Lesson II: Causes of the Civil War Homework Questions

APUSH Task II HW

1. The election of 1852 officially marked the beginning of the end for Whig Party. This is because when the party nominated General Winfield Scott, different members of the Whigs supported different things about Scott. The abolitionists supported Scott but despised his support for the Fugitive Slave Law. The southern Whigs, in contrast, supported Scott’s approval of the Fugitive Slave Law, yet they also had a bone to pick with Scott and that what whether or not he would truly uphold the Compromise of 1850. The split of the Whig Party shows an instance where a national party with supporters in both the north and the south is split because of the issue over slavery.

2. The origins of nativism were in the Know-Nothing Party. The Know-Nothings relate to the slavery issue because they were originally part of the Republican Party that formed to counter the Kansas-Nebraska Act. They also ended up becoming pro-slavery, which led to their decline because their party was based in the north.

3. There were many economic developments that widened the chasm between the North and the South. California’s rapid economic growth due to the Gold Rush and admission as a free state made southerners angry because they opposed the thought of a free, and prosperous, state. The north also made a quantum leap in economic growth with the development of railroads. This sped up the economy because goods and people could be transported faster, and therefore transactions could happen faster. The speedy transportation provided by the railroads also played a factor in the North’s victory over the south in the Civil War. The south also had a lower literacy rate, and therefore could perform less skilled jobs than the north could. Yet, the South also shared some economic prosperity as their staple cash crop, cotton, had its prices double between the mid-18402s and mid-1850s.

4. The free labor ideology denounced slavery for its lack of social mobility and practice of bondage. It relates to 1850s politics because its ideas were part of the Republican platform used to fight slavery. It also was another instance in which abolitionists addressed the slavery issue on being immoral and unjust. Herrenvolk democracy called for a democracy that was only ruled by the majority ethnic group in that society. This means that if you were not part of the biggest or most dominant ethnic group, then you were not entitled with the rights of democracy. This relates to politics in the 1850s because the country was essentially a Herrenvolk democracy. The whites ruled the government seats and only white males could vote. This lack of rights to other ethnic groups and genders sparked many reform movements, like women’s reform and abolitionist’s reform.

5. I disagree because the “blundering generation” of politicians, for the most part, were not being radical. The two sides just could not compromise because of two polar opposite beliefs and lifestyles. The North was able to prosper economically with little slaves and therefore saw slavery as immoral and unfair. On the other hand, the South saw slavery an absolutely necessary because they needed to slaves to fund cotton production, which funds economic prosperity. The inability of both sides to see each other’s viewpoint is not due to the blundering generation, as it is to the lifestyle differences that led the two regions to fail to stand in one another’s shoes.

