Midterm Flashcards
Mayflower compact
Signed on the Mayflower in 1620. First written framework of government for what is now the United States America. Consent of the govern.
House of Burgesses
First legislative assembly of elected representatives in Virginia, North America.
Thomas Paine’s common sense
Pamphlet that inspired colonist to fight for their independence from Britain. Uses every day language
John Peters Zenger
Publisher who was put on trial for bashing politics. He won an established freedom of the press.
Mercantilism
Belief and the benefits of profitable trading. Controlled trade.
Primary source
A first-hand account
Declaration of Independence
Formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the independence of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain. Statement of natural rights. States argument for independence.
Causes of the American Revolution
Britain tightened control on America. Sugar act, stamp act, Townshend acts. American resistance. Distance/geography. No taxation without representation.
Articles of Confederation
First constitution of the 13 colonies adopted in 1781. Created a weak central government. Eventually replaced by the constitution in 1788.
Constitutional convention
The meeting in Philadelphia (1781) of representatives from each of the colonies (except Rhode Island) to write the United States Constitution. Held to strengthen the government
Shay’s rebellion
And uprising led by former militia officer Daniel Shay. Protested the foreclosures of farms for debt. Sparked the writing of the Constitution.
Writs of Assistance
A written order issued by a court instructing a law-enforcement official to carry out a certain task. Britain could search colonist ships/homes.
New England colonies
Social mobility, very religious, long life expectancy, educated, good diet, diverse economy, rocky terrain, more democratic, equality, towns.
Middle colonies
Ethnically diverse, religious tolerance, important centers for English Mercantile system, fertile land, trading.
Southern colonies
Agricultural-based, exports of cash crops, slave labor, less educated, rigid class structure, no diversity, no religious tolerance, planter aristocracy.
Great Compromise
Agreement between large and small states on legislative structure and representation during the constitutional convention. Established a two house legislature, bicameral.
3/5 compromise
For representation. Every five slaves would count as three people.
Checks and balances
Each branch has power/influence over the others so no one branch can become too powerful.
Federalism
Supporters of the US Constitution.
State reserved powers
10th amendment. Powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively.
National delegated powers
Powers specifically described an assigned in the US Constitution.
Electoral college
A body of people representing the US formally vote for the election of the president and vice president.
Virginia plan
Proposed a legislature of two houses, each with population-based representation, and executive and judicial branches to be chosen by the legislature.
(Unsuccessful)
New Jersey plan
Proposed for a single legislative house with equal representation for each state.
(Unsuccessful)
Anti-Federalists
Oppose the creation of a stronger US federal government (constitution). Believed in strict constructionism.
Federalists
Supporter of the US Constitution. Loose interpretation of the Constitution. Believed in elastic clause.
Unwritten constitution
The ideas and processes accepted as needed in the US government, regardless of the fact that they aren’t in the Constitution.
Elastic clause
Statement of the U.S. Constitution granting Congress the power to grant all laws “necessary and proper.”
Judicial review
Declare laws unconstitutional. Established by Marbury vs. Madison.
Preamble
Opening line of the Constitution that gives power to the people.
Separation of powers
Prevent tyranny. Give different powers to different branches.
George Washington’s farewell address
Final address of George Washington he was leaving presidency. Discussed the dangers of political parties and warned strongly against permanent alliances.
Louisiana purchase
Treaty signed with France in 1803 in which the US purchased (for 15 million) the land east of the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Good for trade. Good example of elastic clause (could the present by land?)
Hamilton’s financial plan
Hamilton proposed the federal government pay off all debt. Stronger federal government. Create a National Bank. Taxes on whiskey and imported goods.
Chief Justice John Marshall
Made rulings that strengthened the federal government.
Marbury vs Madison – judicial review.
McCulloch vs Maryland – federal government could tax bank.
What led to the first political parties?
Disagreements over the role/strengths of federal government. Interpretation of the Constitution. Creation of a national Bank.
Erie Canal
Connects NE with mid-west.
