Key Events and Figures in 19th Century America

Corrupt Bargain

Refers to the 1824 presidential election, where John Quincy Adams was elected president after a contentious House vote, despite Andrew Jackson having won the popular vote. Jackson's supporters believed that a 'corrupt bargain' was made when Adams appointed Henry Clay as his secretary of state, after Clay helped him win the election.

Jacksonian Democrats

A political movement led by Andrew Jackson in the 1820s and 1830s that promoted greater democracy, the rights of the common man, and a limited role of the federal government. They supported westward expansion, states' rights, and were opposed to the Bank of the United States.

John C. Calhoun

Vice President under Andrew Jackson, who later became a leading proponent of states' rights and nullification, advocating that states could nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional, especially on issues like tariffs.

Nullification Crisis

A political confrontation in 1832-1833 between South Carolina and the federal government over tariffs. South Carolina, led by John C. Calhoun, declared the tariffs null and void, which led to a showdown with President Jackson, who opposed the nullification of federal laws.

Indian Removal Act

Passed in 1830, this law authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands in the west. It led to the Trail of Tears, during which thousands of Native Americans died during their forced relocation.

Black Hawk War

A brief conflict (1832) between the U.S. government and Native American tribes in Illinois and Wisconsin, led by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader, who resisted forced removal under the Indian Removal Act.

Seminole Wars

A series of conflicts between the U.S. government and the Seminole tribe in Florida, the most notable being the Second Seminole War (1835-1842), which was sparked by the government's attempt to force the Seminoles to relocate westward.

Whigs

A political party that emerged in the 1830s in opposition to the Jacksonian Democrats. The Whigs supported a strong federal government, internal improvements (such as roads and canals), and economic modernization, and were against Jackson's expansion of presidential power.

Treaty of Wang Hya

The 1844 treaty between the United States and China that granted the U.S. trading rights in China, extraterritoriality for American citizens, and most-favored-nation status, making it an important early step in U.S.-China relations.

Oregon Border Dispute

A territorial conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain over the Oregon Territory in the mid-1800s, which was eventually resolved with the 1846 Oregon Treaty, establishing the 49th parallel as the border between U.S. and British Canada.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

An 1842 treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain that resolved border disputes between Maine and Canada and also established the boundary between the U.S. and British territories in the West.

Nativism/Native American Party

A political movement in the 1840s and 1850s that opposed immigration, particularly from Ireland and Germany, and sought to limit the influence of Catholics in U.S. politics.

Steam Engine

A key invention of the Industrial Revolution, developed further by James Watt in the late 18th century, enabling the mechanization of manufacturing and the development of transportation systems like railroads and steamships.

Railroads

A major transportation innovation that allowed for the movement of goods and people over long distances, crucial for expanding the economy in the 19th century, particularly in the North and West.

Telegraph

Invented by Samuel Morse in 1837, the telegraph revolutionized communication by allowing messages to be sent over long distances almost instantly, aiding both business and political communication.

Erie Canal

A man-made waterway completed in 1825 connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean through the Hudson River, key in transforming New York City into a major port and spurring economic growth in the Midwest.

Textiles

The textile industry was a major part of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, particularly in New England, with mills producing fabric and marking a shift toward factory-based manufacturing.

Coal Mining

The extraction of coal, which became an increasingly important industry in the 19th century, especially with the advent of steam engines and railroads, requiring large amounts of coal to fuel transportation and manufacturing.

Interchangeable Parts

A system developed by Eli Whitney in the early 19th century where parts of a machine are made to be identical, so they can easily replace each other, revolutionizing manufacturing.

Lowell System

A labor and production model in which young women worked in textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, living in company-owned boarding houses and working long hours, often in poor conditions.

Urban Middle Class

A social class that emerged in the 19th century due to industrialization, consisting of people with stable, white-collar jobs, such as merchants, doctors, and teachers.

Cult of Domesticity

A set of societal beliefs in the 19th century that prescribed a woman's place to be in the home, focusing on virtues like piety, purity, and domestic responsibility.

Mechanical Reaper

Invented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831, this device greatly increased the efficiency of harvesting grain, allowing farmers to cultivate larger areas and leading to the expansion of agriculture in the U.S.

Steel Plow

Invented by John Deere in 1837, this plow made it easier to break through tough soil in the Midwest, facilitating the settlement and agricultural development of the region.

Peculiar Institution

A term used to refer to slavery in the South. It was called 'peculiar' because it was unique to the Southern states and was a source of both economic prosperity and moral controversy.

Gabriel Prosser and Nat Turner

Gabriel Prosser (1800) and Nat Turner (1831) led significant slave uprisings in Virginia. Turner's Rebellion was more successful, but both revolts led to harsher laws and increased restrictions on enslaved people.

Slave Music

A significant part of African-American culture during slavery, slave music was a means of expressing pain, hope, and resistance. Spirituals and work songs are examples that played a crucial role in the emotional life of slaves.

Romanticism

A cultural movement in the early 19th century that emphasized emotion, individualism, nature, and imagination over reason and logic. It was reflected in literature, art, and music, with authors like Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper.

Hudson River School

A group of American landscape painters in the mid-19th century, known for their romanticized depictions of the American wilderness, particularly the Hudson River Valley. They emphasized the beauty of nature and the sublime.

Utopian Societies

Communities formed in the early 19th century, often inspired by religious or philosophical ideals, aiming to create perfect societies. Examples include the Shakers, Oneida, and Brook Farm, which sought equality, communal living, and social reform.

Charles Finney

A leading figure in the Second Great Awakening, Finney was a preacher who promoted revivalism and the idea of personal salvation. He also advocated for social reforms like the abolition of slavery and women's rights.

Seneca Falls Convention

The first women's rights convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, it produced the 'Declaration of Sentiments,' which called for equal rights for women, including suffrage.

American Colonization Society

Founded in 1816, this organization aimed to resettle free African Americans in Africa, eventually leading to the establishment of Liberia. The group believed that colonization would address the issue of slavery and racism in the U.S.

William Lloyd Garrison

A prominent abolitionist and editor of The Liberator, a newspaper that called for the immediate emancipation of all enslaved people. He was a radical voice in the abolitionist movement, advocating for full civil rights for African Americans.

Frederick Douglass

A former enslaved person who became a leading abolitionist, writer, and orator. Douglass published an autobiography that described his life as a slave and became one of the most important African American leaders in the 19th century.

David Walker

An African American abolitionist and writer whose 1829 pamphlet, Walker's Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World, called for the immediate abolition of slavery and was one of the most radical voices in the abolitionist movement.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

A novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, published in 1852, which depicted the harsh realities of slavery and helped galvanize anti-slavery sentiment in the North. It played a significant role in the abolitionist movement.