The Early Republic
What were the first two parties that emerged in the United States?
Federalists and Democratic Republicans
What great American song came out of the War of 1812?
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
What was the Indian Removal Act?
It let the government take land from Native Americans in exchange for land west of the Mississippi. These tribes were moved to “Indian Territory,” in modern day Oklahoma.
What was the Louisiana Purchase?
President Thomas Jefferson sought to buy the territory from Napoleon, ultimately paying $15 million for it. The purchase not only included New Orleans but the land around the western tributaries of the Mississippi River all that way to the Rocky Mountains, doubling the size of the United States.
How did the Gold Rush start, and what was the name given to the people who migrated to California because of it?
Gold was discovered in California by John Sutter and James Marshall. Word spread in 1849, more than 80,000 people, referred to as “Forty-Niners,” moved to California hoping to become rich.
Democrats and Whigs
What was the result of the War of 1812? What changed?
America and Britain signed a peace treaty that ended the war and restored prewar conditions, meaning that the war changed nothing with regard to territory or power.
What cultural shift helped Andrew Jackson win the 1828 election?
White men without property could now vote.
What was the goal of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
Jefferson instructed them to map a route to the Pacific Ocean, to study the geography, particularly the rivers, and to learn about the Native American nations living in the territory.
What is "Manifest Destiny?"
The right of the United States to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.
What is sectionalism?
Disputes that arose between different states and regions (sections) in the United States. Each of these sections had different views on the government, the economy, and issues like slavery or suffrage.
What made Andrew Jackson a famous national hero during the War of 1812?
He successfully defended New Orleans from a British attack
What was the economic crisis that took place after Jackson’s presidency? Which president had to deal with it?
The Panic of 1837; President Martin Van Buren had to deal with it
Who was Santa Anna and what was his opinion of Texas and the Texans?
Santa Anna became president in Mexico, but he rejected the Mexican constitution and made himself a dictator (desiring to become the Napoleon of the West). Fearing further American interests in Texas, he became determined to push Americans out and secure Mexican territory.
How did Oregon Country become part of the United States?
The U.S., under President Polk and G.B. signed a treaty (1846) that divided the region between the American owned Oregon Territory and the British owned Vancouver Colony (British Columbia)
Who were the three major figures who represented the three regions/sections during the period of sectionalism? Which sections was each representative of?
North - Daniel Webster
South - John C. Calhoun
West - Henry Clay
What was a major reason for why the War of 1812 started?
The British impressed American sailors into British service.
They supplied Native American tribes with weapons to attack American settlements.
Britain blockaded American ports to stop trade with France
A battle broke out in New York harbor
What does “nullify” mean in the context of the Nullification Crisis?
The South proclaimed that their states had the right to cancel a federal law that they considered unconstitutional.
Why did conflict emerge between Mexico and Americans in Texas?
Mexico required that Americans settling in Texas become Mexican citizens, which would eventually lead to conflict due to cultural differences. For example, Mexico banned slavery. As more Americans moved in and refused to follow Mexican law, Mexico barred Americans from settling
What was the Gadsden Purchase?
The U.S. paid an additional $10 million for the Gadsden Purchase, the southern strip of modern day Arizona and New Mexico, thereby completing the continental U.S.
What major policy during John Adam's presidency brought the Federalist Party into decline?
The Alien and Sedition Acts
What was the Adams-Onis Treaty?
America bought Florida for $5 million.
What was the conflict between Jackson and the Second Bank of the United States. What was the result?
Jackson believed that the bank needed to be eliminated. Clay and Webster hoped that Jackson would veto a re-charter of the bank and lose popularity before the 1832 election. Jackson did veto the re-charter, but Clay and Webster were surprised to see that the American people sided with Jackson.
What was the Alamo and why is it important for Texas' history?
Santa Anna marched against the Texans at San Antonio and besieged them in the Alamo, an old Spanish mission that was converted into a fort. After 12 days of siege, the Mexican army took the Alamo. The fall of the Alamo sparked a Texan retaliation leading to Texan independence.
How did the Mexican-American War start? What was the end result of it?
It began with a border dispute in Texas and fighting started when Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande River. The war ended in 1848 when Scott captured Mexico City. Mexico and the United States signed the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo which required that Mexico cede, or give up, California and New Mexico for $15 million.