AP U.S. HISTORY Unit 4 Notes

AP U.S. HISTORYUNIT 4 NOTESExpansion and Reform

Focus on when you read:• Trace the history of westward expansion• The motives for westward expansion• Causes and major events related to the War of 1812• The role the Monroe Doctrine played in U.S. foreign policy

• The beginning of the reform movement in America• How the events toward the end of the War of 1812 related to the beginning of the “Era of Good Feelings”

• How the reform movement shaped the individual’s role in society.

Introduction• One might argue that the impulse for westward expansion existed in the

United States from the very inception of the American Colonies.• The desire for westward expansion and expanded foreign commerce led to

American involvement in the War of 1812, the Second War of Independence.

• The U.S. began to assert itself in the world with the proclamation of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823.

• President Andrew Jackson’s policies toward the Southeastern Native American Tribes demonstrated how the desire for expansion superseded the concern for human rights.

• James K. Polk becomes President on the promise of completing westward expansion and instigated a war to make it happen.

• The Era of Good Feeling turned America’s attention back to domestic issues.• Andrew Jackson goes back and forth on the issue of States’ Rights• Much was accomplished during the Age of Reform

Unit 4.1: Roots of American Expansionism

• What did our first four Presidents have to say about westward expansion?

• How did the acquisition of Louisiana and the successful conclusion of the War of 1812 feed this desire to expand further west?

• In what ways did the concept of Manifest Destiny unite the nation and justify the acquisition of western lands?


• What did our first four Presidents have to say about westward expansion?• The desire for expansion was present in the American

Colonies from the very beginning, the earliest settlers were expanding west. They saw opportunity in expansion.

• The Founding Fathers:• George Washington called the new nation a “rising empire”.• John Adams stated that the United States was “destined to occupy

all of the northern part of this quarter of the globe and that when accomplished would be a significant achievement for mankind”

• Thomas Jefferson said that the west would provide space for expansion to the thousandth and ten thousandth generation.

• James Madison believed that the United States should extend the sphere of the republic as one great respectable and flourishing empire.

Unit 4.1: Roots of American Expansionism• How did the acquisition of Louisiana and the successful conclusion

of the War of 1812 feed this desire to expand further west?• The Louisiana Purchase

• The Louisiana Purchase opened the Mississippi River and put the dream of a Pacific Port within reach of the United States government.

• People across the United States began to see the west as a place for a “new start”, as an escape from cultural, economic, and political oppression in the East.

• The War of 1812• One of the causes for the War of 1812 was the desire for expansion.• The War Hawks slogan was “On to Canada!” and they resented the British presence in

the Northwest Territory. For the War Hawks expansion west was the road to greater sovereignty.

• The development of the Concept of Manifest Destiny• One of the main problems presented by expansionist talk was the presence of native

peoples in the region.• Manifest Destiny helped rationalize U.S. Foreign Policy• Manifest Destiny unified the nation behind a common cause and rally th epublic

behind the government• Manifest Destiny helped counter criticisms by foreign nations.


• In what ways did the concept of Manifest Destiny unite the nation and justify the acquisition of western lands?• Benefits of Manifest Destiny

• Farmers who had lost their land due to debts could become landowners again in the west.

• Abundant raw materials became available to Eastern Manufacturers

• Mining, Agriculture, and Land Speculation offered plentiful investment opportunities.

• It, somehow, was used by some to justify the racial and cultural superiority of American Society.

• Politicians and Military Leaders saw an opportunity in westward expansion to increase the status of the United States in the world community.

Unit 4.1: Roots of American Expansionism• In what ways did the concept of Manifest Destiny unite the nation

and justify the acquisition of western lands?• Examples of failed Expansion efforts

• The Ostend Manifesto• At first President James K. Polk offered to buy Cuba from Spain for $100 million, Spain

refused to sell• Several Southern Adventurers led expeditions to attempt to liberate Cuba by force, all were

thwarted and participants executed by Spanish Authorities.• In 1852 Franklin Pierce renewed the effort to purchase Cuba, he backed off when Antislavery

activists found out and began extensive protests.• The Walker Expedition

• After a failed attempt to conquer Baja, California from Spain, William Walker led a force that conquered Nicaragua in 1855 hoping to establish a pro-Slavery Central American empire.

• A Coalition of Central American nations led by Honduras defeated Walker and executed him.• The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty

• Both the United States and Great Britain had dreams of constructing a canal across Central America to link the Atlantic and Pacific.

• To block each other the two nations signed a Treaty agreeing not to pursue a canal project.• The ban was later lifted in 1901 paving the way for U.S. construction of the Panama Canal.

