AP U.S. History Notes: Unit 4 - Modern American Democracy (1800-1848)

Transition of Political Power:
- By 1800, the Federalist Party was divided, allowing the Democratic-Republicans to rise.
- Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr compete for presidential nomination.
- Both receive equal Electoral College votes; House of Representatives selects the president after 35 ballots.
- Jefferson wins through Hamilton’s support, despite personal animosity.
Historical Significance:
- Marked the first peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans without violence (termed the “bloodless revolution”).
- Led to the passage of the Twelfth Amendment in 1804, allowing electors to vote for party tickets.

Midnight Appointments:
- John Adams fills government positions with Federalists before leaving office.
- Jefferson refuses to acknowledge these appointments, leading to legal conflicts (e.g., Marbury v. Madison in 1803).
Judicial Review:
- Supreme Court establishes the principle of judicial review, asserting its authority to interpret the constitutionality of laws.
- Chief Justice John Marshall’s decision benefits Jefferson while solidifying the Court's power.
Major Achievement - Louisiana Purchase (1803):
- Jefferson must reconcile constitutional strictness with necessity.
- Purchased from France for $15 million to avert French restrictions on American trade.
- Opposed by New England Federalists and some Republicans, showcasing differing political philosophies.
- Union expansion initiated with Lewis and Clark Expedition exploring the new territory.

International Challenges:
- Caught in British-French conflict leading to the War of 1812.
- Embargo Act of 1807: Aimed at cutting trade to avoid war but caused economic collapse in New England.

War Initiation:
- Madison seeks to address trade grievances due to impressment of American sailors by Britain.
- War Hawks in Congress push for conflict; war declared in 1812 despite divided opinions.
Consequences of the War:
- Culminates in Walker's victory at the Battle of New Orleans (1815), raising American nationalism.
- Leads to the demise of the Federalist Party post-war; boosts manufacturing independence.

Era of Good Feelings:
- A time of one-party rule as Federalists dissipate, marked by national unity.
- Monroe Doctrine (1823): European powers warned against future colonization in the Western Hemisphere.

Economic Growth:
- Post-war economic programs under Madison: tariffs and infrastructure improvements aim to promote industry.
- Establishes a national bank to stimulate economic growth.

Market Economy Expansion:
- Shift from subsistence farming to cash crop production, particularly cotton in the South.
- Advancements in transportation (canals, railroads) facilitated national commerce and migration.
Urbanization in the North:
- Industrial centers grow, suburban lifestyle emerges as farming becomes less viable due to competition.
- Rise of middle and working classes, alongside labor movements for workers' rights.
Redefinition of the South:
- Largely agricultural with reliance on slave labor; social hierarchies form around plantation economies.
- Wealth concentrated among few plantation owners; vast majority remain landless or smallholders.

Second Great Awakening:
- Religious revival spurs social reform movements such as abolition, temperance, and women's rights.
- Key figures include abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Growing Opposition to Slavery:
- Division among abolitionists: gradual emancipation vs. immediate freedom with figures like William Lloyd Garrison advocating for the latter.
- The wide array of efforts, including the Underground Railroad, aimed at supporting escaped enslaved people.

As the nation expanded and changed politically, economic and social divides intensified.
The period set essential precedents in U.S. governance and societal norms that would influence future events leading to the Civil War.