APUSH PERIOD 4

When does Period 4 begin and end?

Period 4 spans from 1800 to 1848. It begins with Jefferson’s election (Revolution of 1800) and ends with the Seneca Falls Convention and Mexican

Federalists’ view on French Revolution

Opposed it—feared radicalism and preferred trade stability with Britain.

Democratic Republicans’ view on French Revolution

Democratic-Republicans supported the French Revolution, viewing it as a fight for liberty and republican ideals.

Federalists’ view on federal power

Favored strong central government to promote commerce and maintain order.

Democratic Republicans’ view on federal power

Democratic-Republicans believed in limited federal power and strong state governments. They feared that a powerful national government could become tyrannical, like British rule. Instead, they wanted most decisions—especially about the economy and laws—to be made locally. They supported a strict interpretation of the Constitution to keep federal authority in check.

Federalists’ preferred economic activities

Manufacturing, trade, and banking—urban

Democratic Republicans’ preferred economic activities

Democratic-Republicans preferred agriculture and small-scale farming as the foundation of the economy. They believed economic independence came from land ownership and rural life, not big cities or industrial growth.

Federalists’ stance on National Bank

Supported it—believed it stabilized the economy.

Democratic Republicans’ stance on National Bank

Democratic-Republicans opposed the National Bank, believing it was unconstitutional and favored wealthy elites over agrarian citizens.

Federalists’ interpretation of Constitution

Loose interpretation—allowed implied powers.

Democratic Republicans’ interpretation of Constitution

Democratic-Republicans favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution, believing the federal government should only exercise powers explicitly granted by it.

Federalist leader

Alexander Hamilton

Democratic Republican leaders

Key Democratic-Republican leaders included Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

Washington’s Farewell Address messages

Avoid political parties and permanent foreign alliances.

Why Washington warned about parties and alliances

George Washington warned that political parties could divide the nation and empower self-serving leaders, while permanent foreign alliances might entangle the U.S. in unnecessary wars and compromise its independence. He urged Americans to prioritize unity and cautious diplomacy.

Jay’s Treaty problem

The main problem with Jay’s Treaty (1794) was that many Americans felt it favored Britain too much. It didn’t stop British attacks on American ships or address the issue of British impressment (forcing U.S. sailors into the British navy). People also disliked that it gave Britain continued access to trade in the U.S. while not securing strong benefits for America. This caused major protests and deepened political divisions between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

Jay’s Treaty impact

Improved trade with Britain, angered France, deepened political divisions.

Louisiana Purchase problem

The Louisiana Purchase raised questions about the constitutional authority of the federal government to acquire new land. It also intensified debates over the expansion of slavery into the vast new territory.

Louisiana Purchase impact

Doubled U.S. territory, boosted westward expansion.

War of 1812 cause

The War of 1812 happened because Britain was interfering with American trade and forcing U.S. sailors into their navy. It also fueled tensions with Native Americans and stirred up calls for war from U.S. leaders who wanted to defend national honor.

War of 1812 impact

The War of 1812 boosted American nationalism and proved the U.S. could stand up to Britain. It weakened Native American resistance in the Northwest and disrupted trade, but it also sparked domestic manufacturing. After the war, the U.S. entered the “Era of Good Feelings,” with rising unity and pride.

Monroe Doctrine problem

The Monroe Doctrine became problematic as it was later used to justify U.S. intervention in Latin America, shifting from a protective stance against European powers to a tool of American dominance. This led to regional resentment and accusations of imperialism.

Monroe Doctrine impact

The Monroe Doctrine warned European powers not to interfere in the Americas, asserting U.S. influence over the Western Hemisphere. Over time, it became a key justification for American intervention in Latin American affairs.

Marbury v. Madison significance

Established judicial review—Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland impact

States can’t tax federal institutions—confirmed implied powers and federal supremacy.

Gibbons v. Ogden impact

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) strengthened the federal government’s power over interstate commerce. The Supreme Court ruled that only Congress not individual states could regulate trade between states. This decision helped unify the national economy and limited state control over transportation and business across state lines.

EX: So if you're selling something from Texas to Louisiana, only the federal government can regulate that, not Texas or Louisiana on their own. This keeps trade fair and consistent across the country

Why participatory democracy expanded in 1820s

Participatory democracy expanded in the 1820s because more white men gained the right to vote as property requirements were dropped. Political parties began actively campaigning to involve ordinary citizens, using rallies and newspapers to stir public interest. The rise of leaders like Andrew Jackson, who claimed to represent the “common man,” encouraged broader political engagement. This shift gave more people a voice in government decisions and helped shape a more inclusive political culture—though it still excluded women, Native Americans, and most Black Americans.

