Andrew Jackson and the Mexican War Exam Notes

Key Figures

  • Andrew Jackson

    • 7th President of the United States
    • Controversial leader known for military victory at the Battle of New Orleans
    • Issued the Indian Removal Act
    • Initiated the "Bank War" against the Second Bank of the United States (BUS)
    • Opposed nullification of federal laws

  • Henry Clay

    • Political leader who supported rechartering the BUS

  • John C. Calhoun

    • Vice President under Andrew Jackson
    • Influential proponent of states' rights

  • Nicholas Biddle

    • President of the BUS
    • Viewed as a powerful and wealthy banker

  • James K. Polk

    • 11th President of the United States
    • Advocated for the annexation of Texas to protect U.S. interests in the southwest

  • Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott

    • Military leaders involved in the Mexican War

  • Sam Houston

    • Leader who supported Texas independence from Mexico
    • Key figure in the Texas Revolution as part of the "Lone Star Republic"

Vocabulary

  • Nullification

    • The right of states to invalidate federal laws deemed unconstitutional within their boundaries

  • Manifest Destiny

    • The belief that American expansion from the Atlantic to the Pacific was justified and inevitable, often with religious undertones

  • Mexican War

    • Conflict between Mexico and the United States following the annexation of Texas
    • Debates over justification for the war included claims of a Mexican invasion versus accusations of U.S. provocation

  • Mexican Cession

    • Territories gained by the USA after the war, including California, Nevada, Utah, parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico

  • The Alamo

    • Historic site in San Antonio; former Spanish mission where a pivotal battle occurred during the Texas Revolution

  • Cherokee Appeal

    • Legal battle by the Cherokee Nation against state laws in Georgia, striking a landmark case on Native American rights

  • Kitchen Cabinet

    • Andrew Jackson's informal group of advisors, reflecting reliance on personal relationships over formal appointments

  • Trail of Tears

    • Forced relocation of the Cherokee people, involving a harsh 1,200-mile journey under armed guard

  • Force Bill

    • Gave the President power to use military force to enforce federal laws

  • Whig Party

    • Political party founded in opposition to Andrew Jackson and the Democrats, advocated for federal infrastructure and bank regulation

  • Second Bank of the United States

    • Jackson viewed this institution as favoring his political opponents; he vetoed recharter, leading to economic turmoil

  • Gadsden Purchase

    • Acquisition of additional land from Mexico, specifically parts of Arizona and New Mexico

Writing Topics

  • Arguments for and against the War with Mexico

    • For:
    • Claim of Mexican invasion; duty to protect American lives
    • Against:
    • Destruction and death from war; questionable justification for expansion

  • Lands acquired (1800-1860)

    • Indian Removal Act (1830) led to land dispossession
    • Mexican Cession included key territories
    • Texas annexation expanded U.S. territory significantly
    • Gadsden Purchase further added land

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