American Pageant Edition 17 Notes (1-16)

Pangaea

Pangaea

A supercontinent that existed about 225 million years ago before breaking apart into the continents we know today.

Bering Isthmus

A land bridge that connected Asia and North America around 35,000 years ago, allowing for the migration of early people into the Americas.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's arrival in the New World.

Encomienda

A system where Spanish colonists were granted land and Native Americans to work the land in exchange for converting them to Christianity.

Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement between Spain and Portugal in 1494 that divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between them along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands.

Mestizos

People of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in 1607 in Virginia.

Powhatan

A Native American tribe encountered by the English settlers in Virginia, with whom they had conflicts leading to wars.

New Netherland

A Dutch colony established in the early 17th century in the area that is now New York.

Virginia Company of London

A joint-stock company chartered by King James I in 1606 to establish a settlement in the New World, leading to the founding of Jamestown in 1607.

House of Burgesses

Self-government established in Virginia in 1619, authorized by the London Company, marking the first legislative assembly in America.

Act of Toleration

Passed in Maryland in 1649, granting religious toleration to all Christians and ensuring a refuge for Catholics.

Mayflower Compact

Agreement signed by Pilgrims in 1620 before disembarking the Mayflower, establishing a crude form of government and majority rule in Plymouth.

Fundamental Orders

Drafted in 1639 in Connecticut, serving as a constitution for the new Connecticut River colony.

Glorious Revolution

Event in 1688-1689 in England where Catholic James II was dethroned, leading to the ascension of Protestant rulers William III and Mary, impacting the colonies.

Quakers

Dissenting group in England in the mid-1600s, known as the Religious Society of Friends, with William Penn being a prominent member.

New England Confederation

Formed in 1643, a union of four Puritan colonies to defend against foes, consisting of two Massachusetts colonies and two Connecticut colonies.

Barbados Slave Code

Enacted in 1661 in the English West Indies, denying fundamental rights to slaves to control the large slave population.

Middle Colonies

New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, known as the "bread colonies" for their grain exports and religious tolerance.

Dominion of New England

Created in 1686 by royal authority, imposing control over New England colonies until 1688, led by Sir Edmund Andros.

Act of Toleration in Maryland

A law passed in 1649 to promote religious tolerance for Christians in Maryland, particularly protecting Catholics.

Tobacco Economy

A system in the Chesapeake Bay region where massive amounts of tobacco were cultivated, leading to the importation of indentured servants from England to work on tobacco plantations.

Bacon's Rebellion

An uprising in 1676 led by Nathaniel Bacon against the Virginia government due to grievances against Governor Berkeley's policies towards Native Americans.

Colonial Slavery

The practice of enslaving Africans in the American colonies, which increased significantly in the late 17th century due to the decline in white indentured servants.

Southern Society

Social structure in the Southern colonies characterized by planters who owned slaves, small farmers, landless whites, and black slaves.

The Half-Way Covenant

A 1662 agreement in New England churches allowing the baptism of unconverted children of existing members, increasing church membership.

Salem Witch Trials

A series of trials in 1692 in Massachusetts where 20 individuals were executed for witchcraft accusations, leading to the end of the hysteria in 1693.

New England Way of Life

Characteristics of New England life including shipbuilding, commerce, Calvinism, and resourcefulness due to the region's soil, climate, and religious beliefs.

Early Settlers' Days and Ways

Daily life in the American colonies where women performed household tasks, men worked the land, and social tensions sometimes led to uprisings like Bacon's Rebellion.

Mingling of the Races

The diverse population in colonial America, including Germans, Scots-Irish, and other European groups, contributing to the melting pot society.

Triangular Trade

A trade route where ships carried rum from New England to Africa, slaves to the West Indies, and molasses back to New England.

Manufacturing in the colonies

Considered of secondary importance, with lumbering being the most significant activity by 1770.

Molasses Act

Passed in 1773 by the British Parliament to hinder North American trade with the French West Indies, leading to smuggling by the colonists.

