APUSH Unit 4 Timeline Overview Guide

Flashcard 1

Front:
Adams Administration (1797-1801)

Back:
The presidency of John Adams, focused on foreign tensions (like the XYZ Affair and Quasi-War) and the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts, which limited freedom of speech and targeted immigrants.

Flashcard 2

Front:
1798—Alien and Sedition Acts

Back:
Laws passed to restrict immigration and curtail free speech in order to protect Federalist power, but they caused backlash, particularly from Republicans who saw them as unconstitutional.

Flashcard 3

Front:
1797—XYZ Affair

Back:
A diplomatic incident between the U.S. and France where French diplomats demanded bribes from American officials. This led to a pro-British, neutral stance and increased tensions with France.

Flashcard 4

Front:
1798-1800—Quasi-War

Back:
An undeclared naval conflict between the U.S. and France caused by tensions over the Jay Treaty, resulting in attacks on American ships. It showed Federalist preference for military strength.

Flashcard 5

Front:
1800—Jefferson Elected

Back:
Thomas Jefferson won the presidency after a bitter election against John Adams. The election was decided in the House of Representatives, and Jefferson promised unity, declaring, "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists."

Flashcard 6

Front:
1801—Jefferson’s Inaugural Address

Back:
Jefferson’s speech sought to unify the country after a divisive election, reassuring both Federalists and Republicans by declaring, "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists."

Flashcard 7

Front:
1803—Louisiana Purchase

Back:
Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, doubling the size of the U.S. This expanded federal power, which contradicted Jefferson’s usual belief in limited government.

Flashcard 8

Front:
1803—Lewis and Clark Expedition

Back:
An expedition commissioned by President Jefferson to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and map a route to the Pacific Ocean. It provided valuable information about western lands and Native American tribes.

Flashcard 9

Front:
1804—Haitian Revolution Ends

Back:
A successful slave revolt in French-controlled Saint Domingue (now Haiti), which led to Haitian independence. It caused anxiety in the U.S. about possible slave uprisings.

Flashcard 10

Front:
1804—Barbary Pirate Wars

Back:
Naval conflicts with North African pirates who demanded tribute from American ships. President Jefferson refused to pay, leading to the First Barbary War (1801-1805) and securing a treaty reducing attacks on U.S. vessels.

Flashcard 11

Front:
1807—Embargo Act

Back:
A law passed to prevent American ships from trading with foreign nations in an effort to avoid war, but it hurt the U.S. economy more than Britain or France, leading to increased smuggling.

Flashcard 12

Front:
1805—Congress Votes to End Slave Trade

Back:
Congress passed a law that banned the importation of enslaved Africans into the U.S., signaling a step toward the eventual abolition of slavery.

Flashcard 13

Front:
1812—War of 1812

Back:
A war between the U.S. and Britain over issues like trade restrictions, impressment of American sailors, and British support for Native American resistance to American expansion. The war ended inconclusively but boosted American morale.

Flashcard 14

Front:
1815—American System

Back:
A plan proposed by Henry Clay aimed at strengthening the U.S. economy through protective tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements such as roads and canals.

Flashcard 15

Front:
1816—Tariff of 1816

Back:
A protective tariff imposed after the War of 1812 to help American industries by taxing imported goods. It benefited the North but was opposed by Southern states.

Flashcard 16

Front:
1819—Panic of 1819

Back:
A financial crisis caused by over-speculation in land and banking practices, leading to a depression, high unemployment, and bankruptcies. This event marked the end of the "Era of Good Feelings."

Flashcard 17

Front:
1820—Missouri Compromise

Back:
An agreement that allowed Missouri to join the Union as a slave state while Maine became a free state, and prohibited slavery north of the 36°30' latitude line, excluding Missouri.

Flashcard 18

Front:
1823—Monroe Doctrine

Back:
President James Monroe's declaration that the Western Hemisphere was closed to European colonization, and any European interference in the Americas would be considered a hostile act.

Flashcard 19

Front:
1824—Corrupt Bargain

Back:
The controversial election of 1824 where John Quincy Adams won the presidency through a deal with Henry Clay, angering Andrew Jackson’s supporters and leading to the end of the "Era of Good Feelings."

Flashcard 20

Front:
1825-1835—The Second Great Awakening

Back:
A religious revival movement that spread across the U.S., promoting evangelical Christianity and social reforms such as abolition, temperance, and women's rights.

Flashcard 21

Front:
1825—New Harmony Utopian Community Founded

Back:
A failed utopian experiment in Indiana by Robert Owen, aiming to create a society of shared property and no religion. It lasted only three years but inspired other similar experiments.

Flashcard 22

Front:
Transcendentalism (1820s)

Back:
A philosophical movement that emphasized self-reliance, individualism, and a deep connection to nature, with notable figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

Flashcard 23

Front:
1828—Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations)

Back:
A protective tariff that raised taxes on imported goods, benefiting Northern industries but angering the South, which saw it as unconstitutional.

Flashcard 24

Front:
1829—Andrew Jackson Becomes President

Back:
Jackson won the 1828 election, marking a shift to greater democratic participation in government, supported by common people, especially in the South and West.

Flashcard 25

Front:
Spoils System (1829)

Back:
Jackson’s practice of rewarding political supporters with government positions, which was criticized for leading to corruption and inefficiency.

Flashcard 26

Front:
1830—Indian Removal Act

Back:
A law signed by Andrew Jackson forcing Native American tribes to relocate west of the Mississippi River, leading to the forced migration known as the "Trail of Tears."

Flashcard 27

Front:
1832—The Bank War

Back:
A political battle between President Jackson and Henry Clay over the rechartering of the Second Bank of the U.S. Jackson opposed the bank, claiming it was unconstitutional, and took steps to dismantle it.

Flashcard 28

Front:
1834—The Whig Party is Formed

Back:
A political party formed by those who opposed Andrew Jackson’s policies. It included a coalition of business interests, farmers, and some anti-slavery activists.

Flashcard 29

Front:
1837—Panic of 1837

Back:
A financial crisis caused by bank failures and inflation, resulting in widespread unemployment and economic hardship.

Flashcard 30

Front:
1838-1839—Trail of Tears

Back:
The forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation and other tribes to territories west of the Mississippi River, during which many Native Americans died due to harsh conditions.

Flashcard 31

Front:
1840—Tippecanoe and Tyler Too

Back:
The campaign slogan of William Henry Harrison and John Tyler in the 1840 presidential election, which helped them defeat Martin Van Buren after the Panic of 1837.