Importance of the Mississippi River
Trade
Monroe Doctrine
A principle of US policy, originated by President James Monroe, that any intervention by external powers in the politics of America is a potentially hostile act against the US.
Cotton Gin
Machine that separated seeds from cotton. Increased slave demand.
Differences between the north and south during the Civil War.
North – industrialized, plus mobility, religious taxes, tariffs, stronger state governments, rivers, railroads, diverse economy. South - cash crops, reliance on slave labor, rigid class structure, rural, no manufacturing, no diversity in economy, no navy, no banking.
Temperance movement
Ban of alcohol. First in new England and spread to west and south.
Andrew Jackson
Embodies the common man. Virtues and politics became important – honesty, war hero. Veto’s national Bank. Favored state power. Against trail of tears.
Irish immigration
Starts in 1840s (potato famine) 2 million Germans accepted– Irish not. Persecuted because Irish took many jobs and swarmed in big cities. Formed gangs. Catholic.
Spoil system
Giving jobs to friends and high-power.
Manifest destiny
Belief the US was meant to spread to the Pacific. Major cause of Civil War. Slavery disputes in the new territories. War with Mexico.
Results of Mexican war
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo- US gains Southwest territories
Reasons for Western expansion
Railroad, Homestead act, manifest destiny, gold rush.
Bleeding Kansas
Violent confrontations between anti-slavery free staters and proslavery border ruffians in Kansas. Violence over slavery – popular sovereignty.
Fugitive slave act
Part of the compromise of 1850. People were ordered to help catch runaway slaves. Angered northerners – set forth personal liberty laws.
Dred Scott decision
Slaves are considered property (bring property anywhere). Congress couldn’t pass laws forbidding slavery in the new territories.
Uncle Tom’s cabin
Novel that showed the horrors of slave life. Inspired abolitionists. Northerners refused to follow the fugitive slave laws. Increased abolitionist movement.
Stephen Douglas
Illinois senator. Promoted Kansas Nebraska act. Ran for president against Lincoln.
Kansas Nebraska act
Organized by Stephen Douglas. Repealed part of Missouri compromise. Unorganized territory split into Kansas and Nebraska could decide over slavery by popular sovereignty
Missouri compromise
Missouri was added as a slave state while Maine was added as a free state. Territory above 36° 30 line was closed to slavery.
Lincoln’s election results
Chosen by Republicans against extension of slavery. Causes southern states to secede. Lincoln won because democratic party was split.
Lincoln’s inaugural address
Stated he would preserve the union at all costs.
Literacy tests and poll taxes
Used to prevent blacks from voting.
Grandfather clause
Allowed whites to vote and not blacks.
Radical reconstruction
Treating the south as conquered territory. Confederates weren’t allowed to vote/run for office. South had to except the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th amendments and declare their loyalty to the north.
Overproduction of farm goods
Occurs at the end of the 19th century due to mechanization. New farming technics/fertilizers. Prices dropped.
Lincolns second inaugural address
He believed in forgiving the south.
Pools and trusts
Ways of controlling prices – early form of Monopolies.
Impact of industrialization
New products/inventions. Sweatshops, crowded apartments, child labor, fires, crimes.
13th amendment
Abolished slavery.
14th amendment
Allowed citizenship for those born in US.
15th amendment
Gave blacks the right to vote.
Plessy vs Ferguson
Separate but equal. Segregation is legal as long as separate places are equal.
Black codes (Jim Crowe laws)
After Civil War (during Reconstruction) they separated black and white laws.
New immigrants
New people coming to US during 1890s. Many were Catholic/Jewish – faced discrimination.
Factors led to industrialization
Natural resources, politicians promoted infrastructure, cheap labor supply, inventions, free enterprise system.
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
He wanted to forgive the south – radicals wanted to punish south.
He fired secretary of war – violated the 10th amendment.
Monopoly
When one business controls a whole industry.
Ku Klux Klan
Intimidated blacks
Booker T. Washington
Wanted to end segregation by promoting education.
Reasons for exploration
Desire to get to the far east. Northwest passage.
