Social Studies - Grade 8 Exploration to Reconstruction

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts and terms from the lecture notes on U.S. history from exploration to reconstruction.

Reasons for Exploration

Wealth, religion, expansion of empires, claiming territory, finding new trade routes to Asia.

Spain's Claims

Florida, Texas, California; established missions.

France's Exploration

Claimed land in the New World primarily for profit through fur trading.

New England Colonies

Characterized by rocky soil and cold climate; focused on fishing, lumber, and shipbuilding.

Religious Toleration

The acceptance of different religious beliefs; exemplified by Roger Williams founding Rhode Island.

Massachusetts Colony

New England colony founded by Puritans/Pilgrims seeking religious freedom; Boston as major port.

Middle Colonies

Rich farmland, moderate climate; cultivated oats, wheat, and raised livestock.

Quakers

First anti-slavery group, known for their role in Pennsylvania.

Southern Colonies

Fertile soil and warm climate; economies based on cash crops; utilized slave labor.

Maryland Colony

Founded for Catholics seeking religious freedom.

Representative Government Growth

Caused by distance from Britain and frameworks like Mayflower Compact.

Mercantilism

Economic policy where British controlled colonial trade, causing discontent among colonists.

Proclamation of 1763

Law preventing colonists from moving west of Appalachian Mountains which they ignored.

Consent of the Governed

The principle that government requires the permission of the people to govern.

Intolerable Acts

British response to the Boston Tea Party; led to the First Continental Congress formation.

Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson; outlined grievances against King George III.

Unalienable Rights

Fundamental rights such as life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Saratoga

Turning point of the American Revolution; secured French support for Americans.

Yorktown

Site of the last major battle of the American Revolution where British were defeated.

Articles of Confederation

First government of the U.S.; weak due to fear of power abuse, lacking executive branch.

Northwest Ordinance

Process for admitting new states; requires 60,000 settlers for application.

Great Compromise

Resolved representation issues in Congress; led to a bicameral legislature.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement on how slaves would be counted for representation and taxation.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution favoring a strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution advocating for state powers and a bill of rights.

Checks and Balances

System ensuring that no one branch of government becomes too powerful.

Citizen Responsibilities

Duties include serving on juries, voting, staying informed, and obeying laws.

1st Amendment

Guarantees freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a fair trial.

8th Amendment

Prohibits cruel or unusual punishment and excessive fines.

10th Amendment

Reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

Steps to stabilize the economy including the establishment of the National Bank.

Farewell Address

George Washington's warning against political parties and permanent alliances.

Federalist Party

Led by Hamilton; advocated for a strong federal government and industrial economy.

Democratic-Republican Party

Led by Jefferson; favored agricultural economy and limiting federal power.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review; Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional.

Gibbons v. Ogden

Affirmed federal authority over interstate commerce.

Louisiana Purchase

Acquisition that doubled the size of the U.S. in 1803.

Causes of the War of 1812

Included British impressment of U.S. sailors.

Monroe Doctrine

Policy preventing European colonization in the Western Hemisphere.

Jacksonian Democracy

Expansion of voting rights and increased political participation.

Nullification Crisis

Conflict over whether states could invalidate federal laws.

Worcester v. Georgia

Supreme Court ruling favoring Native Americans land rights, ignored by Jackson.

Hudson River School

Group of artists known for painting American landscapes.

Effects of the War of 1812

Boosted U.S. manufacturing due to British goods boycott.

Industrial Revolution

Period marked by advancements in inventions impacting manufacturing.

Cotton Gin

Invention that increased cotton production and demand for slave labor.

Interchangeable Parts

Manufacturing process that led to mass production of goods.

Free Enterprise

Economic system with minimal government regulation based on supply and demand.

Women in the Workforce

Early involvement in textile mills and employment outside the home.

Canals

Man-made waterways that facilitated trade and transportation.

Steamboat and Railroads

Technological advancements that increased transportation efficiency.

Telegraph

Communication device invented by Samuel Morse for rapid long-distance messaging.

