Periods 1-5: 1491-1877 Flashcards
Reasons for exploration
- Gold (trade/wealth)
- Glory (fame)
- God (religion)
Impacts on Europe by the Columbian Exchange
- Population growth
- Increased wealth
- Rise of capitalism
Impacts on Africa by the Columbian Exchange
- Slavery
Impacts on Natives by the Columbian Exchange
- Spread of disease
- Social classes formed
- Encomienda system
- The horse transformed Natives life
Caste system
A class structure that is defined by birth
Encomienda system
A system of forced labor imposed on indigenous workers by Spanish colonists
French exploration and conquest
- Had great territorial claims, but small settlements
- Main settlers: Fur traders and priests
- Had the best relationship with Native Americans of all European countries
New Netherland
- Most prominent commercial empire
- Fur trade
- Good relations with Natives
- One of the first territories to allow private worship
British exploration and conquest
- Built for profit and religious freedom
- Governors were sent over by England to rule over the colonies
- Did not want to convert Natives, but merely just wanted their land
- Touted religious freedom (Pilgrims and Puritans)
Where did the Spanish colonize?
- Mexico
- Present-day Florida
- South western part of South America
Where did the French colonize?
- Inland part of North America
- St. Lawrence River
Where did the British colonize?
- Canada
- The coast of the Atlantic Ocean
Why did British North America’s population grow?
- natural increase
- immigration
- the importation of slaves
Characteristics of men in colonial society
- Landowning
- Dominated politics
- Unlimited power in the home, given by English law
Characteristics of women in colonial society
- Average wife bore 8 children
- Domestic work
- Educated children
- Had limited legal and political rights
- Under English law, married women were considered to be under the protection of their husbands - this means they had no legal existence
New England’s economy
- Subsistence farming
- Ship building
- Fishing
- Trading
- Rum-distilling
The middle colonies’ economy
- Farmed wheat and corn
- Small manufacturing
- Trading
The southern colonies’ economy
- Agriculture varied - subsistence and commercial agriculture
- Tobacco, indigo, and rice were major crops
Self government in the colonies
Representative assemblies elected by eligible voters
Religious toleration in the colonies
Permitted the practice of different religions with varying degrees of freedom
Hereditary aristocracy in the colonies
Class system based on economics (not birth rights)
Social mobility of the colonies
- All had the opportunity to improve their standard of living and social status
- Exceptions included African Americans
Voting and colonial assemblies
- Women, blacks, and Native Americans could not vote
- Property qualifications excluded 40% of white males from voting
- Voter turnout in rural areas was low
- Colonies become increasingly self-governing
- Assemblies do not set trade regulations, print money, or declare war
Salutary neglect
- Britain’s lack of interest and presence in colonial politics allowed assemblies to take considerable power and left the colonies alone to govern themselves
- Colonies then became more self-sufficient and eventually led them to feelings of individuality that they feared losing
- This brings forth the Declaration of Independence and other events
Causes of the Great Awakening
- Change in religion (strongest 1730s and 1740s)
- Emotional sermons
- Met outdoors
- Countered Enlightenment rationalism
Ideas of the Great Awakening
- Predestination - salvation by faith and not good works
- Stressed corrupt human nature, divine fury, and a need to repent and convert
People of the Great Awakening
- Jonathan Edwards: Individuals who were sorry and gave penance for their sins could be saved; those who didn’t would suffer eternal damnation
- George Whitefield: God would save those who openly professed belief in Jesus Christ; those who didn’t would be damned to Hell
Impacts of the Great Awakening
- Decline in influence of older sects - split American Protestant faith
- Stimulated the founding of new colleges
- Drew many African Americans and Native Americans to the Protestant faith for the first time
- Fostered greater religious tolerance
- Challenged clergy (untutored ministers could preach)
- Emotionalism became a part of Protestant services
- Democratizing effects by changing the way people viewed authority
The Press (Peter Zenger case)
- 1735 - NY editor John Peter Zenger was brought to trial on a charge of libelously criticizing NY’s royal governor
- English common law stated that injuring a governor’s reputation was considered a criminal act, no matter whether a printed statement was true or false
- Outcome: The jury voted to acquit Zenger
- Did not guarantee complete freedom of the press but encouraged newspapers to take greater risks in criticizing the government
The Enlightenment’s influence on the United States
- Natural rights
- Purpose of government
- Equality
- Consent of the governed
- Limited government
- Right to revolt
- All ideas are found in Locke’s works, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution
The pull to America
○ Word-of-mouth information about America
○ Effective work and writing by recruiters
○ Appeal of land and economic opportunities
