APUSH Period 4: 1800-1848 Flashcards

Political Developments

• Embargo Act: Enacted by Thomas Jefferson in 1807, it prohibited American ships from trading with foreign ports, aimed at preventing impressment but damaging port economies.
• War of 1812: Conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain, fueled by impressment of American sailors, ship seizures, and British support for Native attacks; increased nationalism.
• Hartford Convention: Federalist meeting during the War of 1812 to express grievances against the Republican Party; perceived as treasonous, leading to Federalist decline.

Economic Transformations

• Market Revolution: Linked small farmers to larger markets through advancements in transportation; significant developments included railroads and canals, altering labor and wage systems.
• Transportation Innovations:
  • Steamboats: Facilitated upstream navigation, exemplified by Robert Fulton’s Clermont.
  • Erie Canal: A 363-mile canal crucial for connecting the Great Lakes to New York City, inspiring further canal construction.
  • Railroads: Connected the Western frontier with other U.S. cities, boosting trade and manufacturing.

Social Changes

• Cajun Culture: Evolved in Louisiana from a mix of French, Spanish, and Caribbean influences, shaping regional identity.
• Immigration Waves:
  • Irish Immigration: Driven by the potato famine; faced discrimination and exploitation while establishing cultural institutions.
  • German Immigration: Welcomed skilled craftsmen; formed cohesive communities, notably in St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati.

Legal Milestones

• Dartmouth College v. Woodward: Supreme Court case affirming contract sanctity; protected private institutions from state interference.
• Gibbons v. Ogden: Established federal authority over interstate commerce, reinforcing the federal government’s regulatory role.

Cultural Movements

• Transcendentalism: An influential 19th-century movement emphasizing simplicity, nature, and emotional truth, associated with thinkers like Thoreau and Emerson.
• Second Great Awakening: Religious revival movement promoting salvation through good deeds and inclusivity among various demographics.

Social Reform Movements

• Cult of Domesticity: Promoted the ideal of women as self-sacrificing caregivers, reinforcing restrictive roles within society.
• Temperance Movement: Emerged in the mid-1800s, advocating for reduced alcohol consumption; faced opposition from working-class men and Catholics.

Political Conflicts

• Tariff of Abominations (1828): Raised tariffs on imports, favoring Northern economies while provoking Southern dissent and claims of unconstitutionality.
• South Carolina Exposition and Protest: Calhoun's essay advocating state nullification rights, anticipating Southern resistance to federal policies.

Native American Policies

• Indian Removal Act (1830): Mandated relocation of southeastern Native tribes to designated territories, leading to widespread displacement.
• Trail of Tears: Forced march resulting in significant Cherokee deaths; exemplified human costs of U.S. territorial policies.

Economic Crises

• Panic of 1837: Economic downturn caused by speculative investments and bank failures, leading to widespread unemployment and economic distress.

Political Parties and Elections

• Age of Jackson: Democratic era characterized by increased political participation and the emergence of the "common man" ethos.
• Whig Party Formation: Originated in opposition to President Jackson's policies, representing interests reminiscent of the Federalist Party.

Social Reform Initiatives

• Utopian Communities: Idealistic groups seeking to create moral societies apart from mainstream society; often faced challenges in sustainability.
• Mill Girls: Young women employed in textile mills, experiencing new forms of independence while facing strict oversight in boarding houses.### Educational Reforms
• Common School Movement: Initiated by Horace Mann in the mid-1800s, aimed to provide education to all children irrespective of social class.

Abolitionist Groups

• American Colonization Society: Founded to alleviate the perceived issue of slavery by relocating free blacks to Africa, leading to the establishment of Liberia.
• American Anti-Slavery Society: Established in 1833 by William Lloyd Garrison and others; opposed slavery vehemently, advocating for complete separation from slaveholders and burning the Constitution as a proslavery text.

Advocacy Methods

• Moral Suasion: Strategy focused on convincing others to act based on moral principles without coercion or incentives.

Iconography and Opposition

• "Am I Not A Man and a Brother?": Prominent abolitionist imagery depicting a slave in a pleading position, representing the fight against slavery.
• "Gentlemen of Property and Standing": Wealthy Northern men who violently disrupted abolitionist gatherings to protect their interests.

Legislative Constraints

• Gag Rule: Enacted in 1835, this law prohibited discussions on abolition within Congress, stifling anti-slavery sentiments.

Social Reforms

• Dorothea Dix: A key activist focused on improving conditions for mental health patients, advocating for better treatment and facilities.

Women's Rights Movement

• Woman Suffrage: Campaign aimed at securing voting rights for all individuals, regardless of gender.
• "Woman in the Nineteenth Century": Book by Margaret Fuller, published in 1845, defining women's freedom as a journey toward personal growth.

Political Movements

• Liberty Party: Founded in 1839 to oppose slavery, merging later with the Free Soil Party in 1848 to enhance political influence against slavery.

Religious Communities

• The Shakers: Religious group led by "Mother" Ann Lee known for ecstatic worship and communal living, noted for craftsmanship in furniture but declined due to celibacy.
• Oneida Community: Founded by John Noyes, practiced controversial polygamy and communal child-rearing, with strict member oversight and eugenic practices.
• Mormons: Established by Joseph Smith in 1830, the church emphasized thrift, hard work, and the belief in a unique lineage connecting Americans to Hebrew ancestors.

Critique of Social Movements

• Critics of Reform: Notably Catholics who opposed reform movements, viewing them as attempts to impose Protestant values on a diverse population.

Abolitionist Literature

• The Liberator: Garrison's influential abolitionist publication that played a significant role in the anti-slavery movement.

Racial Dynamics in Abolitionism

• Abolitionism and Race: Highlighted the disparities in recognition and success among black abolitionists compared to their white counterparts, leading to tension within the movement.

Women's Advocacy in Abolition

• Grimke Sisters: Notable Quakers and early advocates for both abolition and women's rights, contributing significantly to the social reform discourse in the 19th century.