Lesson II: Causes of the Civil War Chart

Road to the Civil War: A Sectional Perspective

Event	Year	Significance	Sectional Perspective-
Annexation of Texas	1845	Addition of Texas to the U.S. adds a major slave state to the Union	The annexation of Texas is essentially good for the nation because we have gained a rather large tract of land. Yet, there is a major concern about the state being a slave state. Not only is it morally wrong, but it will also upset the balance of free and slave states in the Senate.
Wilmot Proviso	1846	Though never passed by Congress, this proposal to ban slavery from territories taken from Mexico Keeps the slavery issue in Congressional view.	The Wilmot Proviso is a noble step for us in terms of trying to keep out slavery from the South. The new territories should be free because any more additional slave power in the South would upset the political balance.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo	1848	While ending the Mexican-American War, this also adds a huge section of the Southwest to the U.S. "Should these states be allowed to have slaves?" is a key question.	No, because there would be too many slave states, thus altering the balance in the Senate. It should be the right of the people of the states to vote on whether or not to become a free or slave state. Therefore, since California supports desires to become a free state, they should be allowed to do so.
Compromise of 1850	1850	While not satisfying either abolitionists or slavery advocates, this brings California in as a free state and strengthens the Fugitive Slave Law. It also allows Utah and New Mexico territory residents to decide on slavery.	The Compromise of 1850 gave a significant boost to our cause of abolishing slavery. Winning over California as a free state provides great support. The petty strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Law is most likely not going to be enforced by the states in the North. An example is Massachusetts, who passed a law that nullified the Fugitive Slave Law. Overall, the Compromise was a major success on behalf of the North.
Uncle Tom's Cabin	1852	Publication of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel takes the message of abolitionism to a broad audience. Over 300,000 copies are sold in the first year. It is also produced as a play throughout the world. Good, kindly blacks are portrayed as victims of a cruel system.	This book has a strong message that really provokes the nation as a whole to realize that slavery is unethical and unjust. This book accurately portrays the cruelty of slavery.
Kansas-Nebraska Act	1854	Repealing the Missouri Compromise, the K-N Act gives residents the right to decide on the issue of slavery. Proposed by Stephen Douglas, this pushes many former Whigs into the new Republican Party, which opposes the extension of slavery beyond its current locations.	This is outrageous. The man behind the bill, Senator Stephen Douglas, is only proposing the Kansas-Nebraska Act just so he can have a railroad built through the territory he owns, which is in Illinois. Since he needs supporters, he decided to appeal to the South by proposing the possibility of a new slave state. If this slavery issue is continuously reopened and not put to rest, then our nation will be torn apart. In response, we northerners have come together to form the Republican Party.
Bleeding Kansas	1855	Violent clashes between pro- and anti-slavery advocates. 200 deaths result as settlers pour in to Kansas on both sides.	Unfortunately, Missouri sent over their own party of voters to shift the tide in the votes for whether or not Kansas would be free or slave. It was for this reason that Kansas became a slave state, with a pro-slavery legislature. Yet, the good-hearted Free-Soil Party created their legislature and constitution for the state to continue the push to make Kansas a free state. Yet, the barbaric Southerners responded by ransacking Lawrence, Kansas, the headquarters of the Free-Soil government and attacking anti-slavery advocate Charles Sumner. This violence would not go unanswered. We responded by killing five pro-slavery men, just to make things even. Yet, the South still did not know when enough was enough. They were on a rampage of revenge as they swooped through eastern Kansas, killing 200 people.
Dred Scott case	1857	Critical ruling by the Supreme Court that slaves are not citizens and that Congress has no authority to ban slavery from the territories. Huge victory for pro-slavery forces.	This ruling is merely an opinion by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court made an extremely biased decision, as more than half the judges on board are pro-slavery. This act of immorality by the highest law of the land has now stiffened the sectional conflict.
Lecompton Constitution	1857	Kansas pro-slavery constitution that is adopted after anti-slavery forces boycotted the state's constitutional convention but defeated it by 10,000 votes, clearly indicating an anti-slavery majority. Pres. Buchanan supports the Lecompton document, greatly distressing Republicans. Kansas voters reject it again and it isn't until 1861 that Kansas joins the Union as a free state.	These southerner’s think they can get away with anything. The Lecompton Constitution did not let people vote on the constitution as a whole, but only for whether or not the constitution allowed slavery. Yet, they have to reopen the slavery issue. Even more infuriating, if the end result is a no-slavery constitution, then slave owners have their rights protected. Ironically, Senator Douglas does not support the Constitution, even though he proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act about three years ago. Luckily, the House and Free-Soilers defeated it. But unfortunately the final bond that held together the Union, the Democratic Party, was fractured along sectional lines due to this issue.
Lincoln-Douglas debates	1858	In a race for an Illinois Senate seat, Douglas defends popular sovereignty and accuses the Republicans of favoring war and social equality of the races.  Lincoln opposes the extension of slavery into the territories, but does not advocate its abolition in the South. The debate makes Lincoln a national figure.	Lincoln makes excellent points throughout his debate: “A house divided cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.” Slavery should be kept out of new territories, like Mr. Lincoln stated. Despite his loss, these debates have made him an excellent candidate for the Presidency.
John Brown's Raid	1859	While failing in his attempt to begin a slave uprising, John Brown helps define the line between abolitionists and those opposed to slavery, but unwilling to take a stand against it. Brown's action convinces some Southerners that nothing but withdrawal from the nation would preserve slavery in the South.	Brown was a true advocate for slavery! His actions for the freedom of slaves will be remembered. Yet, I understand the sentiments of some northerners that his actions were too much. The killing of innocent, fellow Americans should not have happened in this raid. Unfortunately, the raid may have stimulated the South’s ambition for secession.
Election of 1860	1860	While winning less than 40% of the popular vote, Lincoln achieves a victory in the electoral college over a divided Democratic Party.	Despite being a heavily sectional election, Lincoln managed to pull out on top! Although Lincoln is no abolitionist, his Republican party principles state that slavery will not be extended any further.
Jefferson Davis sworn in as Confederate president	February 1861	Seven seceding states establish the Confederate States of America, claiming they are acting in the spirit of 1776.	How dare the south secede! Contrary to southern belief, by seceding from the Union, they are actually dishonoring our Founding Fathers and the basic principles of which this country was founded upon. Our Founding Fathers sacrificed everything to make sure this country would stay intact and live in peace and prosperity. Seceding from the Union violates all of this. Sooner or later, the South will realize that we are interdependent on each other.
Firing on Ft. Sumter	April 1861	Lincoln sends supplies to the fort in Charleston harbor, knowing the South would attack. Several southern states secede and the conflict has become war.	Well the worst has happened. The south has invigorated war by attacking Ft. Sumter. No longer can we hide the fact that our once united nation is about to go to war.

