Terms-Individuals

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams and advocate for women's education and property rights, known for her letters that provided insight into Revolutionary America.

Charles Francis Adams

Son of John Quincy Adams, U.S. Minister to the UK during the Civil War, instrumental in keeping Britain neutral.

John Adams

Founding Father, second President of the U.S., advocate for independence and key figure in American governance through his roles in drafting the Constitution.

John Quincy Adams

Sixth U.S. President, known for his opposition to slavery and the Monroe Doctrine.

Fisher Ames

Federalist politician from Massachusetts, known for his speeches supporting the Constitution.

Benjamin Austin

Prominent Massachusetts politician opposing Federalist policies and supporting Jeffersonian ideals.

Benjamin Franklin Bache

Journalist and editor known for his opposition to Federalist policies and support for Jeffersonian republicanism.

Gamaliel Bailey

Abolitionist editor known for publishing Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin in The National Era.

Benjamin Banneker

Self-taught African American mathematician and astronomer who published almanacs advocating for racial equality.

Philip Barbour

Congressman and Supreme Court Associate Justice known for his advocacy of states’ rights.

William T. Barry

Postmaster General under Andrew Jackson, known for expanding postal routes and reducing rates.

James A. Bayard

Federalist leader who played a key role in resolving the 1800 presidential election.

Lyman Beecher

Influential minister in the Second Great Awakening advocating for social reforms including temperance and abolition.

John Bell

U.S. senator and moderate who sought compromise between North and South before the Civil War.

Thomas Hart Benton

Missouri senator and proponent of westward expansion who later became critical of slavery.

John M. Berrien

Georgia senator and Attorney General known for his defense of states’ rights.

Nicholas Biddle

President of the Second Bank of the U.S. and key figure in the Bank War against Andrew Jackson.

James G. Birney

Prominent abolitionist who ran for president as a Liberty Party candidate.

Francis Preston Blair

Journalist and advisor to Andrew Jackson, shaping public opinion in support of Jacksonian Democracy.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French Emperor whose sale of the Louisiana Territory to the U.S. doubled the nation's size.

Aaron Burr

Third Vice President of the U.S., remembered for his duel with Alexander Hamilton and his controversial political career.

John C. Calhoun

Southern politician advocating states’ rights and nullification, influential in slavery and secession debates.

William Carroll

Tennessee politician, military officer, and governor who improved state infrastructure and legal reform.

Lewis Cass

Democratic politician known for advocating "popular sovereignty" regarding slavery in new territories.

Samuel Chase

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court whose impeachment underscored the importance of judicial independence.

Henry Clay

Renowned statesman known as the "Great Compromiser" for his roles in major compromises on slavery.

DeWitt Clinton

Governor of New York who advocated for the Erie Canal, significantly impacting American commerce.

George Clinton

Influential governor of New York and Anti-Federalist, opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution without a Bill of Rights.

William H. Crawford

Georgia politician and presidential candidate influential in the Era of Good Feelings.

Stephen A. Douglas

Illinois senator who introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act and debated Abraham Lincoln.

Frederick Douglass

Former enslaved person and leading abolitionist known for his compelling autobiographies.

William Duane

Editor of the Aurora newspaper, advocating for democracy and criticizing Federalist policies.

Thomas Earle

Journalist and reformer supporting abolition and working-class rights.

John H. Eaton

Close ally of Andrew Jackson, Secretary of War involved in the Petticoat Affair.

Margaret Eaton

Wife of John Eaton, central figure in the Petticoat Affair, defended by Andrew Jackson.

George Henry Evans

Labor activist advocating for land reform and workers' rights.

John Fenno

Federalist journalist and founder of the Gazette of the United States, promoting Hamilton's policies.

John Floyd

Virginia politician advocating states’ rights and a proponent of secession.

Philip Freneau

Poet and journalist known as the "Poet of the American Revolution."

Albert Gallatin

Secretary of the Treasury known for stabilizing America's finances and supporting infrastructure.

William Lloyd Garrison

Radical abolitionist and founder of The Liberator, advocating for immediate emancipation.

Edmond-Charles Genêt

French ambassador whose actions challenged American neutrality and strained relations.

Elbridge Gerry

Founding Father and fifth Vice President, known for "gerrymandering."

Stephen Girard

Philadelphia financier who stabilized the economy during the War of 1812.

Duff Green

Journalist and political advisor, vocal supporter of Andrew Jackson's policies.

Angelina Grimké

Abolitionist and women's rights advocate from South Carolina.

Alexander Hamilton

Founding Father and first Secretary of the Treasury, established the financial foundation of the U.S.

