Untitled Deck Flashcards
What major historical event happened in 1588 that signaled a change in the beginning of the English overtaking the Spanish as a world power?
The defeat of the Spanish Armada.
How did Henry VIII’s struggles to have a son lead to the Protestant Reformation in England?
He wanted to divorce his wife because she was not producing sons, but the Catholic Church would not let him, so he broke free from the church and started a new one called the Church of England.
What political reason caused Elizabeth I to not get married?
She did not want another man from another country to take over England and wanted to keep her position as monarch.
What were some of the reasons that caused the English citizens to want to go to America?
Economic opportunities, religious freedom, and a new start.
What was the first English colony? Why did it disappear? What was the first successful English colony?
Roanoke was the first English colony but it mysteriously disappeared, likely due to disease. Plymouth was the first successful colony.
How was Plymouth’s creation different than Jamestown’s?
Plymouth was founded on the idea of religious freedom, whereas Jamestown was founded for economic opportunity.
What cash crop made Jamestown successful?
Tobacco.
What was indentured servitude?
A servitude that does not last your whole lifetime, and at the end, you get a pathway to becoming a citizen.
What year did slavery begin in the American colonies?
1619.
How did Bacon’s Rebellion lead to a rise in African slavery?
After the rise with slaves, colonists were afraid their servants would leave, so they changed the laws to ensure they would be stuck with them forever.
Explain how groups of businessmen financed colonies with joint stock companies.
The companies endorsed each other, making sure everyone did well so they could all profit.
What type of criminal was Georgia founded to shelter and reform?
Debtors were sent to Georgia, and they were meant to work off their debt.
What was a cash crop?
A crop meant to be sold for commercial value, not meant to be used for food or to survive.
What were the basic facts of the Salem Witchcraft Trials?
The trials started in the late 1600s, led by the girls who began to accuse others, and ended when someone accused the governor’s wife, which he did not believe, leading to the girls confessing.
Explain how spectral evidence was used in the Salem trials.
Spectral evidence is when you accuse someone’s specter of attacking you.
What is mass hysteria? How did it affect the Salem Witchcraft trials?
Mass hysteria is a phenomenon where a group of people exhibit similar symptoms or behaviors, which significantly influenced the accusations and outcomes of the Salem trials.
Who was Massasoit? What was his/his tribe’s role in the first New England Thanksgiving?
Massasoit was a leader of the Wampanoag tribe, and his tribe played a crucial role in the first Thanksgiving by helping the Pilgrims survive.
How did the colonies change from Massasoit’s reign to that of his son, Metacomet?
The colonies became more aggressive in their expansion, leading to increased tensions and conflicts.
What was historically unique about Metacomet’s (King Philip’s) War?
It was one of the first major conflicts between Native Americans and English settlers, marking a significant turning point in colonial expansion.
How did John Peter Zenger’s trial influence the First Amendment?
His lawyer argued for freedom of the press, and jury nullification played a key role in the trial’s outcome, influencing future interpretations of the First Amendment.
Why would colonists use an Irishman in place of an enslaved person?
Irishmen were often seen as a cheaper labor alternative, especially in the early colonial period.
Explain what Salutary Neglect means. Why did it end?
Salutary neglect was when the English neglected the colonies during a time of war; it ended when England wanted tax money, but America would not give it to them because they believed they paid with their blood.
What animal’s pelt helped to cause the French & Indian War?
Beaver pelt.
How was the French & Indian War actually the end of a longer series of conflicts between England and France?
It was part of a larger struggle for dominance in North America, known as the Seven Years’ War.
What did Status Quo Antebellum mean? Why were the colonists frustrated about its use in treaties?
It means the state of things as they were before the war; colonists were frustrated because it did not address their grievances.
What was the Albany Plan? Who thought of it?
The Albany Plan was an early proposal to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies, thought of by Benjamin Franklin.
What famous political cartoon represented the Albany Plan?
Join, or Die.
How did William Pitt’s leadership help Britain to win the war?
Pitt’s strategies and focus on winning the war in North America led to significant British victories.
Explain the Treaty of Easton and its connection to the Proclamation of 1763.
The Treaty of Easton was an agreement between the British and Native Americans, which influenced the Proclamation of 1763 that restricted colonial expansion westward.
What was Comte de Frontenac’s ‘La Petite Guerre’?
It referred to guerrilla warfare tactics used by the French during the French & Indian War.
