Key Documents and Figures in Early American History and Government Save Flashcards Learn Test Blocks Blast Match House of Burgesses The legislature for the Jamestown colony established by the Virginia Company in 1619; it was the first legislative assembly in North America Track progress 1 / 48 Profile Picture Created by Audreybehm1 Created just now Terms in this set (48) Original House of Burgesses The legislature for the Jamestown colony established by the Virginia Company in 1619; it was the first legislative assembly in North America Mayflower Compact The governing document for Plymouth Colony that established forms of self-government for the colonists Magna Carta A document limiting the power of the king of England and guaranteeing certain rights to Englishmen English Bill of Rights A document signed in 1689 that guaranteed the rights of English citizens Enlightenment An eighteenth-century movement inspired by European philosophers who believed that society's problems could be solved by reason and science John Locke Was an English philosopher who wrote Two Treatises of Government. Great Awakening a religious movement in the English colonies during the 1730s and 1740s that was heavily inspired by evangelical preachers Thomas Jefferson Was an American farmer, landholder, author, architect, lawyer, and statesman. He joined the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768 and began advocating for American independence in the 1770's. Jefferson represented Virginia in the Second Continental Congress, during which time he drafted and revised the Declaration of Independence. He went on to serve as a diplomat to France and as the nation's first secretary of state, second vice president, and third president. Jefferson also founded the University of Virginia. John Hancock Was a Massachusetts statesman who served as the president of the Second Continental Congress. George Washington Worked early on as a surveyor of the Virginia colony. Washington became interested in western expansion in the Ohio Country and invested in the Ohio Company. In 1752, he accepted an appointment to the military as an officer. Two years later, he led a company to drive out the French from Fort Duquesne. Later, he went on to serve as the commander-in-chief of the colonies' Continental Army and to become the first President of the United States. Republican Government a government in which officials are representatives elected by the people; also known as a representative democracy Bill of Rights the first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting freedoms guaranteed to citizens by the government Articles of Confederation the original federal constitution drafted by the Continental Congress in 1777 Shays' Rebellion a farmers' rebellion, led by Daniel Shays, against higher taxes in Massachusetts Confederation an alliance or league of governments pledged to work together Northwest Territory a vast territory north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania as far as the Mississippi River James Madison Was a Patriot who represented Virginia in the Continental Congress. In 1787, he participated in the Constitutional Convention and was a leading voice in replacing the Articles of Confederation with a new plan for government. For his part in winning passage of the 1787 Constitution, he became known as the Father of the Constitution. Madison went on to serve as Thomas Jefferson's secretary of state and then to become the fourth president of the United States. Checks and Balances a system in which each branch of the government has the power to monitor and limit the actions of the other two Federalism a political system in which power is shared between the national government and state governments The Federalist Papers a series of 85 essays, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, that explained and defended the Constitution Separation of Powers a principle that divides power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government Antifederalists one who opposed ratification of the Constitution Virginia Declaration of Rights a document listing the protected rights of Virginians, which was incorporated into the Virginia state constitution in 1776; it influenced a number of later documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights Limited Government a principle stating that the government has only as much authority as the people give it and, therefore, its power is limited; government in which government actions are limited by law John Marshall was the fourth Chief Justice of the United States. After serving under George Washington in the Revolutionary War, including the winter at Valley Forge, Marshall held various law and political positions. As chief justice, Marshall participated in more than 1,000 decisions, writing more than 500 of them himself, often advancing and defending judicial power and the principles of American federalism. Judicial Review the power of the Supreme Court to decide whether acts of a president or laws passed by Congress are constitutional Louisiana Purchase the 1803 purchase from France by the United States of the territory between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains Monroe Doctrine a foreign policy doctrine set forth by President Monroe in 1823 that discouraged European intervention in the Western Hemisphere Andrew Jackson was an American military officer before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and finally as the seventh U.S. President from 1829 to 1837. As a general in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812, Jackson successfully defended New Orleans. As President, he vetoed the renewal of the charter of the Bank of the United States, opposed the nullification issue in South Carolina, and initiated the spoils system. Nullification a theory that states could nullify, or void, any federal law they deemed unconstitutional Indian Removal Act an act passed by Congress in 1830 that allowed the federal government to negotiate land exchanges with the American Indians in the Southeast Trail of Tears an act passed by Congress in 1830 that allowed the federal government to negotiate land exchanges with the American Indians in the Southeast Panic of 1837 the start of a prolonged downturn in the American economy touched off by changes in government policy Alexis de Tocqueville was a French aristocrat whose travels in the United States in the 1830's resulted in the publication of Democracy in America, an influential analysis of American politics. Industrial Revolution a shift from manual labor to mechanized work that began in Great Britain during the 1700's and spread to the United States around 1800 Underground Railroad a system that existed before the Civil War in which African American and white abolitionists helped people trying to escape enslavement travel to safe areas in the North and in Canada Abolitionists reformers who advocated a complete end to slavery Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland and escaped to the North in 1838. In 1841, he spontaneously shared his experiences of enslavement at an antislavery convention, and he soon became a speaker for the abolitionist cause. His autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, first published in 1845, reached still more people. During the Civil War, Douglass worked as an adviser to President Lincoln. Douglass also lent strong support to the women's movement. Second Great Awakening a religious revival movement in the first half of the 1800s Lucretia Mott was deeply committed to the ideal of reform. Known for her effective public speaking, she traveled the country promoting abolition. Frustrated by attempts to limit women's involvement in reform, Mott turned her attention to women's rights in the 1840's. She worked with Elizabeth Cady Stanton to organize the Seneca Falls Convention. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a lively and often fiery crusader for women's rights. While raising a growing family, she worked with Lucretia Mott and others to organize the Seneca Falls Convention. From the beginning, she pushed for women to fight for the right to vote, helping shape the direction of the movement for years to come. Declaration of Sentiments a document created at the Seneca Fall Convention in 1848 that demanded equal rights for women Susan B. Anthony was a campaigner for reforms and civil rights throughout her life. At different times she took up the cause of abolition, temperance, and working women's rights. But it is for the cause of woman suffrage that Anthony is best known. In 1869, she and her friend, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, formed the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), which led to over 30 years of relentless lecture tours, lobbying, and civil disobedience geared toward gaining the vote for women. Suffrage the right to vote Manifest Destiny the 19th century doctrine that westward expansion of the United States was not only inevitable but a God-given right Sam Houston was the only American to serve as governor of two different states—first Tennessee, then Texas. In between, he was commander of the Texan army, president of the Republic of Texas, and U.S. senator from Texas. Although an enslaver, Houston opposed the spread of slavery into the West. He was removed from the governorship of Texas after speaking out against Texas seceding from the Union. James K. Polk was a lawyer and politician who served as the 11th president of the United States from 1845 to 1849. Before being elected President, Polk served in the Tennessee legislature and as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. As President, Polk led the United States through the Mexican-American War, resulting in the United States gaining large territories along the Pacific coast and in the Southwest. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the 1848 treaty ending the Mexican-American War Add or remove terms Learn More You can also click the terms or definitions to blur or reveal them Review with an activity About us About Quizlet How Quizlet works Careers Advertise with us Get the app For students Flashcards Test Learn Solutions Modern Learning Lab Quizlet Plus Study Guides Pomodoro timer For teachers Live Blog Be the Change Quizlet Plus for teachers Resources Help center Honor code Community guidelines Terms Privacy California Privacy Your Privacy/Cookie Choices Ads and Cookie Settings Interest-Based Advertising Quizlet for Schools Parents Language English (USA) © 2025 Quizlet, Inc. COPPA Safe Harbor Certification seal Home Your library Notifications 5 Your courses AP Psychology Advanced Chemist... Honors Algebra 2 New folder Start here Flashcards Study Guides Practice Tests Expert Solutions Home Your library Notifications 5 AP Psychology Advanced Chemist... 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House of Burgesses

