APUSH Period 4 Vocab

Revolution of 1800

In 1800, Two Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr defeated Federalist John Adams, but tied with each other. The final decision went to the House of Representatives, where Jefferson was finally chosen as president. Burr became vice-president. This led to the 12th Amendment, which requires the president and VP to run on the same ticket. Jefferson’s election changed the direction of the government from Federalist to Democratic-Republican, so it was called a revolution.

Thomas Jefferson

3rd President of US. He believed in a less aristocratic presidency. He wanted to reduce federal spending and government interference in everyday life. He was a Democratic-Republican so he believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution. Inaugural address, “We are all Federalists, we are all Republicans.”

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Resulted from controversy over Adams midnight judges. No ruling is made on midnight judges but significance of this case is that Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall established the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review, which allows the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional. 

John Marshall

Justice Marshall was a Federalist whose decisions on the US Supreme Court promoted federal power over state power and established the judiciary as a branch of government equal to the legislative and executive. 

Cohens v. Virginia (1821)

Marshall asserted the right of the Supreme Court to review decisions made by state supreme courts. More power to the federal government.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

John Marshall declared the bank of the United States constitutional and said that states had no right to tax or otherwise try to destroy the bank. The Bank was much more popular in the North than the South and West and some states were trying to weaken or destroy it in their states. 

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

The ruling reasserted that Congress had the sole power to regulate interstate commerce.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

The US purchased the land from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains from Napoleon for $15 million. Jefferson was interested in the territory because it would give the US the Mississippi River and New Orleans (both were valuable for trade and shipping) and also room to expand. The Constitution did not give the federal government the power to buy land, so Jefferson used loose construction to justify the purchase which is contrary to his politics. Explored by Lewis and Clark.

Embargo Act (1807)

Jefferson cuts off American exports to the rest of the world to punish Britain and France for interfering in American trade. Unintended consequence is a downturn in American economy. Embargo Act is strongly opposed in New England and depicted as “O-Grab-Me” in political cartoons in opposition to the Act.

James Madison

4th President of US. “Father of the Constitution” His proposals for an effective government became the Virginia Plan, which was the basis for the Constitution. He was responsible for most of the language of the Constitution, author of Federalist Papers, and adding Bill of Rights. Leader of Democratic-Republicans.

War of 1812

A war between the US and Great Britain caused by American outrage over the impressment of American sailors, the British seizure of American ships, and British aid to the Indians attacking the Americans on the western frontier. The British managed to invade and burn Washington DC. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war. Two weeks later, Andrew Jackson’s troops defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans, not knowing that a peace treaty had already been signed. The war strengthened American nationalism and encouraged the growth of industry.

Hartford Convention

A meeting of New England merchants who opposed the Embargo and the War of 1812. They proposed some Amendments to the Constitution and advocated the right of states to nullify federal laws. They also discussed the idea of seceding from the US if their desires were ignored. The Hartford Convention turned public sentiment against the Federalists and led to the demise of the party. 

Tecumseh

A Shawnee Chief who, along with his brother, a religious leader known as The Prophet, worked to unite the Northwestern Indian Tribes. The league of tribes was defeated by an American army led by William Henry Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Tecumseh was killed fighting for the British during the War of 1812 at the Battle of the Thames in 1813.  

Era of Good Feelings

A name for President James Monroe’s two terms, a period of strong nationalism, economic growth, and territorial expansion. Since the Federalist Party dissolved after the War of 1812, there was only one political party and no partisan conflicts. Sectionalism still did exist over slavery. 

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

Declared that Europe should not interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere and that any attempt at interference by a European power would be seen as a threat to the US. It also declared that a New World colony which has gained independence may not be re-colonized by Europe. Actually written by secretary of State John Quincy Adams during the Monroe administrations. 

Missouri Compromise

Also called Compromise of 1820. Admitted Missouri as a slave state and at the same time admitted Maine as a free state. Declared that all territory North of the 36°30” latitude would become free states, and all territory south of that latitiude would become slave states. Created by Henry Clay (The Great Compromise)

King Cotton

Expression used by Southern authors and orators before the Civil War to indicate the economic dominance of the Southern cotton industry, and that the North needed the South’s cotton. In a speech to the Senate in 1858, James Hammond declared, “You daren’t make war against cotton!…Cotton is King!”

Fredrick Douglas

A self-educated slave who escaped in 1838, Douglas became the best-known abolitionist speaker. He edited an anti-slavery newspaper, the North Star.

Second Great Awakening

A series of religious revivals starting in 1801, that stressed a religious philosophy of salvation through good deeds and tolerance for all Protestant sects. The revivals attracted women and African-Americans. Also inspired social reform movements such as abolition, temperance, and prison reform. Charles Finney the most notable of the Second Great Awakening preachers. 

Harriet Tubman

A former escaped slave, she helped slaves escape the South through a secret network of hiding places called the Underground Railroad, leading 60-70 slaves to freedom.

Denmark Vesey Confederation (1822)

Attempted slave revolt in which rebels planned to seize control of Charleston S.C. and escape to freedom In Haiti, a free black republic, but they were betrayed by other slaves, and seventy-five conspirators were executed.

Nat Turner (1831)

Slave uprising. A group of 60 slaves led by Nat Turner killed almost 60 Whites in Virginia. As a result, slave states strengthened measures against slaves and became more united in their support of fugitive slave laws. Southern states also strengthened black codes and restricted Northern abolitionist newspapers. 

David Walker

David Walker was a free black man who published his Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World in 1829, advocating a black rebellion to crush slavery. The purpose of Walker’s Appeal was to remind his people that they were Americans and should be treated fairly. 

William Lloyd Garrison

A militant abolitionist, editor of Boston newspaper, The Liberator, which gained national fame due to his inflammatory language, attacking everything from slave holders to moderate abolitionists, and advocating northern secession. 

Gag Rule

Strict rule passed by pro-southern Congressman in 1836 to prohibit all discussion of slavery in the House of Representatives

Hinton Helper

Book titled ‘Impending Crisis of the South’ that stirred trouble. Attempted to prove that indirectly the non-slave holding whites were the ones who suffered the most from slavery.