AP US History Semester I Key Terms Flashcards
Movement of Native Americans into North and South America, perhaps starting around 20,000 years ago
pre-Columbian Migration
Land and ice mass that connecting Alaska to Russia during the last Ice Age
Bering Strait
Huge mammals that pre-Columbian Americans followed to North America
Megafauna
Landed on an island in the Caribbean Sea, making North and South America popularly known to Europeans
Christopher Columbus
The transmittal of plants, animals, humans and diseases from the Old World to the New World
Columbian Exchange
Split North and South America and other newly discovered lands in half, east of the line created by the pope would belong to Portugal, west of the line would belong to Spain. It was an attempt stop Catholic nations from fighting other Catholic nations during the Protestant Reformation
Treaty of Tordesillas
Europeans who brutally killed, raped, and pillaged the Aztec, Inca, and other Native American tribes for European exploitation and enrichment
Conquistadores
A mythical sea passage above North America linking the Atlantic to the Pacific
Northwest Passage
French city founded on the St. Lawrence river in the early 1600s
Quebec
First successful English colony in America
Jamestown
Early leader of the Jamestown colony that enabled it to survive the Starving Time where the colony was nearly wiped out
John Smith
Brought illegal, Spanish tobacco seeds to Jamestown, creating a cash crop and ensuring its survival
John Rolfe
Forced laborers who first arrived in Jamestown in 1619
Slaves
Europeans who traded their labor for a number of years in exchange for paid passage to North America
Indentured Servants
First official governing legislature in English held Colonial America, founded in 1619
Virginia House of Burgesses
Religious group who sought to purify the Church of England of all of its “Catholic” aspects and make it closer to their view of Jesus’ message. Driven out of Europe and settled in North America in the early 1600s
Puritans
First colony in New England founded by Puritans seeking religious freedom
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Document specifically explaining that government in the Puritan Colonies would be representative of the people
Mayflower Compact
Disagreed with some aspects of Puritanical theology and created his own colony which he named Rhode Island, which he bought from Native Americans
Roger Williams
Religious dissenter in Puritan America who said that all that was needed to be saved was extreme faith in God. She was expelled from Massachusetts
Anne Hutchinson
A sermon written by John Winthrop explaining how Puritan America would be a beacon of faith and religiosity that Europe would look at as an example of a Christian Utopia
City Upon A Hill
Mass hysteria resulting in the killing of dozens of young women accused convening with the devil
Salem Witch Trials
Political and military turmoil in England that leads to a Puritan take-over of the English government; as a result, very few Puritan migrate to America during this decade
Glorious Revolution
Held the title of Lord Baltimore, created Maryland as a haven from Catholics feeling religious persecution in England
Cecelius Calvert
Exchange of finished products from Europe to Africa for slaves, slaves to the New World for raw materials, and raw materials to Europe to be turned into finished products
Triangle Trade
Horrible journey of slaves in hulls of ships from Africa to the New World where more than a third of the Africans would be expected to die
Middle Passage
Economic policy where a nation attempts to accumulate gold and silver by producing and selling more goods than a nations buys
Mercantilism
Laws that attempted to force American Colonists to trade only with England, an example of England trying to use the colonies as places to gather raw materials as well as act as a market to buy finished products produced in England
Navigation Acts of 1660 and 1663
Caused because the poor white farmers had been pushed into Indian territory and felt as if the rich, coastal elites were using them as a buffer. Jamestown was burned to the ground and it was the first major revolt in Colonial America
Bacon’s Rebellion
Spiritual movement in the United States that began an evangelical era where people attempted to convert other to new sects of Christianity that often times required some sort of emotional conversion experience where people claimed they felt God’s presence directly
The Great Awakening
Fire and Brimstone Preacher who claimed that we are all Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God and must submit to God’s will entirely or forever be damned to Hell. Said that God would punish whole communities if any of the community members were not Godly enough!