Urbanization

The growth of cities as people moved for factory jobs.

Immigrants in the 19th Century

Irish and others moved to the U.S. for opportunity, faced nativist backlash.

Missouri Compromise

Effort to maintain a balance between free and slave states.

Manifest Destiny

Belief that U.S. was destined to expand across the continent.

Oregon Territory

Land gained from treaty with Britain fulfilling Manifest Destiny.

U.S.-Mexican War

Conflict arising from Texas's annexation and ensuing border disputes.

Mexican Cession

Territory acquired after the U.S.-Mexican War, fueling slavery debates.

California Gold Rush

Mass migration to California post-gold discovery; significant immigration influx.

Second Great Awakening

Religious revival movement leading to social reform efforts.

Dorothea Dix

Advocate for prison reform and mental health facilities.

Temperance Movement

Campaign led by women to reduce alcohol consumption.

Abolitionist Movement

Efforts to end slavery, featuring notable figures like Frederick Douglass.

Transcendentalism

Philosophical movement emphasizing individualism and social reform.

Women’s Rights Movement

Advocated for suffrage and equal rights for women.

Sectionalism

Economic interests divided between North (industrial), South (agricultural), and West (mining).

Fugitive Slave Act

Legislation that required the return of runaway slaves.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Allowed territories to decide on slavery, leading to violent conflicts.

Debate Over Slavery

Central issue leading to the Civil War, particularly opposing Republican policies.

Abraham Lincoln

President during the Civil War, committed to preserving the Union.

Union Advantages

Greater industrial resources and manpower during the Civil War.

Vicksburg

Strategic victory for the Union; gained control of Mississippi River.

Appomattox Court House

Site of the Confederate surrender, marking the end of the Civil War.

Reconstruction

Post-Civil War era focusing on rebuilding the South and integrating freed slaves.

Radical Republicans

Political faction that sought to punish Confederate leaders and enhance rights for freedmen.

13th Amendment

Constitutional amendment abolishing slavery.

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship to all persons born in the U.S. and equal protection under the law.

15th Amendment

Protected voting rights for African American males, countered by poll taxes.

Hiram Rhodes Revels

First African American elected to the U.S. Senate.

Black Codes

Restrictions imposed on freed slaves aimed at limiting their newfound liberties.

Freedmen’s Bureau

Agency designed to assist freed slaves with education and employment.

Sharecropping

Agricultural system that trapped former slaves in debt and poverty.

Transcontinental Railroad

Major infrastructure project that accelerated westward settlement and trade.

Northern Economy

Characterized by factories, trade, and wage labor.

Southern Economy

Relied heavily on agriculture and slave labor.

Western Economy

Focused on mining and agriculture.

Compromise of 1850

Agreement balancing free and slave states while enacting a stricter fugitive slave law.

What contributed to the growth of representative government in the 13 colonies?

The distance from the 13 colonies to Great Britain led to the growth of representative government, as it made direct control from the British Parliament difficult.

What are the different regions of the 13 colonies?

The 13 colonies are divided into three regions: New England Colonies, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies.

List the New England Colonies.

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.

List the Middle Colonies.

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

List the Southern Colonies.

Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

What were the 13 colonies?

The 13 colonies were British settlements established along the east coast of North America from the early 17th century to the 18th century, which eventually declared independence from Great Britain.

How did the cotton gin impact the demand for slavery?

The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 significantly increased the demand for slave labor in the Southern United States, as it made cotton processing more efficient and profitable, leading to a greater reliance on enslaved workers to cultivate and harvest cotton.

What were the requirements for admitting new states under the Northwest Ordinance?

The requirements for admitting new states under the NORTHWEST ORDINANCE:

1. A territory must have a population of at least 60,000 residents.

2. It had to have a written constitution.

3. The new state must ensure that the rights of its inhabitants were protected, including the prohibition of slavery in the Northwest Territory.

What is the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, which guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms to individuals.

What is the First Amendment?

The First Amendment grants freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. Example: A person can express their opinion about the government without fear of retaliation.