American Hopes for expansion in the Caribbean and Central America rested with Cuba, Nicaragua, and Panama

Unit 4.1: Roots of American Expansionism• In what ways did the concept of Manifest Destiny unite the nation and

justify the acquisition of western lands?• Successful Expansion efforts:

• The Louisiana Purchase• Doubled the size of the nation, gave control of the Mississippi River and the Port of New Orleans.

• Acquisition of Florida• Acquired from Spain by the Adams-Onis Treaty for $5 million after Andrew Jackson essentially invaded

Florida chasing Seminole raiding parties and capturing St. Augustine.• Annexation of Texas

• Acquired after years as the Independent Republic of Texas (The Lone Star Republic) after a successful revolution against the government of Mexico.

• The Oregon Territory• Although we did not get all of what we wanted, we were able to peacefully set the northern boundary of

the U.S. at the 49th Parallel. Oregon settlers were demanding war with Britain for the entire Oregon Territory (“54 40 or Fight”).

• The Mexican Cession• Acquired as the result of the Mexican War and the subsequent Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This added

California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada to U.S. territory.• The Gadsden Purchase

• The U.S. paid $10 million to purchase a narrow strip of land from Mexico to complete the southern transcontinental railroad.

Unit 4.2: The War of 1812• What were the causes for renewed conflict between the British and the young United States?

• Describe the major military engagements and turning points of the War of 1812.

• How did the conclusion of the War of 1812 effect American foreign policy and domestic politics?

Unit 4.2: The War of 1812• What were the causes for renewed conflict between the British and the

young United States?• Both the British and the French were violating American shipping and commercial rights

on the Atlantic.• The British came off as the villains because the French were resuming trade with the U.S. and

the British were practicing a policy of impressment.• Matters worsened further with the Chesapeake Incident.• Freedom of the Seas and Rights of Neutrals will be central to U.S. foreign policy all the way

through World War II.• Americans were blaming the British and British Canadians for inciting Native American

violence in the “Old Northwest”.• Native American Chief Tecumseh and his brother The Prophet rallied tribes throughout the

Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys hoping to restore traditional ways and halt American expansion.

• Tecumseh was eventually defeated by William Henry Harrison in the Indiana Territory at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811.

• When British-made rifles were found on Natives, the War Hawks began screaming for a Declaration of War.

• Western and Southern Democratic-Republicans (the War Hawks), led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, saw war with Britain as a path to claiming land from Native Americans in the west, vanquishing the British from Canada, and seizing Spanish Florida.

“Show respect to all people and bow to none” - Tecumseh

Unit 4.2: The War of 1812• Describe the major military engagements and turning points of the War of 1812.

• The United States was ill-prepared to wage war with Great Britain when war was declared on June 18, 1812.

• The U.S. had an Army of less than 10,000 men and Naval fleet of less than 20 ships• Fortunately the British had problems of their own.

• The British were involved in another war with the French, which kept them from fully focusing on the War of 1812

• Three American invasions of Canada resulted in miserable failures.• By 1813, the British Navy had successfully blockaded American ports and stifled U.S. commerce. This

obviously effected the Federalists in New England the most.• Ironically, some of the early successes of the U.S. came against the British Navy at the Battle of Lake Erie and a

famous engagement between the U.S.S. Constitution and HMS Guerriere .• American hard wood trees apparently made quite formidable battleships.

• American troops on the ground fared much better against the Native Americans than they did against the British.

• William Henry Harrison defeated Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames (Tecumseh was killed in the battle)• Andrew Jackson defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (after the victory a slaughter of Native

American women, children, and elderly ensued as retribution for previous Native American attacks).• The British invaded the U.S. in 1814 and burned Washington DC, but they failed to capture Baltimore

(held up at Fort McHenry). The British were then soundly defeated in upstate New York.• By the end of 1814 both sides had had enough and sued for peace. The Treaty of Ghent ended the

fighting in the War of 1812 (they thought)• The most decisive American victory came at the Battle of New Orleans after the Treaty of Ghent had been

signed. The battle made Andrew Jackson a national icon.

Battle of Lake Erie

Battle of New Orleans

Unit 4.2: The War of 1812• How did the conclusion of the War of 1812 effect American

foreign policy and domestic politics?• The U.S. Economy was devastated• Large portions of Washington DC had been destroyed• The Nation’s military did win some respect worldwide for holding their

own against the powerful British.• The Federalist Party was discredited.

• The Federalists attempted to sign their own treaty with the British (the Hartford Convention) and took several measures to weaken the war effort.

• When the Hartford Convention was exposed the Federalist Party was destroyed.

