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Political Parties and Early U.S. Conflicts

Nov 3, 2024

Heimler's History: AP U.S. History Unit 4 - Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson

Main Question

  • What were the causes and effects of policy debates in the early American republic?

Rise of Political Parties

  • Political parties fiercely opposed each other, major ones being:
    • Federalists: Led by Alexander Hamilton
      • Advocated for a strong central government
      • Favored manufacturing interests
    • Democratic Republicans: Led by Thomas Jefferson
      • Advocated for a limited central government
      • Favored agrarianism (yeoman farmers)
  • Election of 1800
    • Thomas Jefferson (Democratic Republican) won
    • Called the Revolution of 1800: peaceful transfer of power between rival parties

Policy Debates over Federal Government Power

  • Democratic Republicans' Efforts
    • Abolished the whiskey tax
    • Minimized the military
    • Reduced federal jobs
  • Louisiana Purchase (1803)
    • Negotiated by James Monroe
    • Doubled the size of the U.S.
    • Jefferson struggled with constitutional principles (strict constructionism)
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition
    • Explored northern Louisiana Territory
    • Increased mapping and scientific knowledge

Supreme Court and Federal Power

  • John Marshall
    • Fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
    • Expanded federal and court power
  • Significant Cases
    • Marbury v. Madison (1803): Established judicial review
    • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): National law trumps state laws

U.S. Relationships with European Powers

  • Barbary States
    • U.S. paid tribute for protection of merchant ships
    • Jefferson refused higher tribute payments, leading to intermittent fighting
  • War of 1812
    • Causes: British impressment of American citizens, frontier issues
    • War Hawks in the House advocated for war
    • Result: Increased nationalism, demise of the Federalist party

Conclusion

  • Understand the causes and effects of these early policy debates for a better grasp of Unit 4 Topic 2 of the AP U.S. History curriculum.
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  • Key terms: Federalists, Democratic Republicans, Louisiana Purchase, judicial review, War of 1812, nationalism
  • Important figures: Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Marshall, James Monroe
  • Events: Election of 1800, Louisiana Purchase, Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, Barbary Wars, War of 1812

Full transcript