History 151: Review Notes
Section Two:
Early Republic Ideas.
I. Liberty.
A. Free from tyranny of the king.
II. Equality.
A. Equality of opportunity.
B. Advancement based on qualities: virtue, talent.
C. “Natural Aristocracy” to replace old aristocracy.
III. Republic and republicanism.
A. Power from the people.
B. For the common good.
IV. Leaders from natural aristocracy.
A. “Disinterested” men.
V. How to ensure republicanism.
A. Common interest.
B. Jeffersonian ideal: yeoman farmers.
Republicanism tested in state governments.
I. Formed before the national government.
II. Demonstrated weaknesses of republicanism.
III. “Tyranny of the masses.”
The Articles of Confederation, 1781-1789
I. Intent.
A. Loose confederation of states.
B. States as small republics.
II. Form.
A. Single national congress, one vote per state.
B. No real executive; no judicial branch.
III. Functions.
A. Military.
B. Diplomatic: make treaties.
C. Financial: pay debts.
IV. Weaknesses.
A. No taxing power.
B. Limited power to raise army.
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History 151: Review Notes
C. Not a unified nation.
D. No treaty with England for trade or Northwest posts.
V. Western land policy successes.
A. States turned over land claims.
B. Land Ordinance of 1785: survey and sell land.
C. Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
1. Administration of territories.
2. Creation of states.
VI. Weaknesses hurt Articles.
VII. Turmoil brought call for action.
A. Shays’s Rebellion, Massachusetts, 1786.
B. Frontier protest over taxes and debt.
Move for new Constitution.
I. Philadelphia, 1787
II. Change or replace the Articles?
III. Virginia Plan – James Madison.
A. Supreme national government.
B. Bicameral legislature based on states’ population.
C. Power seemingly to populous states.
IV. New Jersey Plan favored by the small states.
A. Maintain form of Articles of Confederation.
B. More power to Congress.
V. Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise.
The New Constitution.
I. Two chamber legislature to write laws.
A. House selected by popular vote.
B. Senate selected by state legislatures.
II. Executive Branch to enforce laws.
A. Electoral college.
III. Judicial branch to apply/interpret laws.
IV. Popular will restrained.
A. Separation of power.
B. Checks and balances.
V. Staggered democracy, terms of different length, to prevent factions.
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History 151: Review Notes
VI. Federal government gained new powers.
A. Tax.
B. Regulate interstate commerce.
C. Control currency.
VII. States share power.
A. Control internal matters.
B. Run elections/amend the Constitution.
VIII. States given authority over slaves.
A. 3/5’s clause.
B. International slave trade to end in 1808.
IX. Ratification: nine states needed.
A. Federalists.
1. Had advantage in debate.
2. Federalist papers.
B. Anti-federalists.
1. Some prominent people.
C. Arguments: Institutionalize virtue vs. elite plot.
D. Nine states signed on.
E. Virginia and New York resisted.
F. Bill of Rights added in 1791.
X. Federal government started functioning in 1789.
The new government began operating.
I. Congress set up the government in March 1789.
II. Executive departments and offices.
III. Judicial branch.
A. Judiciary Act of 1789
1. Federal court system and size of Supreme Court.
2. Gave Supreme Court some powers.
IV. Bill of Rights.
The Executive Branch began functioning.
I. George Washington, first president.
II. John Adams, vice-president.
III. Washington as president.
A. Wanted respect for the office.
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History 151: Review Notes
B. Made own decisions, or relied on his cabinet?
IV. Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of Treasury.
A. Wrote three reports to make country economically strong.
B. Set off political debate.
V. Report One: Debt and Credit/Funding and Assumption.
A. Fund federal debt with new securities.
1. Benefit: establish U.S. credit.
2. Complaint: benefit speculators.
3. Tie wealthy to the country.
B. Assumption of state debts.
1. Some states had no debt.
2. Make federal government superior.
C. Where to get the money?
1. Whiskey Tax
2. Problem: hurt poor people.
3. Madison complained that only wealthy would benefit.
D. Dinner Party compromise: capital in the South.
VI. Report Two: National Bank.
A. Issue currency, collect taxes.
B. Regulate nation’s financial system.
C. Madison & Jefferson: strict construction of the Constitution.
D. Hamilton relied on “implied powers” and loose construction.
E. Bank chartered in 1791 for 20 years.
F. Country gained some economic stability.
G. The wealthy benefited.
VII. Report Three: Manufacturing.
A. Develop country with subsidies and internal improvements.
B. Jefferson saw corruption of republic.
C. Program not passed.
VIII. Debate began as to federal government’s role in American life.
IX. Debates helped establish first political parties.
The First Party System.