• The heroism and fame acquired by Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison would launch them to Presidential careers.

• The amazing swell of American patriotism and collapse of the Federalist Party led to the election of James Monroe in 1816 and a period of political peace known as the “Era of Good Feelings”.

Unit 4.2: The War of 1812• How did the conclusion of the War of 1812 effect American

foreign policy and domestic politics?• Possibly the most important development that resulted from the

conclusion of the War of 1812 was the obvious weakening of the Spanish Empire.• The sale of Florida to the United States in the Adams-Onis Treaty was

followed by independence movements in all of Spain’s southern colonies, leaving them with only Cuba and Puerto Rico.

• This left the United States poised to fill the “imperial” void left by the Spanish.• In 1823 President James Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine proclaiming

American neutrality in European Affairs and forbidding European colonization in Latin America.• In 1815 the European powers, after defeating Napoleon, vowed to restore European

Monarchies and their empires. This obviously alarmed the U.S. that they may try to restore Spain’s possessions in South America and the Caribbean. The British and Russians also had their eyes on the west coast of North America.

• The Monroe Doctrine set the foundation for American Imperialism later in 1898.

Unit 4.3: James K. Polk and Manifest Destiny

• What were the main goals of President James K. Polk with concern to Manifest Destiny?

• What role did events in Texas and Oregon play in inspiring the concept of Manifest Destiny?

• Describe the causes, major military engagements, and results of the Mexican War.


• What were the main goals of President James K. Polk with concern to Manifest Destiny?• Annexation of Texas• Settlement of the Oregon Problem with the British• Acquire California and the rest of what is today the

Southwest United States.• James K. Polk’s entire Presidency was centered

around the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny. He was so successful in carrying this out that he declined to run for a second term in office.

Manifest Destiny at all cost……


• What role did events in Texas and Oregon play in inspiring the concept of Manifest Destiny?• Manifest Destiny was a term coined by John O’Sullivan to describe the God-given right of the

United States to expand west to the Pacific Ocean, it became the platform of James K. Polk when he ran for President in 1844.

• The annexation of Texas renewed desires for westward expansion• In 1821 the newly independent government of Mexico encouraged American immigration into Texas.

Before long Americans outnumbered Mexicans in Texas and Mexico began placing strict requirements on American immigrants (which were rarely complied with).

• In 1829 the government began requiring immigrants to convert to Catholicism and abolished slavery (they hoped it would slow down American immigration, it did not).

• In 1834 Santa Anna became dictator of Mexico and was determined to enforce the laws against immigration.

• In 1836 Texas declared independence, set up a government, and selected Sam Houston to lead the Army of Texas. The Army of Texas suffered early defeats, most famous of which came at the Alamo. Shortly after the Alamo, another Texas Army was forced to surrender then were massacred on orders from Santa Anna.

• These actions fueled Texas resistance. Santa Anna was eventually defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto, where Santa Anna himself was captured and forced to recognize Texas independence.

• Although most Texans supported U.S. statehood they would have to wait more than 10 years as the Lone Star Republic before being annexed by the U.S.


• What role did events in Texas and Oregon play in inspiring the concept of Manifest Destiny?• Developments in the relations between Mexico and the United

States led to peaceful resolution of the Oregon question.• The 1839 Aroostook War nearly brought the U.S. and Britain to war

again. As we entered the 1840s war with Mexico was clearly on the horizon.

• Not wanting a war with both Mexico and Britain at the same time Polk sent a delegation to resolve the “Oregon Problem” with the British.• The Webster-Ashburton Treaty settled the boundary dispute between

Maine and Canada.• Settlers in Oregon were demanding war with Britain to acquire the entire

Oregon Territory, rich in fur trade. Their rallying cry became “54 40 or Fight”

• Neither side wanted another war, so the Oregon Treaty was drafted extending the U.S.-Canadian border along the 49th Parallel.


• Describe the causes, major military engagements, and results of the Mexican War.• Causes of the Mexican War

• U.S.-Mexican relations began unraveling when the U.S. formally annexed Texas in 1845.

• President Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to offer to purchase the California-New Mexico region, but Mexico refused to sell. This left Polk to take more controversial steps toward acquiring the territory.

• Polk sent troops to the Rio Grande River, crossing through a disputed territory (claimed by both the U.S. and Mexico) between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande.

• When hostilities ensued Congress declared war even though the evidence of any Mexican wrong-doing was shaky at best.

• James K. Polk had the war he needed to fulfill Manifest Destiny.


