MIDTERM 2 - US HISTORY

Election of 1800 (1800)

Definition: Presidential election between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

Context: First peaceful transfer of power between U.S. political parties.

Significance: Showed stability of the new republic and set precedent for future transitions.

Twelfth Amendment (1804)

Definition: Established separate ballots for president and vice president.

Context: Created after the 1800 tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.

Significance: Prevented future electoral deadlocks and clarified succession.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Definition:

Supreme Court case that established judicial review, the power of the Court to declare laws or government actions unconstitutional.

Context:

When William Marbury sued James Madison for failing to deliver his judicial commission, which had been approved by outgoing President John Adams but withheld by incoming President Thomas Jefferson’s administration.

Significance:

It marked the first time the Supreme Court struck down an act of Congress, firmly establishing the judiciary as an equal branch of government and setting the foundation for the U.S. system of checks and balances.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Definition: U.S. purchase of French territory west of the Mississippi River.

Context: Negotiated under Jefferson after Napoleon's failed empire plans.

Significance: Doubled U.S. territory and encouraged westward expansion.

Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)

Definition: Exploration of Louisiana Territory to the Pacific Ocean.

Context: Commissioned by Jefferson to map and document new lands.

Significance: Provided vital geographic and scientific data for western expansion.

Sacagawea (1805)

Definition: Shoshone guide who assisted the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Context: Helped navigate and translate with Native tribes.

Significance: Symbolized Native contributions to U.S. exploration.

Burr-Hamilton Duel (1804)

Definition: Fatal duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.

Context: Resulted from years of political rivalry and personal enmity.

Significance: Ended Hamilton's life and Burr's political career.

Embargo Act of 1807 (1807)

Definition: Jefferson's trade ban with all foreign nations.

Context: Response to British and French interference with American ships.

Significance: Hurt U.S. merchants, especially in New England; repealed in 1809.

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

Definition: War between the U.S. and Britain.

Context: Caused by British impressment, trade restrictions, and Native alliances.

Significance: Ended in stalemate but boosted nationalism and military confidence.

Battle of New Orleans (1815)

Definition: Major battle won by Andrew Jackson after war's official end.

Context: British forces unaware of Treaty of Ghent were defeated.

Significance: Made Jackson a national hero and fostered American pride.

Treaty of Ghent (1814)

Definition: Peace treaty ending the War of 1812.

Context: Restored pre-war boundaries without addressing maritime issues.

Significance: Marked diplomatic maturity and restored U.S.-British relations.

Hartford Convention (1814-1815)

Definition: Meeting of New England Federalists opposing the War of 1812.

Context: Delegates discussed constitutional reforms and secession.

Significance: Discredited Federalists and hastened party's demise.

Second Bank of the United States (1816)

Definition: National bank established to stabilize post-war economy.

Context: Created under President Madison's administration.

Significance: Became symbol of federal power and later Jackson's target.

Tariff of 1816 (1816)

Definition: First protective tariff in U.S. history.

Context: Aimed to protect American industry after War of 1812.

Significance: Marked early economic nationalism but fueled sectionalism.

Panic of 1819 (1819)

Definition: First major U.S. financial crisis.

Context: Caused by speculative land lending and crop price collapse.

Significance: Weakened public trust in banks and increased sectional tensions.

Jackson's Invasion of Florida (1818)

Definition: U.S. military action under Andrew Jackson against Spanish Florida.

Context: Conducted to suppress Seminoles and pursue escaped slaves.

Significance: Led to Adams-Onís Treaty (1819) transferring Florida to the U.S.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Definition: Agreement admitting Missouri as slave and Maine as free state.

Context: Debate over expansion of slavery in Louisiana Territory.

Significance: Maintained North-South balance temporarily; foreshadowed sectional conflict.

Denmark Vesey (1822)

Definition: Free Black man accused of planning a major slave revolt in Charleston.

Context: Plot was discovered and Vesey was executed with followers.

Significance: Heightened Southern fears and led to stricter slave laws.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Definition: U.S. foreign policy opposing European colonization in Americas.

Context: Authored by John Quincy Adams during Monroe's presidency.

Significance: Asserted U.S. dominance in Western Hemisphere; long-term diplomatic legacy.

American System / Henry Clay (1824)

Definition: Economic program promoting tariffs, a national bank, and infrastructure.

Context: Henry Clay's plan to strengthen and unify the nation.

Significance: Reflected Whig ideals and early nationalism.

Corrupt Bargain of 1824 (1824)

Definition: Alleged deal between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay for presidency.

Context: House chose Adams, who made Clay Secretary of State.

Significance: Outraged Jacksonians and led to rise of Democratic Party.

Formation of Democratic Party (1828)

Definition: Political organization built around Andrew Jackson's supporters.

Context: United frontier settlers, laborers, and farmers.

