Units 1-5 Learning Targets: Final Exam Review

These flashcards cover topics from Units 1-5, focusing on European contact with the Americas, colonization, the American Revolution, the Constitution, and the early Republic, including key policies and events leading up to the Civil War.

What was one of the effects of the initial European contact with the Americas?

New diseases (smallpox and measles) were introduced to Native people of the Americas which decreased native populations

What was a positive effect of the Columbian Exchange?

They exchanged crops/foods that were high in nutrients varied diets and stimulated population growth

How did Native American epidemics affect the labor force in the Americas?

Native American epidemics led to a labor shortage and contributed to the establishment of African slavery in the Americas.

What happened during the Encomienda System?

Spain’s king granted natives who lived on land to individual Spaniards.

What are some examples of Native responses to Spanish Colonization?

Direct warfare, fleeing to remote areas, refusing to cooperate with labor demands, and sometimes attempting to undermine

What are some examples of European responses to Spanish Colonization?

A mix of competition to claim territory in the Americas, attempts to disrupt Spanish trade routes, and concerns about Spanish dominance in the New World, leading to conflicts and rival colonial ventures

What were the main goals of Europeans in exploration and conquest?

Desire to spread Christianity, search for new resources of wealth (mercantilism), and glory

What was the result of the search for new resources of wealth in Spanish America?

The mines of Spanish America yielded 10x as much gold and silver as the whole world combined

What was the result of conflicts between colonists and Native Americans?

British conflicts with American Indians over land, resources, and political boundaries led to military confrontations

What was the root cause of King Philip's War (Metacom’s War) in New England?

Colonists’ continued push westward

What was the result of King Philip's War (Metacom’s War) in New England?

The beheading of Metacom and colonist victory

What are some characteristics of the New England Colonies?

Cold winters, rocky soil, natural harbors, diverse economy, small-scale farming, trade, shipping, exported fish/lumber, relatively stratified society, Mostly English puritans, Black 3% White 97%

What are some characteristics of the Middle Colonies?

Less severe winters, natural harbors, medium-scale farming, trade, “breadbasket” region (grains were primary product), Least stratified society, Most diversity in religion and nationalities, Black 7% White 93%

What are some characteristics of the Southern Colonies?

Mild climate, natural harbors (18th Century), Highly agricultural, large plantations growing cash crops (tobacco, rice, indigo were primary products), Highly stratified society, few cities, Relied heavily on slave labor and indentured servants, Black 36% White 64%

What was the transatlantic trade system?

A 17th and 18th century system of trade across the Atlantic ocean

What was transported From colonies to Europe and Africa in the transatlantic trade system?

Raw materials like rum, tobacco, rice

What was transported From Europe to the Colonies and Africa in the transatlantic trade system?

Manufactured goods

What was transported From Africa to the Colonies in the transatlantic trade system?

Enslaved Africans (via Middle passage)

What is Mercantilism?

A country's wealth is determined by how much was imported and exported

What did relations between Native Americans and Europeans centered around?

Trade, exchange, alliances, and warfare

What diseases were Native Americans exposed to from Interactions with Europeans?

Measles and smallpox, decimating the native populations and facilitating a sustained push westward for colonists

What was something that some colonies attempted?

Some colonies attempted to assimilate Native Americans

What led to the rise of slavery?

A shortage of indentured servants as well as a growing European demand for goods grown on colonists’ plantations led to the growth of the slave trade

What was the effect of slavery?

Approximately 400,000 Africans were forcibly transported via the Middle Passage to North America by 1807

How did political institutions develop in the British colonies?

Evolved from largely centralized control by the Crown towards a system with limited self-governance through representative assemblies

What was France’s territory at the end of the 17th century?

France’s territory was vast, controlling the entire interior of the continent

What were the goals of the Albany Congress?

Secure alliance with Iroquois Confederacy and gain Native American support in fighting against the French

What were the shortcomings of the Albany Congress?

Was rejected largely due to the fact that they were wary of a consolidation of power

What was the effect of the French & Indian War on Colonists?

Gained new land which caused them to move westward over the Appalachian Mountains and into tribal lands

What was the effect of the French & Indian War on Native Americans?

Colonists began to move into the Native Americans land and conflict arose (Pontiac’s Rebellion)

What was the effect of the French & Indian War on Britain?

England’s territorial claims expanded, British emerged as dominant North American power, Britain’s debt doubled and as a result ended salutary neglect

What were the 4 main causes for American independence?

Deprived of the rights of British citizens, traditions of self rule, taxation without representation, enlightenment Ideals

What is Mercantilism?

