Key Events and Themes of the Jeffersonian and Jacksonian Eras

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

The acquisition of approximately 828,000 square miles of territory from France for $15 million, which doubled the size of the United States.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

A landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, which allows the Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

The acquisition of approximately 828,000 square miles of territory from France for $15 million, which doubled the size of the United States.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

A landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, which allows the Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)

A journey led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and find a route to the Pacific Ocean.

12th Amendment (1804)

A change to the U.S. Constitution requiring that the President and Vice President be elected on the same ticket, addressing issues that arose from the election of 1800.

Cumberland Road (1811)

The first major highway built by the federal government, designed to connect the eastern states with the western frontier, specifically Ohio and Virginia.

Embargo Act (1807)

A law that banned all U.S. trade with foreign countries, particularly Britain and France, in retaliation for their interference with American shipping. It was later repealed because it hurt U.S. domestic trade.

End of the Slave Trade (1807)

The U.S. passed a law banning the importation of slaves from foreign countries.

Leopard-Chesapeake Incident (1807)

A conflict between the British ship Leopard and the American ship Chesapeake, where the British impressed American sailors, leading to heightened tensions between the U.S. and Britain.

Impressment

The British practice of forcibly recruiting sailors from American ships, often leading to conflict with the United States.

Election of 1800

A pivotal election between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, which set a precedent for the peaceful transfer of power between political parties in the U.S.

James Madison (1809-1817)

The 4th President of the U.S., who oversaw the War of 1812 and other important events, including the establishment of the Non-Intercourse Act.

Non-Intercourse Act (1809)

A law that lifted the Embargo Act and allowed trade with all nations except Britain and France, intended to pressure those countries to respect American shipping rights.

Macon's Bill No. 2 (1810)

A law that allowed the U.S. to resume trade with Britain or France, depending on which country would cease interfering with U.S. shipping.

Bank of the United States (Second Bank)

President Madison and later others, such as Andrew Jackson, opposed the rechartering of the Bank of the U.S. The bank's charter expired in 1811.

Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)

A conflict between American forces led by William Henry Harrison and Native American warriors associated with Shawnee leader Tecumseh. The battle resulted in a victory for the U.S. and the eventual decline of Tecumseh's confederacy.

Tecumseh

A Shawnee leader who tried to unite various Native American tribes to resist U.S. expansion into their territories.

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

A war between the U.S. and Britain, mainly over trade restrictions, impressment of American sailors, and territorial expansion. The war was inconclusive but solidified U.S. independence and nationalism.

Put-in-Bay (1813)

A major naval battle during the War of 1812 where the U.S. defeated the British on Lake Erie, leading to the famous phrase, 'We have met the enemy and they are ours.'

Battle of the Thames (1813)

A decisive American victory during the War of 1812, led by William Henry Harrison, which resulted in the death of Tecumseh and the weakening of Native American resistance.

Battle of New Orleans (1815)

The final major battle of the War of 1812, in which U.S. forces, led by Andrew Jackson, defeated the British, even though the war had officially ended with the Treaty of Ghent.

Treaty of Ghent (1814)

The treaty that ended the War of 1812, restoring the status quo ante bellum (pre-war conditions), with no territorial changes between the U.S. and Britain.

Hartford Convention (1814)

A meeting of Federalists in New England who were opposed to the War of 1812. They discussed constitutional amendments, such as the right of states to refuse tariffs, and called for a more centralized federal government.

Rechartering the Bank (1816)

The U.S. rechartered the Second Bank of the United States after the War of 1812, which had been originally opposed by many, including Thomas Jefferson.

Tariffs (1816, 1824)

The U.S. government introduced tariffs to protect American industries and raise revenue. The Tariff of 1824 was especially important in encouraging domestic manufacturing.

Henry Clay

A U.S. politician who promoted the American System, which advocated for a strong national bank, protective tariffs, and internal improvements like roads and canals. He was a key figure in the Whig Party.

