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Constitutional Convention
Meeting to fix the AOC, instead drafted new Constitution. Constitution featured Great Compromise (making House and Senate), 3/5 Compromise (making slaves less than white men), Elastic Clause (allowing anything "necessary and proper") and Commerce Clause (for interstate trade). 9 out of 13 states needed to ratify. -
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Washington Presidency
VP was John Adams, Secretary of Treasury was Alexander Hamilton, and Secretary of State was Thomas Jefferson. -
Neutrality Proclamation (Proclamation of Neutrality)
Document claiming that the US wouldn't take sides in any conflicts between Britain and France. Move away from previous alliance with France due to vulnerability of United States. Response to rising tension between France and Britain, as well as French Revolution. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Antifederalist Pennsylvania farmers who were angry at the tax on whiskey began tarring and feathering tax collectors, which Washington responded to using federal force. -
Jay's Treaty
Document signed with Great Britain agreeing to trade alliance, settlement of war debts and closer, postwar relationship. Pursued by Federalists because they liked Britain, hated by citizens because they hated Britain. -
Bank of the United States Created
Created based on Hamilton's financial plan, which included consolidating state debts, giving direct subsidies to companies and getting revenue for the government through taxes, tariffs and land sales, as well as the central bank. -
XYZ Affair
Bribe demanded by French government in order to start negotiations to end growing conflict between France and the US. -
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Adams Presidency
Last Federalist president, with Thomas Jefferson as his VP. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Laws passed in response to growing fears over war with France. Sedition Act made unfavourable comments towards federal government illegal, and Alien Act increased citizenship wait time and allowed random deportation of immigrants. Laws attempted to suppress Antifederalist views, and prevent immigrant support for Antifederalists from growing. -
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French Quasi-War
Undeclared conflict between France and the US over America's withdrawal from the Treaty of Permanent Alliance and willingness to forge closer relations with Britain. Led to significant war panic in the US, but was ultimately resolved with the rise of Napoleon in France. -
Revolution of 1800
Thomas Jefferson wins presidency, taking it away from Federalist control. 1st peaceful transition of power between parties. -
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Jefferson Presidency
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Barbary Wars
Overseas conflict starting with pirate attacks on American vessels in the Mediterranean. America's fledgling navy/military couldn't do anything, so the pirates were bribed. President Jefferson's attempts to cut spending were ruined by this. -
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Marshall Court
John Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was appointed by John Adams and helped direct a Federalist course for American laws for 34 years. -
LOUISIANA PURCHASE
Very important term. The sale of French territory to the US by Napoleon in 1803, for 15 million dollars. (3 cents per acre). Greatly expands United States' land size and helps contribute to manifest destiny mentality. -
EMBARGO ACT
Banned overseas trade due to impressment of American ships. Failed to stop smuggling, and angered American citizens. Especially hurt Northeast, where shipping was an important trade. Eventually repealed. -
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Madison Presidency
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War of 1812
War between Britain and the United States, sparked by British interference with American activity overseas and conflicts between US-Britain borders in Oregon. Involved Britain supporting Native Americans against US. War Hawks were Congressmen who openly wanted war. British failed to capture United States, leading to increased nationalism and industrialisation in America. -
Hartford Convention
Meeting of Federalist leaders in New England to draft plans to make New England an independent country during War of 1812. Because of nationalism sparked by the war, the Federalist party could never recover from this treasonous meeting, and basically collapsed in 1814. -
Treaty of Ghent
Signed in Ghent, Belgium to end the War of 1812. Stabilised American borders and asserted American dominance over land, as Brits and Native Americans in North America were left severely disadvantaged by War of 1812. War's end improved America's morale and economy, and helped end political infighting. -
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Era of Good Feelings
Time of national pride, economic prosperity and single-party politics during the presidency of James Monroe. The economic boom and sense of national security the War of 1812 created were supplemented with industrialisation and opportunities out west. Also era of Great Triumvirate – Daniel Webster, Henry Clay and John Calhoun. -
