American History

Christopher Columbus

Found the New World. Opened a passageway for other countries to settle in the New World, gaining resources and trade.

English Colonization

The English colonized America for land, resources, religious freedom, and to escape their debt.

Columbian Exchange

Established by the English; a trade system resulting in the exchange of materials between the Old World and the colonies. Brought over people, products, and pathogens.

Fur trading

The primary interest of the French in the New World, which involved creating connections with indigenous peoples.

Breadbasket Colonies

The Middle colonies, known for producing a vast amount of wheat and grains.

Cash Crops

Crops like tobacco and indigo primarily grown in the Southern colonies for profit.

Enlightenment

A period emphasizing science and reasoning over religious beliefs, prompting people to question traditional authority.

Social Contract

A theory associated with Rousseau that implies an agreement among individuals that they give up a small part of their rights for the government to protect their rights. If the government fails to do so, the people can overthrow the government.

Separation of Powers

A principle, advocated by Montesquieu, that divides government into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

First Continental Congress

A gathering of delegates from the colonies in 1774 to discuss resistance against British policies.

Whiskey Rebellion

A protest against the whiskey tax during Washington's presidency, which he suppressed with a militia.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who believed in a strong national government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who feared it would threaten individual rights.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, intended to protect individual liberties.

Preamble of the Constitution

The introduction stating the intentions of the Constitution, including justice, peace, and liberty.

Ohio River Valley

A region rich in natural resources, contested during the French and Indian War.

French and Indian War

A conflict from 1754-1763 between France and Britain over control of North America.

Proclamation of 1763

A decree that forbade colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, escalating tensions with colonists.

Stamp Act

A 1765 tax requiring all paper goods to have a stamp, leading to widespread colonial protests.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest where colonists dumped 90,000 pounds of tea into the harbor to oppose the Tea Act.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The agreement that officially ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized U.S. independence.

Common Sense

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence and challenging British rule.

Electoral College

A body established by the Constitution for electing the President and Vice President.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government responsible for interpreting the laws and the Constitution.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government responsible for making laws, consisting of Congress.

Executive Branch

The branch of government headed by the President, responsible for enforcing laws.

Importance of the Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights was created to ensure the protection of individual liberties against government infringement.

Principles of the Constitution

The Constitution is based on principles such as popular sovereignty, limited government, and checks and balances.

George Washington's Farewell Address

In his farewell address, Washington advised against political parties and foreign alliances to preserve national unity.

Judicial Review

The principle that allows courts to evaluate the constitutionality of laws and government actions.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures no single branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch the ability to limit powers of the others.

National Bank

Established during Washington's presidency to stabilize and improve the nation's credit and to manage its financial system.

Two-Term Tradition

George Washington set the precedent of serving only two terms as President, which was later codified in the 22nd Amendment.

First Amendment

Protects the freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

Second Amendment

Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

Third Amendment

Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes during peacetime.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures; establishes the requirement of a warrant.

Fifth Amendment

Guarantees the right to due process, prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

Sixth Amendment

Ensures the right to a fair trial, including the right to counsel and to confront witnesses.

Seventh Amendment

Jury can decide the outcome of a civil trial.

Eighth Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

Ninth Amendment

Affirms that the listing of individual rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.

Tenth Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people through their elected representatives.

Limited Government

A principle stating that the government's powers are restricted by law, typically through a constitution.

Checks and Balances

A system ensuring that no single branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

Judicial Review

The principle that allows courts to evaluate the constitutionality of laws and government actions.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, like states.

Individual Rights

The guarantees provided in the Constitution, specifically in the Bill of Rights, that protect citizens' freedoms and liberties from government infringement.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature, favoring larger states in representation.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, favoring smaller states.

Great Compromise

An agreement that created a two-house legislature, blending the Virginia and New Jersey Plans to balance representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement counting three-fifths of the slave population for representation and taxation purposes.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislative body with two chambers, such as the Senate and the House of Representatives in the U.S.

Electoral System

The method by which voters elect representatives and the President, including the use of the Electoral College.

Checks on Executive Power

Mechanisms, such as impeachment and legislative approval, to limit presidential authority and prevent abuse of power.

Bill of Attainder

A legislative act that punishes a specific person or group without a trial, prohibited by the Constitution.

Ex Post Facto Law

A law that makes an action illegal retroactively, which is forbidden by the Constitution.

Majority Rule

A democratic principle that the majority's decision should prevail in