○ Desire to join earlier migrants
○ Safe pursuit of personal religious beliefs
- Hope of educating and converting Natives
The push from England
○ Escape from direct religious persecution
○ Fear regarding the religious future at home
○ Anxiety about political change in Europe
○ Dismay over economy and a need for farmland
○ Relief from joblessness or personal adversity
○ Restlessness and desire for adventure
Roanoke (The Lost Colony)
- 1587 - Sir Walter Raleigh attempted to establish a settlement at Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina
- When Governor John White returned in 1590 after going to England to get supplies, there was no trace of the colony
○ The only thing left of then was the word “Croatoan” carved into a tree - 1st English child was born there
○ Virginia Dare - August 18, 1587
Jamestown (1607)
- King James I chartered the Virginia Company, which funded Jamestown
○ The 1st permanent English settlement - Jamestown nightmare:
○ 1607: 40 settlers died on the voyage
○ Gentlemen settlers refused to work
○ Marshy land prone to disease
○ Settlers wasted time looking for gold
Tobacco in Virginia
- Prominent in Chesapeake, VA
- Tobacco provided the colony with a “cash crop”
- Problems with tobacco:
○ Destroys land
○ Colonists kept moving westward
○ Demand for labor increased
Indentured servants in the colonies
- 4-7 years of service
- Promised “freedom dues” (land and money)
- Forbidden to marry
- Temporary solution to labor issues
○ 1610-1614: Only 1 in 10 outlived their indentured contract - Headright system: Land grants offered by Virginia; led to growth in the colonies
Causes of Bacon’s Rebellion
- Sir William Berkeley favored wealthy planters
- Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion that killed all Natives in sight and burned Jamestown
- The frustrations of Bacon’s Rebellion:
○ Lack of land
○ Lack of political power
○ Lack of help to suppress Native American attacks
Impact of Bacon’s Rebellion
○ Demonstrated tension in colonial society between social classes (wealthy planters and landless/poor farmers)
○ Colonial resistance to royal control
Maryland (Chesapeake Colony)
- Proprietorship: Lord Baltimore given land by King Charles I
- Act of Toleration (1649): Religious freedom for all Christians (intention to protect Catholics)
○ One of the first laws to promote religious toleration in the colonies
Plymouth
○ Settled by Pilgrims (Separatists)
○ Because the Church of England enrolled all the king’s subjects, Separatists felt they had to share the Church with the “damned”
○ Believed in a total break from the Church of England
○ William Bradford
Massachusetts Bay Colony
○ Settled by Puritans
○ Led by John Winthrop
○ Believed in predestination
○ Wanted total reform (purify) the Church of England
○ Hoped to create a religious “City Upon a Hill”
○ “Great Migration” of the 1630s
○ Turmoil in England sent about 70,000 Puritans to America
The Mayflower Compact
- 1620: Pilgrims landed at Plymouth
○ The Mayflower Compact: An agreement to form a crude government and submit to majority rule
○ Led to adult male settlers meeting in assemblies to make laws in town meeting- Direct democracy
Characteristics of the New England colonies
- Mixed economy: Agriculture and commerce
- Low mortality: Average life expectancy was 70
- Many extended families
- Average 6 children per family
- Average age at marriage:
○ Women - 22 years old
○ Men - 27 years old
- Authoritarian male father figures controlled each household
- Ministers and magistrates controlled church congregations and households
- Town hall meetings became basis of governance
○ All church-going males could participate
Roger Williams
○ Popular minister in Salem
○ Argued for full break with Anglican Church
○ Protested treatment of Natives
○ Wanted separation of Church and State
○ Fled MA Bay Colony and founded Rhode Island (Providence - 1636)
§ Rhode Island had religious toleration and fair treatment of Native Americans
Anne Hutchinson
○ Believed the idea that faith alone, not deeds, was necessary for salvation
○ Exiled from MA Bay Colony - moved to Rhode Island (Portsmouth - 1638)
Halfway Covenant
- An effort to maintain the church’s influence and membership, a halfway covenant was offered by some clergy
○ People could become partial church members even if they had not felt a conversion (fulfilling the formal religious process) - This signaled that the population was growing faster than the authority could exert control
New York colony
- Originally a Dutch colony (New Amsterdam)
- Religiously and ethically diverse
- Commerce and trade
New Jersey colony
- NY was too large to administer/split the land
- Allowed religious freedom
- Became a royal colony in 1702
Pennsylvania colony
- Founded by William Penn
- “Holy Experiment”
- Religious Society of Friends - proprietor colony
- Liberal with a representative assembly
- Treated Natives fairly
- Extended rights to women
- Religious toleration and freedom
Mercantilism
- An economic practice by which governments used their economies to augment state power at the expense of other countries
○ The ultimate goal was to become self-sufficient so that the nation did not have to depend on other countries for goods
Triangle trade
A pattern of colonial commerce connecting 3 regions and crossing the Atlantic Ocean
The Navigation Acts
○ Trade carried only on English/colonial ships