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Monroe Presidency
Took place during the Era of Good Feelings, although his second term was less rosy than his first. Party politics didn't impede lawmaking, but things were becoming chaotic without party organisation by the end. Monroe was the last Founding Father to be president. -
McCulloch vs. Maryland
Challenge to the legality of the Bank of the United States brought by Maryland's attempts to tax - and thus destroy – it. The Elastic Clause was ultimately used to determine that it was legal, setting a precedent for significant use of federal power in the government later on. -
Panic of 1819
Economic downturn caused by banks fraudulently printing their own money, creating a currency bubble that popped when the BUS asked banks for payment, meaning banks had to call in loans, which people couldn't do. Local banks failed and people lost money, leading to no buying, selling or hiring. Kind of spurred the end to the Era of Good Feelings. -
MISSOURI COMPROMISE
In order to keep the balance of free and slave states in the country, Missouri and Maine were both admitted, and the future line to determine free and slave states was set at the 36'30'' line. -
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SECOND GREAT AWAKENING
Protestant revivalism almost a century after First Great Awakening. Started in Western New York's "burned over district". Characterised by focus on reforming sins, including alcoholism, slavery, prisons, sanitation and schooling. Increased popularity of groups like Baptists and Methodists, as well as participating of women. Led to abolition and women's rights movements later on. -
MONROE DOCTRINE
Foreign policy declaring that European powers couldn't start any new colonies in the New World. Written as a preëmptive response to possible European interference with South American independence movements. It was also one of the earliest examples of America asserting its world influence. -
Gibbons vs. Ogden
Questioned whether state licenses or federal licenses were more powerful. Because of the Supreme Court's Federalist leanings, a federal license was determined to be more powerful. -
Corrupt Bargain
Secret deal made between 1824 Presidential candidates Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams, agreeing that QA would be president and Clay would be Secretary of State. Democratic Andrew Jackson discovered this and used it to secure a presidency of hatred towards establishment politicians and the upper class. -
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Quincy Adams Presidency
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50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
Also the dates on which John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both die, after spending their decades in retirement being cranky old man friends. -
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Jackson Presidency
Lent his name to philosophy of Jacksonian Democracy, which capitalised on westward expansion and media outlets to reach average citizens. Property rights for voting were eliminated in efforts to get common people more involved in democracy, although this could lead to brash and uninformed decisions. Jackson started Democratic party and corrupt spoils system. -
Indian Removal Act
Money was set aside by the government for the voluntary resettlement of native peoples, but they didn't go. (Surprise!) Despite legal ruling that native people's couldn't be forced from land, Andrew Jackson did anyway, violating the Constitution and killing 25% of people forced to march from Georgia to Oklahoma in Trail of Tears. -
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IMMIGRATION 1.0
The first big wave of immigrants to the established United States, these were mostly Germans and Irish coming to escape political and economic problems back home. (Potato famine in Ireland, general chaos in Germany.) Many came to urban centres along the East Coast, like New York. Political machines were established to provide some services for immigrants in exchange for votes. Germans were more upper class and skilled workers, Irish were more lower class and unskilled. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Educated slave preacher who used religion and astronomical events to incite a revolt that spread to several plantations in Virginia and killed several white people, demonstrating the power and refusal to be dehumanised that slaves still had. Led to increased brutality towards slaves in South, for fear that it would happen again. Brutal treatment became sticking point for abolitionists later on. -
NULLIFICATION CRISIS
South Carolina tried to nullify federal tariffs because tariffs made agricultural exports less valuable. Supporters argued nullification was a check on federal power, but opponents said it wasn't in Constitution. Jackson opposed it because it interfered with his job to keep states together, considered it treason. Despite being from South Carolina, he had to uphold the interests of the Union. Threatened force to stop it. Solved with gradual 10 year tariff raise. -
