AP US History Unit 4 Notes: 1800-1848

Barbary Pirates (Early 1800s)

Pre-Jefferson administrations (like George Washington's) paid tribute for US protection.
Jefferson ceased these payments, leading to attacks from the Barbary Pirates.
The US Navy was weak at the time, causing tension.
The solution was to decrease, rather than eliminate, the tribute payments.

Advocated by Democratic-Republicans like Thomas Jefferson.
Belief that the government should only do what is explicitly stated in the Constitution.

The US acquired the Louisiana territory from France for 15,000,000.
Jefferson, despite being a strict constructionist, bought the territory, going against his own principles due to the opportunity it presented.

Government-funded expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase.
Lewis and Clark traveled from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean.
Achievements:
- Accurate mapping of the territory.
- Established diplomatic relationships with Native American tribes.
- Gained valuable knowledge about the region.

Fought between the US and Britain (while Britain was also at war with France).
The US attempted to remain neutral, but France and Britain kept seizing US merchant ships.
British impressment: The British captured US sailors and forced them to serve in the Royal Navy.
Hartford Convention: Federalists opposed the war and called for its end; some even suggested New England secede from the Union.
The US won, leading to increased nationalism (described as the "second war of independence").
Federalists were seen as out of touch due to their opposition to the war, contributing to their decline.

Followed the War of 1812; a period of national unity and reduced political strife.
Weaknesses: Lack of a national bank to provide financial support for the war effort.

Proposed federal funding for internal improvements (infrastructure).
Advocated for protective tariffs to shield American industries from foreign competition.
Sought to reestablish the Bank of the US.
Madison vetoed the internal improvements component due to concerns about increasing federal power.
Protective tariffs and the reestablished Bank of the US were implemented.

Missouri's application for statehood as a slave state threatened the balance between free and slave states.
Compromise, brokered by Henry Clay, addressed the issue:
- Missouri was admitted as a slave state.
- Maine was admitted as a free state.
- The 36°30' latitude line was established: slavery was prohibited in the remaining Louisiana Purchase territory north of this line, and permitted south of it.

President James Monroe sent John Quincy Adams to address border issues.
Established the Canadian border along the 49th parallel.
Adam-Onís Treaty (with Spain):
- The US acquired Florida.
- Established the southern border between the US and Spanish territories.

Declared that the Americas were free from European interference.
The US asserted its dominance in the Western Hemisphere and warned European powers to respect its interests.

Linked Northern industries with Western and Southern agriculture.
Key inventions and developments:
- Cotton gin: Increased cotton production in the South.
- Spinning machine: Revolutionized textile manufacturing.
- Interchangeable parts: Enabled mass production.
- Erie Canal: Facilitated trade and transportation.
- Railroads: Eventually superseded canals as the primary mode of transportation; government loans supported railroad construction.
Immigration: Increased, particularly from Germany and Ireland.
Westward expansion: Continued as people sought new opportunities.
Tenements: Overcrowded housing for urban workers.
Religious freedom: Flourished, fostering diverse religious movements.
Growth of the middle class.
Cult of domesticity: Emphasized women's roles as wives and mothers, separate from men's public sphere (primarily for the middle and upper classes).

Voting rights were initially restricted to elites. Expansion of suffrage occurred over time.

Contest between National Republicans and Democrats.
National Republicans (e.g., John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay): Loose constructionists.
Democrats (e.g., Andrew Jackson): Strict constructionists; Jackson won the popular vote but not a majority of electoral votes.
The House of Representatives chose John Quincy Adams as president after Henry Clay threw his support behind Adams.
"Corrupt bargain": Jackson supporters claimed that Adams and Clay had made a deal, with Adams appointing Clay as Secretary of State in exchange for his support.

Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations): Favored by farmers (protected domestic industries), opposed by Southerners.
John C. Calhoun and the doctrine of nullification: States could nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional; South Carolina attempted to nullify the tariff.
Force Bill: Authorized Jackson to use military force to enforce federal laws in South Carolina; South Carolina nullified the Force Bill.
Jackson's veto of the Second Bank of the US:
- Jackson opposed the National Bank, viewing it as an elitist institution.
- He vetoed the bill to recharter the bank.
- He believed the National Bank was benefiting a small elite rather than the majority.

Authorized the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands.
Cherokee Nation: Declared itself a sovereign nation but refused to relocate.
Worcester v. Georgia: The Supreme Court ruled that Georgia did not have the right to impose state laws within Cherokee territory.
Treaty of New Echota: Used to justify the forced removal of the Cherokee, leading to the Trail of Tears.

Noah Webster: Promoted increased schooling and standardization of the American language with Webster's Dictionary.
Transcendentalism: Celebrated spiritual renewal, human passion, and the mysteries of nature; key figures included:
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Henry David Thoreau (author of Walden)
Hudson River School: Influential art movement that focused on landscapes.
Oneida Community: Utopian community that practiced communal living and open marriage; belief in the second coming of Christ.
Second Great Awakening: Religious revival characterized by evangelical preachers; emphasized social reform more than individual reform (unlike the First Great Awakening).
Temperance movement: Advocated for moderation or abstinence from alcohol.
Mormonism: Founded in New York; faced persecution due to the introduction of polygamy (plural marriage) and relocated to Utah.

William Lloyd Garrison: Prominent abolitionist.
Northern abolitionists faced opposition due to fears of job losses and economic disruption if slaves were freed.
Seneca Falls Convention: Focused on women's rights; Declaration of Sentiments called for legal rights, education, and other reforms.

Many farmers moved westward due to soil depletion.
Nat Turner's Rebellion: Slave revolt led by Nat Turner; increased restrictions on slaves.
Yeoman farmers: Independent farmers who owned their land.