CHAPTER SEVEN – THE JEFFERSONIAN ERA
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
THE RISE OF CULTURAL NATIONALISM:
Patterns of Education: Define the principle of the “republican mother”.
Medicine and Science: What societal belief hindered the advancement of medical knowledge?
Cultural Aspirations in the New Nation: Why was a cultural identity so important to early
Americans? Discuss the contributions of Noah Webster and Washington Irving.
Religious Skepticism: To what trend does the textbook seem to attribute the decline in
traditional religious practices?
The Second Great Awakening: Characterize the Second Great Awakening, paying careful
attention to new ideas, groups and regions most involved and affected, and how it differed from
the first Great Awakening.
STIRRINGS OF INDUSTRIALISM:
Technology in America: How did Britain attempt to protect its industrial supremacy? Identify:
Slater’s Mill. What were Eli Whitney’s contributions to early industrialization?
Transportation Innovations: What two main types of transportation evolved during this era
and what was the impact of each?
The Rising Cities: Define a census. What urban culture was developing in the early cities?
JEFFERSON THE PRESIDENT: What attitude did Jefferson bring into office?
The Federal City and the “People’s President”: Characterize both the new capital and its first
executive resident.
Dollars and Ships: What effect did Jefferson have on the nation’s debt and size of the military?
Conflict with the Courts: Describe the details, including the outcome and long-term effects, of
the landmark case Marbury v. Madison. Characterize the early experiences of the Congress in
regards to the impeachment process.
DOUBLING THE NATIONAL DOMAIN: What political shift takes place in France in 1801?
Jefferson and Napoleon: Where does Napoleon hope to establish a new empire? How does
Napoleon acquire this territory? Why is Napoleon’s acquisition a problem for the US? How
does Jefferson attempt to solve this problem? Why does Napoleon agree to the proposed deal?
The Louisiana Purchase: What does the US give France in exchange for the territory? How
does Jefferson justify the authority of this agreement? What short-term and long-term effects
does this agreement have for the US?
Lewis and Clark Explore the West: List the details of each of the two expeditions sent to
explore the new territory of the US.
The Burr Conspiracy: Why are Federalists against territorial expansion and what is their plan
to combat this trend? Discuss the events of the Burr conspiracy.
EXPANSION AND WAR:
Conflict on the Seas: What issue does the US have when attempting to stay neutral through the
Napoleonic Wars? Define the term blockade.
Impressment: What is impressment and why did the British find it a necessary practice? Under
what reasoning did the British stop and search American ships? Describe the events and
outcome of the Chesapeake-Leopard incident.
“Peaceable Coercion”: List and describe the series of trade policies observed by the US during
this period. Pay special attention to the politics involved in each of the trade policies.
The “Indian Problem” and the British: Who is William Henry Harrison? What choice does
Jefferson give Natives in regards to the Northwest Territory? What factor kept Native
Americans from challenging white expansion effectively?
Tecumseh and the Prophet: Describe the beliefs of the Prophet. What did Tecumseh attempt
to accomplish and how did he go about this process? How did Harrison address this issue?
Florida and War Fever: What pro-war aim begins to take root in the American southeast?
What two factions evolve in regards to the clamor for war?
THE WAR OF 1812: How did events in Europe affect the outset of the War of 1812?
Battles with the Tribes: Why might Americans be optimistic or enthusiastic about the prospect
of war with Britain? Describe the events in each of the two “theaters” of the War of 1812.
Battles with the British: What major loss does the US suffer in 1814? What three major
victories does the US achieve during the remainder of the war?
The Revolt of New England: Outline the events of the Hartford Convention.
The Peace Settlement: Outline the provisions of the Treaty of Ghent and the Rush-Bagot
Agreement of 1817.