US History Units 1-3

French and Indian War

A conflict from 1754 to 1763 between Britain and France for control of North America, leading to British territorial gains but significant war debt.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

The agreement that ended the French and Indian War, ceding Canada and lands east of the Mississippi River to Britain and giving Louisiana to Spain.

Settlers and Native Conflict Over Territory

Colonial expansion into newly acquired lands led to violence as settlers encroached on Native American territories, causing tensions and conflicts.

Pontiac's Rebellion

A 1763 uprising led by Ottawa leader Pontiac, where Native Americans resisted British expansion by attacking British forts and settlements.

Impact of Pontiac's Rebellion

It prompted Britain to restrict colonial expansion and increase military presence in North America to prevent further conflicts.

Royal Proclamation of 1763

A decree by King George III that prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to stabilize relations with Native Americans.

Expulsion of Colonists from Native Lands

British enforcement of the Royal Proclamation sometimes forced colonists to abandon their settlements, leading to anger and resentment.

Increase of British Military Presence in America

Britain stationed about 10,000 troops in the colonies to enforce laws, which colonists viewed as a threat to their liberties.

British Military Actions in the Colonies

British troops enforced customs laws, seized smuggled goods, and occupied cities, leading to increased colonial resentment.

Parliament and Taxation of the Colonies

Parliament asserted its authority over the colonies, leading to colonial protests against taxation without representation.

Taxes Imposed on the Colonies

Included the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and Tea Act, which imposed various taxes on colonists and fueled discontent.

Colonial Reaction

Colonists protested against British taxes through petitions, boycotts, and mob actions, rallying around the slogan 'No taxation without representation.'

Boycotts

Colonists refused to buy British goods as a form of protest, impacting British merchants and pressuring Parliament.

First Continental Congress

A 1774 meeting of delegates from 12 colonies to coordinate resistance against British policies and demand the repeal of the Intolerable Acts.

Boston Massacre

A 1770 incident where British soldiers killed five colonists, which was used as propaganda to illustrate British tyranny.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor in response to the Tea Act.

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive laws passed in 1774 that closed Boston Harbor and restricted self-government in Massachusetts.

Lexington and Concord

The first battles of the Revolutionary War in 1775, where colonial militias resisted British attempts to seize weapons.

Second Continental Congress

A congress that acted as a national government, organized the Continental Army, and appointed George Washington as commander.

Declaration of Independence

A 1776 document written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the colonies' separation from Britain and justifying revolution based on Enlightenment ideas.

Shays' Rebellion

An uprising in 1786-1787 by indebted farmers in Massachusetts protesting high taxes and debt imprisonment, revealing weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a new government that called for representation based on population and established three branches of government.

Three Branches of Power

The division of government into Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches, each with checks and balances to prevent abuse of power.

3/5 Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.

Federalists vs Anti-Federalists

Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution, while Anti-Federalists demanded a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.

What the Constitution Solved

It established a framework for stability, national authority, and economic order in the newly formed United States.

What the Constitution Did Not Solve

It failed to address issues of slavery and racial inequality, leaving these contentious issues unresolved.

1619 Project

A project that argues slavery is central to American history, igniting national debate about its legacy and impact.

Middle Passage

The brutal transatlantic journey endured by enslaved Africans, marked by high mortality rates and inhumane conditions.

Triangular Trade

A trade system that linked Europe, Africa, and the Americas, facilitating the exchange of goods and enslaved people.

What is the Triangular Trade?

A trade system linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

How did the Constitution protect slavery?

It protected slavery indirectly through clauses like the Fugitive Slave Clause.

What drove the rise of the Abolition Movement?

Moral, religious, and political arguments.

What is the difference between Abolitionists and Anti-Slavery advocates?

Abolitionists demanded an immediate end to slavery, while anti-slavery advocates sought gradual limits.

How did cotton impact the Southern economy?

Cotton tied the Southern economy to slavery.

What was the Missouri Compromise?

A legislative agreement that balanced the number of free and slave states.

What was the impact of the Mexican War on slavery debates?

It added new territories, reigniting debates over slavery.

What was the Compromise of 1850?

A temporary solution to slavery issues, including the Fugitive Slave Act.

What did the Kansas-Nebraska Act allow?

It allowed popular sovereignty, which led to violence over slavery.

What was Bleeding Kansas?

A series of violent confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions.

Who was John Brown and what did he do at Harpers Ferry?

He attempted a slave uprising by raiding a federal armory.

What was the significance of the Election of 1860?

Lincoln's victory triggered the secession of Southern states.

What does secession mean?

The act of Southern states leaving the Union.

What did Lincoln promise in his First Inaugural Address?

He promised to preserve the Union.

What characterized the Civil War as the First Modern War?

It utilized railroads, telegraphs, and industrial weapons.

What is Total War?

A military strategy that targets civilian resources to weaken the enemy.

What were three reasons the North won the Civil War?

