APUSH Vocab #3

Ninth Amendment

The Ninth Amendment (1791) states that the rights listed in the Constitution are not the only rights people have, protecting unenumerated rights of the people.

Judiciary Act of 1789

The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the federal court system, including the Supreme Court, and set up lower federal courts to handle cases under U.S. law.

Republican Motherhood

Republican Motherhood was the idea that women should be educated to raise informed, virtuous citizens, promoting civic responsibility and supporting the new republic.

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury who supported a strong federal government, created the national bank, and developed plans to manage U.S. debt and strengthen the economy.

assumption

Assumption was Alexander Hamilton’s plan for the federal government to take over state debts from the Revolutionary War, unifying the nation’s finances and strengthening federal power.

funding at par

Funding at par was a financial plan where the federal government paid off its Revolutionary War debts at full value, helping build national credit and trust in the U.S. economy.

B.U.S.

The B.U.S. (Bank of the United States) was a national bank proposed by Alexander Hamilton to help manage the country’s debt, issue currency, and stabilize the economy.

loose interpretation"

Loose interpretation is the belief that the federal government can take actions not specifically forbidden by the Constitution if they are necessary to carry out its duties, allowing more flexibility than strict interpretation.

elastic clause

The Elastic Clause (or Necessary and Proper Clause) in the Constitution allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its powers, even if not specifically listed, giving flexibility to the federal government.

Federalist Party

The Federalist Party was led by Alexander Hamilton and supported a strong national government, a national bank, and close ties with Britain, favoring industry and commerce.

strict interpretation

Strict interpretation is the belief that the federal government can only do what the Constitution explicitly says, leaving all other powers to the states.

Tenth Amendment

The Tenth Amendment states that any powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution belong to the states or the people

Democratic-Republican

Party

The Democratic-Republican Party was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. It supported strong state governments, agrarian interests, and strict interpretation of the Constitution, opposing the Federalist Party.

Whiskey Rebellion

(excise tax)

The Whiskey Rebellion (1794) was a protest by farmers in Pennsylvania against a tax on whiskey (an excise tax). George Washington led federal forces to enforce the law, showing that the new government had the power to maintain order.

Neutrality Proclamation

1793

The Neutrality Proclamation (1793) was issued by George Washington to declare that the United States would remain neutral in the war between France and Britain, avoiding involvement in European conflicts.

Edmund Genet

Edmond-Charles Genêt was a French ambassador to the U.S. during Washington’s presidency who tried to recruit Americans to fight against Britain, ignoring U.S. neutrality and causing a diplomatic controversy.

Washington’s Farewell

Address

Washington’s Farewell Address (1796) was a speech in which George Washington warned against political parties and permanent foreign alliances, urging the nation to stay united and independent.

Battle of Fallen

Timbers

The Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) was a fight between the United States and Native American tribes in the Northwest Territory. The U.S. victory led to the Treaty of Greenville, opening much of Ohio for settlement.

Treaty of Greenville

1795

The Treaty of Greenville (1795) was an agreement between the United States and Native American tribes after Native American losses at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. It gave the U.S. land in present-day Ohio while guaranteeing some Native lands and payment.

Impressment

Impressment was the practice of forcing American sailors into the British navy, which was a major cause of tension leading to the War of 1812.

Jay's Treaty

Jay’s Treaty (1794) was an agreement between the United States and Britain that avoided war, resolved issues left from the Revolutionary War, and allowed limited British trade in America, but it angered many Americans.

Pickney’s Treaty

Pinckney’s Treaty (1795) was an agreement between the United States and Spain that gave the U.S. navigation rights on the Mississippi River and access to the port of New Orleans.

XYZ Affair

Adams sent three delegates from the US to France to ask the French to stop attacking their trade ships. Delegates met up with THREE French representatives, who are known as "X, Y, and Z" France wanted a tribute. US responded with millions for defense but not one cent for tribute"

Quasi-War

The Quasi-War (1798–1800) was an undeclared naval conflict between the United States and France, caused by French attacks on American ships and disputes over treaties.

Alien and Sedition Acts

The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) were laws that made it harder for immigrants to become citizens and punished people for criticizing the government, which angered many and led to the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.

Virginia and Kentucky

Resolution

The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798) were statements by Virginia and Kentucky claiming that states could cancel federal laws they thought were unfair or went against the Constitution

Revolution of 1800

The Revolution of 1800 refers to the peaceful transfer of power from Federalist President John Adams to Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson, showing that the U.S. could change leadership without violence.