• Describe the causes, major military engagements, and results of the Mexican War.• Major Military Engagements:

• The Mexican War went extremely well for the United States military.• By 1847 we had conquered all of the American Southwest.• General Zachary Taylor’s army won victories at Buena Vista and

Monterrey before being replaced by Polk for disobeying orders.• Zachary Taylor returned home a hero and later became President of

the United States.• Taylor’s replacement, General Winfield Scott, won major victories at

Vera Cruz, the mountain fortress of Chapultepec, and then sieged Mexico City itself forcing Santa Anna to flee and the Mexican Army to surrender.

• The Mexican War also featured Stephen Kearney capturing New Mexico and Southern California; and John Freemont’s conquest of Northern California, which he proclaimed as the independent Bear Flag Republic.

From the Halls of Montezuma…….


• Describe the causes, major military engagements, and results of the Mexican War.• The Mexican War was ended by the Treaty of

Guadalupe Hidalgo.• Mexico recognized American claims to the disputed territory

in Texas North of the Rio Grande to the Nueces River.• Mexico ceded to the U.S. the territories of California (which

had to be a hard pill to swallow once gold was discovered less than two years later) and New Mexico in return for $15 million (what Polk originally offered to pay in the first place).

• The United States agreed to assume approximately $3 million in debts Mexico owed to American settlers.

Practice Question #11. Which of the following was not in favor of U.S. territorial

expansion in the first half of the nineteenth century?A. FarmersB. ManufacturersC. InvestorsD. AbolitionistsE. Religious leaders

Practice Question #22. The term Manifest Destiny implies which of the

following?A. A desire to limit territorial expansion of the United StatesB. That the cost of expansion is greater than its benefitsC. That it was America’s God-given right to expandD. That nations should share newly discovered resources rather

than fight over themE. That taking land from others was a violation of God’s will

Practice Question #33. The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory

from:A. MexicoB. BritainC. SpainD. RussiaE. France

Practice Question #44. The Gadsden Purchase:

A. Allowed the United States to build a southern transcontinental Railroad.

B. Was territory in the west where the Cherokee were relocatedC. Allowed the United States to extend its northern border with

Canada to the Pacific OceanD. Was vetoed by President PolkE. Gave the United States access to the Oregon Territory

Practice Question #55. The War Hawks:

A. Were led by John AdamsB. Were opponents of Territorial expansionsC. Were U.S. Congressmen who represented the New England

StatesD. Supported going to war against Britain in the early nineteenth

centuryE. Was a Native American tribe who fought against U.S. territorial

expansion

Practice Question #66. The Hartford Convention:

A. Ended the War of 1812B. Was organized by the Federalist opposition to the war with

BritainC. Included some of the most important leaders of the Democratic-

Republican PartyD. Was organized to oppose territorial expansionE. Made way for Texas’s admission into the Union

Practice Question #77. The Battle of New Orleans:

A. Was a major U.S. victory over MexicoB. Convinced the British to agree to peace terms that ended the

War of 1812C. Was fought after the peace treaty ending the War of 1812 was

signedD. Was a major Mexican victory over TexansE. Was a major U.S. naval victory in the War of 1812

Practice Question #88. “Fifty Four Forty or Fight” refers to:

A. The Federalists’ opposition to the War with BritainB. The amount of money Mexico demanded from the United States

in return for allowing it to annex TexasC. The boundary dispute between the United States and MexicoD. The War Hawks’ demand for concessions from the British for

violating American neutrality rightsE. The dispute between Britain and the United States over the

Oregon Territory

Practice Question #99. Which of the following decisions by the Mexican

government angered Americans who settled in Texas?A. The Americans were required to pay enormous taxes to the

Mexican GovernmentB. The Mexicans forbade the Americans from farming on the most

fertile landC. The Mexicans forbade the American settlers from trading with

the United StatesD. The American settlers were prohibited from becoming citizens of

MexicoE. The Mexican Government abolished slavery.

Practice Question #1010. The Supreme Court ruled in Worcester v. Georgia that:

A. Native American tribal land could not be purchased by the state of Georgia

B. Georgia must grant citizenship rights to the Cherokee living withn its borders

C. The Cherokee could not sue the State of Georgia in Federal Court

D. Georgia’s state laws had no authority with Cherokee territoryE. Georgia had a responsibility for the care of the Cherokee living

within its borders

Answers1. D2. C3. E4. A5. D6. B7. C8. E9. E10. D

Unit 4.4: The Need for Reform• Describe the origins of the “Era of Reform”.

• What problems existed (economically, politically, and socially) in United States society that drove the desire for reform?

• Do President Jackson’s positions key issues in American politics reflect those of a “reformer”?

Unit 4.4: The Need for Reform• Describe the origins of the “Era of Reform”.

