AP US History Period 4 Review

Expansion of Democracy

The shift from elite-dominated politics to a more participatory “common man's” democracy (Jacksonian Democracy)

Rise of Political Parties

The Evolution from the Federalist-Republican divide to the two-party system of Democrats and Whigs

Federal Power vs States’ Rights

Ongoing debates over the balance of power, exemplified by the Nullification Crisis and debates over the National Bank

Judicial Nationalism

The Supreme Court under John Marshall strengthening the power of the federal government

Market Revolution

Shift from a localized economy to a national, interconnected, and commercialized economy driven by the new technologies and transportation

Industrialization

Early stages of industrial growth, especially in textile manufacturing, ➡ changes in labor + urban life

Internal Improvements

Debates and efforts to build infrastructure (canals + roads) to help trade and connect regions

Second Great Awakening

A religious revival that sparked social reform movements it also increased Church involvement

Reform Movements

Rise of abolitionism, women’s rights, temperance movements, public education, and utopian communities/ ideal communities.

Emergence of a National Culture

Developing American cultural expressions, through regional differences, persisted,

Role of Women

Changing roles, the “cult of domesticity”, and increased participation in reform. Women began to enter the workforce, advocate for their rights, and actively participate in social movements, reshaping societal expectations.

Manifest Destiny (Early Stirrings)

Belief in America’s divinely ordained right to expand westward.

Indian Removal

Policies leading to the forced displacement of Native American tribes.

Election of 1800 (“Revolution of 1800”)

Peaceful transfer of power from the Federalists to the Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson) marked a significant shift in American politics, emphasizing the principles of democracy and popular sovereignty.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Doubled the size of the U.S. Sparked debates over federal power and westward expansion and raised issues regarding slavery in new territories.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review, significantly expanding the power of the Supreme Court.

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

Fought against Britain over impressment and Native American conflicts; reinforced American nationalism; discredited Federalists

Treaty of Ghent (1814)

Ended the war, restoring pre-war status quo, created a period of peace between the British and the U.S.

Battle of New Orleans (1815)

Boosted Andrew Jackson’s popularity, occurred since they were not notified the war had ended

Hartford Convention (1815-1825)

Federalist meeting during the War of 1812 , seen as disloyal, contributed to the party’s demise

“Era of Good Feelings” (1815-1825)

Period of relative political unity after the War of 1812, under James Monroe

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Protected private contracts, limiting state interference in business. Congress had the power to create the Second Bank of the United States, and Maryland could not tax it. The Court's decision upheld the principle of implied powers.

Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)

Protected private contracts, limiting state interference in business held that the College would remain a private institution and not become a state university

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Affirmed federal control over interstate commerce

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, established the 36-30 line for future slavery expansion in the Louisiana Purchase territory; temporary solution to the slavery debate

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Declared the Western Hemisphere claed to European colonization and intervention.

Tariff of Abominations (1828)

High protective tariff that angered the South, leading to the Nullification Crisis.

Election of 1828

Andrew Jackson’s victory, the era of Jacksonian Democracy

Nullification Crisis (1832-1833)

South Carolina (led by John C. Calhoun) attempted to nullify the Tariff of 1832; resolved by compromise but highlighted states’ rights tensions

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Authorized forced relocation of Native Americans.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Supreme Court sided with Cherokee; Jackson ignored the ruling

Trail of Tears (1838)

Forced removal of Cherokee to Indian Territory

Bank War (1832-1836)

Jackson’s destruction of Second Bank of the U.S., arguing it was unconstitutional and served special interests.

Panic of 1837

Economic depression, partly caused by Jackson’s financial policies (Specie Circular, destruction of the Bank)

Gag Rule (1836-1844)

Congressional procedure that tabled all anti-slavery petitions without debate, showing growing tension over slavery

Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842)

Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that labor unions were legal.

Thomas Jeffferson

President, Louisiana Purchase, Embargo Act, “Revolution of 1800

John Marshall

Chief Justice, established judicial review and strengthened federal power

James Madison

President during War of 1812

Henry Clay

“Great Compromiser”, developed the American System, key figure in Missouri Compromise and Compromise Tariff of 1833

John C. Calhoun

Leading Southern politician, proponent of states’ rights and nullification, “South Carolina Exposition and Protest.”

Daniel Webster

Leading Northern politician, nationalist, argued against nullification

Andrew Jackson

“Common Man’s” President, Bank War, Nullification Crisis, Indian Removal

John Quincy Adams

President, proponent of internal improvements and national programs

Tecumseh

Shawnee chief who attempted to unite Native American tribes against American expansion

Samuel Slater

“Father of the American Industrial Revolution”, brought textile mill technology to the U.S.

Eli Whitney

Invented the cotton gin (increased demand for slavery) and interchangeable parts (industrial innovation)

Charles G. Finney

Prominent preacher of the Second Great Awakening

Dorothea Dix

Advocated for mental asylum reform

Horace Mann

Advocated for public education reform

Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Lucretia Mott

Early leaders in the women’s rights movement (Seneca Falls Convention was outside this period, but their activism began earlier)

William Lloyd Garrison

Radical abolitionist, published The Liberator

Frederick Douglass

Escaped slave, influential abolitionist speaker and writer

Judicial Review

Established in Marbury v. Madison (1803), significantly expanding the power of the Supreme Court.

