U.S. Government, History, and Economics Key Concepts

Popular sovereignty

Government power comes from the people.

Mercantilism

Colonies make money for the mother country.

Confederacy

Lose the alliance of southern states.

Federalism

Power is shared between national and state governments.

Checks and balances

Branches limit each other's power.

Separation of powers

Government split into 3 branches to keep each other in check.

Amendment

Change to the Constitution.

Ratify

Officially approve.

Enumerated powers

Powers listed in the Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers suggested but not directly listed.

Necessary & Proper Clause

Congress can make needed laws.

Tariff

Tax on imports.

Protective tariff

Protects American businesses.

Revenue tariff

Raises government money.

Judicial review

The Supreme Court can look over and strike down unconstitutional laws.

Independent judiciary

Courts free from political control.

Commerce

Buying and selling goods.

Urbanization

Growth of cities.

Suffrage

Right to vote.

Manifest Destiny

Belief the U.S. should expand westward. (God given)

Nativism

Favoring native-born Americans over immigrants.

Abolition

Ending slavery.

Prohibition

Ban on alcohol.

Corporation

Business legally separate from owners.

Monopoly

One company controls an industry.

Deflation

Prices decrease.

Inflation

Prices increase.

Fireside Chats

Radio talks by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Bank holiday

Temporary bank closing to stop panic.

Fascism

Dictatorship with extreme nationalism.

Dictator

Ruler with complete control.

Appeasement

Giving in to territorial demands to avoid war.

Self-determination

People choose their own government.

Colonies

Settlements controlled by another country.

13 Colonies

British colonies on the Atlantic coast.

New England Colonies

Fishing, shipbuilding, and small farms.

Middle Colonies

Farming, trade, diverse population.

Southern Colonies

Plantation farming, enslaved labor.

The Enlightenment

Promoted reason and natural rights.

Articles of Confederation

Weak first U.S. government; could not tax.

Great Compromise

The Senate is equal, and the House is based on population.

Constitution

Supreme law of the U.S.

Structure of the Constitution

Preamble, Articles, Amendments.

Legislative Branch

Make laws.

Executive Branch

Enforces laws.

Judicial Branch

Interprets laws.

Federalists

Supported a strong federal government.

Anti-Federalists

Wanted stronger states and the Bill of Rights.

Louisiana Purchase

Bought from France in 1803; doubled the U.S. size.

War of 1812

The U.S. fought Britain over trade and impressment.

Impact of the War of 1812

Increased nationalism.

Era of Good Feelings

Time of national unity.

Marbury v. Madison

Created judicial review.

Martin v. Hunter's Lessee

Supreme Court reviews state decisions.

McCulloch v. Maryland

The federal government is stronger than states.

Gibbons v. Ogden

The federal government controls interstate commerce.

Monroe Doctrine

Europe should stay out of the Americas.

First Industrial Revolution

Growth of factories and machines.

Andrew Jackson's Presidency

Expanded democracy for white men.

Indian Removal Act

Forced Native Americans west.

Missouri Compromise

Missouri slave, Maine free; slavery line at 36°30′.

Compromise of 1850

California was free; a stronger Fugitive Slave Act.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Popular sovereignty decides slavery. (states get to choose)

Fugitive Slave Act

Escaped slaves returned.

13th Amendment

Ended slavery.

14th Amendment

Citizenship and equal protection.

15th Amendment

Voting rights regardless of race.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Allowed segregation.

Natural Resources

Coal, oil, and iron helped the industry grow.

Growing Workforce

Immigration increased labor.

Transportation

Railroads improved shipping.

New Inventions

Electricity, telephone, steel.

Laissez-Faire Economics

The government stays out of business.

Big Business

Large, powerful companies.

Stock

Ownership in a company.

Vertical Integration

The company controls production by owning its own supply chain.

Horizontal Integration

The company controls other businesses to do other portions of their work.

Andrew Carnegie

Steel industry leader.

John D. Rockefeller

Oil industry leader.

J. P. Morgan

Banking leader.

Economies of Scale

Producing more lowers cost.

Pools

Businesses control prices together.

Monopolies

One company controls the industry.

Investment Banking

Helps businesses raise money.

Social Darwinism

Success comes from competition.

Interstate Commerce Act

Regulated railroads.

Interstate Commerce Commission

Enforced railroad rules.

Spanish-American War Reasons

Cuban independence, yellow journalism, USS Maine.

Effects

The U.S. gained Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.

Philippines Annexation Debate

Debate over imperialism and freedom.

Colonialism / Imperialism

Wanted markets, power, influence.

Causes

Militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism.

American Neutrality

Stayed out at first.

Preparing for War

Draft and military buildup.

Treaty of Versailles

Ended WWI; punished Germany.

Causes of Great Depression

Stock speculation, bank failures, and overproduction.

Stock Market Crash

The market collapsed in 1929.

Dust Bowl

Severe drought and dust storms.

New Deal

Programs by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

CCC

Gave jobs building things/environmental work to young unemployed men.