APUSH First Day Quiz

Abolitionist

A person who advocated for the end of slavery in the United States, often engaging in activism, writing, and speaking out against the institution of slavery.

Anarchy

A political philosophy advocating for a society without government or hierarchical authority, emphasizing voluntary cooperation and self-governance among individuals.

Appeasement

A diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding conflict by making concessions(a thing that is granted) to an aggressor, particularly used in relation to the pre-World War II actions of Britain and France towards Nazi Germany.

Appropriation

The act of taking something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission, often used in the context of cultural, political, or economic contexts.

Belligerent

A nation or person engaged in warfare or conflict, often characterized by a hostile or aggressive attitude.

Blockade

A military tactic used to prevent goods and resources from reaching an enemy by surrounding and isolating them, often employed during wartime to weaken the opponent's ability to sustain conflict.

Boycott

A refusal to buy goods or services from a particular country or company as a form of protest, often to express disapproval or bring about change.

Conscription

The compulsory(required by law or rule) enlistment of individuals into military service, often used during times of war to ensure a sufficient armed forces.

Conservative

A political philosophy that emphasizes tradition, limited government, and individual liberties, often resisting change and advocating for the maintenance of social order.

Coup d'Etat

An overthrow of a government or authority, typically carried out by a small group, often involving the military.

John Smith

An English explorer and leader of the Jamestown colony in Virginia, known for his role in establishing the first permanent English settlement in America.He is also famous for his association with Pocahontas and his writings, which provided valuable insights into the early colonial period.

Roger Williams

An English Protestant theologian who was a staunch advocate for religious freedom and the separation of church and state, and founded the colony of Rhode Island after being banished from Massachusetts

Thomas Paine

An influential writer and political thinker, he authored "Common Sense" and "The American Crisis," which inspired American colonists to pursue independence from Britain.

Democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise that power directly or through elected representatives.

Desegregation

The process of ending the separation of races in schools, public places, and other institutions, aiming for equality and integration.

Duty

A moral or legal obligation to perform a task or uphold a standard.

Despot

A ruler with absolute power and authority, often exercising that power in a cruel or oppressive manner.

Embargo

A government order that restricts or prohibits trade with a specific country or countries.

Exports

Goods shipped out of a country for trade.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, typically states or provinces.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, often involving the domination of one nation over another.

Imports

Goods brought into a country for trade.

Impressment

The act of forcibly seizing individuals from their ships or homes to serve in the military, particularly practiced by the British Navy against American sailors in the early 19th century.

John Rolfe

An early English settler in Virginia, known for pioneering the cultivation of tobacco as a cash crop and for marrying Pocahontas.

Anne Hutchinson

A colonial American religious leader and midwife, known for her role in the Antinomian Controversy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and her advocacy for women's rights in religious matters.

Alexander Hamilton

A key founding father and first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton was instrumental in establishing America’s financial system and advocating for a strong central government.

Inflation

A rise in prices and a decrease in the purchasing power of money, often resulting from an increase in the money supply.

injunction

A court order requiring a party to do or refrain from doing specific acts, often used in cases involving property rights or contracts.

insurgent

A person who rises in revolt against an established government or authority, often seen in rebellion or uprising contexts.

Intergration

The process of combining diverse groups into a cohesive whole, often referring to social integration of different races, ethnicities, or communities.

isolationism

A foreign policy approach that emphasizes avoiding involvement in international conflicts and alliances, focusing instead on domestic issues.

laissez-Faire

An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention in the economy.

Liberal

A political and economic philosophy advocating for civil liberties, social justice, and free market policies with an emphasis on equal rights.

Mandate

An authoritative command or instruction given to a government or official, often relating to administrative actions or policies.

Mercantillism

-An economic theory that promotes government regulation of the economy to augment state power at the expense of rival national powers, aiming for a positive balance of trade.

-an economic theory and practice, prominent from the 16th to 18th centuries, where nations aimed to increase their wealth and power by maximizing exports and minimizing imports.

Monarchy

A form of government where a single person, usually a king or queen, rules the state. Monarchies can be absolute or constitutional, with varying degrees of power.

William Bradford

A leader of the Pilgrims and governor of Plymouth Colony, known for his writings guiding the experiences of the early settlers.

Willian Penn

A Quaker leader and founder of Pennsylvania, known for his principles of religious tolerance and democratic governance.

John Jay

An American statesman, diplomat, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He served as the first Chief Justice of the United States and negotiated the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War.

Monopoly

A market structure characterized by a single seller or producer that controls the entire supply of a product or service, thereby setting prices and limiting competition.

Nullify

To invalidate or cancel a law or decision, particularly within the context of state rights and federal laws.

Patronage

A system in which political leaders grant government jobs and favors to their supporters in exchange for political loyalty and assistance.

Precedent

An action or decision that serves as an example for future similar circumstances, often influencing legal interpretations and judicial outcomes.

Propaganda

Information, often biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Ratify

To formally approve and confirm an agreement, treaty, or constitutional amendment through a voting process.

Recession

A period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, typically reflected in GDP.

Referendum

A direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal and can result in the adoption of new laws or policies.

Reparations

Payments made to compensate for damage or loss, often after a war or conflict.

Secession

The act of formally withdrawing from an organization or political entity, such as a state leaving the Union.

John Winthrop

A leading figure in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and known for his "City upon a Hill" speech, which articulated the vision of a Christian society.

Samuel Adams

A key figure in the American Revolution, founding father, and a leader of the Sons of Liberty, known for his role in promoting the Boston Tea Party.

James Madison

A key founding father and fourth President of the United States, known for his role in drafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Sectionalism

The division of the United States into regions with distinct interests, particularly regarding slavery, leading to increased tensions between the North and South before the Civil War.

-the intense loyalty and devotion to the interests of one's own region or section of the country over the interests of the nation as a whole

Sedition

Refers to conduct or speech inciting rebellion against the authority of a state. It often involves promoting dissent or opposition to government policies.

Segregation

The practice of separating individuals based on race, ethnicity, or other characteristics, often resulting in discrimination and inequality.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state, representing the ultimate decision-making power within its territory.

Spoils

system in which political supporters are rewarded with government jobs or favors.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections, often associated with various movements aimed at extending voting rights to marginalized groups.

Tariff

A tax imposed on imported goods to raise revenue or protect domestic industries.

Tenement

A type of multi-family urban dwelling, often associated with poor living conditions and overcrowding, typically found in cities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Treaty

A formal agreement between countries that ends conflict or establishes mutual relations.

Veto

The power of a president or legislative leader to reject a bill proposed by legislature, preventing it from becoming law.