Early Republic & Jacksonian Democracy: Key Terms & Events

Washington's Farewell Address

He warned against political parties dividing the country and becoming too involved in foreign conflicts and permanent alliances.

Political Factions

Groups organized around different governmental beliefs. Washington worried they could divide the country.

National Unity

Putting the interests of the whole country above party or regional interests.

Federalists

Party that favored a strong federal government, national bank, manufacturing, and commerce.

Democratic-Republicans

Party that favored states' rights, limited federal power, and an agricultural economy.

National Bank

Bank supported by Federalists to strengthen the national economy. Democratic-Republicans opposed it because they feared too much federal power.

Jefferson's First Inaugural Address

_____ called for political unity after the bitter Election of 1800 and argued that Americans still shared important principles despite party differences.

Election of 1800

Thomas Jefferson defeated the Federalists, producing the first peaceful transfer of power between political parties in U.S. history.

Revolution of 1800

Name for the Election of 1800 because political power changed dramatically through voting rather than violence.

Jefferson-Burr Tie

Jefferson and Aaron Burr each received 73 electoral votes, so the House of Representatives had to decide the election.

12th Amendment

Required electors to cast separate votes for president and vice president, preventing another Jefferson-Burr situation.

Peaceful Transfer of Power

When control of the government changes political parties without violence, as happened in 1800.

Impressment

British practice of taking sailors from ships and forcing them into the British Navy, including some American sailors.

One cause of the War of 1812

Britain stopped American ships and restricted American trade, angering the United States.

War Hawks

Members of Congress who pushed for war against Britain because of impressment, trade interference, British support for Native resistance, and other disputes.

War of 1812

This war between the United States and Britain was caused by disputes including impressment, trade restrictions, and western conflicts.

Treaty of Ghent

Treaty that ended the War of 1812.

Battle of New Orleans

Major American victory led by Andrew Jackson that made him a national hero.

James Monroe

Fifth president; associated with the Monroe Doctrine, Missouri Compromise, and Era of Good Feelings.

Louisiana Purchase

U.S. purchase of a huge amount of French territory for $15 million, roughly doubling U.S. territory. Monroe helped negotiate the deal.

Monroe Doctrine

Warned European countries against new colonization or interference in the Americas while the U.S. generally stayed out of European political conflicts.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state and restricted slavery in much of the Louisiana Purchase north of 36°30′.

Panic of 1819

Major economic crisis involving unemployment, debt, bank failures, and foreclosures.

John Quincy Adams

Sixth president who favored national economic development and federally supported improvements.

Corrupt Bargain

Jackson supporters accused Henry Clay of helping John Quincy Adams become president in exchange for becoming Secretary of State. The accusation was never proven.

Democratic Party

Political party that developed around Jackson and his supporters and organized large numbers of voters.

Jacksonian Democracy

Period when political participation expanded among white men, political parties became stronger, and campaigning became more focused on ordinary voters.

Nullification Crisis

A conflict in 1832–1833 occurred when South Carolina declared that it could ignore federal tariffs it believed were unconstitutional, challenging the power of the federal government.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Law authorizing the federal government to pursue the relocation of Native nations living east of the Mississippi to lands farther west.

Trail of Tears

Forced removal of the Cherokee westward. Thousands died from disease, hunger, exposure, and harsh conditions.