○ Trade had to pass through English ports
○ Certain enumerated goods from the colonies could be exported only to England
- Smuggling became a problem
The Middle Passage
- Put as many people as they could into the cargo department
- 1619: First British ship carried 20 Africans to Jamestown
- Over 350 years -> 36,000 slaves ships crossed the Atlantic
- For every 100 slaves captured, 40 died before they reached the New World
The South and slavery
- First Africans were used as indentured servants
- The South was based on cash crops -> needed cheap labor
- Preferred African workers to Europeans servants
- White servants could run away and blend in, while Africans could not
- Less expensive to maintain than indentured servants
The Virginia Law of 1662
- “All children borne in the country shall be held bond or free according to the condition of the mother”
- Black motherhood for slaves became a legal curse
- Slave women were valued for their work and ability to produce children -> more enslaved children, more free labor
- Chattel slavery: Creating slaves through childbirth
The economic issue of slavery
The South’s economy depended on slavery and free labor to continue harvesting cash crops
The political issue of slavery
The issue of counting slaves as a part of the population for representation in government
Albany Plan of Union (1754)
- First real attempt of unity between the colonies
- Colonies feared if they all united, they would lose their privileges from their states
- Plan fails -> lack of unity - After the French and Indian War, the taxes passed by Britain begin to unite the colonies as they have one common issue
Treaty of Paris (1763)
- France: lost her Canadian possessions, most of her empire in India and claims to lands east of the Mississippi River
- Spain: got all French lands west of the Mississippi River and New Orleans
- England: got all French lands in Canada, exclusive rights to the Caribbean slave trade and commercial dominance in India
Britain’s colonial policies before the French and Indian War
- Goal: Trade
- Navigation Acts not enforced
- Salutary neglect
- No British troops stationed
Britain’s colonial policies after the French and Indian War
- Goal: Revenue
- Navigation Acts enforced
- No salutary neglect
- British troops stationed
Proclamation of 1763
A proclamation from the British government which forbade British colonists from settling west of the Appalacian Mountains, and which required any settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east
Effects of the French and Indian War on the colonies
- United them against a common enemy for the first time
- Created a socializing experience for all the colonists who participated
- Created bitter feelings towards the British that would only intensify
- Happy with their contributions
- Wanted access to new frontier (Ohio River Valley)
The Sugar Act (1764)
Imposed taxes on sugar, molasses, and other products that were imported
The Quartering Act (1765)
- Required the colonists to provide food, shelter, and other supplies to British soldiers stationed in the colonies
- Intended to help defray the costs of maintaining a standing army in the colonies and to ensure that the soldiers were properly cared for
The Stamp Act (1765)
Imposed a tax on all printed materials, including newspapers, legal documents, and even playing cards
The Townshend Acts (1767)
Imposed taxes on a variety of imported goods, including glass, lead, paint, and tea
The Tea Act (1773)
- Granted the British East India Company a monopoly on the sale of tea in the colonies and lowered the price of tea
- Led to the Boston Tea Party
“No taxation without representation”
- Widely used by colonists to protest against British taxes and policies
- Based on the idea that the colonists should not be taxed by the British government unless they had representatives in Parliament who could advocate on their behalf
The nonimportation agreement
A boycott of British goods, such as wool and linen, that was implemented by the colonists as a way to protest British policies
First Continential Congress
- Philadelphia 1774
- the colonists discussed ways to solve their grievances and petitioned Parliament
- Created a colony-wide Committee of Correspondence and sent a polite letter to King George III explaining their dissatisfaction, emphasizing their loyalty
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
- Argued for American independence from British rule, not reconciliation
- the British government was too distant and unresponsive to the needs of the colonists
- the British monarchy was corrupt and tyrannical
- the colonies were capable of governing themselves
The Declaration of Independence
- The colonies’ formal declaration of independence from Britain
- Explained their grievances against Britain and why they were separating
- Included concepts like natural rights, consent of the governed, and right to revolt
Important battles of the Revolution
- Battle of Lexington and Concord: Beginning of the war
- Battle of Trenton: Caught the Hessians by surprise; brought hope to the Patriots
- Battle of Saratoga: French join the American cause; turning point in the war
- Battle of Yorktown: British surrender, ending the war
Treaty of Paris (1783)
- recognized the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the United States
