HistoryMidtermKeyTermsDunbar Flashcards
from Mr. Tier's Quizlet group, created by Mrs. Dunbar
archaeology
study of ancient peoples
artifact
item left behind by early people that represents their culture
Beringia
land bridge connecting Asia and Alaska that was exposed during the last Ice Age; crossed by first Americans
hunter-gatherer
people who hunted animals and gathered wild plants to survive
nomad
people who move from place to place
migration
movement of a large number of people into a new homeland
agriculture
farming; resulted in more permanent settlements
Agricultural Revolution
shift from hunting & gathering to farming; increase in food led to an increase in population
Olmec
known as the earliest civilization in Central America
Maya
known for knowledge of math & astronomy; used hieroglyphics & 365 day calendar
theocracy
society ruled by religious leaders
hieroglyphics
form of writing using pictures & symbols
Aztecs
known for waging war to gain captives for human sacrifice
Inca
largest early American civilization; built 10,000 miles of roads, had a powerful army, & cut terraces in steep slopes to farm
Inuit
people who settled in the northernmost part of North America, in lands around the Arctic Ocean
igloo
low-lying structure of snow blocks; home of Inuit
pueblos
villages; apartment-like buildings made of stone & sun-dried earth called adobe
tepee
cone-shaped skin tent that could be moved from place to place
Marco Polo
wrote about his trip to China in his book, Travels, which 200 years later inspired Columbus to find a new sea route to Asia
astrolabe
used by sailors to determine latitude by measuring the position of the stars
compass
used by sailors to determine their direction; magnetized needle that points north-south
caravel
maneuverable Portuguese ship that was fast
Ferdinand & Isabella
King & Queen of Spain, needed a way to Asia since Italy controlled the east-west route & Portugal controlled the south-east route; desired to spread Christianity & search for gold; funded Columbus
1492
year Ferdinand & Isabella expelled the Muslims from Spain, thus allowing them to fund Columbus; year Columbus set sail for Asia; year Columbus unknowingly reached the Americas
Christopher Columbus
Italian sea captain who wanted to discover a new route to Asia; miscalculated/underestimated the size of the earth; set sail in 1492; landed on an island of the present-day Bahamas; believed he reached “the Indies,” or Asia, so called the natives “Indians”
Nina, Pinta, & Santa Maria
Columbus’s ships
Hernan Cortes
Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec capital with less than 600 men (1519-1521)
encomienda
system of rewarding conquistadors with tracts of land & the right to tax & demand labor from Native Americans living on the land
Francisco Pizarro
Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incan empire
mercantilism
economic theory that a nation’s power is based on its wealth; belief that a nation gains wealth by accumulating gold & silver & by maintaining a favorable balance of trade
favorable balance of trade
when a nation exports more than it imports
Northwest Passage
direct water route to Asia through North America sought by European explorers, but that did not exist
Columbian Exchange
exchange of food, animals, goods, & disease across the Atlantic Ocean & between the Americas, Europe, Asia, & Africa
Sir Francis Drake
English adventurer who was honored by Queen Elizabeth after he attacked Spanish ships & ports
Spanish Armada
Spain’s fleet of warships that was defeated by England; its defeat marked the end of Spanish control of the seas
Jamestown, Virginia
First permanent English settlement in North America
Puritans
Protestants who wanted to reform the Church of England (a.k.a. Anglican Church) of all Catholic rituals & traditions
Separatists
Protestants who wanted to leave the Church of England (a.k.a. Anglican Church) & set up their own churches
Pilgrims
Separatists, including 35 men, women, & children, who initially fled to the Netherlands to escape religious persecution in England, but found little work; sailed on the Mayflower & settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts
Mayflower
ship Pilgrims sailed on to reach Plymouth, Massachusetts
Mayflower Compact
a formal document, written in 1620 aboard the Mayflower, that provided law & order to Plymouth colony; a necessary step in the development of representative government in the new colonies
William Penn