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American Anti-slavery Society
Created by radical abolitionists, supported by people like Frederick Douglass and William L. Garrison. Incredibly fringe group who argued for complete emancipation and social acceptance of black people. (Crazy, right? What were those nutters thinking, treating people like people? Pfff!) Came out of social justice bent of Second Great Awakening. -
Texas Rebellion
White settlers to Mexican state of Texas rebelled against government because it was Catholic and disapproved of slavery. Attempt to stop rebellion at Alamo sparked more anger, Texas ultimately became independent. Later annexed by US. -
Cumberland Road Project Finished
The project to create a national road system, known as the Cumberland Road, was worked on mainly during the Era of Good Feelings, as part of a significant push to establish infrastructure in the United States. Systems of transportation would help the nation industrialise and prosper. -
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Van Buren Presidency
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Election of 1840
William Henry Harrison and John Tyler run as Whig ticket, appealing to average citizens with 'log cabin and beer' tactics – carting around a log cabin to sympathise with voters and giving out free beer. First significant Whig attempt to connect with general, Western and agrarian populace, shows growing influence of regular people and pride in democracy. Slogan was "Tippeecanoe and Tyler Too!" -
Gag Rule
Clamped down on abolitionists' right to petition government, thus denying them Constitutional rights. Made many abolitionists extremely upset, and further inflamed things. -
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Harrison Presidency
Lasted 30 days, died due to pneumonia contracted during Inauguration speech. -
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Tyler Presidency
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Taylor Expedition
Border patrol led by Zachary Taylor to Rio Grande river, claimed by US as southern border of Texas, and by Mexico as Mexican land. Ended with 11 Americans killed, used to justify going to war with Mexico. Made Taylor hero. -
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Polk Presidency
Ran on expansionist campaign slogan "54'40'' or Fight", trying to rally people around claim to more land in Northwest, at that point Oregon-Alaska border. -
Wilmot Proviso
Legislation trying to ban slavery in states gained from Mexican-American War. Passed by House but not Senate, showing divisiveness of slavery. Northerners thought MA war was attempt to gain more slave states, Southerns thought Proviso was violation of Missouri Compromise. -
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MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR
War with Mexico, demonstrating American strength and expansionism. Started over suspicious border conflict so that the US could gain more land. Objected to by Republicans, Northerners and abolitionists because it would expand slaveholding land. (Thoreau protested, jailed). Ultimately gained SW for US. -
Seneca Falls Convention
Meeting of women's rights advocates and supporters in Seneca Falls, New York. Featured Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Wrote Declaration of Sentiments, document declaring equal status for women as for men. -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Treaty signed with Mexico ending the Mexican-American war, giving America lots of Southwestern land (including California) in exchange for 15 million. Declared southern border of Texas was Rio Grande. Example of American force and expansionism, and manifest destiny. -
California Gold Rush
Vast amounts of gold helped make the West Coast a desirable place to be, with many people settling to try and strike it rich. Population eventually spurred development of cities and cross-country infrastructure, like train project. Metropolises like San Francisco cropped up. Encouraged eastern immigration, namely Chinese people. -
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Taylor Presidency
Died after drinking spoiled milk -
COMPROMISE OF 1850
Compromise to determine which of new states would be free and slave. Made California free, Utah and Mexico got to vote for themselves on it, slave trade was banned in Washington D.C. and the Fugitive Slave Law was enforced. -
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Filmore Presidency
His nickname was MilFil. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel seriously mobilised public against slavery, and was kind of the 'Common Sense' of the Civil War. Really like the impetus for the war. Also showed importance of women in civil rights and abolition. -
Gadsen Purchase
Purchase of Southern New Mexico and Arkansas in 1853, for railroad. Example of expansionism and growing infrastructure. -
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Pierce Presidency
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Ostend Manifesto
