Political Parties
Organizations that represent different ideologies and interests in the political spectrum.
Federalists
The political party led by Alexander Hamilton advocating for a strong central government and manufacturing interests.
Democratic-Republicans
Political party led by Thomas Jefferson that favored limited central government and agrarianism.
Agrarianism
An economic system where agriculture is the primary means of livelihood, emphasizing self-sustaining farmers.
Revolution of 1800
The peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans when Thomas Jefferson was elected.
Whiskey Rebellion
A 1794 protest against the federal government's whiskey tax, leading to a violent conflict in Pennsylvania.
Louisiana Purchase
The 1803 acquisition of territory from France, which doubled the size of the United States.
Strict Constructionism
Interpretation of the Constitution that limits governmental powers to only those explicitly stated.
Corps of Discovery
The group led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.
Judicial Review
The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional, established in Marbury v. Madison.
Marbury v. Madison
A landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.
Mcculloch v. Maryland
A Supreme Court case determining that states cannot tax the federal government.
Barbary Wars
Conflicts between the U.S. and North African states over piracy and tribute payments.
War of 1812
A war between the United States and Britain primarily over trade restrictions and impressment of sailors.
Hartford Convention
A gathering of New England Federalists during the War of 1812 who discussed secession.
American System
Henry Clay's plan for improving the U.S. economy through internal improvements, tariffs, and a national bank.
Missouri Compromise
An 1820 agreement that allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, establishing a boundary for slavery.
Panic of 1819
A financial crisis that resulted in widespread bank failures and economic recession.
Monroe Doctrine
A U.S. policy opposing European intervention in the Americas, declaring them off-limits.
Market Revolution
A period of rapid economic change marked by the growth of industries and expansion of markets.
Cumberland Road
The first federal road project, connecting Maryland to Illinois.
Steamboat
A boat powered by steam that revolutionized transportation on rivers.
Interchangeable Parts
Standardized parts that can be used interchangeably in manufacturing, popularized by Eli Whitney.
Telegraph
A communication system that uses coded messages sent over wires, invented by Samuel Morse.
Cotton Gin
A machine invented by Eli Whitney that revolutionized cotton production by speeding up the process of separation.
Commercial Farming
Agriculture aimed at selling produce for profit rather than merely subsistence.
Nativism
A political policy favoring the interests of established inhabitants over those of immigrants.
Cult of Domesticity
A prevailing value system that emphasized women's roles in the home as wives and mothers.
Seneca Falls Convention
A 1848 meeting that marked the beginning of the women's rights movement in the U.S.
Franchise
The right to vote in political elections.
Realignment
A significant change in the political system that affects party loyalty, particularly during election cycles.
Corrupt Bargain
The alleged deal between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay during the 1824 presidential election.
Doctrine of Nullification
The theory that states could invalidate federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.
Indian Removal Act
Legislation that facilitated the forced relocation of Native American tribes to western territories.
Worcester v. Georgia
A Supreme Court case that ruled in favor of Native American rights, although ignored by the state.
Second Great Awakening
A religious revival movement in the early 19th century that focused on personal salvation and societal reform.
Romanticism
An artistic and intellectual movement that emphasized emotion and individualism over reason.
Temperance Movement
A social movement advocating for the reduction or prohibition of alcohol consumption.
Abolitionism
The movement to end slavery and promote racial equality.
Frederick Douglass
An escaped slave and prominent activist who advocated for abolition and civil rights.
Joseph Smith
The founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) who claimed to receive divine revelations.
Cultural Identity of Enslaved People
The shared social identity and cultural practices developed by enslaved Africans despite dehumanization.
Nat Turner's Rebellion
A violent slave rebellion led by Nat Turner in 1831, resulting in the deaths of 57 white people.
US v. Amistad
A Supreme Court case in which previously enslaved Africans were granted freedom after revolting on a slave ship.
Trail of Tears
The forced relocation of Native American nations from their homelands, resulting in significant suffering and death.
Shaker Community
A religious group known for its utopian community based on celibacy and communal living.
Oneida Community
A utopian community that practiced complex marriage and held property in common.