- set the boundaries between the newly independent nation and British North America (Mississippi River - western boundary of USA)
- marked the first time that a colony had successfully rebelled against its European colonial power and established its independence
Republican motherhood
the idea that gave women more purpose to educate and nurture the future of America
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
- One branch, one house, one vote
- No power to levy or collect taxes
- no power to regulate foreign trade
- no power to enforce laws
- Approval of 9/13 states was needed to enact laws
- 13/13 states needed to approve amendments to the Articles
- No executive or judicial branch
Strengths of the Articles of Confederation
- Land Ordinance of 1785: allowed the federal government to sell western lands to pay off the national debt and organize these new lands into townships and public schools
- Northwest Ordinance of 1787: set a process for new states to join the United States of America, ensuring the country would continue to grow
Shay’s Rebellion
- a series of armed protests that occurred in Massachusetts between 1786 and 1787, led by a veteran of the Revolutionary War, Daniel Shays
- The rebellion was sparked by economic grievances, particularly by the heavy debt and high taxes faced by farmers and smallholders in the state
- Revealed the weaknesses of the Articles and a need for a new form of government
The Federalist Papers
- 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
- Favored the Constitution (Anti-Federalists opposed it and favored the Articles)
- explained the features of the proposed Constitution and sought to persuade the citizens of New York to ratify it
The Bill of Rights
- Written by James Madison
- First 10 amendments added to the Constitution
- tipped the balance because it satisfied the antifederalists’ concern that a federal government could infringe on citizens’ rights
Judiciary Act of 1789
Set the number of justices on the Supreme Court as well established the district and appellate courts
Hamilton’s financial plan
- US government would take on the responsibility of paying the remaining state debts
- US promised to fund its foreign and domestic obligations at full face value
- Protect the young nation’s “infant” industries and collect adequate revenues at the same time by imposing high tariffs on imported goods
- Create a national bank for depositing government funds and printing banknotes that would provide the basis for a stable US currency
Whiskey Rebellion (1794)
- Farmers in southwestern Pennsylvania protested harshly against the whiskey tax, which was the government’s primary source of money
- President Washington sent a militia to western Pennsylvania and squashed the uprising
- Federalists supported this action, while Antifederalists hated it
Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)
Kept America out of the French Revolution and gave the U.S. time to build its nation
Jay’s Treaty (1794)
- Britain was violating the Treaty of Paris by impressing American ships and sailing along the northern border
- Washington sent John Jay to London to negotiate
- Britain rejected the neutral rights and they would continue to search American vessels on the high seas
- There would be no compensation for ships confiscated until American debt to Britain was paid off
Federalists (beliefs)
- Led by Alexander Hamilton
- Favored strong, central govt and central power
- Favored industrialized and manufacturing economy
Democratic-Republicans (beliefs)
- Led by Thomas Jefferson
- Favored weaker central govt and stronger state govts
- Favored farming and agriculture
Washington’s Farewell Address
- Stay out of foreign alliances
- Not to get involved in political affairs
- Not to form political parties
- Set the precedent for two-term presidency
XYZ Affair (1797)
- France was angry over Jay’s Treaty and began to seize American ships
- Adams sent three American diplomats to France to negotiate
- France had deployed three secret diplomats, named X, Y, and Z, to the talks
- Wanted expensive bribe money from the Americans for the mere opportunity to talk with France
- Negotiations quickly failed, and the Americans returned home
Quasi War crisis (1798-1800)
- Unofficial fighting with France
- No official or prolonged war took place
Alien Act (1798)
- slowed the naturalization process
- Allowed the president to deport immigrants deemed dangerous
- Extended time to become a US citizen from 5 to 14 years
- Stopped immigrants from voting for Democratic Republicans
Sedition Act (1798)
- Criminal offense to criticize the government
- Restricted free speech
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
- The right to nullify -> States have the right to void any act of Congress they believe to be unconstitutional
- Did not pass
Thomas Jefferson
- 3rd president from 1801-1809
- Established Democratic-Republican power in the government
- Greatly expanded the size of the USA through the Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase (1803)
A land purchase from France that doubled the size of the USA and gave them the port of New Orleans
Lewis and Clark
The two men who led the expedition to explore and map out the Louisiana Territory
Strict interpretation
Following the Constitution stringently by what is said, not by what is implied
