Term
|
Definition
| different set of values and traditions, based on a dependent relationship with the earth and nature/natural resources; reject concepts like land ownership and material possessions/personal property; influenced the naming of multiple states and towns, as well as other words in our English language |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 1767; colonial Virginia; rebellion led by former indentured servant Nathaniel Bacon against VA gov. William Berkeley and Native Americans; colonists felt that Berkeley was not doing enough to protect frontier settlers from Native American attacks, so they attacked Jamestown, but Bacon suddenly died from disease, ending rebellion; showed the problems with indentured servants, convinced many land owners to switch to slave labor instead |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| founded in 1607; first permanent English settlement in New World; in swampy, disease-filled part of Virginia on the James River; struggled to survive without adequate food supplies and shelter; thrived once they developed an economy based on tobacco as a cash crop |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| economic theory in Europe that influenced colonization; idea that power is based on wealth and control of natural resources; in order to be powerful a country must establish colonies to gain a supply of natural resources that will allow it to export more than it imports |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Britain/American colonies vs. France/Native Americans; lasted from May 1754 to 1763; fought over control of the Ohio River Valley's profitable fur trade; important because the war pushed Britain into debt, which was the reason they would later create taxes on the colonies that pushed the colonies into rebellion |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| British law passed in April of 1764; Britain was in debt from the French and Indian War, this act taxed sugar as a new way to raise funds to help pay off debt; eventually the British attempts to raise taxes on the colonists pushed the colonies towards Independence |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 1765 tax on legal documents and paper in the Americas collected by the British; designed to help pay cost of French and Indian War; fiercely opposed in the colonies--but not because of the price of the tax, but the principle; Americans were insulted British would tax them without giving Americans any say; tax was eventually repealed |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| part of John Locke's enlightenment philosophy; idea that all humans are born with a right to life, liberty, and property; governments should exist only to protect those rights, can never deny them |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| document created in July 1775 by Continental Congress; sent to King of England as a final attempt to avoid a full-blown war in the colonies; colonists tried to restore pre-French and Indian War relationship with England, but King refused petition |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 47 page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in January of 1776; helped to gain support for American Independence (the war had already started); sold over 500,000 copies very quickly; convinced many readers to support a complete break with Britain |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| British policy before French and Indian War of not strictly enforcing their acts and taxes in the colonies; left colonists to govern themselves and develop colonial legislatures and a sense of independence; policy ended after French and Indian War |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a series of British laws designed to give Britain stronger control over American trade; required all trade with American to pass through English ports first |
|
|
Term
| Favorable Balance of Trade |
|
Definition
| part of the economic theory of mercantilism; the idea that a country should export more than it imports |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| American patriot who lived in Boston during Revolutionary War; warned colonists of British attacks on Lexington and Concord on a 'midnight ride'; his illustration of the Boston Massacre was turned into propaganda to gain support for American Independence |
|
|
Term
| Enlightenment (and American Revolution) |
|
Definition
| ideas of John Locke and other philosophers convinced Americans that they were right to break away, and that they could not be forced to follow a king who didn't protect their natural rights; made Americans feel they should have a say in their own government and were justified in rebellion against an unfair government |
|
|
Term
| American Strengths and Weaknesses at Start of War |
|
Definition
| more motivated soldiers; better knowledge of geography and areas; easier requirements for victory (only had to not surrender/be captured); able to enlist the help of the French; poorly organized; poorly supplied; poorly financed; relied on militias, not professional armies |
|
|
Term
| British Strengths and Weaknesses at Start of War |
|
Definition
