apush terms

SCOTUS

supreme court of the US

mercantilism

Economic theory emphasizing the importance of accumulating wealth through trade, colonization, and protectionism.

 Roger Williams, 1636

Founder of Rhode Island and advocate for religious freedom and the separation of church and state.

 Thomas Hooker, 1636

Puritan leader who founded the colony of Connecticut and advocated for democratic principles in governance.

Nathaniel Bacon, 1676-1677

Leader of Bacon's Rebellion in colonial Virginia, which protested against the colonial government's treatment of frontiersmen and Native Americans.

Salutary Neglect

British colonial policy of loose enforcement of trade regulations on the American colonies, contributing to their economic growth and autonomy.

Jonathan Edwards 1734

A colonial preacher whose sermons played a key role in the religious revival known as the Great Awakening.

 Albany Plan of Union, 1754

A proposal by Benjamin Franklin to create a unified colonial government to manage defense and Indian affairs; it was not adopted but laid groundwork for later unity efforts.

Proclamation of 1763

A British decree that prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, angering colonists and contributing to tensions leading to the American Revolution.

Intolerable Acts, 1774

Series of punitive measures imposed by Britain on Massachusetts following the Boston Tea Party, seen by colonists as severe violations of their rights.

Daniel Shays’ Rebellion, 1786

An armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting high taxes and economic injustice, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Federalist Papers, 1787-1788

Collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay advocating for the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Bill of Rights, 1791

The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights and liberties.

 Eli Whitney, 1793

American inventor known for inventing the cotton gin and pioneering the use of interchangeable parts in manufacturing.

 XYZ Affair, 1797-98

Diplomatic incident between the United States and France, involving French demands for bribes from American diplomats, leading to heightened tensions between the two countries.

Alien & Sedition Acts, 1798

Series of laws passed by Congress under President John Adams aimed at curbing dissent and restricting immigration, criticized as unconstitutional.

John Marshall, 1801-1835

Influential Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court known for strengthening the role of the judiciary and promoting federal power.

Marbury v. Madison, 1803

Landmark Supreme Court case establishing the principle of judicial review, affirming the Court's authority to declare laws unconstitutional.

Embargo Act, 1807

 Law enacted by President Thomas Jefferson to prohibit American ships from trading with foreign nations, in response to British and French interference with American trade.

 Hartford Convention, 1814

Meeting of New England Federalists during the War of 1812 to discuss grievances and potential secession from the Union, contributing to the decline of the Federalist Party.

Battle of New Orleans, 1815

Decisive American victory over the British in the War of 1812, occurring after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.

The American System, 1815

Economic program proposed by Henry Clay to promote industry, infrastructure development, and a protective tariff.

Era of Good Feelings, 1815-24

Period of political harmony and economic growth in the United States following the War of 1812.

Adams-Onis Treaty, 1819

Agreement between the United States and Spain in which Spain ceded Florida to the United States and settled boundary disputes in the western territories.

 McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819

 Supreme Court case affirming the supremacy of federal law over state law and establishing the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States.

Monroe Doctrine, 1823

 Policy statement by President James Monroe warning European powers against further colonization or intervention in the Western Hemisphere.

Tariff of Abominations, 1828

 Controversial protective tariff passed by Congress that angered Southern states, leading to the nullification crisis.

 Panic of 1837

Severe economic depression triggered by a financial crisis, characterized by bank failures, unemployment, and falling prices.

Wilmot Proviso, 1846

Failed proposal to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico during the Mexican-American War.

 Mexican-American War, 1846-48

Conflict between the United States and Mexico over territory disputes, resulting in the annexation of vast territories including California and New Mexico.

Seneca Falls convention, 1848

First women's rights convention in the United States, where the Declaration of Sentiments was drafted, advocating for women's suffrage and equality.

Compromise of 1850

Legislative package aimed at resolving sectional tensions over slavery, including the admission of California as a free state and the implementation of the Fugitive Slave Law.

Gadsden Purchase, 1854

Acquisition of territory from Mexico by the United States to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad route.

 Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

 Law that allowed settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide whether to allow slavery through popular sovereignty, leading to violent conflict.

Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857

Landmark Supreme Court case declaring that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court.

John Brown’s raid, 1859

Abolitionist raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to start a slave rebellion; it was unsuccessful and Brown was captured and executed.

Homestead Act, 1862

Law that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers who agreed to farm the land for at least five years, encouraging westward expansion.

 Morrill Land-Grant Act, 1862

Legislation that provided federal land grants to states for the establishment of agricultural and mechanical colleges, promoting higher education and scientific research.

Freedman’s Bureau, 1865

Federal agency established to assist newly emancipated African Americans with education, employment, and basic necessities during Reconstruction.

Tenure of Office Act, 1867

Law passed by Congress over President Andrew Johnson's veto, restricting the president's power to remove certain officeholders without Senate approval, leading to Johnson's impeachment.

Granger Movement, 1867

Agrarian movement advocating for government regulation of railroads and other industries to protect farmers from exploitation.

14th Amendment, 1868

 Constitutional amendment granting citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.

 Transcontinental railroad completed, 1869

Completion of the first railroad connecting the east and west coasts of the United States, facilitating transportation and trade.

Standard Oil created, 1870

Oil company founded by John D. Rockefeller that became one of the largest and most powerful corporations in the world, dominating the oil industry.

Horizontal Integration, 1870s

Business strategy where a company acquires or merges with its competitors in the same industry to consolidate market share and reduce competition.

 Battle of Little Big Horn, 1876

Major victory for Native American forces led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse over U.S. Army forces led by General George Custer.

Compromise of 1877

 Informal agreement that resolved the disputed presidential election of 1876, ending Reconstruction and withdrawing federal troops from the South.

Booker T. Washington, 1881

 African American educator and leader who founded the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to provide vocational education for African Americans.

Social Darwinism, 1887

Ideology applying Darwin's theory of natural selection to human society, justifying social inequalities and laissez-faire capitalism.

Pendleton Civil Service Act, 1883

Federal law that established a merit-based system for government employment, reducing political patronage and corruption.

Chinese Exclusion Act, 1883

Federal law prohibiting the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States, the first significant restriction on immigration based on nationality.

Haymarket Square Riot, 1886

Labor protest in Chicago that turned violent when a bomb was thrown at police, leading to deaths and injuries; it resulted in a backlash against labor activism.

Dawes Severalty Act, 1887

Federal law that sought to assimilate Native Americans by allotting them land and encouraging individual farming, undermining tribal land rights.

Jacob Riis , 1890

Book by journalist Jacob Riis exposing the living conditions of New York City's poor tenement dwellers, sparking social reform efforts.

Alfred Thayer Mahan, 1890s

Naval officer and historian whose ideas about sea power and the importance of naval strength influenced naval strategy and policies.

Populism

Political movement advocating for the interests of ordinary people against the elites, particularly prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Panic of 1893

Severe economic depression characterized by bank failures, unemployment, and business bankruptcies.

Pullman Strike, 1894

Nationwide railroad strike led by the American Railway Union against the Pullman Company, which was suppressed by federal troops.

Jane Addams, 1887

Social reformer and settlement house founder in Chicago, dedicated to improving the lives of immigrants and the urban poor.

Sherman Antitrust Act, 1890

Federal law aimed at preventing monopolies and promoting competition, though initially ineffectual in curbing corporate power.

Wounded Knee massacre, 1890

Massacre of Lakota Sioux by U.S. Army troops in South Dakota, marking the end of Native American resistance in the West.

Mary Lease, 1891-1892

Populist leader and orator known for her advocacy on behalf of farmers and her slogan "Raise less corn and more hell."

Frederick Jackson Turner, 1893

Historian whose "frontier thesis" argued that the American character and democracy were shaped by the experience of the frontier.

Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896

Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, validating Jim Crow laws.

Emilio Aguinaldo, 1898

Filipino leader who fought against Spanish and later American colonial rule, including during the Philippine-American War.

Teller Amendment, 1898

Resolution passed by Congress disclaiming any intention of the United States to annex Cuba following the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War, 1898

Conflict between the United States and Spain over Cuba's fight for independence, resulting in American victory and the acquisition of territories.

