was moved outside. Significance: The phrase King Mob is used to refer to the masses and move to the democracy that Jackson seemed to epitomize.

Daniel Webster

One of the Great Triumvirate, with Calhoun and Clay. Frequently referred to as the greatest American orator. Argued the federalist positions in front of the Supreme Court as well as Congress. Elected as Congressman from NH, later moved to Mass. Joined the Whig party and ran for President. Webster-Hayne debate was over Tariff of 1828. Webster argued for a strong central government and against nullification. Many of his speeches were famous and were memorized by young students to show patriotism.

Political boss

Leader of a political party who uses patronage to gain voters. The boss intimidates voters. Gained powers in municipal government. Started in the early 1830s and gained more and more power until the Progressive reforms of the early 20th century.

Martin Van Buren (Little Magician)

Helped legitimize political parties. VP under Jackson from 1833-1837 and president from 1837-1841. Helped establish the Independent Treasury. His presidency was doomed by the panic of 1837, which Jackson's policies helped bring about. Ran for President several more times on different parties.

Spoils system

Idea that the winner of an election should replace government officials with his supporters. "To the winner belong the spoils" Spoils system was in effect on the state and local level, Jackson brought it to the Federal level. Significance: led to widespread political corruption, eventually replaced by the civil service system for most jobs.

John C. Calhoun

One of the great Triumvirate, elected as a War Hawk in the election of 1810, a federalist and later a Whig. VP under JQ Adams and Andrew Jackson, but resigned over the Tariff and Peggy Eaton controversies. In 1828 he wrote the South Carolina Exposition and Protest, in which he argued the constitution was created by a compact of the states and the states could choose to end the compact. He argues the Tariff of Abominations was unconstitutional and states had the right to nullify the law. Significance: The most famous of the Southern states' rights leaders, but wanted to preserve the Union.

Nullification

Started with the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Based on the compact theory: 1. States formed the constitution, thus, a. if Congress passed an unconstitutional law, the Federal government had broken the compact with the states, b. states could nullify unconstitutional laws and would not have to obey them, 2. if such laws are forced on the states, then they have the right to secede. Significance: This theory would eventually lead to the civil war.

Tariff of Abominations (1828)

(1828) Package designed to win support for anti-Adams forces in Congress. Its passage discredited Adams but set off sectional tension over tariff issues that resulted in the Tariff of 1832, the Force Act, and finally, the Compromise of 1833 which prevented a possible secession.

Peggy Eaton Affair

Peggy O'Neal was a beautiful woman brought up in a tavern. John H. Eaton was one of Jackson's friends and a cabinet member who married her. Other cabinet members wanted nothing to do with her and Jackson was furious because of the scandalous accusations made against his own wife in the election of 1828. Jackson defended Eaton. Mrs. Calhoun led a protest that resulted in several cabinet members resigning. Significance: helped split Calhoun and Jackson and helped push Calhoun more into states right campaign.

Henry Clay

Elected as a War Hawk in 1810, one of the members of the great Triumvirate. Elected as Speaker of the House in his first term and many times after. Became secretary of state under JQ Adams. Branded by the corrupt bargain. Ran several times for President but lost. Known as the Great Compromise for working out compromises on Missouri (1820); Tariff battle (1833); and helped on the Compromise of 1850. Belonged to the republican and later whig parties and proposed the American system.

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

Marshall ruled that the Cherokee Nation had no right to have its case heard in court, it is a semi-independent nation.

Nicholas Biddle and Bank War

Biddle made the 2nd BUS very profitable as its president. Found out that Jackson wanted to get rid of the bank, so he allied himself with powerful people in congress (Webster and Clay). Got an act passed to renew the bank, but Jackson vetoed it. Jackson took all of the Federalist money out of the BUS and put it in state banks (his pet banks), causing Biddle to call in loans for people. Not many can pay back the money at the time, so the money supply gets lower and Biddle won't give out any loans. In the end Biddle cracks in is forced to release money back to the public again.

Soft/hard money

Soft money was paper money issued with little backing in gold or silver, and was favored by many people in debt. Hard money was issued in gold or silver or was paper money backed by gold and silver.

Whig party

Called themselves Whigs after the English party that wanted to reduce the power of the monarch. Favored expanded power of the Federal government. Encouraged commercial and industrial development and were cautious about westward expansion. Favored the BUS. Great Triumvirate were the most prominent members of this party.

Panic of 1837

In 1836, not long before leaving office, Jackson issues "specie circular" which said that all public land debts had to be paid in hard money. This produced a financial panic that began in the first months of Van Buren's.

Pet Banks

State banks into which Andrew Jackson ordered federal deposits to be placed to help deplete the funds of the second BUS. Many failed during the panic of 1837.

Specie circular

Issued by Jackson in 1836 stating that the federal government would accept only specie - gold and silver - as payment for public land. Significance: shrunk the money supply available for purchasing land, and this lack of money made it so that those who had already purchased land hoping the price would increase began to panic and tried to sell land at any price. This decreased the price of land and caused the Panic of 1837.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

Aroostook War was the war with the British over timber rights in Maine. The Creole, a slave ship that mutinied, sailed to the Bahamas and the British would not give slaves back, but instead declared them free. The Caroline was a ship burnt down by the British in the Great Lakes after it was suspected of bringing arms to insurgents in Canada. This treaty solved the Canadian/American border in Maine and reduced tensions between America and Britain.