Jonathan Edwards
Preached to tens of thousands in the colonies converting many to Methodism with his unrivaled emotional appeals. He was the most famous man in the American colonies during the Great Awakening
George Whitefield
A religious experience when a person believes he or she literally feels God’s presence, knowledge, acknowledgement, will, peace, etc. This is often a major part of Evangelical Protestantism
Conversion Experience
Violent conflict between England and France over North America land holdings, especially the Ohio River Valley
French and Indian War
Proposed by Ben Franklin to unite the Northeastern American colonies together to defend against French military aggression. It never came to be because the colonies were unwilling to give up autonomy
Albany Plan of Union
This agreement gave England more land in North America, including the Ohio River Valley, and pushed the French further into Northern Canada
Treaty of Paris ending the French and Indian War
Native American uprising due to the encroachment of American colonists into the Ohio River Valley
Pontiac’s Rebellion
Created to restrict white settlement in the Ohio River Valley in order to end Native attacks on English forts, settlers, and colonies
The Proclamation Line of 1763
New English monarch and prime minister who would restrict colonial economic and political freedom
George III and George Grenville
British policy of having economic and political restrictions on the American colonies, but not really enforcing them
Salutary Neglect
The notion that American colonists were represented in the English Parliament even though American colonists could not vote for members of Parliament because Members of Parliament represent all English subjects despite who elects them
Virtual Representation
Organized resistance to British economic and political restrictions, such as boycotts of British goods, and anti-British newspapers
Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty
England’s attempt to limit anti-British feeling, but also attempt to re-state the Supremacy of Parliament and the King over the American Colonies
Stamp Act Congress
Document that was passed throughout the colonies encouraging boycotts
Repeal of the Stamp Act and the Declaratory Act
New economic laws forcing the American colonists to trade almost exclusively with England and the Royal Court Systems to enforce these new laws and taxes
Townshend Acts and Vice Admiralty Courts
Shooting of American colonial civilians by British soldiers after an angry, anti-British mob incited violence against the British soldiers, it became a major cause of the Revolution
Boston Massacre
American colonists refused to pay a tax on tea and dumped thousands of pounds of tea into Boston Harbor, further fueling the fire for revolution
Boston Tea Party
A series of laws and restrictions of the colonists meant to punish them for the Boston Tea Party and other acts of insurrection
Intolerable Acts
Met before the Revolutionary War started in order complain to the British Parliament but to try to maintain peace between American Colonies and the British Government
First Continental Congress
A list of complaints that was written by colonists to the British Parliament outlining what the colonists’ believed should be the relationship of government between the colonies and the British Crown
Declaration of Rights and Grievances
Documents that allowed British soldiers to search any colonial home or business for black market goods at any time. It was hated by colonists and seen as an invasion of privacy
Writs of Assistance
Colonial citizen-soldiers who trained in local communities and were to be ready to fight at a minute’s notice
Minute Men
Famous for being one of the many riders who alarmed minute men that the British were coming to take the guns and powder supplies hidden at the city of Concord, Massachusetts.
Paul Revere
Known as the “shot heard ‘round the world” because it was the first shots heard in the American Revolution. Occurred because the British military was marching to capture a hidden stash of guns and powder the Colonists were hiding
Lexington and Concord
Those loyal to the British Crown and those who wanted to break from England and create a new nation.
Loyalists and Patriots
First battle in the American Revolution that showed the Americans were willing to stand and fight the British even though the battle resulted in a British victory
Bunker Hill
Group of representatives from all the Colonies that met to see how England had responded to the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, they formed the de facto government of the American Revolution
Second Continental Congress
Written by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 in order to try to maintain peace between England and the American Colonies, but it was rejected by England
Olive Branch Petition
Written by Thomas Paine and creates arguments for breaking governmental ties with England, widely read and a major cause of the American Revolution
Common Sense
The Battle that convinced France that it would be worth aiding the United States in its battle for independence from England
Battle of Saratoga
Provided the United States with a navy, military training, supplies, and troops. Allowed the US to win the American Revolution
French Support
Gave the United States its independence, even though England largely ignored many of its provisions
Treaty of Paris Ending the American Revolution
America’s first outline of government which gave too much power to the states and ultimately failed and nearly destroyed the early nation
The Articles of Confederation
Declared that once 50,000 people entered a new territory it could apply for statehood, created a system of land distribution, and declared there would be no slavery in the Northwest Territory (Ohio River Valley)
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Occurred because former Revolutionary War soldiers who had not been paid by the government were having their land taken from them by banks. They felt betrayed by the government and destroyed court houses and disregarded court rulings. It was finally put down by a private army because the US government was too weak to control the uprising
Shays Rebellion
Also known as the Constitutional Convention
The Philadelphia Convention
Declared that states should be represented in the national legislature in two houses; one based on a state’s population, the other based on how much money it contributes to the national government
Virginia Plan
Declared that the national legislature should be composed of two houses, one based on a state’s population, the other where each state is represented equally
New Jersey Plan
Declared that all states should be represented in the national legislature equally so that big states could not take over small states
The Great (Connecticut) Compromise
Known as the Father of the Constitution
James Madison
Allowed Southern states to keep their slaves, but Southern states could only count 60% of their slave population when determining the number of House Representatives to a lot to each state
Three-Fifths Compromise
Those who supported the ratification of the Constitution
Federalists
Those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
List of personal freedoms all citizens enjoy from the Federal Government
Bill of Rights
List of arguments collected together to argue for the ratification of the Constitution
Federalist Papers
A literal interpretation of the Constitution that does not recognize many implied powers
Strict Constructionist
A liberal interpretation of the Constitution that allows many implied powers so that the Federal Government can do things not necessarily in the Constitution
Loose Constructionist
A group of presidential advisors, not mentioned in the Constitution, but created by George Washington
Presidential Cabinet
Created by the “Necessary and Proper Clause” so that Congress can do things not expressly stated in the Constitution; its uses are highly debatable
Washington’s Ideology of Executive Power
Thought the president should only use the veto to block clearly unconstitutional congressional acts
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson
Created by the federal government to stimulate commerce in the United States, even though the Constitution does not give the federal government this power!
