US History Unit 2

Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

constitution for the republic adopted by the Continental Congress and ratified by the new states; created a national legislature (Confederation Congress) with the ability to declare war, borrow/issue money, and deal in foreign relations. It lacked an executive and judicial branch, could not levy taxes, regulate commerce, or draft troops

Shays’s Rebellion (1786-1787)

farmers/veterans of the Revolution led by Daniel Shays in western Massachusetts, rose up in protest against taxes, imprisonment of debtors, and the concentration of power/wealth in Boston. The Shaysites were defeated but the episode revealed problems in the confederation and led nationalists like Madison and Hamilton to call for the convention that eventually produced the U.S. Constitution

Constitutional Convention (1787)

delegates met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, they ended up writing the U.S. Constitution

Virginia Plan

known as the large-state plan, it proposed that congressional power would be based on population

New Jersey Plan

the small-state plan proposed that the unicameral legislature based on equal representation among the states be retained

The Great Compromise

this agreement resolved the fight between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention over how representation should be apportioned in the Legislature. Delegates agreed to create a bicameral Congress in which the lower house (House of Representatives) would be apportioned according to a state’s population and the upper house (Senate) would be apportioned equally, with two per state

Three-fifths compromise

this agreement at the Constititional Convention addressed the issue of slavery. Delegates agreed that three-fifths of each southern state’s slave population would count both for congressional apportionment and for taxable property. In addition, delegates included a twenty-year prohibition on laws to limit the importation of slaves

James Madison

known as the Father of the Constitution for his role in providing the earliest proposal for a new fundamental law, this Virginian wrote some of the Federalist Papers, was an early leader of the Democratic-Republican party, and became President after Jefferson

Federalists

in the context of the debate over ratification of the Constitution, this group, which included Madison, Hamilton, Jay, Franklin, and Washington, supported the new document. They advocated for stronger national/central government, weaker state governments, and didn’t see as much need for a Bill of Rights

Anti-Federalists

this diverse group opposed ratification of the Constitution and included leading figures such as John Hancock and Richard Henry Lee. They advocated for stronger state governments, a Bill of Rights, and many feared the creation of an executive, a standing army, and the lack of reference to a divine creator in the Constitution

Federalist Papers

series of essays authored by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison written specifically to push New York toward ratification of the Constitution. The papers defend the specific provisions of the Constitution and reveal the political views/theories of many of the founders at the time

Federalist 10

Madison used this Federalist Essay to explain his view on factions. He argues that the best remedy for dealing with groups who desire things contrary to the common good is to create a large and diverse republic in which no interested party can easily get their way

Bill of Rights

first ten Amendments to the Constitution which protect individual liberties from violation by the federal government

1st Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances

2nd Amendment

A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed

4th Amendment

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized

Thomas Jefferson

wealthy Virginian, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, first secretary of state under Washington, President (1801-1809)

Alexander Hamilton

immigrant from the West Indies who served General Washington during the Revolution and rose to prominence; early advocate for stronger national government, attended the Constitutional Convention and wrote most of the Federalist Papers, served as the first Secretary of the Treasury under Washington; early leader of the Federalist party

Hamilton’s Plan

in order to strengthen the central government, bolster national credit, and win the favor of wealthy Americans, the states, and foreign investors, Hamilton proposed to: assume the public debt from the Revolution, assume state debts, create a national bank, impose tariffs and excise taxes (e.g. on whiskey)

Tariff

a tax on imported goods designed to raise prices on foreign competitors

Excise tax

a tax on domestic products

Hamilton’s view of America’s future

urban, complex economy based on manufactures, allied with and imitative of Britain. Hamilton saw a more industrialized America

Jefferson’s view of America’s future

rural, agrarian, allied with France

First Party System

Federalists (led by Hamilton) vs. Democratic-Republicans (led by Jefferson and Madison)

Whiskey Rebellion

farmers in western Pennsylvania rebelled against the new excise tax on whiskey in the 1790s; present Washington led multiple state militias to put it down

Washington’s Farewell Address

leaving office in 1797 to retire at Mount Vernon, Washington warned the nation about the dangers of permanent foreign alliances and of loyalty to political parties. “Whatever you do, please don’t split into two political parties or get involved in foreign affairs”