a wealthy English Quaker who received land as payment for a debt that King Charles II owed to Penn’s father, Admiral William Penn; Founded Pennsylvania in 1681 as a safe-haven for Quakers & as a “Holy Experiment”
Quakers
Protestants; a.k.a. Society of Friends; guided by their own “Inner Light”; against rank & outward show; believed in religious toleration, equality, & freedom
pacifist
people against force, violence, & war
indentured servant
laborer who agreed to work without pay for a certain period of time in exchange for passage to America
John Smith
founder of Jamestown who forced the settlers to work, explored the area, and sought corn from the Native Americans
colony
a group of people who settle far from home but who remain connected to the parent country
Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion
rebellion by a young planter in western Virginia against the colonial government who agreed to prevent colonists from settling on Native American land; showed that settlers would not be limited to the coast and opened up more land for settlement
subsistence farming
farming that produces just enough to feed one’s family
triangular trade
trade between Britain, Africa, & American colonies that formed a triangle to benefit Britain
Middle Passage
part of the Triangular Trade when enslaved Africans were shipped to the Americas
cash crop
farm crop raised to be sold for money
import
buy from abroad (bring in)
Enlightenment
began in Europe & based on the idea that knowledge, reason, & science could improve society; influenced colonists in the mid-1700s & led to an increased interest in science
Benjamin Franklin
best-known American scientist of the Enlightenment
George Washington
Virginian land surveyor made lieutenant colonel sent to tell the French to leave the Ohio River Valley; defeated by the French at Fort Necessity
Albany Plan of Union
Ben Franklin’s plan for a united colonial government against the French; turned down by the colonies because no colony was willing to give up any of its power
French & Indian War
war fought between Britain and France for control of the Ohio River Valley; spread to Europe as the Seven Years’ War
Ohio River Valley
present-day Pittsburgh; an important center for trade and land investors
Treaty of Paris (1763)
(1763) ended the French and Indian War and forced France to give Canada and most of its lands east of the Mississippi River to Britain
Pontiac’s War
1763 rebellion led by Chief Pontiac against the settlers along the PA and VA frontiers; ended in Pontiac’s defeat, but led to Proclamation of 1763
Proclamation of 1763
reserved land west of the Appalachians for Native Americans and forbade white settlement there; angered colonists who wanted to expand westward
Reasons for the Proclamation of 1763
To avoid conflict with Native Americans on the frontier; to keep the colonists near the east coast for trading; to allow Britain to control the fur trade in the frontier
Problem with winning the French and Indian War
Britain was left with a huge debt from the French and Indian War and needed revenue to pay off the debt. Britain issued new taxes on the colonies to pay off this debt.
Writs of Assistance
Legal documents allowing customs officers to enter any location to search for smuggled goods (similar to search warrants)
Reason for the Writs of Assistance
Colonial merchants were smuggling goods to avoid paying high prices and taxes to Britain.
No Taxation Without Representation
Parliament taxed colonists without their consent or representation in Parliament
Stamp Act
Tax on almost all printed material including newspapers, wills, playing cards. All printed material had to have an official stamp on it once the tax was paid.
Colonial Reaction to Stamp Act
Colonists opposed because Parliament interfered in colonial affairs with a direct tax and it taxed colonists without their consent
Sons of Liberty
Groups that formed in the colonies to protest the acts passed by Parliament. Burned effigies and destroyed houses of royal officials.
Nonimportation agreements
Pledges signed by colonial merchants stating they would not buy or use goods imported from Britain. Hurt the British merchants because they were losing business.
Townshend Acts
Set of laws passed by Parliament applying tax to imported goods such as glass, tea, and paper with the tax being paid at the port of entry.
Boston Massacre
Fight between Bostonians and British soldiers in front of the customhouse (where British taxes were collected) due to the increasing tension between colonists and opposition to the laws passed on them by Parliament.
