Key Historical Figures and Events in American History

This set of flashcards covers key historical figures, events, and terms related to American history, including important legislation, conflicts, and influential individuals.

Thomas Jefferson

The third President of the United States and principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, which established a weak national government.

Daniel Shays

Leader of Shays' Rebellion, a populist uprising against economic injustices in 1786.

Federalists

Political group that supported a strong central government and the ratification of the Constitution.

Antifederalists

Political group that opposed the ratification of the Constitution, advocating for states' rights.

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of the Treasury and a key figure in establishing the financial system of the U.S.

Alien & Sedition Acts

Laws passed in 1798 restricting the rights of immigrants and limiting free speech.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 uprising by farmers protesting federal taxes on whiskey.

Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington's final address to the nation, warning against political parties and foreign alliances.

Sacajawea

A Shoshone woman who assisted Lewis and Clark on their historic expedition.

William Clark

Explorer who, along with Meriwether Lewis, led the expedition to map the newly acquired western territory.

Henry Clay

Prominent politician and statesman known for his role in the Missouri Compromise.

John C. Calhoun

Political theorist and statesman known for advocating for states' rights and the nullification doctrine.

Andrew Jackson

The seventh President of the United States, known for his populist policies and the Indian Removal Act.

Whigs

Political party in the 19th century that opposed the policies of Andrew Jackson.

Eli Whitney

Inventor known for the cotton gin, which revolutionized the cotton industry.

Know-Nothings

A political movement in the 1850s that opposed immigration and Catholic influence.

Dorothea Dix

Advocate for the mentally ill and reformer of mental health care.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Author of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' a novel that showcased the harsh realities of slavery.

Nat Turner

Leader of a slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831.

Frederick Douglass

Former enslaved person and prominent abolitionist, orator, and writer.

Rio Grande

River that forms part of the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

Harriet Tubman

A key figure in the Underground Railroad who helped many slaves escape to freedom.

Stephen A. Douglas

Politician known for his role in the Kansas-Nebraska Act and debates with Abraham Lincoln.

Dred Scott

Enslaved person who sued for his freedom but lost in a landmark Supreme Court case.

Ku Klux Klan

A white supremacist hate group formed during Reconstruction.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States during the Civil War.

Robert E. Lee

Commander of the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

John Wilkes Booth

Assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

Ulysses S. Grant

Union general during the Civil War and later the 18th President of the United States.

William T. Sherman

Union general known for his March to the Sea, destroying Southern infrastructure.