Impressment

The act of forcibly drafting individuals into military service, particularly used by the British Royal Navy against American sailors in the early 19th century, contributing to tensions that led to the War of 1812.

War Hawks

Members of Congress who favored war with Great Britain in the early 19th century (War of 1812)

American System

Henry Clay's economic plan to unite the country through federal funding of internal improvements, protective tariffs, and a national bank. a national bank to foster financial stability and provide credit; protective tariffs to encourage American manufacturing by taxing imports; and federal funding for internal improvements like roads and canals to facilitate trade and economic growth. The goal was to make the U.S. economically self-sufficient and promote national unity but faced debates over its constitutionality and regional interests.

Textile Mills

Factories that mass produce textiles using machinery, contributing significantly to the industrial revolution by creating a demand for labor and raw materials like cotton.

Factory System

A method of manufacturing adopted in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution that concentrated labor and machinery in one location, increasing efficiency and output but also altering traditional work patterns.

Lowell System

A labor and production model employed during the early years of the American textile industry in the 19th century, primarily in Lowell, Massachusetts. The system recruited young, women.

Cotton Gin

A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793 that automated the separation of cotton fiber from seeds, revolution

Interchangeable Parts

Standardized components that can be easily replaced or exchanged, revolutionizing manufacturing by allowing for mass production and easier repairs.

Erie Canal

A man-made waterway connecting the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River, facilitating trade and westward expansion in the 19th century.

Tariff

A tax or duty imposed by a government on goods and services imported or exported

Protective Tariff

A tariff imposed to protect domestic industries from foreign competition by raising the cost of imported goods.

Sectionalism

Exaggerated loyalty to a particular region of a nation, especially in the years leading up to the Civil War, where the North, South, and West developed distinct economic, social, and political identities leading to conflict.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country, often emphasizing its unique culture and interests.

Corrupt Bargain

Alleged secret deal between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay in the 1824 election, where Clay, in exchange for becoming Secretary of State, supported Adams, leading to Jackson's supporters labeling it a 'corrupt bargain.'

Spoils System

practice of giving government jobs to political supporters after winning an election. Popularized by President Andrew Jackson, it rewarded loyalty over merit. It was criticized for causing corruption and inefficiency, leading to reforms like the Pendleton Act of 1883, which introduced merit-based hiring.

Kitchen Cabinet

informal group of advisers who helped President Andrew Jackson make decisions outside his official Cabinet. They were mostly close friends and political allies. Critics claimed they had too much influence and bypassed proper government channels.

Nullification

idea that a state can invalidate federal laws it deems unconstitutional. This theory was notably advanced by John C. Calhoun during the Nullification Crisis of 1832–1833, when South Carolina declared federal tariffs null and void within its borders.

Tariff of Abominations

Tariff of 1828: high duties (up to 45%) on imported goods to protect Northern industries. Southern states, heavily reliant on imports and cotton exports, opposed it, leading to the Nullification Crisis.

Force Bill

Gve Jackson the power to use the military to enforce federal tariffs during the Nullification Crisis.

Specie Circular

executive order issued by President Andrew Jackson on July 11, 1836, requiring that payment for public lands be made exclusively in gold or silver coins. Its goal was to curb rampant land speculation fueled by paper money and to stabilize the economy. However, the policy led to a contraction of credit, contributing to the Panic of 1837

Whig Party

political party active in the U.S. from the 1830s to the 1850s. It opposed Andrew Jackson and the Democrats, supporting a strong Congress, modernization, and economic protectionism.

Jacksonian Democracy

movement in the 1820s–1830s that expanded voting rights to all white men, not just property owners. It emphasized greater democracy for the common man, limited federal government, and strong executive power under Andrew Jackson.

Transcendentalism

philosophical and literary movement that emphasized individual intuition, nature, and self-reliance. Key thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau believed people could transcend ordinary experience to achieve deeper spiritual understanding

Utopian Communities

experimental settlements in the 1800s aiming to create perfect societies based on shared values like equality, cooperation, and reform

Temperance Movement

social campaign in the 19th century aimed at reducing or banning alcohol consumption. Supporters believed alcohol caused social problems like poverty and crime.

Public School Movement

free, tax-funded education for all children. Led by reformers like Horace Mann, it aimed to promote literacy, moral values, and equal opportunity.

Abolistionism

movement to end slavery in the United States during the 19th century. Abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman fought for emancipation and equal rights for Black Americans

Cult of Domesticity

belief that women’s proper role was in the home, focusing on homemaking, child-rearing, and moral guidance. It emphasized virtues like piety, purity, and submissiveness.

Seneca Falls Convention (impacts in next period)

first women’s rights convention in the U.S. It launched the organized women’s suffrage movement and produced the Declaration of Sentiments, demanding equal rights for women.