U.S. History: The Great Triumvirate and Manifest Destiny

This set of flashcards covers key terms and definitions related to the Great Triumvirate, economic policies, significant events, and important figures in early U.S. history.

The Great Triumvirate

A term for the three prominent congressmen Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster, who worked to establish an economic plan for the U.S.

American System

An economic plan that included a national bank, internal improvements, and a protective tariff to promote domestic industries.

Monroe Doctrine

A 1823 policy declaring that the U.S. would oppose European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere and would not interfere in European affairs.

Erie Canal

A waterway completed in 1825 that expedited trade between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.

King Cotton

A term that refers to the dominance of cotton production in the Southern economy by 1830.

Cotton Gin

Eli Whitney's 1794 invention that greatly increased the efficiency of cotton processing.

Missouri Compromise

A 1820 agreement that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while prohibiting slavery north of the 36°30' latitude.

Corrupt Bargain

The alleged unfair agreement in the election of 1824 where Henry Clay's support helped John Quincy Adams become president.

Spoils System

The practice of hiring supporters into government positions rather than selecting based on merit, associated with Andrew Jackson.

Trail of Tears

The forced relocation of Cherokee Indians in 1838, resulting in the death of many due to harsh conditions.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century belief that the expansion of the U.S. across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Second Great Awakening

A religious revival movement during the early 19th century that led to increased church attendance and social reform.

John Marshall

The longest-serving Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court whose decisions established the principles of federalism and judicial review.

Gibbons v. Ogden

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the national government's authority to regulate interstate commerce.

Worcester v. Georgia

An 1832 Supreme Court case that upheld the rights of the Cherokee nation to their lands, but was ignored by President Jackson.