Chapter 18

self-reliance

"Self-Reliance" is an 1841 essay written by American transcendentalist philosopher and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. It contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's recurrent themes: the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his own instincts and ideas.

Corrupt Bargain of 1824

1824 *Four presidential candidates: Henry Clay (Speaker of the House), John Quincy Adams (Secretary of the State), Andrew Jackson (1812 war hero), and William Crawford (Secretary of the Treasury) *Jackson won the popular vote but did not win the majority of the electoral vote, and as a result, the election went to the House of Representatives *In the House of Reps. vote, Henry Clay threw his support to Adams, who would go on to win the presidency *Adams gave Clay the post of Secretary of State *Accusations of a "corrupt bargain" were made by Jackson, but they are considered to be largely untrue

What personal traits and political positions made John Quincy Adams's presidency so difficult?

Adams entered the presidency with several debilitating political liabilities. He possessed the temperament of his father: Aloof, stubborn and ferociously independent in his convictions so it was hard for him to listen to other people's opinion and being a president, that was one of his main duties.

Describe Andrew Jackson's character based on the "Contending Voices" documents. Why might Jefferson, himself a revolutionary, regard Jackson as "dangerous"

Andrew Jackson's character based on the "Contending Voices" documents was seeing as noble and trustworthy because he was a good and strong leader and a revolutionary man. However, according to Jackson, he is dangerous because he was very irrational and impulsive, acting on his emotions when he was in the senate.

Democrats

Political party lead by Andrew Jackson from 1828 to 1856. Campaigned against strong central government and fought to end elitism.

Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine is the best known U.S. policy toward the Western Hemisphere. Buried in a routine annual message delivered to Congress by President James Monroein December 1823, the doctrine warns European nations that the United States would not tolerate further colonization or puppet monarchs.

What international factors between 1815 and 1823 ultimately led to the formulation of the Monroe Doctrine by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams? Why was each of these events/trends significant?

The Spanish colonies in Latin America began fighting for their independence, and Spain's American empire essentially collapsed. Leaving these nations free and unsecured so it was easy for other nations such as France and Great Britain to colonize these nations again. Therefore, John Quincy Adams, an experienced diplomat and the son of the second president, John Adams, was serving as President Monroe's secretary of state. And Adams did not want to become too involved with the newly independent nations while he was negotiating the Adams-Onis Treaty to obtain Florida from Spain. Then, a crisis developed in 1823 when France invaded Spain to prop up King Ferdinand VII, who had been forced to accept a liberal constitution. It was widely believed that France was also intending to assist Spain in retaking its colonies in South America. The British government was alarmed at the idea of France and Spain joining forces. And the British foreign office asked the American ambassador what his government intended to do to block any American overtures by France and Spain.

Andrew Jackson

The seventh President of the United States (1829-1837), who as a general in the War of 1812 defeated the British at New Orleans (1815). As president he opposed the Bank of America, objected to the right of individual states to nullify disagreeable federal laws, and increased the presidential powers.

Gibbons v. Ogden

This case involved New York trying to grant a monopoly on waterborne trade between New York and New Jersey. Judge Marshal, of the Supreme Court, sternly reminded the state of New York that the Constitution gives Congress alone the control of interstate commerce. Marshal's decision, in 1824, was a major blow on states' rights.

Adams-Onis Treaty

Under the Onís-Adams Treaty of 1819 (also called the Transcontinental Treaty and ratified in 1821) the United States and Spain defined the western limits of the Louisiana Purchase and Spain surrendered its claims to the Pacific Northwest. In return, the United States recognized Spanish sovereignty over Texas.

Tammany Hall

a political organization within the Democratic Party in New York city (late 1800's and early 1900's) seeking political control by corruption and bossism