Agrarian: One who believes in and supports issues beneficial to agriculture.

Annex: To add on to an existing thing.

Bar: A term that encompasses all certified lawyers—those who have passed all official requirements to be certified as lawyers.

Compromise of 1850: A group of bills that included allowing Texas to enter the Union as a slave state and California as a free state.

Dark horse: A little-known person given a slight chance to win a race or election.

Expansionism: A policy where a nation plans to enlarge its size or possessions.

General assembly: A state congressional system made up only of representatives from districts within that particular state.

Independent Treasury: Several banks that stored the nation's money supply and regulated currency. The treasury had been established in 1840 after the charter for the Second National Bank had been vetoed by President Andrew Jackson. The...