Key Terms from Early U.S. History Module 3

Alien Act

(1798) gave the president power to deport foreign nationalists (any foreigner he felt was dangerous); many times they were referred to as aliens who are citizens of the countries that are at war with the U.S. Not enforced a lot, the scare was enough to make many of the "aliens" leave.

Antifederalist

Opposed the creation of a stronger U.S federal government and which later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. They wanted to fix the Articles of Confederation and advocated for a Bill of Rights.

Articles of Confederation

The written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain. Gave more power to the state rather than the federal government. Written by John Dickinson, a delegate from Delaware.

Bank of the United States

(1791) Part of Hamilton's financial system (fiscal policy). It helped fund the public debt left from the American Revolution, facilitated the issuance of a stable national currency, and provided a convenient means of exchange for all the people of the US.

Battle of New Orleans

(January 8, 1815) The US achieved its greatest land victory of the War of 1812 at New Orleans, defeating the British in their attempt to take control of the major US port. This victory forced the British to recognize the US claims to Louisiana and West Florida and to ratify the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war.

Battle of Tippecanoe

(November 7, 1811) Took place in Battle Ground, Indiana. Fought between American soldiers and Native American warriors. Catalyst for the War of 1812 because the US saw the Indians had British weapons, indicating British support.

bicameral

(of a legislative body) having two branches or chambers.

Bill of Rights

(October 2, 1789) The first 10 Amendments of the Constitution that guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual—like freedom of speech, press, and religion. Created by James Madison.

cabinet

A body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders.

check and balances

Provides each branch of government with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Congress

A national legislative body established by the Constitution of 1787, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each state sends elected representatives and senators to Congress.

Constitutional Convention

(May and September of 1787) Met to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation.

Democratic-Republican Party

Also referred to as Jeffersonian Republican Party; believed the people should have political power, favored strong state governments, emphasized agriculture, favored strict interpretation of the constitution, were pro-French, opposed national banks, and opposed protective tariffs.

electoral college

538 electors; the process used in the US to elect a president.

Embargo Act of 1807

Closed U.S. ports to all exports and restricted imports from Britain. Thomas Jefferson's response to British and French interference with neutral U.S. merchant ships during the Napoleonic Wars.

excise tax

A legislated tax on specific goods or services at purchase such as fuel, tobacco, and alcohol.

executive branch

Consists of the President, his or her advisors, and various departments and agencies. This branch is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land.

federalism

The division and sharing of power between the national and state governments.

Federalist Party

Nationalist American political party and the first political party in the United States, dominating the national government from 1789 to 1801.

Federalists

Led by Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, they wanted a strong central government. Main leaders included Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, who wrote the Federalist Papers.

Fort McHenry

Known as 'The Birthplace of the National Anthem,' during the War of 1812, the Fort's garrison stood firm during a severe naval bombardment by British forces.

Gabriel's Rebellion

In 1800, a highly intelligent and literate enslaved man named Gabriel organized a plan for a widespread slave uprising; the state of Virginia executed 27 blacks, including Gabriel, by public hanging.

gradual emancipation

A legal mechanism used by some states to abolish slavery over time without causing unrest among slave-owners and without making slavery immediately illegal.

Hartford Convention

A meeting of New England Federalists held in Hartford, Connecticut in the winter of 1814-15 to discuss opposition to the War of 1812 and propose amendments to the Constitution.

House of Representatives

Makes and passes federal laws; it's the lower house of the United States Congress, based on the population of the states.

implied powers

The abilities and powers that a government branch has that are not explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution but are suggested to be applicable in some or all cases.

Impressment

The practice of forcing men to serve in the military against their will, most often used by the British Navy, often involving violence.

Indian Confederacy

a loose confederacy of Native Americans in the Great Lakes region of the United States created after the American Revolutionary War.

internal improvements

public works form the end of the American Revolution. Such as creation of a transportation infrastructure: roads, turnpikes, canals, and harbors.

Jay Treaty of 1794

settle unresolved tensions since American independence. Helped avert war between the two nations.

judicial branch

decides the constitutionality of federal laws and resolves other disputes about federal laws. Included the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

judicial review

power of the Supreme Court and federal courts. The ability of the Court to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution.

