USH BASIS 8 : PreComp

Nomadic

A lifestyle characterized by moving from place to place instead of settling permanently.

Columbian Exchange

The involuntary transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the eastern and western hemispheres.

Proclamation Line of 1763

A law that prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

The Great Awakening

A religious movement that made religion more emotional and exciting, leading to a breakdown in respect for authority.

The Stamp Act

The first direct tax on the colonies, imposing taxes on paper goods.

Triangle Trade Routes

Trade routes connecting Africa, America, and Europe involving raw materials, manufactured goods, and slaves.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement for self-governance signed by the Pilgrims upon arrival at Plymouth.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes increasing exports over imports to accumulate wealth.

Federalists

Those who advocated for a strong central government and supported the new U.S. Constitution.

3/5 Compromise

A compromise where slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for representation purposes.

Whiskey Rebellion

A revolt against the taxation of whiskey, which was viewed as unfair by farmers.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident where the U.S. was asked to pay a bribe to negotiate with France.

Shays Rebellion

An uprising by farmers protesting economic injustices, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Middle Passage

The voyage taken by slave ships from Africa to the Americas.

House of Burgesses

The first representative assembly in the American colonies, established in Virginia.

God, Gold, Glory

The motives behind European exploration, including the desire for wealth, spread of Christianity, and pursuit of fame.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, which created a weak central government.

Necessary & Proper Clause

The clause in the Constitution that allows Congress to make laws [that it deems] necessary to carry out its powers.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice.

Executive Branch

The branch of government tasked with enforcing laws and implementing policies.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government that makes laws.

Treaty of Paris 1783

The agreement that officially ended the Revolutionary War, recognizing U.S. independence.

Boston Tea Party

A protest against British taxation where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence from Britain. [the only answer is independence]

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive laws passed in 1774 by the British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Massacre

A confrontation in 1770 where British soldiers killed five colonists, escalating tensions between Britain and the colonies.

First Continental Congress

A gathering of colonial delegates in 1774 to address colonial grievances and rights.

Declaration of Independence

The document adopted on July 4, 1776, declaring American independence from Britain.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights and freedoms.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century belief that the expansion of the U.S. across the American continents was both justified and inevitable.