American history 1820-1850

Question	Answer
The Missouri Compromise 1820	Struggle within Senate when Missouri applied to the Union as a slave state, tipping the balance of slave and free. A comprimise was reached with the admittance of Maine and the 36*30' line.
Denmark Vesey 1822	Slave uprising when slave Vesey won the lottery, bought his freedom and set up a church, which he used to urge his congregation to revolt. Church closed down.
John Quincy Adams 1825	The election was between Crawford, Clay, Adams and Jackson. The vote went to the House of Representatives, but a corrupt bargain is rumoured to have taken place between Adams and Clay.
Tariff of Abominations 1828	Tariff passed to protect growing manufacturing industry in the North, extending to agricultural products and manufucturers. Designed for electoral purposes, but while it favoured Northerners, Southerners were angry that they became disadvantaged.
Andrew Jackson 1828	The 1828 campaign was one of the dirtiest, with high levels of personal attacks, and politics became a form of entertainment. The campaign also saw the development of the two-party system and new campaigning methods. Jackson was popular but not always democratic - 'king'.
Rotation in office / the spoils system	A system of preventing corruption by removing officials after a term to return to private citizenship as well as rewarding supporters with private office taken from Adam supporters. Unfair, but not complete purge. In 8 years 1/5 officeholders removed, some with just cause.
Internal improvements	Jackson opposed to federal intervention in internal improvements, and vetoed bills funding roads, etc. Wanted to pay off national sebt and distribute surplus to local governements. Supported interstate projects and building in territories.
Indian Removal Act 1830	Accumulation of tension between Natives and Westward settlers. Act exchanged public lands in the West for Indian territories in the East. During Jacksons 8 years 100 million acres was exchanged for 32 million acres. Indians lost land and titles.
The Liberator 1831	Anti-slavery newspaper started by William Lloyd Garrison, (slightly problematic bae). Denounced the Constitution, 1850 compromise, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott. Praised John Brown's Raid. Influential force in abolitionism, South demanded end of the paper and capture of Garrison.
Nat Turner 1831	Educated slave became preacher and leader of plantation. He claimed he was chosen by God to free them, and him and 6 other slaves killed the Travis family. They secured arms, horses and 75 other slaves and murdered 51 whites in an uprising. South became afraid of slave violence.
The Bank Crisis 1830s	The war between Jackson and the Second Bank of the US. Jackson did not trust the Bank and vetoed a bill for an early recharter. Speech resonated with popular fears, and Jackson deposited Federal funds into pet banks. Highlighted state vs. Federal contension.
The Nullification Crisis 1832	A product of the 1828 tariffs and fear of abolitionism. Calhoun proposed the Doctine of Nullification, adopted by South Carolina. A rift grew between President and Vice President. State vs. Federal rights.
The Treaty of New Echota	Ceded all Cherokee lands in the US for $5.6 million and free passage West.
Texan War of Independence 1835-36	Due to Mexico's emancipation of slaves and banning of US immigration, American Texans declared independence. Americans from the South and West helped fight Santa Anna unofficially, whom they beat at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Martin van Buren	Platform of ignoring slavery by enforcing the gag rule and taking no action to annex Texas. Main problem was the economy, which he believed was a state issue.
The Panic of 1837	Economic depression as a result of Jackson's bank war, overproduction of paper money and reduction of cotton exports to England. Van Buren passed the Independent Treasury Bill to remove federal money from pet banks and to use only the Specie Circular.
The Trail of Tears	The forced removal of Cherokees from Georgian land. 15,000 marched to Oklahoma in poor conditions, 1/4 died on route.
William Henry Harrison 1840	Unknown Whig, no platform. Democrats nominated van Buren on the platform of limited Feeral power. Whigs portrayed Harrison as a simple Western farmer and Buren as an arisocrat. Harrison won, but died shortly after.
John Tyler 1840	Tyler inherited office, and he disagreed with Clay over who was in control. Tyler repealed Independent Treasury Act and vetoed new Bank of the US. Party abandoned him.
Texas admitted to Union 1845	Admission of Texas would mean expansion of slavery, so was previously ignored. Tyler was anxious to make an impact so secured annexation 2 days before he left office. Admitted on condition that it would not be subdivided and had to pay public debts.
James K. Polk 1844	Oregon and Texas were prevailing issues. Van Buren and Clay ignored the issue, but Polk rivalled Clay and suggested Oregon and Texas always belonged to the US. First 'dark horse' candidate. Liberty parts had significant increased votes - anti-slavery becoming a significant force.
Mexican War 1846-1857	War between the Union and Mexico due to tension over the annexation of Texas. Polk wanted to gain territory so provoked the conflict. The Union had a superior army and resources. The war cost $100 million and 13,000 soldiers were killed. War opposed by the North - act of agression.
Oregon 1846	Campaign said America was entitled to Oregon, but offered to divide it on the 49th parallel to avoid war on two fronts. Initial rejection but met halfway. North and West sae appeasement seen as Southern bias.
Wilmot Proviso 1846	Wilmot suggested that slavery should be banned in the new territories. This would eliminate job competition. It was a warning to Polk and became a rallying cry for abolitionists.
Calhoun Doctrine 1847	Calhoun challenged Congress' authority to prohibit slavery in the territories and argued citizens have the right to move their property into any territories. He threatened secession if the North continued to threaten state rights. Became a rallying cry for Southerners.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848	A treaty which ceded California and Mexico to the US if the US agreed to pay $15 million plus claims of citizens against damage. Polk reluctantly agreed to the treaty.
Zachary Taylor 1848	Democrats nominated Cass - popular sovereignty. Whigs nominated Taylor with no national platform on slavery. Free Soil Party nominated Van Buren - suppoted the Wilmot proviso. Taylor won, but not on sectional lines.
California and New Mexico 1849	Both applied to Union without territorial governments - popular sovereignty. Taylor was confident they would both vote free, appeasing Northerners and Southerners. Both voted free, South angered. Sectional imbalance, exclusion from war spoils and no compensation. Congressional division.
Nashville Convention 1850	Convention called to discuss secession and combat Northern aggression
The 1850 Compromise	Omnibus bill by Clay proposing compromise furiously debated in Congress to prevent secession. Fillmore was more willing to accept the compromise, Douglas replaced Clay and split the bill in 6. Generally accepted, though neither satisfied. Better for North.
Millard Fillmore 1850	Rose to wealth and had political experience as Vice President under Taylor. Favoured the 1850 Compromise.

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