Leaked document of negotiations between President Pierce and Cuban officials to try and buy Cuba for the US. Angered people because they thought it would expand slavery. Boo, Pierce. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Good thing to know. Legislation declaring that Kansas and Nebraska could vote for themselves on slavery, but led to serious and violent tension. Promoted idea of 'popularity sovereignty', which was debated by Lincoln and Douglas in 1858. -
BLEEDING KANSAS
Tensions surrounding the Kansas and Nebraska votes for/against slavery turned violent in 1856, with anti-slavery Jayhawks and pro-slavery Border Ruffians killing each other. Pro-slavery tactics eventually inspired KKK. Killed idea of 'popular sovereignty'. Votes were disputed and unclear. -
DRED SCOTT DECISION
Supreme Court case that declared slaves are property, they can never be citizens, and none of their descendants can ever be citizens. Said Congress couldn't ban slavery in any state, and that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. Infuriated abolitionists. -
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Buchanan Presidency
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Perry's Mission to Japan
Commodore Matthew Perry demands that the Japanese open their country up to outside trade, especially with the US. Japan complies because they were threatened with gunboats. Example of growing global imperialism on part of US. -
HARPER'S FERRY RAID
White Northerner named John Brown tried to start a revolt on a plantation, but it was stopped. The South really started distrusting Northern sentiment that the North didn't want to exterminate all slavery. South refused to comply with North, and things quickly began devolving into war. -
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Lincoln Presidency
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CIVIL WAR
Southern states started seceding over the issue of slavery, and President Lincoln was forced to use force to prevent them from becoming their own country. War was incredibly violent and destroyed Southern infrastructure, but also did away with slavery. -
Transcontinental Railroad
Big infrastructure project linking the economic powers of the West to those of the East. Made possible by land acquisitions from MA War and industrialisation. Involved Irish immigrants working from West, and Chinese immigrants working from East. Two sides met in Utah. -
HOMESTEAD ACT
Guaranteed 160 acres out west to anyone who was willing to live on and farm it for 5 years. Gave great incentive to people to settle out west, and helped invention and infrastructure spread, too. -
Battle of Antietam
Deadliest single day in US history, with 4,000 soldiers from both sides dying in conflict. Inefficient Union general McClellan fired, and Lincoln is finally convinced to order Emancipation Proclamation. Photography shows horrors of war, public opinion is turned against it. -
CIVIL WAR ACTS
Included Habeas Corpus Suspension Act (suspension of right to speedy and fair trial in border states), Enrollment Act (mandatory draft that could be avoided by paying 300 dollars), Revenue Act (first income tax to raise money for war), National Banking Act (revived BUS to pay for war, first introduced greenbacks.) Many of these laws greatly expanded the power of the federal government, a paradigm change that remained after the end of the war. -
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION
Executive order, later codified with 13th Amendment. Freed slaves in Southern states and let African-Americans join the army, to boost Union army size and crumple Southern war effort + societal structure. Didn't free slaves in border states. Led to chaos in South, kept border states loyal and boosted moral for Union troops. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Brutal path of destruction cut by General Sherman from Tennessee to coast, including the burning of Atlanta, ruining of railway lines and freeing of slaves, who were promised 40 acres of land and a mule if they helped out the Union Army. Brutality made South resent North in postwar years. -
Freedmen's Bureau Established
Political organisation designed to help out poor white Southerners and recently freed black people. -
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Johnson Presidency
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Presidential Reconstruction
Reconstruction policies forgiving of South, pursued mainly by Johnson as Lincoln was shot. Readmission into Union based on 10% Union support in South, instead of 50%. Southern governments were reformed, but black rights restricted. 1866 midterm elections increased radical republican presence in Washington, Johnson nearly removed following impeachment. -
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THE "GILDED AGE"
Sarcastic term given to period by writer Mark Twain, who observed the flourishing and wealthy exterior of the country supported by impoverished and marginalised workers. The period saw America become a considerable force in the world, but at significant cost. Businesses boomed, but people felt increasingly left behind. It was the first period of American excess. -
