History Other Terms

War of 1812

British were encouraging Tecumseh's efforts. With assaults on American shipping continuing, Madison asked congress for a declaration of war. The bill passed the House by a vote of 79-49 and the Senate 19-13. In 1814 having defeated Napoleon, Britain invaded the U.S. , its forces seized Washington D.C. and burned the White House down. August 1812 the American frigate constitution defeated the British warship Guerriere . British assault in Baltimore was repulsed when Fort McHenry at the entrance of the harbor withstood a British bombardment. This was when Francis Scott Key composed the "Star Spangled Banner" and became the national anthem in the 1930's. Two front struggle against the British and the Indians . Treaty of Ghent ended the war. Slaves found freedom by escaping to British forces during this war, and when British refused to returned them Czar Nicholas I of Russia parted with the U.S. and Britain paid a few million dollars in compensation. Confirmed the ability of a republican government to conduct a war without surrendering its institutions. The war broke the remaining power of the Indians and opened new land to American settlers. American separateness from the Old World grew stronger. Canada repelled Americans and both sides arose stereotypes, Americans saw Canadians as monarchial, European, and lacking in an understanding of liberty, while they viewed Americans as people unusually prone to violence.

Whiskey Rebellion

1794 broke out when backcountry Pennsylvania farmers sought to block collection of the new tax in distilled spirits, reinforced this conviction. Rebels invoked "Liberty or Death". Washington dispatched 13,000 militiamen to restore order and prove we can self-govern

Alien and Sedition acts of 1798

Alien Acts allowed the deportation of persons from abroad deemed dangerous by federal authorities. The Sedition Act (was set to expire in 1801) authorized the prosecution of any public assembly critical of the government. Any editor could be prosecuted for any political comment they printed. Failed to silence the republican press. The revolution against these acts contributed greatly to Jeffersons presidency in 1800

The Information Revolution

Application of steam power to newspaper printing led to an increase in output and the mass circulation "penny press" priced at one cent per issue instead of the traditional six. Circulation exceeded that of Europe whom had 233 million people unlike the U.S. 17 million. Gave rise to minorities such as blacks, native Americans, and women.

Barbary Wars

Barbary states on the northern coast of Africa had long preyed on shipping in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. They captured 13 ships and enslaved 100 sailors, didn't end until after the War of 1812 and one last show of American force. First encounter with the Islamic world, in the Americans eyes they joined monarchy and aristocracy as forms of the Old World stood as opposites of freedom.

French Revolution

Began in 1789, King Louis XVI was executed in 1793. War broke out between France and Great Britain

Jay's Treaty

Contained no British concessions on impressments or the rights of American shipping. Britain agreed to abandon outposts in the western hemisphere and in return the U.S. guaranteed favored treatment to British imported goods. Jay's Treaty sharpened political divisions and gave rise to federalists.

federalist party

Favored Hamilton's economic program and close ties with Britain. Prosperous merchants, farmers, lawyers, and established political leaders tended to support them. Elitists public office was for " rich, the able, and the well-born" Mid 1790's. Ended because of their view on the victory of Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans and because they represented a small minority in an expanding agricultural nation. Their elitist and distrust of popular self-government placed them more at odds with the new nations democratic ethos.

Seminoles

Fought war against removal in Florida 1835-1842. 3,000 Indians and 500 blacks were forced to move to the west by Georgia militia

Louisiana Purchase

Land had been ceded by France to Spain, France then secretly reacquired it in 1800. Jefferson had been concerned about the access to the port of New Orleans which lay within Louisiana at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The right to trade through New Orleans (San Lorenzo of 1795), Jefferson feared that the French might try to interfere with American commerce. Napoleon sold it for $15 million. Slaves in New Orleans enjoyed more freedom under Spain than with the U.S.

anti-federalist/democratic republican/Jeffersonian/republican party

Led by Madison and Jefferson had more faith in self-government. Drew alliance from wealthy southern planters and ordinary farmers throughout the country. More critical on social and economic equality

Gabriel's Rebellion

Richmond blacksmith that organized a plan along with his brothers to kill white inhabitants and hold the rest. On the night the slaves were to gather, a storm washed out the roads of Richmond. The plot was discovered and the leaders arrested, 26 slaves were hung including Gabriel and dozens more transported out of state

Dorr War

When Rhode Island kept its property owning qualification for voting and a rise in white men without owning property grew. This demonstrated the continuing exclusion of any group of white men from voting. Legislature soon eliminated the property qualification for native-born men, black as well as white.