Pennsylvania History Review

Flashcards to review key people, events and concepts in Pennsylvania history.

Who was Lafayette?

French general who aided the American Revolution; visited Pennsylvania during his 1824–25 U.S. tour; celebrated as a hero of liberty.

What was the Harrisburg-Gettysburg Rail Line?

Railroad connecting Harrisburg to Gettysburg, used for supply, troop transport, and postwar battlefield tourism.

Who was Rev. John Elder?

Presbyterian minister known as the “Fighting Parson” and leader of the Paxton Boys.

What was the PA Constitution of 1790?

Replaced the 1776 constitution; created a bicameral legislature and stronger executive in Pennsylvania.

What is Faculty Psychology?

18th- and 19th-century theory dividing the mind into rational faculties, emotions, and will; influenced religious and moral education.

What is the Historical Society of Pennsylvania?

Founded in 1824 to preserve Pennsylvania's historical records and foster identity and civic pride.

What was the Rural Cemetery Movement?

19th-century movement promoting landscaped burial grounds outside cities, reflecting changing attitudes about death and public health.

What is meant by “A beast without a head”?

A metaphor criticizing the decentralized structure of early American (or state-level) government.

What was the Walking Purchase (1737)?

Fraudulent land deal between the Penn family and the Lenape tribe that damaged Quaker-Indian relations.

What were the Democratic-Republican Societies?

Political clubs supporting Jeffersonian ideals in the 1790s, emphasizing popular participation and opposition to elite rule.

Who was George Clymer?

Pennsylvania signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, embodying the revolutionary elite.

What was the Know Nothing Party?

Nativist political movement in the 1850s that promoted anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic agendas.

What is meant by Heritage?

Cultural and historical inheritance, constructed and contested over time in Pennsylvania regarding liberty, religion, immigration, and war memory.

What was the 1913 Gettysburg Reunion?

50th-anniversary event where Union and Confederate veterans reunited at Gettysburg, promoting reconciliation but largely excluding African American voices.

What was the “Great Belt of Wampum”?

Symbolic belt used in Native diplomacy, representing unity and agreement, central to treaties and peace negotiations.

What was the Treaty of Easton (1758)?

Treaty between British colonists and Native tribes that ended hostilities in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War.

What was Pennsylvania Hall (1838)?

Abolitionist meeting hall in Philadelphia burned down by an anti-abolitionist mob, highlighting tensions between free speech and anti-slavery activism.

Who was Richard Allen?

Founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, a leading Black religious figure reflecting both religious independence and racial resilience.

What was the Eisenhower Farm?

President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s retirement home near Gettysburg, a symbol of post-WWII American ideals and connection to Civil War memory.

Who was Alexander Hamilton?

Founding Father and first U.S. Treasury Secretary whose financial policies were deeply contested in Pennsylvania, especially during the Whiskey Rebellion.

Who were the “White savages”?

Term used to describe settlers who committed violence against Native Americans challenging notions of “civilized” colonists.

What was the Gettysburg Address (1863)?

Famous speech by Abraham Lincoln dedicating the national cemetery at Gettysburg, reframing the Civil War as a struggle for a “new birth of freedom”.