Black Codes Eliminated
Legislation passed to eliminate Black Codes, which were Southern responses to Congressional Reconstruction that tried to keep black people in subservient positions by enforcing sharecropping, literacy tests, grandfather clauses and poll taxes. -
Reconstruction Act
Legislation encapsulating the strict nature of Congressional Reconstruction, as Southern legislatures were dissolved and replace with 5 military districts, manned by Northern troops. All Southern states had to get Congressional approval for new state Constitutions, and ratify the 14th Amendment. Amended in 1868. -
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Congressional Reconstruction
Main part of Reconstruction, featuring serious Republican-lead government oversight and punishment of South/former Confederates. Black Codes passed by Southern states to suppress black rights were eliminated, support organisations made for black and poor white citizens. During this time, Northern Republicans settled in South and established Republican governments, known as "Carpetbaggers". Democrats known as "Redeemers" later took over. -
14TH AMENDMENT
.Overturned Dred Scott decision and made all people born in the US citizens
.Gave all citizens civil rights under the umbrella term "equal protection"
.Forced Southern states to let black males vote or they risked losing seats in Congress
.Prevented former Confederates from voting or holding office without permission from Congress
.Took on Confederate war debts
.Expanded federal authority over states -
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Grant Presidency
Time in office beset by embarrassing scandals. Presided over the collapse of Reconstruction. -
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Knights of Labour
Secret labour union started by Terence Powderly. Open to all people, including unskilled workers, African-Americans and women. Wanted to see abolition of child labour, and monopolies. Rapidly gained support in 1886, then lost in same year due to Haymarket Riots. -
15TH AMENDMENT
Black men were given the right to vote. -
CREDIT MOBILIER SCANDAL
Or 'Pie Picture Scandal'. (Not really. It would be funny if it was). Stocks and other kickbacks were given to half of Congress in order to assure support for Union Pacific railroad (eastern portion of Transatlantic Railroad). Scandal was just another example of how intertwined politics and businesses were in the Guilded Age. Scandals like these helped eventually turn public opinion against businesses, with the rise of the Free Silver movement and William Jennings Bryan. Stay tuned. -
KKK Act
Classified participation in the KKK as a federal crime in an effort to stop the terror the group was spreading throughout the South. The law allowed military enforcement of it if necessary. -
Depression of 1873
Contributing factor in the collapse of Reconstruction, because it took money away from Reconstructive policies. -
Compromise of 1877
Deal that decided the 1876 Tilden vs. Hayes presidential election. Democrats allowed Republican Hayes to become president, and he agreed to end federal support for "Carpetbagger" governments and allow a Southern railroad to be built. Federal troops were also to be withdrawn from the South, thus removing the strictest but most protective Reconstructive actions. -
GREAT RAILROAD STRIKE OF 1877
In response to wages being cut by railroad companies because of an economic downturn, workers went on strike in 11 states, shutting down 2/3 of the country's railways. 500,000 other workers joined to protest, and President Hayes responded by using federal force. (Compare to Washington's response to Whiskey Rebellion.) Demonstrated how close business and government were in Gilded Age. After strikes, workers' rights groups often had harder times advancing their causes. -
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Hayes Presidency
Nickname was "Rutherfraud Hayes" because of the underhanded way he won the presidency. -
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IMMIGRATION 2.0
Second big wave of immigrants came to US from Eastern and Southern Europe. Main groups were Italians, Poles, Russians, along with Greeks, Armenians, Czechs, etc. Spoke many different languages, and practiced religions like Orthodoxy and Judaism that seemed really strange to settled Americans. Influx prompted rise in xenophobia, as it always does. Often from more rural areas, as opposed to urban immigrants in earlier years. Settled in Northeast and Midwest, mainly. -
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SOCIAL GOSPEL
Kind of like a Third Great Awakening, this Protestant movement focused even more on social justice issues, especially in urban areas. Housing, poverty, immigration and child labour were all big issues. Organisations like Salvation Army and Child Labour Committee all gained reputation form Social Gospel. Women took increased role in this, flexing their leadership muscles for eventual women's suffrage movement in 20th century. -
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Garfield Presidency
Assassinated by disgruntled public official Charles Guiteau -