The economic theory that emphasizes the importance of gaining wealth for the motherland (trade= more power and wealth)

What are some examples of colonial resistance to British policies?

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, Protests, Sons of Liberty, Stamp Act Congress, Boycotts, Signed petitions, Boston Tea Party, First Continental Congress (1774)

What is a social contract?

The idea that people give up some of their natural rights to a government in exchange for protection and order and if they do not receive those things in return, they have the right to overthrow the government

What are natural rights?

The idea that everybody is born with natural rights, most notably the rights to life, liberty, and property, which exist even before the formation of a government and should be protected by any legitimate political system

Who were the Loyalists?

Fought on the British side

Who were the Patriots?

Fought on the American side

Why did the Patriots win the American Revolution, despite Britain’s strong military advantage?

Assistance from European allies (French), George Washington’s leadership, and actions of the Continental Army

What were the American strengths in the American Revolution?

Know the land better, strong motivation, skilled general

What were the American weaknesses in the American Revolution?

Lack of funding, poorly trained and equipped arm, lack of strong navy, lack of supplies

What were the British strengths in the American Revolution?

Large and professional army, world’s strongest navy, stable funds

What were the British weaknesses in the American Revolution?

Weren’t fighting on their homeland, struggled with long and unreliable supply lines, lack of support from colonists

What were the successes of the Articles of Confederation?

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was the biggest success of the articles, it banned slavery and guaranteed rights/citizenship

What were the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation?

Weak central government, no bill of rights, needed unanimous vote to change the rules, no power to levy taxes directly on the people

Why was a Constitutional Convention called to revise the Articles of Confederation?

The articles were too weak to rule the newly independent country

What did the Virginia Plan (large states plan) state?

Lower house of Congress would be equal to population

What did the New Jersey Plan (small states plan) call for?

Called for a unicameral legislature in which each state had equal representation regardless of population

What did the Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) state?

Created Congress as a bicameral legislature where Upper house (Senate) had equal representation for each state and Lower house (House of Representatives) had state representatives based on population

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise state?

Stated that three-fifths of enslaved Americans in a state would be counted for congressional representation and taxation (gave additional voting power to slave holding states)

What did the Commerce Compromise state?

Stated that Congress could not tax a state’s exports on the condition that the slave trade would be prohibited in 20 years

What was agreed upon in the Presidency Compromise?

Agreed on a 4-year term and the indirect election of the president through the electoral college system

Who were the Federalists?

Supported the ratification of the Constitution

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

Against the ratification of the Constitution

What did the Federalists favor, compared to the Anti-Federalists?

Favored a strong central government while the Anti-Federalists favored strong state rights

Why was The Bill of Rights was key to the ratification of the Constitution?

It enumerated individual rights and explicitly restricted the powers of the federal government

What did Washington’s Cabinet do?

Helped advise the president, Washington chose Jefferson, Hamilton, and Knox to be apart of his cabinet

What did Hamilton’s Financial System call for?

Called for the assumption of state debts by the federal government, the creation of a national bank, the passage of an excise tax on distilled liquor

What were some foreign & domestic challenges & successes during the Washington Administration?

Creation of the Cabinet, Neutrality in Foreign Affairs, Federal Court System, Creation of the U.S. Army, Two-Term Presidency, Foreign Treaties, Establishment of Washington, DC, Federal Financial System, Farewell Address Warnings

What were some foreign & domestic challenges & successes during the Adams Administration?

Creation of the U.S. Navy & Marines, Strengthening of the Supreme Court, Country over Party, Establishment of the Library of Congress, Peaceful Transition of Power

Who were the Federalists?

Followed by Alexander Hamilton, focused on advocating for a strong central government, pushing for policies like the establishment of a national bank, assumption of state debts

Who were the Democratic Republicans?

Led by Thomas Jefferson, focused on limiting the federal government's power, advocating for states' rights, promoting an agrarian economy, and generally interpreting the Constitution strictly

What key actions did the Democratic Republicans partake in?

The Louisiana Purchase, which expanded American territory westward, and the abolishment of the Whiskey Tax which had caused the Whiskey Rebellion

What were the Domestic and Foreign policies of Thomas Jefferson?

Louisiana purchase, Lewis and Clark Expedition, Tax Reforms and Financial Policies, Barbary Pirates, Neutrality and Trade, Embargo Act

How did Jefferson retaliate against the Barbary Pirates, a threat to US foreign policy?

Jefferson sent a fleet to the Mediterranean, gaining respect and protection

Who was John Marshall?

Appointed Chief Justice of Supreme Court during final months of Adams' presidency

What did John Marshall’s decisions consistently favor?

