The Rise of Mass Democracy

John Qunicy Adams

Son of John Adams who was deemed unfit for presidency and he was portrayed as an aristocrat who didn’t care for the common people.

Five Civilized Tribes

A collective apelliation of the Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes that were dubbed “civilized” by white settlers

Corrupt Bargain

An alleged deal between presidential candidate John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay to throw the election

Democrats

Party led by Andrew Jackson and they were the majority party at that time

Spoils System

The policy of rewarding political supporting with political office which was first used with Jackson’s preisdency

Jackson

The first President from the West and he was known for the War of 1812 and removing Native Americans off their land

Tariff of Abominations

Also known as the Tariff of 1828 it made many Southeners especially farmers furious since it raised prices on their imported goods

Nullification Crisis

Showdown between Andrew Jackosn and South Carolina’s legislature over the nullifcaition of tarrifs

Tariff of 1833

Passed to solve the Nullifcation Crisis and it made tariffs lower

Force Bill

Allowed the President to use the military to collect federal tariff duties

Indian Removal Act

Ordered the removal of Indian Tribes still residing east of the Missisippi to newly established Indian Territory west of Arkansas and Missouri

Black Hawk War

Series of clashes in Illinois and Wisconsin between American forces and Indian chief Black Hawk of the Sauk and Fox tribes

Bank War

Battle between Jackson and the Bank of the United States over the bank’s renewal

Anti-Masonic Party

Political party that was campaigning against the influential Masonic order

Pet Banks

Pro-Jackson state banks that received the bulk of federal deposits when Andrew Jackson moved to dismantle the Bank of the United States

Specie Circular

US Treasury decree requiring that all public lands be purchased with “hard”, or metallic, currency

Whigs

Developed in order to defeat Jackson and the Democrat Party

Van Buren

President of the U.S and successor of Jackson who had to inherit his problems

Sam Houston

Led the American army to attack the Mexicans at Texas

Santa Anna

Led the Mexicans to attack the Americans at Texas

Panic of 1837

Economic crisis triggered by bank failures, elevated grain prices, and Andrew Jackson’s efforts to curb overspeculation on western lands and transportation improvements.

Alamo

Fortress in Texas where two hundred American volunteers were slain by Santa Anna in 1836. “Remember the Alamo” became a battle cry in support of Texan independance.

Goliad

Texas outpost where American volunteers, having laid down their arms and surrendered, were massacred by Mexican forces in 1836. This incident, along with the slaughter at the Alamo, fueled American support for Texan independence.

San Jacinto

Resulted in the capture of Santa Anna and his troops and he was forced to withdraw his troops from Texas.

Henry Harrison

President of the United States who was campaigned by the Whigs as a man living in a log cabin drinking apple cider but he died less than a month into his presidency.

Participatory Democracy

Citizens participating in individual political decision instead of electoral representatives.

Trail of Tears

Forced march of 15,000 Cherokee Indians from their Georgia and Alabama homes to Indian territory. Some 4,000 Cherokee died on the arduous journey.