Judiciary Acts of 1798 and 1801

eliminated a Supreme Court seat and relieved justices of circuit court responsibilities.

Land Ordinances of 1785

was passed to regulate trade in the Northwest Territory. The Articles of Confederation gave states claims to western lands.

legislative branch

established by Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

(1804-1806) was a federally funded venture to explore the North American West, sponsored by President Jefferson.

loose or broad interpretation

the Federal government can do what is good for the country even if the Constitution doesn't explicitly allow it.

Louisiana Purchase

The United States purchased 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River, doubling its size and expanding the nation westward.

Marbury v. Madison

(February 24, 1803) the U.S. Supreme Court first declared an act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the doctrine of judicial review.

narrow or strict interpretation

interpreting the Constitution based on a literal and narrow definition of the language without reference to the differences in conditions when the Constitution was written and modern conditions.

Neutrality

the state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict.

New Jersey Plan

The Plan called for each state to have one vote in Congress instead of the number of votes being based on population. Created by William Paterson.

Northwest Ordinances of 1787

chartered a government for the Northwest Territory, provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory.

Pinckney Treaty of 1787

defined the border between the United States and Spanish Florida, and guaranteed the United States navigation rights on the Mississippi River.

popular sovereignty

that the leaders of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political legitimacy.

Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793

announcement issued by U.S. President George Washington on April 22, 1793, that declared the nation neutral in the conflict between revolutionary France and Great Britain.

protective tariffs

taxes, dues, or fees placed on foreign goods. They are a tool countries use to protect domestic industries by reducing competition from international businesses.

Quasi-war

(1789-1801) between America and France. A limited naval war against French privateers who were seizing U.S. shipping in the Caribbean.

ratification

the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.

republic

a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Republican Motherhood

an 18th-century term for an attitude toward women's roles present in the emerging United States before, during, and after the American Revolution.

Republicanism

support for a republican system of government in the US; the principles or policies of the Republican Party.

Revolution of 1800

Vice President Thomas Jefferson defeated the Federalist Party candidate, incumbent president John Adams, marking a political realignment.

Sedition Act

made it a crime for American citizens to 'print, utter, or publish... any false, scandalous, and malicious writing' about the government.

senate

The Senate is composed of 100 Senators, 2 for each state. It has the sole power to confirm the President's appointments that require consent.

Shays' Rebellion

led by farmers in Massachusetts who couldn't pay back war debts from the revolution, exposing the weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation.

Daniel Shays

Leader of Shays' Rebellion against tax policies.

Supreme Court

Highest court in the United States, elected by popular vote.

The Star-Spangled Banner

National anthem, lyrics from a 1814 poem.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counts three out of five slaves for representation.

Treaty of Fort Jackson

Ended Creek War, ceded 22 million acres to U.S.

Treaty of Ghent

Peace treaty ending the War of 1812.

Unicameral

Legislative body with a single chamber.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolution

Condemned Alien and Sedition Acts as unconstitutional.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

Influenced the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence.

Virginia Plan

Proposed strong national government with two legislative bodies.

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Established separation of church and state principles.

War Hawks

Young politicians advocating military action against Britain.

War of 1812

Conflict over maritime rights, ended with Treaty of Ghent.

Washington's Farewell Address

Advised against political parties and foreign entanglements.

Whiskey Rebellion

Tax protest against federal whiskey tax, 1794.

XYZ Affairs

Diplomatic incident involving French bribe demands.

Aaron Burr

Third vice president, co-founder of Bank of New York.

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of Treasury, created financial recovery plan.

George Mason

Authored Virginia Declaration of Rights and Constitution.

George Washington

First president of the United States.

Henry Clay

Leader of War Hawks, represented Kentucky.

Henry Knox

Chief of artillery, later Secretary of War.

James Madison

Fourth president, 'Father of the Constitution.'

John Adams

Second president, key Founding Father.

John C. Calhoun

Seventh vice president, defended slavery.

John Jay

First chief justice, signatory of Treaty of Paris.

John Marshall

Fourth chief justice, shaped U.S. constitutional law.

Tecumseh

Shawnee chief promoting Native American resistance.

Thomas Jefferson

Third president, principal author of Declaration of Independence.