Final Notes to Quizlet

Jamestown

The first settlement established by English settlers in Virginia, where they hoped to find gold but eventually prospered by growing tobacco.

Puritans

A group of colonists who sought to purify the Church of England and practiced their religion freely in Massachusetts.

Pilgrims

A smaller group of Puritans who sought religious freedom and settled in Plymouth.

Quakers

Religious group that believed in peace and equality, refusing to fight in wars and settling in Pennsylvania.

French and Indian War

A war between Britain and France over land in America, leading to British debt and increased taxes on colonists.

Proclamation of 1763

Britain's declaration that prevented colonists from expanding west of the Appalachian Mountains post-French and Indian War.

Stamp Act

A British law requiring colonists to purchase stamps for paper goods, leading to significant protests.

Quartering Act

Law that forced colonists to house and supply British soldiers, often against their will.

Intolerable Acts

Laws enacted after the Boston Tea Party aimed at punishing the colonists; included closing Boston Harbor.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence from Britain.

Boston Massacre

Incident in 1770 where British soldiers killed five colonists during a protest.

Boston Tea Party

A protest against tea taxes where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.

Loyalists vs. Patriots

1/3 of the population wanted to stay loyal to Britain (Loyalists), 1/3 wanted independence (Patriots), and 1/3 were neutral.

Declaration of Independence

A document written by Thomas Jefferson on July 4, 1776, declaring the colonies' freedom from British rule.

Lexington and Concord

The locations of the first military engagements of the Revolutionary War.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the U.S. that created a weak federal government and gave states significant power.

Shays’ Rebellion

A farmer-led revolt against tax policies that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Great Compromise

An agreement that established a bicameral legislature balancing representation between populous and smaller states.

3/5ths Compromise

A formula used to count enslaved individuals for representation and taxation, allowing southern states to have more power.

Federalists

Supporters of a strong central government who advocated for the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who feared it would undermine individual rights.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee individual rights.

Federalism

A system where power is shared between the national government and state governments.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to decide if laws are unconstitutional.

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of the Louisiana territory from France by Thomas Jefferson, doubling the size of the U.S.

War of 1812

Conflict between the U.S. and Britain over trade and maritime rights, ending in a stalemate.

Missouri Compromise

An agreement that established a line for the expansion of slavery, allowing Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state.

Monroe Doctrine

President Monroe's declaration that warned European powers against interfering in the Americas.

Eli Whitney

Inventor of the cotton gin, which increased cotton production but also the demand for slavery.

Indian Removal Act

Legislation that forced Native Americans to relocate west of the Mississippi River.

Abolitionist Movement

A movement aimed at ending slavery in the United States.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent.

Mexican-American War

A conflict over land that resulted in the U.S. acquiring significant territory from Mexico.

Compromise of 1850

A series of laws aimed at easing tensions between free and slave states.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

A novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe that depicted the harsh realities of slavery.

Kansas/Nebraska Act

Legislation that allowed residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide on the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty.

Dred Scott Decision

A Supreme Court ruling that denied enslaved people the right to sue and allowed slavery in new territories.

Election of 1860

Abraham Lincoln's election caused Southern states to secede, leading to the Civil War.

Battle of Antietam

The bloodiest single-day battle in American history during the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order by Lincoln freeing enslaved people in Confederate states.

Battle of Gettysburg

A pivotal battle in the Civil War that marked a turning point in favor of the Union.

13th Amendment

The amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

The amendment that granted citizenship to all persons born in the U.S. and promised equal protection under the law.

15th Amendment

The amendment that granted African American men the right to vote.

Black Codes

Laws passed in Southern states to restrict the rights and freedoms of African Americans.

Freedmen's Bureau

A government agency established after the Civil War to assist freed African Americans.

Homestead Act

Legislation that provided 160 acres of free land to settlers in exchange for a commitment to farm it.

Massacre of Wounded Knee

The last major conflict between Native Americans and the U.S. government.

Dawes Act

Legislation aimed at assimilating Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land.

Gilded Age

A period of rapid industrialization characterized by mass production and significant social issues.

Robber Barons

Powerful industrialists who amassed vast fortunes and often engaged in unethical business practices.

Gospel of Wealth

Andrew Carnegie's philosophy that the wealthy have a responsibility to give back to society.

Social Darwinism

The idea that the strongest companies and individuals would succeed while the weak would fail.

Monopoly

A market structure where a single company or group controls the entire industry.

Sherman Antitrust Act

A law enacted to prevent monopolies and promote competition.

Labor Unions

Organizations that represent workers in various trades to advocate for better conditions and pay.

Collective Bargaining

The process in which workers negotiate with employers for better terms of employment.

Interstate Commerce Act

A law aimed at regulating railroad rates and practices.

Laissez-Faire

An economic philosophy of minimal government intervention in the marketplace.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Legislation that established that government jobs should be awarded based on merit.

Immigrants

People who move to a new country for better opportunities.

Nativism

The belief in favoring native-born inhabitants over immigrants.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A law that barred Chinese immigrants from entering the United States.

Political Machines

Organizations that used political power to control local governments, often through corruption.

Progressive Movement

A reform movement aimed at addressing the issues caused by industrialization and urbanization.

W.E.B. DuBois

A civil rights activist who helped found the NAACP to fight for racial equality.

Muckrakers

Journalists who exposed social issues and injustices in society.

The Jungle

A novel by Upton Sinclair that exposed unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry.

Initiative

A process that allows citizens to propose legislation directly.

Referendum

A vote in which citizens can approve or reject proposed laws.

Recall

A procedure that allows voters to remove an elected official from office.

Teddy Roosevelt

The 26th president known for his progressive reforms and regulatory actions.

Conservationists

People dedicated to protecting the environment and wildlife.

17th Amendment

The amendment that established the direct election of senators by the public.

Suffrage Movement

The campaign for women's right to vote, culminating in the 19th Amendment.