• General Motivations for reform:• Democratic impulses were the basis of the American Revolution, which sought

to address inequalities that existed in colonial society.• The Antifederalists of the 1780s and 1790s were determined not to sacrifice civil

liberties in the construction of the new Constitution.• The Jeffersonian Democrats professed to defend the values and rights of the

common man.• The Market Revolution had a profound impact on the United States economy.

• Transportation improvements and a new wave of immigration led to new emphasis on cash-crop agrarian society in the South and on Capitalist manufacturing in the north.

• The Government • The government can draw up legislation and policies that further democratize

society.• “Grass Roots” Movements

• Individual citizens and private groups can take it upon themselves to address the maladies that plague their society.

Unit 4.4: Major Reform Movements and Their Accomplishments

• What problems existed (economically, politically, and socially) in United States society that drove the desire for reform?• Political Problems that needed to be addressed:

• Many Americans were excluded (usually by the requirement to own property in order to vote) from the political process and decision-making in the United States.

• Women, African Americans, Native Americans, and Poor White Males were disenfranchised.

• In many cases the process for choosing political candidates was exclusive and closed to most (what was known as the King Caucus).

• Disproportionate representation between urban and rural areas still existed in many areas, which led to the rampant abuse of the farmer in American economic and political policy making.

Unit 4.4: Major Reform Movements and Their Accomplishments• What problems existed (economically, politically, and

socially) in United States society that drove the desire for reform?• Economic problems that needed to be addressed:

• There were no “Stay Laws” to prevent imprisonment for indebtedness.

• Urban workers were beginning to form labor unions to protect their interests, no such bodies being formed to protect farmers.

• Land was not readily available for many Americans.• Many independent farmers were being forced to sell their farms and

become tenant farmers and sharecroppers.• The Market Economy that was developing in the United States was

susceptible to recession and depression based on the fluctuation of market influences and the business cycle.

• The growth of monopolies was stifling competition and limiting the entrepreneurship of small business owners.

Unit 4.4: Major Reform Movements and Their Accomplishments• What problems existed (economically, politically, and socially)

in United States society that drove the desire for reform?• Social problems that needed to be addressed:

• Women were treated as “second-class” citizens• Racial discrimination (not just slavery, but for free blacks in the north) was

pervasive.• Slavery was reaching the point of becoming intolerable.• Treatment of the mentally ill was at best inhumane, as was the treatment of the

nation’s convicts.• The cities were lapsing into decay (overcrowding, crime, disease were all

becoming major problems).• Working conditions were unsafe and wages were dropping with increased

arrival of impoverished immigrants willing to work for less money than established American citizens.

• Lack of public education made learning available to the upper class, creating a cycle of elitism.

• The Native American population was being systematically decimated by the Indian Removal Act and other Federal actions.

Unit 4.4: The Need for Reform• What problems existed (economically, politically, and socially)

in United States society that drove the desire for reform?• It is from these tensions that Jacksonian Democracy is forged.

• Andrew Jackson and his supporters saw Capitalism as creating new forms of dependence for those less fortunate and on looking out for the interests of the wealthy elite.

• Jackson believed that a strong central government benefited the Eastern Businessmen and Bankers.

• Henry Clay’s American System (Federally funded internal improvements, a National Bank, and a Protective Tariff) appeared to Andrew Jackson as a hindrance to westerners and the common man.• Henry Clay (author of the American System) ran for President in 1824 against John

Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.• The election was extremely close and went to the House of Representatives for a

decision.• John Quincy Adams made a deal to implement Henry Clay’s American System in

exchange for Clay’s support in the House. • John Quincy Adams became President and Andrew Jackson cried foul, labeling the

agreement the “corrupt bargain”.

Unit 4.4: The Need for Reform• Do President Jackson’s positions on key issues in American politics reflect

those of a “reformer”?• For many, Andrew Jackson represented a healthy contempt for the old hierarchical,

preferential system. His position on several key issues reflected this:• The Spoils System

• Previous to Jackson government employees kept their jobs even if the President was changed. Jackson came in and fired the government employees of the previous administration and replaced them with people loyal to him (This became known as the Spoils System, Patronage, or Rotation in Office). These men often despised experts and believed the common man was most capable of filling any government job.

• The Indian Removal Act• Sharing the common man’s prejudice against Native Americans, Jackson supported a policy of forced

removal of Southeastern Native American Tribes to Reservations west of the Mississippi River.• When the Cherokee sued in Federal Court and won the right to remain on their land in Worchester v.

Georgia Andrew Jackson turned a blind eye as they were moved to Oklahoma (via the Trail of Tears) anyway.