Great Awakening

A religious revival in the 1730s and 1740s, challenging traditional beliefs and emphasizing direct spirituality.

Provincial Culture

Introduced the red-bricked Georgian style in 1720, with art and architecture gaining popularity in the colonies.

Braddock's Blunder

General Braddock's failed expedition in 1755 to capture Fort Duquesne, leading to significant losses for the British forces.

Proclamation of 1763

Issued by the London government, prohibiting settlement beyond the Appalachians to prevent conflicts between settlers and Native Americans.

Republicanism

Ideology where citizens work for the common good, opposing authoritarian institutions, prevalent among American colonists in the mid-18th century.

Mercantilism

British economic system expecting colonies to export raw materials to Britain and import manufactured goods exclusively from Britain.

Stamp Act

Imposed in 1765, requiring colonists to use stamped paper to certify payment of taxes on various goods, leading to widespread protests and eventual repeal.

Townshend revenue duties

Taxes imposed by the British government on goods imported to the American colonies, which were later repealed due to pressure from Lord North.

Committees of Correspondence

Communication networks established by American colonies to maintain contact and share information in the years leading up to the Revolution.

Boston Tea Party

A protest in 1773 where American colonists, disguised as Indians, dumped tea from British ships into the Boston Harbor to resist the Tea Act.

Intolerable Acts

Laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, including restrictions on colonial rights and the closure of the Boston harbor.

First Continental Congress

A meeting in 1774 where delegates from 12 American colonies gathered to address grievances over the Intolerable Acts and called for a boycott of British goods.

Articles of Confederation

The first written constitution adopted by the American colonies in 1781, outlining the structure of their government.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 advocating for American independence from British rule and the establishment of a republic.

Declaration of Independence

A document drafted by Thomas Jefferson and approved by Congress on July 4, 1776, explaining the reasons for the American colonies' decision to seek independence from Britain.

Patriots and Loyalists

Terms used during the American Revolution to describe supporters of independence (Patriots) and those loyal to the British crown (Loyalists).

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Agreement that formally ended the American Revolutionary War, with Britain recognizing the independence of the United States and ceding territories to Spain.

Articles of Confederation

America's first constitution, adopted in 1777, which established a weak central government with limited powers, leading to issues such as the inability to regulate commerce and enforce tax collection.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Legislation stating that the Old Northwest's land should be sold to pay off the national debt, marking a significant step in organizing and selling western lands.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Established a system for governing the Northwest Territories, allowing for the creation of new states and prohibiting slavery in these territories, showcasing a model for future expansion and statehood.

Society of the Cincinnati

An exclusive hereditary order formed by Continental Army officers, symbolizing the post-Revolutionary War social structure and concerns about potential aristocracy.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 uprising in Pennsylvania against the excise tax on whiskey, which was quelled by federal troops sent by President Washington, demonstrating the new government's ability to enforce laws.

Jay's Treaty

Treaty between the U.S. and Britain causing Spain to make a deal with the U.S. due to fear of an Anglo-American alliance.

Pinckney's Treaty

1795 treaty with Spain granting Americans free navigation of the Mississippi River and disputed territory north of Florida.

Farewell Address

Washington's advice against permanent alliances and his departure from office in 1797.

XYZ Affair

French demand for a bribe from American negotiators, leading to preparations for war by the U.S.

Alien Laws

Series of oppressive laws passed by Federalist Congress targeting foreigners supporting Jefferson.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

States' rights resolutions passed by Virginia and Kentucky in response to Alien Laws.

Federalists

Supported strong central government, private enterprise, and British interests.

Democratic-Republicans

Advocated weak central government, states' rights, and opposed Federalist policies.

Louisiana Purchase

Purchase of Louisiana territory from France in 1803 for $15 million, doubling the size of the U.S.

Marbury vs

1803 Supreme Court case establishing judicial review and the Court's authority in interpreting the Constitution.

Protective Tariff

The Tariff of 1816 was established by Congress to protect American companies from British competition by imposing a tax on imported goods.

