APUSH period 4 ch. 9 vocav

vocab

Andrew Jackson

7th U.S. president (1829–1837); champion of the “common man

Anti-Masonry

Political movement opposing Freemasonry; believed it was a secret

Aroostook War

1838–1839 border dispute between the U.S. (Maine) and Britain (Canada); ended peacefully with the Webster-Ashburton Treaty.

Bank War

Political struggle in the 1830s between Andrew Jackson and Nicholas Biddle over the recharter of the Second Bank of the U.S.

Caroline Affair

1837 incident where British forces attacked an American ship (the Caroline) aiding Canadian rebels; raised U.S.-British tensions.

Daniel Webster

Influential Whig senator and orator; defended the Union and opposed nullification.

Democrats

Political party led by Jackson and Van Buren; favored states’ rights

Dorr Rebellion

1841–1842 uprising in Rhode Island seeking broader voting rights; led by Thomas Dorr.

Hard Money

Currency backed by gold or silver; opposed to paper money (“soft money”).

Indian Territory

Region (mainly present-day Oklahoma) designated for relocated Native American tribes after the Indian Removal Act.

John C. Calhoun

South Carolina politician; vice president

John Tyler

10th U.S. president (1841–1845); became president after Harrison’s death; opposed many Whig policies.

Martin Van Buren

8th U.S. president (1837–1841); Jackson ally; faced the Panic of 1837 and economic depression.

Nicholas Biddle

President of the Second Bank of the U.S.; clashed with Jackson during the Bank War.

Nullification

Theory that states can invalidate federal laws they deem unconstitutional.

Panic of 1837

Major financial crisis and depression triggered by bank failures

Removal Act

1830 law authorizing the relocation of Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River.

Roger B. Taney

Chief Justice after John Marshall; supported states’ rights and Jacksonian policies.

Seminole War

Conflicts (especially 1835–1842) in Florida between U.S. forces and the Seminole tribe resisting removal.

Specie Circular

1836 order by Jackson requiring public land payments in gold or silver; contributed to the Panic of 1837.

Spoils System

Practice of giving government jobs to political supporters after an election victory.

Trail of Tears

Forced march of Cherokee and other tribes to Indian Territory; thousands died from exposure and disease.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

1842 treaty settling the Maine–Canada border and improving U.S.-British relations.

Webster-Hayne Debate

1830 Senate debate over states’ rights and nullification between Daniel Webster and Robert Hayne.

Whigs

Political party opposing Jackson; favored federal power

William Henry Harrison

9th U.S. president; hero of Tippecanoe; died one month after taking office in 1841.