TTU US History 1A: questions, chapters, final review

How did geography influence the ways Native Americans cultures developed?

The geography of an area dictated what types of economies and lifestyles developed. For example, people

in what is now the dry Southwest built irrigation systems to farm or relied on nomadic hunting techniques.

What drove some European rulers to send explorers in search of a water route to Asia?

The rulers wanted to bypass Italian and Arab merchants who controlled trade in Mediterranean. To reach Asia commercially, the Europeans had to go through the Middle East who taxed them and cost them quite a lot of money. New technological advances helped facilitate the expeditions

For what reasons were the thirteen colonies founded?

The Thirteen colonies were founded to escape religious persectuions. They also came for economic gain like the joint stock companies and to produce profits from plantations. Also, it provided a source for raw materials and markets for English goods.

Why did the colonies fight a war for independence against Great Britain?

The colonies were upset with the taxes that were forced upon them. The Enlightenment that had been spreading inspired them that they could have their self government. Britain had exploited them with their raw materials and made them pay for the manufactured English goods.

What are the key compromises and provisions incorporated in the U.S. Constitution?

The Constitution described federalism where power is divided between the national and state governments. I also discussed separation of power where the power was divided into the three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It also established a system of checks and balances which prevents one of the branches form becoming too powerful.

Why did political parties emerge in the new republic, and what were the consequences?

People had different views about how power should be split among the national and state governments and the debate over Hamiltons financial program divided Congress into rival political parties. The Federalists agreed with Hamilton who wanted a strong national government while the Democratic- Republicans favored Jefferson and Madison who wanted more power for the states. This led to a divided Congress and the Federalists lost and Jefferson was the next president.

How is the legislative branch organized, and what are its functions?

The legislative branch includes two houses: the Senate and House of Representatives. Both Houses evaluates bills. Congress has two roles: to make laws and decide how to spend federal funds.

How does the president carry out laws that Congress passes?

The president becomes a chief executive and is responsible for carrying out the nations laws. He must play many different roles to in government. He also need many qualities of an effective leaders like communicating clearly and making wise decisions.

How did life in the North change in the early 1800's?

Many immigrants settled in cities in the North for example Irish immigrants after the famine. Many of them were Catholic which led to anti Catholic groups who wanted laws banning immigrants from holding public office. The North became more industrialized with many factories and cities. Angered workers with low wage jobs created worker unions who rebelled.

How would you evaluate the "Age of Jackson"?

I would evaluate the Age of Jackson as a not very effective time period for America. There was a big dispute with South Carolina. He severely weakened the Second Bank of America. And the Indian Removal Act was not very pleasing towards the natives.

What common characteristics did reform movements of this era share?

All reforms movements had ideas that differed from what was originally thought of. They all were effective and rallied up other people to support. They all were probably somewhat inspired by the Enlightenment.

What were the advantages and disadvantages for the North and the South at the start of the war?

The advantages for the North were bigger pop, more factories for ammunition, more railroads to disturb Southern rail system and block supplies, banks held lots of cash and continued revenue from tariffs, blocked Southern ports which reduced their trade. The disadvantages were not as experienced officers. The advantages for the South were experienced officers. The disadvantages were smaller pop, less factories and rails, financially poor, farmers in debt could not buy bonds, banks small and few cash reserves, trade blocked by north, refused to pay tax and forced to print paper money which caused rapid inflation.

Why were Vicksburg and Gettysburg turning points in the war?

The victory at Vicksburg allowed the Union to split the South into two which made it much easier to overcome the South. After Gettysburg, the Confederacy remained on defense and Lee never attempted to invade the North again. The Unions victory at Gettysburg strengthened Republicans politically and ensured that the British would not recognize the Confederacy.

Louisiana Purchase

dramatically increased both the national debt and the size of the United States

proprietary colony

granted by a king or queen to an individual or group who could make laws and rule as they wished

Compromise of 1850

plan by Senator Henry Clay to maintain the balance of power between slave states and free states in the United States Congress

Adams-Onis Treaty

Spain gave up Florida and the Pacific Northwest to the United States

industrialization

the movement toward more manufacturing

Bill of Rights

guarantees to protect citizens' rights

abolitionist movement

the attempt to end slavery started by free African Americans and whites

boycott

refusal to buy certain products or use certain services

Triangular trade

rum and firearms were traded for African slaves and then sugar

Columbian exchange

European ships carried exciting foods from the Americas

Who argued that governments exist because people allow them to exist?