John Marshall
The first Supreme Court chief justice, serving for 34 years
Judicial review
The ability of the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of acts passed by the executive branch or Congress
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Declared the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional and established judicial review
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Declared federal laws supreme over state laws and that the national bank was constitutional
Gibbons v. Ogden (1821)
Established the federal government’s broad control of interstate commerce
Implied powers
Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution but can be infered
Era of Good Feelings
A period that reflected rising American nationalism in the aftermath of the War of 1812
James Monroe
- 5th president
- Author of the Monroe Doctrine
Economic nationalism
A political movement to support the growth of the American economy by subsidizing interal improvements and protecting US industries
Sectionalism
Loyalty to a particular region or section of the nation, rather than America as a whole
Tariff of 1816
A protective tariff that was intended to hold the production of textiles and goods
Protective tariff
Tariffs that increase the price of imported goods that compete with American-made products, thus protecting American manufacturers from foreign competition in markets
Henry Clay
Creator of the American System and Andrew Jackson’s political rival
American System
A federal economic policy aimed at promoting economic growth and development in the USA
Missouri Compromise (1820)
- Missouri was admitted as a slave state and Maine was admitted as a free state, so as to not upset the balance between free and slave states
- Slavery was outlawed above the 36 30 latitude line in the remainder of the Louisiana Territory
Tallmadge Amendment
- Prohibited the further introduction of slaves into Missouri and provided for emancipation of those already there when they reach 25
- Did not pass
War hawks
- Young Democratic-Republicans who wanted war with Britain
- Led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun
Quids
Also known as “Old Democratic-Republicans” who opposed the War of 1812
Hartford Convention
- Held by New England Federalists
- Discussed their opposition to the War of 1812 and to seek redress from Washington for wrongs they felt had been committed
Impressment
The act of forcing men to enlist in military service
- Viewed as a primary cause of the War of 1812
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
The British ship Leopard attacked the US ship Chesapeake, killing 3 Americans and impressing 4 others
Embargo Act (1807)
Closed US ports to all exports and restricted imports from Britain
Nonintercouse Act (1809)
Repealed the Embargo Act, and only restricted trade with Britain and France
Macon’s Bill No. 2 (1810)
- Proposed re-opening commercials relations with Britain and France
- Lifted the embargo on Britain and France for 3 months
War of 1812
War between USA and Britain due to American outrage over impressment, the British seizure of American ships, and British aid to Native attacks on the western frontier
Treaty of Ghent (1814)
Ended the War of 1812, restoring things to the way they were pre-war
Rush-Bagot Agreement (1817)
Between the US and Britain:
- Limited naval activity in the Great Lakes
- Established the US-Canadian border as the longest unfortified border in the world
Treaty of 1818
- Provided for shared US-British fishing rights in Newfoundland
- Joint occupation of the Oregon Territory for 10 years
- Established the western US-Canadian border at the 49th parallel in the Louisiana Territory
Florida Purchase Treaty (1819)
Spain turned over Florida and its claims in Oregon, in exchange for the USA to assume $5 million in claims against Spain and to give up claims in Spanish Texas
Monroe Doctrine (1820)
Further colonization by Europe in the western hemisphere would be considered a hostile act by the USA
National (Cumberland) Road
- First highway built entirely through federal funds
- First road open to all people
Erie Canal
- A waterway that connected the East Coast to the Midwest
- A major event in linking the economies of western farms and eastern cities
Railroads
- Developed in the 1820s
- Rapidly changed small western towns in booming commercial centers
Factory system
Concentrated all aspects of production under one roof
Lowell system and textile mills
Employed many young women under the factory system to increase efficiency
Unions
A group of workers who come together to bargain with their employers about specific grievances
Market Revolution
Americans moving away from self-sufficient agriculture to the production of goods for sale
Old Northwest
Six states that joined the Union before 1860:
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842)
“Peaceful unions” had the right to negotiate labor contracts with employers
Universal white male suffrage
Allowed all free white males to vote and hold office without prevous property or religious requirements
Party-nomination convention
The new method of selecting candidates for political office, in which voters and party members gather at a convention to select their nominee
Popular election of the president
Allowed voters to choose a state’s slate of presidential electors
