Term
Definition
1. New Democracy
The Era of Good Feelings ended and political parties formed. The public had more freedom to vote and therefore they participated more in politics.
2. Election of 1824 & corrupt bargain
After Monroe’s term, new candidates went to be elected for presidency including John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, William H. Crawford, and Andrew Jackson who were all Republicans. Clay helped Adams win presidency and in return he became the new secretary of state.
3. Revolution of 1828
John Adams and Andrew Jackson ran for presidency. American views altered and more people used their vote to support the Democratic-Republicans(Jackson) who had lots of support from the West and South. Jackson was a wealthy planter while Adams was an elite.
4. Spoils system & rotation in office
Jackson got support from New York and Pennsylvania with this system where his office was consisted of his supporters. As a result the office was made up of incompetent and uneducated men.
5. Jackson's Kitchen Cabinet
This was a name for Jackson’s cabinet that was made up of his supporters instead of actually qualified people.
6. The Eaton Affair
John Eaton who was the Secretary of War was known to have had an affair with Peggy Timberlake and they soon married. Other wives of the members disdained her. Jackson tried to help but caused trouble for him and Clay(whose wife was in charge of affairs).
7. Maysville Road Bill
Jackson repealed this bill in 1830 that proposed the building of a road in Kentucky. The road was an internal structure and Jackson said it was unconstitutional for using federal funds. This led to a major setback.
8. Webster-Hayne Debate
Occurred in 1830 that argued about a bill. The bill restricted selling western lands Webster believed to have threatened states’ rights.
9. Tariff of 1828(Tariff Abominations)
The tariffs helped American industries but also made prices high. The North supported it like Webster while Jacksonians did not benefit. The south created the bill to challenge Adams and thought it wouldn’t pass but it did. The south protested because they saw it as discrimination and unconstitutional.
10. South Carolina Exposition
Written by vice-president John C. Calhoun in the South Carolina body, to invalidate the Tariff of 1828. The pamphlet said that it oppressed southern state rights.
11. Tariffs of 1832, 1838
It lowered some of the tariffs and was for protection. Southerners were still not satisfied.
12. Nullification Crisis
In the South Carolina legislature required ⅔ of the vote to nullify a tariff. John C. Calhoun decided that states could invalidate federal tariffs that are unjust.
13. Force Bill
With this Jackson was able to use the army to enforce laws and be able to collect tariffs. This declined South Carolina’s efforts to nullify and withdraw from the Union.
14. Five Civilized Tribes
The Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole who created legal code, schools, and governments and were civilized.
15. Indian Removal Act of 1830
Jackson wanted the Indian tribes to move to the west. 100,000 Indians were forced to march to the new lands and many died on the journey that was 800 miles.
16. Trail of Tears
The path the Indians marched across to get to the new territories. It went from Georgia to Oklahoma.
17. Jackson strengthens the Executive Branch
Decided to destroyed national bank and also enforced laws. Jackson was against unconstitutional acts.
18. End of the National Bank
Jackson wanted to remove the second bank because it was viewed as corrupt and non-egalitarian. When Jackson vetoed Clay’s charter to renew the bank, it showed presidential power that was equal to ⅔ vote in Congress.
19. Specie Circular
Jackson created this in 1836 for the purpose of restricting land speculation. The bank had no gold or silver to support debts that was caused by buying land.
20. Anti-Masons & National Republican
Anti-Masons were the 3rd political party that was a strong force in New York and disapproved of monopoly as well as the Jackson party. They resisted against the Masonic order. Evangelical Protestants also attracted to them due to the want for religious reforms.
21. Alamo and Texas Independence
The Alamo mission was in San Antonio, Texas. This was revolution of the Texians fighting for their independence from Mexico. A group of 400 Texians were killed in the battle.
22. Panic of 1837
Followed the Specie Circular and was an financial crisis. In this time, many people became unemployed and prices went down.
23. Whigs and Democrats(Two party system)
Jackson was hated Whigs who supported national banks, federal funds, and tariffs. They also were against slavery. The Democrats allowed slavery, supported states’ rights, and wanted low tariffs.
24. Divorce Bill
Passed by Martin Van Buren which removed all federal funds from the banks.
25. John Quincy Adams
He was the secretary of state before becoming the sixth president. He helped form many treaties and took part to make the Monroe Doctrine.
26. Henry Clay
Ran for president 5 times and known as the “Great Compromiser”. He supported the American System and was a Whig. He was also a War Hawk of 1812. He represented Kentucky in Congress.
