Outline of 141-196 Don't Know Much About History

Outline of 141-196

What was the Revolution of 1800?

Jefferson and Burr tied for Electoral votes which meant that the house of representatives would decide who was president and who was vice president. Alexander Hamilton, picking the lesser of two evils, sided with Jefferson to break the deadlock and make Jefferson president. The government had bloodlessly transferred from one party to the next for the first time in history.

What was Marbury v. Madison?

 Just minutes before Adams term was up he created dozens of new judgeships to pack the court with Federalists. One of these was John Marshall, whom reigned over the Marbury v. Madison case. For the first time the Supreme court had turned over an act of Congress, deeming it to be unconstitutional. This is called Judicial Review (which John Marshall had founded). This was not a power given to the supreme court when the constitution was written. 

How did America Purchase Louisiana?

Napoleon needed troops and cash so he sold Louisiana to Britain’s enemy, the Americans for about 15 million dollars.

Who were Lewis and Clark?

Jefferson had several motives for sending Lewis and Clark on their expedition. He wanted to get America in to the fur trade, feel out the political and military uses of the west and to collect scientific information about the unchartered land. The journals and specimens that Lewis and Clark brought home with them were of inestimable value. It also encouraged settlers to come West.

Why did Aaron Burr Shoot Alexander Hamilton?

Along with a long history of disagreement Hamilton used all of his influences to defeat Burr at governorship because he considered Burr to be a dangerous man if given power. Later Burr attempted to secure a western empire with the help of James Wilkinson, but the attempt was foiled when Wilkinson ratted out Burr.

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: Did he or didn’t he?

A popular Federalist claim was that Thomas Jefferson carried on a love affair with a young slave named Sally Hemings. Many books were written on the subject, but no conclusive evidence has been found yet to link the two. There has been DNA testing between the descendants, but only one out of seven matched.

What was Impressment?

The British would stop American ships and take their sailors impressing them into the gangs to work for them. In retaliation Jefferson set up the Embargo.

Who were Tecumseh and the Prophet?

They were Indian brothers who called for a revival of Native ways and a rejection of white culture. The Westerners used the confederation of Indians to fuel anti-british sentiment in congress.

What was the War of 1812 about?

The War of 1812 was not fought fiercely on either side. It was between the Americans and the British. The Americans attempted to wipe out Canada, but failed in their three prong attack.  The War ended in a return of all lost property for both sides.  Jackson became a national hero.

What was the Monroe Doctrine?

The Monroe doctrine declared that the United States would not interfere with already established colonies, but would not tolerate new colonies by European powers. This doctrine was used to allow the Untied States to mess with the rest of the Americas in the upcoming years (hence the Panama Canal).

What was the Missouri Compromise?

The Missouri Compromise was created to define where slavery could and could not be. It was formed to hold back the civil war, but it could only slow down the upcoming rift rather than stop it.

What was the “Corrupt Bargain”?

Henry Clay threw support for Adams against Jackson, and in return Adams then gifted Clay a job as Secretary of State. The people felt that their choice had been circumvented by congressional cabal.

What were Jacksonian Democracy and the spoils system?

The Jacksonian Democracy included reformed voting rules in the West. After Jackson’s inaugural address, gleeful voters stormed the White House. They were mainly there to receive the jobs that they believed would be theirs after Jackson was in office. This tied the “spoils sytem” to Jackson.

What was the Trail of Tears?

The Trail of Tears was created by Andrew Jackson when he forced Natives off their lands to march westward.

Who Was Tocqueville, and why did he say all those things about America?

Tocqueville was a young aristocrat whom came to America from France to study its version of democracy.

What made the South Fear a slave named Nat Turner?

Nat Turner formed a large slave rebellion, and ended up killing his own masters. He managed to evade the authority’s for over two months and instigated rebellion along the way. Even after his death the white plantation owners were worried that he would set an example for future rebellions.

Who were the Whigs?

The whigs party was a party created by old federalists.

Who Fought at the Alamo?

Americans in Texas attempted to secede from Mexico. They fortified themselves in the fort Alamo and were overpowered by Mexican forces.  Jim Bowie and Davy Crocket were among the fighters.

What was Manifest destiny?

Manifest Destiny was the belief that Americans had the divine right to expand their country from shore to shore, and that it was their duty to do so.

Why did the Mormons move West?

Mormon’s views challenged those of Protestant America and they faced much persecution. Due to this they moved Westward to form their own community where they could worship in peace. They moved to Utah, where there is still a high concentration of Mormons today.

Why Was there a War With Mexico?

The War with Mexico was fought for territorial expansion.

What Did America Gain from the Mexican American War?

They completed the dream of Manifest Destiny. Also, the newly acquired California contained multitudes of gold which benefited the treasury handsomely.