US History I Final Exam Review

Flashcards for US History I Final Exam Review

Election of 1800

Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams. It demonstrated a peaceful transfer of power between parties.

Essex Junto

A group of Federalists who opposed the Louisiana Purchase because they feared it would dilute the power of the Eastern states.

Jeffersonian Democracy

A political philosophy emphasizing limited government, agrarianism, and states' rights.

Justice John Marshall

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who significantly shaped the federal judicial system through landmark cases.

Marbury v. Madison

Established the principle of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.

Gibbons v. Ogden

Affirmed federal control of interstate commerce.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Confirmed the implied powers of Congress and the constitutionality of the national bank.

Causes of the War of 1812

British impressment of American sailors, interference with American trade, and inciting Native American attacks.

Tecumseh & Tippecanoe

Shawnee leader who organized Native American resistance to American expansion; Battle where William Henry Harrison defeated Tecumseh's forces.

Hartford Convention

A series of meetings where New England Federalists discussed their grievances and proposed amendments to the Constitution, damaging the Federalist Party's reputation.

Battle of New Orleans

Fought after the War of 1812 officially ended due to slow communications, it boosted American morale and national pride.

Cotton in the South

Increased cotton production due to Eli Whitney's cotton gin led to increased demand for slave labor in the South, intertwining the region's economy with slavery.

Slave Rebellions

Slave rebellions led by Nat Turner and Denmark Vesey heightened Southern fears of abolition and resulted in stricter laws to control enslaved people.

Monroe Doctrine

Declared that the Americas were closed to further European colonization, non-interference in the internal affairs of Latin American nations is required.

Era of Good Feelings

More united politically through a sense of national purpose, economically through the growth of industry and agriculture, and physically with improvements in transportation infrastructure.

Missouri Statehood Controversy

Missouri's application for statehood raised the issue of slavery's expansion, reflecting growing sectional tensions between the North and South. It was solved temporarily by the Missouri Compromise.

Election of 1824

No candidate won a majority of the electoral votes, so the House of Representatives had to decide the election.

Corrupt Bargain

An alleged deal between Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams in the Election of 1824, in which Clay threw his support to Adams in exchange for being appointed Secretary of State.

Jacksonian Democracy

Focused on the 'common man', expanded suffrage, and increased presidential power, differing from Jeffersonian Democracy's emphasis on agrarianism and limited government.

Dorr War

Expanded suffrage in Rhode Island, challenging property qualifications for voting.

Spoils System

A system of rewarding political supporters with government jobs, reflecting Jacksonian Democracy's belief in the common man's ability to hold office.

Bank War

Andrew Jackson's conflict with the Second Bank of the United States, which he saw as a tool of the elite. Jackson won, leading to the bank's demise and economic instability.

Nullification Crisis

South Carolina's attempt to declare federal tariffs null and void, which Jackson opposed. It highlighted tensions between states' rights and federal authority.

Panic of 1837

A financial crisis during Martin Van Buren's presidency, partly caused by Jackson's policies regarding the national bank and specie circular.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent.

John Tyler

Became president after William Henry Harrison's death and faced opposition from his own party, the Whigs, due to his differing views.

"54° 40’ or fight!"

Slogan referencing the desired northern border of Oregon Territory, reflecting American expansionist ambitions.

Texas Independence

Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836, leading to its eventual annexation by the United States.

Zachary Taylor and the Nueces River

Disputes over the Texas boundary led Polk to send troops south of the Nueces River, sparking conflict with Mexico and leading to the Mexican-American War.

Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War

Heightened tensions over slavery and its expansion, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Compromise of 1850

(1) California admitted as a free state, (2) Utah and New Mexico territories organized under popular sovereignty, (3) Texas border adjusted and debts assumed by the US, (4) slave trade abolished in Washington D.C., and (5) the Fugitive Slave Act passed.

Fugitive Slave Act

Required the return of escaped slaves to their owners, angering abolitionists and increasing tensions between the North and South.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Allowed residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide on the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty, leading to violence and political turmoil.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that residents of a territory should decide whether to allow slavery.

Political Parties Merge in the 1850s

Parties merged due to the issue of slavery dividing the Whig and Democratic Parties, leading to the formation of the Republican Party.

Dred Scott Case

Supreme Court decision that denied citizenship to enslaved people and declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, further polarizing the nation over slavery.

John Brown

An abolitionist who led a raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to start a slave rebellion, increasing tensions between the North and South.

Abraham Lincoln

His moderate views and appeal to a broad range of voters made him the nominee.

Democratic Party Divided

Divided over the issue of slavery, with Southern and Northern factions nominating different candidates, contributing to Lincoln's victory.

Confederacy Formed

Southern states seceded from the Union, formed a new government with a constitution protecting slavery, and elected Jefferson Davis as president.

Attack on Fort Sumter

Lincoln's response: He sent supplies to the fort. This initiated the start of the Civil War.

Border States

Lincoln's actions and political maneuvering kept these states in the Union.

New Technology in the Civil War

New technologies like rifled muskets and ironclad ships played a significant role in the war, giving the Union an advantage due to its greater industrial capacity.

Confederacy and Great Britain

The Confederacy believed Britain needed Southern cotton, but Britain found alternative sources and remained neutral.

Battle of Antietam

This victory for the Union prevented British recognition of the Confederacy.

Emancipation Proclamation

Declared slaves in Confederate-held territory free, transforming the war into a struggle for liberation.

How Emancipation Proclamation Changed the War

Changed the war's purpose, influenced Great Britain to not support the Confederacy, and allowed African-American troops to join the Union Army.

Vicksburg

Lincoln considered it key to control the Mississippi River, dividing the Confederacy and enabling Union forces to move supplies.

Battle of Gettysburg

Important turning point for the war because the Union victory weakened the Confederacy.

Sherman’s “March to the Sea”

Sherman aimed to break the South's will to fight by destroying infrastructure and civilian property during his march.

Lee’s Surrender at Appomattox Court House

Generous terms offered by Grant aimed to reconcile the nation, ensuring the Confederacy's soldiers would not be tried for treason.

How Civil War Changed United States

The Civil War ended slavery, strengthened the federal government, and spurred industrialization in the North.

Plans for Reconstruction

Focused on quickly reintegrating the South; Aimed to punish the South and protect Black rights.

13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

Abolished slavery; Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law; Granted voting rights regardless of race.

Freedmen’s Bureau

Aimed to assist formerly enslaved people with education, healthcare, and employment.

Black Codes

Laws enacted by Southern states to restrict the rights and freedoms of African-Americans.

Preventing African-Americans from Voting

Southern states employed tactics such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and violence to disenfranchise African-American voters.

Election of 1876

Marked the end of Reconstruction due to a compromise that gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in exchange for withdrawing federal troops from the South.

Why Reconstruction Failed

Democrats vs. Republicans, North vs. South, corruption, cost and taxes, and loss of Northern interest were reasons leading to its failure.