Spoils system
Jackson’s system of giving government jobs to political supporters, regardless of their qualifications or experience
Indian Removal Act (1830)
Forced the resettlement of thousands of Native Americans
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831)
Cherokees were not a foreign nation with the right to sue in a federal court
Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
The laws of Georgia had no force within Cherokee territory
Trail of Tears
The forced relocation of Cherokees in Georgia which resulted in 4,000 deaths
Roger Taney
- Jackson’s Secretary of the Treasury who helped drain federal funds into pet banks
- Did so if Jackson nominated him for chief justice on the Supreme Court
Pet banks
The various state banks that received the drained funds from the national bank
Specie circular
Required that all future federal lands be purchased in gold and silver (specie circular)
Panic of 1837
A severe financial crisis caused by Jackson’s economic policies regarding the national bank
Nullification crisis
Resulted over the Tariff of 1828 after many states nullified it due to deeming it unconstitutional
“Corrupt bargain”
The term coined by Jacksonians after Adams won the presidency, as Clay convinced the House to vote for Adams
Tariff of Abominations (1828)
- Tariffs intended to protect the economy from foreign competition
- Highly contested by the South
Revolution of 1828
Jackson’s win over Adams for presidency, using mudslinging tactics as platforms
Peggy Eaton affair
A social scandal where many cabinet member’s wives snubbed the socially unacceptable Peggy Eaton, resulting in the dissolvement of the cabinet
Webster-Hayne debate
Exchange of speeches between senators Hayne and Webster over states’ rights and the nullification crisis
Proclamation to the People of South Carolina
Jackson’s statement to South Carolina that declared nullification and disunion as grounds for treason
“Log cabin and hard cider” campaign
William Henry Harrison’s campaign that portrayed him as a humble hero, compared to the aristocratic Van Buren
Democrats
Emerged from the Democratic-Republican Party, led by Jackson
Whigs
Resembled the Federalists Party, led by Clay
Cultural nationalism
The nation is defined by a shared culture
Shakers
A deeply religious movement that had elements of socialism
Antebellum
Latin for “before war” and refers to the period of increasing sectionalism that led up to the Civil War
Romanticism
An artistic, literary, and intellectual movement from 1800-1850 in response to the Industrial Revolution
Transcendalists
- People who believed that each person has direct communication with God and nature, and there is no need for organized churches
- Pioneered by Ralph Waldo Emerson in the 1830s and 1840s
Feminists
Advocates of women’s rights
Second Great Awakening
A Protestant religious revival movement in the early 19th century, marked by an enthusiatic wave of religious revival and a belief in the idea of free will
Charles Grandison Finney
A Prebysterian minister whose sermons appealed to emotion rather than logic
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
Formed by Joseph Smith and was based on “The Book of Mormon”
Brigham Young
Led the Mormons after Joseph Smith’s and settled them in New Zion, Utah
Temperance
Total abstinence from alcohol
American Temperance Society
Established in 1826 by Protestant ministers to persuade drinkers to take a pledge of total abstinence
Women’s Christian Temperance Movement
A group in the 1870s that supported the temperance movement
Common (public) school movement
Led by Horace Mann, where he advocated for free public schools for kids of all classes
Seneca Falls Convention (1848)
A convention led by leading feminists, where the “Declaration of Sentiments” was issued
American Colonization Society
Established on the idea of transporting free blacks to an African colony
American Antislavery Society
Abolitionist society founded by William Lloyd Garrison, where he advocated for the immediate abolition of slavery
Frederick Douglass
Escaped slave who advocated for the direct end of slavery and racial equality based on his own experiences
Nat Turner
A slave who led a revolt in 1831 that killed 55 whites
Gag rule
Prohibited members of Congress from talking about the issue of slavery
Slave codes
Laws passed in the South to keep slaves from running away or rebelling
Codes of chivalry
A code of conduct in which Southern gentlemen ascribed to
Poor whites/hillbillies
Farmers who could not afford slaves and thus were deemed inferior, but above black Americans
Deep South
Also called the Lower South, where slavery was ingraved into society and was defended heatedly
King Cotton
A phrase used in the South to refer to the economic and political importance of the cotton crop, and thus, slavery
Peculiar institution
Some whites were sensitive about the treatment of slaves, thus refusing to call it “slavery” and calling it a “peculiar institution”
Manifest Destiny
The popular belief that the United States had the divine mission to extend its power and civilization across North America
Gold rush
- The mass migration of Americans to California after gold was discovered there in 1848
- One of the most important events tied to Manifest Destiny and California’s statehood
“Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!”