How did the French & Indian War help the colonists?
It united them against a common enemy, but it also strained their relationship with England due to increased taxes and restrictions.
How did the Americans feel about their representation within the English government?
They felt underrepresented and believed they should have a voice in the decisions affecting them.
Explain what virtual representation was.
It was a British response to American complaints, claiming that the colonists were represented in Parliament through their interests.
What is the difference between an internal and an external tax?
Internal taxes are levied on goods within the colonies, while external taxes are imposed on goods imported from abroad.
How did the British and Americans each feel about Writs of Assistance & Vice-Admiralty Courts?
Americans viewed them as violations of their rights, while the British saw them as necessary for enforcing trade laws.
Explain the Quartering Acts.
The Quartering Acts required colonial assemblies to provide housing and supplies for British troops stationed in America.
Chronological Order of key events leading to the American Revolution.
Salutary Neglect, French & Indian War, Proclamation of 1763, Sugar Act of 1764, Stamp Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Acts, Boston Massacre, Tea Act of 1773, Boston Tea Party, The Coercive Act.
Know of leaders of colonial resistance.
Sam Adams, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, etc.
Know what the Continental Congress’s Olive Branch Petition was.
It was a final attempt to avoid war with Britain, but King George III rejected it.
Know of the different ways the colonists protested the English.
Boycotts, tarring & feathering, hanging in effigy.
What truly happened at the Boston Massacre?
It was a confrontation where British soldiers killed five colonists; both John Adams and Samuel Adams were involved in the aftermath.
What were some of the actions that the 2nd Continental Congress did?
Created the Continental Army, selected Washington as their General, ran the war, and negotiated the peace.
How did Thomas Paine inspire the rebels?
He wrote ‘Common Sense’ and ‘The Crisis’.
Talk of the Declaration of Independence – Who wrote it, why was it needed?
Thomas Jefferson wrote it to declare the colonies’ independence from Britain and outline their grievances.
How was the American Revolution a world war?
It involved multiple countries and alliances, making it a global conflict.
What were some of the American advantages in the war?
Familiarity with the land, strong motivation, and alliances with foreign nations.
What were some of the British advantages in the war?
Professional army, strong navy, and greater resources.
What was the Olive Branch Petition?
A final attempt by the colonists to avoid war, which was rejected by the British.
Who were the three major foreign countries that came to America’s aid?
Spain, France, and Holland.
Know these terms and their historical significance: ‘Pyrrhic Victory,’ ‘War of Attrition,’ and ‘Hubris.’
‘Pyrrhic Victory’ refers to a victory that comes at such a cost to negate any sense of achievement. ‘War of Attrition’ is a strategy aimed at wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse. ‘Hubris’ refers to excessive pride that leads to downfall.
Know the significance of the following battles of the Revolutionary War: Lexington & Concord.
The British were trying to capture Sam Adams, John Hancock, and guns/gunpowder.
What treaty ended the war? What were its 3 most important points?
The Treaty of Paris ended the war, recognizing the 13 colonies as free and sovereign states, establishing boundaries between the United States and British North America, and granting both Great Britain and the United States perpetual access to the Mississippi River.
Tell of the major differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
The Articles created a weak central government with limited powers, while the Constitution established a stronger federal government with checks and balances.
Tell of Shays’ Rebellion - who was Daniel Shays?
Daniel Shays was a former soldier who led a rebellion against economic injustices, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Be able to list the sequence of governments of the American colonies in chronological order.
The 2nd Continental Congress, The Articles of Confederation, The U.S. Constitution.
Which state famously did not attend the Constitutional Convention?
Rhode Island.
How often are members of the House of Representatives elected?
Every two years.
What are the qualifications for members of the House of Representatives?
Must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and reside in the state they represent.
What determines the number of representatives that each state gets in the House?
The population of the state, as determined by the census.
What specific powers are given to the House alone?
The power to initiate revenue bills and impeach federal officials.
How many senators per state?
Two senators per state.
What are the qualifications for senators?
Must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and reside in the state they represent.
How long do senators serve?
Senators serve six-year terms.
What determines who the president of the Senate is?
The Vice President of the United States.
Who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent?
The President pro tempore.
What specific powers do only the Senate have?
The power to confirm presidential appointments and ratify treaties.
What are the qualifications for being president?
Must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years.
What is the term in office for the president?
Four years.