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Arthur Presidency
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First Cleveland Presidency
First name was actually Stephen, not Grover. Therefore, his nickname is SteveCleve. -
INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT
Don't be fooled by how boring this one is, it's secretly a very important sausage. Legislation based on Supreme Court ruling (Wabash vs. Illinois) that states couldn't regulate interstate commerce. The federal government tried to do that instead, forcing train rates to be "reasonable and fair", but that didn't really happen. Interstate Commerce Commission was set up to regulate railroads, but it actually helped railroad companies instead. Example of business's influence on government. -
American Federation of Labour Founded
Moderate, skilled-only labour union that wanted better wages and working conditions, not necessarily anything too radical. Leader Samuel Gompers advocated for things like a day off to help make workers better people. Used strike as last resort, this was effective because skilled workers were needed by their companies. Union still exists today. -
Dawes Act
Decreed that the government's official policy towards native peoples was forced assimilation. This was prompted by the American loss at Little Bighorn, which signified that Native American culture was still strong, and thus still a threat to the US. -
Hull House Founded
Hull House was a transitional house in Chicago established to help immigrants get on their feet in the United States. Part of a nationwide movement of "settlement houses" set up to help immigrants. Many taught English and trades, and fostered a sense of community for new arrivals. -
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Benjamin Harrison Presidency
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Sherman Antitrust Act
Legislation created to try and rein in the influence of giant monopolies, but was rarely used against huge companies. Actually used against labour organisations to stop workers from trying to gain rights. -
Homestead Strike
Strike at the Carnegie factory town of Homestead, when the company cut wages. Strikebreakers and Pinkerton guards (private, hired guards. Essentially like soldiers) were used to violently crush the strike. Demonstrated business's ruthlessness towards workers. -
Depression of 1893
A stock market crash led to high unemployment and dropping wages, which sparked strikes and calls for basic job securities. Led to Coxey's Army march, made up of unemployed men who wanted jobs and unemployment security. Government was bailed out by incredibly wealthy banker J.P Morgan during Depression of 1893, and then again in 1907. -
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Second Cleveland Presidency
Cleveland Part 2: The Reclevening. SteveCleve vows to get cleven with his enemies when he returns in this action-packed sequel. The only president to serve 2 terms nonconsecutively. -
Pullman Strike
Another important strike of the time period, this strike occurred at a Pullman Palace Car company town because wages were being cut. Since the strike was near the railroad hub of Chicago, it halted almost all national rail travel. It was broken with federal force, which President SteveCleve justified by saying the lack of train transportation interfered with federal mail delivery. Another example of business and government's cozy friendship, at the expense of average citizens. -
PLESSY VS. FERGUSON
Interpreted the 14th Amendment's requirement that citizens be given "equal protection" to include "separate but equal" treatment, giving the green light to segregation for the next half century or so. This was a continuation of black oppression in the south that started with the Black Codes right after the Civil War. -
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McKinley Presidency
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SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
3 month long war against Spain in supposed retaliation for the sinking of the USS Maine, and Spanish mistreatment of Cuban insurrectionists in Cuba. Gave US Spanish possessions, including Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Allowed the US to exert more influence over the world, with the hopes of establishing a global empire and trading with China. War's start bolstered by exaggerated "yellow journalism" and expansionism. -
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Roosevelt Presidency
Big supporter of American international expansion. Personally led group of "Rough Riders" to Cuba during Spanish-American War. -
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QUOTA ACTS
Wow, I am having the hardest time spelling 'quota'. Jesus.
Early 1920s legislation demonstrating isolationism and xenophobia, which were fashionable at the time.
.Emergency Quota Act (1921) - Set 3% limit on immigrants based on ethnic group populations as of previous census.
.Immigration Act (1924) - even more restrictive, with a 2% limit on immigrants based on ethnic group population as of 1890 census, when there were far fewer Eastern/Southern Europeans in the US.