James Monroe (1817-1825)

The 5th U.S. president, known for the Monroe Doctrine (1823), which declared that European powers should not interfere in the Western Hemisphere.

Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817)

An agreement between the U.S. and Britain to limit naval forces on the Great Lakes.

Anglo-American Convention (1818)

An agreement between the U.S. and Britain that resolved boundary disputes and allowed joint occupation of the Oregon Territory.

Pact of 1819 (Adams-Onís Treaty)

A treaty with Spain that ceded Florida to the U.S. and set the western boundary of the Louisiana Territory.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

An agreement that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while Maine entered as a free state. It also established a line (36°30') across the Louisiana Territory, north of which slavery was banned.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

A U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the U.S. and confirmed the federal government's authority over states.

Veto of the Cumberland Road

President Monroe vetoed funding for the construction of the Cumberland Road, asserting that the federal government should not fund internal improvements like roads.

Tariff of 1824

A protective tariff introduced to protect U.S. industries from foreign competition, especially from Britain.

Adams-Onís Treaty (1819)

The treaty in which Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and settled the boundary between the U.S. and Spanish territories.

Election of 1824

This election marked the end of the Democratic-Republican Party and led to a heated contest between John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, and Henry Clay. Jackson won the popular vote, but no candidate secured a majority in the electoral college, so the decision was made by the House of Representatives. John Quincy Adams won the presidency after securing support from Clay, which led to accusations of a 'corrupt bargain.'

John Quincy Adams

The 6th President of the U.S., Adams was from the National Republican Party, which supported government intervention in economic affairs. He was seen as part of the elite and supported internal improvements and a strong national bank. After his presidency, he was one of the leading figures of the Whig Party.

Andrew Jackson

The 7th President of the U.S. and the first 'Western' president.

Populist Ideals

Beliefs advocating for the rights and power of the common people in opposition to the elite.

Jacksonian Era

A period in U.S. history characterized by the rise of anti-elitist sentiment and the expansion of suffrage to all white men (except slaves and women).

Spoils System

A practice where elected officials rewarded loyal political supporters with government positions, criticized for appointing unqualified individuals.

Opposition to the Federal Bank

Jackson's opposition to the recharter of the Second Bank of the United States, viewing it as corrupt and a tool of the elite.

Clay and Nicholas Biddle

Henry Clay and Nicholas Biddle were key opponents of Jackson's stance on the bank, with Clay pushing for its early recharter in 1832.

Executive Power

The significant expansion of executive power associated with Jackson, including frequent use of veto power.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

A Supreme Court case ruling that Georgia could not impose its laws on the Cherokee Nation, which Jackson ignored.

Trail of Tears

The forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands to Indian Territory, resulting in thousands of deaths.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

A law signed by Jackson that authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River.

Veto Powers

Jackson vetoed 12 bills during his presidency, setting a record for the most vetoes at the time.

Nullification Crisis

A political crisis in the early 1830s where South Carolina declared the right to nullify federal tariffs, particularly the Tariff of 1828.

Tariff of 1833

A compromise tariff proposed by Henry Clay that gradually reduced tariffs, resolving the Nullification Crisis.

Panic of 1837

A financial crisis that led to a severe economic depression, caused by the collapse of state banks after Jackson's dismantling of the Second Bank of the U.S. and the withdrawal of federal funds.

Tariffs as Government Revenue

During Jackson's presidency, tariffs were a primary source of government revenue, particularly after the dismantling of the Bank of the U.S.

Nullification Crisis

A conflict arising from the Tariff of 1828 and the Tariff of 1832, which were unpopular in southern states.

Populism

Jackson's political philosophy favoring the 'common man' and expanding suffrage to all white males, excluding women and enslaved people.

Expansion of Executive Power

Jackson was known for his strong use of presidential power, often acting unilaterally, such as in the Indian Removal Act.

States' Rights vs. Federal Authority

The ongoing tension highlighted by the Nullification Crisis, reflecting the conflict between states' rights and federal government authority.