- A slogan, meaning that the United States ought to claim all the territory up to the 54° 40’ in the Oregon Territory or fight Britain for it
- Encouraged Manifest Destiny
James K. Polk
A “dark horse” candidate for the Democratic Party who won the Election of 1844 and who advocated for Manifest Destiny
Alamo
The site of the Texan defeat during the Texan Revolution
Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842)
Disputed US-British territory was resolved:
- split Maine and British-Canada
- settled the boundary of the Minnesota
Territory
Kanagawa Treaty
Ended Japan’s 200 year period of economic isolation, establishing an American consulate in Japan and securing American coaling rights in Japanese ports
Mexican-American War
A dispute between Mexico and the United States, caused by the annexation of Texas and the United States’ desire for California and New Mexico
Nueces River
The river where Mexico insisted Texas ended
Rio Grande
The river where the United States insisted Texas ended
Bear Flag Republic
A name used to describe California as an independent republic due to the bear in their flag
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago
Mexico ceded 1/3 of its territory to the United States, while the United States paid $15 million to Mexico for such territory
Mexican Cession
Under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, the United States took possession of California and New Mexico, and paid Mexico $15 million for them
Wilmot Proviso
A proposed amendment to an appropriations bill that would forbid slavery in any territory acquired by Mexico that did not pass
Ostend Manifesto
A scheme for the United States to purchase Cuba from Spain for $120 million
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850)
A treaty between the United States and Britain, stating that neither nation would attempt to take control of any future canal route in Central America
Gadsen Purchase (1853)
The purchase of a small land strip from Mexico, forming the southern sections of New Mexico and Arizona
Free soil movement
Aimed at stopping the expansion of slavery into the western territories, arguing “free men on free soil”
Popular sovereignty
Government and policies are based on the consent of the people, or their vote
Compromise of 1850
Five laws passed that dealt with the issue of slavery and territorial expansion, including admitting California as a free state and passing the Fugitive Slave Law
Panic of 1857
A financial panic caused by the declining international economy and the over-expansion of the domestic economy
Nativism
The belief that native-born Americans were superior to foreigners
Underground Railroad
A secret network of antislavery Americans who helped fugitive slaves escape to free states
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
A novel about the injustices of slavery that fueled the antislavery movements, while spurring Southern opposition
“Bleeding Kansas” (1855-1860)
A period of violent conflict in the Kansas Territory, driven by the struggle between pro-slavery and antislavery groups over slavery’s legality in Kansas
Lecompton Constitution (1857)
Pro-slavery constitution written for Kansas’ admission into the Union in opposition to the antislavery Topeka Constitution, where Congress eventually rejected it
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
Established the Kansas and Nebraska territories and made it so that popular sovereignty would decide the issue of slavery within these territories
Republican Party
A political party formed in 1854 to stop the spread of slavery, joined by antislavery ex-Whigs and Democrats
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
- Since slaves are property of their masters, they are not granted freedom when moved into a free state/territory (5th Amendment)
- Slaves are not citizens are therefore have no right to sue
Freeport Doctrine (1858)
- Stephen A. Douglas’ response to Lincoln regarding the Dred Scott decision, stating that slavery couldn’t exist in a community if citizens didn’t maintain slave codes
- Angered Southern Democrats
Sumner-Brooks Incident (1856)
An incident where Senator Sumner insulted Senator Butler in an abolitionist speech, and Butler’s nephew Senator Brooks responded by beating Sumner into a coma with his cane
Harpers Ferry (1859)
John Brown’s slave revolt, where he planned to attack the federal arsenal Harpers Ferry, causing Southern whites to believe the North would use slave revolts to destroy the South
Crittenden Compromise (1860)
A proposed constitutional amendment that would protect slavery in all territories south of the 36 30 line
Border states
States in the South that did not secede from the Union - Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri
Fort Sumter
The location in South Carolina where Confederate forces fired the first shots of the American Civil War
