deblas final exam flashcards

Indentured Servitude

Workers (usually poor Europeans) who signed contracts to work 4-7 years in exchange for passage to the New World.

Bacon’s Rebellion

A violent rebellion in 1676 led by Nathaniel Bacon against Virginia’s colonial government challenging economic inequality and policies toward Native Americans.

House of Burgesses

The first legislative assembly in the colonies, founded in Virginia in 1619, representing the beginning of self-government.

Mercantilism

An economic theory where colonies existed to benefit the mother country, emphasizing a favorable balance of trade.

Proclamation of 1763

A royal order issued by King George III prohibiting colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Boston Massacre

A 1770 confrontation where British soldiers killed five colonists, used as propaganda to fuel anti-British sentiment.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing US independence and setting its borders.

Articles of Confederation

The first US government framework, created a weak national government with most powers held by the states.

Federalism

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

Nullification

The idea that states could invalidate federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.

Second Great Awakening

A major religious revival that emphasized personal faith, emotional preaching, and led to various social reform movements.

Cotton Kingdom

The term describing the South's focus on cotton cultivation, leading to an economy heavily dependent on slavery.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century belief that the US was destined to expand its territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Sectionalism

Loyalty to a particular region of the country rather than to the nation as a whole, increasing tensions leading up to the Civil War.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who feared a strong central government and advocated for a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong national government and the ratification of the Constitution.

Louisiana Purchase

The 1803 acquisition of territory from France that doubled the size of the US and opened land for westward expansion.

Natural Rights

The concept that individuals have inherent rights such as life, liberty, and property, central to the Declaration of Independence.

Saratoga

The turning point battle of the American Revolution in 1777, leading to French support for the American cause.

Harvard College

Founded in 1636, it was the first college in America, reflecting the New England emphasis on education.

Embargo Act (1807)

Thomas Jefferson's law prohibiting all foreign trade to avoid conflict, which harmed the US economy.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident between the US and France that led to an undeclared naval conflict known as the Quasi-War.

Seneca Falls Convention

The first women's rights convention held in 1848, aimed at gaining equal rights for women, particularly suffrage.

War of 1812

A conflict fought between the US and Great Britain primarily over maritime rights, leading to increased American nationalism.

Stamp Act (1765)

A direct tax on printed materials in the colonies, leading to colonial protests and the slogan 'no taxation without representation'.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

A series of laws passed by Britain to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, which united colonists in opposition.

Virginian Dynasty

The idea that early US Presidents, largely from Virginia, shaped the foundation of government and political ideals.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 revolt by farmers against tax on whiskey, demonstrating the federal government's authority to maintain order.

Shays' Rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786 against the AOC, highlighting the weaknesses of the government and leading to calls for a stronger federal government.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The 1848 treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, resulting in significant territorial gains for the US.

Civil Rights Movement

A broad campaign aimed at ending racial discrimination and securing equal rights for African Americans.

Isolationism

A foreign policy stance that avoids involvement in international alliances and conflicts.

American System

An economic plan promoted by Henry Clay that advocated for a strong national bank, protective tariffs, and internal improvements.

Political Corruption

The use of power by government officials for illegitimate private gain, prevalent in the 19th century.

Gadsden Purchase

The 1854 purchase of land from Mexico that facilitated a southern transcontinental railroad.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

A landmark Supreme Court case in 1857 that ruled African Americans could not be American citizens and that Congress had no authority to regulate slavery in the territories.

Great Compromise

A constitutional agreement that established a bicameral legislature, balancing representation by population and equality.

House of Commons

The lower house of the UK Parliament, known for representing the public's interests.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

A law that established a method for admitting new states and laid out a plan for governance of the Northwest Territory.

Temperance Movement

A social movement advocating for the reduction or prohibition of alcohol consumption, part of the larger reform movements inspired by the Second Great Awakening.