HIST 222 Final Exam Study Guide

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States (1781-1789), creating a weak central government with limited powers, including no power to tax or regulate trade. It was replaced by the U.S. Constitution due to its ineffectiveness.

Shays' Rebellion

An armed uprising (1786-1787) led by Daniel Shays in Massachusetts, protesting economic injustices. It revealed weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and led to calls for a stronger central government.

Constitutional Convention

A 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where delegates drafted the U.S. Constitution, addressing issues like government structure, representation, and individual rights.

Federalism & Division of Powers

the sharing of power between national and state governments. allocates different responsibilities to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

Checks and Balances

A system in the U.S. Constitution that allows each branch of government (executive, legislative, judicial) to limit the powers of the other branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

3/5 Clause

A compromise in the U.S. Constitution that counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation and taxation, reflecting the South’s desire for more political power.

Federalists vs. Republicans (Economic Policy, Foreign Policy, etc.)

led by Hamilton, favored a strong central government and close ties with Britain. led by Jefferson, advocated for states' rights, an agrarian economy, and stronger ties with France.

First 'Party' System

The emergence of the Federalists and Republicans as the political parties in the U.S., driven by differing views on government power, economic policy, and foreign relations.

The 'Quasi War'

An undeclared naval conflict (1798-1800) between the U.S. and France, stemming from tensions over French interference with American shipping and U.S. neutrality.

Alien & Sedition Acts

Laws passed in 1798 targeting immigrants and restricting freedom of speech to suppress political opposition, especially Republicans.

Virginia & Kentucky Resolves

Statements written by Jefferson and Madison in 1798 asserting that states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws, in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts.

'Revolution' of 1800

The peaceful transition of power from the Federalists to the Republicans with the election of Thomas Jefferson, marking the first nonviolent political shift in U.S. history.

Market Revolution

A period of rapid economic transformation in the early 19th century, driven by improvements in transportation (canals, railroads), communication (telegraph), and a shift to commercial agriculture and factory production.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century belief that the U.S. was destined by God to expand its territory across North America, justifying territorial expansion and the removal of Native Americans.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

An agreement to balance slave and free states, as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while prohibiting slavery north of the 36°30' latitude.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

A war between the U.S. and Mexico triggered by territorial disputes, leading to the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo and the U.S. acquisition of California and the Southwest.

Compromise of 1850

A series of laws to address slavery in newly acquired territories, including the Fugitive Slave Act and the introduction of popular sovereignty in some areas to decide whether to allow slavery.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

A law that allowed Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide whether to permit slavery through popular sovereignty, leading to violent conflict known as 'Bleeding Kansas.'

Civil War (1861-1865)

A conflict between the Union and Confederacy primarily over slavery, which resulted in the abolition of slavery and significant changes in U.S. society and governance.

Reconstruction (1865-1877)

The period after the Civil War during which Southern states were reintegrated into the Union, focusing on civil rights for freed slaves and rebuilding the South’s economy.

Problems with the Articles of Confederation

The Articles created a weak central government that lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws, leading to economic instability and difficulties with foreign relations.

Elitists' Reactions to Shays' Rebellion

feared Shays' Rebellion represented a breakdown in social order, which contributed to the push for a stronger central government at the Constitutional Convention.

Major Issues at the Constitutional Convention

Key issues included representation (resolved by the Great Compromise), the powers of the executive (resolved by the creation of the presidency), and the protection of slavery (e.g., 3/5 Clause).

Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency

His presidency (1801-1809) emphasized limited government, agrarianism, and states' rights. Notable achievements include the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Causes and Effects of the Market Revolution

Driven by technological innovations and transportation improvements, transformed the U.S. economy from subsistence farming to a market-driven one, increasing industrialization and urbanization.

Artisan vs. Factory Systems

The artisan system involved skilled labor and small-scale production, while the factory system involved mass production with unskilled labor and division of tasks, often under harsh conditions.

Democratization of Politics in the Early 19th Century

The expansion of suffrage to all white men and the rise of political parties increased political participation, leading to more populist movements and greater emphasis on the 'common man.'

Andrew Jackson’s Presidency

His presidency (1829-1837) was marked by populism, Indian removal, and opposition to the Bank of the United States, advocating for a stronger role of the presidency and the 'common man' in politics.

Women’s Reform Activism in the Early 19th Century

Middle-class women became active in social reforms like abolition, temperance, and moral reforms, driven by a sense of social responsibility and desire to influence public life beyond the home.

Causes of the Radicalization of Abolition

The escalation of violence over slavery, including events like 'Bleeding Kansas,' pushed abolitionists toward more radical demands for immediate emancipation and equal rights.

Women Reformers and Abolition

Women like Harriet Beecher Stowe, Sojourner Truth, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were key figures in abolition, addressing the intersection of race, gender, and oppression in their activism.

Westward Expansion and Slavery Tensions

As the U.S. expanded westward, debates over whether new territories should permit slavery intensified, contributing to sectional tensions and the eventual outbreak of the Civil War.