The Hartford Convention is important for understanding the early history of the United States.
War of 1812:
The War of 1812 was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain.
The United States was caught in the crossfire of the Napoleonic Wars between Great Britain and France.
Both countries targeted American merchants for resources, leading to British impressment of American sailors.
President Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807 aimed to prevent the exportation of American goods to compel Great Britain to stop kidnapping American sailors but failed.
President Madison passed Macon’s Bill No. 2 to remove trade restrictions and stimulate the economy.
France agreed to trade with the United States, leading to a trade prohibition against Great Britain, resulting in war.
The Federalists:
The Federalist Party, centered in New England, opposed the War of 1812.
They felt the war would destroy the new nation and secretly supported British soldiers.
New England states refused to activate state militias for the federal government.
The Hartford Convention:
The Hartford Convention was held in Connecticut from December 15, 1814, to January 5, 1815.
Delegates from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire met to discuss grievances.
The Federalists disagreed with the war and felt New England was unfairly paying for it.
The Embargo Act of 1807 and Macon’s Bill No. 2 harmed New England’s economy.
They proposed amendments to curb the administration's power, including:
Prohibiting trade sanctions lasting over 60 days.
Requiring a two-thirds Congressional majority vote for declaring war.
Repealing the three-fifths compromise.
Limiting presidents to one term.
Requiring each new president to come from a different state.
Secession from the Union was discussed but not agreed upon.
The victory of General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans discredited the Federalists.
The Democratic-Republicans won the War of 1812, strengthening national unity.
The Hartford Convention marked the erasure of doubts in the success of the United States as a democracy.
The event is relevant to questions about political parties and national unity between 1790 and 1840.
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was a proposed legislation that aimed to address the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories during the 1840s and 1850s.
Why Learn It?
Understanding the Wilmot Proviso is crucial for grasping the events leading up to the American Civil War.
It highlights debates over slavery, westward expansion, and political tensions.
What Was It?
The Wilmot Proviso emerged during a time of anti-slavery movements and debates over free vs. slave states.
Westward expansion following the annexation of Texas raised questions about the status of slavery in new territories gained from Mexico.
Political parties sought to limit discussions on slavery but couldn't avoid addressing it in new territories.
President James K. Polk sought congressional approval for a legislative act to negotiate with Mexico.
Democrats proposed an amendment, known as the Wilmot Proviso, to address slavery in these territories.
The Amendment's Stance on Slavery:
David Wilmot and his counterparts proposed the amendment to disallow slavery in territories acquired in negotiations with Mexico.
The amendment served as a stepping stool to make a substantial case and movement against slavery.
Did it Work?
Southern Democrats tried to move the Missouri Compromise line westward to allow slavery in some newly acquired territories, but this failed.
The proviso passed in Congress but was not approved in the Senate.
President Polk brought up the request for funds again, and the Wilmot Proviso was added to the bill but was later removed by the Senate.
The Wilmot Proviso was then added to the treaty that ended the war but was ultimately rejected.
Then What?
The Wilmot Proviso emphasized the slave state versus free state debate and led to the birth of the Free Soil Party.
It sharpened the divide between those in favor of slavery and those against it.
The Wilmot Proviso played a role in pre-Civil War debates on slavery and was a significant part of the Texas annexation and Mexican War process.
The First Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening was a period of religious revival and renewed focus on religion in America during the mid-18th century.
Definition:
A movement of religious revival during the mid to late 18th century.
Background:
The Enlightenment, influenced by the scientific revolution, emphasized logic and reason, leading to a decline in faith and church attendance.
Overview:
The First Great Awakening marked a religious renewal with increased preaching and church attendance.
Religious and spiritual matters became central to American life.
Emotion, more than reason, influenced people’s faith.
Key Figures:
Jonathan Edwards: Known for his sermon "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God" and books like "A Faithful Narrative," which sparked revivals.
George Whitefield: A popular preacher known for his oratory, theatrical teaching style, and emotional impact.
Old Lights vs. New Lights:
Old Lights opposed the emotional fervor of the Great Awakening.
New Lights embraced the emotional aspects and supported the movement.
The divide led to separate churches and universities, including Princeton University.
Effects of the Great Awakening:
Protestant Christianity became prominent, leading to the emergence of various denominations like Methodism, Baptists, and Presbyterians.
The movement unified colonies through shared religious experiences.
Religion became a bigger part of everyday life, emphasizing piety and emotional spirit.
It caused a refocusing on theological ideas like pre-destination versus free will and opened the way for future religious movements.
Why You Need to Know It for AP US History:
Understanding the First Great Awakening is essential for the AP US History exam.
Know the time period, key figures, and the leader who wrote "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
Understand the effects of the Great Awakening, such as increased diversity among religions.
Be aware of the origins, themes, and effects of the movement, including religious fervor and the importance of emotions within religion.
Big Stick Diplomacy
Big Stick Diplomacy refers to Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy approach of negotiating peacefully but recognizing the need for force.
The Quick Details
Definition: A method of negotiating approached peacefully, but recognizing the possible need for force. Specifically used in reference to American foreign affairs during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.
