unit4 apush

Period 4 Reading Guide (Ch. 7-11)

Key Concept 4.1 — Development of a Modern Democracy and National Culture

• The United States transitioned to a more participatory democracy, expanding suffrage beyond property ownership to all adult white men and encouraging political parties.

Jefferson’s Presidency

• Military and Economic Policies: undid Hamilton’s federalist polices
    - Reduced the size of the military to decrease government spending.
    - Repealed excise taxes, including the whiskey tax.
    - Lowered the national debt significantly during his term.

• Legal Actions:
    - Suspended the Alien and Sedition Acts to alleviate tension from political dissent.
    - Maintained the national bank, ensuring stability in finance.
    - Adopted a looser interpretation of the Constitution, exemplified by the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, which embodied his vision of an agrarian society populated by independent farmers.

• Foreign Policy Concerns:
    - Expressed concerns regarding foreign control over New Orleans' waterways that could entangle the US in European wars.
    - Faced diplomatic tensions due to British impressment of American sailors; an anti-British sentiment grew after the Chesapeake incident where British forces attacked an American ship, resulting in casualties.

• Legislative Actions:
    - Jefferson enacted the Embargo Act as a response to British actions, which ultimately proved economically detrimental to the U.S.

Madison’s Presidency

• Political Landscape:
    - In the election of 1808, Madison witnessed a resurgence of Federalists in Congress due to the unfavorable consequences of the Embargo Act.
    - After repealing the Embargo, the Nonintercourse Act was established, allowing trade with nations excluding Britain and France.

• War of 1812:
    - Causes included British support for Native American resistance against American westward expansion and maritime grievances.
    - The War Hawks, led by figures like Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, advocated for conflict to defend national honor.
    - The war ended without territorial changes and disbanded the Federalist party due to their opposition to it, with significant national respect gained post-war and the emergence of Andrew Jackson as a notable hero.

Era of Good Feelings

• Characterized by reduced partisan divisions and the decline of the Federalist party, marking a period of nationalism and optimism.

• The Democratic-Republicans absorbed certain Federalist policies, igniting debates over internal improvements, tariffs, and the national bank amidst growing sectional tensions regarding slavery.

Monroe’s Presidency

• American System:
    - Proposed by Henry Clay, aimed to unify the nation through protective tariffs, a national bank, and infrastructure improvements, although Monroe vetoed federal funds for state improvements based on constitutional grounds.

• Political and Economic Crises:
    - The Panic of 1819, the first major financial crisis, was triggered by efforts of the Second Bank to control inflation.

• Missouri Compromise:
    - A legislative measure designed to maintain a balance between free and slave states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state while prohibiting slavery above the 36°30' latitude line.
    - Represented deepening sectional divides amid a growing sense of nationalism.

• Monroe Doctrine:
    - Established a U.S. sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere and warned European nations against further colonization.

Significant Supreme Court Cases During the Marshall Court

• Fletcher v. Peck:
    - Affirmed the sanctity of contracts by ruling that states could not invalidate contracts.

• Martin v. Hunter’s Lease:
    - Established that the Supreme Court had jurisdiction over state courts in cases involving constitutional issues.

• Dartmouth College v. Woodward:
    - Asserted that contracts for private corporations could not be altered by state legislatures.

• McCulloch v. Maryland:
    - Established that states could not tax federal institutions, reinforcing federal supremacy.

• Cohens v. Virginia:
    - Allowed the Supreme Court to review state court decisions affecting federal power.

• Gibbons v. Ogden:
    - Affirmed broad federal control over interstate commerce.

Key Concept 4.2 — Economic Innovations and Changes in Society

• New advancements in technology, agriculture, and commerce dramatically transformed the American economy and societal structures.

Transportation and Manufacturing Growth

• The success of the Lancaster Turnpike spurred similar road constructions across the country despite state restrictions on federal spending for improvements.

• The Erie Canal connected western farms to eastern cities, ultimately enhancing agricultural output and economic interconnection.

• Steamboats and railroads revolutionized trade, making shipping cheaper and faster, transforming small towns into bustling commercial hubs.

• Eli Whitney’s cotton gin and the concept of interchangeable parts laid foundations for mass production in Northern factories.

• As the factory system grew, numerous financial institutions emerged, reflecting increased industrial activity and a shift towards commercial farming.

• Women began working in textile mills, especially in Lowell, Massachusetts, under manageable conditions while the era also witnessed a rise in immigrant labor in factories.

• Labor unions emerged in response to poor working conditions, low wages, and long hours, signifying growing worker discontent.

Market Revolution Impact

• The market revolution altered daily lives:
    - The end of self-sufficient households and rise of wage labor.
    - Women gained more agency within family structures yet remained restricted from voting and other rights.
    - The wealth disparity intensified, but social mobility remained achievable.

Regional Economic Transformations

• North: Industrial growth propelled commercial farming, a burgeoning population due to immigration, and established cities functioning as commercial centers.

• South: The agricultural economy thrived on cotton production, leading to dominance by planter aristocracy, increased restrictions on enslaved individuals, and the emergence of a feudal-like society.

• West: Represented opportunities and fresh starts for numerous ethnic groups, though indigenous populations faced challenges due to settlement pressures.

Key Concept 4.3 — Expansionist Foreign Policy

• The U.S. aimed for an independent global stance by expanding its territorial claims and promoting foreign trade.

Territorial Expansion and Foreign Policy

• The Louisiana Purchase facilitated major territorial gains and initiated explorations by Lewis and Clark.

• The War of 1812 aimed to eliminate British influence in the West and solidify U.S. claims over western lands.

• The Adams-Onis Treaty resulted in the acquisition of Florida from Spain.

• John Quincy Adams was a critical figure in shaping U.S. foreign policy, penning the Monroe Doctrine to prioritize American interests in Central and South America.

Native American Displacement

• The Indian Removal Act of 1830 reflected federal policy aimed at relocating Native tribes to designated lands, leading to the tragic Trail of Tears, displacing the Cherokee and resulting in significant deaths.

• Legal cases, such as Cherokee Nation v. Georgia and Worcester v. Georgia, highlighted the conflict between state actions and federal authority.

Manifest Destiny

• The doctrine of Manifest Destiny expressed a belief in the divine right to expand U.S. territory across North America, fueled by a mix of nationalism, economic motivations, and reform ideals.

Conflicts Over Territories

• Growing tensions in regions such as Texas, with significant American settlement leading to conflicts over slavery and autonomy.

• The Aroostook War exemplified territorial disputes, resolved by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty.

• Oregon Territory claims reflected strategic interests for both the U.S. and Britain, culminating in agreement on division along the 49th parallel.

• Polk's administration aggressively pursued the annexation of lands from Mexico, culminating in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which further inflamed sectional debates over slavery.

Conclusion

• Expansion into new territories connected with economic fortunes intensified the national discourse on slavery and sectional identities, leading up to the divide that characterized the antebellum period.