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln (Republican) wins the election, resulting in the South seceding from the Union in fear of Lincoln’s power and its threat to slavery
Battle of Bull Run
First major battle of the Civil War
Anaconda Plan
Proposed by Winfield Scott, which emphasized the blockade of Southern ports and a call for an advance down the Mississippi River which would cut the South in two
Battle of Antietam
The first major battle of the Civil War on Northern soil
Battle of Shiloh
A battle in Tennessee that gave the Union control over the Mississippi River
Battle of Vicksburg
A battle where the Union gained control over Mississippi, cutting Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas off from the Confederacy
Battle of Gettysburg
A battle that crippled the Confederacy so terribly, they were unable to offensively attack again
Sherman’s March
A march of destruction across Georgia to deprive the Confederacy of war materials and to break the will of the Southern people by burning towns and plantations
Trent affair
A Union ship stopped a British mail streamer, the Trent, and forcibly removed two Confederate diplomats bound for Europe to ask for support
Homestead Act (1862)
Settlers moving into western territories could claim 160 acres of public land if they committed to farming on the land for 5 years
Habeas corpus
A legal writ that forces government officials to justify their arrest and detention of an individual
Confiscation Acts (1861)
Allowed the federal government to seize property, including slave property, used to support the Confederate rebellion
Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
Issued by Lincoln, it freed slaves in Confederate states
Copperheads
A faction of Democrats who opposed the Civil War and wanted an immediate peace settlement
13th Amendment
Prohibited slavery and indentured servitude, except in prisons
Civil Rights Act (1866)
First US federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens were equally protected under the law
14th Amendment
Granted black Americans citizenship, as well as equal protection and due process of law
15th Amendment
Prohibited any government from denying its citizens the right to vote based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”
Civil Rights Act (1875)
Guaranteed black Americans equal treatment in public accomodations, public transportation, and jury duty
Wade-Davis Bill (1864)
Proposed by Radical Republicans Benjamin Wade and Henry Winter Davis, the bill declared that Reconstruction of the South was a legislative, not an executive, matter
Andrew Johnson
17th president, who succeeded Lincoln and was the first president to be impeached
Freedmen’s Bureau
Aided newly emancipated slaves by providing food, clothing, education, medical care, and legal support
Tenure of Office Act (1867)
Restricted the power of the president to remove certain office-holders without the Senate’s consent
Scalawags
A derogatory name used by Southerns for Southern whites who supported Reconstruction
Carpetbaggers
Northerners who moved to the South after the war - sometimes with all their possessions in a carpetbag - during Reconstruction for supposed economic prosperity
Blanche K. Bruce
The first elected black American Senator to serve a full-term, representing Missouri as a Republican
Hiram Revels
The first black American to serve in the Senate
Redeemers
Largely former slave owners who were the bitterest opponents against the Republican programs in the South
Compromise of 1877
Settled the dispute of the Election of 1876 by electing Hayes and removing Republican support in the South (federal troops)
Ku Klux Klan
A white supremacy terrorist organization that emerged during Reconstruction
Force Acts (1870)
Passed by Congress in response to the Ku Klux Klan and the rise of violent white supremacy organizations
Black codes
Groups of restrictions placed upon black Americans by Southern state legislatures
Sharecropping
A system of agriculture where a landowner allows a tenant to use their land, in return for a share of the crop produced
Amnesty Act (1872)
Permitted former Confederate leaders to hold office again
New South
the economic shift from an exclusively agrarian society to one that embraced industrial development
Jim Crow laws
any state or local laws that enforced or legalized racial segregation
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
State-sanctioned racial segregation was permissible under the 14th Amendment as long as facilities were equal
Booker T. Washington
An educator who urged blacks to better themselves through education and economic advancement, rather than by trying to attain equal rights
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
State-sanctioned segregation in public schools violated the 14th Amendment
