Regional Studies NA Flashcards
Turtle Island
Term used by some Indigenous peoples to refer to North America. It has cultural and spiritual significance.
Taino / Arawak
Indigenous people of the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, before the arrival of Christopher Columbus (1492)
Pristine Myth
False belief that North America was a largely untouched wilderness before European colonization, disregarding the diverse cultures and civilizations that existed.
Manifest Destiny
Coined in the 19th century.
Description: Belief that American settlers were destined to expand across the continent, justifying westward expansion and often resulting in the displacement and mistreatment of indigenous peoples.
Columbian Exchange
Exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds, following Columbus’s voyages.
Pilgrims arrival
Mayflower arrived in New England on November 11, 1620 - Pilgrims, seeking religious freedom, sailed on the Mayflower to establish the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts.
Salem Witch Trials
Series of hearings and prosecutions in colonial Massachusetts, resulting in the execution of 20 people accused of witchcraft. (1692)
Original colonial settlements
St. Augustine: Founded in 1565, the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental U.S. by the Spanish in Florida.
Jamestown: Founded in 1607, the first permanent English settlement in North America.
Lenght of Indigenous Settlements in America
20,000 years approx. Indigenous peoples have diverse histories and cultures in the Americas, with settlements dating back thousands of years before European contact.
Anne Hutchinson
Puritan dissenter who challenged religious authorities in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, advocating for religious freedom. Banished in 1638. Harvard founded after her.
Indentured Servitude
Labor system where individuals worked for a specified period in exchange for passage to the New World.
Triangle trade
Trade network between Europe, Africa, and the Americas involving the exchange of goods, including slaves.
Tobacco
Cultivation of this crop in the Southern colonies was highly profitable, driving economic development.
AIDS EPIDEMIC
Emergence and rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS virus, leading to a global health crisis. Discriminating terms such as Gay Cancer founded the stigma against gay men. (1980s)
Audré Lorde
Black feminist, lesbian, and poet who addressed issues of race, gender, and sexuality.
Lexington & Concord
(1775) First battles of the American Revolutionary War, marking the beginning of armed conflict between American colonists and British forces.
Name of the first battles of the US Revolutionary (Independence) War
Lexington & Concord (1775)
Declaration of Independence
Document declaring the thirteen American colonies independent from British rule, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress. (1776)
Yorktown Battle
Final major battle of the American Revolution, leading to the surrender of British forces and effectively ending the war. (1781)
Treaty of Paris
(1783) Treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing the independence of the United States from Great Britain.
US-Mexican War
1846-1848.
Conflict resulting in the cession of a significant portion of Mexican territory to the U.S. through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Music as protest
Music has been a powerful tool for expressing dissent and advocating for social change throughout history, with artists using their platform to address political and social issues. Ex. Hip-hop, jazz, blues.
Modern racial injustice protesters
Colin Kaepernick: NFL player who took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality.
John Carlos and Tommie Smith: Athletes who raised black-gloved fists during the 1968 Olympics medal ceremony as a symbol of Black Power and protest against racial inequality.
Colin Kaepernick
NFL player who took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality.
John Carlos and Tommie Smith:
Athletes who raised black-gloved fists during the 1968 Olympics medal ceremony as a symbol of Black Power and protest against racial inequality.
US Branches
The U.S. Congress consists of two chambers—the House of Representatives (with 435 seats, representing congressional districts) and the Senate (with 100 seats, two per state).
Electoral College
Constitutional system for electing the President and Vice President, where electors from each state vote based on the state’s popular vote. The number of electors is determined by the state’s representation in Congress.
Original native people’s towns
Cahokia:
Description: Cahokia was an ancient Native American city located near present-day Collinsville, Illinois. It was the largest pre-Columbian settlement in North America, flourishing between the 9th and 15th centuries. Cahokia’s most prominent feature is Monk’s Mound, a large earthen pyramid.
Mesa Verde:
Description: Mesa Verde is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in southwestern Colorado. It is known for its well-preserved cliff dwellings built by ancestral Puebloan people. These dwellings, such as the Cliff Palace and Balcony House, were constructed in the alcoves of cliffs and provide insights into the life and architecture of ancient indigenous communities.
Cahokia
Ancient Native American city located near present-day Collinsville, Illinois. It was the largest pre-Columbian settlement in North America, flourishing between the 9th and 15th centuries. Cahokia’s most prominent feature is Monk’s Mound, a large earthen pyramid.
Mesa Verde
UNESCO World Heritage site located in southwestern Colorado. It is known for its well-preserved cliff dwellings built by ancestral Puebloan people. These dwellings, such as the Cliff Palace and Balcony House, were constructed in the alcoves of cliffs and provide insights into the life and architecture of ancient indigenous communities.
