Chapter 13: The Rise of a Mass Democracy (1824–1840)

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key people, concepts, events, and terminology from Chapter 13 of The American Pageant: The Rise of a Mass Democracy (1824–1840).

"Corrupt Bargain" of 1824

The alleged deal struck between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay during the deadlock election of 1824, in which Speaker Clay threw his support to Adams in the House of Representatives, and Adams subsequently appointed Clay as Secretary of State.

Twelfth Amendment

Constitutional amendment invoked during the 1824 presidential election requiring that an electoral deadlock be resolved by the House of Representatives choosing among the top three candidates.

Minority President

A president who was elected with fewer than one-third of the total popular vote, a distinction first held by John Quincy Adams following the election of 1824.

Spoils System

The practice introduced into the federal government on a large scale by Andrew Jackson of rewarding political supporters, party loyalists, and large campaign contributors with public offices.

Tariff of Abominations (1828)

An exceptionally high protective tariff passed by Congress in 1828 that protected Northern manufacturing while provoking bitter anger from Southerners, who argued it discriminated against agricultural exporters.

The South Carolina Exposition

An 1828 protest pamphlet secretly authored by Vice President John C. Calhoun denouncing the Tariff of 1828 as unjust and unconstitutional, and advocating that states possess the authority to nullify the federal law within their borders.

"Nullies"

The South Carolina political faction advocating for nullification that won a two-thirds majority in the state legislature in 1832 and voted to declare federal tariffs null and void within the state.

Compromise Tariff of 1833

A compromise measure proposed by Henry Clay that resolved the Nullification Crisis by gradually reducing the tariff rates back to lower levels over a ten-year period.

Force Bill

Legislation enacted by Congress alongside the Compromise Tariff of 1833 that authorized the president to use the United States Army and Navy to collect federal tariff duties.

"Five Civilized Tribes"

The collective term for the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole nations, who made notable adaptations toward white Anglo-American institutions, law, and education.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Congressional legislation pushed by Andrew Jackson mandating the forced relocation of more than 100,000 Native Americans living east of the Mississippi River to designated western lands.

Trail of Tears

The forced, deadly migration of over 100,000 Native Americans from their southeastern homelands to territory west of the Mississippi River, during which thousands perished, notably among the Cherokees.

Bureau of Indian Affairs

A government agency established in 1836 to manage federal Native American policy and relations following the mass removals under the Indian Removal Act.

Black Hawk War (1832)

An armed conflict in Illinois and Wisconsin where U.S. regular troops and militia crushed Native American resistance led by Chief Black Hawk against white westward expansion.

Bank War

The political conflict launched in 1832 when Henry Clay and Daniel Webster attempted an early recharter of the Second Bank of the United States, prompting Andrew Jackson to veto the bill on constitutional and populist grounds.

Nicholas Biddle

The president of the Second Bank of the United States who exercised substantial, quasi-public power over the country's currency and credit systems during the Bank War.

Anti-Masonic Party

A third political party that entered national politics in the 1832 presidential election, distinguished by its opposition to the secrecy of the Freemasons, its appeal to evangelical Protestant reformers, and its use of national nominating conventions.

Pet Banks

State-level banking institutions loyal to Andrew Jackson where federal deposits were redirected after Jackson ordered the premature removal of government funds from the Second Bank of the United States in 1833.

Specie Circular (1836)

A presidential executive order issued by the Treasury requiring that all public land purchases be paid exclusively in "hard," metallic money (gold or silver), bringing an abrupt halt to land speculation.

Whig Party

A political party formed in the Senate in 1834 by opponents of Andrew Jackson who denounced his "executive usurpation" and championed internal improvements, public education, the American System, and moral reforms.

Panic of 1837

A severe economic crisis ignited by rampant western land speculation, unreliable wildcat banking, crop failures, British financial failures, and Jackson's hard-money policies.

"Divorce Bill"

President Martin Van Buren's proposal to completely sever the federal government from commercial banking by establishing an Independent Treasury with vaults to store government revenue.

Stephen Austin

An American who concluded an agreement with Mexico in 1823 to bring 300 Roman Catholic American families to Texas who were to become Mexicanized citizens.

Battle of the Alamo

A pivotal 13-day siege in San Antonio in 1836 where Santa Anna's 6,000-man Mexican army wiped out approximately 200 Texan defenders, including Davy Crockett and James Bowie.

Goliad

A confrontation in March 1836 where 400 surrendered Texan volunteers were executed as "pirates" by Mexican forces under orders from Santa Anna.

Battle of San Jacinto

An April 21, 1836 battle in which 900 Texans led by Sam Houston caught 1,300 Mexican troops during their afternoon siesta, captured Santa Anna, and won independence for Texas.

Log Cabin and Hard Cider Campaign

The popular symbols adopted by the Whig Party during the presidential election of 1840 to cast General William Henry Harrison as an unpretentious, common man of the western frontier.