Lesson I: Manifest Destiny and Expansion of the Country Homework Questions

Lesson I. Manifest Destiny and Expansion of the Country

Part I

1. Manifest Destiny is the concept that Americans have a God-given right to expand westward. They disregarded the Native Americans and used this “God-given right” as justification for expansion westward, Indian removal, and war with Mexico. The forces contributing to this concept were nationalism and a growing population. As Americans were more proud and confident in their country, a sense of national invincibility formed that spurred the Americans to continue to expand west and conquer new lands. This sense of pride developed from their recent political triumphs, economic boom, cultural developments, numerous technological advances, social reform, and religious revival. A growing population meant that the current US lands were quite overcrowded and thus America needed more room for its people.

2. America truly fulfilled the “Manifest destiny” by expanding and adding all of the western territories. Utah, New Mexico, and California were added. Southern Arizona and southern New Mexico were also added through the Gadsden Purchase. America’s territory grew tremendously during this period of time.

3. The US claimed that Mexico posed a threat to its national security, and therefore needed to expand upon their lands. They also justified this by saying that they needed more room for its growing population, a concept related to the Manifest Destiny. There were also boundary disputes between the two nations regarding Texas. This is because Mexico was resentful against the US because after Texas gained its independence from Mexico, it became a US state. Mexico announced its intentions to recover Texas, which sparked hostility between the two nations.

4. Polk used the excuse of the Texas boundary to declare Mexico as a threat. Polk also used the Manifest Destiny idea as a reason to push westward. Mexico also tempted Polk when they attacked Americans at the Rio Grande. This explanation would only seem convincing at the time because people truly believed in the Manifest Destiny. Therefore they all supported expansion westward. Polk also added justification by saying that the refusal of Mexico to negotiate meant war was inevitable. This isn’t fair justification because Mexico was facing political chaos and therefore did not have the opportunity to receive American diplomats for negotiation. Nowadays, his justification seems lacking and would need more to convince the people that conquering a weaker, foreign nation’s lands was a good idea.

5. They wanted to acquire more land for America, specifically the lands of California and New Mexico. They also wanted to have a safe holding on Texas. These territorial expansion desires all stem from the idea of Manifest Destiny. The United States portrayed themselves as victims of Mexican burdens and therefore justified an invasion to “defend themselves” when they were actually motivated to annex more lands.

6. Opponents didn’t support the war because it seemed like a conquest for land instead of diplomacy. This portrayed America as conquerors instead of peaceful negotiators. The North also viewed the war unfavorably because they believed that the South just wanted to add more slave states. Thus the balance of free states and slaves states would be unbalanced.



7. America won the war because of many reasons. One reason was the Mexico was facing internal political turmoil and therefore could not present a unified force to defend itself. Also, America had a much bigger Army force than Mexico did, and therefore may have won by attrition.

8. Geographically, the United States gained California, and New Mexico, which included the present states of Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. The Rio Grande was also established as the official southern border. Demographically, the US gained many more Hispanic and Native American people, like the Navajo. Politically, the results of adding new territory meant that new states would be formed. This disrupted the balance between free states and slave states, which came to become a main source of argument between the North and South.

Part II

1. One of the main topics for debate was whether or not the newly acquired states would be free or slave states. Or should the people of that state choose themselves, since after all, it is a democracy. The state of Texas was also not satisfied with its border, saying it claimed all the way up to Santa Fe. Northerners were also upset how the nation’s capital, the representative city of the nation, was a slave state and major slave market.

