U.S. History vocab

Samuel Slater

Brought British textile technology to the U.S.; started the first successful American textile mill.

Henry Clay

U.S. senator known for major compromises and creator of the American System.

Missouri Compromise

1820 agreement that kept slave/free state balance and set the 36°30’ line.

Brigham Young

Leader of the Mormon Church who led their migration to Utah.

Sam Houston

Leader of the Texas Revolution and first president of the Republic of Texas.

James K. Polk

U.S. president who pushed Manifest Destiny and led the Mexican-American War.

Zachary Taylor

U.S. general in the Mexican-American War; later became president.

Winfield Scott

Top U.S. general who captured Mexico City during the Mexican-American War.

Frederick Douglass

Former enslaved person; leading abolitionist speaker and writer.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Woman’s rights leader; helped organize the Seneca Falls Convention and wrote the Declaration of Sentiments.

Married Women’s Property Act

Law that allowed married women to own property independently.

Gag Rule

Congressional rule that banned discussion of anti-slavery petitions.

Gadsden Purchase

1853 land purchase from Mexico for building a southern transcontinental railroad.

Antonio López de Santa Anna

Mexican leader during the Texas Revolution and Mexican-American War.

Adams-Onís Treaty

Treaty in which Spain gave Florida to the U.S. and set the western boundary.

Eli Whitney

Inventor of the cotton gin and interchangeable parts.

Nullification

Idea that states can ignore (nullify) federal laws they disagree with.

Hartford Convention

Meeting of Federalists criticizing the War of 1812; damaged the party’s reputation.

XYZ Affair

Incident where French agents demanded a bribe from U.S. diplomats, leading to tensions.

American System

Henry Clay’s plan with tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements.

Unitarian

Religious group emphasizing reason, morality, and belief in one divine being.