Explain how a bill becomes a law.
A bill is proposed, debated, and voted on in both houses of Congress, then sent to the president for approval or veto.
Which house of Congress must bills that deal with raising revenue begin?
The House of Representatives.
What are some of the main responsibilities of Congress?
Making laws, declaring war, and regulating commerce.
Explain what federal, state, and concurrent powers are.
Federal powers are those granted to the national government, state powers are reserved for the states, and concurrent powers are shared by both.
What are the names of the three branches of government?
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
What are the checks and balances of each branch?
Legislative can make laws but is checked by the Executive’s veto; Executive enforces laws but is checked by the Judicial’s interpretation; Judicial can declare laws unconstitutional.
Tell how the Constitution can be amended.
An amendment can be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures, and must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
What is the Elastic Clause?
Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution allows Congress to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its powers.
What is Gerrymandering?
The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.
Know the Compromises of the Constitution.
The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature; the 3/5ths Compromise counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation; the Electoral College was created for presidential elections.
What are the Bill of Rights?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee individual rights.
What does the 12th Amendment deal with?
The selection of the Vice President in the Presidential election.
What are the Civil War Amendments?
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and protected voting rights.
What do the 18th and 21st Amendments address?
The 18th Amendment established Prohibition, while the 21st Amendment repealed it.
What do the 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments address?
Voting rights for African American men, women, and citizens aged 18 and older, respectively.
What does the 22nd Amendment establish?
A two-term limit for presidents.
What does the 27th Amendment state?
Congress cannot vote themselves a pay raise and receive it in the same term.
What were Washington’s precedents?
Going by ‘Mr. President’, not wearing his military uniform, two-term limit, and being the only President to physically lead the army as commander.
Why did the political parties form? Who were their leaders?
Political parties formed due to differing views on government; Federalists led by Hamilton and Democratic-Republicans led by Jefferson.
Explain Hamilton’s financial plan.
It aimed to assume all debts to gain respect and unify the nation, including foreign, state, and private bond debts.
How would Hamilton’s financial plan pay for the debt?
By creating a Bank of the U.S. using the Elastic Clause, issuing new bonds, putting tariffs on foreign goods, and taxing whiskey.
What led to the Whiskey Rebellion?
The tax on whiskey imposed by Hamilton’s financial plan.
Why was the election of 1800 also called the ‘Revolution of 1800’?
It marked a peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans.
Tell of Marbury v. Madison and judicial review.
The Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Court to declare laws unconstitutional.
Tell of the Louisiana Purchase: Why was it sold?
It was sold by France to raise funds for war; it included vast territories west of the Mississippi River.
How did Jefferson feel (constitutionally) about the Louisiana Purchase?
He was conflicted as he believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution but recognized the benefits of the acquisition.
Tell of the Barbary Pirates and how defeating them benefited the U.S.
Defeating the Barbary Pirates established U.S. naval power and secured American trade routes.
Explain how the battle of New Orleans happened after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed.
News of the treaty had not yet reached the troops, leading to the battle occurring after the war was officially over.
Tell of the Monroe Doctrine – what did it say?
It warned European powers against further colonization in the Americas, asserting U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere.
Who actually wrote the Monroe Doctrine?
It was primarily written by John Quincy Adams.
What happened in the election of 1824?
It was marked by the ‘Corrupt Bargain’ where John Quincy Adams was elected by the House despite losing the popular vote.
Talk of the Nullification crisis. How did Jefferson play a role in this?
The crisis involved states’ rights to nullify federal laws; Jefferson’s Kentucky Resolution supported the idea of state nullification.
Talk of Jackson’s Indian policy.
Jackson viewed Indians as obstacles to expansion and supported policies that led to their removal from ancestral lands.
What Supreme Court case ruled in the Cherokees’ favor?
Worcester v. Georgia.
What was William Henry Harrison’s one claim to fame according to his campaign slogan?
His victory at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Be able to identify & explain the quote: ‘Give me Liberty or give me death.’
Patrick Henry’s declaration emphasizing the importance of freedom over life itself.
Be able to identify & explain the quote: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’
Thomas Jefferson’s assertion in the Declaration of Independence that all individuals possess inherent rights.
Be able to identify & explain the quote: ‘These are the times that try men’s souls… Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.’
Thomas Paine’s words highlighting the struggle for freedom during the American Revolution.