Indigenous population of the Americas before Columbus
Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Americas were inhabited by diverse indigenous cultures. Estimates suggest a population ranging from 54 to 100 million people. These societies had rich and varied cultures, with advanced agricultural practices, complex social structures, and unique artistic expressions.
First slave ship to the US
(1619) The “White Lion” arrived at Point Comfort in the English colony of Virginia. The ship traded enslaved Africans for supplies with the English colonists. This event marked the beginning of the institution of slavery in the English colonies that would later become part of the United States.
Virginia Slave Code
(1705)
- Slaves were not allowed to convert to Christianity, reinforcing the idea that they were property rather than people with spiritual agency.
- Interracial Marriage: Interracial marriage, particularly between Africans or African Americans and Europeans, was forbidden, further enforcing racial segregation and hierarchy.
- Harboring Slaves: Harboring or assisting a runaway slave was illegal, with penalties imposed on those who aided escaped individuals.
Counter voices to slavery
Bacon’s Rebellion (1676):
Description: Bacon’s Rebellion was an armed uprising in colonial Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon. While not an explicitly anti-slavery movement, it included indentured servants and enslaved Africans fighting against the colonial elite. The rebellion highlighted class tensions and grievances against the ruling class.
Georgia Trustees:
Description: The Georgia Trustees were a group of philanthropists who founded the colony of Georgia in 1732. Initially, they prohibited slavery in Georgia as part of their vision for a colony that would serve as a haven for the poor and indebted. However, economic pressures led to the lifting of the ban in the mid-18th century.
Germantown Quaker Protest (1688):
Description: In 1688, a group of Quakers in Germantown, Pennsylvania, issued a protest against slavery. This Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery is considered one of the earliest recorded protests against slavery in the American colonies. It reflected the Quaker belief in the equality of all individuals.
Stono Rebellion (1739):
Description: The Stono Rebellion was one of the largest slave revolts in the American colonies. In 1739, a group of enslaved Africans in South Carolina rebelled, killing several white colonists and attempting to reach Spanish Florida, where they hoped to find freedom. The rebellion was suppressed, leading to stricter slave codes and restrictions.
Bacon’s Rebellion
(1676)
Armed uprising in colonial Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon. While not an explicitly anti-slavery movement, it included indentured servants and enslaved Africans fighting against the colonial elite. The rebellion highlighted class tensions and grievances against the ruling class.
Germantown Quaker Protest
Germantown Quaker Protest (1688):
Petition Against Slavery is considered one of the earliest recorded protests against slavery in the American colonies. It reflected the Quaker belief in the equality of all individuals.
Stono Rebellion
(1739):
One of the largest slave revolts in the American colonies. In 1739, a group of enslaved Africans in South Carolina rebelled, killing several white colonists and attempting to reach Spanish Florida, where they hoped to find freedom. The rebellion was suppressed, leading to stricter slave codes and restrictions.
Join or Die
Political cartoon created by Benjamin Franklin and published in his Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754. The cartoon depicts a snake divided into eight segments, each representing a different American colony. The message was a call for unity among the colonies during the French and Indian War, urging them to join forces against common enemies. It later became a symbol of colonial unity during the American Revolution.
Revolutionary War / War of Independence
1775-1783
Events that led to the Revolutionary / Independence War
- Boston Massacre 1770:
- Boston Tea Party 1773:
- Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts): 1774
Yorktown
1781 - Took place during the American Revolutionary War. It was the last major battle of the war and a decisive victory for the American and French forces, marking a turning point in favor of the Americans
Bill of Rights
It refers to the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, which were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments were added to address concerns raised by Anti-Federalists during the ratification debates, who sought to ensure the protection of individual liberties and limit the powers of the federal government.
Civil War years:
1861-1865
Civil War led up by:
Missouri Compromise (1820)
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” - Stowe (1852)
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
Dred Scott Decision (1857)
Harper’s Ferry (1859)
Lincoln Elected (1860)
Missouri Compromise
1820 - A legislative measure designed to maintain the balance between slave and free states in the Union. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while drawing a line (36°30’ parallel) across the Louisiana Territory, stating that slavery would be prohibited north of the line.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
1852 - Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel depicted the harsh realities of slavery and became a powerful abolitionist tool, influencing public opinion and contributing to the growing tensions between the North and South.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
1854 - Repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing for the possibility of slavery in territories previously designated as free. It led to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas, known as “Bleeding Kansas.”
Dred Scott Decision
1857 - The Supreme Court’s decision ruled that enslaved individuals were not considered citizens and had no right to sue for their freedom. Additionally, the decision declared that Congress lacked the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories.