I. Hamilton formed Federalist Party.
A. Controlled newspapers.
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History 151: Review Notes
B. Attracted supporters.
II. Madison organized the Republicans or Jeffersonians.
A. Warned of corruption and potential monarchy.
III. Other events that split the two parties.
A. Whiskey Rebellion, 1794.
1. Pennsylvania farmers hate tax.
2. Hamilton sent army.
3. Central government asserted authority.
4. Jefferson & Madison saw a suppression of liberty.
B. French Revolution, 1789.
1. Most initially supported revolution.
2. Violence separated the two parties.
Wars in Europe, 1793-1799 and 1803-1815 divided the two parties further.
I. Republicans sympathized with the French.
II. Federalists feared disorder, wanted British trade.
III. Americans supported neutrality.
IV. Both sides sought American support.
A. France’s Citizen Genet.
B. Britain attacked shipping, caused trouble in Northwest.
C. Hamilton wanted better relations with the British.
V. John Jay sent to Great Britain.
A. Freedom of the Seas.
B. Compensation for lost cargo
C. Agreement on trade.
D. Get British out of the Northwest.
VI. Jay’s Treaty, 1794
A. Pay indemnities for cargo.
B. Withdraw from Northwest.
C. No freedom of the seas.
D. “Most favored nation” status with British.
E. Jay vilified by Republicans.
VII. Positive offshoot of Jay’s Treaty.
A. Spain concerned about apparent British/American alliance.
B. Pinckney Treaty of 1795 with Spain.
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History 151: Review Notes
1. Navigation of Mississippi River.
2. Right to deposit goods at New Orleans.
Election of 1796.
I. Washington would not run.
A. Farewell address: no political parties, no foreign entanglements
II. Federalist John Adams vs. Republican Thomas Jefferson.
III. Adams, President, why?
A. In support of Washington.
B. Fear of French.
C. Virginia Dynasty.
IV. Jefferson, VP
Adams and the Quasi War
I. French attacked American shipping.
II. Adams wanted to negotiate.
III. Three representatives to France.
A. Bribes and loans before negotiations.
B. XYZ Affair, 1797
IV. Expanded army, built a navy
V. Republicans protested, Federalists wanted no opposition.
VI. Alien & Sedition Acts, 1798.
A. Deport alien threats.
B. Crime to attack the government.
C. Republican editors arrested.
VII. Republicans believed the laws subverted fundamental liberties.
A. Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions, 1798.
1. States could declare federal laws unconstitutional.
2. States’ rights and nullification part of national debate.
VIII. Adams wanted more negotiations.
A. Convention of 1800, Napoleon ended problems.
Election of 1800
I. Parties attacked each other
II. Fight between Adams and Jefferson
III. Jefferson and Burr tied in electoral vote.
IV. Federalist Congress chose next president.
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History 151: Review Notes
A. Hamilton supported Jefferson
B. Led to 12th Amendment, 1804.
V. Burr vs. Hamilton: The Duel
VI. Federalists tried to hold on to power.
A. Judiciary Act of 1801, increased judgeships.
B. Adams made “midnight appointments.”
Thomas Jefferson and the Revolution of 1800.
I. Said Federalists had corrupted republican values.
II. Republicans would re-establish meaning of republic
III. Jefferson’s changes
A. Cut government
B. Tried to mend political wounds
IV. Jefferson as president
A. Patronage, tried to reverse the Federalist appointments.
1. Marbury v. Madison, 1803
2. Supreme Court could overturn an act of Congress.
B. War on Barbary Pirates, 1805.
C. Bought Louisiana
V. Louisiana.
A. America concerned over French control
B. Wanted to buy New Orleans.
C. Napoleon sold Louisiana, 1803
D. Jefferson had concerns.
1. Constitutional power
2. Debt
3. Size of federal government
E. Saw an “Empire of Liberty”
Lewis & Clark, Corps of Discovery, explored Louisiana
I. Reasons for exploration.
A. Geographical information.
B. Investigate Native Americans
C. Scientific discoveries
D. Claim the Northwest
II. Important participants & locations
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History 151: Review Notes
A. Lewis & Clark
B. Sacajewa
C. York
D. Forts Mandan and Clatsop
To the War of 1812
I. War again in Europe, 1803
II. US wanted neutrality
III. French & British seize ships
A. Continental System
B. “Orders in Council”
C. By 1807 France and Britain had taken many ships.
IV. Britain and impressment.
A. Chesapeake-Leopard incident, 1807.
B. Some Americans wanted war.
V. Jefferson: economic coercion or “Peaceable Coercion:” Embargo of 1807
VI. Ramifications of embargo
A. No concessions.
B. Economic depression.
C. Jefferson scorned.
VII. James Madison attempted a new solution, wanted a balance.
A. Non-Intercourse Act, 1809, open trade at all except England and France.
B. Macon’s Bill No. 2, open trade to all, hoping either England or France would stop
taking American ships.
