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The Articles of Confederation
the plan of the government under which the united states operated from 1781 until its replacement by the constitution
The constitutional Convention
Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives of the thirteen original states to write the Constitution of the United States.
Shay's Rebellion
An uprising against taxes in Massachusetts in 1786 and 1787( Showed that the articles of confederation was weak)
the Great compromise
A compromise in the constitutional convention calling for a two house legislative with one house elected on the basis of population and the other representing each state equally.
The 3/5 compromise
-each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes
legaslative branch
the branch of governments that makes the laws
Plessy v. Ferguson
a 1896 Supreme Court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal
Cabinet(Unwritten constitution)
leaders of the executive departments of the federal government
Electoral College
Group of electors chosen by the voters who vote for president
Federalist
Supporter of the Constitution during the debate over the its ratification , favored a strong central government.
Anti-Federalist
An opponent of the constitution during the debate over ratification; opposed the concept of the central government.
Checks and Balances
System in which each of the branches of the federal government can check the action of the other branches( think Veto Bill/ President)
Popular Sovereignty
policy of letting the people in a territory decide whether slavery would be allowed there
The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Delegated Power
a power given to the federal government by the Constitution
Concurrent Power
power shared by the states and federal government
Reserved Powers
Powers given to the state government alone
George Washington
1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1732-1799)
Alien and Sediction Acts
Laws passed by congress in 1789 that enabled the government to imprison deport aliens and to prosecute critics of the government
Thomas Jefferson
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Mercantilism
an economic theory that a country should acquire as much bullion or gold and silver as possible by exporting more goods than it imports
The declaration of independence
Statement,issued by the second Continental congress in 1776 that explained why the colonies were seeking independence from Britain.
The american revolutionary war
The war in which American
colonists fought for independence from Great Britain.
Civil war amendments
13: abolished slavery
14: guaranteed citizens equal protection of the law
15: guaranteed African Americans voting rights
Judicial Review
Power of the Federal courts to decide whether the laws are constitutional
Marbury v. Madison
1803 supreme court case that established the principles of the judicial review.
The Elastic Clause
Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.
John Marshall
American jurist and politician who served as the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1801-1835) and helped establish the practice of judicial review.
Strict Interpretation
Stick to literal word meaning of the Constitution
Loose Interpretation
Belief that the Constitution is flexible.
Whiskey Rebellion
an unrest in 1794 caused to an opposition to a tax on whisky showed federal government was strong)
Alexander Hamilton
1789-1795; First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.
The Louisiana purchase
purchase by the united states of the Louisiana territory from France in 1803
The War of 1812
A war (1812-1814) between the United States and England which was trying to interfere with American trade with France.
Cotton Gin
a machine to separate seeds from raw cotton fibers
Abolitionist Movement
Movement to end slavery
Andrew Jackson: Jacksonian Democracy
Elected president in 1828 and overused his veto power. Responsible for the Trail of Tears
Indian Removal Act
1830 law calling for the forced movement of native Americans to the west of Mississippi river.
Nullification
a States refusal to recognize a federal law
Manifest Destiny
Argument that the U.S.was destined to expand across north america
Sectionalism
Loyalty to a region
The compromise of 1850
Agreement designed to ease tensions caused by the expansion of slavery into western territories
Uncle Toms cabin
a novel published by harriet beecher stowe in 1852 which portrayed slavery as brutal and immoral
Bleeding Kansas
A sequence of violent events involving abolitionists and pro-Slavery elements that took place in Kansas-Nebraska Territory. The dispute further strained the relations of the North and South, making civil war imminent.
john Brown
Abolitionist who was hanged after leading an unsuccessful raid at Harper's Ferry, Virginia (1800-1858)
Abraham Lincoln
16th President of the United States saved the Union during the Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)
Booker T. Washington
African American progressive who supported segregation and demanded that African American better themselves individually to achieve equality.
Jim crow
Laws written to separate blacks and whites in public areas/meant African Americans had unequal opportunities in housing, work, education, and government
literacy test
A test given to persons to prove they can read and write before being allowed to register to vote
Presidental Reconstruction
Andrew Johnson; follows the 10% plan; changes--full pardons--except for top people i.e. Robert E. Lee; appoints governers; south gains power; rise of black codes
Louis and Clark
Sent by Thomas Jefferson to Explore west of the Mississippi River (The Louisiana Purchase)
The Monroe doctrine
declaration by president Monroe in 1823, that the untied states would oppose efforts by nay outside power to control a nation in the western hemisphere.
Transportaion Revolution
during the industrial revolution, Winter roads, River navigation, Turnpike Trusts, Canals, and Railways were all added to help the transportation of goods
Temperance Movement
an organized campaign to eliminate alcohol consumption
The Missouri compromise
1820 agreement calling for the admission of Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state and outlawing slavery in future states to be created north of the 36, 30 parallel
The spoils System
system of practice of giving appointed offices as rewards from the successful party in an election
Fugitive Slave Act
Part if the compromise of 1850, law ordering all citizens of the unites states to assist in the return of slaves
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Supreme Court case that decided US Congress did not have the power to prohibit slavery in federal territories and slaves, as private property, could not be taken away without due process - basically slaves would remain slaves in non-slave states and slaves could not sue because they were not citizens
The Election of 1860
Lincoln, the Republican candidate, won because the Democratic party was split over slavery. As a result, the South no longer felt like it has a voice in politics and a number of states seceded from the Union.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
1854 law that called on citizens in each territory to decide the issue of slavery there
Secession
Formal withdrawal of states or regions from a nation
Fort Sumter
Federal Fort in the harbor of Charleston south Carolina: the confederate attach on the fort marked the start of the civil war.
W.E.B. DuBois
1st black to earn Ph.D. from Harvard, encouraged blacks to resist systems of segregation and discrimination, helped create NAACP in 1910
Sharecropping
system of farming in which a farmer farm some portion of a planters land and receive a share of the crop at harvest time as payment.
Andrew Johnson
17th President of the United States, A Southerner form Tennessee, as V.P. when Lincoln was killed, he became president. He opposed radical Republicans who passed Reconstruction Acts over his veto. The first U.S. president to be impeached, he survived the Senate removal by only one vote. He was a very weak president.
Congressional Reconstruction
A process led by the Radical Republicans that led to the usage of military force to protect blacks' rights.
13th Amendment (1865)
abolished slavery
14th Amendment
Guaranteed citizens equal protection of the laws
15th Amendment (1870)
guaranteed African Americans voting rights