Alien and Sedition Acts

signed by President John Adams of the Federalist party, the Alien Act targeted recent immigrants (and Democratic-Republican voters) by raising the period of naturalization from five to fourteen years; the Sedition Act allowed the government to fine/imprison its critics “Welcome to America: where it takes longer to become a citizen and if you have any complaints about our government, you can face jail time :)”

Virginia/Kentucky Resolutions

written by Madison and Jefferson (respectively), these resolutions denounced the Alien and Sedition Acts as unconstitutional. The Kentucky Resolution drew upon the compact theory of government which believed the Constitution was the creation of the states and that therefore states had the right to nullify federal legislation

Election of 1800

bitter election pitting incumbent John Adams (Federalist) against Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican). A tie in the Electoral College between Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr threw the decision to the House of Representatives where eventually Jefferson won

Revolution of 1800

Jefferson claimed his election would restore the republic that the American Revolution had attempted to establish but that had been corrupted by Hamilton and the Federalists

Strict vs. loose constructionism

strict constructionism was to interpret the Constitution specifically according to the powers granted to the government (e.g. Jefferson’s theoretical approach). Loose constructionism/interpretation assumes broad powers so long as they are not expressly denied to the federal government by the Constitution (Hamilton and Marshall’s approach)

John Marshall

long-serving Federalist Supreme Court chief justice, one of the most influential in American history. In general his rulings granted more power to the federal government as opposed to the states

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Supreme Court decision which firmly established the powers of judicial review (that the Supreme Court interpreted the Constitutionality of laws)

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Jefferson purchased this territory from Napoleon, doubling the size of the nation

Haitian Revolution

this revolution, led by slaves in the 1790s was initially led by Toussaint Louverture against the French plantation owners. It ended with the establishment of an independent republic in the early 1800s

Lewis and Clark (1804)

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the expedition into the newly purchased Louisiana Territory

War of 1812

tensions with Britain over trade/the impressment of American sailors and increasing tension with Indians in the Old Northwest Territory led to war between the U.S. and Britain. Notable moments include the failed U.S. invasion of Canada and the burning of the White House by the British. It essentially ended in a stale-mate

Tecumseh

Brother of Tenskwatawa, Shawnee military leader who fought the Americans during the War of 1812 in the Ohio River Valley

Henry Clay

known as “the Great Compromiser,” this Kentucky Senator helped craft the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. He was also the author of the American System and a fierce opponent of Andrew Jackson/leader of the Whig party

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Missouri’s application for statehood prompted fights over the imbalance that would occur in the Senate between free and slave states. This compromise, crafted by Henry Clay, allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state at the same time that Maine entered as free. In addition, parties agreed to divide the Louisiana Purchase such that future states above the 36 30’ parallel would be free, and those below would allow slavery

Monroe Doctrine

fearing renewed European interest in retaking the newly declared republics of the western hemisphere, President Monroe issued this statement that the west should no longer be seen by European powers as available for conquest “America is not yours to conquer Europe 😤😤” “…okay”

Election of 1824

four candidates competed, Andrew Jackson won a plurality of the popular votes but John Q. Adams won when the decision was put to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay, another candidate, was made his Secretary of State, leading Jackson to accuse the two of a “Corrupt Bargain.”

John Quincy Adams

son of John Adams, experienced diplomat and former Secretary of State who became President; after his term he served in the House of Representatives where he famously fought against the “gag rule” which banned raising the issue of abolition

Age of Jackson

roughly from the 1820s to the 1840s; historians use this term to describe the period in which the figure of Andrew Jackson loomed large; it is marked by the expanded right to vote to all white males, brutal Indian removal, the second party system, and the increasingly central role that slavery began to play in national politics

Andrew Jackson 🤢🤢🤢

hero of the Battle of New Orleans, lawyer, representative from TN, Democratic President (1829-1837) who benefited from Democratic reforms allowed white men without property to vote, very yucky

The Nullification Crisis

southern states, led by South Carolina, refused to recognize the validity of the Tariff of Abominations leading to a standoff between the states and the federal government S. Carolina @ Andrew Jackson: can you maybe chill Andrew Jackson : how bout maybe YOU chill 🔫🔫

