Glossary
36°30′ parallel
The geographical line established by the Missouri Compromise, north of which slavery was prohibited in the remaining Louisiana Purchase territory.
Example:
The 36°30′ parallel became a crucial dividing line, symbolizing the uneasy balance between free and slave states in the expanding nation.
Aaron Burr
A former Vice President under Thomas Jefferson, known for his duel with Alexander Hamilton and later for his alleged conspiracy to create an independent state in the American West.
Example:
Aaron Burr's controversial career, including his treason trial, underscored the volatile political landscape of the early republic.
Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)
A significant conflict in which U.S. forces led by William Henry Harrison defeated Tecumseh's Confederacy, weakening Native American resistance in the Old Northwest.
Example:
The Battle of Tippecanoe elevated William Henry Harrison to national prominence and further fueled tensions that contributed to the War of 1812.
Burr Conspiracy
An alleged plot by former Vice President Aaron Burr to establish an independent nation in the American West or invade Spanish territory, leading to his trial for treason.
Example:
The Burr Conspiracy demonstrated the federal government's concern over internal threats to national stability and westward expansion.
Essex Junto
A group of radical Federalists from New England who, feeling their political influence decline, plotted to secede from the Union in the early 19th century.
Example:
The Essex Junto's extreme proposals for a 'Northern Confederacy' highlighted the early fragility of national unity in the young United States.
Federal Funding for Internal Improvements
Government investment in infrastructure projects like roads, canals, and bridges, intended to facilitate trade, communication, and westward expansion.
Example:
Advocates for Federal Funding for Internal Improvements believed that a robust transportation network was essential for national economic integration and defense.
First Seminole War (1817-1818)
A conflict in which U.S. forces, led by Andrew Jackson, invaded Spanish Florida to address Seminole raids and runaway slave issues, contributing to Spain's eventual cession of Florida.
Example:
Andrew Jackson's aggressive actions during the First Seminole War demonstrated America's growing assertiveness in its borderlands.
Hartford Convention (1814)
A secret meeting of Federalist delegates from New England during the War of 1812, where they discussed grievances and proposed constitutional amendments to protect their regional interests.
Example:
The Federalist Party's opposition to the War of 1812 culminated in the Hartford Convention, which ultimately led to their political demise when the war ended favorably.
Henry Clay's American System
A comprehensive economic plan proposed by Henry Clay, aiming to make the United States economically self-sufficient through a national bank, protective tariffs, and federally funded internal improvements.
Example:
Henry Clay's American System sought to foster national unity and economic growth by connecting different regions through infrastructure and promoting domestic industry.
Missouri Compromise (1820)
A legislative agreement that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while prohibiting slavery in the Louisiana Purchase territory north of the 36°30′ parallel.
Example:
The Missouri Compromise temporarily defused the growing sectional tensions over slavery but highlighted the deep divisions that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
Panic of 1819
The first major financial crisis in the United States, caused by over-speculation in land, declining agricultural prices, and irresponsible banking practices, leading to widespread bankruptcies and unemployment.
Example:
The Panic of 1819 exposed the vulnerabilities of the young American economy and led to increased public distrust of banks.
Protective Tariffs
Taxes on imported goods designed to raise their prices, thereby making domestic products more competitive and encouraging the growth of American manufacturing.
Example:
The Tariff of 1816, an example of protective tariffs, aimed to shield nascent American industries from cheaper British goods after the War of 1812.
Rechartering of the Bank of the US (Second Bank of the US)
The establishment of the Second Bank of the United States in 1816, intended to stabilize the nation's currency, regulate state banks, and provide credit for economic development.
Example:
The Rechartering of the Bank of the US was a key component of the American System, designed to bring order to the nation's financial system after the War of 1812.
Tallmadge Amendment
A proposed amendment to the Missouri statehood bill that would have prohibited the further introduction of slaves into Missouri and emancipated all slave children born there at age 25.
Example:
Though it failed, the Tallmadge Amendment sparked intense debate over the future of slavery and foreshadowed the sectional conflict that the Missouri Compromise sought to avoid.
Tecumseh
A Shawnee chief and brilliant military leader who attempted to unite various Native American tribes into a confederacy to resist American westward expansion.
Example:
Tecumseh's vision of a pan-Indian alliance posed a significant challenge to U.S. authority in the Old Northwest.
Tecumseh's Confederacy
An alliance of Native American tribes, primarily in the Old Northwest, organized by Tecumseh to collectively resist American territorial expansion and cultural assimilation.
Example:
Tecumseh's Confederacy represented a powerful, unified front against American encroachment, aiming to preserve Native American lands and sovereignty.
Tecumseh's War (1811-1813)
A series of conflicts between the United States and Native American tribes, primarily led by Tecumseh, in the Old Northwest, often seen as a precursor to the War of 1812.
Example:
Tecumseh's War highlighted the ongoing struggle over land and sovereignty between American settlers and Native American nations.
Tenskwatawa (The Prophet)
A Shawnee religious leader and brother of Tecumseh, who advocated for a return to traditional Native American ways and resistance to American cultural influence and goods.
Example:
Tenskwatawa's spiritual revival movement inspired many Native Americans to reject assimilation and unite against encroaching American settlers.