US HIstory Chapter 4 Flashcards
Mercantile System
A nationalistic program that assumed that the total amount of the world’s gold and silver remained essentially fixed with only a nation’s share of that wealth subject to change. (page 159)
Navigation Acts
Passed by the English Parliament to control colonial trade and bolster the mercantile system, 1650 - 1775; enforcement of the acts led to growing resentment by colonists. (page 160)
Glorious Revolution
In 1688, the Protestant Queen Mary and her husband, William of Orange, took the British throne from King James II in a bloodless coup. Afterward, Parliament greatly expanded its power and passed the Bill of Rights and the Act of Toleration, both of which would influence attitudes and events in the colonies. (page 162)
“Salutary Neglect”
Edward Burke’s description of Robert Walpole’s relaxed policy towards the American colonies, which gave them greater independence in pursuing both their economic and political interests. (page 163)
Jesuits
A religious order founded in 1540 by Ignatius Loyola. They sought to counter the spread of Protestantism during the Protestant Reformation and spread the Catholic faith through work as missionaries. Roughly 3,500 served in New Spain and New France. (page 167)
Pontiacs Rebellion
The Peace Treaty of 1763 gave the British all French land east of the Mississippi River. This area included the territory of France’s Indian allies who were not consulted about the transfer of their lands to British control. In an effort to recover their autonomy, Indians captured British forts around the Great Lakes and in the Ohio Valley as well as attacked settlements in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. (page 179)
Whigs
Another name for revolutionary Patriots. (page 182)
Sons of LIberty
Organized by Samuel Adams, they were colonialists with a militant view against the British government’s control of the colonies. (page 183)
Stamp Act Congress
Twenty-seven delegates from nine of the colonies met from October 7 to 25, 1765 and wrote a Declaration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonies, a petition to the King and a petition to Parliament for the repeal of the Stamp Act. (page 184)
Samuel Adams
A genius of revolutionary agitation, he believed that English Parliament had no right to legislate for the colonies. He organized the Sons of Liberty as well as protests in Boston against the British. (page 187)
Lord North
The first minister of King George III’s cabinet whose efforts to subdue the colonies only brought them closer to revolution. He helped bring about the Tea Act of 1773, which led to the Boston Tea Party. In an effort to discipline Boston, he wrote, and Parliament passed, four acts that galvanized colonial resistance. (page 187)
Thomas Jefferson
He was a plantation owner, author, the drafter of the Declaration Independence, ambassador to France, leader of the Republican party, secretary of state, and the third president of the United States. As president, he purchased the Louisiana territory from France, withheld appointments made by President Adams leading to Marybury v. Madison, outlawed foreign slave trade, and was committed to a ‘wise and frugal” government. (page 192)
Patrick Henry
He inspired the Virginia Resolves, which declared that Englishmen could only be taxed by their elected representatives. In March of 1775, he met with other colonial leaders to discuss the goals of the upcoming Continental Congress and famously declared ‘Give me liberty or give me death.” During the ratification process of the U.S. Constitution, he became one of the leaders of the anti-federalists. (page 194)
Pual Revere
On the night of April 18, 1775, British soldiers marched towards Concord to arrest American Revolutionary leaders and seize their depot of supplies. Paul Revere famously rode through the night and raised the alarm about the approaching British troops. (page 195)
Minutemen
Special units organized by the militia to be ready for quick mobilization. (page 196)
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
This pamphlet refocused the blame for the colonies’ problems on King George III rather than on Parliament and advocated a declaration of independence, which few colonialists had considered prior to its appearance. (page 200)
