Social Studies FINAL

patriot

An American colonist who supported independence from British rule.

loyalist

A colonist who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the war for independence.

tyranny

cruel or oppressive government or rule. For example: King George III

republic

A form of government in which the people elect representatives to make laws and govern on their behalf.

mercantilism

An economic system where colonies exist to benefit the mother country by supplying raw materials and serving as markets for finished goods.

propaganda

Biased or misleading information used to promote a specific political cause

guerrilla warfare

When small groups of ambushes use hit-and-run tactics and surprise attacks, the Patriots used these on the British army during the war

tariff

a tax placed on imported goods. During colonial times, there were the Sugar Act, the Townshend Act, etc. Popular quote "No taxation without representation."

embargo

official ban on trade with a specific country

cash crops

crops grown mostly for profit instead of personal use

popular sovereignty

authority of a government coming from the consent of the people

blockade

cutting off supplies or communication from a particular area

King George III

King of England during the American Revolution, he put a lot of taxes on them, and many people in America didn't like him

Thomas Paine

Author of Common Sense, a pamphlet that talked about why America should cut ties with Britain, and how it is common sense

Patrick Henry

"Give me liberty or give me death" Leader patriot in Virginia

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States. Wrote a lot of important documents

Alexander Hamilton

One of the most influential founding fathers, the first Secretary of Treasury

Thomas Jefferson

Wrote the Declaration of Independence, 3rd President of the United States, Louisiana Purchase, founder of the University of Virginia

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and the 1st President of the United States

John Adams

Founding Father, helped draft the Declaration of Independence, 1st Vice president, 2nd President,

Chief Pontiac

Pontiac Rebellion, Chief of the Ottawa tribe, led a Native American uprising

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

Conflict between Britain and France over land in North America

First Continental Congress (1774)

Met in Philadelphia after Intolerable Acts

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Met after the battles of Lexington and Concord

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Written by Thomas Jefferson- Accepted July 4th 1776

mnemonic device (don't need to memorize this one, just in case)

"Wise Acts Justify Many Mighty Actions.Just Victors Honor Their Patriotic Triumphs.Finally, Brave Leaders Just Grow."

presidents 1-4

Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison

presidents 5-9

Monroe, Quincy Adams, Jackson, Van Buren

presidents 10-13

H.Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore

presidents 14-16

Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln

presidents 17-18

Johnson, S. Grant

Sugar Act of 1764

• Taxes on sugar, molasses, and other imports

Stamp act (1765)

• Places on almost all printed materials

Townshend Acts (1767)

• Placed on glass, paint, paper, lead, tea

Tea Act (1773)

• East India Company monopoly on tea sells in the colonies

Intolerable Acts (1774) or Coercive Acts

• Punishment for Boston Tea Party

Why did England create the taxes?

• Pay off debt from the French-Indian War

Battle of Lexington and Concord (April 1775)

• "Shot Heard 'Round the World" first shot unknown

Valley Forge (Winter 1777-1778)

• Winter camp for George Washington's Continental Army in Pennsylvania

Capture of Philadelphia (1777)

• British General William Howe captured Philadelphia

Surrender at Yorktown (1781)

• Final major battle of the Revolutionary war

Treaty of Paris 1763

• Ended the French and Indian War

Treaty of Paris 1783

• Ended American Revolutionary War

federalism

the constitutional system that shares power between the national and state governments

Elastic Clause

Grants Congress to pass laws necessary for proper carrying out its enumerated powers

veto

to reject

Double Jeopardy

the prosecution of a person twice for the same offense

unconstitutional

anything that is against the constitution

amend

any change to the constitution

impeach

charge (the holder of a public office) with misconduct.

ratify

to formally approve a plan or an agreement. The process of approval is called ratification.

Habeas Corpus

the right of an accused person to appear in court so a judge can determine whether he or she is being imprisoned lawfully

extradition

the action of handing over a person accused or convicted of a crime.

cabinet

a group of advisers to the president.

Due Process of Law

following established legal procedures

Judicial Review

the power of the Supreme Court to decide whether laws and acts made by the legislative and executive branches are unconstitutional

Executive Branch

Held by: The President (at the federal level), Governors (state level)Main Powers:

Legislative Branch

Held by: Congress (Senate and House of Representatives)Main Powers:

Judicial Branch

Held by: The Supreme Court and other federal courtsMain Powers:

veto power

presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, added to protect fundamental rights

impressment

The forced recruitment of individuals into military or naval service without their consent, often by coercion or threat.

states' rights

The political idea that individual U.S. states have the right to govern themselves and make their own laws without undue interference from the federal government.

nullification

to refuse to recognize a federal law. The idea that a state has the right to invalidate or refuse to enforce a federal law that the state believes is unconstitutional.

abolition

the ending of slavery

excise tax (whiskey)

A tax on specific goods or services that are produced or sold within a country. Often included in the price of the item.

slander

A spoken false statement that damages a person's reputation. It is a form of defamation.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Military General and Emperor of France (1804-1814, briefly in 1815)

James Monroe

5th President of the United States (1817-1825)

Federalist party

Strong national government, led by Alexander Hamilton. "Federalist papers"- 85 essays in support of the constitution

Anti-Federalist Party

Feared a strong national government would squash the rights of the people. Some refused to sign the Constitution. They demanded a Bill of Rights

Impressment of Great Britain and France

Practice of forcibly drafting men into the military service

Strict Construction of the Constitution

Literal meaning of the constitution. Limited government.

Loose Construction of the Constitution

Broad interpretation of the constitution, allowing flexibility and adaptation to it

XYZ Affair

a diplomatic incident during John Adams' presidency where three American envoys to France were approached by French agents who demanded a bribe and a loan before negotiations could begin. Led to the Quasi-War.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

an expedition sent by Thomas Jefferson to explore the northwestern territories of the United States

Louisiana Purchase

territory in western United States purchased from France in 1803 for $15 million

Embargo Act

1807 act which ended all of America's importation and exportation. Jefferson hoped the act would pressure the French and British to recognize U.S. neutrality rights in exchange for U.S. goods. Got repealed in 1809.

War of 1812

British impressment of American sailors

Burning of Washington D.C (August 24,1814)

British troops invaded and set fire to major public buildings, including:

Battle of New Orleans, 1815

Final major battle of the War of 1812

Treaty of Ghent (December 24, 1814)

Ended War of 1812 and restored status quo

Manifest Destiny

belief that America should expand across the continent

State's rights

The belief that individual U.S. states have the right to govern themselves and limit federal government power

majority

the greater number

"American Progress" 1872, John Gast

painting by John Gast that shows the idea of Manifest Destiny

nullify

to make of no value or consequence, cancel, wipe out

49ers

People who rushed to california in 1849 for gold.

cede

to give up

secede

to withdraw

plurality

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election

annex

to add or attach

missionaries

a person who travels to a territory or community in order to make converts to his or her religion

suffrage

the right to vote

underground railroad

a secret network of free black people and white people who helped thousands of people escape slavery and go to states without slavery and Canada

temperance

the quality of moderation or self-restraint

Horace Mann

Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education; "Father of the public school system"; set the standard for public schools throughout the nation; lengthened academic year; pro training & higher salaries to teachers

Dorothea Dix

A reformer and pioneer in the movement to treat the insane as mentally ill, responsible for improving conditions in jails, poorhouses and insane asylums throughout the U.S. and Canada. She served as the Superintendant of Nurses for the Union Army during the Civil War.

Fredrick Douglass

American abolitionist and writer, he escaped slavery and became a leading African American spokesman and writer.

Susan B. Anthony

social reformer who campaigned for womens rights