HIST EXAM #2

Triangular Trade

A trade route during the 16th centuries that exchanged goods between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Salutary Neglect

Parliament laws and strict trade regulations on the colonies during the 1600s-1700s enforced by Britain.

Mercantilism

An economic theory where nations trade but there is a fixed amount of wealth; if one nation gains wealth, another loses.

French and Indian War

A conflict between England and France in the mid-1700s that resulted in British control over North America.

Treaty of Paris

The treaty that recognized the US as an independent nation and established fair treatment for loyalists.

Proclamation Line of 1763

A boundary established to limit British colonial expansion westward.

Writs of Assistance

Legal documents that allowed British officers to search colonists' property without a warrant.

King George III

The King of Britain from 1760-1820 who imposed strict policies on the American colonies.

Sugar Act

A law passed in 1763 aimed at raising revenue from the colonies by taxing molasses and sugar.

Currency Act

A law passed in 1764 prohibiting the colonies from producing their own paper money.

Quartering Act

A law requiring colonists to provide housing and supplies for British troops.

Stamp Act

A law that taxed printed materials in the colonies, leading to protests and unification against Britain.

Sons of Liberty

An organization formed in Boston to resist British tax laws.

The Townshend Act

A series of laws passed in 1767 imposing taxes on imported goods in the colonies.

Boston Massacre

An incident where British soldiers killed five colonists, igniting colonial unrest.

Samuel Adams

A leader who organized protests against British policies and advocated for American independence.

Gaspée Affair

The burning of a British ship by Sons of Liberty in protest against customs enforcement.

Tea Act

A law that permitted the British East India Company to sell tea directly to colonists, leading to protests.

Intolerable Acts

A series of laws passed to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party.

First Continental Congress

A gathering of colonial representatives in 1774 to address grievances against British rule.

‘The shot heard round the world’

The phrase referencing the first shots fired at Lexington and Concord, starting the Revolutionary War.

Battle of Bunker Hill

The first major battle of the Revolutionary War, resulting in heavy British casualties.

Second Continental Congress

The convention in which colonial representatives managed the Revolutionary war effort.

Continental Army

The army formed by the Second Continental Congress to fight against British rule.

George Washington

The commander of the Continental Army who led the colonies to victory.

Olive Branch Petition

A final attempt by the colonists to avoid war with Britain, rejected by King George III.

Benjamin Franklin

An influential American statesman and diplomat who helped secure French support during the Revolution.

Common Sense

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine that advocated for American independence in clear language.

Declaration of Independence

The document declaring the thirteen American colonies free from British rule.

Hessians

German soldiers hired by Britain to fight against the American revolutionaries.

Robert Morris

The financier of the Revolutionary War who helped stabilize the American economy.

Battle of Saratoga

A turning point battle in the Revolutionary War that secured French alliance with America.

Valley Forge

The site of the Continental Army's difficult winter, symbolizing their resilience.

French Alliance, 1778

The formal alliance between America and France that provided military support.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution.

Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation

A declaration offering freedom to enslaved people who fought for the British.

‘Not worth a continental’

A phrase meaning something is worthless.

Battle of Yorktown

The final battle of the Revolutionary War where Cornwallis surrendered to the American forces.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States that created a weak federal government.

Gabriel Prosser

An enslaved man who led a failed slave revolt in Virginia in 1800.

Confederation Congress (1781-1788)

The governing body that managed national affairs during the Articles of Confederation.

Northwest Territory

Land acquired by the US that would later become several states.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Legislation that established a process for surveying and selling land in the Northwest Territory.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Legislation that outlined the process for admitting new states from the Northwest Territory.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a strong national government with representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a unicameral legislature where each state would have one vote.

Connecticut Compromise

An agreement that established a bicameral legislature in the US Congress.

Federalism

The division of powers between the national and state governments.

‘Necessary and proper clause’

The section of the Constitution allowing Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper.

