USA in the Roaring Eighteen Twenties Quiz

Answer: John Quincy Adams

The election of 1820 took place during the Era of Good Feelings, when there was only one functional political party: Democratic-Republican. As a result, the Federalist Party failed to nominate a candidate and James Monroe was reelected with over 80% of the vote and won every state.

However, Monroe failed to earn every electoral vote when an elector from New Hampshire voted for John Quincy Adams in order to prevent Monroe from being elected unanimously.

Answer: Adams-Onis Treaty

The U.S. had already claimed parts of Florida through various means but still did not have eastern Florida. Meanwhile, Spain no longer wanted Florida as it was becoming too expensive to govern from afar. Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. in exchange for Spain receiving favorable trade conditions.

Answer: Monrovia

Monrovia, Liberia was founded by the American Colonization Society as part of a plan to free slaves and send them back to Africa. The plan was not very successful as many of the freed slaves were born in the United States and saw the U.S. as their home, not Africa. Monrovia did see a large influx of freed slaves from the Caribbean, however.

Answer: Central and South America

By 1823, many Central and South American nations had declared their independence from their European rulers. It was also during this time that the United States was looking to extend its sphere of influence in the world and saw the newly free countries in the America as an opportunity to do so.

The Monroe Doctrine has been used by presidents for centuries as justification to become involved in Central or South American affairs. One of the most famous examples of the U.S. exerting its power under the Monroe Doctrine was during the Cold War when the country fought against the spread of Communism in Central America and the Caribbean.

Answer: Corrupt Bargain

The Election of 1824 is one of the most controversial in U.S. history. In a four way race between Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and William Crawford, no one won the necessary amount of electoral votes to win and thus the election was to be decided by the House of Representatives. Andrew Jackson had won the most votes both in the electoral college and in the popular vote.

However, the House elected Adams to the presidency in what Jackson called the corrupt bargain. Clay was the Speaker of the House at the time and Jackson accused him of colluding with Adams in order to be appointed Secretary of State in the Adams administration.

Answer: Erie Canal

The Erie Canal connected the Atlantic Ocean and New York City to the Great Lakes Region. This was essential for the development of New York City's economy and the city soon became a major trade destination as goods could be quickly shipped from either the eastern U.S. or overseas to the Great Lakes Region and beyond. Prior to the Erie Canal, goods had to be transported across New York State via pack mule and other animals.

Answer: West Point Military Academy

The Eggnog Riot began on Christmas Day 1826. West Point had a strict no-alcohol policy but the rules were not strictly enforced for a while until the drinking got out of hand in 1826. The cadets were given nonalcoholic eggnog for Christmas so they smuggled real eggnog into the barracks. The result was a large scale drunken riot that saw dozens court-martialed.

Answer: An African-American

"The Freedom Journal" was founded by Peter Williams and operated by John Russwurm. Its main audience was free blacks in the North. Specifically, it was meant to be read by the recently emancipated slaves in New York. In 1799, New York had passed a law that gradually freed slaves, and all slaves were freed by 1827. "The Freedom Journal" eventually expanded into Canada and Europe.

Answer: Democratic Party

Andrew Jackson and his supporters officially founded the Democratic Party in 1828, though the state of Maryland had a local chapter founded the previous year. It is one of the world's oldest political parties. The party primarily consisted of former Democratic-Republicans who supported the ideas of Thomas Jefferson after the party split.

Answer: Georgia

The Georgia Gold Rush was the largest gold rush at the time, a record which lasted until the 1840s when gold was discovered in California. This was the U.S.'s second gold rush after the one in North Carolina in 1799. The gold was actually discovered in 1828 but it was not publicized until 1829 which set off the rush.

The rush lasted for about a decade until the resources dwindled and prospectors moved west.