• Veto Power• Jackson vetoed more bills than any of his predecessors, he saw this as fulfilling his claim to being the

protector of the common man.• Unofficial Advisers

• Jackson leaned heavily on a group of Newspaper Editors that served as an unofficial Cabinet (advisors) known as the “Kitchen Cabinet”. His actual Cabinet was filled with mediocre men appointed only to appease various sectional issues in the Democratic Party.

Unit 4.4: The Need for Reform• Do President Jackson’s positions on key issues in American

politics reflect those of a “reformer”?• For many, Andrew Jackson represented a healthy contempt for the old

hierarchical, preferential system. His position on several key issues reflected this:• The Bank War

• Despite the success of the National Bank Jackson was strongly opposed to the it, believing it represented preference and monopoly.

• Between his belief that the National Bank was unconstitutional and his dislike for the President of the Bank, Nicholas Biddle, Jackson vowed to kill the Bank.

• After a landslide reelection in 1832 Jackson felt he had a mandate to take action against the Bank,• He pulled money out of the National Bank and put it in various State Banks, which became

known as his “Pet Banks”• All this new capital in the hands of the State Banks led to rampant inflation and land

speculation (too many people getting loans to buy land that could not afford them).• To control the situation without reestablishing the National Bank, Jackson issued the Specie

Circular requiring the State Banks to call in their loans and specie (gold and silver)• This backfired, leading to panicked selling of land holdings, which ultimately led to loan

defaults, bank closings, and DEPRESSION during the Presidency of Martin Van Buren.

Unit 4.5: Andrew Jackson on the issue of Federal Authority vs. States’ Rights

• What events demonstrated President Andrew Jackson’s commitment to States’ Rights?

• What events demonstrated President Andrew Jackson’s commitment to the authority of the Federal Government?

• Why was it difficult for the newly arising reform movements to take hold in the South during the antebellum period?

Unit 4.5: Andrew Jackson on the issue of Federal Authority vs. States’ Rights• What events demonstrated President Andrew

Jackson’s commitment to States’ Rights?• After the case of Worchester v. Georgia was decided, Jackson

defended (despite the Court’s ruling) the State of Georgia’s right to relocate the Cherokee to reservations west of the Mississippi.

• In Worchester v. Georgia the Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee were a “domestic dependent nation” and had the right to stay on their land.

• As Chief Executive it was Jackson’s responsibility to enforce and uphold Federal Law. Jackson made the famous statement “Mr. Marshall has made his decision, let him enforce it”.

• One could argue that if not for a general prejudice against Native Americans, Jackson could have been impeached for such an offense.

Unit 4.5: Andrew Jackson on the issue of Federal Authority vs. States’ Rights

• What events demonstrated President Andrew Jackson’s commitment to the authority of the Federal Government?• Jackson used his veto to block construction of the Maysville Road in Kentucky.

• Jackson argued that since the road began and ended in Kentucky (although it was supposed to be a segment of the national road) that the Federal Government should not pay for its construction.

• It certainly did not hurt that the road would be completed in Jackson’s arch enemy Henry Clay’s hometown.

• This veto set a precedent that road construction would be state funded into the twentieth century.• Jackson threatened the use of Federal troops to enforce the tariff (he was opposed to) in

South Carolina.• John C. Calhoun, former Senator from South Carolina and Vice President to Andrew Jackson,

strongly opposed the Tariff of 1828 which he labeled the “Tariff of Abominations”.• Calhoun contended that South Carolina could rule the Tariff unconstitutional and nullify the

Federal Law in their state.• Andrew Jackson pushed Congress to pass the Force Bill, which authorized the use of Federal

troops to enforce the tariff if necessary. • Fortunately Henry Clay was able to work out a compromise tariff in 1833 that calmed the

situation, but Jackson demonstrated the lengths to which he was willing to go to uphold Federal authority and Calhoun insinuated that the States had the right to secede if they saw fit.

Unit 4.5: Andrew Jackson on the issue of Federal Authority vs. States’ Rights• Why was it difficult for the newly arising reform

movements to take hold in the South during the antebellum period?• Because of the rigid nature of Southern Society reform

movements had great difficulty taking up root in the South.• Southern society was very class based and placed tremendous power

in the hands of the wealthy plantation owners, who obviously were opposed to change and reform.

• Also, the South was a perpetrator of, arguably, the worst of the social evils that was “under the gun” of the social reformers of the period: Slavery.• The invention of the Cotton Gin led to the revitalization of the institution

of slavery (which many believed was dying a slow death while dependent on tobacco and rice).

• Efforts to reform slavery would lead to great tension between the north and the south during the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s.


