Honors US History Fall Final

Nuñez Summer School

Quartering Act

In 1765, required colonies to provide food and quarters for British troops. Colonists resent the act, perceived as an encroachment on their rights.

Sugar Act

In 1764 a duty placed on the import of sugar from the West Indies. It was the first tax levied on colonists by crown and was lowered substantially in response to widespread protests.

New York

Was originally a Dutch colony called New Netherland, with its capital at New Amsterdam (now New York City). In 1664, the British took control and renamed it New York in honor of the Duke of York.

Mayflower Compact

A brief agreement signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower. It established a basic form of self-government and pledged that the settlers would create and abide by laws for the good of the colony. It is considered a foundational step toward American democracy.

Powhatan War

The First Powhatan War took place in 1610 and lasted until 1614. It consisted of a series of clashes between the Powhatan Confederacy and English settlers in Virginia. English colonists torched and pillaged the Powhatans villages, and applied tactics used in England against the Irish. The Second Powhatan War took place in 1644 and lasted until 1646. It was the last effort by Powhatans to dislodge Virginia settlement. Resulted in a peace treaty formally separating white and native settlements.

Middle Passage

The harsh Atlantic Ocean voyage from West Africa to the Americas endured by African slaves. Mortality rates were notoriously high.

William Penn

Founded Pennsylvania as a Quaker haven with religious freedom and fair treatment of native.

Primogeniture

Only the eldest sons were to inherit land. Therefore, landholders' ambitious younger sons were among the explorers who sought to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

Act of Toleration (1649)

Passed in Maryland, it guaranteed toleration, but only to diverse Christian denominations, it ensured that Maryland would continue to attract a high proportion of Catholic migrants throughout the colonial period.

Edict of Nantes

Decree issued by the French crown that granted limited toleration to French Protestants (Huguenots). It ended religious wars in France and inaugurated a period of French preeminence in Europe and across the Atlantic. Its repeal in 1685 prompted a migration of Huguenots to America.

Bacon's Rebellion (1676)

Uprising of landless Virginia laborers and indentured servants led by planter Nathaniel Bacon; initially a response to Governor William Berkeley's accommodation Native American policies. The rebellion eventually grew into a violent conflict between poor settlers and the planter elite.

New England Family

Structured around patriarchal authority, with the husband being the head of the household. Wife expected to follow the rules of their husband and care for the children.

John Edwards

Powerful preacher and theologian during the first great awakening.

William Bradford

Longtime governor of Plymouth colony and leader of Pilgrims establish self government with Mayflower Compact.

Spanish Armada

Spanish fleet defeated in the English Channel in 1588. The defeat of the Armada marked the beginning of the decline of the Spanish Empire.

Mercantile System

Is an economic theory that closely links nations political and military power to its hard money (gold or silver) reserves. Mercantilists generally favored protectionism and colonial acquisition as means to increase exports.

House of Burgesses

Representative parliamentary assembly created to govern Virginia, establishing a precedent for self-government in the English colonies.

Jamestown (1607)

First permanent English settlement in North America founded by the Virginia Company.

Massachusetts Bay Colony

Founded in 1630. Established by non-separating Puritans, it soon grew to be the largest and most influential of the New England colonies.

Captain John Smith

Leader of Jamestown who helped save the colony by enforcing discipline and trade with Native Americans.

1st Continental Congress

In 1774, convention was delegated from twelve of 13 colonies that convened in Philadelphia to craft a response to Intolerable Acts. Delegates establish the association's call for complete boycott of British goods.

2nd Continental Congress

A meeting of delegates from the 13 American colonies that began in May 1775, shortly after the start of the Revolutionary War.

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

Nine-year war between the British and the French with their Native American allies in North America. It helped spark the larger Seven Years' War in Europe and resulted in the expulsion of the French from the North American mainland.

Great Awakening (1830-1850)

Religious revival that swept the British mainland colonies. Participating ministers, most notably Johnathan Edwards and George Whitfield, placed an emphasis on direct, emotive spirituality. A Second Great Awakening arose in the early nineteenth century.

Triangular Trade

Exchange of rum, enslaved Africans and molasses between British North American colonies, Africa, and the British West Indies. A small but immensely profitable subset of the Atlantic trade.

Middle Colonies

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. They were known for their diverse populations, religious tolerance, fertile land, and mixed economy of farming, manufacturing, and trade.

Indentured Servants

Migrants who, in exchange for transatlantic passage or other benefits, bound themselves to a colonial employer for a term of service, typically between 4 and 7 years.

Ohio River Valley

A contested territory primarily inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Shawnee, Delaware, and others. The region was a vital transportation route, and the river was a busy highway for trade and travel.

New Jersey Plan

'small-state plan', equal representation by state, unicameral legislature.

Virginia Plan

'large state plan', proportional representation in both houses, bicameral congress.

Neutrality Proclamation 1793

Issued by President George Washington, made America neutral in escalating conflicts between England and France, enraged pro-French Jeffersonians.

