Key Concepts in American History

A set of flashcards summarizing important vocabulary and concepts for American history.

Free Enterprise

The ability to buy, sell, make, and hire whomever you want without government intervention.

Nullify

To make something void or make it not exist.

Urbanization

The movement of people from the country to cities.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Common Man

Industry workers, farmers, and white men.

Industrial Revolution

A change from a farming society to industry, characterized by new inventions leading to faster transportation, production, and communication.

Irish Potato Famine

A crisis causing many Irish to flee their country due to mass starvation from a failed staple crop.

Lowell Factory System

An approach that consolidated all steps of production into one location.

Indian Removal Act

Legislation that allowed the federal government to pay Native Americans to relocate west.

Worcester v. Georgia

The ruling by John Marshall that Georgia could not interfere with the Cherokee, asserting federal authority over Cherokee matters.

Trail of Tears

The 1200-mile journey of the Cherokee tribe to Indian territory, resulting in thousands of deaths.

Nullification Crisis

A conflict where South Carolina threatened to secede from the union over tariffs, which was resolved by Henry Clay's compromise.

Robert Fulton

Inventor of the steamboat, which led to faster and more efficient transportation.

John Quincy Adams

The 6th president of the United States, known for his election amidst allegations of a corrupt bargain.

John C. Calhoun

Andrew Jackson's vice president who led South Carolina during the Nullification Crisis.

Henry Clay

Known as the 'great compromiser' and as a leading sectional figure from the west.

Daniel Webster

A sectional leader from the north, advocating for high tariffs to protect American industry.

Andrew Jackson

The 7th president of the United States known for using force to preserve the union and for opposing the Bank of the United States.

South Carolina

The state that threatened to secede during the Nullification Crisis.

Canals

Infrastructure that increased the transportation of goods and people.

Steamboats

Vessels that enabled transportation of goods and people against river currents.

Cotton Gin

An invention that led to mass cotton production and increased profitability of slavery.