Unit Iv Terms From "american History: A Survey"

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War of 1812

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Often referred to as the "Second American Revolution," a conflict beginning with a declaration of war by the U.S. Congress on 18 June 1812 and ending with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on 24 December 1814. The war was started by the United States in retaliation for British impressment on the high seas and, to a lesser extent, for alleged British support of Indian hostilities on the frontier. Americans fought to get their freedom of the seas recognized by European powers. The war ended in a draw, as no lands were gained or lost.

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Revolution of 1800

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Phrase coined to represent the peaceful change of political parties that came with the election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800. Jefferson was the first Democratic-Republican to be elected President and ended the twelve-year reign of the Federalists. It was deemed a "revolution" because it was the first contested presidential election in American history and it proved that the system of constitutional checks and balances worked. Led to the ratification of the Twelfth Amendment.

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Tripolitan War

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An undeclared naval war waged against the Barbary States of North Africa under President Jefferson. Lasted from 1801-1805 and was fought concerning the Barbary pirates' excessive tribute demands and obstruction of U.S. trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea. Forced Jefferson to compromise his pacifist approach to foreign policy.

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Louisiana Purchase

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The purchase by the United States, under Thomas Jefferson, of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. American territory nearly doubled in area and now included control of the Mississippi Valley and access to the Gulf of Mexico. Controversial because Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, advocated the use of loose interpretation of the Constitution by Congress to make the transaction.

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Orders-in-Council

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Laws passed by the british in 1807 that allowed them to continue the act of impressment. Required neutral ships to trade for British goods before sailing to ports from which Britain was excluded. Led to the War of 1812 because impressment continued and Americans felt their freedom of the seas was being restricted.

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Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

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When the British ship Leopard demanded to board the American Chesapeake to search for deserters, the Americans refused the request and shots were fired from the Leopard at the Chesapeake. In response, the U.S. banned all British ships from its ports until an apology was given, another cause leading up to the War of 1812.

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Non-Intercourse Act

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Act, put in place to replace the Embargo of 1807, prohibiting trade with France and Britain. This represented a localized attempt to force France and Britain to recognize U.S. freedom of the seas by using economic sanctions. Ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of war.

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Macon's Bill #2

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Passed in 1810 to replace the Non-Intercourse Act. Didn't allow trade with France or Britain, but offered to re-open relations with whichever nation changed its policies on neutral vessels first. France jumped at the opportunity and trade was resumed with France. Raised tensions with Britain, contributed to the declaration of war against the U.K. in 1812.

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War Hawks

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Western settlers in the early 1800s who desired to go to war with Britain in the hopes of getting more land. Florida, Canada and Britain's northwestern posts were the areas coveted. Included John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay, who were a driving force behind the the War of 1812.

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Lewis and Clark Expedition

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Scientific and geographic exploration led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark from 1804 to 1806 as commissioned by the federal government. Covered the wide area of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. Led to a better understanding of the continental United States and opened up relations with Indian tribes in the area.

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Impressment

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The act of taking persons or property into public service by compulsion. The British Royal Navy practiced impressment and continued to seize American sailors throughout the 1700s and 1800s. Anger grew over the loss of sailors to the British Navy and over violations of U.S. freedom of the seas. Became a direct cause of the War of 1812.

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Embargo Act

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A self-imposed prohibition of trade put in place by Congress in 1807, a response to aggression by the French and British against U.S. merchant ships on the open seas. The embargo was put in place to end the risk of war with Europe by cutting of a leg of their economic supply line. Caused major disputes between states, with the New England states threatening secession due to the harsh economic impact it had on their region. Replaced by the Non-Intercourse Act.

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Hartford Convention

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Convention held in Hartford, Connecticut, late in 1814 of 26 delegates from five New England states in response to the way the War of 1812 was being handled. The delegates, mostly Federalists, advocated more state power in terms of war declaration and discussed the possibility of secession. Contributed to the death of the Federalist party.

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Tecumseh

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A Shawnee warrior who, along with his brother, tried to fight the advances of white settlers. Believed that Indian culture must remain pure an fought to keep it that way. After American forces led by Harrison destroyed his village, he joined the British in the War of 1812. The British loss in the War led to the subjugation of most Native American peoples throughout the country

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Era of Good Feelings

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An ironic misnomer for the entirety of Monroe's administration, when nationalism soared and Democratic-Republicans controlled the federal government. A period of economic prosperity, political stability and foreign policy gains. The Panic of 1819 and the revived debate about slavery brought the nationalist tone in the country to a halt and started an era of dissension among government officials. The Transcontinental Treaty with Spain in 1819 and the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 are both examples of foreign policy successes.

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Tallmadge Amendment

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Bill proposed by Rep. James Tallmadge of New York, 13 February 1819, forbidding the proliferation of slavery into Missouri and declaring that all children born of slave parents after the admission of the state should be free upon reaching the age of 25. The bill was passed by the House, but rejected by the Senate. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 settled the issue, but the Tallmadge Amendment marked the beginning of sectional tension over the issue of slavery.

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Missouri Compromise

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An attempt to ease sectional tension and maintain balance in Congress over the issue of slavery. Congress drafted the Missouri Compromise, led by Henry Clay, instituting a dividing line at 36°30' N. States north of the line would be free, and states south of the line would be slave. Missouri was the exception: it was north of the line, but would allow slavery. To maintain sectional balance, Maine would be admitted as a free state. Declared unconstitutional by the Dred Scott decision in the 1850s.

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Internal Improvements

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The government program and key component of Henry Clay's American System designed to build roads, bridges and canals between states. Led to a debate over whether the federal or state governments should fund such programs because such power was not specifically delegated by the Constitution.

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Treaty of Ghent

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A meeting in Belgium of American delegates and British commissioners ending the War of 1812, 24 December 1814. Britain agreed to give up claims to the Northwest Territory, and both countries agreed to work towards ending the slave trade, with no significant gains or losses on either side. America gained influence as a world power. American forces under Andrew Jackson won the Battle of New Orleans on 8 January 1815, ending the fighting after the official peace.

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What were the Nuremberg trials?

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Trials where Nazis were charged with crimes against humanity. Many were sentenced to death.

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Tariff of 1816

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Tariff implemented to help the U.S. develop industry, providing the federal government with money to loan to entrepeneurs. Also increased the cost of European goods in the U.S. as a means of protecting American industry.

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Rush-Bagot Treaty

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A treaty between Great Britain and the United States which limited the size of naval forces of both sides on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, signed in 1818. Represented a small recognition of the surging respect for the U.S. on the international scene, and helped secure/define our Northern borders.

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Panic of 1819

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Recession resulting from the end of war in Europe. European nations had needed American industrial and agricultural products to sustain themselves during the conflict, and once the war ended such products were no longer in demand. The United States had just begun to industrialize; now they faced increased competition and were unable to rise above it, causing this brief economic crisis which calmed within two years.

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Adams-Onis Treaty

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Treaty, sometimes referred to as the Florida Treaty, signed with Spain in Washington on 22 February 1819. Fixed the western boundary of the Louisiana Purchase as beginning at the mouth of the Sabine River and running along its south and west bank to the 32nd parallel and thence directly north to the Rio Rojo, successfully securing our southern boundary and removing the Spanish threat from our borders.

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Monroe Doctrine

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A warning, issued by President James Monroe in December 1823, warning European nations that the United States would not tolerate further colonization in the Western Hemisphere. Monroe stated that any attempts by Europe to expand its influence in the Americas would be viewed as a threat to the U.S., forcing intervention. Marked a slight departure from Washington's stance of strict neutrality.