2. The Compromise was heavily debated amongst many of the Senators. Of course the central issue here was slavery. Topics ranged from the Fugitive Slave Law to returning runaway slaves to deciding new states entering the Union as either slave states or free states. Henry Clay, now an old man of 73 years of age, supported more effective fugitive slave legislation in the North. Calhoun did not believe that Clay’s plan would not be effective. He believed that simply runaway slaves should be returned, slavery already existing should not be touched, and that the South should be given rights, and political balance should be restored, since the North had a majority at this point. Daniel Webster threw his support behind Clay and gave a speech that explained why concessions should be made to the South. This speech was significant as it turned the North into the direction of compromise. President Taylor though, was not giving into concessions with the South. This created a stalemate and it looked like things were going to turn out bad. But, unexpectedly, Taylor died, and his vice-president, Millard Fillmore was in support of concessions and thus the Compromise of 1850 was reached. Provisions included: admitting California as a free state; allowing territorial legislatures in New Mexico and Utah to settle the question of slavery in those areas; setting up a stringent federal law for the return of runaway slaves; abolishing the slave trade in DC; and giving Texas $10 million to abandon claims to territory in New Mexico east of the Rio Grande.


3. The Wilmot Proviso, proposed by David Wilmot, called for all new states to be free states. This infuriated Southern senators, and as a result, was blocked by Congress. Yet the North strongly supported the Wilmot Proviso, and consequently, there was a clear divide between the North and the South. This also threatened to split parties along sectional lines. This party disunity led to the third party system.

4. The provisions of the compromise were: admitting California as a free state; allowing territorial legislatures in New Mexico and Utah to settle the question of slavery in those areas; setting up a stringent federal law for the return of runaway slaves; abolishing the slave trade in DC; and giving Texas $10 million to abandon claims to territory in New Mexico east of the Rio Grande.


5. The Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened and supposedly made more severe by the Compromise of 1850. Yet, much to the South’s anguish, the North did not uphold the Fugitive Slave Act as harshly as they would have liked to. For example, Massachusetts passed a law that nullified the Fugitive Slave Act in the state. Therefore, the North deceived the South by not only getting California admitted as a free state and abolition of the slave market in Washington DC, they also did not truly uphold their promise of enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act. The way the Fugitive Slave  Act was enforced caused great tension between the North and the South. Yet, because of the other key points resolved in the Compromise of 1850, peace was sustained for a while. This antebellum period allowed the North to build popular sentiment of supporting equality for slaves and defending them from the South’s attempts to recapture them.

6. Americans were land-hungry at this point, even with the acquisition of Texas, Oregon, and half of Mexico. President Polk eyed Cuba as the next potential land acquisition. Southerners were pleased by this because Cuba was very slave-dense and would suit their purposes well if Cuba was added to the US. Polk initially tried to purchase Cuba from Spain but was rejected. This led to filibustering. Cuban planters worked with American expansionists on a plan to stage an uprising on the island of Cuba to overthrow the Spanish. There were several filibustering activities led by Narciso Lopez. He recruited hundreds of Americans with each expedition, but they all ended disastrously. Eventually, filibustering, which comes from the Spanish word filibuster meaning freebooter or pirate, shifted focus to Nicaragua.


7. While trying to prolong the period of peace, it created even greater sectional disunity. The argument over slavery had escalated to catastrophic proportions and there seemed no way for resolve unless either the North or South totally gave in to the other’s demands, which obviously was not going to happen. Therefore the Compromise of 1850 was not successful in resolving sectional issues because the issue of slavery created even greater disunity. Yet, the North and South both got some territory that they made eventually made free and slave states.

Test- FRQ Response

5. Did the era of reform increase or decrease the belief in and practice of liberty in American society?

The era of reform most certainly increased the belief and practice of liberty in American society. This is because people began advocating universal suffrage for everybody, including women and blacks. Also, the reform movements began to inspire pro-abolition sentiments throughout America. The right of liberty was beginning to include all the people of America, regardless of gender or color. 