John Locke

The American colonists explained their reasons for revolution in the

Declaration of Independence

The system created to prevent any one of the three branches of government from becoming too powerful is called

checks and balances

The nation's first two political parties were the Federalists and the

Anti-Federalists

The Articles of Confederation were weak because they

did not provide judicial branch

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 involved the United States and

France

In 1836, Texas won a war for independence from

Mexico

The change in the way Americans made, bought, and sold goods is known as the

Industrial Revolution

The temperance movement of the early 1800s was often led by

women reformers

What made river travel more reliable and upstream travel easier?

steamboats

implied powers

not explicitly listed in the Constitution but necessary for government to do its job

Congress

group of delegates from the each state that made up the entire government under the Articles of Confederation

Treaty of Ghent

signed by negations to end the War of 1812

executive branch

headed by a president who would implement and enforce federal law

secession

states leaving the Union

Manifest Destiny

the idea that God had given the continent to Americans and wanted them to settle western land

annexation

the official takeover of territory

Uncle Tom's Cabin

anti-slavery novel that changed Northern perceptions of slavery

Kansas Nebraska Act

citizens decide whether to permit or prohibit slavery

President Lincoln gave the famous Gettysburg Address to

dedicate a cemetery for soldiers who had died there.

Union General Grant recognized that southern supplies were coming from the Shenandoah Valley and ordered

his troops to destroy the area and leave it barren.

Women often served in the Civil War as

nurses, cooks, laundry women

Protests to the war were led by northern Democrats known as

Copperheads

Southern naval designers created an ironclad vessel from this salvaged Union frigate wreck.

Merrimack

Lincoln's reconstruction plan called for the

pardon of any southerner who would take an oath of loyalty to the Union.

The Radical Republican plan for reconstruction put the South

under military rule.

In 1870, Hiram Revels of Mississippi became the first African American to

be elected to the United States Senate.

The massive amount of rebuilding that was needed in the southern states sometimes led to

corruption among government officials.

The Compromise of 1877 resulted from

a dispute over the presidential election of 1876.

Why was cattle ranching an important business for the Great Plains?

The Texas longhorn was well adapted to this region and flourished on scarce water and tough prairie grasses. The open range allowed for ranchers to graze their herds free of charge and unrestricted by private property.

What developments of the late 1800's attracted settlers to endure the hardships of the Great Plains?

The construction of railroads stimulated growth as well as the Homestead act. New technology methods like dry farming and innovations helped produce crops that growed in the Great Plains. Also the discovery of gold led to settlement.

How did the arrival of new settlers affect the Plains Indians?

The arrival of new settler stimulated tension with the Plains Indians. It led to conflicts like Dakota Sioux Uprising, Red Clouds war, etc. It also led to some americanization and assimilation.

What were two significant factors in the growth of the U.S. industry?

Two significant factors in the growth of US industry were abundance of raw materials, and new technological innovations

Which invention do you think had the most lasting influence?

I think the steam engine had the most lasting influence. It allowed for more efficient transportation and it allowed for factories to be located anywhere

How did laisses-faire economics encourage businesses to industrialize?

In laissez-faire there were few regulations on commerce and immigration which led to rapid economic growth. It created a free market with competing companies leads to greater efficiency and creates more wealth for everyone.

How did the transcontinental railroad transform the West?

The transcontinental railroad linked the nation and allowed people to settle in the west. It increased the markets for many products, spurring industrial growth. Railroad companies also stimulated the economy by spending huge amounts of money on steel, coal, timber, and other materials.

How did government grants to build railroads result in large-scale corporations?

To encourage railroad construction across the Great Plains, the federal government gave land grants to many railroad companies. The railroads then sold the land to settlers, real estate companies, and other businesses to raise money to build the railroad.

What advantages do large corporations have over small businesses?

Large corporations could produce more goods at a lower cost and could stay open in bad economic times by cutting prices to increase sales. Small businesses could not compete with large corporations and were forced out of business.

Why did workers try to form unions in the late 1800's?

The workers were upset with the poor working conditions, the low wages, and the long working hours.