Who benefited from expanded democracy

Democratic Party and Andrew Jackson.

Jackson’s justification for spoils system

Promoted rotation in office—ordinary citizens deserved government roles.

Jackson overstepping examples

Ignoring vetoing snails frequent rights

• Ignoring the Supreme Court: In Worcester v. Georgia, the Court ruled in favor of the Cherokee Nation. Jackson reportedly defied the decision, leading to the Trail of Tears.

• Vetoing the National Bank: He vetoed the recharter of the Second Bank of the U.S., not just for legal reasons but because he personally disliked it—expanding executive power.

• Using the Spoils System: Jackson replaced government officials with loyal supporters, prioritizing loyalty over qualifications.

• Force Bill and Nullification Crisis: He used military threats against South Carolina when it tried to nullify federal tariffs, asserting strong federal control.

• Frequent use of veto power: Jackson used the presidential veto more than all previous presidents combined, reshaping its role from constitutional check to political weapon.

Democratic republican view on federal power

Limited government—states should handle most issues.

Whigs’ view on federal power

Strong federal government to promote development.

Democrats’ stance on tariffs

Opposed—hurt Southern consumers and farmers.

Whigs’ stance on tariffs

Supported—protected Northern industries.

Democrats’ view on National Bank

Opposed—saw it as corrupt and elitist.

Whigs’ view on National Bank

Supported—believed it stabilized economy.

Democrats’ view on internal improvements

Opposed federal funding—wanted states to manage infrastructure.

Whigs’ view on internal improvements

Supported federal funding for roads, canals, railroads.

Who was the Democratic Republican leader?

Andrew Jackson

Whig leaders

Henry Clay, Daniel Webster

Why remove Native Americans from Southeast

Land hunger—settlers wanted fertile land for cotton.

Worcester v. Georgia ruling

Cherokee Nation was a distinct community, they didn't have to leave—Georgia laws didn’t apply.

Jackson’s response to Worcester v. Georgia

Ignored ruling—defied Supreme Court.

Effect of Indian Removal Act

The Indian Removal Act forced Native American tribes to leave their lands and move west of the Mississippi River. Thousands died during the journey, especially on the Trail of Tears. Tribes lost their homes, sacred sites, and cultural connections. The law helped white settlers gain land for farming. It showed how the U.S. government ignored Native rights and court rulings.

What is the Market Revolution

The Market Revolution was a 19th-century shift in the U.S. from local economies to a national market system, driven by industrialization, transportation, and communication advances. It transformed how Americans worked, traded, and lived, fueling urban growth and regional specialization.

Who proposed American System

Henry Clay

Three parts of American System

The American System, championed by Henry Clay, had three key components: a national bank to stabilize currency, protective tariffs to support American manufacturing, and federal funding for internal improvements like roads and canals. These measures aimed to unify the U.S. economy and promote national growth. It reflected early efforts to strengthen federal economic power.

Why oppose federal internal improvements

Opposition to federal internal improvements stemmed from constitutional concerns about limited government powers and fears that such projects would favor certain regions economically. Critics also worried that federal funding would increase national debt and undermine state authority.

Erie Canal’s impact

Linked North and Midwest—boosted trade, isolated South.

Production innovations

Interchangeable parts, factory system.

Impact of production innovations

Lowered costs, increased efficiency, shifted labor to factories.

Speed and efficiency of manufacturing increased or decreased?

Increased dramatically.

Cost of goods

Decreased due to mass production.

More people switched from farming to

Wage labor in factories and cities.

Work shifted from home to….

Factories, especially in urban areas.

Transportation innovations

Steamboats, railroads.

Communication innovation

Telegraph

Agricultural innovations

Agricultural innovations like the mechanical reaper, steel plow, and crop rotation techniques

Lowell System impact on working life

Introduced regimented factory schedules.

Lowell System impact on women

Gave young women The Lowell System gave young women in the 19th century rare access to paid work, education, and independence. While they lived in supervised boardinghouses and worked long hours in textile mills, many used their wages to support families or pursue schooling. Over time, worsening conditions led women to organize strikes and demand labor reforms. Their activism helped spark early movements for workers’ rights and women’s empowerment.

Cult of Domesticity

Belief that women’s role was in the home—moral guardians.

Cult of Domesticity and gender roles

Reinforced domestic roles as men worked outside.

Cotton gin impact on Southern economy

Increased demand for slave labor and expanded plantations.

Cotton gin impact on Northern economy

Boosted textile manufacturing—mills relied on Southern cotton.

Second Great Awakening

Religious revival emphasizing salvation, free will, and reform.