C. France stopped taking American ships.
D. America moved to war against British.
VIII. War declared
A. Madison’s war message, freedom of the seas, impressment
IX. Who supported the war?
A. Merchants & sailors in New England against the war.
B. War supported in the West
1. Expansion brought wars and treaties with the Indians
2. British helped the Indians.
3. William Henry Harrison
4. Prophet and Tecumseh formed resistance
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History 151: Review Notes
5. Battle of Tippecanoe, 1811, Harrison victorious
6. Tecumseh drew closer to the British
7. Western expansionists wanted war to expel British
C. Southerners wanted war to gain Florida
D. “War Hawks” wanted a new American nationalism
E. Some hoped for war born prosperity
X. Federalists destroyed because of Hartford Convention in 1814.
A. Wanted to amend Constitution
B. Seen as traitors.
War of 812
I. “America’s Worst Fought Major War”
II. War in two phases
III. First phase: June 1812-Spring 1814, America on the offense
A. To Canada
B. Effort stalled
C. Some success
1. Great Lakes
2. Battle of the Thames, Tecumseh killed
3. Some victories at sea
4. Andrew Jackson decisive at Horseshoe Bend.
IV. Second phase: Spring 1814, British took offensive
A. Stopped at New England
B. Burned Washington, stopped at Fort McHenry
C. American victory at New Orleans, January 1815
V. Peace on Christmas Eve, 1814, Treaty of Ghent
A. status quo ante bellum
B. British exhausted and in debt
C. Reason for was gone.
Significance of the war: Second War for American Independence
I. Improvement in Anglo-American relations
A. Treaty for free trade
B. Disarm Great Lakes, 1817
II. Freed from European problems
III. Destroyed Indian resistance/stimulated Western Expansion
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History 151: Review Notes
IV. Growth of manufacturing
V. New era for politics, era of one party rule
VI. Nationalism developed, new symbols and common experiences
Era of Good Feelings, 1817-1825; era of greater nationalism
I. Era of Monroe’s presidency
II. Time of apparent political unity
III. Era of growing federal power
IV. Government programs to develop the country
A. Protective tariff: Tariff of 1816
B. Bank of the United States re-chartered, 1816
C. Internal improvements, National Road extended
V. New activity in foreign affairs
A. John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State
B. Strengthened peace with Great Britain
1. Fixed northern boundary to the Rockies, 1818
2. Joint occupation of Oregon
C. Gained Florida from Spain
1. Jackson invaded Florida, 1818
2. Adams-Onis Treaty, 1819
D, Monroe Doctrine, 1823
1. Western Hemisphere no longer field of colonization
2. Cornerstone of United States foreign policy
VI. Supreme Court strengthened federal courts and federal government
A. U.S. Constitution and laws superior to state laws
B. Federal courts superior to state courts.
C. Consolidated federal power in relation to Indians
1. Cherokee Nation v Georgia, 1831
2. Worcester v Georgia, 1832
3. Established “trust relationship”
4. Tribes as distinct political communities
Growth of sectionalism
I. Expanding economy busts, Panic of 1819
A. People bitter at Bank of the United States, Andrew Jackson
B. Sectional interest groups developed
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History 151: Review Notes
1. New England wanted higher tariffs.
2. Southerners did not want tariffs.
3. Westerners wanted more liberal land policies.
II. Expansion of slavery brought more sectional issues.
A. Political concerns
1. North afraid southerners wanted more power
2. South afraid they would lose power and slaves.
B. Missouri Compromise, 1820
1. Created two states
2. No slavery north of the south border of Missouri.
C. Maintained free/slave state balance
D. Further issue of new states as free or slave
Sectional issues set stage for Election of 1824.
