Key Concepts in American History and National Identity

These flashcards encapsulate key concepts from American history and the formation of national identity, designed to aid in exam preparation.

Nation

A social construct that is an imagined community created through shared stories, symbols, rituals, and beliefs.

National identity

A sense of belonging to a nation defined by factors such as birthplace and religion.

American Exceptionalism

The belief that Americans have a unique destiny separate from that of other nations.

American Civil Religion

A predominantly secular belief system that intertwines with politics.

Founding Myth

A narrative that explains the origins of a society or culture, addressing existential questions.

The first voyage of Columbus (1492)

Columbus's expedition that initiated sustained European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

Jamestown (1607)

The first permanent English settlement in North America, establishing a model for plantation agriculture.

Mayflower Compact

An early agreement for self-rule signed by English religious dissenters in Plymouth (1620).

The Stamp Act (1765)

A British tax that sparked protests in the colonies, uniting colonists against imperial rule.

The Second Continental Congress (1775)

Delegates who directed the Revolutionary War effort and served as a de facto national government.

The Declaration of Independence (1776)

Document declaring the colonies' independence from Britain and justifying revolution.

The American Revolution (1775-1783)

War resulting in U.S. victory and the establishment of an independent republic.

The Trail of Tears (1830s)

Forced westward relocation of Native American tribes, resulting in many deaths.

The Mexican–American War (1846-1848)

Conflict that led to U.S. acquisition of territories such as California and New Mexico.

The First Transcontinental Railroad (1869)

The railroad that connected the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, accelerating westward expansion.

The American Civil War (1861-1865)

Conflict between Union and Confederacy over slavery and states’ rights, resulting in the end of slavery.

The 13th Amendment (1865)

Constitutional amendment that abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.

The Reconstruction Period (1865-1877)

Time when the federal government aimed to reintegrate Southern states and protect freedmen's rights.

The Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)

The killing of hundreds of Lakota Sioux, marking a brutal end to the Plains Indian Wars.

Jim Crow Era

Period of enforced racial segregation and legalized white supremacy in the South.

The Great Migration (c. 1915-1930)

Mass movement of African Americans to Northern cities for jobs and to escape violence.

WWI (U.S. involvement 1917-1918)

U.S. entry into the First World War that tipped the scales toward Allied victory.

Women’s suffrage / 19th Amendment (1920)

Amendment granting women the right to vote, expanding the electorate.

The Great Depression (c. 1929-late 1930s)

Period marked by massive unemployment and economic hardship in the United States.

The Social Security Act (1935)

Law establishing a social safety net including old-age pensions and unemployment insurance.

WWII (U.S. involvement 1941-1945)

U.S. role in defeating Axis powers and emerging as a global superpower.

The attack on Pearl Harbor (1941)

Japan's surprise attack that led to U.S. entry into WWII.

The Cold War (c. 1947-1991)

Competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, marked by ideological conflict.

The Vietnam War (1960s-1973)

U.S. military intervention to prevent communist takeover in South Vietnam.

The Civil Rights Acts (1964 and 1965)

Legislation prohibiting segregation and enhancing voting rights.

The assassination of MLK Jr. (1968)

King's murder that became a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.

The McCarthy Era (early 1950s)

Period marked by aggressive investigations of alleged communists and civil liberties violations.

The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Confrontation over Soviet missiles in Cuba that nearly led to nuclear war.

9/11 (2001)

Terrorist attacks that killed thousands and shocked the United States.

The USA PATRIOT Act (2001)

Legislation expanding surveillance capabilities post-9/11.

Black Lives Matter (from 2013)

Movement advocating against police brutality and systemic racism.

“Make America Great Again”

Trump's slogan emphasizing nationalism and immigration restrictions.

Frontier Myth

Narrative defining American identity through the story of westward expansion.

The Puritans and Pilgrims

Religious dissenters who sought freedom and settled in Plymouth, impacting Native relations.

Frederick Jackson Turner’s Frontier Thesis

Idea that U.S. development was shaped by continuous westward expansion.

Cultural Expression of the Myth

Western films and literature that reinforce ideals of self-reliance and masculinity.

Manifest Destiny

Belief that U.S. was destined to expand across North America.

City Upon a Hill

The idea that the U.S. serves as a moral example to the world.

Founding Fathers

Key historical figures viewed as heroes in the creation of the United States.

Key Myths of American History

Various narratives that shape understanding of American identity, like exceptionalism.