APUSH Period 4 Terms

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Revolution of 1800

A significant political event in which Thomas Jefferson was elected president, marking the first peaceful transfer of power between political parties in the U.S.

'midnight judge'

Judges appointed by President John Adams in the last hours of his administration, intended to maintain Federalist influence in the judiciary.

Marbury v. Madison

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Court to invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution.

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of the Louisiana territory from France in 1803, which doubled the size of the United States.

Embargo Act

A law passed in 1807 that prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports, intended to protect U.S. interests but ultimately harmed the economy.

Macon's Bill No. 2

A 1810 law that aimed to motivate Britain and France to stop seizing American vessels by offering to restore trade with whichever country first recognized U.S. neutrality.

'war hawks'

Members of Congress who advocated for war against Britain in the lead-up to the War of 1812, driven by nationalistic fervor and economic interests.

Tecumseh's War

A conflict between Native American tribes led by Tecumseh and American settlers, aiming to resist encroachment on their lands.

War of 1812

A military conflict between the United States and Great Britain, primarily over maritime rights and territorial expansion.

Treaty of Ghent

The agreement that ended the War of 1812, restoring relations between the U.S. and Britain without territorial changes.

Hartford Convention

A series of meetings in 1814-1815 where New England Federalists discussed grievances and proposed constitutional amendments, viewed as unpatriotic after the War of 1812.

Rush-Bagot Agreement

An 1817 treaty between the U.S. and Britain that limited naval armaments on the Great Lakes, promoting peace between the two nations.

'American System'

An economic plan proposed by Henry Clay that aimed to strengthen the U.S. economy through a national bank, tariffs, and internal improvements.

'Era of Good Feelings'

A period in the 1810s characterized by national unity and political cooperation following the War of 1812, marked by the dominance of the Democratic-Republican Party.

Missouri Compromise

An 1820 agreement that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance of power in Congress.

McCulloch v. Maryland

A Supreme Court case that affirmed the supremacy of federal laws over state laws and upheld the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. foreign policy statement from 1823 that warned European powers against further colonization or interference in the Americas.

Know-Nothing Party

A political party in the 1850s that opposed immigration and the influence of immigrants in American politics, particularly targeting Catholics.

Eli Whitney

An American inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin, which revolutionized the cotton industry and increased the demand for slave labor.

Samuel Morse

An American artist and inventor who developed the Morse code and contributed to the invention of the telegraph.

Cyrus McCormick

An American inventor who developed the mechanical reaper, which significantly increased agricultural productivity.

John Deere

An American blacksmith who founded Deere & Company and invented the first commercially successful steel plow.

Lowell Mills

Textile mills located in Lowell, Massachusetts, known for employing young women and introducing new manufacturing processes.

Robert Fulton

An American engineer and inventor who is credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat.

Erie Canal

A man-made waterway completed in 1825 that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, facilitating trade and transportation.

Stono Rebellion

A slave uprising in South Carolina in 1739, one of the earliest and largest slave revolts in the British colonies.

Nat Turner's Rebellion

A slave revolt led by Nat Turner in Virginia in 1831, resulting in the deaths of many and a harsh crackdown on enslaved people.

'Virginia Dynasty'

A term used to describe the succession of four of the first five U.S. presidents who were from Virginia, emphasizing the state's political influence.

'necessary evil'

A phrase used by some Founding Fathers to describe slavery, acknowledging its moral implications while justifying its existence for economic reasons.

'positive good'

A pro-slavery argument that claimed slavery was beneficial for both enslaved people and society, often used by Southern advocates.

'peculiar institution'

A euphemism for slavery in the United States, highlighting its unique and controversial nature in American society.

Second Great Awakening

A religious revival movement in the early 19th century that emphasized individual piety and social reform.

Charles Grandison Finney

A prominent preacher during the Second Great Awakening known for his innovative revivalist techniques and emphasis on personal conversion.

'Burned-Over District'

A term used to describe a region in New York that experienced intense religious revivalism during the Second Great Awakening.

Horace Mann

An American educational reformer who advocated for public education and established the first state board of education.

Dorothea Dix

An American activist who worked to improve conditions for the mentally ill and advocated for mental health reform.

Seneca Falls Convention

The first women's rights convention held in 1848, which produced the Declaration of Sentiments advocating for women's suffrage.

perfectionism

A belief in the possibility of human improvement and the idea that society can be made perfect through reform.

Shakers

A religious sect known for their communal living, celibacy, and distinct furniture design, founded in the 18th century.

Oneida Community

A utopian community founded in the 1840s that practiced communal living and complex marriage.

American Colonization Society

An organization founded in 1816 that aimed to resettle free African Americans in Africa, leading to the establishment of Liberia.

Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World

A pamphlet written by David Walker in 1829 that called for the abolition of slavery and urged African Americans to fight for their rights.

William Lloyd Garrison

An American abolitionist and journalist who founded the anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator and advocated for immediate emancipation.

'gag rule'

A rule passed by Congress in the 1830s that prohibited the discussion of anti-slavery petitions, reflecting the contentious nature of the slavery debate.

Transcendentalism

A philosophical movement that emerged in the 1830s emphasizing individual intuition and the inherent goodness of people and nature.

'corrupt bargain'

A term used to describe the alleged deal between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay in the 1824 presidential election, which many believed was a betrayal of democracy.

'spoils system'

The practice of a political party giving government jobs to its supporters, often leading to corruption and inefficiency.

'Peggy Eaton affair'

A political scandal involving the wife of Secretary of War John Eaton that caused a rift in President Andrew Jackson's cabinet.

'Kitchen Cabinet'

An informal group of advisors to President Andrew Jackson, often meeting in the White House kitchen, bypassing the official cabinet.

Nullification Crisis

A political confrontation in the early 1830s between South Carolina and the federal government over the state's right to nullify federal laws.

Webster-Hayne Debate

A famous debate in 1830 between Senator Daniel Webster and Senator Robert Hayne over states' rights and federal authority.

Indian Removal Act

A law passed in 1830 that authorized the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands to designated territories west of the Mississippi River.

'Trail of Tears'

The forced relocation of Native American nations from southeastern U.S. to west of the Mississippi River during the 1830s, resulting in thousands of deaths.

'Bank War'

A political struggle in the 1830s between President Andrew Jackson and supporters of the Second Bank of the United States.

Specie Circular

An 1836 executive order issued by President Jackson that required payment for government land to be in gold and silver, contributing to the Panic of 1837.

Panic of 1837

A financial crisis in the United States that led to a severe economic depression, triggered by bank failures and a decline in land prices.

Whig Party

A political party formed in the 1830s in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson, advocating for a strong legislative branch.

'Log Cabin' campaign

A political campaign strategy used by the Whig Party in the 1840 presidential election to portray candidate William Henry Harrison as a man of the people.

Dorr Rebellion

An 1842 attempt by Thomas Dorr and his followers to reform voting rights in Rhode Island, leading to a brief insurrection.

Aroostook War

A conflict between the U.S. and Britain in the 1830s over the boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, resolved peacefully through negotiation.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

An 1842 agreement between the U.S. and Britain that resolved border disputes and established a framework for future relations.