APUSH Unit 4 REVIEW [Period 4: 1800-1848]—Everything You NEED to Know

Unit 4 Review: AP U.S. History (1800-1848)

Overview of Unit Themes

• The time period covered is from 1800 to 1848, focusing on three main themes:

• Expanding role of the United States in world affairs.

• Transformation of society and economy in early republic years.

• Americans' responses to growing democratic impulses during this era.

Political Context and Debates

• The unit begins with the election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800, continuing the fierce debates between Democratic-Republicans and Federalists over various issues, particularly foreign relations and federal power scope.

Foreign Relations: Barbary Pirates

• Jefferson opposed paying tribute to Barbary pirates for protection, leading to increased attacks on U.S. merchant ships after he ceased payments. He sent the Navy to retaliate but ultimately negotiated a reduced payment instead of escalating into war.

Federal Power Debate

• Democratic-Republicans advocated for strict constructionism, believing federal powers should be limited to what is explicitly stated in the Constitution, contrasting with Federalists who supported a loose interpretation allowing broader governmental actions.

The Louisiana Purchase

• Jefferson's moral opposition to land purchases conflicted with his decision to buy Louisiana from France for $15 million after Napoleon offered it due to losing Haiti; this created an existential crisis for him as a strict constructionist since no constitutional provision allowed such a purchase.

• Justified by potential benefits like removing Native Americans westward and promoting agrarian expansion aligned with his vision for America as a nation of yeoman farmers rather than industrialized trade centers favored by Hamiltonians.

Exploration and Expansion

• Following the purchase, Congress funded the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804), which mapped new territories and established diplomatic relations with Native American tribes while enhancing geographic knowledge about the region. Meriwether Lewis led this exploration alongside William Clark.

Supreme Court Influence on Federal Power

Judicial Review and the Rise of Federal Power

The Marbury v. Madison Case

• Jefferson was displeased with the appointments made by his predecessor, leading to Secretary of State James Madison refusing to deliver some commissions, resulting in a Supreme Court conflict.

• Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that Marbury deserved his commission but declared the Judiciary Act unconstitutional, establishing the principle of judicial review.

• This ruling significantly increased the power of the Supreme Court, setting a precedent for federal authority over state laws.

The War of 1812: Causes and Consequences

• The War of 1812 marked America's first significant military engagement since independence, driven by conflicts with Britain and France over trade and territorial expansion.

• American neutrality was challenged as British forces seized merchant ships and impressed American sailors into their navy, escalating tensions.

• In June 1812, the U.S. declared war on Britain; support for this decision split along party lines—Democratic-Republicans favored it while Federalists opposed it.

Nationalism and Political Shifts Post-War

• Despite opposition from Federalists who even considered secession at the Hartford Convention (1814), America emerged victorious from the war, fostering a sense of nationalism.

• The war's outcome led to the decline of the Federalist Party as they appeared out of touch with national sentiment during a time of unity under Democratic-Republican leadership.

Economic Challenges and Regional Interests

• Although victorious, weaknesses were exposed in U.S. infrastructure and financial systems due to lack of a national bank after its charter expired in 1811.

• Henry Clay proposed an "American System" aimed at economic unification through internal improvements, protective tariffs, and re-establishment of a national bank.

Tensions Over Slavery: Missouri Compromise

• Regional interests intensified with Missouri's application for statehood in 1819 amid debates over slavery; settlers had already brought enslaved people into Missouri territory.

• Congressman James Talmadge proposed an amendment prohibiting slavery in Missouri which ignited fierce congressional debate over maintaining balance between free states and slave states.

The Missouri Compromise and American Expansion

The Missouri Compromise

• The Missouri Compromise, proposed by Henry Clay, aimed to address the balance of slave and free states in the Senate by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state.

• It established the 36°30' line as the boundary separating slave territory from free territory, allowing slavery below this line while restricting it above (with the exception of Missouri).

