Key Terms

Question 1

Exchange of plants animals and diseases between Europe in the New World following the discovery of America in 1492

Answer 1

Columbian Exchange

Question 2

The economic philosophy guiding Great Britain and the 17th and 18th centuries, due to colonies as existing only to benefit the mother country.

Answer 2

Mercantilism

Question 3

Established by the Puritans to ease requirements for church membership and retain control

Answer 3

Halfway covenant

Question 4

An 18th-century philosophy stressing that reason could be used to improve the human condition in that the natural world provided models for human institutions

Answer 4

Enlightenment

Question 5

A wave of religious revivals that spread across the American colonies during the 1730s and 1740s as the power of the Puritans waned

Answer 5

The first great awakening

Question 6

The committee responsible for correcting the weaknesses in the articles of the confederation by creating a strong central government that shared powers with the states

Answer 6

Constitutional convention

Question 7

The division of power among the legislative judicial and executive branches of government

Answer 7

Separation of powers

Question 8

A system in which each branch of government can check the power of the other branches

Answer 8

Checks and balances

Question 9

Hamilton sought to create a sound financial footing for the new Republic by assuming state debts, creating a national Bank, and imposing tariffs to protect home industries

Answer 9

Hamilton’s financial plans

Question 10

The Supreme Court can strike down an act of Congress by declaring it unconstitutional; established in the case of Marbury v. Madison

Answer 10

Judicial review

Question 11

A set of proposals designed to unify the nation and strengthen its economy by means of protective tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements such as canals in new roads-proposed by Henry Clay

Answer 11

American system

Question 12

The idealization of women in their roles as wives and mothers

Answer 12

Republican motherhood/cult of domesticity

Question 13

A philosophical and literary movement of the 1800s that emphasized living a simple life and celebrating the truth found in nature and in personal emotion and imagination

Answer 13

Transcendentalism

Question 14

A number of small, self-sufficient communities developed in the 19 century in an attempt to achieve perfection

Answer 14

Utopian Communities

Question 15

A wave of religious enthusiasm that spread across America between 1800 and 1830

Answer 15

The second great awakening

Question 16

A set of political beliefs associated with Andrew Jackson and his followers; included respect for the abilities and aspirations of the common man, expansion of white male suffrage, appointment of political supporters to government positions, and opposition to privileged eastern elites

Answer 16

Jacksonian democracy

Question 17

A legal theory that a state in United States has the right to nullify or invalidate any federal laws that the state deems unconstitutional

Answer 17

Nullification

Question 18

The 19th century believe that the United States had an obligation to expand westward to the Pacific ocean; it was their God-given right

Answer 18

Manifest destiny

Question 19

The principles that the settlers of a given territory have the sole right to decide whether slavery will be permitted there

Answer 19

Popular sovereignty

Question 20

A reorganization of the governments of the southern States after the Civil War in order to allow them to reenter the union

Answer 20

Reconstruction

Question 21

A 19th-century reform movement based on the belief that Christians have a responsibility to confront social problems such as poverty actively

Answer 21

Social Gospel

Question 22

The believe that the wealthy were the guardians of society and, as such, had a duty to serve and lead society in humane ways

Answer 22

Gospel of wealth

Question 23

The belief that in society, as in nature, a natural evolutionary process occurs with the fittest surviving; wealthy business and industrial leaders such as John D. Rockefeller as well as J.P. Morgan Chase used to this ideology to justify their success

Answer 23

Social Darwinism

Question 24

The massive wave of immigrants who came to the United States between 1880 and 1924; came primarily from small Farms in villages in southern and eastern Europe-did not look American

Answer 24

New immigrants

Question 25

The idea of favoring the interests of nativeborn people over the interests of immigrants

Answer 25

Nativism

Question 26

Occurs when a company controls both the production and distribution of its product; used by Andrew Carnegie to gain control over the US steel industry

Answer 26

Vertical integration

Question 27

Occurs when one company gains control over other companies that produce the same product; used by John D. Rockefeller to gain control over the oil industry

Answer 27

Horizontal integration

Question 28

The mainly agrarian movement developed in the 1890s that supported the unlimited coinage of silver, Government ownership of the railroads, and other policies that favored farmers and the working class

Answer 28

Populism

Question 29

The idea of using government to help create a more just society; fought against impure foods, child labor, corruption, and trusts

Answer 29

Progressivism

Question 30

Early 20th century journalists who exposed illegal business practices, social injustices, and corrupt urban political bosses

Answer 30

Muckrakers

Question 31

The period of social unrest and tension that occurred in the 1920s with immigration restrictions, the rise of fundamentalism, and changing sexual values

Answer 31

Roaring 20s

Question 32

From 1919 to 1933, it was illegal to buy, sell, or transport alcohol throughout the United States; it led to a rise in organized crime and defiance of the law until the constitutional amendment was repealed

Answer 32

Prohibition

Question 33

A US foreign-policy calling for Americans to avoid entangling political alliances following World War I, which parallels with George Washington’s farewell address

Answer 33

Isolationism

Question 34

US foreign-policy during the Cold War; designed to contain or block the spread of communism in the East

Answer 34

Containment

Question 35

The public accusations of disloyalty without sufficient evidence which increased following WWII; played on the fears of Americans by claiming the Communists had infiltrated the US state department and other federal agencies, which created an atmosphere of paranoia as Americans became preoccupied with the perceived threats posed by alleged Communists working in United States

Answer 35

McCarthyism

Question 36

Refers to the belief that, if one country falls to communism, it’s neighbors will also be infected and fall to communism

Answer 36

Domino theory

Question 37

A military doctrine developed during the Cold War that asserted that, in the event of an attack by the Soviet Union or any other hostile power, the United States would retaliate with massive force, including nuclear weapons

Answer 37

Massive retaliation

Question 38

A movement in the 1960s that advocated that African Americans establish control of their political and economic lives; key advocates included Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and Huey Newton

Answer 38

Black power

Question 39

A series of political scandals and coverups the resulted in Richard Nixon being the only president to resign from office

Answer 39

Watergate

Question 40

Refers to the relaxation of tensions between United States and the Soviet Union; it was introduced by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and President Richard Nixon; includes the strategic arms limitation talks, expanded trade with the Soviet union, and President Nixon’s trip to China and Russia

Answer 40

Détente

Question 41

Refers to the economic policies of President Ronald Reagan, also called supply side economics; Used to promote growth and investment by deregulating business, reducing corporate tax rates, and lowering federal tax rates for upper and middle income Americans

Answer 41

Reaganomics

Question 42

Refers to attempts to open access to education and employment for members of groups that experienced discrimination

Answer 42

Affirmative action