27. Andrew Jackson
He was well known from the army in Battle of New Orleans. Elected as the 7th president with the help of Henry Clay. He used the spoils system where his office were his supporters.
28. Daniel Webster
Helped develop many Supreme Court powers. He wanted to renew the second national bank. He represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in Congress. He also became secretary of state.
29. John C. Calhoun
He was Jackson’s vice president and supported the idea of nullification. He said that states have the power to resist against an unconstitutional federal law.
30. Denmark Vesey
He became a leader in South Carolina of the African Americans. He was executed for planning a revolt with self-educated African Americans.
31. Robert Hayne
Represented South Carolina in Congress. Wanted lower tariff for the South and said that the north was being favored. He fought for states’ rights.
32. John C. Calhoun
He was Jackson’s vice president and supported the idea of nullification. He said that states have the power to resist against an unconstitutional federal law.
33. Nicholas Biddle
In charge of the Second Bank of U.S. and had to face challenges by Jackson when he tried to destroy it.
34. Stephen Austin
He helped found Texas by bringing families from the U.S. to the new territory.
35. Sam Houston
He was a supporter for Texas independence from Mexico. He also wanted Texas to be annexed as part of the U.S.
36. Martin Van Buren
He was Democratic and was anti-slavery. He became the eighth vice president. The Divorce Bill was passed by him.
37. William Henry Harrison
He was a Whig who became the 9th president of the U.S. He had the shortest term when he died in office and led to issues regarding the successor of presidency.
1. How was the election of 1824 decided and why?
There were 4 candidates including John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, William H. Clay, and Andrew Jackson. As instructed by the Twelfth Amendment, the House of Representatives chose among the foremost 3 candidates.
2. What was the “corrupt bargain”?
Clay was able to support a candidate of his choosing and he decided to pick John Adams. Clay helped Adams win presidency and Clay became the secretary of state. Jackson supporters were
3. Why was John Quincy Adams considered such a failure as a president?
John Adams’s presidency failed because he was seen to be corrupt and he won by demanding respect instead of earning it. His proposals were not liked by the public and people disdained his way of dealing such as with the Indians.
4. To what degree was Jackson’s election truly a “Revolution of 1828”?
Jackson had strong support from the South and the West and he was able to turn around the political attitude set by Adams. He was also able to help benefit the executive branch.
5. How does it compare to Jefferson's Revolution of 1800?
In Jefferson’s election, there was few tactics to attack the opponents. While in Jackson’s election, him and his family were accused of many horrible things.
6. In what ways could Jackson be described as the “common man”?
Jackson and his supporters were like the common people who were not as educated. Like many people he was a planter who became rich and had no prior special status.
7. In what ways was Jackson and aristocrat?
Jackson was a slave owner, had large acres of land, and lived in a great mansion.
8. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the spoils system?
The system supported the idea that people should be loyal to the leader and for Jackson, his supporters were incompetent and also uneducated so they were not trusted to make decisions. It created a sense of loyalty to support a party no matter what.
9. How did Jackson defend the spoils system as a “rotation in office”?
Jackson believed that the system and he said that new people should be brought into office for different views.
10. Why did New England go along with the huge new tariff, and why did the South oppose it so violently?
Tariffs made the product prices high and while the north had flourishing industry, the south were the buyer of the products. Therefore, the south suffered from high tariffs and believed that it was favoritism for the north since the high-tariff bill was passed.
11. What did the Jacksonians hope to gain by proposing it in the first place?
Tariffs were meant for protection and allowing U.S. industries to grow without interference of the Europeans.
12. Who was the real author of the South Carolina Exposition and why did he write it?
The exposition was written by John C. Calhoun and since he was vice president at the he had to hide his identity. He disdained the tariffs and said they violated states’ rights. Calhoun supported the states to nullify the tariffs.
13. Why did the South Carolina nullify the tariff reduction of 1832?
The tariff was nullified because the south was not happy when went against it. Also South Carolina threatened to withdraw from the Union.
14. How did Jackson react to South Carolina’s actions?
Andrew Jackson warned South Carolina that he would use the army and navy on them. This showed presidency power and also created the notion that states can not recede.
15. What was Clay’s compromise offer and why did he make it?
Henry Clay who represents Kentucky opposed Jackson and he created a bill that would lower the Tariff of 1832. The bill stretches over the span of 8 years and the tariff would decrease by 10%.
16. What was the Force Bill and how did South Carolina react to it?
Known was “Bloody Bill” which allowed the president to use army forces when needed to collect tariffs. South Carolina liked this idea since it forced the north to pay.