I. Five candidates, all technically Republicans
II. John Quincy Adams from New England
III. Henry Clay, Speaker of the House from the West
IV. Andrew Jackson, outsider, from the West.
V. Jackson won most electoral votes
VI. House of Representatives to decide
A. Adams named president
B. Clay, Secretary of State
C. Jackson’s supporters claimed “corrupt bargain”
Adams administration
I. Haunted by split vote
II. Adams plan not acted upon
III. Tariff of 1828, or Tariff of Abominations passed
Political parties reborn
I. Some wanted a less active government, neo-Jeffersonians, called Democrats
II. Republicans called National-Republicans
III. Martin Van Buren pushed for political parties
A. Convinced Jackson to lead Democrats
IV. Jackson challenged Adams in the Election of 1828
A. Jackson won on a sectional vote
The Age of Jackson/The Rise of the Common Man
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History 151: Review Notes
I. More democracy as America moved west.
A. Expanded franchise
B. Presidential electors selected by popular vote
C. Political parties became permanent: Second Party System
II. Jackson seen as the embodiment of the common man
A. From the West
B. Inauguration set the tone – “King Mob”
C. Spoke of equal protection and equal benefits
D. Promised rotation in office for public servants
III. Jackson’s administration filled with contradictions.
A. Used civil servant jobs as a “spoils system.”
B. Made presidency stronger
IV. Jackson as a strong president
A. Used the veto
B. Concentrated power in himself with help of “Kitchen Cabinet”
C. Eliminated influence of vice-president
D. Defied Supreme Court decisions in relation to Indians
Issues of the Age of Jackson
I. Tariff
A. Tariff of 1828, Tariff of Abominations
B. Depression in South Carolina blamed on the tariff
C. John C Calhoun: states could nullify federal laws
D. South Carolina Exposition and Protest, 1828
1. Constitution was compact
2. States could declare a law null and void
3. Law could be repealed
4. States could secede
E. States’ rights vs. national power
F. Webster – Hayne debate
1. Webster: nation is a creation of the people
G. Tariff of 1832
H. South Carolina nullifiers declared 1832 tariff null and void
I. Compromise Tariff of 1833
J. South Carolina claimed victory and sought support
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History 151: Review Notes
II. Indian Removal
A. Indian Removal Act of 1830
B. Trail of Tears
III. Bank War
A. Jackson hated the bank
1. Panic of 1819
2. Believed it contributed to speculation
B. National Republicans: make an issue of the bank in 1832 election
C. Jackson won in 1832
D. Jackson placed money in state “pet banks.”
E. National bank died
F. State banks and speculation
G. Jackson issued Specie Circular, 1836
H. Panic of 1837 resulted
I. Martin Van Buren dealt with panic
IV. Hate of Jackson created new political activism
A. Democrats supported Jackson
B. Whig political party formed
1. Opposed Jackson
C. Whigs entered 1836 election, no success
V. Whigs gained presidency, 1840
A. William Henry Harrison elected
1. Tippecanoe Battle
2. Portrayed as a common man
B. Harrison’s death brought John Tyler to the Presidency
1. Troubled Presidency
VI. Election of 1844 brought new issues
Industrialization in Early America
I. Federalists early supporters
II. Manufacturing came to factories
A. People concentrated
B. Tasks divided
C. Technology applied
D. External power
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History 151: Review Notes
III. Textiles
A. Technology from England
B. Raw material – cotton
IV. Cotton
A. Eli Whitney, cotton gin, 1793
B. Land rush – “Alabama fever”
C. Cotton major export
D. New life to slavery
V. Industrialization stimulated
A. Embargo of 1807
B. War of 1812
VI. Factories to New England
A. Capital
B. Water power
C. Workers, young, unmarried women
VII. Boston Associates – Lowell, Massachusetts
VIII. Transportation for industrialization
A. New Roads
B. Robert Fulton, steamboat, 1807
C. Canals, Erie Canal, 1817
D. Railroads started by 1830
History 151: Second Examination Essay Questions.
Of the following four questions, two will appear on the examination. You must answer both. You
are encouraged to prepare before the exam, but you are not allowed to bring anything to class to
assist you with your answer. Each is worth 15 points for a possible 30 points.
1. Analyze the impact of the French Revolution and the resultant European war on the foreign
affairs and domestic policies of the United States.
2. Was the War of 1812 a necessary war? What benefits or losses did the war produce for the
United States?
3. Alexander Hamilton came to lead a political party called the Federalists, and Thomas
Jefferson led the Republican party. Trace the course of these two political parties. Why did these
two parties form? What issues did they disagree on? What was the outcome of their fight?
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