Marbury vs Madison

Supreme Court case that made new principle of 'judicial review', idea that Supreme Court had final authority to determine constitutionality.

Northwest Ordinance 1793

Law passed under the Articles of Confederation that established the phase process by which territories could be organized and eventually apply to enter the Union as states fully equal to the original 13 colonies.

Battle of Long Island

The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn, was a major battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on August 27, 1776.

George Washington

General who led the American Revolution and became the first President of the United States.

Monroe Doctrine

US policy introduced on December 2, 1823. The western Hemisphere was not to be further colonized by European powers.

Lewis and Clark

Lewis was Jefferson's personal secretary and co-leader of the expedition, exploring Louisiana territory. Help map the land and gather scientific and geographic info. Clark was the other co-leader of the expedition, responsible for drawing maps and managing relations with Native American tribes.

Father of the Constitution

James Madison

Revolution of 1800

Declared victory over Democratic-Republicans over federalists who lost congressional majority, solidified faith in America's political system.

Articles of Confederation

In 1781 first American constitution that established the US as a loose confederation of states under a weak national congress, which had no power to regulate commerce or collect taxes. Articles replaced by the much stronger constitution in 1789.

Declaration of Independence

On July 4, 1776 a formal pronouncement of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson and approved by congress.

First Continental Congress

In 1774 a convention of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies convened in Philadelphia to craft a response to the Intolerable Acts.

Second Continental Congress

In 1775 through 1781 the representative body of delegates from all 13 colonies drafted a declaration of independence and managed colonial war efforts.

Richard Henry Lee

Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress who introduced the resolution declaring American independence led to drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

Isaac Brock

Successfully defended Canada from U.S. invasion during the War of 1812 and became a national hero after capturing Detroit with the help of Native allies.

Federalists

Federalists were a political group in the late 1700s and early 1800s that supported a strong central government, a loose interpretation of the Constitution, and close ties with Britain.

American system

American System was a national economic plan developed in the early 1800s by Henry Clay to strengthen the U.S. economy and make it more self-sufficient.

Judiciary Act 1789

Federal legal system, establishing Supreme Court, federal district, circuit courts, and office of attorney general.

John Marshall

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who strengthened the power of the federal government and established judicial review in Marbury v. Madison.

Hamilton Federalists

Political group led by Alexander Hamilton that supported a strong central government, a national bank, and close ties with Britain.

Battle of Saratoga

Major turning point in the American Revolution where the American victory convinced France to join the war against Britain.

Battle of Tippecanoe

Battle between U.S. forces (led by William Henry Harrison) and Native warriors allied with Tecumseh; weakened Native resistance in the Northwest.

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution," 4th U.S. President, and leader during the War of 1812; helped write the Bill of Rights and the Federalist Papers.

Thomas Jefferson

First Secretary of State under George Washington and was the 3rd President of the United States.

Sedition Laws

In 1798 was enacted by the Federalist Congress in an effort to clamp down on Jeffersonian opposition, the law made anyone convicted of defaming government officials or interfering with government policies liable to imprisonment and a heavy fine.

Tallmadge Amendment

The Tallmadge Amendment (1819), proposed by James Tallmadge, aimed to ban the expansion of slavery into Missouri as it applied for statehood.

Missouri Compromise

Agreement to keep the balance between free and slave states. Missouri was allowed to enter as a slave state, while Maine entered as a free state to keep the numbers equal. It also banned slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Territory north of the 36°30' line (except Missouri). This compromise helped ease tensions between North and South for a time but highlighted the growing division over slavery in the United States.

Bill of Rights

In 1791 a popular term for the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. The amendments secure key rights for individuals and reserve to the states all powers not explicitly delegated or prohibited by the Constitution.

Battle of Bunker Hill 1775

Near Boston, early in the American Revolution. Although the British won by capturing the hill, they suffered heavy casualties, proving that American forces could fight effectively. The battle boosted colonial confidence and showed the war would not be easily won.

Battle of Trenton 1776

Took place in December, after the crossing of the Delaware River, George Washington surprised and captured a garrison of sleeping German Hessians, raising the morale of his crestfallen army and setting the stage for his victory at Princeton a week later.

Macon's Bill #2

U.S. law that reopened trade with Britain and France, promising that if either country stopped attacking American ships, the U.S. would cut off trade with the other. When Napoleon agreed first, the U.S. banned trade with Britain, which worsened tensions and helped lead to the War of 1812.

Loyalists

American colonists who opposed the Revolution and maintain their loyalty to the King sometimes referred to as 'Tories'.

Patriots

Citizens who supported the American revolution they were also known as 'Whigs'.

Privateers

Privately owned armed ships authorized by Congress to prey on enemy shipping during the Revolutionary War. More numerous than the tiny American navy, privateers inflict heavy damage on British shippers.

