Early American Political Movements and Figures

Hartford Convention

• Delegates from New England Federalist states met to protest the War of 1812.
• The convention discussed constitutional amendments limiting federal power.
• It highlighted growing sectional tensions and contributed to the decline of the Federalist Party.

William Lloyd Garrison

• Published "The Liberator" in 1831.
• Advocated for immediate emancipation of enslaved people.
• His work strongly influenced the abolitionist movement.

John C. Calhoun

• Presented the "Fort Hill Address" (1831).
• This defended nullification and argued for states' rights.
• His ideas foreshadowed issues leading to the Civil War.

Andrew Jackson

• Presented a "Veto Message" (1832).
• Rejected the recharter of the Second Bank of the United States.
• Strengthened executive power and weakened the federal banking system.

William Leggett

• Wrote "Despotism of the Majority" (1837).
• Critiqued unchecked majority rule and defended individual liberties.
• This reflected the tension between democratic ideals and majority power.

Davy Crockett

• Delivered a speech on electioneering (1848).
• Criticized political corruption and manipulation in elections.
• This reflected disillusionment with political processes.

Seneca Falls Convention

• Hosted the "Declaration of Sentiments" (1848).
• Demanded equality for women.
• This document highlighted systemic gender discrimination and laid groundwork for the women's rights movement.

John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster

• Debated the Compromise of 1850 in the Senate.
• Calhoun advocated for states' rights and the protection of slavery.
• Webster emphasized maintaining the Union through compromise.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

• Authored "What is Slavery?" (1853).
• Documented the moral cost (and horrors) of slavery.
• Increased both abolitionist sentiment and sectional tensions.

Congress - Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Passed in 1854.
• Allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide on slavery via popular sovereignty.
• Repealed the Missouri Compromise's restrictions and led to violence in Kansas ("Bleeding Kansas").

Supreme Court - Scott v. Sanford

• 1857 Dred Scott Decision.
• Ruled enslaved people were property and couldn't sue for freedom.
• Declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas

• Engaged in debates at Galesburg (1858).
• Discussed slavery and popular sovereignty.
• Lincoln's "house divided" metaphor highlighted the national division over slavery.

Abraham Lincoln - First Inaugural Address

• Delivered in 1861.
• Pleaded for national unity.
• Rejected the legality of secession and emphasized constitutional principles of preserving the Union.

Abraham Lincoln - Gettysburg Address

• Delivered in 1863.
• Highlighted the sacrifices for the Union and democratic principles.
• A defining statement of American ideals and the Civil War's purpose.

Congress - 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

• Amendments passed in 1865, 1868, and 1870.
• Ended slavery, granted citizenship rights, and protected voting rights for former enslaved people.
• Key milestones in Reconstruction.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

• Published "The Revolution" (1869).
• Advocated for women's suffrage.
• Critiqued traditional gender roles and furthered the women's suffrage movement.

Frederick Douglass

• Published "Life and Times of Frederick Douglass" (1880).
• Detailed his life as an enslaved person, escape, and abolitionist work.
• A powerful testament to the abolitionist cause.

War of 1812

• Major figures included James Madison, War Hawks, Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun.
• The war resulted from British impressment of American sailors.
• The Treaty of Ghent ended the war without resolving all issues.
• The Battle of New Orleans enhanced Andrew Jackson's reputation.

Era of Anxious Feelings (1815-1824)

• The Second Bank of the U.S. aimed to stabilize the economy, but contributed to the Panic of 1819.
• The Missouri Compromise maintained a balance between free and slave states.
• The Monroe Doctrine declared the Americas off-limits to European colonization.

John Quincy Adams and the Corrupt Bargain of 1824

• Key figures included Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson.
• The Corrupt Bargain involved accusations surrounding the election of Adams and appointment of Clay as Secretary of State.
• This led to the formation of political parties around Jackson and Adams/Clay.

Economic Revolutions of the Early Republic

• Shift from self-sufficient production to market transactions.
• Factories focused on efficiency and labour systems.
• National Road, Erie Canal, steamships, and railroads connected regions.
• The Buttonwood Agreement laid the groundwork for the NY Stock Exchange.

Jackson, Nullification, and the Bank War

• Andrew Jackson emphasized limited federal power.
• The Nullification Crisis highlighted tensions between states and federal government.
• Jackson opposed the Second Bank of the U.S.
• The Indian Removal Policy led to forced relocations of Native Americans, culminating in the Trail of Tears.

Hard Times and Hard Cider (1836-1841)

• The Panic of 1837 resulted in speculation, bank failures, and economic depression.
• The Whig Party opposed Jackson's policies, especially those related to infrastructure, and the Bank War.
• William Henry Harrison's populist appeal won the 1840 election.

Native Americans in the Early Republic

• Events such as the Battle of Fallen Timbers and the Indian Removal Act significantly impacted Native American sovereignty.
• John Ross was a prominent Cherokee leader who resisted removal.

Revival, Reform, and Utopian Rejection (1820-1840)

• Transcendentalism and the Hudson River School celebrated individualism.
• The Second Great Awakening aimed at societal reform and personal salvation.
• Reforms included prison and asylum reform, educational reforms, and abolitionism.

James K. Polk and the Creation of a Continental Republic (1844-1848)

• Polk's presidency was driven by Manifest Destiny.
• The Oregon Crisis was resolved with Britain.
• Texas annexation happened in 1845.
• The Mexican-American War led to acquisition of California and New Mexico.

Fear in the Cities, Blood in the West (1848-1858)

• Nativism and anti-immigrant feelings increased, and the Know-Nothing Party emerged.
• The Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the arrival of new political parties helped escalate tensions.

A Nation Divides (1858-1861)

• The Lincoln-Douglas Debates and John Brown's Raid heightened tensions.
• The election of 1860 resulted in secession by Southern states.
• The Confederate States of America was formed.

The Civil War (1861-1865)

• Ft. Sumter started the Civil War.
• Key battles like Antietam and Gettysburg were significant turning points.
• Sherman's March used a "total war" tactic against the Confederacy.
• The war ended with Lee's surrender at Appomattox and cemented federal authority.

Reconstruction and the Tragedy of Redemption

• Reconstruction Plans aimed to rebuild the South.
• Lincoln's and Johnson's plans were followed by Radical Reconstruction.
• The Freedmen's Bureau and Civil Rights Amendments followed.
• Southern resistance, in the form of Black Codes and the KKK, hindered progress.
• The 1876 election effectively ended Reconstruction.

Explore key events and influential figures in early American political history including the Hartford Convention, William Lloyd Garrison, John C. Calhoun, and Andrew Jackson. This quiz delves into their contributions and the impact of their ideas on the nation's development leading up to the Civil War.