Key Concepts in Early U.S. Political History

Federalist Party

Political party that supported the ideas of Alexander Hamilton, who called for a strong national government that promoted economic growth → support for this party came from wealthy merchants, industrialists, and elite plantation owners

Loose Interpretation (Construction)

The belief that the national government has the power to do anything that the Constitution does not prohibit

Democratic-Republican Party

Political party that supported the ideas of Thomas Jefferson, who called for strong state governments and opposed a strong federal government → support for this party was primarily derived from the "common man"

Strict Interpretation (Construction)

The belief that the national government only possesses the powers provided to them in the Constitution → the implied powers should only be used when it was absolutely necessary to do so

Bank of the United States

National banking system created by Alexander Hamilton; Hamilton believed there to be a need for the government to have a bank to maintain the revenue they took in through taxes → Thomas Jefferson opposed the bank because the Constitution made no mention of creating a national bank

Washington's Farewell Address

President Washington's message of political advice to his successors → he advised American citizens to view themselves as a cohesive unit and avoid political parties and issued a special warning to be wary of attachments and entanglements with other nations

Alien and Sedition Acts

The legislation passed by President Adams that was originally designed to combat fears of immigrant interference in the United States government → the legislation gave the president the power to expel immigrants deemed "dangerous to the country's well-being" and outlawed publication and public pronouncement of "false, scandalous, and malicious" statements about the government → though these laws were designed for immigrants, Democratic-Republicans often fell victim, many would serve jail time

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Statements written anonymously by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts → they argued that the Constitution was a compact among sovereign states, thus they had the right to challenge or nullify a federal law they felt violated the Constitution

Marbury v. Madison

Established the Supreme Court's power of judicial review, the key power of the Supreme Court

Marshall Court

Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall that played a major role in increasing the power of the national government and the supremacy of federal law under the Constitution

McCulloch vs Maryland

Supreme Court decision that upheld that the "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution granted Congress the authority to charter a national bank, and that federal supremacy precluded the states from taxing any United States government institution → demonstrated that the power of the state was inferior to the federal government

Revolution of 1800

Term given to the electoral victory of Thomas Jefferson → the election marked the first peaceful transfer in power from one political party to another → the change in power highlights the right of the people to choose the president

Embargo Act of 1807

Enacted by President Jefferson, ended trade with all nations in an attempt to stop naval attacks by the British and the French → designed to economically hurt both the British and the French, but it hurt the American economy more than it affected the Britain or France

War of 1812

Conflict between the United States and Great Britain as a result of years of escalating tensions between the countries through the British impressment of American sailors and British aid to Native Americans on the frontier → War Hawks hoped the conflict would result in the British removal from the Americas → at the conclusion of the conflict, neither country lost or gained anything from the war → the conflict, often referred to as the Second War for American Independence, saw an intensified spirit of American nationalism as a result

Era of Good Feelings

Period following the War of 1812, now under the presidency of James Monroe, so named because the bitter partisanship between the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans appeared to be over → additionally, there was a strong sense of nationalism and unity → the term itself is a misnomer as peace and prosperity obscured growing issues that would later threaten the country

Manifest Destiny

The 19th century argument that the United States was destined by God to control the lands between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Louisiana Purchase

The largest land acquisition in history made by the United States → President Jefferson's acquisition of lands from France nearly doubled the size of the United States → the acquisition included the lands of the Mississippi River, as well as the port city of New Orleans

Lewis and Clark Expedition

President Jefferson's sponsored exploration of the Louisiana Territory along the upper reaches of the Missouri River → the exploration ultimately extended to the Pacific Ocean, strengthening United States claim to the Oregon Territory → the exploration yielded a vast amount of scientific observations of the area, maps, knowledge of the natives of the region, and proved the possibility of an overland trail to the Oregon Country and the Pacific Ocean

Oregon Territory

The lands beginning at the northern border of California and extending to 54⁰40' latitude; the U.S. and Britain both claimed a right to these lands → James K. Polk campaigned for president promising to fight for control of these lands, however, once elected he made a deal with the British to divide the territory at 49⁰40' latitude

Sectionalism

The loyalty to the interests of one's own region of the country, rather than the nation as a whole

Mexican-American War

Military conflict between the United States and Mexico as a result of the United States annexation of Texas and corresponding border dispute → the United States emerged from this war victorious, as a result the United States would acquire valuable lands from Mexico

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Signed in 1848, ending the Mexican-American War → Mexico relinquished its claims to Texas and ceded the California Territory to the United States for $15 million

Gadsden Purchase

Strip of territory running through Arizona and New Mexico that the United States purchased from Mexico in 1853 → President Pierce authorized this acquisition to secure the lands of the southern route of the transcontinental railroad, between Texas and California

Monroe Doctrine

Issued on December 2, 1823, asserting that the Western Hemisphere was part of the United States sphere of influence → an attack by a European nation on any lands in the Western Hemisphere would be considered an attack on the U.S. → although the United States lacked the power to back up this claim, it signaled an intention to challenge Europeans for authority in the Americas

Franchise

The right to vote