Result of the Boston Massacre
5 colonists were shot and killed. The event was used as propaganda to rally opposition to the British presence in Boston and the colonies.
Propaganda
Information used to influence public opinion. Ex. Paul Revere’s Patriot engraving of the Boston Massacre showing troops firing on an orderly crowd.
Tea Act
Law allowing the British East Indian Company to have sole control, a monopoly, of the trade for tea in America. Let the company sell tea directly to shopkeepers and bypass colonial merchants who normally distributed the tea.
Resistance to the Tea Act
Colonists forced ships carrying tea to turn back to England at several colonial ports like New York and Philadelphia. At Boston, the ships stayed resulting in the Boston Tea Party.
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Sons of Liberty organized the event to protest the Tea Act. Men disguised as Native Americans boarded three ships carrying tea from Britain and threw 342 chests overboard into Boston Harbor.
Intolerable Acts
Also known as the Coercive Acts. Harsh laws passed by Parliament intended to punish the people of Massachusetts for their resistance to British law and isolate Boston. Closed Boston Harbor until the Massachusetts colonists paid for the ruined tea. Banned most town meetings in New England. Forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers in their own homes.
Colonial response to the Intolerable Acts
Colonists believed the acts violated their rights as British citizens and the other colonies sent food and clothing to support Boston.
Coercive Acts
Also known as the Intolerable Acts. Harsh laws passed by Parliament intended to punish the people of Massachusetts for their resistance to British law and isolate Boston. Closed Boston Harbor until the Massachusetts colonists paid for the ruined tea. Banned most town meetings in New England. Forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers in their own homes.
First Continental Congress
Meeting of 55 delegates from all colonies (except Georgia) in Philadelphia to establish a political body to represent American interests and challenge British control. Drafted a statement calling for the repeal of 13 acts of Parliament believing the laws violated the principles of English constitution and their rights as British citizens. Voted to boycott British trade all together. Also asked the colonists to arm themselves against the British.
Lexington, Massachusetts
Location where the British troops met 70 minutemen who were alerted by Revere and Dawes. A shot was fired and after an exchange of bullets, 8 minutemen lay dead.
Concord, Massachusetts
Location where a colonial arsenal of weapons was located. The weapons were moved before the British arrived. Shots were exchanged at Concord’s North Bridge to trigger the British retreat back to Boston.
British retreat back to Boston
Colonial militia lined the road from Concord to Boston, MA. As the British marched down the road, the militia fired and the British troops suffered over 200 casualties.
Shot heard ‘round the world
First shot fired of the Revolutionary War at Lexington, MA. It is unknown which side fired the first shot.
Loyalists
Colonists who chose to remain loyal to Britain because they did not consider unfair taxes and regulations good reasons for rebellion.
Patriots
Colonists who supported the war for independence believing the British rule was unbearable.
Second Continental Congress
Meeting of delegates from the colonies in Philadelphia who began to govern the colonies. Authorized the printing of money, set up a post office, established committees to communicate with Native Americans and other countries, and created the Continental Army.
Thomas Jefferson
Representative from Virginia to the 2nd Continental Congress. Main author of the Declaration of Independence using the idea that people were born with certain natural rights.
Continental Army
Created by the 2nd Continental Congress to fight against Britain in a more organized way than colonial militias could.
George Washington
Chosen unanimously by the 2nd Continental Congress to become the commander of the Continental Army.
Common Sense
Written by Thomas Paine; called for complete independence
Declaration of Independence
Document drafted by a committee of 5 members of the 2nd Continental Congress. Stated the colonists’ rights as citizens, problems with British rule over the colonies and that they were now a separate nation.
07/04/76
Date the Declaration of Independence was approved by the 2nd Continental Congress.
Preamble
Introduction to the Declaration of Independence stating that people who wish to form a new country should explain why.
Declaration of Rights
Part of the Declaration of Independence stating the rights the colonists believed they should have.
Grievances against the King and Parliament
Part of the Declaration of Independence stating the complaints the colonists have against Britain such as imposing taxes on the colonists without their consent.