The Bank War

Jackson’s hatred of banks led to a clash between him and the President of the 2nd Bank of the U.S. Nicholas Biddle. By withdrawing federal funds, Jackson successfully killed the bank

John C. Calhoun

statesman from South Carolina, fierce defender of states rights, grew to be an outspoken opponent of Jackson and an advocate for slavery, Jackson’s VP at some point

2nd Party System

Democratic Party (formerly the Democratic or Jeffersonian Republicans) vs. the Whigs (the new party formed in opposition to Jacksonian policies)

Worcester v. Georgia

Supreme Court decision that declared that the state of Georgia had no right to impose its laws on the Cherokee Nation; it recognized the right of the Cherokee to their land; Andrew Jackson supported Georgia when it ignored the ruling “Okay Georgia. Because the Cherokee are not your citizens, you can’t tell them what to do or expect them to just hand over their land” -the Supreme Court “No” -Georgia and Jackson

Indian Removal Act (1830)

signed by Jackson, this authorized the federal government to settle Indians west of the Mississippi (by peaceful means or by force)

Trail of Tears

the forced removal of the Cherokee people from the Southeast to Oklahoma resulting in the death of 4,000 Native Americans

Stephen Austin

led the colonization effort of Anglo-Americans into Mexico in the 1820s in what would become the republic and then state of Texas “Texas is its own country! 😤😤” -Texas every few years even well into the 21st century

The Market Revolution

in the early decades of the 19th century the economy was transformed as manufacturing increased; technology, communication, and transportation were all revolutionized; farmers moved away from subsistence/growing for consumption towards producing for a profit. “Let’s ✨industrialize✨ Just a little bit though”

Transportation Revolution

the network of roads, canals, and railways (following the invention of the steamboat and railroad) dramatically reduced the time/cost of moving people and goods “With imagination. Inspiration. Innovation. And perspiration. We revolutionized. TRANSPORTATION!”

Cotton Gin

invented by Eli Whitney in the 1790s, this removed the seeds from cotton much faster, making cotton planting much more profitable, changing the southern economy and renewing the profitability in slavery

Know-Nothing Party

also known as the American (or Native American) Party, their platform was based on nativism, in particular as a backlash to the increasing number of German and Irish Catholic immigrants arriving in the mid-19th century

Transcendentalism (early 19th century)

philosophical, literary, and social movement from New England that rejected the Enlightenment’s emphasis on the senses and rationality, turning instead to internal intuitions, individualism, and nature. It inspired many to advocate for social reforms (women’s rights, abolition, etc.)

Ralph Waldo Emerson

leading transcendentalist; author of “Self-Reliance,” called for intellectual independence from Europe

Henry David Thoreau

transcendentalist famous for his work on civil disobedience and for his book Walden 🤢🤢🤢🔫

Second Great Awakening

series of Protestant revivals in the late 18th and early decades of the 19th, it marked the rise of the Baptist and Methodist denominations and a turn from the Calvinist theology that had previously dominated American Protestant religion

Mormonism

founded by the prophet Joseph Smith in New York in the 1830s who claimed to have translated the Book of Mormon which contained a new revelation from God. After Smith was murdered, the Mormons followed Brigham Young to Salt Lake City, Utah

Seneca Falls Convention (1848)

early meeting of women’s rights advocates, helped launch what is now referred to as First Wave Feminism; published the Declaration of Sentiments Here queens you dropped this 👑

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

feminist, organized the Seneca Falls Convention, authored the Declaration of Sentiments

Sojourner Truth

speaker and activist who advocated for women’s rights and abolition; an escaped slave who gave the famous “Ain’t I a Woman? speech

What was the French Revolution and what impact did it have in Haiti? How did American enslavers react to this?

The French Revolution was a revolution in protest against the French monarchy. Citizens were angry at the amount of spending being made adding onto the crippling debt France also had. That inspired the citizens to defy the king, “…create a National Assembly, [abolish] the privileges of the aristocracy, and set about drafting a constitution“ (Lepore 142). The French Revolution inspired the slaves in Haiti to revolt. The French Revolution scared Americans. The Haitain Revolution scared Americans even more. Particularly, it scared American enslavers, who saw the Haitian Revolution as their biggest and worst fears realized. The Haitian Revolution was described in American newspapers “…as a kind of madness, a killing frenzy” (Lepore 143)