| Larger army and navy that was better trained; more funding; more experience; fighting an ocean away from their home (took longer to get supplies, and soldiers were less motivated to win); had a harder task to accomplish to claim victory (needed to put down rebellion throughout all colonies to regain control); couldn't use foreign allies |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| October 17, 1777; upstate NY (near Albany); American General Horatio Gates force British and Hessian troops, led by Gen. Johnny Burgoyne, to surrender; major turning point in Revolutionary War; boosted & motivated American spirits to win war; w/ American victory, France decides to support American and fight against Britain |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| On Christmas night (and into the mornin of Dec. 26) 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware from PA into NJ and led a surprise attack on German Hessians (hired soldiers fighting for the British); a much needed victory for the Americans that helped revive their fighting spirt |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Jan 3, 1777; American forces led by Washington left campfires burning in Trenton (to make British think Americans were still there) and attacked British-controlled Princeton; Americans gained control of the city; helped to revive American spirits and morale; British give up control of most parts of southern and central New Jersey |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| location of winter camp for Continental Army led by Washington during winter of 1777-1778; in Pennsylvania 25 miles from Philadelphia; extremely harsh conditions for American soldiers; many died or deserted (lots of disease, starvation, not enough supplies or clothing); soldiers who survived received intense training and felt bonded together |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| September 1783; agreement between US and Britain to end the Revolutionary War; Britain recognized American independence; created a US/Britain border at Canada; created a US/Spain border at the Mississippi River and gave Florida to Spain; British troops were supposed to withdraw from U.S. |
|
|
Term
| Articles of Confederation |
|
Definition
| ruled from 1783-1787; US's first form of government after getting independence; loose central government with no court system; only 1 branch (legislative) with reduced powers; no ability to enforce taxes; struggled to put down Shays Rebellion; weaknesses of this government inspired people to form a Constitutional Convention to make a stronger government in 1787 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| led by Hamilton; believed in a strong central government with many powers; wanted a focus on commerce, trading, and banking in the economy; generally pro-British |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| people who opposed the ratification of the Constitution; feared the creation of a government that was too strong; upset about no Bill of Rights; valued states rights and individual freedoms/liberties |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| agreement made at the Constitutional Convention that stated a slave would be counted as 3/5 of a person for the purposes of determining representation and taxation for the different states; represented a compromise between the northern and southern states; gave south increased representation, but also increased taxation, based on their slave population |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an agreement at the Constitutional Convention to create a fair system of representation in the new federal government; created a bicameral legislature with one house (Senate) giving equal representation to all states regardless of size, and a second house (House of Representatives) where representation was proportional based on population |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| refers to the first 10 amendments in the Constitution, which protect states' rights and individual freedoms by limiting the power of the federal government; created shortly after the ratification of the Constitution as a compromise to get southern states to approve the Constitution |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| document that organizes our government; contains a preamble that lists goals of Constitution; 7 articles describing structure and rules of parts of government (3 major articles that describe the 3 branches); and amendments clarifying or adding rules to our Constitution (there are 27 amendments total) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 1786-1777; Western Massachusetts; poor and bankrupt farmers led by Daniel Shays' attack bankruptcy courts during economic troubles after Revolutionary War; showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation because the government did not have enough power to put down the rebellion (wealthy men used private militias) and the gov. could not solve the economic problems that caused the rebellion; convinced many of the need for a stronger central gov. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| federalist politician; first Secretary of Treasury under Washington; had the federal government assume state debt after the Rev. War, which made a national debt but increased power of federal government; created a National Bank, an excise tax on whiskey, and tariffs on foreign goods; believed in a loose interpretation of Constitution and a strong federal government; pro-British policies; supported banking, finance, and commerce in American economy |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| protects the five basic freedoms of American citizens (PRESS, RELIGION, ASSEMBLY, PETITION, and SPEECH) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| describes a legislature (law-making body) that is made up of only 1 part |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| describes a legislature (law-making body) that is made up of 2 different parts |
|
|
Term
| Constitutional Convention |
|
Definition
