Thomas Jefferson
A prominent statesman, Thomas Jefferson became George Washington's first secretary of state. Along with James Madison, Jefferson took up the cause of strict constructionists and the Republican Party, advocating limited federal government. As the nation's
Louisiana Purchase
The U.S., under Jefferson, bought the Louisiana territory from France, under the rule of Napoleon, in 1803. The U.S. paid $15 million for the Louisiana Purchase, and Napoleon gave up his empire in North America. The U.S. gained control of Mississippi trad
Napoleon Bonaparte
Overthrew French Directory in 1799 and became emperor of the French in 1804. Failed to defeat Great Britain and abdicated in 1814. Returned to power briefly in 1815 but was defeated and died in exile. Approved Jefferson's purchase of French territory.
Toussaint I'Ouverture
led a rebellion against French rule on the island of Santo Domingo which resulted in heavy French losses
Strict Interpretation of Constitution
Strict and doctrinal interpretation of the Constitution and its justification. Thomas Jefferson favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution, which he interpreted as forbidding everything it did not expressly permit. In contrast, Hamilton favored a
Lewis and Clark Expedition
1804-1806 - Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were commissioned by Jefferson to map and explore the Louisiana Purchase region. Beginning at St. Louis, Missouri, the expedition travelled up the Missouri River to the Great Divide, and then down the Columbi
John Marshall
Federalist Supreme Court justice whose brilliant legal efforts established the principle of judicial review
Judicial Review
the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional
Marbury vs Madison
The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, in
Aaron Burr
An American politician and adventurer. He was a formative member of the Democratic-Republican Party in New York and a strong supporter of Governor George Clinton. He is remembered not so much for his tenure as the third Vice President, under Thomas Jeffer
Quids
Republicans who criticized the War of 1812 (even though it was started by a Republican president) because it did not follow the traditional Republican idea of limited federal government.
Barbary Pirates
The name given to several renegade countries on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa who demanded tribute in exchange for refraining from attacking ships in the Mediterranean. From 1795-1801, the U.S. paid the Barbary states for protection against the
Neutrality
a position of not taking sides in a conflict
Impressment
British practice of taking American sailors from American ships and forcing them into the British navy; a factor in the War of 1812.
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
incident in 1807 that brought on a war crisis when the British warship Leopard attacked the American warship Chesapeake; the British demanded to board the American ship to search for deserters from the Royal Navy. When the U.S. commander refused, the Brit
Embargo Act (1807)
This act issued by Jefferson forbade American trading ships from leaving the U.S. It was meant to force Britain and France to change their policies towards neutral vessels by depriving them of American trade. It was difficult to enforce because it was opp
James Madison
The fourth President of the United States (1809-1817). A member of the Continental Congress (1780-1783) and the Constitutional Convention (1787), he strongly supported ratification of the Constitution and was a contributor to The Federalist Papers (1787-1
Nonintercourse Act (1809)
Replaced the Embargo Act. Lifted the stop of trade to foreign countries EXCEPT France and England. Led to the war of 1812.
Macon's Bill No. 2 (1810)
When economic hardships continued into 1810, Nathaniel Macon, a member of Congress, introduced a bill that restored U.S. trade with both Britain & France. It also provided, however, that if either France or Britain formally agreed to respect neutral right
Tecumseh; Prophet
These Shawnee brothers organized a large native confederacy to prevent the American advance westward.
William Henry Harrison
Govenor of the Indiana territory, that fought against Tecumseh and the Prophet in the battle of Tippecanoe
Battle of Tippecanoe
Battle between Americans and Native Americans. Tecumseh and the Prophet attempted to oppress white settlement in the West, but defeated by William Henry Harrison. Led to talk of Canadian invasion and served as a cause to the War of 1812.
War Hawks
These were mostly young Republicans who had been imbued with the ideals of the American Revolution as youths, who wanted to take Canada and Florida and deal with the Indian problem. They held a majority in Congress, and were responsible for declaring war
Henry Clay
Senator who persuaded Congress to accept the Missouri Compromise, which admitted Maine into the Union as a free state, and Missouri as a slave state
John C. Calhoun
The 7th Vice President of the United States and a leading Southern politician from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. He was an advocate of slavery, states' rights, limited government, and nullification.
War of 1812
A war between the U.S. and Great Britain caused by American outrage over the impressment of American sailors by the British, the British seizure of American ships, and British aid to the Indians attacking the Americans on the western frontier. Also, a war
Old Ironsides
The nickname for the U.S. warship, Constitution who raised American morale by defeating and sinking a British ship off the coast of Nova Scotia.
Battle of Lake Erie
U.S. victory in the War of 1812, led by Oliver Hazard Perry; broke Britain's control of Lake Erie.
Oliver Hazard Perry
We have me the enemy, and they are ours." Naval hero during the War of 1812. Won battle on Lake Erie against the British. After the battle, he sent William Henry Harrison a note that said this famous quote.
Battle of the Thames River
Battle led by Harrison; broke the British alliance with the Native Americans when Tecumseh was killed
Thomas Macdonough
A commander of an American fleet on Lake Champlain that fought near Plattsburgh on floating slaughterhouses; the Americans were nearly defeated, but his nifty techniques forced the British to retreat; this heroic naval battle saved New York from conquest,
Battle of Lake Champlain
A battle where the British fleet was defeated and was forced to retreat and to abandon their plans to invade New York and New England after being stoped by Thomas Macdonough. The British began to decide that the war was to costly.
Francis Scott Key , "The Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key, who observed the Birtish attack on Fort McHenry, celebrated the American victory by writing a poem that is the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" today.
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
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
fought during the War of 1812 in central Alabama. On March 27, 1814, United States forces and Indian allies under General Andrew Jackson defeated the Red Sticks, a part of the Creek Indian tribe inspired by the Shawnee leader Tecumseh, effectively ending
Creek Nation
The Creek are an American Indians originally from the southeastern United States. The Creeks are one of the Five Civilized Tribes. They were an important British ally in the war of 1812 untill being defeated by Andrew Jackson.
Battle of New Orleans
Jackson led a battle that occurred when British troops attacked U.S. soldiers in New Orleans on January 8, 1815; the War of 1812 had officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in December, 1814, but word had not yet reached the U.S.
Treaty of Ghent (1814)
was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The treaty largely restored relations between the two nations to status quo ante bellum. Due to the era's slow speed
Hartford Convention (1814)
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island met in 1814 in Hartford, Connecticut for a secret meeting to discuss their disgust of the war and to redress their grievances. The Hartford Convention's final report demanded:-Financial assistance from Washingt