Summary
This time period marked an expansion of traditional American values established early on. One was the expansion westward and continuing of the American dream of opportunities. They continued their pursuit of Native Americans and continued their want to remove European presence. Another was the expansion of democratic ideals under Jacksonian Democracy and pushes for equalities by women and abolitionists. These pushes for equality were founded on a callback to colonial Christian values in what is called the Second Great Awakening. As these expansions occurred, an original American culture starts developing. Besides these reinvigorations of traditions, America experienced a wave of industrialization and economic growth known as the Market Revolution. With it, new gender roles were set and the North, West, and South developed distinct regional economies. However, these differences in regional economics proved difficult to merge politically. During this time, American politics continued down a path of sectionalism and rigid voting patterns. At the end of this time period, growing westward expansion intensifies calls for greater democracies, expansion of equalities, growing regional economic specification, and sectional politics.
Key Concepts
- 4.1 - The United States began to develop a modern democracy and celebrated a new national culture, while Americans sought to define the nation's democratic ideals and change their society and institutions to match them.
- 4.2 - Innovations in technology, agriculture, and commerce powerfully accelerated the American economy, precipitating profound changes to U.S. society and to national and regional identities.
- 4.3 - The U.S. interest in increasing foreign trade and expanding its national borders shaped the nation's foreign policy and spurred government and private initiatives.
Big Events
- Market Revolution
- Nullification Crisis of 1832
- War of 1812
- The Second Great Awakening
Big Players
- Thomas Jefferson
- Henry Clay
- Andrew Jackson
- John C. Calhoun
- James Madison
- William Lloyd Garrison
- Frederick Douglass
- Susan B. Anthony
Key Terms
- "Corrupt Bargain"
- Missouri Compromise
- Declaration of Sentiments
- Erie Canal
- American System
- Caucus
- Monroe Doctrine
- Transcendentalism
- Romanticism
- Whig Party
- Democratic Party
- Nat Turner's Rebellion
- "Cotton Kingdom"
- Know-Nothing Party
- "Cult of Domesticity"
- Trail of Tears
- Marbury vs Madison / Judicial Review