Consistently favored the central government and the rights of property against the advocates of states’ rights

What was the result of Marbury v. Madison?

Created judicial review; the power invalidate actions taken by the government

What is judicial review?

The Supreme Court would exercise the power to decide whether an act of Congress or of the president was allowed by the Constitution. The Supreme Court could not overrule actions of the other two branches of the federal government

What did fletcher v. peck result in?

First time the Supreme Court declared a state law to be unconstitutional and invalid

What resulted from mcculloch v maryland?

Marshall declared federal laws supreme over state laws

What were the causes of the War of 1812?

Free seas and trade, Frontier pressures, War hawks

Why was Frontier pressure a cause of the War of 1812?

Western Americans longed for more land, including British Canada and Spanish Florida, while the British and their Indian and Spanish allies pushed them westward

Who were the War Hawks during the War of 1812?

Young Democratic-Republicans, known as war hawks, from frontier states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio, gained significant influence in Congress

What led to Congressional leaders known as "War Hawks," such as Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, played a crucial role in pushing for war?

Henry Clay's American system

What led to the Free Seas and Trade as a cause of the War of 1812?

The United States relied on free shipping across the Atlantic, but Britain and France, the main European belligerents, did not respect neutral rights due to their life-and-death struggle. Both violated U.S. neutral rights, with British violations worsened by the British navy's practice of impressing American sailors

What were the effects of the War of 1812?

Economy/ internal improvements, Tariff of 1816, Henry Clay’s American system

What did the Tariff of 1816 do?

Raised tariffs to protect US manufacturers from competition, the first protective tariff in US history

What was the American System?

Comprised of protective tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements

What was the industry in the Northeast during the US Economic Specialization?

The Northeast became the center of manufacturing in the United States, particularly textile manufacturing

What was the transportation like in the Northeast during the US Economic Specialization?

This region also saw the development of transportation infrastructure, including roads, canals (like the Erie Canal), and railroads, crucial for moving goods

What did the Northeast rely one for Labor, during the US Economic Specialization?

An influx of immigrants supplied labor for factories, and cities like Lowell became known for their mill towns, employing young women and immigrant workers

What was the agriculture in the South during the US Economic Specialization?

The Southern economy specialized in the cultivation of cash crops, most notably cotton, which became known as King Cotton

What Labor System was used in the South during the US Economic Specialization?

The plantation system relied heavily on slave labor, forming an economic backbone that affected every aspect of Southern society and impacted national politics

What kind of Trade was there in the South during the US Economic Specialization?

The South primarily exported cotton to Britain and other countries, making it a crucial player in international trade

What was the main form of Agriculture in the West during the US Economic Specialization?

The West specialized in staple crops like wheat and corn, while also producing livestock. The fertile lands, especially in regions like the Ohio Valley, supported family farms

What did the West promote during the US Economic Specialization?

The discovery of land and the promise of new opportunities drove westward expansion, promoting the idea of Manifest Destiny

What was the Missouri Compromise?

An agreement to settle the issue of slavery in new states by Representative Henry Clay

What did the Missouri Compromise say about Missouri?

Missouri will be held as a slave-holding state

What did the Missouri Compromise say about Maine?

Admit Maine as a free state

What did the Missouri Compromise prohibit?

Prohibit slavery in the rest of Louisiana territory north of the latitude 36°30

What was the American System designed to unify the nation?

Setting the first protective tariff (Tariff of 1816), created a second national bank, and internal improvements (established a transportation system)

What did the Monroe Doctrine State?

Said that the Western Hemisphere was no longer open to European colonization, the US would stay out of European wars and avoid interfering in their affairs, and if European countries tried to interfere in the Americas, the US would see it as a threat to its security and take action

What did the Cotton Gin do to change the American Economy during the Market Revolution?

Made the harvesting of cotton easier and less time consuming and increased the profitable

What was Morse Code and the Telegraph?

Long and short bursts of electric current would represent individual letters for communication

During the Election of 1824, what happened with Andrew Jackson?

Jackson won in popular vote although lost in the Electoral college vote that was required by the Constitution

How did Andrew Jackson expand the federal government power?

Jackson expanded presidential power significantly, using the veto authority more than all prior presidents combined

How did Andrew Jackson approach the Bank War?

Jackson opposed the Second Bank of the United States as he viewed the bank as a tool for the elite

How did Andrew Jackson act towards Native Americans?

Jackson implemented the Indian Removal Act of 1830, leading to the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands

What was Jacksonian Democracy?

Increased political participation among white males, aligning with Jackson’s populist appeal