Untitled Flashcards Set

Funding and Assumption

Hamilton's plan to assume state debts incurred during the Revolutionary War and fund them at full value, consolidating national credit.

National Bank

A federal institution established to stabilize the economy and provide loans to spur growth.

Tariff

A tax on imports to protect American industries and generate revenue for the federal government.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 uprising in Pennsylvania over an excise tax on whiskey, showcasing federal authority under Washington.

Jay's Treaty

A treaty between the U.S. and Britain resolving lingering issues post-Revolutionary War, angering France and Jeffersonian Republicans.

Election of 1796

The first contested presidential election in U.S. history, where John Adams (Federalist) won over Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican).

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident where French officials demanded bribes from American envoys, leading to anti-French sentiment in the U.S.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws passed by Federalists to restrict immigrants and limit criticism of the government, sparking outrage among Democratic-Republicans.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Written by Jefferson and Madison, these resolutions argued that states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws.

Election of 1800

A bitterly contested election resulting in a tie between Jefferson and Burr, resolved in the House of Representatives.

Aaron Burr

Jefferson's vice president involved in controversies, including a duel with Alexander Hamilton.

12th Amendment

Revised the electoral process by requiring separate votes for president and vice president to avoid future ties.

Marbury v. Madison

A Supreme Court case that established judicial review, allowing courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

John Marshall

Influential Chief Justice who strengthened the federal government through landmark Supreme Court decisions.

Judiciary Act of 1789

Established the federal judiciary system, including district courts and the Supreme Court.

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of French territory doubling the size of the U.S., negotiated by Jefferson.

Napoleon

French leader who sold Louisiana to the U.S. to fund European wars.

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution, disrupting French plans and influencing the Louisiana Purchase.

San Domingue

Present-day Haiti, site of the successful slave revolt that ended French colonial rule.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. government framework, which had weaknesses such as no power to tax or regulate commerce.

Northwest Ordinance

Established a process for territories to become states and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Mt. Vernon Conference

A meeting that resolved navigation disputes and laid the groundwork for the Constitutional Convention.

Annapolis Conference

A precursor to the Constitutional Convention, highlighting the need to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Shays' Rebellion

An uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting debt and taxes, highlighting weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

Philadelphia Convention

Meeting where the U.S. Constitution was drafted to replace the Articles of Confederation.

James Madison

'Father of the Constitution' and key architect of the Virginia Plan.

Alexander Hamilton

Advocate for a strong central government and author of many Federalist Papers.

Roger Sherman

Creator of the Great Compromise, balancing representation for small and large states.

Virginia Plan

Proposal favoring representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal favoring equal representation for all states.

Great Compromise

Combined the Virginia and New Jersey plans, creating a bicameral legislature.

3/5ths Compromise

Counted three-fifths of enslaved individuals for taxation and representation purposes.

Checks and Balances

System ensuring no branch of government becomes too powerful.

Federalists

Advocates of the Constitution and a strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the Constitution, fearing centralized power and lack of individual rights.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual freedoms.

Federalist Papers

Essays promoting Constitution ratification, written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.

John Jay

First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and author of several Federalist Papers.

American Colonization Society

An organization aimed at resettling freed African Americans in Africa, leading to the establishment of Liberia.

Liberia

A West African nation founded by freed African Americans through the American Colonization Society.

John Floyd

A Virginia politician who advocated for gradual emancipation and colonization of African Americans.

David Walker

A free African American abolitionist who wrote The Appeal, urging enslaved people to fight for freedom.

The Appeal

David Walker's pamphlet calling for the immediate end of slavery and resistance to oppression.

William Lloyd Garrison

A leading abolitionist who published The Liberator, advocating for the immediate abolition of slavery.

The Liberator

Garrison's anti-slavery newspaper that became a key voice in the abolition movement.

Positive-Good Argument

A pro-slavery justification claiming slavery benefitted both enslaved people and society.

Slave Codes

Laws restricting the rights of enslaved people to prevent rebellion and control their behavior.

Second Great Awakening

A Protestant religious revival emphasizing individual salvation and reform movements.

Charles G. Finney

A leading preacher of the Second Great Awakening who promoted revivalism and social reform.

Circuit Riders

Itinerant preachers who traveled to spread religious messages in rural areas.

Millennialism

The belief in Christ's second coming and a thousand-year reign of peace.

William Miller

A preacher who predicted Christ's return, inspiring the Millerite movement.

Seventh-Day Adventists

A Christian denomination that emerged from Millerism, emphasizing Christ's imminent return and Sabbath observance.