The legislature for the Jamestown colony established by the Virginia Company in 1619; it was the first legislative assembly in North America

Mayflower Compact

The governing document for Plymouth Colony that established forms of self-government for the colonists

Magna Carta

A document limiting the power of the king of England and guaranteeing certain rights to Englishmen

English Bill of Rights

A document signed in 1689 that guaranteed the rights of English citizens

Enlightenment

An eighteenth-century movement inspired by European philosophers who believed that society's problems could be solved by reason and science

John Locke

Was an English philosopher who wrote Two Treatises of Government.

Great Awakening

a religious movement in the English colonies during the 1730s and 1740s that was heavily inspired by evangelical preachers

Thomas Jefferson

Was an American farmer, landholder, author, architect, lawyer, and statesman. He joined the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768 and began advocating for American independence in the 1770's. Jefferson represented Virginia in the Second Continental Congress, during which time he drafted and revised the Declaration of Independence. He went on to serve as a diplomat to France and as the nation's first secretary of state, second vice president, and third president. Jefferson also founded the University of Virginia.

John Hancock

Was a Massachusetts statesman who served as the president of the Second Continental Congress.

George Washington

Worked early on as a surveyor of the Virginia colony. Washington became interested in western expansion in the Ohio Country and invested in the Ohio Company. In 1752, he accepted an appointment to the military as an officer. Two years later, he led a company to drive out the French from Fort Duquesne. Later, he went on to serve as the commander-in-chief of the colonies' Continental Army and to become the first President of the United States.

Republican Government

a government in which officials are representatives elected by the people; also known as a representative democracy

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting freedoms guaranteed to citizens by the government

Articles of Confederation

the original federal constitution drafted by the Continental Congress in 1777

Shays' Rebellion

a farmers' rebellion, led by Daniel Shays, against higher taxes in Massachusetts

Confederation

an alliance or league of governments pledged to work together

Northwest Territory

a vast territory north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania as far as the Mississippi River

James Madison

Was a Patriot who represented Virginia in the Continental Congress. In 1787, he participated in the Constitutional Convention and was a leading voice in replacing the Articles of Confederation with a new plan for government. For his part in winning passage of the 1787 Constitution, he became known as the Father of the Constitution. Madison went on to serve as Thomas Jefferson's secretary of state and then to become the fourth president of the United States.