Women's rights were strongly endorsed by many people in the era. The era of reform led people to believe in equality for men and women. Women were just as hard-working and devoted citizens to their country, so why should their rights be hindered? Women also played a key role in all kinds of reform movements, such as temperance, abolition of slavery, and prison reform. Therefore, encouraged by the reform movement, women decided to advocate reform for themselves; the same rights and liberties as men for women. Also the development of a unique American culture further catalyzed the intuition for creating a society that treated women as equals. This desire to seek an unique American culture was funded by the surge of nationalism also felt during the period. These nationalism sentiments also brought up the ideas of democracy which led people to rethink its basic ideas: liberty and equality. Did true liberty just include men? Were women not equals to men? These nascent thoughts were nurtured through the works of women suffrage advocates Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, and many others. The efforts of all these women led to the Seneca Falls Convention. Here, women sparked the modern women's right movement. The Convention opened with a powerful message, paraphrasing the Declaration of Independence by saying that "all men and women are created equal". As an interesting side note, a third of the attendees were men, indicating that the idea of women suffrage appealed to both genders. The work of these women began to show promise. For example. before the Civil War colleges began accepting women and some states granted women property rights after marriage. The belief and practice of liberty for women's rights was increased by the era of reform.

The era of reform led to a substantial increase in abolition awareness. This is because the Second Great Awakening was happening side by side with the era of reform. Therefore as people became more involved in Christianity, they realized that slavery was immoral, as implied by the Bible. This led to many newly religious people advocating abolition of slavery, especially in the North. William Lloyd Garrison was a radical slavery reformer and founded the American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS). Some of his Garrison's most key arguments were supported by religion. Due to the Second Great Awakening, Americans began to take these arguments based on religion much more seriously. The era of reform also provided many groups of reform. These different groups of reform mutually exchanged help in advocating each other's rights. For example, the women's suffrage movement supported the abolition of slavery and as a result, received help from the abolitionists. Some white Quakers also helped with the abolition movement. Other prominent advocates of the anti-slavery movement consisted of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. Also during the era of reform was the American nationalism movement also helped Douglass and Tubman. Nationalism increased Americans to be unique in their literature and style of writing. For example, an idea emerging from the style of Romanticism encouraged realism through the use of local color. Both Douglass and Tubman were influenced because they frequently recalled upon vivid slavery experiences to illustrate their points at anti-slavery meetings. African Americans were now sowing the seeds to their liberty as the era of reform increased the thoughts of liberty for African Americans.

The substantial increase in American belief of liberty for all was driven by the era of reform. This is because numerous movements sprang up during the era, which at times even supported each other. For example, at the Seneca Falls Convention, many types of reformers gathered and not just women's suffrage ones. Abolitionists and temperance advocates also showed up and helped support women's rights. The era of reform contributed so much to this increase in belief of liberty because it changed the American atmosphere. The general feeling in America nurtured the growth of these movements as people were more religiously aware and proud of their nation, due to nationalism. The era of reform was the beginning of a new nation, one that truly upheld the principles of liberty regardless of race or gender.

Test- Jackson DBQ

Andrew Jackson was certainty one of America's most controversial presidents. Although he and his followers, the Jacksonian Democrats, claimed to be "the guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and equality of opportunity" they did not uphold these principles to the best of their ability. The Jacksonian Democrats certainly had their accomplishments in office, however, their vices certainly outweighed their virtues and the Jacksonians did not seem to truly stand up for their principles.

Jacksonian Democrats claimed themselves to be guardians of the "United States Constitution". Yet they made many decisions that tarnished this claim. In Document G, the Cherokee Nation was forced off their land in Georgia and had to march more than a thousand miles to the land that they were permitted to live on by the government. Yet the Cherokees fought for their rights and brought the case up to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the Cherokees. Yet this still did not hinder the Jacksonian's efforts to drive the Cherokee off their land. This direct violation of the Supreme Court's ruling defies the Constitution because the Jacksonians did not comply with the Supreme Court's decisions. Another instance in which Jacksonians disregarded the Constitution is when they denounced abolitionists for their anti-slavery publications. This is a major assault on the founding amendments of the Constitution; the freedom of speech and the freedom of press. Jackson carried this restriction of freedom of speech in Congress in which he and the Jacksonians passed the "gag rule". The rule stated that no more abolitionist appeals would be tolerated or accepted by Congress. Another instance in which Jackson defied the Supreme Court is when he vetoed the issue on rechartering the Second Bank. At the time, Chief Justice John Marshall and the Supreme Court had already deemed that having the Bank was an implied right by the Constitution. Jacksonians failed to uphold the right of having a national bank. The underlying reason can also be considered political. In Document C, Webster accuses Jackson for removing the Bank for his own political reasons. Jackson knew that by removing the Bank, he would gain support from many of the lower classes, such as the western farmers and the Working Men's Party, as well as support from the state banks. The Jacksonians did not seem to be the "guardians of the United States Constitution" as they claimed to be.

