APUSH Period 4 Key Terms Part Two

YES IT IS.

Erie Canal

A man-made waterway completed in 1825 that connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. It dramatically lowered shipping costs, stimulated the economies of cities along the route, and spurred the development of New York City as a major commercial center.

Robert Fulton

American engineer and inventor, best known for developing the first commercially successful steamboat, the Clermont, in 1807. His work significantly contributed to the Market Revolution by transforming transportation and facilitating commerce, particularly along rivers. This innovation led to increased trade and opened up new markets, influencing economic growth during the early 19th century.

(Waltham) Lowell System

A labor and production model that emerged in the early 19th century, primarily associated with textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts. This system was notable for employing young women, known as 'Mill Girls,' who worked under strict conditions and were provided with housing, education, and social opportunities. It represented a significant shift in labor practices during the Market Revolution, highlighting both the industrialization of America and the changing roles of women in society. It started in Waltham, Massachusetts. 

Market Revolution

A dramatic change in the U.S. economy in the first half of the 19th century, characterized by a shift from a subsistence, agrarian economy to a market-based one. This was fueled by new technologies, innovations in transportation (like the Erie Canal), and manufacturing (the factory system).

Nativists (Nativism)

The policy of protecting the interests of native-born inhabitants against those of immigrants. Nativists in the 19th century feared that an influx of immigrants, particularly German and Irish Catholics, would undermine the existing American culture and political institutions. They often blamed immigrants for social and economic problems.

Eli Whitney

American inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin in 1793, a machine that revolutionized the cotton industry and greatly increased cotton production in the South. His innovations contributed significantly to the Market Revolution, altered the Society of the South, and laid the groundwork for future technological advancements through the introduction of interchangeable parts.

Universal Male Suffrage

The extension of the right to vote to all white men, regardless of property ownership. This was a key element of the democratic reforms during the Jacksonian era that expanded political participation.

Spoils System

A practice in which a political party, after winning an election, gives government civil service jobs to its supporters, friends, and relatives as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the party. Andrew Jackson is often associated with expanding this practice.

Rotation in Office

A democratic ideal championed by Jackson. The principle was that regular people could fill most government positions, and that offices should be rotated frequently to prevent corruption and the creation of a permanent class of bureaucrats.

Corrupt Bargain of 1824

An 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. This event is often seen as a pivotal moment in American politics, as it 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.

Andrew Jackson

A war hero and the seventh U.S. president (1829–1837) and is known for his influential role in shaping American politics during the early 19th century. His presidency is often associated with the rise of populism and the expansion of democracy, as well as significant controversies surrounding his policies, particularly regarding Native American removal and federal authority. He advocated for greater participation in government by ordinary citizens and expanded suffrage by eliminating property requirements for voting. This shift made politics more accessible to a broader segment of society, reshaping how political power was viewed and exercised in America.

Martin Van Buren

A key political ally of Jackson and his successor as president (1837–1841). He inherited the economic panic of 1837 and is known for helping to establish the Democratic Party. 

Indian Removal Act 1830

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a law enacted by President Andrew Jackson that authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to designated territories west of the river. This act aimed to open up land for American settlers and was rooted in the belief of Manifest Destiny, which justified expansion across the continent. It had devastating consequences for Native American communities, as it led to forced relocations characterized by suffering and loss. The Trail of Tears became emblematic of this suffering, as thousands died during the journey westward.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

A Supreme Court case in which the court, led by Chief Justice Marshall, held that the Georgia criminal statute that forbade non-Native Americans from being present on Native American lands without a license was unconstitutional. The court ruled that the Cherokee Nation was a sovereign entity. President Jackson famously defied the ruling.

Trail of Tears

The forced and deadly removal of thousands of Cherokee from their lands in the southeastern United States to the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) during the 1830s. The journey was marked by disease, starvation, and death. 

“Tariff of Abominations”

The protective tariff of 1828, which was designed to protect northern industry from foreign competition but was vehemently opposed by the South, which saw it as unfairly favoring northern manufacturing at their expense.

Nullification Crisis

A sectional crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson created by South Carolina's attempt to nullify (cancel) a federal law—the Tariff of 1828 and the revised Tariff of 1832—within its borders. Andrew Jackson defended federal authority against South Carolina's attempts to nullify tariff laws. His issuance of a proclamation against nullification demonstrated his commitment to preserving the Union and maintaining federal supremacy. Jackson's readiness to use military force if necessary highlighted his belief that challenges to federal law could not be tolerated, further solidifying his legacy as a strong advocate for centralized government power.