U.S. Territorial Expansion

• During James Monroe's presidency (1816), efforts were made to solidify U.S. boundaries and gain more territory, including negotiations for the U.S.-Canadian border at the 49th parallel.

• The Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819 resulted in Spain selling Florida to the United States and defining its southern border, limiting Spanish influence on the continent.

The Monroe Doctrine

• In response to South American countries gaining independence from Spain, Monroe proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, asserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere against European interference.

• This doctrine symbolically positioned the United States as a protector of its sphere of influence, likening it to "a giant dog" claiming ownership over Latin America.

The Market Revolution: Transforming Society and Economy

Overview of Market Revolution

• The Market Revolution linked northern industries with western and southern farms through advancements in agriculture, industry, communication, and transportation.

Technological Advancements

• Innovations like the cotton gin revolutionized Southern agriculture by speeding up cotton processing; interchangeable parts transformed manufacturing processes into mass production systems.

• Water-powered machines enabled division of labor among unskilled workers for efficient production methods.

Transportation Developments

• Steamboats improved trade efficiency by allowing navigation both upstream and downstream on rivers; canals like New York's Erie Canal facilitated economic growth through enhanced transport routes.

• By the 1820s and 1830s, railroads began replacing canals as primary transportation means due to government support via loans and tax incentives.

Societal Changes Amidst Economic Growth

Urbanization and Immigration

• Industrial cities experienced significant population growth between 1820–1840 due to approximately two million immigrants arriving mainly from Germany and Ireland seeking opportunities.

Labor Dynamics

The Impact of Immigration and Social Change in Early America

Living Conditions of Immigrants

• Immigrants lived in hastily built tenements, facing bleak realities with poor sanitation and rapid disease spread. Their living conditions were often a last resort.

Cultural Institutions Established

• Jewish immigrants established synagogues, while the influx of Irish Catholics led to the expansion of the Catholic Church, showcasing resilience in maintaining cultural identity.

Emergence of the Middle Class

• A growing middle class emerged, including businessmen, shopkeepers, journalists, doctors, and lawyers. Their prosperity allowed for disposable income spent on leisure activities.

Gender Roles and Domesticity

• Women were expected to conform to the "cult of domesticity," focusing on childbearing and creating a restful home for their husbands as societal norms evolved through new publications.

Voting Rights Expansion

• Initially, only property-owning white males could vote. However, as working men and small farmers demanded voting rights due to economic pressures from events like the Panic of 1819, changes began to occur.

Political Shifts and Elections

The Panic of 1819's Influence

• The Panic resulted from irresponsible banking practices affecting laborers who sought political accountability but lacked voting rights. This spurred demands for universal male suffrage.

Changes in Voting Laws

• By 1825, many eastern states had lowered or eliminated property qualifications for voting due to pressure from frontier states that had already established universal male suffrage.

Political Party Realignment

• The election of 1824 saw a split in the Democratic-Republican Party into National Republicans (loose constructionists) and Democrats (strict constructionists), leading to significant political realignment.

Key Candidates in Election of 1824

• Important candidates included Andrew Jackson (Democrat), John Quincy Adams (National Republican), and Henry Clay (National Republican). Jackson gained popular support despite not winning an electoral majority initially.

The Corrupt Bargain Controversy

• After Adams was elected president with Clay's support—a move seen as corrupt by Jackson supporters—the stage was set for heightened political rivalry leading into the next election cycle.

Andrew Jackson's Presidency: Federal Power Dynamics

Shift in Political Parties

• By Jackson’s presidency, two major parties emerged: Democrats led by Jackson and Whigs led by Clay. Their main disagreement centered around federal power scope.

Tariff Conflicts

The Conflict of Federal Power and State Rights

The Nullification Crisis

• John C. Calhoun, Jackson's Vice President from South Carolina, developed the doctrine of nullification, asserting that states could determine the constitutionality of federal laws.