American System

Henry Clay's economic plan included a strong banking system, protective tariffs, and infrastructure development to boost the U.S. economy.

Era of Good Feelings

The period during President Monroe's administration characterized by political harmony between the two major parties.

Panic of 1819

The first financial crisis during Monroe's presidency caused by over-speculation in frontier lands and the actions of the Bank of the United States.

Missouri Compromise

Henry Clay's compromise in 1820 admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance between slave and free states.

Monroe Doctrine

President Monroe's policy warning European powers against colonization and intervention in the Americas, asserting U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Spoils System

Andrew Jackson's practice of appointing supporters to government positions, replacing existing officials with loyalists.

Tariff of Abominations

The high tariff of 1828, disliked by the South, led to tensions and the Nullification Crisis in South Carolina.

Indian Removal Act

Passed in 1830, it forced the relocation of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to reservations in the West.

Bank War

President Jackson's conflict with the Bank of the United States, culminating in the veto of the bank's charter renewal in 1832.

Bank War

Jackson's decision to remove federal deposits from the Bank of the United States, leading to its demise and the rise of "pet banks."

Specie Circular

Jackson's decree requiring public lands to be purchased with metallic money, contributing to the financial panic of 1837.

Whigs

Conservatives supporting government programs, reforms, and internal improvements like canals and railroads.

Independent Treasury

Established in 1840, locking government funds in vaults to separate government and banking.

Texas Independence

Texas declared independence in 1836, with Sam Houston leading the Texas army against Santa Anna.

Industrial Revolution

Introduction of steam-powered machines and factories, transforming the American economy in the 19th century.

Cult of Domesticity

Cultural creed glorifying the homemaker's role, prevalent during the Industrial Revolution.

McCormick Reaper

Horse-drawn mechanical reaper revolutionizing crop harvesting in the West.

Erie Canal

Constructed in 1825, connecting the Great Lakes with the Hudson River, reducing shipping costs and transit time.

Market Revolution

Transformation of the American economy from self-sufficiency to purchasing goods produced nationwide.

Deism

A belief system that relies on science rather than the Bible, denies the divinity of Christ, and acknowledges a Supreme Being who created the universe and endowed humans with moral behavior.

Unitarianism

Derived from Deism, it believes in one God in one person, rejecting the Trinity, and appealed mostly to intellectuals.

Second Great Awakening

A religious revival starting in 1800 that led to increased religious fervor in the United States, with women becoming more involved in religion.

Peter Cartwright

A revivalist and traveling preacher who converted thousands to Christianity during the Second Great Awakening.

Denominational Diversity

The widening gap between societal classes and regions due to the Second Great Awakening, with more prosperous denominations in the East less affected by revivalism.

Joseph Smith

Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in 1830, who led the Mormons to Illinois and was succeeded by Brigham Young after his death in 1844.

Horace Mann

Advocate for a better school system and tax-supported public education between 1825-1850 in the United States.

Transcendentalism

A movement in the 1830s believing in knowledge beyond the senses, emphasizing self-reliance, self-culture, and self-discipline, with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau as key figures.

American Colonization Society

Founded in 1817, focused on transporting blacks back to Africa, leading to the establishment of the Republic of Liberia in 1822.

William Lloyd Garrison

Militant abolitionist who published The Liberator and publicly burned a copy of the Constitution, advocating for the immediate end of slavery.

Rebellion in Canada (1837)

A small rebellion in Canada in 1837 failed due to lack of Canadian support despite American backing.

The Caroline Affair (1837)

The sinking of the American ship Caroline by a British ship in 1837 led to ineffective protests from Washington officials.

Creole Incident (1841)

British officials in the Bahamas offered asylum to 130 Virginia slaves who had rebelled and captured the American ship Creole in 1841.

Aroostook War (1842)

Skirmishes in northern Maine in 1842, known as the Aroostook War, arose due to a disputed road planned by the British to link Halifax to Quebec.

Texas Independence

Mexico refused to recognize Texas's independence post-1836, leading to threats of war if America protected Texas.