Daniel Webster

A senator from Massachusetts and a renowned orator who championed the Union and the power of the federal government, arguing against nullification, famously declaring, "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!"

John C. Calhoun

A South Carolina politician and political theorist who championed the doctrine of nullification, arguing that states had the right to declare federal laws unconstitutional and void within their borders.

Bank Veto

Jackson vetoed the bill to recharter the Second Bank of the United States based on his belief that the Bank was an unconstitutional, corrupt institution that favored the wealthy elite and concentrated too much power in a private entity. This act is a significant example of Jackson's use of executive power and had lasting political and economic consequences, including contributing to the Panic of 1837. 

Specie Circular

An 1836 executive order issued by President Jackson. It required that all future purchases of federal land be made in gold and silver (specie) rather than paper currency. This contributed to the economic problems that led to the Panic of 1837

Panic of 1837

A major financial crisis in the United States that led to a severe economic depression lasting until the mid-1840s. Triggered by a combination of speculative lending practices, falling cotton prices, and a banking crisis, it resulted in widespread bank failures, unemployment, and a significant decline in real estate values, impacting both the economy and political landscape of the nation.

Roger Taney

As Jackson's Attorney General and later Secretary of the Treasury, Taney was a key ally in the "Bank War," helping Jackson dismantle the Second Bank of the United States and move federal funds into state "pet banks".

Democrats

A political party that emerged from Andrew Jackson's supporters. The party championed the "common man," states' rights, and a limited federal government. They strongly opposed the Bank of the United States, high protective tariffs, federal funding for internal improvements (roads, canals), favored farmer interests, individual freedom, westward expansion, and consisted of farmers, urban laborers, immigrants, and Southerners. 

Whigs

A political party formed in the 1830s to oppose President Jackson. They supported a strong federal government, the Second Bank of the United States, and internal improvements. They were more cautious towards expansion due to slavery concerns. They consisted of wealthy business men, bankers, merchants, commercial farmers, Protestants, and Northerners. Their leaders included Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. 

Henry Clay

A leading Whig politician and one of the most prominent statesmen of his era. He was known as the "Great Compromiser" for his role in brokering deals like the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. He was a long-time advocate for his "American System" of tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements.

“Log Cabin and Hard Cider” Campaign of 1840

The presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison, the Whig candidate. A Democratic newspaper reporter mocked Harrison, suggesting he was too old for office and should simply be given "a barrel of hard cider" to drink in his "log cabin". The Whigs turned this jibe on its head, embracing the log cabin and hard cider as symbols of Harrison's "common man" authenticity. Harrison ended up winning by turning this insult into a powerful populist image.

John Marshall

A long-serving Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who shaped American constitutional law. His rulings strengthened the power of the federal government and protected private property rights. He established the principle of judicial review in Marbury v. Madison and strengthened federal power through landmark decisions like McCulloch v. Maryland. His long tenure and Federalist principles led to a series of rulings that affirmed the Constitution's supremacy over state law, elevating the judiciary branch to be a co-equal branch of government.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The landmark Supreme Court case that established judicial review, the power of the federal courts to declare legislative and executive acts unconstitutional. This decision empowered the judiciary to interpret laws and ensured that legislative actions remained in line with the Constitution. As a result, future cases would follow this precedent, reinforcing the importance of judicial oversight in maintaining checks and balances within government.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

A Supreme Court case that confirmed the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States and broadly interpreted the "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution, confirming the supremacy of federal law over state laws.

Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1824)

A Supreme Court case that a state legislature could not alter the charter of a private corporation because the charter was a contract protected by the Constitution. This decision established that private contracts are safe from government interference and protected private property rights, strengthening both corporate and federal power over state governments. The case is a landmark for protecting private enterprise and limiting state power.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

A Supreme Court case that affirmed the federal government's authority over interstate commerce, ruling that federal law took precedence over state laws regulating the same activity. The case arose when the state of New York attempted to grant a monopoly over steamboat navigation on its waters, which conflicted with federal licensing granted to Gibbons. This ruling emphasized the supremacy of federal law over state law and established a broader interpretation of the commerce clause, which significantly influenced the rise of political parties and shaped economic practices during the Era of Jefferson.