John Adams, our first vice president called the job, Athe most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived.@ The United States is virtually the only country that allows the vice president to complete any unexpired term of office for the president; most other countries allow the vice president to serve as a caretaker until an election can be called. Many unkind things have been said about the office beginning with Adams. A number of vice presidents have noted that their job consisted of attending the funerals of foreign leaders and sitting around waiting for the American president to die in office. An Irish American newspaperman called it the lowest gift of the American people, noting that while you could not be sent to jail for being vice president, it was kind of a disgrace. Franklin Roosevelt=s first vice president, John Nance Garner, said the job Awasn=t worth a bucket of warm spit.@

The vice presidency has not proven to be the natural lead in to the presidency. Prior to George Bush=s election to the presidency in 1988, the last vice president to be elected directly to the White House was Martin van Buren in 1836. Though our first and second vice presidents, Adams and Jefferson, eventually became president, the natural job that led to the presidency probably was Secretary of State, a job which was held by later presidents Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams and Martin van Buren. This pattern of success later ceased, since the last president who had previously served as Secretary of State was James Buchanon, elected to the White House in 1856.

Articles of Confederation - The first American constitution, passed and accepted by the thirteen states in 1781.  Replaced by the current U.S. Constitution in 1787
The Northwest Ordinance - Legislation passed by the Confederation Congress in 1787 which prescribed the method by which the 'Old Northwest' Territory would eventually change to states.  Also outlawed Slavery in the Northwest Territory.
The Land Ordinance of 1785
Separation of church and state
Unicameral Legislature - a one house legislative, such as the Confederation Congress. (The current Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and is a two house, or bicameral, legislature
The Old Northwest
The Constitutional Convention
Framers - those individuals in attendance at the 1787 Constitutional Convention
James Madison and Alexander Hamilton
Federalists (supporters of the new Constitution) versus Anti-Federalists (Opponents of the new Constitution) - the two opposing sides in the Ratification Battle over the 1787 Constitution.
The Federalist Papers - a series of published articles written in support oft he 1787 Constitution
The Bill of Rights - the first ten amendments to the 1787 Constitution
separation of powers and checks and balances
ex post facto
Bill of Attainder
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
The Great (Connecticut or Sherman) Compromise
Electoral College  
Hamiltonians (Federalists) v. Madisonians (Jeffersonian-Republicans)
Hamilton's Fiscal Polices - called for 1)assumption of state debts; 2) creation of the First Bank of the United States; and, 3)funding the national debt
Shay=s Rebellion
Election of 1796
Washington=s Farewell Address
Alien and Sedition Acts
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions - resolutions passed by the legislatures of these two states which opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts, and suggested that all states had a right to oppose unfair Federal legislation by refusing to enforce federal law within their state boundaries, in effect, nullifying Federal law (know as Theory of Nullification).
XYZ Affair

What were the arguments in favor of the new Constitution?

What were the arguments opposing ratification of the new Constitution?

Who is known as the AFather of the Constitution?@

Describe the plans of Alexander Hamilton to solve the nation=s financial problems.

What were the two major themes of George Washington=s Farewell Address?

Why did partisan politics rise up during Washington=s presidency?

What are the theories of state=s rights and nullification?

What is the difference between a loose and strict interpretation (construction) of the Constitution?

AIf we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.@-Thomas Jefferson

Election of 1800 Aaron Burr The Revolution of 1800 Embargo Act Non-intercourse Act Macon=s Bill #2 Louisiana Purchase Emperor Napoleon I Impressment of Sailors Maritime Rights Rights of neutrals in wartime Marbury v. Madison

What was the Revolution of 1800?

What is judicial review?

Noble E. Cunningham, Jr., In Pursuit of Reason: the Life of Thomas Jefferson.

The War of 1812 represented a risky undertaking by the United States, considering the nation entered the war unprepared militarily of financially, and was not united politically. The war is sometimes referred to as the Second American Revolution because the U.S. tried to rid itself of foreign interference in American trade with Europe. Europe had been at war since 1792, trying to stem the tide of the French Revolution of 1789. With Napoleon on the verge of controlling the continent, Britain regularly interfered with neutral traders, including the U.S. France did the same. The U.S. had hoped that Britain would be unable to effectively deal with American military force because of fighting in Europe. Once war ended in 1814, however, the British could tend to the Americans full time. At the same time, since war was over in Europe, interference with American trade ceased because France and Napoleon had been defeated. Negotiators then began in earnest to end a war which neither side wanted in the first place.

Status Quo Ante Bellum - the grounds of the peace settlement between Britain and the U.S. in December, 1814, which ended the War of 1812, via the Treaty of Ghent.  Both sides agreed to end the fighting, and return to the status which existed prior to the war's start.  No agreements were reached on the grievances which had precipitated the war in 1812, such as guarantees of maritime rights.
War Hawks - Young congressmen elected to the House of Representatives in 1810 who demanded that President Madison stop interference with American trade, even if war were to result.  Best know of the War Hawks were John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay.
Battle of New Orleans - most recognized battle of the War of 1812 which, ironically took place after the Treaty of Ghent which ended the war.  This huge American victory gave instant fame to General Andrew Jackson, later the 7th president.
Hartford Convention - Federalist political convention held in 1814 in Hartford, Connecticut, in the heartland of opposition to the War of 1812.  Federalists discussed the possibility of New England's secession from the United States. Led to the eventual death of the Federalist Party

The Hartford Convention The Battle of New Orleans General Andrew Jackson The Treaty Of Ghent status quo ante bellum Battle of Fort McHenry The War Hawks Henry Clay

What were the reasons why the United States and Britain went to war in 1812?

What is the meaning of the term status quo ante bellum?

Who were the War Hawks and why did they want war with Britain?

Who defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans?

Missouri Compromise - Political compromise achieved by Henry Clay which allowed for: 1)Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state; 2)Maine to separate from Massachusetts and enter the Union as a free state, and 3)restrict slavery to the southern portion of the Louisiana Territory.  Slavery, while still a political question, has begun to emerge as a central question in the future of the nation, and the compromise led to a famous comment by former President Thomas Jefferson: "Like a firebell in the night, it awakened and filled me with terror."
American System - Proposal of Henry Clay to tie the nation's sections (North, South, and West) together as one nation.  Plan called for Internal Improvements, a new higher rate Protective Tariff, and the chartering of a new national bank of the United States (2d BUS).
McCullough v Maryland (1819) - Supreme Court case which ruled that Maryland could not prevent the 2d BUS from operation within Maryland's borders.  Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that "implied" powers did exist in the Constitution.
Corrupt Bargain - Deal between Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams, whereby Clay supported Adams' for the presidency after 1824 election in return for Adams' nomination of Clay for Secretary of State.
Rush-Bagot (1817), Convention of 1818, and Adams-Onis (1819) - Treaties which made border adjustments concerning the United States

TERMS TO KNOW

Monroe Doctrine Adams-Onis Treaty Convention of 1818 Missouri Compromise Election of 1824 The American System Protective Tariff/infant industry

What was the Acorrupt bargain?@

What famous Kentuckian developed the American System?