‘Three-fifths compromise’

Agreement counting three-fifths of the slave population for representation.

The Federalist Papers

A series of essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution.

Anti-federalists

Opponents of the ratification of the Constitution who favored states' rights.

Judiciary Act of 1789

Law that established the federal judiciary system in the United States.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing individual liberties.

‘Loose constructionist’

Someone who interprets the Constitution broadly.

‘Strict constructionist’

Someone who interprets the Constitution literally.

Northwest Indian War

Conflict between the US and Native American tribes over land in the Northwest Territory.

Battle of Fallen Timbers

The final battle of the Northwest Indian Wars resulting in American land gains.

Treaty of Greenville

A treaty where Native American tribes ceded significant territory to the US.

Shays’s Rebellion

An armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices.

French Revolution

A period of political upheaval in France that inspired many in the United States.

John Adams

The second president of the US, known for his diplomatic efforts.

Jay’s Treaty

A treaty resolving conflicts between the US and Britain after the Revolutionary War.

XYZ Affair

A scandal involving French diplomats demanding bribes from American diplomats.

Alien and Sedition Acts – 1789

Laws that targeted noncitizens and restricted criticism of the government.

‘Bloodless revolution’ of 1800

The peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans.

Midnight appointments

Judges appointed by John Adams in the final hours of his presidency.

John Marshall

Chief Justice of the US known for establishing judicial review.

Judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison

A Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.

The American System

An economic plan promoting federal support for infrastructure and a national bank.

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France, doubling the size of the US.

Aaron Burr

A controversial political figure involved in a duel that killed Alexander Hamilton.

James Wilkinson

A military leader involved in political conspiracies with Aaron Burr.

Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery

The expedition commissioned by Jefferson to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.

Sacagawea

A Shoshone woman who assisted Lewis and Clark as a guide and interpreter.

Five Civilized Tribes

Native American tribes that adapted to European customs to coexist with settlers.

Indian Intercourse Act of 1790

Legislation ensuring that land was to be acquired from Native tribes through treaties.

Cherokee National Council

The governing body that aimed to preserve Cherokee culture and land.

Sequoyah

The creator of the Cherokee syllabary, allowing for written communication.

Tecumseh

A Shawnee leader who fought to protect Native American land from encroachment.

Tenskwatawa

Tecumseh's brother and a spiritual leader encouraging a return to Native traditions.

Treaty of Ft. Wayne

A treaty in which Native tribes ceded lands to the US government.

Andrew Jackson

A military leader who fought against Native Americans and asserted US dominance.

Battle of Horseshoe Bend

A battle where Jackson defeated the Creek Nation, leading to US territorial expansion.

Impressment

The act of seizing sailors from ships to serve in the military.

Chesapeake Affair

A conflict between American and British naval forces that heightened tensions.

Embargo Act

A law prohibiting American trade with foreign nations in an attempt to maintain neutrality.

James Madison

The fourth president of the US and a key architect of the Constitution.

Non-Intercourse Act

Legislation reopening trade with nations except for Britain and France.

Hartford Convention

A meeting of New England Federalists opposed to the War of 1812.

Treaty of Ghent

The agreement that ended the War of 1812, restoring prewar boundaries.

Battle of New Orleans

A significant military victory for the US after the Treaty of Ghent was signed.

Adams-Onís Treaty

The agreement that transferred Florida from Spain to the US.

Monroe Doctrine

A declaration warning European nations against further colonization in the Americas.

Middling sort

A social class between the wealthy elite and the poor, consisting of professionals.

Republican wives

The ideal of women as moral guardians of the family and the republic.

Virginia’s Statutes of Religious Freedom

A law promoting religious freedom and prohibiting tax support for churches.

Second Great Awakening

A religious revival movement emphasizing individual faith and emotional connection.

Cane Ridge, Kentucky

A famous camp meeting that exemplified the fervor of the Second Great Awakening.