Jared Ingersoll

Federalist and lawyer who represented Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention.

Andrew Jackson

Seventh President known for founding the Democratic Party and his populist policies.

John Jay

Founding Father, diplomat, and first Chief Justice known for negotiating the Jay Treaty.

Thomas Jefferson

Third President and author of the Declaration of Independence, champion of republicanism.

Richard Mentor Johnson

Ninth Vice President known for military service and controversial political stances.

Amos Kendall

Journalist and advisor to Andrew Jackson, transformed the postal system.

James Kent

Legal scholar whose Commentaries on American Law influenced early American jurisprudence.

Rufus King

Federalist statesman and abolitionist who signed the U.S. Constitution.

William Berkeley Lewis

Political advisor and confidant of Andrew Jackson.

Nathaniel Macon

North Carolina statesman known for advocating limited federal government.

Dolley Madison

Wife of James Madison, known for her social influence and bravery during the War of 1812.

James Madison

Fourth President and the "Father of the Constitution," instrumental in drafting the Constitution.

William L. Marcy

NY politician who championed the spoils system and supported Jacksonian expansionism.

John Marshall

Longest-serving Chief Justice, established judicial review in Marbury v. Madison.

George McDuffie

South Carolina congressman known for his staunch defense of states’ rights.

Louis McLane

Secretary of State involved in trade agreements and debates over the Bank of the U.S.

Shadrach Minkins

Escaped enslaved man whose capture highlighted Northern opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act.

James Monroe

Fifth President known for the Monroe Doctrine and the Era of Good Feelings.

Ely Moore

New York congressman and labor leader advocating for workers' rights.

William Morgan

Freemason whose mysterious disappearance sparked the anti-Masonic movement.

Lucretia Mott

Quaker abolitionist and women's rights activist influential in the suffrage movement.

Timothy Pickering

Federalist statesman known for his foreign policy and involvement in the Hartford Convention.

Charles Pinckney

South Carolina politician, significant contributor to the Constitutional Convention.

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Revolutionary War hero known for his role in the XYZ Affair.

Thomas Pinckney

Negotiated Pinckney's Treaty securing rights on the Mississippi River.

James K. Polk

Eleventh President focused on Manifest Destiny and territorial expansion.

Sarah Childress Polk

Politically engaged First Lady known for influencing her husband’s policies.

John Randolph of Roanoke

Virginia congressman advocating states’ rights and limited government.

James Shields

Senator from multiple states, known for his support of popular sovereignty.

Stephen Simpson

Editor critical of the Bank of the United States, advocating for economic reforms.

Thomas Skidmore

Radical reformer and labor advocate promoting wealth redistribution.

Margaret Bayard Smith

Writer and socialite chronicling early American political culture.

William Smith

South Carolina senator known for advocating states’ rights and economic protectionism.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Leading figure in the women’s rights movement and co-organizer of the Seneca Falls Convention.

Joseph Story

Associate Justice and legal scholar whose writings influenced U.S. federalism.

James Tallmadge Jr.

Congressman known for the Tallmadge Amendment restricting slavery in Missouri.

Roger B. Taney

Chief Justice remembered for the Dred Scott decision exacerbating sectional tensions.

Lewis Tappan

Abolitionist and businessman funding anti-slavery efforts.

John Taylor of Caroline

Virginia statesman advocating for strict constitutional interpretation and agrarianism.

John W. Taylor

Congressman and Speaker of the House actively opposing slavery’s expansion.

Alexis de Tocqueville

French political thinker who analyzed American democracy in Democracy in America.

Nat Turner

Enslaved man who led a rebellion, heightening fears of insurrection in the South.

John Tyler

Tenth President who favored Southern interests and prioritized Texas annexation.

Martin Van Buren

Eighth President and a founder of the Democratic Party.

Stephen Van Rensselaer

New York politician and founder of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Denmark Vesey

Freedman who planned a slave rebellion in Charleston, symbolizing resistance.

David Walker

Abolitionist whose pamphlet called for immediate end to slavery.

George Washington

First President, leader of the Continental Army, and key figure in establishing U.S. governance.

Daniel Webster

Leading statesman and orator advocating for national unity and federal power.

Thurlow Weed

Political boss and journalist instrumental in shaping Whig and Republican politics.

Hugh Lawson White

Senator from Tennessee opposing Jackson’s policies and advocating for the South.

William Wirt

Longest-serving Attorney General known for defending Native American sovereignty.

Levi Woodbury

Politician and jurist supporting states’ rights and individual liberties.