US History Review (1810-1860)
1. Describe the extent to which Democratic-Republicans and Federalists “flip-flopped” or exchanged
political philosophies about the role of the Federal government during the following events or episodes:
the debate over purchasing Louisiana, Jefferson’s Embargo Act, The American System’s Tariff of 1816
and chartering of the 2nd National Bank, the Bonus Bill of 1816.
2. Where was opposition to the War of 1812 strongest? Why did opposition to the war exist in this region?
Which political party organized the Hartford Convention protest? What specific resolutions did the
Hartford Convention endorse?
3. Review your text and the assigned outline reading and compare the Crittenden Compromise (see text
index or internet to look up this important compromise.) to the Hartford Convention.
4. Identify and describe at least three events or issues which contributed to the decline or end of the “Era of
Good Feelings.”
5. How did the War of 1812 affect the long-term development of the US economy?
6. Identify and describe the factors that combined to produce and destroy the “Era of Good Feelings”
7. Identify and describe the main elements of Henry Clay’s “American System”
8. How did John Marshall increase federal power and decrease that of state governments?
9. Explain how the Western Frontier could have increased the “spirit of democracy” throughout US
History.
10. How were the “inalienable rights” identified in Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence
essentially amended by the “common man” during the Jacksonian Era?
11. Identify and describe at least three significant political reforms that increased the spirit of democracy
during the Age of Jackson.
12. Explain the significance of the “Charles River Bridge” decision.
13. Critically examine the “increase in democracy” during the Jacksonian period. Explain how a critic of
Jackson could argue that the American political system actually became “less democratic” despite
advances like “universal white manhood suffrage.” Support your response with evidence from the
outline reading. Feel free to also elaborate, explain, and describe issues in which American life
remained profoundly undemocratic between 1820 and 1850.
14. Explain how the disputed election of 1824 contributed to the re-development of the two-party political
system in American History. Identify at least three additional factors that contributed to the
reorganization of the party system during the Age of Jackson. Be sure to also examine the Bank issue in
your response.
15. Identify the kinds of people who lent political support to Andrew Jackson. Explain why each group
supported his presidency.
16. To what extent was President Andrew Jackson a consistent supporter of “State’s Rights?” Provide
specific examples to support your answer.
17. How did the political views of Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun evolve between the War of 1812
and Nullification Crisis? Identify specific examples in your explanation.
18. How could John C. Calhoun still be considered a nationalist even though he supported the doctrine of
Nullification?
19. How did the Peggy Eaton affair symbolize Jackson’s attitude and character?
20. How and why did President Jackson “Kill the 2nd BUS?” How did the Bank War and other aspects of
Jackson’s presidency contribute to the development of the second two-party system in American
History?
21. Describe William Henry Harrison’s “Log Cabin” campaign strategy of 1840. Review your text and the
reading and explain why John Tyler was unpopular with Whigs in Congress.
22. Why did the Whigs ultimately fail as a national political party (read to the end of the packet before
answering this question)?
23. Why did Non-slaveholding Southern Whites Support the institution of slavery?
24. Explain the “pro-slavery argument.” How did the institution of slavery evolve to be viewed as a
“positive good?”
25. Identify a fundamental economic argument against slavery; that is, explain why a northerner might be
opposed from slavery even if he did not see anything wrong with one human owning another.
26. How was the South economically dependent on the North? Read to the end of the packet and explain
how this dependence bred resentment. Be sure to describe the “40 bale” theory.
27. How did Jacksonian politics reflect a basic theme of the antebellum reform era?
28. How did the Second Great Awakening help trigger the era of antebellum reform? Describe some of the
religious groups that expanded membership during the Second Great Awakening.
29. Identify and describe the general nature of the antebellum reform movement. How was this reform
movement different from the Progressive era which emphasized public regulation of private industry?
30. Identify and describe the actions of reformers associated with the following movements: Temperence,
Mental Illness, and Utopian communities.
31. Why did Horace Mann recommend universal public education? What were the arguments against free,
tax-supported schools.
32. How did the abolitionist movement contribute to the rise of the women’s rights movement? What
specific rights did women need to fight to acquire? To what extent were women successful in obtaining
equality during the period 1810 to 1860?
33. How did the women’s rights movement and the debate over whether or not to use the political system to
abolish slavery disrupt the abolitionist campaign of William Lloyd Garrison?
34. How did the major parties avoid the issue of slavery before the 1850s? Why did they choose to avoid
the issue?
35. Why did William Lloyd Garrison reject the political system as an avenue to abolish slavery?
36. How did the Liberty Party and Free-Soil Party evolve as “political abolitionist” groups? What event led
to the formation of the Republican party?
37. To what extent were abolitionists ever a majority in the North? How did they manage to influence
public opinion?
38. What was the Freeport Doctrine? How did the Freeport Doctrine affect the Democratic Party?
39. Identify the Northern fears associated with the “Great Slave Power Conspiracy” theory.
40. Describe the basic beliefs behind Manifest Destiny. To what extent did the nation support expanding
national borders? To what extent was it similar to the imperialism of the late 1800s? What was “the
Dark Side” of Manifest Destiny?
41. How was the annexation of Texas and Oregon controversial? How, specifically, was Texas annexed?
42. To what extent were anti war feelings during the Mexican War similar or different to the antiwar
feelings of the War of 1812? Who argued against the war and why?
43. Identify and describe three important items associated with the election of 1848.
44. What was the Wilmot Proviso?
45. How might history have been different if the Civil War had begun in 1850?
46. Why was Franklin Pierce able to secure such a solid victory in 1852?
47. What triggered the Know-Nothing movement?
48. What were the primary grievances of the South after 1850?
49. How did the Compromise begin to break down?
50. How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act re--ignite sectional tensions?
51. What was the Lecompton Constitution? How did it impact the election of 1860?