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

Overview

• Time Period: 1800-1848
• Main Themes:
  • Expanding role of the U.S. in world affairs
  • Transformation of society and economy in early republic
  • Growing democratic impulses

Political Context

• Election of 1800: Thomas Jefferson elected
• Main Debates:
  • American relations with foreign powers
  • Scope of federal power

Foreign Affairs

• Barbary Pirates:
  • U.S. paid tribute to Barbary States for protection of merchant ships.
  • Jefferson ceased payments, leading to conflict.
  • Retaliation by U.S. Navy and eventual reduced payment agreement.

Federal vs. State Power

• Democratic Republicans:
  • Advocated for restricted federal power, strict constructionism (Constitution interpreted literally).
• Federalists:
  • Supported loose constructionism (flexible interpretation of Constitution).

Major Events

• Louisiana Purchase (1803):
  • Jefferson purchased territory from France, doubling U.S. size.
  • Explored by Lewis & Clark, Zebulun Pike.
• Judicial Review:
  • Established by Marbury v. Madison (1803) under Chief Justice John Marshall.
  • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) reinforced federal power over states.

War of 1812

• Causes:
  • British impressment of American sailors
  • Trade restrictions
  • Indian conflicts blamed on British
• Consequences:
  • Rise of intense nationalism
  • Demise of Federalist Party
  • Highlighted need for national bank, infrastructure

Economic Developments

• Market Revolution:
  • Linking of northern industries with western and southern farms
  • Technological advances: cotton gin, spinning machine, interchangeable parts, steamboats
  • Transportation improvements: canals (e.g., Erie Canal), railroads

Social Changes

• Urbanization:
  • Growth of industrial cities, immigration (mainly German and Irish)
  • Rise of laboring poor, tenement housing
  • Expansion of middle class
• Women:
  • Cult of domesticity: women's roles centered around home, childbearing

Expansion of Democracy

• Panic of 1819:
  • First major recession, highlighted need for political accountability
  • Led to expansion of voting rights (universal male suffrage in frontier states)
• Political Parties:
  • Split of Democratic-Republican Party (Democrats vs. National Republicans)
  • Key Elections: 1824 (corrupt bargain), 1828 (Andrew Jackson elected)

Jacksonian Era

• Tariffs:
  • Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations) led to nullification crisis in South Carolina
• Bank Veto:
  • Jackson vetoed recharter of the Second Bank of the U.S. calling it elitist
• Indian Removal:
  • Indian Removal Act (1830), leading to Trail of Tears
  • Worcester v. Georgia ruled in favor of Cherokee sovereignty

Cultural and Religious Developments

• Transcendentalism:
  • Emphasized nature, moral perfection (e.g., Emerson, Thoreau)
• Second Great Awakening:
  • Religious revival, focus on societal moral reform
  • Led to movements like temperance, abolitionism

Reform Movements

• Abolitionism:
  • Growth of anti-slavery sentiment (e.g., William Lloyd Garrison's The Liberator, American Anti-Slavery Society)
• Women's Rights:
  • Seneca Falls Convention (1848), Declaration of Sentiments

Southern Society

• Plantation Economy:
  • Expansion of plantations, rise of planter aristocracy
  • Cultural practices among enslaved people (music, community)
• Slave Rebellions:
  • Nat Turner's Rebellion (1831) increased fears of uprisings

These notes capture the key points and themes from Unit 4 of AP U.S. History, providing a detailed overview of the political, social, economic, and cultural changes in the United States from 1800 to 1848.