Checks and Balances

a system in which each branch of the government has the power to monitor and limit the actions of the other two

Federalism

a political system in which power is shared between the national government and state governments

The Federalist Papers

a series of 85 essays, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, that explained and defended the Constitution

Separation of Powers

a principle that divides power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government

Antifederalists

one who opposed ratification of the Constitution

Virginia Declaration of Rights

a document listing the protected rights of Virginians, which was incorporated into the Virginia state constitution in 1776; it influenced a number of later documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights

Limited Government

a principle stating that the government has only as much authority as the people give it and, therefore, its power is limited; government in which government actions are limited by law

John Marshall

was the fourth Chief Justice of the United States. After serving under George Washington in the Revolutionary War, including the winter at Valley Forge, Marshall held various law and political positions. As chief justice, Marshall participated in more than 1,000 decisions, writing more than 500 of them himself, often advancing and defending judicial power and the principles of American federalism.

Judicial Review

the power of the Supreme Court to decide whether acts of a president or laws passed by Congress are constitutional

Louisiana Purchase

the 1803 purchase from France by the United States of the territory between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains

Monroe Doctrine

a foreign policy doctrine set forth by President Monroe in 1823 that discouraged European intervention in the Western Hemisphere

Andrew Jackson

was an American military officer before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and finally as the seventh U.S. President from 1829 to 1837. As a general in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812, Jackson successfully defended New Orleans. As President, he vetoed the renewal of the charter of the Bank of the United States, opposed the nullification issue in South Carolina, and initiated the spoils system.

Nullification

a theory that states could nullify, or void, any federal law they deemed unconstitutional

Indian Removal Act

an act passed by Congress in 1830 that allowed the federal government to negotiate land exchanges with the American Indians in the Southeast

Trail of Tears

an act passed by Congress in 1830 that allowed the federal government to negotiate land exchanges with the American Indians in the Southeast

Panic of 1837

the start of a prolonged downturn in the American economy touched off by changes in government policy

Alexis de Tocqueville

was a French aristocrat whose travels in the United States in the 1830's resulted in the publication of Democracy in America, an influential analysis of American politics.

Industrial Revolution

a shift from manual labor to mechanized work that began in Great Britain during the 1700's and spread to the United States around 1800

Underground Railroad

a system that existed before the Civil War in which African American and white abolitionists helped people trying to escape enslavement travel to safe areas in the North and in Canada

Abolitionists

reformers who advocated a complete end to slavery

Frederick Douglass

was born into slavery in Maryland and escaped to the North in 1838. In 1841, he spontaneously shared his experiences of enslavement at an antislavery convention, and he soon became a speaker for the abolitionist cause. His autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, first published in 1845, reached still more people. During the Civil War, Douglass worked as an adviser to President Lincoln. Douglass also lent strong support to the women's movement.

Second Great Awakening

a religious revival movement in the first half of the 1800s

Lucretia Mott

was deeply committed to the ideal of reform. Known for her effective public speaking, she traveled the country promoting abolition. Frustrated by attempts to limit women's involvement in reform, Mott turned her attention to women's rights in the 1840's. She worked with Elizabeth Cady Stanton to organize the Seneca Falls Convention.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

was a lively and often fiery crusader for women's rights. While raising a growing family, she worked with Lucretia Mott and others to organize the Seneca Falls Convention. From the beginning, she pushed for women to fight for the right to vote, helping shape the direction of the movement for years to come.

Declaration of Sentiments

a document created at the Seneca Fall Convention in 1848 that demanded equal rights for women

Susan B. Anthony

was a campaigner for reforms and civil rights throughout her life. At different times she took up the cause of abolition, temperance, and working women's rights. But it is for the cause of woman suffrage that Anthony is best known. In 1869, she and her friend, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, formed the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), which led to over 30 years of relentless lecture tours, lobbying, and civil disobedience geared toward gaining the vote for women.

Suffrage

the right to vote

Manifest Destiny

the 19th century doctrine that westward expansion of the United States was not only inevitable but a God-given right

Sam Houston

was the only American to serve as governor of two different states—first Tennessee, then Texas. In between, he was commander of the Texan army, president of the Republic of Texas, and U.S. senator from Texas. Although an enslaver, Houston opposed the spread of slavery into the West. He was removed from the governorship of Texas after speaking out against Texas seceding from the Union.

James K. Polk

was a lawyer and politician who served as the 11th president of the United States from 1845 to 1849. Before being elected President, Polk served in the Tennessee legislature and as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. As President, Polk led the United States through the Mexican-American War, resulting in the United States gaining large territories along the Pacific coast and in the Southwest.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

the 1848 treaty ending the Mexican-American War