The second and third parts of Jacksonian democrat doctrine were that they defended political democracy and protected individual liberties. This was only partially true in many cases. An instance of which there was a lack of political democracy is in Document B. Here Jackson criticizes rich for holding too much power in the Second Bank. He says that they hold "a monopoly of the foreign and domestic exchange." Jackson, being an advocate for the "common man" condemns the rich and their use the Bank. Yet, this shows a clear imbalance of political democracy because Jackson is favoring the views of the common class versus those of the higher class. In Document C, Webster concurs with this idea because he because he says that Jackson is just creating a class rivalry between the rich and the poor. The favoring of the common people showed a skewed political democracy in which the individual liberties of the rich were hindered, also violating the third part of Jacksonian doctrine. Also during Jackson's tenure, he granted universal white manhood suffrage. This gave the right to vote to nearly all white men, even for those without land. Although it certainly is an improvement in political democracy, it ignored the other massive portion of the population that included women and African Americans. This not only restricted the individual liberties of women and blacks, but it also represents a lack of political democracy because not all people could vote. The definition of a democracy is a government in which leaders are elected by the people to represent the people. It is not a government elected by only white males. This political and social difference between blacks and whites is also evident in Document E, where there is strong violence against blacks. Jackson accepted slavery without question due to its vital role in the economy, yet he did not truly consider the immorality it implicated. Even free blacks had their rights restricted, for example, they could not vote. Document G characterizes one of Jackson's lowest moments in his presidency. Document G shows the Trail of Tears, a thousand mile forced march of the Cherokees by the government after they expelled them from their original home in Georgia. Yet, when the Cherokee sought justice for this issue and received support by Marshall, Jacksonians ignored the ruling and carried on with the removal. This reflects a case of a lack of political democracy because not only did Jackson disregard the Cherokee's appeal, they also defied the ruling of the Supreme Court. This also reflects a lack of individual liberty for the Indians because Jackson disregarded their arguments and forced them off their land without their consent. Political democracy was also looking very corrupt in regards to the spoils system, a method employed by the Jacksonians. In the spoils system, government positions are granted to supporting voters for their help in the candidate’s victory, in this case Jackson's. This goes against the basic idea of democracy of people electing the positions of government and not giving out positions of power as gifts. Individual liberty and political democracy was restricted by the Jacksonian's actions.

Although the overall economic prosperity was increased, it came at a great expense of the other principles in which the Jacksonians Democrats claimed to uphold. In Documents B and H, Jackson rids of institutions he believes to resemble monopolies like the Second Bank and the Charles River Bridge Corporation. Equal economic opportunity was evident in Document B because the federal money stored in the Second Bank was placed into smaller state banks. Stockholders and investors lost the Bank as a source of investment, which indicates lack of economic opportunity. Blacks also did not experience the same equality of economic opportunity. There were not as many ways for blacks or women to learn skills for working as there were for white males. Blacks and women were also not given the same rights for jobs as white males were. This inequality is a major stain on the Jacksonian's principle of economic opportunity. In Document A, George Henry Evans delivers a speech about the rights of working men. Although Jackson's eventual expansion of the right to vote for all white males increased economic opportunity, he only acted upon it because these people lacked this economic opportunity to begin with. Although equal economic opportunity was evident in many cases, Jacksonians still did not truly uphold the principle of equal economic opportunity because their policies favored the common man.

Jacksonian democrats had many instances in which they did not follow the ideals on which they advocated. Their forced Cherokee removals represented lack of individual liberties and political democracy. The restriction of abolitionist's right to publish anti-slavery articles showed noncompliance with even the fundamental ideals of the Constitution. Lastly, the veto of the rechartering of the Second Bank seemed to promote equal economic opportunity for the poor, but subsequently took away that opportunity for the wealthy. By not adhering to the basic party principles, the Jacksonian democrats and their leader Andrew Jackson give historians a mixed view on their success. 