17. What was the ultimate result of the Nullification Crisis?
The nullification allowed Clay to be recognized for preventing wars. Even though deep rooted issues were not solved, Clay helped save the present problems.
18. What was the theory of assimilation and how well did it work?
The theory was to spread American customs to the Indian tribes and allow them to adopt these ways. However, Indians did not like the idea of having their culture altered.
19. What was the primary purpose of the Indian Removal Act?
Jackson’s plan was to transfer the Indians from Georgia to Oklahoma. In order for the grant of land west, the Indians marched on the “Trail of Tears” and many died along the way.
20. Why did Jackson believe that the Indian Removal Act benefited Native Americans?
Jackson thought that the Indians could develop their culture in the west without any interruptions.
21. Why did Henry Clay want to recharter the Bank of the U.S. four years early?
It was his plan to recharter the bill in order to make it a discussion at the 1832 election.
22. How did Jackson’s veto of the recharter bill strengthen the presidency?
Clay thought that if Jackson agreed then it would betray his supporters. If he vetoed it then people in in the east would be angry. As a result Jackson used executive branch powers over the judicial and he was able to veto the bill. It showed that he was able to veto a bill that was as the same effect as ⅔ of the Congress decision.
23. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Bank of the U.S. at this time?
The Bank of the U.S. acted in ways like a government and it had the fundamental fund. The money was stable in amounts of gold and silver. However, it was also private and Nicholas Biddle who was the president of it was corrupt.
24. Why did Jackson issue the Specie Circular?
The authorization stated that public lands must be bought using stable money due to the shifting currency values.
25. What were the important innovations of the election process in 1832?
Due to new elections of 1832, people participated in voting more. Campaigns were different to raise attention and also poles as well.
26. Who were the Anti-Masonites? The National Republicans?
In the process of campaigning, a new party emerged and the Anti-Masonistes were those who followed the Masonic order. They went against characteristics of privilege associated to wealth. While the other party had funds and used their positions to express ideas.
27. Why did “Old Andy” Jackson win easily over Henry Clay?
Jackson had powers that came from the West, South, and parts of New England. As opposed to Clay, who was sure in his methods did not succeed.
28. How did Jackson try to kill the Bank of the United States?
He wanted to get rid of the bank once and for all by stripping the federal funds from the bank. He also used up the deposits by using them for the government.
29. From which group did the Whig party emerge, and why did they claim that name?
Due to conservative ideas and supporters of improvements they called themselves the Whigs. The people in this party hated Jackson including Clay, Calhoun, and Webster.
30. Why did Martin Van Buren win the election of 1836?
He became the 8th president because had the qualifications and Jackson helped him win in secret.
31. What led to the Panic 1837?
The status of Americans was not looking up because of the distress caused by high product prices and lowered employment rates. There were also gamblers doing business creating instability in currency.
32. To what extent did Jackson’s policies contribute to the economic problems during Van Buren’s presidency?
Many of Jackson’s history affected Van Buren. The list also included problems in the bank and Specie Circular. Crops also caused trouble due to insects and this made wheat more difficult to grow creating high food prices.
33. What was Van Buren’s response to the economic crisis and was it effective?
To resolve issues of the crisis, Van Buren passed the “Divorce Bill” which wanted to create a seperation of government and the bank. However, Democrats weren’t in full agreement and the Whigs hated it which was the reason for its removal the year after.
34. Why did Mexico agree to allow US settlers in Mexican Texas and what was expected of the Americans?
An agreement led to giving a piece of land to Steven Austin and he would bring families to establish a new area. He was also to create a church for the Catholics.
35. What incited the independence movement in Texas and how was it ultimately victorious?
Due to the Alamo, Texas fought for their independence to avenge the fallen. Also due to the fall of Steven Austin when put in prison, people became motivated for fight for freedom.
36. Why did the US decline to annex Texas?
The U.S. did not want slavery in the newly established states. Since Texas was pro-slavery, it did not get accepted as a part of the United States.
37. How did the Whigs “manufacture” both candidates to achieve victory for Harrison in the 1840 election?
Harrison was set with a certain image to attract voters from both sides. The Whigs used many ways to get voters and persuade them with the creation of symbol.s
38. How had the electorate changed since the Critical Period?
The voting population increased and a democratic view was developed. This led to an alteration of American perspective and more people were encouraged to vote.
39. What were the two remaining political parties in 1840, and what were their basic positions?
At last the final parties were the Whigs and Democrats. They both held ideas of republicanism but yet also had their differences. The Whigs supported using a communal system to form peace and agreed with ways of Jackson’s ideas. The Democrats fought for states’ freedoms and supported ways to improve aspects of American lives.