ACC Final Review Guide

Vocabulary flashcards for US History review.

George Washington

Served as the first president of the United States, playing a crucial role in the nation's founding and shaping of its early government and policies. A pivotal figure in American history.

No taxation without representation

A rallying cry during the American Revolution, this slogan encapsulated the colonists' frustration with British policies that imposed taxes without granting them representation in the British Parliament, highlighting issues of political and economic control.

Boston Massacre/Crispus Attucks

A significant event leading up to the American Revolution in which British soldiers killed several colonists. Crispus Attucks, an African American, was among the first to die, becoming a symbol of the struggle for freedom.

Boston Tea Party

A direct act of defiance by American colonists against the British government and the East India Company, it involved colonists dumping tea into Boston Harbor to protest unfair taxation policies, particularly the Tea Act of 1773.

Thomas Paine/Common Sense

The writer of 'Common Sense,' a highly influential pamphlet that articulated the arguments for American independence in clear and persuasive language, swaying public opinion and galvanizing support for the revolution.

Declaration of Independence

A formal statement declaring the thirteen American colonies independent from Great Britain, asserting the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and outlining grievances against the British crown.

Abigail Adams/advocacy for women

An early advocate for women's rights, she used her letters and influence to promote ideas of equality and education for women during the Revolutionary era, urging her husband, John Adams, and other leaders to consider women's roles in the new nation.

Articles of Confederation

The first attempt to establish a unified government for the newly independent United States. It lacked a strong central authority and was later replaced by the Constitution due to its weaknesses in governing the new nation.

Shay’s Rebellion

An armed uprising in Massachusetts, where farmers protested against state and local enforcement of tax collections and judgments for debt. Highlighted the economic hardships and the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, leading to calls for a stronger national government.

Great Compromise

A crucial agreement during the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature. It established the Senate with equal representation for each state and the House of Representatives with representation based on population, resolving disputes between states with large and small populations.

3 branches of government/separation of powers/checks and balances

The structure of the U.S. government is divided into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. Each branch has specific powers and responsibilities, with a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch dominates the others.

Hamiltonian Federalists/Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans

The first political parties in the United States. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, advocated for a strong central government and a national bank, while the Democratic-Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson, favored states' rights and an agrarian society, marking the beginning of partisan politics in the U.S.

presidential elections/Electoral College/House of Representatives choose if no majority in EC/1800 and 1824 elections

The process by which the President of the United States is elected, involving the Electoral College. If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives makes the decision. The elections of 1800 and 1824 are examples of situations where the House had to choose the president.

War of 1812/Battle of Ft McHenry/Star Spangled Banner

A military conflict between the United States and Great Britain, caused by issues such as trade restrictions and impressment of American sailors. The Battle of Fort McHenry, during which Francis Scott Key wrote 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' became a symbol of American resilience.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. foreign policy doctrine that warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of countries in the Western Hemisphere. Declared that the Americas were no longer open to European colonization and asserted U.S. dominance in the region.

Trail of Tears

A series of forced displacements of approximately 60,000 Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the Southeastern United States to areas west of the Mississippi River. Thousands died during the journey due to exposure, disease, and starvation, marking a dark chapter in American history.

McCulloch v Maryland

A landmark Supreme Court case that affirmed the implied powers of Congress, holding that the Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress the power to enact laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. Reinforced the authority of the federal government over the states.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

An influential anti-slavery novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which depicted the harsh realities of slavery and fueled the abolitionist movement in the United States. It intensified the sectional conflict between the North and South and contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.

John Brown/Harper’s Ferry

An abolitionist who led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to start a slave rebellion. His actions intensified the conflict over slavery and deepened the divide between the North and South.

13th Amendment

A constitutional amendment that abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, marking a significant step towards equality and justice for African Americans.

Lincoln’s presidency

Led the Union through the Civil War, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation and working towards the preservation of the United States as one nation, and he played a key role in the passage of the 13th amendment.

Dred Scott Decision

A controversial Supreme Court decision that denied citizenship to slaves and declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. The ruling increased tensions and deepened the divide between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, pushing the country closer to civil war.

popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives (Rule by the People), who are the source of all political power.

William Seward/Alaska

The U.S. Secretary of State under President Andrew Johnson, he negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 for 7.2 million. At the time, the purchase was mocked by many, who called it 'Seward's Folly,' but it proved to be a valuable acquisition for the United States. In current value (as of March 2024), that's the equivalent of 163,974,433.77$$

Andrew Johnson/vetoes/impeachment

The U.S. President who faced impeachment proceedings in 1868 due to disagreements with Congress over Reconstruction policies. He was acquitted by the Senate, but his presidency was marked by political conflict and controversy.

Freedman’s Bureau

An agency established by the U.S. government to aid former slaves in the aftermath of the Civil War, providing assistance with education, employment, and healthcare. It played a crucial role in helping African Americans transition to freedom and citizenship.

Hiram Revels

The first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate, representing the state of Mississippi during the Reconstruction era. His election marked a significant milestone in American history and symbolized the progress made in race relations after the Civil War.

Sitting Bull/Sioux

A prominent Sioux chief and leader who resisted U.S. government policies and fought to protect Native American lands and culture. He is remembered for his role in the Battle of Little Bighorn and his commitment to preserving the traditions of his people.

Buffalo & their significance

Were central to the lives of Native Americans on the Great Plains, providing food, shelter, clothing, and tools. The near extinction of the buffalo had a devastating impact on Native American communities, contributing to their forced assimilation and loss of traditional ways of life.