Judiciary Act of 1801

The Judiciary Act of 1801 was a law that made new federal courts and judge positions, letting President John Adams choose and appoint “midnight judges” right before Thomas Jefferson became president.

John Marshall

John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1801–1835) who strengthened federal power and shaped the role of the judicial branch through decisions like Marbury v. Madison.

Marbury v. Madison

(Judicial Review)

Marbury v. Madison (1803) was a Supreme Court case that established judicial review, giving the Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional and strengthening the judicial branch.

Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase (1803) was when the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France, doubling the size of the country and giving control of the Mississippi River for trade.

Sacajawea

Sacajawea was a Shoshone woman who helped Lewis and Clark during their expedition by guiding them and acting as an interpreter with Native American tribes.

Merriweather Lewis

Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer who, with William Clark, led the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) to explore the Louisiana Territory, map the land, and study its plants, animals, and people.

William Clark

William Clark was an American explorer who, along with Meriwether Lewis, led the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) to map and explore the Louisiana Territory and establish relations with Native Americans.

Zebulon Pike

Zebulon Pike was an American explorer who led expeditions in the early 1800s to map the Louisiana Territory and the Southwest, including what is now Colorado (Pikes Peak is named after him).

Chesapeake Incident

The Chesapeake Incident (1807) occurred when a British ship attacked the U.S. Navy ship Chesapeake off the coast of Virginia, forcing the crew aboard. This angered Americans and helped lead to the Embargo Act.

Embargo Act

The Embargo Act (1807) banned all U.S. trade with foreign countries to pressure Britain and France to respect American ships. It hurt the U.S. economy more than Europe and was later repealed.

Non-Intercourse Act

The Non-Intercourse Act (1809) banned trade with only Britain and France while allowing trade with other countries. It was meant to pressure Britain and France to respect U.S. neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars.

Macon's Bill # 2

Macon’s Bill No. 2 (1810) was a law aimed at stopping British and French interference with U.S. trade. It promised that the U.S. would resume trade with whichever nation stopped attacking American ships first.

Barbary States

The Barbary States were North African countries (like Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers) that attacked American ships in the early 1800s. The U.S. fought the Barbary Wars to protect its trade and stop paying tribute to them.

Tecumseh

Tecumseh was a Shawnee leader who worked to unite Native American tribes to resist U.S. expansion into their lands. He allied with the British during the War of 1812.

War Hawks

War Hawks were members of Congress, mostly from the South and West, who wanted war with Britain in 1812. They pushed for the War of 1812 to defend American honor, protect trade, and expand territory.

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Britain from 1812 to 1815. Causes included British interference with U.S. trade, impressment of American sailors, and conflicts with Native Americans. The war ended with the Treaty of Ghent, restoring prewar borders.

Treaty of Ghent

The Treaty of Ghent (1814) ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain. It restored prewar borders and resolved few other issues, essentially returning things to the way they were before the war.

Hartford Convention

The Hartford Convention (1814–1815) was a meeting of New England Federalists who were unhappy with the War of 1812. They discussed limiting federal power and even secession, but the convention lost influence after the war ended successfully.

Henry Clay

Henry Clay was a U.S. politician known as the “Great Compromiser” for helping settle disputes between free and slave states. He supported the American System to strengthen the economy and promoted national unity.

American System

The American System was Henry Clay’s plan to strengthen the U.S. economy through protective tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements like roads and canals to help trade and unite the country.

McCulloch v. Maryland

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) was a Supreme Court case that ruled states cannot tax the federal government and that Congress has implied powers under the Constitution, such as creating a national bank. It strengthened federal authority over the states.

Missouri Compromise

The Missouri Compromise (1820) allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, keeping the balance between slave and free states. It also banned slavery north of the 36°30′ line in the Louisiana Territory.

Rush-Bagot Treaty

The Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817) was an agreement between the United States and Britain to limit naval weapons on the Great Lakes, helping reduce tensions and strengthen peaceful relations after the War of 1812.

Adams-Onis Treaty

The Adams-Onís Treaty (1819) was an agreement between the United States and Spain in which the U.S. gained Floridaand set the western border between U.S. and Spanish territory. In return, the U.S. gave up claims to Texas.

Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine (1823) was a policy warning European nations not to create new colonies or interfere in the Americas. In return, the United States promised to stay out of European affairs. It showed that the U.S. wanted to protect its part of the world and act as a strong, independent nation.

Era of Good Feeling

The Era of Good Feelings (1815–1825) was a time when Americans felt united and proud after the War of 1812. There was little political conflict, but differences over slavery and the economy soon caused tension.