U.S. History – Early America Test 2

Vocabulary flashcards covering early American history concepts, key figures, foreign and domestic policies, inventions, and major events from the Early America Test 2 study guide.

XYZ Affair

Incident where French diplomats demanded bribes from American representatives before negotiating, creating outrage and increasing tensions between France and the United States.

Neutrality Policy

George Washington's foreign policy of not taking sides in foreign affairs.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Exploration of the western part of America after the Louisiana Purchase that helped Americans learn more about the land, animals, and possible routes for traveling west.

John Adams

President who kept America out of a war with France.

Louisiana Purchase

Land deal in $1803$ where Thomas Jefferson bought a huge territory from France for $\$15\text{ million}$, doubling the size of the United States and opening more land to explore and settle.

Monroe Doctrine

Policy telling Europeans to stay out of the Western Hemisphere.

War of 1812

Conflict in which the United States fought Great Britain over impressment and trade interference, boosting American national pride and concluding with the Treaty of Ghent.

George Washington's Farewell Address Warnings

Warnings against political parties and permanent foreign alliances (also sectionalism).

The Star-Spangled Banner

Song written by Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of Fort McHenry.

Tecumseh

Native American leader and war chief who wanted to unite tribes and resisted white expansion.

Textile Mills / Factory System

Invention that revolutionized the North.

Samuel Slater

Figure who helped bring textile mills to America.

Cotton Gin

Invention by Eli Whitney that made removing seeds from cotton much faster, dramatically increasing cotton production in the South while causing slavery to expand.

Eli Whitney

Inventor of the cotton gin, the machine that separated cotton seeds.

Steel Plow

Invention that revolutionized farming in the West.

John Deere

Inventor of the steel plow.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Law that tried to stop criticism of John Adams.

Northwest Passage

Water route explorers searched for between the Atlantic and Pacific.

Corrupt Bargain

Deal involving presidential support in exchange for a Secretary of State position.

Whiskey Rebellion

Uprising caused by taxes on whiskey, opposed by western farmers.

Strict Constructionists

Group that believed the government could only do what was specifically written in the Constitution.

National Bank

Hamilton's financial plan that Andrew Jackson later opposed and shut down.

Trail of Tears

Forced removal of Cherokee people to Oklahoma, where thousands died.

Loose Constructionists

Group that believed the government could do anything not forbidden by the Constitution.

Assimilation

Policy where Native Americans adopted white culture and ways.

Andrew Jackson

Seventh U.S. president, war hero, and participant in duels.

Aaron Burr

Man who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel.

Impressment

British practice of stopping American ships and taking sailors.

Interchangeable Parts

Manufacturing technique using identical replaceable parts.

USS Constitution

American warship nicknamed Old Ironsides.

Secede

Leaving the United States completely.

Battle of New Orleans

Famous battle fought after the War of 1812 ended.

Indian Removal Act

Law requiring Native Americans to leave their homelands and move west.

Missouri Compromise

Agreement allowing Missouri to enter as a slave state while setting a boundary for slavery.

Nullification Crisis

Crisis when South Carolina refused to accept a federal tariff.

Alexander Hamilton

Financial expert who created the National Bank plan.

Francis Scott Key

Man who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner.

Grizzly Bear

Animal Lewis and Clark feared encountering in the West.

Old Hickory

Nickname given to Andrew Jackson.