apush vocab set 5 (11.28 to 1.10)

oligarchy (n.)

oligarchy (n.)

government in which power is held by a select few individuals or by a small class of powerful people

chattel (n.)

any movable article of personal property, either animate or inanimate

bigotry (n.)

narrow-mindedness; prejudice; stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief,, or opinion that differs from one’s own; the beliefs, prejudices, actions, etc., of a bigot

spiritual (n.)

a religious folk song, especially one of African-American slave origin

martyr (n.)

person who sacrifices something of great value, especially their life, for a higher principle or cause

incumbent (n.)

person who currently holds a political office

doughface (n.)

Northerner who sympathized with the South during the controversies over new territories and slavery before the Civil War

fire-eater (n.)

an early and extreme Southern advocate of secession before the Civil War

bombastic (adj.)

concerning speech, writing, etc; high-sounding; pompous; pretentious; inflated; intended to impress

stalwart (adj.)

firm, steadfast, uncompromising

“Manifest Destiny” (obvious fate) (n.)

phrase coined by journalist John O’Sullivan in 1845 to express the popular belief that the US would inevitably expand westward to the Pacific Ocean due to a God given right and responsibility, as well as due to the responsibility, as well as to the superiority of the American people and their institutions

“dark horse” (n.)

candidate who is unexpectedly nominated at a political convention (and who perhaps even wins the election)

“popular sovereignty” (n.)

doctrine which states that the people living in a given territory should be free from federal interference to decide upon internal policy issues, especially with regard to slavery

“free soiler” (n.)

person opposing the further expansion of slavery or the admission of more slave states into the Union (but not necessarily an “abolitionist”)

placer mining (n.)

when individual prospectors wash surface mineral deposits (“alluvial” - matter deposited by flowing water/rivers/floods) to separate the gold or other valuable minerals from the surrounding sand and gravel

electorate (n.)

body of persons entitled to vote in an election

belligerent (adj.)

of warlike character; aggressively hostile; bellicose

mobilize (v.)

to adapt or organize for a purpose; to prepare for war or other emergency by organizing national resources, industries, transportation, and the military for service to the government

attrition (n.)

military strategy in which a belligerent attempts to win a war by gradually wearing down its enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and materiel

“border ruffians” (n.)

pro-slavery forces from Missouri, who poured into neighboring Kansas Territory after the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854; heavily armed and using fraudulent election tactics to try to force Kansas to become a slave state, their violence contributed to “Bleeding Kansas” (1854-1861)

“jayhawkers” (n.)

militant anti-slavery abolitionists and free-soilers who flocked to Kansas Territory after the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, in order to fight in the guerilla war known as “Bleeding Kansas” (1854-1861); the enemies of the “border ruffians” (now a nickname for anyone from Kansas)

writ of habeas corpus (n.)

formal document ordering that a prisoner be brought before a judge or court to secure the person’s release, unless lawful grounds are shown for their imprisonment; the constitutional right that protects citizens against arbitrary arrest and detention

“martial law” (n.)

when the military enforces the law or takes control of the normal administration of justice, especially when civil authority has broken down, or during times of national crisis or war

emancipation (n.)

the freeing of someone from the control of another, or from any social, political, or legal restrictions

enfranchise (v.)

to admit to citizenship, especially to the right of voting

“greenback” (n.)

paper currency issued during the US Civil War that was “legal tender,” but which was not backed by gold or silver (only the good credit of the US government); led to gradual inflation

scuttle (v.)

to deliberately sink a vessel; to abandon, withdraw from, undermine, or cause to be abandoned, undermined, or destroyed

siege (n.)

military tactic in which an enemy is surrounded and starved in order to force their surrender

forage (v.)

to wander in search of provisions (food, supplies) by stripping the countryside; to ravage or raid

“Copperhead” (n.)

Northern Democrat who opposed the Civil War, advocating peace and restoration of the Union, even if it meant that slavery continued in the South

amnesty (n.)

a general pardon for offenses, especially political offenses against a government, often granted before any trial or conviction

“total war” (n.)

harsh and controversial military strategy (aka “scorched earth” policy) implemented by Union generals such as William T. Sherman against southern civilians and infrastructure; it’s designed to destroy the enemy’s will to go on fighting