Significance: Created durable two-party system and Jacksonian democracy.

Deaths of Jefferson & Adams (1826)

Definition: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826.

Context: Occurred on 50th anniversary of Declaration of Independence.

Significance: Symbolic end to revolutionary generation.

Tariff of 1828 (1828)

Definition: High tariff on imports protecting Northern industry.

Context: Angered South, which depended on imports.

Significance: Led to nullification crisis in South Carolina.

Tariff of 1832 (1832)

Definition: Reduced tariff rates but did not satisfy Southern opposition.

Context: South Carolina declared tariffs null and void.

Significance: Provoked federal-state standoff leading to Force Bill.

South Carolina Tariff Nullification (1832-1833)

Definition: South Carolina's declaration that tariffs were unconstitutional.

Context: Led by John C. Calhoun in defiance of Jackson's authority.

Significance: Tested federal supremacy; resolved by Compromise Tariff.

Split between Jackson & Calhoun (1830s)

Definition: Political and personal fallout between President Jackson and VP Calhoun.

Context: Caused by Eaton Affair and nullification crisis.

Significance: Weakened Calhoun's influence and realigned party loyalties.

Compromise Tariff of 1833 (1833)

Definition: Tariff reduction plan by Henry Clay to end crisis.

Context: Provided gradual lowering of rates over a decade.

Significance: Preserved Union while easing sectional tensions.

Force Bill (1833)

Definition: Law authorizing Jackson to use military force against nullifying states.

Context: Passed alongside Compromise Tariff to assert federal power.

Significance: Confirmed federal supremacy in the Union.

Eaton Affair (1829-1831)

Definition: Scandal involving Margaret Eaton, wife of Jackson's Secretary of War.

Context: Cabinet wives ostracized her, causing political fallout.

Significance: Deepened rift between Jackson and Calhoun factions.

Jackson's War on the Bank (1832-1837)

Definition: Jackson's effort to destroy the Second Bank of the U.S.

Context: He viewed it as unconstitutional and elitist; removed federal deposits.

Significance: Led to financial instability and Panic of 1837.

Whig Party (1830s)

Definition: Party opposing Jacksonian Democrats.

Context: Favored Congress-led government, moral reform, and internal improvements.

Significance: Unified economic nationalists; major opposition until 1850s.

Panic of 1837 (1837)

Definition: Severe economic depression following Bank War.

Context: Caused by bank failures, speculative lending, and specie circular.

Significance: Damaged Van Buren's presidency and hurt laboring classes.

Election of 1840 (1840)

Definition: Whig victory with William Henry Harrison "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too".

Context: Used popular campaigning and slogans to appeal to common voters.

Significance: Set model for mass democratic elections.

Tyler's Presidency & the Whig Party (1841-1845)

Definition: John Tyler succeeded Harrison and vetoed Whig policies.

Context: Former Democrat clashed with Whig Congress.

Significance: Split Whig Party and stalled its agenda.

Eli Whitney & Cotton Gin (1793)

Definition: Machine separating cotton fibers from seeds.

Context: Invented by Eli Whitney, revolutionizing Southern economy.

Significance: Expanded slavery and made cotton dominant export.

Robert Fulton & Steamships (1807)

Definition: Inventor of the commercial steamboat, the Clermont.

Context: Enabled reliable river transport and boosted commerce.

Significance: Accelerated economic growth and westward expansion.

Erie Canal (1825)

Definition: Waterway connecting Hudson River to Great Lakes.

Context: Funded by New York; completed under Gov. DeWitt Clinton.

Significance: Turned NYC into major commercial center.

National Road (1811-1830s)

Definition: First federally funded highway connecting Maryland to Illinois.

Context: Built to support western migration and trade.

Significance: Promoted national unity through infrastructure.

John Deere & Cyrus McCormick (1830s-1840s)

Definition: Inventors of steel plow (Deere) and mechanical reaper (McCormick).

Context: Transformed Midwestern agriculture through efficiency.

Significance: Expanded U.S. agricultural output and settlement.

Artisan System of Labor (Pre-Industrial Era)

Definition: Production system based on skilled craftsmen.

Context: Declined as factories and mechanization rose.

Significance: Marked shift toward wage labor and early industrialization.

Industry in Antebellum Georgia (1820s-1850s)

Definition: Southern industrial efforts, mainly textiles and mills.

Context: Supplemented agriculture but remained limited.

Significance: Showed early industrial diversification in the South.

Railroad Boom (1830s-1850s)

Definition: Rapid growth of rail networks across U.S.

Context: Connected markets and facilitated westward movement.

Significance: Accelerated industrialization and economic integration.

Samuel Morse & Telegraph (1844)

Definition: Inventor of telegraph and Morse code.

Context: Enabled near-instant communication across distances.

Significance: Revolutionized business, journalism, and politics.