Dates: 1899-1908
Where: American foreign affairs with Latin America, Cuba, and Japan
Who: Theodore Roosevelt and American Congress
Why: To exert American influence and power, and to efficiently expand American markets.
Background:
Theodore Roosevelt coined the phrase "Speak softly and carry a big stick" in 1901, summarizing his foreign policy.
Tensions between American economic markets and foreign markets were building under President William McKinley.
Then What?
Roosevelt's "speak softly" approach: He refrained from using military force to break up strikes, negotiating a deal with mining company leaders instead.
Latin America: In Venezuela, Roosevelt denounced a blockade by Britain and Germany and created a naval presence near Cuba to protect smaller countries' interests.
The Panama Canal: America engineered a revolution in Panama, funding their split from Columbia, to gain permanent access to the canal and cheaper construction rates.
Cuba: The Platt Amendment restricted Cuba's self-rule but gave America rights to intervene when necessary, exemplifying Big Stick Diplomacy.
Dollar Diplomacy
Dollar diplomacy, under President Taft, involved exerting financial power as a form of imperialism, particularly in China and Latin America.
Definition:
Dollar diplomacy is most often defined as exerting financial power as a form of imperialism, as seen in the US under President Taft.
Background:
The period marked by dollar diplomacy is usually marked by the years of 1909-1913.
It followed Theodore Roosevelt’s “Big stick diplomacy,” which involved expanding American influence financially and militarily.
The U.S. emerged as an economic powerhouse due to the effects of the Industrial Revolution.
The Overview:
William Howard Taft, previously Secretary of War under President Roosevelt, became president in 1908.
Taft focused on expanding the United States economic market and increasing the value of the American dollar.
His policy involved replacing military force with financial force, hoping to limit the power of other countries through establishing American business prominence.
Efforts were focused primarily on China and Latin America.
In China, Taft sought to increase American involvement in a Chinese railroad project, but it ultimately failed due to Japan and Russia's interests.
In Latin America, Taft arranged for large investments in countries like Haiti, Liberia, and the Dominican Republic to bring about reform; however, this often led to more tension than peace.
Why it matters for you in AP US History:
Dollar diplomacy is usually recognized as a failure, it is still very important to know about as an AP US History student.
Many of the actions involved in dollar diplomacy eventually led to revolts, Civil Wars, and U.S. military involvement.
The idea of dollar diplomacy in America is part of a larger debate on determining the role of America in global affairs.
The growing tension between imperialists (who want more American involvement overseas) and anti-imperialists (who want America to mind its own business).
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period of rapid industrialization and economic changes that had a profound impact on the United States.
So what exactly was the Industrial Revolution?
The Industrial Revolution was a period (mid-1700s to mid-1800s) marked by rapid industrialization and economic changes.
People shifted from subsistence lifestyles to specializing in producing goods and services, leading to increased production and reliance on obtaining goods from others.
This specialization created a market, and industrialization took hold.
Why is the Industrial Revolution important for APUSH?
Details to know: Eli Whitney and the cotton gin, the widespread use of the steam engine, the importance of steamboats and railroads, and the effect of the telegraph on interstate and international communication.
The Division of Labor.
Industrialization shaped the regional and national economy, causing regions to specialize in producing certain goods and become dependent on each other.
It led to greater importance placed on American land, which helped lead into westward expansion.
Industrialization shaped the American way of life by leading to urbanization, the growth of cities and towns, the formation of a new middle class, and the rise of labor unions.
The Transportation Revolution
The Transportation Revolution refers to the growth of different ways of moving through America and shipping goods back east in the 1800s.
Turnpikes:
Turnpikes were broad, concrete roads with tolls that prevented passage unless they were paid.
The first turnpike in the United States was the Philadelphia-Lancaster Turnpike, completed in 1794.
By 1821, there were over 4,000 miles of turnpikes in the United States.
Canals and the Power of the Steamboat:
Robert Fulton created the first steamboat, named the Clermont, which proved to be a viable means of efficient transportation.
Steamboats dominated the Mississippi River, offering a more comfortable travel experience.
The Erie Canal, connecting the Hudson River and Lake Erie, shortened the trip between Albany and Buffalo to six days from a former 20 days.
Canals facilitated the transport of trade goods and opened up the Ohio Valley to the northeast.
The Railroad:
Railroads played a crucial role in the Transportation Revolution, bringing the east and west coast together.
The Transcontinental Railroad provided a safe means of reaching western states and gave tangible proof that the United States was one single, cohesive country.
It is vital to understand that America could not have become the powerful nation that it did without the Transportation Revolution.
The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival from 1790 to 1840 that reacted to the growth in popularity of science and rationalism.
The Second Great Awakening began when Timothy Dwight was promoted to president of Yale College.
Sermons focused on a kinder, benevolent God.
The American West and Camp Meetings:
Camp meetings were the main venue where the Second Great Awakening was spread.
Some of these camp meetings had about 25,000 attendees.