Economic Crises

Jackson's economic policies, particularly his opposition to the national bank, contributed to economic instability, notably the Panic of 1837.

Manifest Destiny

The belief in the 19th century that it was the United States' divine right to expand across North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

John O'Sullivan

A journalist who coined the term 'Manifest Destiny' in 1845, arguing that the U.S. was destined to expand its territory.

Proclamation of 1763

A British law that restricted colonial expansion westward beyond the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflicts with Native Americans.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

A law that established the process for territories to become states, paving the way for westward expansion and statehood.

Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)

A slave revolt in the French colony of Saint-Domingue that led to the abolition of slavery and the establishment of the first independent black republic.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

The acquisition of 828,000 square miles of territory from France for $15 million, doubling the size of the United States.

Florida

Acquired from Spain in the Treaty of Adams-Onís (1819) after General Andrew Jackson's military campaign.

Gen. James Wilkinson

U.S. general and governor of the Louisiana Territory, involved in various military actions during the expansion era.

Treaty of Adams-Onís (1819)

An agreement between the U.S. and Spain in which Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and defined the boundary between U.S. and Spanish territories.

Land Act of 1820

A law that required full payment for land purchased from the government, making land more accessible for settlement in the West.

36°30' Line

The line established by the Missouri Compromise (1820) that divided the Louisiana Territory into free and slave regions.

Texas Secession

Texas sought to secede from Mexico after Mexico abolished slavery, which was a key issue for settlers in Texas who relied on slavery for their economy.

Nueces Strip

The disputed area between the U.S. and Mexico, which led to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) after tensions over territorial claims.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

A conflict between the U.S. and Mexico, triggered by the annexation of Texas and disputes over the southern border. It ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ceded large territories (including California, Arizona, New Mexico) to the U.S.

Santa Anna

The Mexican general and president who led Mexico during the Mexican-American War and opposed U.S. expansion into Texas.

Oregon Territory

A region in the Pacific Northwest that was jointly occupied by the U.S. and Britain until the Oregon Treaty (1846), which gave the U.S. control of the area.

Gadsden Purchase (1853)

The acquisition of land from Mexico (southern Arizona and New Mexico) for $10 million to facilitate the construction of a transcontinental railroad.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Signed by President Andrew Jackson, this law authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River, leading to the Trail of Tears.

Trail of Tears (1835-1838)

The forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation and other tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern U.S. to Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma), during which thousands of Native Americans died.

Reservation System

A policy that established designated areas of land for Native American tribes, usually located farther west (such as Arizona) to separate them from white settlers.

Chief John Ross

The Cherokee leader who opposed the Indian Removal Act and led efforts to resist forced relocation, fighting in court and political arenas to protect Cherokee land.

Dawes Act (1887)

A law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual plots. Native Americans could either live on reservations or adopt a 'civilized' lifestyle and integrate into American society.

Echoca Treaty

An alleged corrupt treaty, often associated with the forced removal of Native Americans, which contributed to the Trail of Tears.

Compromise of 1850

A package of laws aimed at resolving tensions between slave and free states: California was admitted as a free state; New Mexico and Utah were organized with the issue of slavery to be decided by popular sovereignty; the Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened, requiring the return of runaway slaves; the slave trade was abolished in Washington, D.C.

Bleeding Kansas (1854)

A series of violent confrontations in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed settlers to decide the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty.

John Brown's Massacre (1856)

A violent incident during Bleeding Kansas in which John Brown, an abolitionist, and his followers killed five pro-slavery settlers.

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

A Supreme Court decision that ruled Dred Scott, an enslaved African American, was not a citizen and could not sue for his freedom. The decision upheld the legality of slavery in the territories, worsening sectional tensions. Chief Justice Roger Taney presided over the case.

Impact of Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny led to the expansion of U.S. territory, including the annexation of Texas, the acquisition of the Oregon Territory, and the Mexican Cession, which shaped the U.S. into its present boundaries. It contributed to conflicts over slavery and states' rights, including the Civil War.