Chapter 7 and 8 Test: Jefferson Short Responses 10/24/11

1. What does Jefferson deem the essential principles of government?

Jefferson deems the essential principles of government to be "equal and exact justice to all men", regardless of their religious or political preferences. Jefferson also deems "peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations", with no committed relation with any nation to be an essential principle. Jefferson also believes that the "support of the State governments" is crucial, but there should also be a "preservation of (a) general government". Jefferson also deems punishment for those who revolt, agreement with the majority's decision, a "well-disciplined militia", a healthy economy, a timely and thorough payment of debts, and a good way to communicate information to the general public.

2. Jefferson refers to the Constitution several times in his address.

Jefferson refers to the Constitution many times in his address. In the first paragraph, Jefferson says he will always seek advice from the other "high authorities provided by our Constitution". Jefferson also states that everyone should abide by the Constitution in order to unite as a nation "for the common good". Jefferson also mentions the "freedom of religion... of justice", and trial by jury, all of which are part of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution

3. What does this suggest about the way he will interpret it when making decisions?

This suggests that Jefferson will be very strict in following the Constitution in regard to all matters. Ironically, one of the biggest successes in Jefferson's presidency came when he wasn't such a pedantic in following the Constitution; the Louisiana Purchase.

1. Describe Jefferson's administrative issues.

Jefferson had some administrative issues. First, he was quite contradictory in his policies. Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican but continued many policies that were installed by the previous Federalist administrations. Jefferson also supported limits to a decentralized government, yet he gave individual merchants favored legislation. Jefferson also had to deal with problems in the Mediterranean. After reducing the Navy and Army's size, Jefferson had to re-bolster the Navy so it could be prepared to fight a war in the Mediterranean.

2. In what ways did Jefferson implement the new Republican policies? In what ways did he continue Federalist policies?

Jefferson supported an implemented Republican policies by passing legislation helping merchants. This reinforced the Republican ideal of a strictly limited central government. Jefferson continued to support Federalist policies by continuing the national bank and the tariffs. He also sided with a Federalist ideal of going to war with the North African nations. Usually, democratic-republicans dislike war because it costs too much money and expands the powers of the government.

3.The significance of the Marbury v. Madison 1803 was that it led to the "principle of judicial review". Judicial review is crucial to legislation because not only does it balance out the power between the three branches, but it also let's the Supreme Court rule legislation as unconstitutional.

1. Describe the events surrounding the American purchase of Louisiana. How did Jefferson justify the purchase constitutionally?

France needed more money to fight their wars in Europe so they sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States.  Also at the time, Jefferson had been pondering how to catalyze American expansion into the West even though the French were blocking their way. Jefferson had also already been planning a exploration team of the west for some time. Therefore, the Louisiana Purchase seemed like the perfect deal to get all of Jefferson’s goals accomplished. Jefferson used the implied powers clause to justify the purchase.

2. In what ways did the young nation ascertain exactly what it had purchased?

Jefferson sent an expedition team led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Jefferson wanted Lewis and Clark to come back with exquisitely detailed information on the natural environment (geology, river routes to the Pacific),and on the possibility of trade with the Indians. Lewis and Clark did not disappoint, as their “volumes of notes and maps” helped settlers with their travels westward.

3. Describe the events surrounding the Lewis and Clark expedition.

One of the events surrounding the Lewis and Clark Expedition was the First Barbary War, in which Americans fought the Muslim nations of North Africa because of trading and bribery issues. Also, the Burr Conspiracy occurred around this time. Native American relations were also growing tense, as Shawnee leaders, Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa, instigated a cultural renewal of indian traditions and began attacking American settlements on the Western Frontier.

4. Who was Aaron burr and what was his conspiracy? What were the results of his actions?

Aaron Burr was a wealthy New York politician and the vice president of the Jefferson administration. Burr’s public career had been previously ruined by his duel with Alexander Hamilton. Burr voyaged westward where he hatched a plan for invading Florida or Mexico. As a result, upon rumors of this conspiracy, Jefferson ordered Burr to be arrested on the charge of treason. Yet due to the lack of witnesses and the fact that Jefferson refused to hand over “subpoenaed documents”, Burr was exonerated.

5. American expansion resulted in conflict between white American and Indians

The real issues at the heart of the conflict were the cultural value differences of the two entities. Americans saw that the implementation of their values into Indian culture would prove good for the Indians. However, most Indians had no desire to adopt white practices and were content with their own way of life. Some Indian tribes, like the Cherokee, did do some cultural mixing, solely in hope that Americans would favor them more than other Indian tribes.