| met in Philadelphia 1787; delegates from 12 states (no Rhode Island) to fix the problems of the Articles of Confederation, but ended up writing the Constitution and designing a new government instead; worked in secret |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| refers to the powers/abilities given to different branches of government to 'check', or stop, the power of the other branches; keeps power balanced between the branches and prevents one group from becoming too powerful, therefore keeping all parts of government working in the interest of the people |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| enforces laws; led by president, chosen by electoral college, who serves for 4 years; commands armed forces; signs bills into law, or vetoes laws; appoints judges |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| consists of Supreme Court (where judges, picked by the president, serve for life) and lower federal courts; interpret and apply the law; has the power of JUDICIAL REVIEW (ability to declare laws and presidential actions unconstitutional) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| writes laws; also called 'Congress'; bicameral (2 parts); made of 2 parts (Senate and House of Representatives |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| tax designed by Hamilton, created during Washington's presidency; aimed to help pay off newly-created national debt; taxed whiskey--which made farmers upset (they used whiskey almost as a form of currency--easier to transport than wheat or rye crops) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| tax on imported goods, designed by Hamilton; aimed to help pay off national debt and created in 1789 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 1794; western Pennsylvania; farmers upset about excise tax on whiskey, refuse to pay; Washington organizes a large armed force and marches to PA to enforce the tax; shows the strength of the new federal government, especially the executive branch, under the Constitution |
|
|
Term
| Washington's Farewell Address |
|
Definition
| given as Washington left office and Adams was taking over; advised against political parties and permanent foreign alliances; said US should only have economic relationships with other countries, not political or military ones |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| unofficial war with France during Adams' presidency; started with French refusal to accept American diplomats and French attacks on American trading ships; US built up military for a war, but Adams ultimately kept US out of military conflict with France, leaving many Americans upset with Adams |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| group of presidential advisers; consists of heads of different departments in the executive branch (Treasury Dept., State Dept., etc.); first Cabinet was created by Washington and had 4 members (even though the Constitution did not give Washington the power to do this) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| part of federal gov.'s bicameral legislature; made of 100 representatives (2 from each state) who serve for 6 year terms |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| part of federal gov.'s bicameral legislature; each state gets a certain amount of representatives based on their population and they serve for 2 year terms |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Federalist John Adams up for re-election against Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson; Jefferson wins; represents first peaceful transition of power in US from one political party to another |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| power of the Supreme Court to declare laws or acts unconstitutional; first created in case of Marbury v. Madison (1803); Chief Justice John Marshall (federalist) increased the power of the Supreme Court over the executive and legislative branches |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a Supreme Court case during Jefferson's administration that gave the judicial branch the power of judicial review; Chief Justice John Marshall decided that judicial branch unable to tell executive branch how to pick judges |
|
|
Term
| Beliefs of Jeffersonian Republicans |
|
Definition
| small government, farming important to economy, importance of states rights and individual liberties, strict interpretation of the constitution |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 1803; American diplomats, under guidance of Jefferson, buy large Louisiana Territory from French leader Napoleon; nearly double size of US and size of US National Debt; US originally wanted to buy only New Orleans for $10 million, but French offered entire territory (from Gulf of Mexico to Canadian border) for $15 million |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| explorers hired by Thomas Jefferson to catalog the plant life, animal life, weather, geography, and Native Americans of the newly purchase Louisiana Territory; traveled up the Missouri River and reached the Pacific Ocean, returning with knowledge of new land; lasted from 1804-1805 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 1807 law passed under Jefferson; shut down ALL US trade in an effort to force British and French ships to stop attacking and disrupting American trade (British and French disrupted American trade in their ongoing war with each other); Jefferson wanted to keep America out of war; American reaction to the Embargo was harsh and passionate; Embargo Act repealed in 1809 and US moves closer to being involved in the European conflict |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| between US and GB; 2nd War for Independence; declared by President James Madison in June 1812; ended in 1815 with Treaty of Ghent; neither side won--territorial boundaries from before war stayed the same |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
1) warhawks in US South and West eager to prove themselves and their generation
2) Native Americans, allied with British, attacking US settlers on frontier
3) British attacks on US trade ships
4) British kidnapping American sailors and forcing them to serve in British Navy (impressment) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Dec 1814 - Jan 1815; American troops led by Andrew Jackson held off British invasion at important port city of New Orleans; major American victory that caused surge in pride/nationalism and made Jackson a National Hero |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 1815 treaty between US and Britain to end War of 1812; signed in Belgium; both sides stopped fighting and restored pre-war boundaries; no real 'winner', although America experienced surge in pride and Nationalism |
|
|