• What role did the Second Great Awakening play in the initiating of reform movements during this period?

• What role did the Transcendentalist Movement play in the initiating of reform movements during this period?

• Describe the major reform movements of the period and their accomplishments.

Unit 4.6: Major Reform Movements and Their Accomplishments• What role did the Second Great Awakening play in the

initiating of reform movements during this period?• Charles Grandison Finney, an abolitionist, began

preaching a message that through good works and deeds one could find salvation, and that people working together to perform good works and deeds could achieve salvation for the nation.

• These ideas, wrapped up in fiery sermons and emotional outpouring of repentance, led to what became known as the Second Great Awakening.

• The idea of achieving “national salvation” led many believers to become active in social reform movements.

Unit 4.6: Major Reform Movements and Their Accomplishments• What role did the Transcendentalist Movement play in the initiating of

reform movements during this period?• Secular inspiration for reform was inspired by the ideas of Immanuel Kant

(Critique of Pure Reason – 1781) who raised doubt about the power of reason.• Kant’s work led to the rise of romanticists like the Transcendentalist Movement in

New England.• Transcendentalists believed that one could rise above the limits of the intellect

and strive for emotional understanding without the assistance of organized religion. Transcendentalism provided those alienated by the church with a secular inspiration for social reform.

• The artists of the Hudson River School, writers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and poets like Edgar Allen Poe strove to produce emotional responses to a uniquely “American” identity.• Emerson said “what is man born for but to be a reformer, a re-maker of what man has

made”.• Henry David Thoreau was imprisoned for refusing to pay his taxes (believing they were

used to fund the pro-slavery Mexican War). Thoreau’s works included Walden (in which he preached self-reliance) and Civil Disobedience (in which he stressed the importance of disobeying unjust laws and taking the consequences peacefully to bring attention to your cause)


• Describe the major reform movements of the period and their accomplishments. • The Abolition Movement

• William Lloyd Garrison, writing in his newspaper The Liberator, advocated for the immediate cessation of all slavery in the United States.

• Other important Abolitionists included Frederick Douglas, David Walker, Sojourner Truth, and Theodore Weld.

• Harriet Tubman organized a network of former slaves and abolitionists to help runaway (fugitive) slaves escape to freedom. The network became known as the Underground Railroad.

• Nat Turner led a slave revolt in Virginia believing that a lunar eclipse was a sign from God to lead the slaves to freedom, he viewed himself as a modern-day Moses.

• John Brown was a radical abolitionist who first appeared at Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas murdering slave owners (believing he was on a mission from God to free the slaves). He later resurfaced in a raid on a Federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia where he was ultimately captured and executed by the State of Virginia.

• Harriet Beecher Stowe’s publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin portrayed the institution of slavery as evil and immoral.

• The Abolition Movement drove a wedge between the North and the South that would ultimately lead to the Civil War.


• Describe the major reform movements of the period and their accomplishments. • How did Congress deal with the issue of Slavery and its growth in the west.

• The Northwest Ordinance banned slavery in the Ohio River Valley, setting a precedent that slavery could be restricted by the Federal Government.

• The Three-Fifths Compromise and Slave Trade (Commerce) Compromise banned the importation of African Slaves and set a precedent for counting (at least partially) the slaves as human beings.

• The Missouri Compromise set a dividing line for slavery in the Louisiana Territory (however the Southern States were unhappy that more land was north of the line and thus would be free states).

• The Compromise of 1850 created a stronger fugitive slave law, allowed popular sovereignty (a vote) on slavery in the territories, banned the slave trade in Washington DC, and admitted California as a free state.

• All of these efforts did little to actually deal with the “slavery question”, they merely put off the inevitable until emotions were so high that any solution would involve extreme violence.

• Thomas Jefferson described slavery as “having a wolf by the ears, you dare not hold on but you cannot let it go”.

Unit 4.6: Major Reform Movements and Their Accomplishments• Describe the major reform movements of the period and

their accomplishments. • Women’s Rights

• Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, the first major women’s rights conference was held at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York.

• The women expressed their desire to be enfranchised in the “Declaration of Sentiments” drafted at the Seneca Falls Convention.

• Unfortunately women would have to wait until 1919 to acquire the right to vote, even the Fourteenth Amendment (which provided rights of citizenship to freed slaves) provided for Universal Male Suffrage.

• Susan B. Anthony worked for Women’s Suffrage during the late 1800s (Colorado would be the first state to allow women to vote during this period) and Carrie Chapman Catt helped push forward the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.


