Term
| Why did were the Founders against political parties? |
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Definition
| The Founders experience with political parties mostly derived from the broken relationship of the colonies and the British Crown. For them, political parties represented all the things that were wrong with the British government. Political parties also put the interests of their organization over the welfare of the country as a whole. |
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Term
| In the era of the Founders, individuals took politics extremely seriously, this weighty attitude led to what? |
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Definition
Duels were common in politics because of the built-in conflict between opposing views and the humiliation was very public. Duels were seen as ways to defend one's honor and standing down from a duel was equated to pleading guilty to the mark stamped against you. The principle of dueling was that God would not allow the liar to win.
1. Alexander Hamilton vs. Aaron Burr: Hamilton accused Burr of incest and Burr spread rumors of Hamilton's infidelity. Hamilton was opposed to dueling, but did it anyways. It is thought that Hamilton deliberately missed his shot, he lost and died.
2. Andrew Jackson vs. Charles Dickinson: Dickinson used the name of Andrew's wife in vain (she a hoe fo dat). Jackson was determined to win, Dickinson fired and hit Jackson, and Jackson fired back and won. |
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Term
| What is the standard position on war in the US? |
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Definition
That was is not something Americans relish, but deem as necessary. War brings out the best qualities in a country. Steps to go into war:
1. Government declares war.
2. Young people agree to go to war. |
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Term
| What was revolutionary about the election of 1800? |
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Definition
| It was the first time the opposing party came into power and was voted into office. Federalists agreed to leave the presidency, when it was tempting to simply stay in power. The Constitution was put to the test and this set the pattern for future elections. A smooth transition of power. |
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Term
| Why did Jefferson trust the ordinary man above the wealthy one? |
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Definition
| Most were yeomen farmers and Jefferson believed that independent farmers were critical to the success of the future of American politics. Jefferson feared that if the US became more city-oriented, then employers could sway their employees one way or another by threatening to fire them, but independent farmers did not have employers and were above corruption. |
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Term
| Why did the War of 1812 occur? |
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Definition
Because of the failure of Presidents to protect Americans abroad. James Madison failed to defend American merchant ships trading in the Atlantic.
* This led to impressment. Impressment was the practice of the British Navy; they would stop American vessels and arrest sailors who were "deserters" of the British navy.
- They did this: 1. provoke Americans. 2. Assert British superiority 3. They needed more sailors. |
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Term
| What is a social contract? |
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Definition
| According to John Locke, a social contract is an agreement between the people and their rulers. The people give up certain rights and liberties, in return they receive protection. |
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Term
| Why were the Native Americans involved in the War of 1812? |
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Definition
Native Americans partook in the war because Americans were pushing west and tribes began to side with the British. They believed that since Britain was far away, they were more likely to retain their land.
* Brands Law: Whoever is far away is less threatening. |
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Term
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Definition
| Tecumseh was the Chief of the Shawnee and he envisioned an alliance of dozens of different tribes, but alliance was complicated because of geographic isolation and deep-rooted animosity between tribes. Tecumseh wanted to engage in an ethnic cleansing of whites in the Missy valley. There were Indians who supported Tecumseh's vision, but others feared being exterminated and they sided with the Americans. |
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Term
| Why was democracy a threatening idea? |
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Definition
| Democracy gave ignorant people the idea that they could run government. People allow themselves to be governed, because the government has something that they want due to the social contract. |
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Term
| What changed in the election of Andrew Jackson? |
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Definition
| Before the 1820s, the popular votes were not truly counted, but Jackson was seen as the People's President. This was the first election that popular votes were seen as influential and the president became a representative of the people. |
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Term
| How was suffrage extended to all white males? |
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Definition
| Prior to 1787, only the wealthy and educated, white males were guaranteed a right to vote. This changed because of the West, the new state wanted more people and as an incentive, promised all white males -educated or otherwise- a right to vote. |
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Term
| What were the three issues that Jackson had to deal with? |
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Definition
1. The Indians: Jackson believed that Americans would dominate the land and the Indians must move to land that whites had no use for. --> The Indian Removal Act: Federal government offered money and land to tribes to move West.
2. Nullification Crisis: Congress pass a tariff for the purpose of protecting manufacturers, Southerners believed they did this at their expense.
3. The Bank of the US: The Second bank would be nationally chartered, issue loans and take deposits, and create money.
- Favored by creditors because they had an incentive to aid the bank in maintaining the value of the currency.
- Debtors, westerners, and private banks did not like the BUS.
- Jackson withdrew the government's money from BUS, vetoed the charter that would grant BUS another 20 years of existence.
* A triumph for democracy, but democracy is not good at managing monetary policy. Biddle created a recession and the country went into a depression. |
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Term
| What is the purpose of money? |
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Definition
1. Money is a store value: meaning it does not lose value, theoretically speaking.
2. Means of exchange.
* Money arises when the economy specializes. |
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Term
| What is quantitative easing and how does it hurt/benefit? |
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Definition
| The creation of money, which causes the currency to depreciate. Debtors benefit from depreciation because they don't have to work as hard to pay off the money owe. Creditors are hurt by this, because the money they've been saving is losing value. |
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