Resolution of Independence
Part of the Declaration of Independence proclaiming the existence of the United States of America as a new nation.
Patriot advantages
fought on their own ground; fought for the freedom of their own land unlike the mercenaries who Britain hired to fight; leader George Washington
Patriot disadvantages
lacked a regular army and strong navy; inexperienced soldier; lacked weapons and ammunitio;
British/Loyalist advantages
strongest navy in the world; experienced; well-trained army; wealth; larger population
British/Loyalist disadvantages
waged war in a faraway land; forced to ship soldiers and supplies thousands of miles across the Atlanti
African Americans in the war & join to fight
At the start of war, some slaves sided with Loyalists who promised freedom. At first, free African Americans were not allowed to fight, but after Congress lifted the ban, African Americans fought because they believed in the Patriot cause, needed money, or ran away from slave holders.
British relationship with Native Americans
allies in the west; Natives sided with the British because the British seemed less of a threat than the Americans
Battle of Saratoga
important victory for the Americans early on, helped convince the French to give aid to America
Battle of Trenton
the “silent Christmas crossing” when Washington’s troops suprised the British in New Jersey and won a much needed victory to help keep support for the war
Valley Forge
encampment where Continental Army got much needed training and learned to fight like a professional army though they experienced a lot of hardship
Friedrich von Stueben
army officer who trained and drilled the Continental Army; wrote a training manual for the Army
inflation
economic situation where it takes more money to buy the same amount of goods
blockade
preventing ships from exiting or entering ports
General Charles Cornwallis
British General in the South; captured Charles Town, but ultimatley surrendured at Yorktown giving victory to the United States
guerilla warfare
hit-and-run technique of war
Battle of Yorktown
final battle of the war; Americans won with the assistance of the French navy
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Great Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation, British promised to withdraw troops, gave America territory up to the Mississippi River; America promised to repay war debts
British turn their attention to the South
strategy to use support of Loyalists and British sea power to win; initially the plan worked, but later failed
Articles of Confederation
America’s first constitution that created a weak central government and strong state governments
weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
difficulty raising money/ couldn’t tax; difficulty passing laws/ states didn’t agree; difficulty protecting the nation/ couldn’t build an army
Constitutional Convention
1787 meeting held in Philadelphia to rewrite the Articles of Confederation to include a stronger central government, but ended in the writing of a new Constititution
Great Compromise
Between large population states and small population states; each state would get equal representation in the Upper House (Senate) AND representation based on population in the Lower House (House of Representatives)
Three-Fifths Compromise
Between North and South; three-fifths of the slave population (three out of every five slaves) would count in determining a state’s representation
Commece/ Slave Trade Compromise
Between North and South; Central government controls trade (N); No export tariffs (S); Import tariffs okay (N); No slaves imported after 1807 (N & S); Slaveholders could pursue runaway slaves across state lines (S)
Federalism
sharing of power between federal (central) and state governments
separation of powers
powers within the federal government are divided into three branches and each branch as a separate job; prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful
Legislative Branch
(a.k.a. Congress); includes the House of Representatives and the Senate; main job is to make laws
Executive Branch
headed by the President, and includes the Vice President; main job is to make sure the laws are followed
Judicial Branch
includes the Supreme Court and lower federal courts; main job is to explain and interpret the law
checks and balances
each branch of the federal government checks what the other branches are doing so that no one branch has more power than the others
veto
the president can reject a law passed by Congress
override
Congress can overrule a presidential veto with a two-thirds (2/3) vote
impeachment
Congress can accuse the president of a crime
Judicial Review
power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional
Federalists
favored approval of the Constitution; wanted a strong national government
Antifederalists
did not approve the Constitution; feared a strong national government so favored strong state governments
Bill of Rights
first 10 amendments to the Constitution added in 1791 to protect the rights of American citizens and to limit the power of the federal government
