Early American History and Westward Expansion

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering early United States expansion, treaties, conflicts, foreign policy, and domestic political crises from the 1790s through the mid-19th century.

Cumberland Gap

A pass through the mountains formed by a meteorite that opened a route to the West, beyond which western expansion was outlawed by the King of England.

Shawnee

An American Indian tribe living west of the Cumberland Gap; $50$ of Daniel Boone's men died during conflicts while settling Kentucky in this region.

Beaver

The most valuable commodity in the American West, hunted by frontier trappers of whom $\frac{1}{5}$ did not survive.

Grizzly Bear

Identified as the most deadly frontier beast encountered by westward travelers and trappers.

Donner Party

A pioneer group whose final obstacle was the Sierra Nevada; stranded for $5\text{ months}$ after snow began falling on the night of a broken axle.

Battle of the Alamo

A battle won by the Mexican army during the era when Texas was Mexican territory.

California Gold Rush

A massive influx of $100{,}000$ prospectors into the foothills within a year, sparked by the discovery of gold the same month California became American.

Missouri Compromise

A congressional agreement meant to balance power between slave and non-slave states at $11$ states each, approving Missouri's admission as a slave state.

Mexican-American War

A conflict sparked by the annexation of Texas and a boundary dispute over the Nueces River or Rio Grande, which ended after Mexico surrendered.

Treaty of Guadalupe

The peace agreement that ended the Mexican-American War, under which Mexico surrendered territory and the United States purchased land from Mexico for $\\text{\$10 million}$.

Indian Removal Act

Legislation passed to acquire tribal lands by forcing Native Americans to the west, specifically impacting the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole, Cherokee, and Creek.

Trail of Tears

The forced relocation of Native Americans to the west under the Indian Removal Act, during which $15{,}000$ Cherokee were displaced and $4{,}000$ died.

Oregon Trail

A grueling $2{,}000\text{-mile}$ trail from Missouri to Oregon City traveled by $300{,}000\text{ to }500{,}000$ Americans over $4\text{ to }5\text{ months}$, promoted by allowing white citizens to claim up to $640\text{ acres}$ of land.

War of 1812

A conflict between Britain and America over ocean control and limited trade, which resulted in the burning of the White House, strengthened American pride, and led to the demise of the Federalist party.

Treaty of Ghent

The treaty signed between Great Britain and the United States that brought an end to the War of $1812$.

Monroe Doctrine

A foreign policy statement by James Monroe calling for an end to European colonization in the Western Hemisphere and barring mutual interference in political affairs.

Louisiana Purchase

The $1803$ acquisition of central North American territory from Napoleon for $\\text{\$16 million}$ under Thomas Jefferson, which doubled the size of the United States and secured full control of the Mississippi River.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

A journey led by co-leaders lasting approximately $2\text{ years and }4\text{ months}$, traveling up the Missouri River and down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean to explore the Louisiana Purchase and establish trade with Native Americans.

Sacagawea

A Native girl with an infant son who assisted the Lewis and Clark expedition as a skilled scavenger, translator, speaker, and guide who provided food.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Four laws passed in $1798$ by the Federalist party, including three internal security laws (Alien Enemies Act, Alien Friends Act, Naturalization Act) restricting French and Irish immigrants, and the Sedition Act banning false writings against the government.

Election of 1800

A presidential contest that resulted in an initial tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, broken by Alexander Hamilton endorsing Jefferson, which eventually led to a duel in which Hamilton was shot and killed.

Marbury v. Madison

A Supreme Court case involving William Marbury whose commission was ruled null and invalid following Federalist attempts to reorganize the federal judiciary under the Judiciary Act.

Midnight Judges

Federalist judicial officials appointed by John Adams and the losing Federalist party under the Judiciary Act to fill the federal court system with political allies.

Whiskey Rebellion

An uprising by liquor producers angered over Alexander Hamilton's whiskey tax to pay state debts, leading to attacks on federal revenue officers until George Washington issued a proclamation that strengthened national authority.

Election of 1796

The presidential contest following George Washington stepping down, won by John Adams over Thomas Jefferson amidst low public interest.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic scandal between France and the United States where French officials attempted to bully the U.S. into siding with France, sparking an undeclared naval war.