• In 1832, after Congress reaffirmed tariffs, South Carolina declared it would not pay these taxes and threatened to secede if federal authorities intervened.

• Andrew Jackson responded by persuading Congress to pass the Force Bill, allowing him to use federal troops in South Carolina; however, the state nullified this bill as well.

The Second Bank of the United States

• Jackson vetoed the recharter of the Second Bank of the United States, viewing it as a tool for elites at the expense of ordinary citizens.

• He labeled the bank a "monster" and effectively ended its existence when he rejected its recharter.

Indian Removal Act

• The Indian Removal Act of 1830 aimed at acquiring Native American lands; notably affecting the Cherokee Nation in Georgia who claimed sovereignty.

• Despite a Supreme Court ruling in Worcester v. Georgia affirming their sovereignty, U.S. officials coerced some Cherokee into signing away their land through an illegitimate treaty.

• This led to forced removals known as the Trail of Tears beginning in 1838 for those who did not relocate voluntarily.

Emergence of Distinct American Culture

Language and Literature

• A distinct American identity emerged through language and literature during this period; Noah Webster published his dictionary in 1828 standardizing American English.

Transcendentalism

• Transcendentalism arose as an American philosophy influenced by European romanticism emphasizing human passion and nature's beauty.

• Ralph Waldo Emerson was a key figure advocating moral perfection achievable within America; Henry David Thoreau further explored these ideas living at Walden Pond.

Reform Movements

• Many transcendentalists supported various reform movements including abolition, temperance, and women's suffrage reflecting overlapping ideals during this era.

Artistic Expression

• The Hudson River School artists depicted romanticized landscapes contributing to spiritual renewal efforts across America during this time.

Utopian Communities

The Evolution of American Society and Religious Movements

The Concept of Complex Marriage in Communal Living

• Members of a community relinquished private property, embracing communal living and imperfect equality.

• The doctrine of complex marriage allowed all members to belong to one another, leading to an open marital structure.

The Second Great Awakening: A Spiritual Renewal

• Significant spiritual renewal occurred during the Second Great Awakening, with camp meetings organized by Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians.

• These gatherings were relatively egalitarian, including diverse groups such as whites, blacks (both enslaved and free), men, and women.

Charles Finney's Impact on Revivalism

• Charles Finney emerged as a powerful preacher whose ministry spread across northern cities, emphasizing societal moral reformation rather than personal morality.

• His messages laid the groundwork for the temperance movement against alcohol consumption.

The Rise of Abolitionism

• The abolitionist movement gained momentum in the 1820s, initially led by free blacks and Quakers but later expanded through William Lloyd Garrison's newspaper "The Liberator."

• Not all Northerners supported abolition; many feared its impact on trade and job security.

Intersection of Women's Rights and Abolitionism

• Women involved in abolitionism faced challenges due to their gender status but recognized that advocating for their rights was essential for effective campaigning.

• The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 marked a pivotal moment for women's rights advocacy in America.

Southern Plantations and Enslaved Communities

• Post-1830 expansion of plantations created a wealthy aristocracy focused on maintaining profits through strict control over enslaved laborers.

Nat Turner's Rebellion and Its Impact on Southern Society

Overview of Nat Turner’s Rebellion

• The rebellion, led by Nat Turner in 1831, was a significant slave uprising in Virginia, where over 50 white individuals were killed. Turner believed he was divinely tasked with this mission.

• Following the rebellion, there was an increase in fear among Southern whites regarding potential future slave revolts, leading to harsher restrictions and disciplines imposed on enslaved people.

Socioeconomic Context of Slavery

• Most white Southerners did not own slaves; they were primarily yeoman farmers who owned their land but still supported the institution of slavery and the racial hierarchy that underpinned Southern society.

• As soil depletion from over-farming became prevalent in the South, many farmers began migrating westward, which contributed to the expansion of slavery into new territories.

Conclusion and Future Implications