Period 4: Glossary (College Board AP® US History): Revision Note

Themes in Period 4

• Work, Exchange and Technology (WXT)

• Geography and Environment (GEO)

• Politics and Power (PCE)

• America in the World (WOR)

• American and Regional Culture (ARC)

• Social Structures (SOC)

Contextualizing Period 4

Expansion – The young republic of the United States expanded in size, economy, and political participation

Change – Market growth and reform movements reshaped daily life

The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson

Democratic-Republicans – Jefferson’s party favored limited government and agrarian (relating to agriculture) values

Election of 1800 – Peaceful transfer of power showed the new system could work

Louisiana Purchase – The purchase of French land holdings west of the Mississippi. The U.S. doubled in size under Jefferson

Politics and Regional Interests

Sectional interests – Different regions often wanted different national policies

Nationalism – Pride in the nation grew after early challenges

America on the World Stage

War of 1812 – Conflict with Britain increased nationalism

Monroe Doctrine – The U.S. warned Europe against interfering in the Americas and stated that the U.S. would not interfere with Europe

Market Revolution: Industrialization

Market Revolution – Improved transportation and technology, which created a national economy

Industrialization – Factories and the use of machine production grew quickly

Lowell System – A production system for producing textiles. It employed young, unmarried women who worked in New England textile factories

Transportation Revolution – Roads, canals, and railroads sped up trade and travel

Market Revolution: Society and Culture

Wage labor – More people worked for pay outside the home

Urbanization – Cities expanded as trade and industry grew

Middle class – A growing middle class developed new ideas about family and work

Expanding Democracy

Universal white male suffrage – More white men gained the right to vote

Jacksonian democracy – Politics became more focused on the ‘common man,’ though not for everyone

Jackson and Federal Power

Indian Removal Act – A law that opened land for white settlers and expanded U.S. territory

Trail of Tears – A forced migration of Indigenous (Native) Americans to present-day Oklahoma

Spoils system – Political supporters were rewarded with government jobs

Nullification crisis – Debate over whether states could reject federal laws.

Bank War – Jackson fought the national bank and expanded executive power

The Development of an American Culture

National culture – Writers and artists promoted distinctly American ideas

The Second Great Awakening

Second Great Awakening – A protestant religious revival movement which encouraged moral reform and activism

Individualism – Many Americans celebrated self-reliance and independence

Evangelicalism – The belief in personal conversion and social improvement

An Age of Reform

Abolition – Reformers called for the end of slavery and the enslavement of people

Temperance – Many people wanted to reduce alcohol use among the population

Women’s rights – Reformers pushed for greater equality and legal rights for women

Seneca Falls – The convention that launched a formal women’s rights movement

African Americans in the Early Republic

Free Black communities – Free African Americans built institutions and resisted discrimination

Slave resistance – Enslaved people resisted through culture, everyday acts, and rebellion

The Society of the South in the Early Republic

Cotton gin – A machine used to separate cotton fibers from seeds. This technology made cotton more profitable and expanded slavery

King Cotton – Cotton dominated the Southern economy

Planter elite – A small wealthy class held major social and political power