APUSH Unit 4 Chapter 10

Common Man

(1820s-1830s) Rise of political democracy and greater participation of citizens in the political process. This marked a shift away from elitist politics dominated by wealthy landowners and established politicians, leading to increased voter participation and the emergence of new political parties that sought to represent the interests and needs of the common people.

Universal Male Suffrage

Right of all adult males to vote, regardless of property ownership, wealth, or social status. Emphasizing the belief that all men should have an equal voice in shaping their government and society.

Part of a broader movement toward expanding democratic rights and participation in government, challenging existing restrictions that limited voting to privileged classes.

Party Nominating Convention

Formal gatherings of political parties where delegates come together to nominate candidates for various offices, most notably the presidency. Play a crucial role in the electoral process, allowing parties to unify their members, establish their platforms, and energize their base ahead of elections. Shift from closed-door selections to public conventions.

Involving a larger segment of the party and the public in the candidate selection process.

King Caucus

Partisan caucuses composed of members of Congress met to choose nominees. Critics argued that it violated the spirit of the Constitution. Defenders argued the Congress was a representative, well-qualified group. System broke down in the 1824 election.

Anti-Masonic Party

A 19th century minor political party in the United States. It strongly opposed Freemasonry, and was founded as a single-issue party, aspiring to become a major party.

Opposed Andrew Jackson and drew much of their support from evangelical Protestants.

Spoils System

A practice in which political leaders give government jobs and favors to their supporters, often without regard for their qualifications.

Allowed for greater participation of ordinary citizens in government roles, but it also raised concerns about corruption and inefficiency.

“Corrupt Bargain”

Alleged agreement made during the 1824 presidential election in which John Quincy Adams was accused of striking a deal with Henry Clay to secure the presidency in exchange for appointing Clay as his Secretary of State.

Raised concerns about the integrity of electoral processes and the influence of political elites, impacting the expanding democracy and shaping the role of federal power under Jackson's presidency.

“Tariff of Abominations”

Raised duties on imported goods to protect Northern industries but significantly harmed Southern economies. This controversial tariff became a catalyst for regional tensions, particularly between the North and South, and underscored the ongoing debates over federal power and states' rights during Andrew Jackson's presidency.

Revolution of 1828

Election of Andrew Jackson, often viewed as a pivotal moment in the expansion of democracy, where the voting rights of white male citizens increased, leading to a more participatory political culture that emphasized the voice of the 'common man.'

Symbolized the growing influence of the electorate in government, reshaping political dynamics in the United States.

Rotation in Office

A practice where political leaders regularly change government officials to prevent the establishment of entrenched interests and promote democratic participation.

Peggy Eaton Affair

The conflict was largely between the wives of the cabinet members, who refused to associate with Secretary of War John Henry Eaton and his wife, Peggy Eaton, due to rumors the two of them had carried on an affair while Peggy was still married to her first husband.

Jackson sided with the Eatons, and the affair helped to dissolve the cabinet.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

A law that authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to designated territories west of the river. This act resulted in suffering and displacement for thousands of Native Americans, as it aimed to open up their lands for white settlers and agricultural development, ultimately leading to tragic events like the Trail of Tears.

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

Supreme Court case in 1831 where the Cherokees fought for defense against the Indian Removal Act and against the state of Georgia to prevent the enforcement of state laws that violated treaties and threatened their sovereignty. The Supreme Court ruled that Indians weren't independent nations but dependent domestic nations which could be regulated by the federal government.

Worchester v. Georgia

Supreme Court case decided in 1832 that established the principle that only the federal government had authority to regulate relations with Native American tribes, and that states could not impose their laws on tribal lands. Highlighted the conflict between state and federal jurisdiction.

Trail of Tears

Forced relocation of Native American nations, particularly the Cherokee, from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern United States to designated Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River during the 1830s. This tragic journey led to significant suffering, including disease, starvation, and death, highlighting the brutal impact of U.S. government policies on Indigenous peoples

State’s Rights

The political theory that individual states have the authority to govern themselves and make decisions independent of the federal government.

Nullification Crisis

Political confrontation during the 1830s between the state of South Carolina and the federal government regarding the issue of tariffs. It revolved around South Carolina's assertion that states could nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional, highlighting the tensions between federal authority and states' rights.

Webster-Hayne Debate

An argument between Daniel Webster and Robert Hayne, about the issue states' rights versus national power. Webster said that Hayne was a challenge to the integrity of the Union. Hayne responded with a defense of the theory of nullification.

Proclamation to the People of South Carolina

Disputing a states' right to nullify a federal law. President Jackson sent ships and soldiers to Charleston and ordered the collector of that port to collect the duties indicated in the protection tariffs.

Pet Banks

A term used by Jackson's opponents to describe the state banks that the federal government used for new revenue deposits in an attempt to destroy the Second Bank of the United States; the practice continued after the charter for the Second Bank expired in 1836.

Specie Circular

An executive order issued by President Andrew Jackson requiring that payment for the purchase of public lands be made exclusively in gold or silver.

Panic of 1837

A severe economic crisis that led to a major recession in the United States, triggered by a combination of speculative land investments, bank failures, and the decline in cotton prices.