1825-1836 Trivia Quiz

Answer: John Q. Adams

John Q. Adams was not a very popular president. He was put in office by the U.S. Congress after an inconclusive election. Andrew Jackson got the most votes, but not the majority required by the constitution. Another candidate, Henry Clay, threw his support behind Adams and got him enough votes in the House of Representatives to get him elected. Adams made Clay his Secretary of State in return for his support.

Answer: Southern farmers

The tariff was the highest ever enacted putting a 62% tax on 92% of imported goods. The tariff helped the industries of the North by pushing up the price of imported manufactured goods, but it hurt Southern farmers very badly. The equipment they needed to farm suddenly jumped in price and, due to reduced sales to the U.S., the British bought less cotton from America. Southerners, led by John Calhoun, called it the 'Tariff of Abominations'. Adams became even more disliked when he signed this bill, and Andrew Jackson was able to defeat him in 1828.

Answer: Democratic Party

Those supporting Adams became the National Republican Party and they nominated Adams for a second presidential term. The newly formed Democratic Party nominated Andrew Jackson and were able to defeat Adams.

Answer: The practice of giving government jobs to loyal supporters

When Jackson took office he fired workers that did not support him and gave the jobs to those that did. The term "spoils system" came from the phrase "to the victors go the spoils". Jackson, and others before and after him, thought that winning the election gave his party a mandate to put people from its own party into government jobs.

Answer: Nat Turner

Turner and his followers killed about 60 slave owners and their families in Virginia. After the revolt Turner and 55 others were hanged for their role (or suspected role) in the revolt. Later, well more than 100 innocent slaves were beaten, tortured or killed by slave owners fearful of a second revolt.

Thomas Gray was Turner's lawyer and published "The Confessions of Nat Turner" based on his own research and conversations with Nat Turner.

William Styron published the novel, "The Confessions of Nat Turner" and won the Pulitzer Prize for it in 1968.

Charles Burnett released the film, "Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property" in 2003.

Answer: The Ordinance of Nullification

South Carolina believed that each state should be able to declare federal laws nullified. They even talked of withdrawal from the union. Andrew Jackson, a strong supporter of States' Rights, refused to accept their ordinance of nullification and insisted that the union must be maintained. Military forces were deployed and a confrontation looked likely, but a compromise on the tariff problem ended the crisis.

Answer: The Trail of Tears

Very few Native Americans remained East of the Mississippi after the forced move. A few Seminoles remained in Florida and the Sauk and Fox Indians remained in the Northwest Territory.

Answer: Independence from Mexico

The U.S. had offered to buy Texas twice from Mexico, but the offer was turned down both times. Mexico encouraged Americans to move into Texas, but wanted them to obey Mexican law. By 1825 around 20,000 Americans were living in Texas.

Answer: The first President of Texas

After suffering terrible defeats at both the Alamo and Goliad the Texan army was able to win ultimate victory over Mexico became the independent Republic of Texas in 1836.

Answer: The Whig Party

The Whigs ran three candidates against Van Buren in 1836, but Van Buren was still able to win 170 electoral votes while they had a combined total of 113 votes. Van Buren promised to continue Jackson's policies and was elected largely because of Jackson popularity and endorsement.