Mormons

A religious group founded by Joseph Smith, later led by Brigham Young to Utah.

Joseph Smith

Founder of Mormonism and translator of the Book of Mormon.

Brigham Young

Second leader of the Mormons who led their migration to Utah.

Deseret

The Mormon settlement in Utah envisioned as a theocratic society.

Shakers

A religious sect emphasizing communal living, celibacy, and ecstatic worship.

Utopian Societies

Communities aiming to create ideal living conditions, often through communal property and shared labor.

New Harmony

A utopian community in Indiana focused on cooperative living and social reform.

Fruitlands

A short-lived transcendentalist utopian community emphasizing self-sufficiency.

Oneida

A communal society in New York practicing shared property, 'complex marriage,' and self-perfection.

Northern Development

Growth of industrialization, transportation, and urbanization in the northern U.S.

Erie Canal

A major waterway connecting the Great Lakes to the Hudson River, boosting trade and westward expansion.

Railroads

Key infrastructure for industrialization, connecting regions and enabling economic growth.

Cottage Industry

Early system of manufacturing where goods were produced in homes rather than factories.

Waltham System

A factory system employing young women in textile mills under strict conditions.

Urbanization

The growth of cities due to industrialization and population movement.

Southern Society

Characterized by an agrarian economy, slavery, and a rigid class hierarchy.

Planters

Wealthy landowners who dominated southern politics and society.

Crackers

Poor white farmers in the South with little land or political influence.

Free Blacks

African Americans not enslaved but subject to significant restrictions and discrimination.

Maroons

Communities of escaped enslaved people living independently, often in remote areas.

Underground Railroad

A secret network aiding enslaved people in escaping to freedom.

Gabriel Prosser

Leader of a planned slave revolt in Virginia in 1800, which was thwarted before it began.

Charles Deslondes

Leader of a large but unsuccessful slave revolt in Louisiana in 1811.

Denmark Vesey

A freedman who planned a major slave rebellion in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1822.

Nat Turner

Enslaved preacher who led a violent slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831, intensifying sectional tensions.

Five Civilized Tribes

Native American groups (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole) who adopted some European-American customs.

Worcester v. Georgia

A Supreme Court case ruling that states couldn’t impose laws on Native American lands, ignored by Andrew Jackson.

Trail of Tears

The forced relocation of the Cherokee and other tribes to lands west of the Mississippi, resulting in thousands of deaths.

Sequoyah

A Cherokee who developed a written syllabary for the Cherokee language, promoting literacy.

Nullification Crisis

A confrontation between South Carolina and the federal government over the state's attempt to nullify federal tariffs.

Tariff of Abominations

A high tariff benefiting northern industries but harming the southern economy, sparking outrage.

South Carolina Exposition and Protest

Written by John C. Calhoun, advocating for the nullification of the Tariff of Abominations.

Force Bill

Passed by Congress, allowing Andrew Jackson to use military force to enforce federal tariffs during the Nullification Crisis.

Nicholas Biddle

President of the Second Bank of the United States and a central figure in its conflict with Andrew Jackson.

McCulloch v. Maryland

A Supreme Court case affirming federal authority over states and upholding the constitutionality of the national bank.

Maysville Road Veto

Jackson’s veto of federal funding for a Kentucky road, asserting limits on federal power in state projects.

Martin Van Buren

Eighth president of the U.S. and key organizer of the Democratic Party, inheriting economic fallout of the Panic of 1837.

Eaton Affair

A social scandal involving the wife of Jackson’s Secretary of War, dividing Jackson’s cabinet and influencing his decisions.

National Democrats Whigs

The Whig Party formed in opposition to Andrew Jackson, supporting strong federal government and modernization.

American System

Henry Clay’s plan for economic development, including a national bank, protective tariffs, and infrastructure improvements.

Hayne-Webster Debate

A Senate debate over states' rights versus national unity, with Webster defending federal authority.

Election of 1836

Martin Van Buren won the presidency as Andrew Jackson’s successor, facing a fragmented opposition.

Panic of 1837

A financial crisis caused by speculative banking practices, falling cotton prices, and failure of state banks.

Election of 1840

William Henry Harrison won using a populist campaign, emphasizing his humble origins.

William Henry Harrison

Ninth U.S. president who died a month after taking office, leading to John Tyler’s presidency.

John Tyler

Tenth U.S. president, known as “His Accidency,” who clashed with the Whigs and pursued the annexation of Texas.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

Resolved border disputes between the U.S. and British Canada, improving relations.