The First National Bank
Legislation that allowed American agents to deport non-citizens for essentially any reason and put severe restrictions on the freedom of press when criticizing American government. Seen as highly unconstitutional and illegal abuse of power
Implied Powers
Occurred because farmers felt they were unfairly taxed, the rebellion was put down by Washington himself and showed the power of the federal government under the Constitution
Whiskey Rebellion
Was a treaty that made America look weak as England essentially did not recognize the US as a legitimate nations in this treaty
John Jay’s Treaty
Treaty that strengthened America as Spain gave the US trading and navigation rights on the Mississippi River allowing farmers to get their goods to market and international waters
Pinckney’s Treaty
Warns of getting involved in foreign conflicts, imperialism, and political parties
Washington’s Farewell Address
Published diplomatic negotiation in American newspapers by the president because France demanded a huge bribe to allow American diplomats to talk to French diplomats, caused Americans to resent the French
XYZ Affair
Declared that if a state does not recognize the Constitutionality of a law, it does not have to enforce it. Written by Thomas Jefferson
Kentucky and Virginia Resolves
First peaceful transfer of political power from opposing political groups and a major shift in implementation of American democracy from a loose interpretation of the Constitution to a more strict one
The Revolution of 1800
Jefferson’s Vice President who tried to steal the presidency from him when they tied in the Electoral College, he eventually would go on to kill Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, in a duel
Aaron Burr
Passed so that the President and Vice President are voted for separately to avoid a situation like that of the Election of 1800
Twelfth Amendment
Jefferson’s supporters who had a more strict interpretation of the Constitution
Democratic-Republican Party
Gave the Supreme Court the power of Judicial Review, or the power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
Marbury v. Madison
The US received this from France, doubling the size of the US for 15 million dollars
Louisiana Purchase
Completely cut off America from ALL international trade, forcing the US to start to manufacture goods more than ever
Non-Intercourse Act
Declared that if England would stop harassing American ships we would not trade with France OR if France stopped harassing US ships then America would not trade with England
Macon’s Bill No.2
Major Indian uprising in the Northwest Territory where Indians united together, rejected white ways, and were very successful until their ultimate demise at the hands of the US military
Tecumseh and his Indian alliance
The decisive battle lead by Indiana Governor William Henry Harrison that destroyed Tecumseh’s Indian alliance
Battle of Tippecanoe
Caused largely because England was not recognizing the US as a nation and was impressing US sailors into the British Navy as American ships traded with France, who England was at war with
War of 1812
When Washington DC was burned, including the White House by the British in the War of 1812
Burning of Washington DC
This ended the War of 1812, largely because England and France stopped fighting
Treaty of Ghent
Held by members of the Federalist Party, some called for New England to break from the US because of the US involvement with the War of 1812, it caused the ultimate demise of the Federalist Party
The Hartford Convention
Proposed by Representative Henry Clay to expand American economic power and build new infrastructure to promote commerce
The American System
A Large tax on imports to discourage the purchase of British goods in the US and encourage the purchase of US goods, the South opposed it because they did not produce much and would now have to pay higher prices for goods because American manufacturers could not produce them as cheaply as the British could
The Tariff of 1816