Open Door policy, 1899

U.S. policy calling for equal access to China's markets and the preservation of China's territorial integrity, against European imperialism.

Referendum

Political mechanism allowing citizens to vote directly on proposed laws or policies.

Henry Ford, 1903

American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company, known for revolutionizing the automobile industry with mass production techniques.

Roosevelt Corollary, 1904

Addition to the Monroe Doctrine asserting the United States' right to intervene in Latin American affairs to maintain stability and protect its interests.

Upton Sinclair, 1906

Muckraking novel exposing the unsanitary conditions of the meatpacking industry and leading to food safety regulations.

Henry Cabot Lodge, 1890s-1920s

Republican senator and influential figure in American foreign policy, particularly regarding treaty ratification and international relations.

16th Amendment, 1913

Constitutional amendment authorizing the federal government to levy an income tax.

17th Amendment, 1913

Constitutional amendment establishing the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.

 Federal Reserve System created, 1913

Central banking system established to regulate the nation's monetary policy and banking system.

Woodrow Willson, 1913-1921

President of the United States during World War I and advocate for the League of Nations, though his efforts for its ratification failed.

 Zimmerman Telegram, 1917

Intercepted communication from Germany to Mexico proposing a military alliance against the United States during World War I, contributing to America's entry into the war.

Fourteen Points, 1918

President Woodrow Wilson's post-World War I plan for peace and international cooperation, including principles such as self-determination and a League of Nations.

Article X, Treaty of Versailles, 1919

Provision of the Treaty of Versailles calling for collective security through the League of Nations, which the U.S. Senate rejected.

Red Scare

Period of anti-communist hysteria and government repression in the United States, particularly after World War I and during the Cold War.

Marcus Garvey, 1920s

Jamaican-born leader of the "Back to Africa" movement and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).

National Origin Act, 1924

 Legislation restricting immigration to the United States based on national origin, favoring Northern and Western European immigrants.

Teapot Dome Scandal, 1923-24

 Political scandal during the Harding administration involving secret leasing of federal oil reserves, leading to convictions and public outrage.

John Scopes, 1925

Tennessee teacher who was tried and convicted for teaching evolution in violation of state law, in the famous Scopes Monkey Trial.

Stock Market crash, 1929

 Event marking the beginning of the Great Depression, characterized by a sudden and severe decline in stock prices.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff, 1930

Protectionist tariff passed by Congress during the Great Depression, exacerbating international economic tensions and contributing to global trade decline.

Hundred Days, 1933

Initial period of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration characterized by a flurry of legislative activity to address the Great Depression.

Good Neighbor Policy, 1933

 Foreign policy approach of non-intervention and cooperation with Latin American countries, initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

 Dust Bowl, 1935

Environmental disaster in the Great Plains caused by drought, soil erosion, and agricultural practices, leading to mass migration and economic hardship.

Neutrality Act of 1935

Legislation aimed at preventing U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts by prohibiting arms sales and loans to belligerent nations.

 John Maynard Keynes, 1936

British economist whose ideas about government intervention in the economy influenced Roosevelt's New Deal policies.

FDR’s court-packing plan, 1937

Proposal by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to expand the Supreme Court to gain favorable rulings on New Deal legislation, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

Roosevelt recession, 1937-38

Economic downturn during the Roosevelt administration caused by government spending cuts and monetary tightening, temporarily reversing the recovery from the Great Depression.

 Lend-Lease Act, 1940

 Legislation authorizing the United States to lend or lease military equipment to countries deemed vital to U.S. defense, prior to its entry into World War II.

Atlantic Charter, 1941

Declaration of principles between the United States and Great Britain outlining their goals for a post-World War II world.

Pearl Harbor, 1941

Surprise Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii, leading to America's entry into World War II.

Japanese-American internment, 1942

Forced relocation and imprisonment of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast during World War II, based on fears of espionage and sabotage.

Korematsu v. US, 1944

 Supreme Court case upholding the constitutionality of Japanese-American internment camps during World War II.

G.I. Bill, 1944

 Legislation providing benefits to World War II veterans, including education, housing, and unemployment assistance.