Lord Charles Cornwallis

Leading British general in the Revolutionary War who surrounded Yorktown in 1781. Defeat effectively ended the major fight and led to American victory.

Hessians

German troops hired from the state of Hesse by King George III to aid in putting down colonial insurrection. To resolve American colonists, they resent the use of paid mercenary foreign fighters.

Francis-Scott Key

Wrote the star spangled banner.

Regulars

Refers to the professional, full-time soldiers of the official standing army, known as the Regular Army. Unlike militias or volunteers, regulars were trained and paid soldiers. For example, during the War of 1812, regulars fought alongside militias and volunteers, often showing better training and discipline.

Ethan Allen

Leader of Green Mountain Boys, militia grains that captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775. His actions provided the continental army with cannons and a morale boost early in the war.

Panic of 1819

First major economic crisis in the United States. It caused widespread bank failures, unemployment, and a drop in land prices because many people had borrowed too much money to buy land and goods but couldn't pay it back.

The Land Act of 1820

Passed to make it easier for people to buy land. It lowered the minimum amount of land people could buy and reduced prices, helping more Americans afford land and recover from the panic.

Thomas Paine

Author of Common Sense, pamphlet powerfully argues for American Independence. Persuasive writing helped rally colonial support for breaking Britain.

Benedict Arnold

Talented American general who later betrayed the revolution by plotting to surrender West Point to the British synonymous with 'traitor' in America.

Peculiar Institution

Term used in the 1800s to describe slavery in the Southern United States, highlighting how it was a unique and controversial system there.

Treaty of Ghent

Ended the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Britain, restoring peace and returning territory to how it was before the war without solving underlying issues.

Era of Good Feeling

(Roughly 1815-1825) was a period after the War of 1812 marked by national unity, political cooperation, and economic growth, even though tensions over issues like slavery still existed beneath the surface.

King Louis XVI

Monarch of France during the American Revolution who supported the American colonies with troops and money. Later overthrown and executed during the French Revolution.

Rush-Bagot Agreement

Signed in 1817 was a treaty between the United States and Great Britain (then also encompassing Canada) that limited naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.

John Jay

First Chief justice of the Supreme Court and diplomat who negotiated Jay's treaty with Britain. Unpopular, the treaty helped avoid war and settle disputes from the Revolutionary War.

Jay's Treaty

In 1794 a negotiations by Chief justice John Jay was an effort to avoid war with Britain the treaty included a British promise to evacuate outposts on the US soil and pay damages seized American vessels.

Patrick Henry

Fiery Virginian Orator and patriot known for "Give me liberty, or give me death." Opposed the constitution fear it gave too much power to the federal government.

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution who overthrew French control of the island. Success influenced Napoleon's decision to sell Louisiana.

Aaron Burr

Jefferson's first vice president killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Later tried for treason after plotting a West rebellion.

Sally Hemmings

Enslaved woman owned by Jefferson, believed to have several children. Contradictions between Jefferson's ideals and the reality of slavery.

The "Revolution of 1800"

Electoral victory of Democratic Republican over federalists who lost congressional majority and presidency, solidified faith in America's political system, Thomas Jefferson became President.

The John Marshall Court

Period when John Marshall served as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835. Key role in establishing the Supreme court justice system.

Marbury vs. Madison

Supreme court case that made new principles of "judicial review", idea that Supreme Court had final authority to determine constitutionality.

The Louisiana Purchase

Buying of Louisiana territory from France (Napoleon), doubled U.S. territory and purchased for 15 million.

Impressment by the British

Forcibly seizing American seamen and forcing them into the British Royal Navy.

Jefferson's Embargo Act

Banned exports of all goods from the U.S. to foreign ports, barely affected Europe but greatly affected the U.S. economy.

Corps of Discovery

Explorers led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, sent by Thomas Jefferson to traverse newly acquired Louisiana territory to find a route to the Pacific.

Chesapeake Affair

Conflict with Britain and U.S., happened when British ship shot at Chesapeake coast of Virginia, Jefferson initiated embargo.

Non-intercourse Act

Reopened trade with all except Britain and France.

Orders in Council

Issued by British crown, closing all French-controlled European ports to foreign shipping, French responded with seizure of all vessels entering British ports, cutting off American trade from both parties.

Tecumseh

Shawnee leader who tried to unite Native American tribes to resist US expansion. Allied with the British in the war of 1812 and died in a battle.

War hawks

Democratic republican congressmen who pressed James Madison for war on Britain, they hated trade with Britain.

James Monroe

5th US President, known for Monroe Doctrine warned European Powers not to interfere in the West Hemisphere Presidency remembered as the 'Era of Good feelings.'

Henry Clay

Influential congressman known as 'Great Compromiser' who supported the American system and helped Adams win presidency in 1824.

The War of 1812

Between U.S. and Britain over issues of trade and impressment.

Impressment

Forcibly drafting individuals into military service, employed by British navy against American seamen in time of war with France.