• Describe the major reform movements of the period and their accomplishments. • Tier 2 Social Reforms included:

• Education Reform – Horace Mann pushed for greater emphasis on teacher training and the his “Massachusetts Model” became the blueprint for tax-based public education programs.

• Mental Health – Dorothea Dix opened the first Mental Health Hospital in the United States to reform the barbaric treatment of the mentally ill in American society.

• Prison Reform – William Channing sought to shift the emphasis in prisons from humiliation/abuse/neglect to a focus on discipline and moral improvement. He wanted to emphasize rehabilitation, not retribution.

• Temperance Movement – Pushed primarily by women’s groups, this was the attempt to ban alcohol in American society. They believed alcohol abuse was hampering the political and social development of the United States.

• Utopian Communities – Experimental communities that believed they could enhance their moral and spiritual development by separating from society in these cooperative communes. Examples included Brook Farm, Rober Owen’s New Harmony, and the Shaker Communities.


• Describe the major reform movements of the period and their accomplishments. • Political

• Property qualifications were removed from voter registration making the nation more democratic.

• The “King Caucus” was eliminated and the people were given a greater voice in the choosing of political (especially Presidential) candidates.

• More government offices became elected positions rather than appointive.• Economic

• The nation took steps to eliminate the connection between entrenched capitalists (long-standing businesses) and members of the political hierarchy. This would make progress toward ending privilege and monopoly.

• An outsider looking in• During this period Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville visited America and wrote Democracy in

America.• In this work he:

• Expressed the emergence of American individualism• Contrasted the reform-based society of the North with the traditional, unindustrialized society of the

South.• de Tocqueville celebrated the American spirit and the greatness of American democracy.

Practice Question #1111. The Spoils System:

A. Was condemned by Jackson and his supporters for being undemocratic

B. Prevented women, Native Americans, and African Americans from voting

C. Was a derisive term used by opponents of the Tariff of 1828D. Is a term that is synonymous with rotation in officeE. Was a corrupt bargain made by the opponents of Jackson that

prevented him from winning the Presidency in 1824

Practice Question #1212. The origins of the Age of Reform can be found in all of

the following except:A. The defeat of the Confederacy in the Civil WarB. Democratic influences of the American RevolutionC. The fundamentals of Jeffersonian democracyD. The Antifederalists of the 1780s and 1790sE. The Second Great Awakening and Transcendental Movement

Practice Question #1313. The “Kitchen Cabinet”:

A. Was the name given to Jackson’s political opponentsB. Was a derisive term for men who advocated for women’s rightsC. As a term used to attack critics of Jackson’s position on the bankD. Were those who settled on land for which they no longer held a

leaseE. Was the nickname of Jackson’s unofficial advisors

Practice Question #1414. Jackson’s Maysville Road veto was an opportunity for

him to:A. Challenge federal infrastructural developmentB. Attack opponents of his policy to relocate Native AmericansC. Disregard John Marshall’s ruling on contractsD. Advocate for the construction of a National RoadE. Undermine financial support for the Bank of the United States

Practice Question #1515. The leader of South Carolina’s opposition to the “Tariff

of Abominations” was:A. Martin Van BurenB. Henry ClayC. William Lloyd GarrisonD. John C. CalhounE. John Marshall

Practice Question #1616. Jackson was embroiled in a controversy with Nicholas

Biddle over the:A. Construction of the Maysville RoadB. Construction of the Charles River BridgeC. Resettlement of Native AmericansD. Abolition of SlaveryE. Bank of the United States

Practice Question #1717. The Specie Circular:

A. Sought to address the problems associated with the Panic of 1819

B. Was a primary factor in the development of the new market economy

C. Was nullified by the South Carolina legislatureD. Was an attempt by Jackson to remedy the problems associated

with the destruction of the bankE. Was used by the Charles River Bridge Company to raise funds

to build a bridge over the Charles River in Massachusetts

Practice Question #1818. William Lloyd Garrison is most associated with which of

the following reform movements?A. Prison ReformB. Reforming treatment of the Mentally illC. AbolitionD. Educational reformE. The plight of Native Americans

Practice Question #1919. The Seneca Falls Convention is associated with which

of the following reform movements?A. Women’s SuffrageB. AbolitionC. Tax-based public educationD. Opposition to Jackson’s policy of forced removalE. Urban renewal

Practice Question #2020. Which of the following is false regarding the Second

Great Awakening?A. It promoted individualismB. It was not experienced by southernersC. It placed reason over faithD. It challenged the Enlightenment’s reliance on reasonE. It came about in response to the perception that piety was

declining

Answers11. D12. A13. E14. A15. D16. E17. D18. C19. A20. C

Documents

AP U.S. HISTORY Unit 4 Notes