Industrial power, a larger population, and a stronger government.

What was the Emancipation Proclamation?

An executive order that freed enslaved people in Confederate states.

What marked the end of the Civil War?

The Union victory in 1865.

What was Reconstruction?

The process of rebuilding the South and redefining citizenship after the Civil War.

What were the successes and failures of Reconstruction?

It expanded rights but failed to secure lasting equality.

What was Andrew Johnson's Plan for Reconstruction?

A lenient approach toward the South.

What was the Radical Republicans' Plan?

A stricter approach with protections for freedmen.

What were Black Codes?

Laws that restricted the freedom of Black Americans.

What were the Reconstruction Acts?

Legislation that placed the South under military rule.

What was a significant achievement of African Americans during Reconstruction?

Increased political participation and access to education.

What was the backlash against Reconstruction?

The rise of white supremacist violence, including the KKK.

What marked the end of Reconstruction?

The Compromise of 1877.

What was the Recession of 1873?

An economic downturn that weakened Northern support for Reconstruction.

What was the significance of the Election of 1876 and the Compromise of 1877?

It ended Reconstruction and federal protection for Black Americans.

What was the Industrial Revolution?

A period of rapid economic, technological, and social change that shifted production from hand-made to machine-made goods.

How is the Industrial Revolution divided?

Into two phases: Industrialization (1865-1900) and the Progressive Era (1890s-1920).

What factors contributed to the start of industrialization in the U.S.?

Natural resources, a large labor force, capital investment, technological innovation, and government support.

Who was Andrew Carnegie and what was his contribution?

A steel industry magnate known for vertical integration, controlling every stage of production.

Who was John D. Rockefeller?

An oil industry leader known for horizontal integration and creating trusts.

What was J.P. Morgan known for?

Reorganizing failing companies and merging businesses into large corporations.

What are Robber Barons and Captains of Industry?

Robber Barons are criticized for exploiting workers, while Captains of Industry are seen as driving economic growth.

What were the four major waves of immigration to the U.S.?

Old Immigrants, New Immigrants, Asian immigration, and Post-1900 global migration.

What were the push factors for immigration?

Poverty, famine, war, and persecution.

What were the pull factors for immigration?

Jobs, land, freedom, and opportunity.

What was Ellis Island?

An immigration processing center for European immigrants on the East Coast.

What was Angel Island?

An immigration processing center for Asian immigrants on the West Coast.

What is Nativism?

A belief that native-born Americans should have preferential treatment over immigrants.

What are enclaves?

Ethnic neighborhoods formed by immigrants for support and familiarity.

What is the difference between assimilation and acculturation?

Assimilation is adopting American culture, while acculturation is blending old and new cultures.

What were tenements?

Overcrowded apartment buildings housing working-class families.

What were the hazards of tenements?

Overcrowding, disease, fire hazards, and poor sanitation.

What were settlement houses?

Community centers offering education and aid to urban residents.

Who was Jacob Riis?

A journalist who used photography and writing to expose urban poverty in 'How the Other Half Lives.'

What characterized labor before industrialization?

Independent farm and craft work dominated the economy.

What were the conditions for workers in factories?

Long hours, low wages, no safety protections, and child labor.

What are labor unions?

Organizations formed to protect workers' interests.

What tactics do unions use?

Strikes, boycotts, and collective bargaining.

What was the Great Railroad Strike of 1877?

The first major national strike in U.S. history.

What was the Haymarket Riot of 1886?

A bombing that discredited the labor movement.

What happened during the Homestead Strike of 1892?

A steelworker strike that was violently suppressed by private security forces.

What was the Pullman Strike of 1894?

A nationwide railroad strike that resulted in federal troops intervening against the workers.

What were American fears during industrialization?

Concerns over growing inequality and corruption in society.

What were muckrakers?

Journalists who exposed social and political issues, often leading to reforms.

Who was Ida Tarbell?

A muckraker who investigated and exposed the practices of the Standard Oil Company.

Who was Lincoln Steffens?

A muckraker who wrote about corruption in city governments.

Who was Upton Sinclair?

A muckraker known for his novel 'The Jungle,' which exposed conditions in the meatpacking industry.

Who were the Progressives?

Middle-class reformers who sought to address social issues and promote government regulation.

What were the goals of the Progressive Movement?

To achieve government regulation, social justice, and increased efficiency in government.

How were Progressives viewed historically?

They are seen as reformers but also limited by their biases.

What role did civil liberties play in the Progressive Movement?

They were used as tools for mass protests and public pressure to enact change.

What were local and state reforms during the Progressive Era?

Initiatives such as independent commissions, initiatives, referendums, and recalls.

What is the 17th Amendment?

An amendment that established the direct election of U.S. senators.

What is the 19th Amendment?

An amendment that granted women the right to vote.

Who was Theodore Roosevelt?

A Progressive Republican president known for his reforms and expansion of executive power.