Unit III (ACHS)

Specific Key Terms and People for Amherst Central High School

Whiskey Rebellion

an uprising in 1794 by farmers in western Pennsylvania in response to a whiskey tax imposed by the federal government, seen as a challenge to the newly formed federal authority

Jay’s Treaty

a 1795 agreement between the United States and Great Britain, negotiated by Chief Justice John Jay, which sought to settle outstanding issues between the two countries that had lingered since the Treaty of Paris in 1783

XYZ Affair

a diplomatic incident in 1797 in which American envoys to France were solicited for bribes, leading to heightened tensions between the United States and France, and ultimately an undeclared naval war known as the Quasi-War

Alien & Sedition Acts

a series of laws passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress in 1798, which allowed the government to expel foreigners deemed as a threat and to prosecute individuals who engaged in seditious activities or made false statements critical of the federal government

Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

authored by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 1798 and 1799, respectively, asserted the rights of states to nullify unconstitutional laws passed by the federal government

Nullification

the doctrine, most notably advocated by John C. Calhoun in the 1830s, that held that states had the right to invalidate federal laws that they deemed unconstitutional

Revolution of 1800

the peaceful transfer of power from the Federalist Party to the Democratic-Republican Party, symbolized by Thomas Jefferson's election to the presidency, marking the first time political power changed hands between parties in the United States

Midnight Judges (Appointees)

federalist judges appointed by John Adams at the end of his presidency, the appointments were made late at night and were seen as an attempt to maintain federalist influence in the judiciary

Federalists

a political party in the early years of the United States that supported a strong central government and were advocates for a strong executive branch and a national bank

Anti-Federalists

a political group that opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, fearing that it granted too much power to the federal government at the expense of the states and individual rights

Judiciary Act of 1789

legislation passed by the first Congress that established the federal court system and the structure of the Supreme Court

Alexander Hamilton

one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury, who advocated for a strong central government, a national bank, and a system of tariffs

Assumption

the policy proposed by Alexander Hamilton that the federal government would assume the debts of the states, thereby establishing the credit of the federal government

Bank of U.S.

the first central bank of the United States, chartered in 1791 and again in 1816, aimed at stabilizing and improving the nation's credit

John Marshall

the fourth Chief Justice of the United States, whose decisions, including Marbury v. Madison and McCulloch v. Maryland, helped establish the principle of judicial review and the supremacy of federal laws over state laws

Jeffersonian Democracy

the political philosophy of Thomas Jefferson, emphasizing agrarianism, states' rights, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution, which contrasted with the Federalist policies of the time

Barbary Pirate Wars

a series of conflicts in the early 19th century between the United States and the Barbary States of North Africa, specifically Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers, over the pirates' demands for tribute and ransom payments for the safe passage of American ships in the Mediterranean

Marbury v. Madison

a landmark Supreme Court case in 1803 that established the principle of judicial review, affirming the Court's power to review the constitutionality of acts of Congress and the executive branch

McCulloch v. Maryland

a Supreme Court case in 1819 that confirmed the supremacy of federal laws over state laws and established the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States, further strengthening the federal government's power

Gibbons v. Ogden

a Supreme Court case in 1824 that expanded the power of the federal government over interstate commerce, ruling that states could not regulate commerce on interstate waterways

Louisiana Purchase

the 1803 acquisition of the Louisiana territory from France, doubling the size of the United States and opening up vast expanses of land for westward expansion

Corps of Discovery

the group led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark that undertook the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1804 to 1806, exploring the newly acquired western territory of the United States

Impressment

the practice of forcibly recruiting individuals into military service, particularly associated with the British navy's practice of capturing American sailors and forcing them to serve during the early 19th century

Embargo Act of 1807

a law passed by Congress and signed by President Thomas Jefferson that prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports, aiming to protect American ships from British and French interference, but ultimately leading to significant economic hardships for the United States

Farewell Address

George Washington's final address to the nation upon leaving the presidency, warning against the dangers of political factions and foreign entanglements, and advocating for a policy of neutrality and unity within the United States

Battle of New Orleans

a decisive battle in the War of 1812, fought in January 1815, where American forces, led by Andrew Jackson, achieved a significant victory over the British forces, even though the war had officially ended two weeks earlier with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent

Treaty of Ghent

the peace treaty signed in December 1814, officially ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain and restoring prewar boundaries

Era of Good Feelings

a period from 1815 to 1825, during the presidency of James Monroe, characterized by a surge of nationalism, economic growth, and territorial expansion, as well as a temporary decline in political party conflicts

Monroe Doctrine

a foreign policy statement issued by President James Monroe in 1823, declaring that the United States would not tolerate further colonization or puppet monarchs in the Americas and that any interference in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere by European powers would be seen as a hostile act

Judicial Review

the power of the Supreme Court to review and determine the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions, established in the United States by the landmark case Marbury v. Madison in 1803