Causes of Second Great Awakening

a combination of social, political, and religious factors, including the growth of American democracy and individualism, the influence of the Market Revolution, and a backlash against Enlightenment rationalism. These shifts led to a religious revival that emphasized personal faith, the possibility of salvation for everyone, and emotional experiences over traditional authority. 

Impact of Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening sparked a wave of religious revival and social reform in the early 1800s. It inspired people to improve society, leading to movements like abolition, women’s rights, and temperance. More Americans—especially in rural and frontier areas—became active in churches and moral causes. It also emphasized personal salvation and emotional preaching, making religion more accessible and democratic.

Temperance Society reaction

Alcohol abuse linked to poverty and violence.

Temperance Society goal

Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption.

Horace Mann reaction

Unequal access to education.

Horace Mann goal

Public schools for all—promote civic virtue.

Dorothea Dix reaction

Dorothea Dix supported federal internal improvements when they advanced humanitarian causes, especially mental health care. She lobbied Congress to allocate federal land for public asylums, arguing that national resources should aid society’s most vulnerable

Dorothea Dix goal

Reform institutions and improve treatment of mentally ill.

African Americans’ rights in North

In the North, African Americans had more legal freedoms than in the South but still faced widespread discrimination and limited civil rights. They often struggled with unequal access to education, employment, and voting.

William Lloyd Garrison’s view on emancipation

Immediate, uncompensated—slavery is a moral evil.

Who was Frederick Douglass

Former enslaved man—abolitionist leader, writer, speaker.

American Colonization Society goal

The goal of the American Colonization Society, founded in 1816, was to relocate free African Americans to Africa, particularly to the colony that became Liberia. Supporters believed this would reduce racial tensions in the U.S., though critics saw it as avoiding the fight for true equality.

Abolitionists and women’s rights. how do they go together?

Many abolitionists also supported women’s rights, recognizing that both enslaved people and women were denied freedom and equality. Their shared fight for justice helped launch the women’s rights movement in the mid-1800s.

Seneca Falls organizers

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott

Declaration of Sentiments goals

The Declaration of Sentiments, written in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention, aimed to demand equal rights for women. It called for women's suffrage, legal equality, and access to education and employment. Modeled after the Declaration of Independence, it declared that "all men and women are created equal."

Hudson River School impact

Painted landscapes—celebrated nature and national pride.

Transcendentalists’ impact

Transcendentalists like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau inspired a movement that emphasized individual conscience, nature, and self-reliance. Their ideas influenced American literature, social reform, and early environmentalism.

North’s economic activity

Manufacturing and trade.

South’s economic activity

Cotton plantations using enslaved labor.

West’s economic activity

Farming—grain and livestock.

North’s view on tariffs

Supported—protected industries.

South’s view on tariffs

The South opposed tariffs because they raised the cost of imported goods and hurt trade with Europe. Southern states relied on exporting cotton and buying manufactured goods from abroad, so tariffs made life more expensive. They saw tariffs as favoring Northern factories at the South’s expense.

West’s view on tariffs

Mixed—some supported for infrastructure.

North’s view on slavery

Opposed—small farmers didn’t want slave competition.

South’s view on slavery

Supported—essential to economy.

West’s view on slavery

Divided—some supported, others opposed.

American System and sectionalism

North/West benefited; South opposed costs and exclusion.

South Carolina Exposition and Protest, who wrote it and what was it?

The South Carolina Exposition and Protest (1828), written by John C. Calhoun, argued that states had the right to nullify federal laws they believed were unconstitutional—specifically targeting the Tariff of Abominations. It laid the foundation for the Nullification Crisis and intensified debates over states’ rights.

Similarity to KY/VA Resolutions

The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions argued that states could reject federal laws they believed were unconstitutional. This idea—called nullification—was later echoed by Democratic-Republicans, especially in their opposition to federal power and support for strong state governments. Both promoted the belief that states had the right to challenge or limit federal authority.

SC response to Tariff of 1832

Nullified tariff, threatened secession.

Foreshadowing Civil War

States willing to defy federal law—secession possible.

Jackson’s position on nullification

Opposed—passed Force Bill to enforce federal law.

Sectional problem with westward expansion

Westward expansion deepened sectional tensions by raising disputes over whether new territories would permit slavery, threatening the balance of power between free and slave states. These conflicts fueled mistrust and set the stage for national division.

Missouri Compromise year

1820

Missouri Compromise and Louisiana Purchase

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 directly addressed the expansion of slavery into the Louisiana Purchase territory. It allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, preserving the balance in Congress. Crucially, it banned slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Territory north of the 36°30′ latitude line. This compromise was the first major attempt to regulate slavery in newly acquired western lands.