A Century of Dishonor

A critical account of the history of the injustices perpetrated on the native americans, written by Helen Hunt Jackson, published in 1881, that increased public awareness of the plight of Native Americans in the United States

Ghost Dance/Battle of Wounded Knee

A religious movement among Native Americans that sought to restore their traditional way of life and resist U.S. government policies. The Battle of Wounded Knee, in which hundreds of unarmed Native Americans were killed by U.S. soldiers, marked the end of the Ghost Dance movement and symbolized the tragic consequences of cultural suppression.

Dawes Act

A U.S. federal law that was designed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society by dividing tribal lands into individual plots and allotting them to Native American families. It undermined tribal sovereignty and led to the loss of Native American lands and culture.

Homestead Act

A U.S. federal law that provided settlers with 160 acres of public land in the West in exchange for a small filing fee and a commitment to live on and cultivate the land for five years. Encouraged westward expansion and agricultural development, but also led to conflicts with Native Americans and environmental challenges.

Boss Tweed/Tammany Hall/Thomas Nast

A political figure who controlled Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party machine in New York City, during the mid-19th century. Known for his corruption and patronage, he was eventually brought down by the political cartoons of Thomas Nast, who exposed his misdeeds to the public.

Jim Crow laws

State and local laws enacted in the Southern United States that enforced racial segregation, denying African Americans equal rights and opportunities in education, employment, housing, and public accommodations. These laws perpetuated racial discrimination and inequality for decades.

spoils system/patronage/merit system/Pendleton Act

A practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs and favors. The Pendleton Act of 1883 established a merit system for hiring and promoting civil servants, aiming to reduce corruption and improve government efficiency.

Steel industry/Bessemer Process/Carnegie

A method developed in the mid-19th century for the mass production of steel. This process made steel more affordable and accessible, leading to its widespread use in construction, manufacturing, and transportation. Andrew Carnegie was a leading figure in the American steel industry, and his company, Carnegie Steel, dominated the market in the late 19th century.

17th Amendment

A constitutional amendment that established the direct election of U.S. senators by the people of each state, rather than by state legislatures, enhancing democracy and making senators more accountable to their constituents.

Teddy Roosevelt/bully pulpit/conservation

Known for his energetic personality and progressive policies. He used the 'bully pulpit' of the presidency to advocate for social justice, conservation, and regulation of big business. His conservation efforts led to the establishment of national parks and forests, protecting natural resources for future generations.

Federal Meat Inspection Act/Upton Sinclair/The Jungle

A law passed in response to public outcry over unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, which were exposed in Upton Sinclair's novel 'The Jungle.' The Act required federal inspection of meatpacking plants and established standards for cleanliness and safety, protecting consumers from contaminated food.

Suffrage/19th Amendment

The right to vote, a fundamental right for citizens in a democracy. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote, ending decades of struggle by suffragists and expanding democracy to include women.

Political progressivism

A political movement that sought to address social and economic problems through government action. Focused on issues such as political corruption, economic inequality, and social justice, aiming to create a more equitable and democratic society.

18th Amendment

A constitutional amendment that prohibited the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. It was intended to reduce crime and improve public health but ultimately proved to be ineffective and was repealed by the 21st Amendment.

Scopes Monkey Trial

A highly publicized trial in 1925 in which a Tennessee teacher, John Scopes, was accused of violating state law by teaching evolution in a public school. It highlighted the conflict between science and religion and became a symbol of the cultural tensions of the 1920s. Although Scopes was found guilty, the trial brought national attention to the issue of evolution and helped to advance the acceptance of science in American society.

Teapot Dome

A major scandal during the Harding administration in which Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall leased oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming, and Elk Hills, California, to private oil companies in exchange for bribes. The scandal damaged President Harding's reputation and led to increased scrutiny of government corruption.

20th Amendment

A constitutional amendment that moved the presidential inauguration date from March to January, shortening the 'lame duck' period between the election and the start of the new presidential term. It aimed to improve government efficiency and responsiveness to the will of the people.

21st Amendment

A constitutional amendment that repealed the 18th Amendment, ending Prohibition and legalizing the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. It marked a shift in public opinion and government policy regarding alcohol regulation.

Great Migration

The movement of millions of African Americans from the rural South to the cities of the North and West, driven by factors such as racial discrimination, economic hardship, and the promise of greater opportunities. It transformed the demographics and culture of American cities and contributed to the growth of the civil rights movement.

FDR/1944 Election

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four terms in office, leading the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. The 1944 election was particularly significant as it occurred during the height of World War II, and Roosevelt's victory demonstrated Americans' confidence in his leadership during a time of crisis.

GI Bill

A law that provided benefits to returning World War II veterans, including education, housing, and employment assistance. It helped millions of veterans transition back to civilian life and contributed to the postwar economic boom.

Cold War military budgets/50s and 60s economic prosperity

The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union led to increased military spending in both countries. This military buildup stimulated economic growth, particularly in the aerospace, technology, and defense industries, contributing to economic prosperity in the 1950s and 1960s.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program that provided economic assistance to European countries after World War II, helping them rebuild their economies and prevent the spread of communism. It was named after Secretary of State George Marshall and played a key role in the postwar recovery of Europe.

Interstate Highway System

A network of highways built in the United States in the 1950s, facilitated travel, commerce, and national defense. The system transformed the American landscape and economy and spurred the growth of suburbs and the automobile industry.