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Era of Good Feelings
A period of patriotism and economic growth. This was spurred on by the victories of the War of 1812, including increased resentment toward British and Native American peoples. The French also benefited from this time, seeing increased trade relationships with the United States. -
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States' Rights Doctrine
"States' rights" refers to the idea that certain powers should not be granted to the federal government. Rather, they should be reserved for each individual state government. "Concurrent powers" also apply that are granted to both the state and federal governments. -
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Sectionalism
Sectionalism was a common concept in the United States in the 1800s. It implied loyalty to the individual state of residence rather than the country as a whole. This became more popular as the North became a place of industry and the South one of agriculture. -
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Nationalism
Nationalism was a prominent concept during pretty much all of American history. It is a shared feeling in the significance of a geographical or sometimes demographical region. This can be expressed as a political belief that an individual is tied to his nation, more commonly known as patriotism. -
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Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny is the belief that American settlers were destined to expand West. Historians agree that this concept has three main themes: the special virtues of Americans, a mission to remake the West in the East's image, and, simply, fate. -
McCulloch vs Maryland
The McCulloch vs Maryland case was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court. In it, the state of Maryland had attempted to sabotage a branch of a US bank by imposing a tax on all notes of banks outside of Maryland. Obviously, this was proven unconstitutional. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy created by John Quincy Adams and signed by James Monroe. It dictated how to handle European settlement in the Americas. The paper treated any attempt of Europeans to claim North or South American land as an act of aggression. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a federal statute proposed by Henry Clay. It determined slave regulations in the West. The compromise was agreed on by both the pro- and anti-slave factions, until it was repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska act in 1854. -
Adams-Onis Treaty
Also known as the Transcontinental Treaty, this was a treaty between Spain and the United States that gave Florida to the US. It also defined the boundaries of New Spain, known as current-day Mexico. The treaty was spurred on by a tension about Spain's claim on the Southern United States. Viewed as a diplomatic victory for the Americans, the treaty went into effect 2 years after signing. -
Santa Fe Trail
This road connected Independence, Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico across half the country. It goes through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. William Becknell pioneered it and it served as a commercial highway until 1880, when it was connected with a railroad. -
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The BIA is a sub-department of the US Department of the Interior. It manages all the 55,700,000 acres that are set aside for Native Americans. The BIA was originally also responsible for Indian tribes' health, but that was transferred to the US Department of Health and Human Services in 1954, where the task remains as the Indian Health Service. -
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Jacksonian Democracy
A political movement for a greater democracy. Founded by Andrew Jackson, the movement began after Jefferson's democracy. The new system also formed the idea of the modern Democratic party, instead of the previously known Federalists. -
Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of Abominations was a protective tariff passed by Congress. It was designed to protect industry in the North. However, its name was given to it by the Southern citizens who disliked its effect on the Southern economy. -
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Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was an event as a direct result of the Indian Removal Act. It was a group of Indian tribes who were forced to move west of the Mississippi River so that the US could settle their homelands. Those natives who resisted were escorted out by local militias. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was a law passed by Congress during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It resulted in the relocation of several native tribes and the Trail of Tears. It offered to grant Indians large tracts of land west of the Mississippi River in return for the US to settle their homelands. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a sectional issue during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It involved a confrontation between South Carolina and the federal government. Essentially, South Carolina declared that the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional and did not apply to them. -
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Whig Party
Formed in the mid-19th century, the Whig political party was formed to oppose the views of Andrew Jackson and the Jacksonian Democracy. They rivaled the Democratic party and were central to the Central Party System. Generally, the Whigs supported the idea of Congress being more powerful than the President. -
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory was a small tract of land in present-day Oklahoma. The land was set aside for certain Indian tribes displaced by the Trail of Tears and subsequent events. The idea of an "Indian reservation" was originally introduced by the British before the Revolutionary War. -
Alamo
The Alamo was a mission in Texas near the Mexican border. Following a 13-day siege, the Mexican president launched an attack on the mission that killed all Texan defenders. Later, during the Texas revolution, the famous battlecry "Remember the Alamo" would be used. -
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail was a trail leading from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon. It was laid by fur trappers about 30 years ago as a means of traversing the Rocky Mountains. The trail spans over 2000 miles and 5 states. -
Spoils System
The spoils system, also known as the patronage system, is when a politician of a particular party is elected. Then the politician continues to use their power to elect their supporters into other positions, in return for backing them during the election. President Andrew Jackson was supposed to have used this system. -
Donner Party
The Donner party was a large group of families in a wagon train. They headed west from Independence, Missouri, hoping to find a new life in California. However, food turned scarce in the Rocky Mountain winter and some party members were forced to resort to cannibalism to stay alive. -
Forty-Niners
A Forty-Niner referred to a participant in the California Gold Rush. They were often mocked by non-participants for grossly overpacking and being overenthusiastic about their chances of finding gold. Most of these people were resident Californians at the time. -
California Gold Rush
The Gold Rush was a time period where settlers from all across America migrated to California. They were mostly looking to make a easy fortune in panning for gold, when in reality, only few had succeeded. The Rush quickly ended in under a decade because of the incredibly poor conditions gold seekers had to withstand. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago
With its army and capital defeated, Mexico signed this treaty. Hoping to end conflicts with the US and repair its broken nation, it was signed in what is now a neighborhood of Mexico City. -
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase is a tract of land in present-day Arizona and New Mexico. It was a result of a treaty signed by James Gadsden, who was the Mexican-American ambassador at the time.