Grange

Patrons of Husbandry, founded in 1866

mass production

manufacturing of large amounts of materials

anarchists

radicals who oppose all forms of government

assimilation

process by which one society adopts the culture of another

vertical consolidation

gaining control of different businesses that make up all phases of a product's development

land speculators

people who bought up large tracts of land to resell

collective bargaining

workers negotiate as a group with employers

homesteaders

farmed claims of land in the west

floor manager

overseer of the factory operation

Titusville

Pennsylvania oil boomtown

Inventors often seek __________ to protect their inventions.

patents

Transportation in the 1800s was vastly improved by the development of

railroads, canals, turnpikes

Andrew Carnegie developed the theory called

Gospel of Wealth

Sweatshops were places where

employees worked long hours at low wages.

Many employers disliked and feared unions because

they preferred to deal with employees as individuals and they feared costs would go up if they had to meet union demands.

Exodusters were

freed African Americans who immigrated to the West.

The United States government tried to restrict the movement of Indians with the

reservation policy

Mining spread throughout the West with the discovery of gold in 1848 in the central Sierra Nevada foothills of

California

Widespread cattle ranching became possible on the Great Plains because

the Native Americans and the buffalo had been removed from the Plains.

The Populists built their policies around the following issue:

increasing the use of silver and the circulation of more money.

In the late 1800s, businesses claimed that _________ protected American factory jobs.

tariffs

Though pioneer life is often romanticized in novels and movies, most __________ found life to be very rugged.

homesteaders

In the late 1800s, the federal government opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to settlers who became known as the __________ These settlers were also known as _________.

sooners, boomers

The Pullman Strike of 1877 involved the __________ and Eugene V. Debs.

American Railway Union

Workers called in by an employer to replace strikers were known as __________.

strikebreakers

Formed in 1886 under the leadership of __________, the American Federation of Labor was a craft union.

Samuel gompers

__________ is an economic and political philosophy that favors public instead of private control of property and income.

Marxism

In the 1800s, many poor urban families relied on __________ rather than government aid.

charities

Some companies of the 1800s set out to gain a __________, or complete control of a product or service.

monopolies

How did the experience of immigrating to the United States compare for Chinese and Europeans?

European immigrants fled due to religious persecution and economic reasons. The European immigrants had to go through Ellis Island in order to settle in the Americas. They also created small ethnic groups and neighborhoods and each worked in different jobs. They mainly settled in the East coast area. Wheras asians mainly settled in the West coast area. They fled due to unemployment and famine after the Taiping Rebellion. They also heard news of gold. The immigrants temporarily stayed in Angel Island

How do you think life in the big cities was different from life on farms and in small towns?

Life in the big cities was more urbanized and more polluted. There were lots of factories and tall buildings instead of flat buildings. Compared to the rural towns, it was more noisy and crowded. There were more jobs available.

Why did "political machines" develop in cities?

The political machine was created bc cities had grown much faster than their governments. New city dwellers needed jobs, housing, food, heat, and police protection. They provided necessary services and helped assimilate new city dwellers.

What was the main idea of Social Darwinism, and how did it compare with the idea of individualism?

The main idea of Social Darwinism was that humans have developed through competition and natural selection with only the strongest surviving, also known as "survival of the fittest". Whereas individualism was the idea that no matter what a person's background is, the person can still become successful through effort. It was a more positive view than Social Darwinism.

Why do you think artists and writers started portraying America more realistically?

I think they started portraying people more realistically because people were being influenced by the Renaissance. The Renaissance allowed people to look back at Ancient Greek art and started styling them more down to earth with facial features and movements. People were then inspired by the art forms from the Renaissance and wanted to portray people more realistically.

Why was civil service reform needed?

The civil service reform was needed to end the spoils system and put everyone on even ground. Government workers were given jobs based on qualifications rather than on political affiliation.

What kinds of problems did farmers face?

High tariffs also made it hard for farmers to sell their goods overseas. In addition, mortgages with large banks and rail shipping costs that continued to increase made the farmers' difficulties worse. Deflation meant that farmers sold their crops for less and then had to borrow money for seed and other supplies to plant their next crops. With money in short supply, interest rates began to rise, increasing the amount farmers owed.

How did African Americans resist racism and try to improve their way of life following Reconstruction?

They tried to resist racism by migrating to Kansas to form their own independent communities. They also established a Colored Farmers National Alliance.

What laws did Southern states pass to impose segregation and deny African Americans their voting rights?

The Southern states passed the Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation. They also imposed the poll tax and literacy tests which made it difficult for African Americans to vote.