Attendees would speak in tongues or have convulsive fits due to religious ecstasy.
Early Feminism and Other Reform Movements:
The Second Great Awakening placed women in greater roles than before.
Women were seen as the moral center of the household and were in charge of the spiritual and moral well-being of both their children and their husband.
Women were active participants in the Abolitionist and Temperance Movements
Charles Grandison Finney:
Charles Grandison Finney was a popular preacher during the Second Great Awakening with his fierce oratory skills and intense sermons.
Finney preached that everyone was capable of salvation and there’s not much to do other than have faith in God and perform acts of good work.
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791.
Amendment 1: Freedom of religion, press, speech, and petition.
The desire for freedom of religion drew people to the New World.
Amendment 2: Right to bear arms.
Gives people their right to keep firearms and weaponry, based on the necessity of a “well regulated militia."
Amendment 3: Protection from quartering of troops.
Guarantees that citizens cannot be forced to house soldiers.
Amendment 4: No unreasonable search and seizure
This law indicates the anti-federalist fear of too much government power.
Amendment 5: Right to due process, protection from self-incrimination and double jeopardy, loss of property
Aimed at protecting people from being unfairly accused of a crime.
Amendment 6: Right to a speedy and public trial
The Sixth Amendment protects people who have lawfully been accused of a crime.
Amendment 7: Right to trial by jury
Ensures that a case tried by a jury should not be "reexamined" by another court, unless a law specifically calls for it.
Amendment 8: No Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Protects those accused of a crime from bail costs that are too high, excessive fines, or "cruel and unusual punishment."
Amendment 9: General rights of the people
Just because a right is not spelled out by the Constitution or any of its amendments, does not mean that right doesn’t exist.
Amendment 10: State powers
If the Constitution does not give certain rights to the Federal Government, then those rights belong to the states.
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a movement against the Tariff of 1828, with supporters believing states had the right to nullify federal laws.
South Carolina was particularly outraged by the tariff, as its economy was already experiencing difficulties.
John C. Calhoun, Jackson's Vice President, anonymously published “The South Carolina Exposition,” suggesting the tariff be nullified.
Jackson and Congress enacted the Tariff of 1832, lowering tax rates slightly, but South Carolina threatened to secede if their demands were not met.
Jackson sent an army to South Carolina and issued a Nullification Proclamation, stating secession was impossible.
Henry Clay wrote a proposal for a compromise tariff, which was passed through Congress as the Compromise Tariff of 1833, bringing relief to the Southern states.
Shays' Rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion was an uprising that occurred in western Massachusetts in 1786.
Massachusetts was known for its very strict and conservative government that refused to print its own money to cover debts, choosing instead to pay off the balance by heavily taxing its citizens.
A former army captain and farmer by the name of Daniel Shays rounded up a group of over a thousand angry farmers to march to the federal arsenal located in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts authorities gathered military troops to put a quick and painless end to the rebellion.
The majority of the assembly pitied the rebels and gave them a substantial amount of debt relief.
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a negotiation drafted up by Kentucky politician Henry Clay.
The compromise accomplished a lot:
Clay admitted Missouri in as a slave state.
Clay also separated Maine from Massachusetts and the territory entered the Union as a free state.
Congress also added a provision that banned slavery in all territories included in the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36° 30’ latitude line, also known as the Mason-Dixon line.
Federalists vs. Antifederalists
Federalists backed the Constitution and wanted a strong, centralized government.
Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison were a few of the influential fathers of our country who associated as Federalists.
Antifederalists opposed the idea of one principal government and supported the idea of small, state governments.
Antifederalists also feared that a centralized government would soon become too controlling and abuse the powers assigned to it, such as the power of taxation.
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay came together and developed a sequence of essays to ease the fears of the Antifederalists, now known as the Federalists Papers.
Impressment
Impressment is defined as the act of forcing men to enlist in military service.
Impressment was most notably used by England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in order to grow the size of the Royal Navy.
The Royal Navy began to use impressment on a larger scale in order to grow and maintain their ranks during the Napoleonic Wars.
Impressment is important for a couple of reasons:
It was one of the main causes of the War of 1812.
It led to the Embargo Act of 1807, which stopped all foreign trade.
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was an agreement to the terms Adams suggested regarding the alliance between Great Britain and the United States.
It was compromised that the Monroe Doctrine would be composed of two main points:
Colonization of North and South America by European powers was prohibited from that point forward.
The United States would avoid any participation in European affairs.
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the belief that America had the “God-given” right to expand from sea to shining sea.
The Boundaries of Oregon:
President James K. Polk campaigned on the slogan “fifty-four forty or fight,” which reflected his demands for all of the land beneath the 54°40′ geographic parallel.
Eventually, however, the Oregon Treaty of 1846 was signed between the US and Britain which settled the boundary at the 49th parallel.
The Annexation of Texas:
In 1836, Texas declared independence from Mexico and became the Lone Star Republic.
In 1845, Texas was annexed via a joint resolution.
The Mexican-American War, 1846-1848:
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the US large portions of land, including California, New Mexico, present-day Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado.