US History Honors Midterm

Mrs. Lowe 2025 CGHS NC

Spoil System

Name given to the practice of hiring and firing federal workers when presidential administrations changed in the 19th century. This started in 1829 with President Andrew Jackson hiring loyal supporters for government jobs.

Pet Banks

A bank that wasn't run by the federal government, therefore the president would be able to control circulation of money

Tariff of Abominations

A tax on imports that made European goods more expensive

Indian Removal Act

Gave the Federal Government the power to exchange Native-held land in the cotton kingdom east of the Mississippi for land to the west of the Mississippi

Manifest Destiny

belief that God wanted the U.S. to own all of North America (it's destined to happen)

Oregon Trail

a branch of the California trail, which linked the U.S. to the Pacific Coast

Santa Fe trail

the trail from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico; said trail was used for transporting goods; American exchange manufactured goods for mules, horses, and silver by the Mexicans

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Forced Mexico to give up the Northern third of their territory and added 1.2 square miles to the U.S. Territory. We gave Mexico $15 million dollars and in return we kept New Mexico and California. The Rio Grande became the southern boundary of Texas.

Gadsden Purchase

The US obtained 29,640 square miles in Southern Arizona and New Mexico. We bought this strip of land to help build a transcontinental railroad through the Southern portion of the country. (which never helped)

Martin Van Buren

Founding father of the Democratic party system, 8th president, Jackson's Secretary of State & VP, blamed for Panic of 1837 (high unemployment/inflation, banks closing), and forced to finish the Indian Removal Act that Jackson started (Trail of Tears)

Anti-Federalist

A supporter of more state power, endorsed the Articles of Confederation but thought Constitution was weak and wanted Bill of Rights (BEFORE WASHINGTON PRESIDENCY)

Federalist

Support strong central government,

Judiciary Act

Washington outlines powers of the Supreme Court and created a system of district and appellate courts

Judicial Review

Supreme Court determining if something is constitutional or not.

Sedition Act

made it illegal to print or speak false statements about the government or members of the government

Recall

Allowed voters to remove officials from office

17th Amendment

Solve corruption, deadlock, and lack of public representation. Diminish state power/increase government power.

19th Amendment

Sex cannot determine whether someone can/cannot vote.

18th Amendment

Banned all alcohol

W.E.B. Dubois

One of the key founders of the Niagara Movement, which later became the NAACP

NAACP

Worked to end segregation, discrimination, and lynching. Fought for freedom and equal opportunity

Federal Reserve Act

Regulates the amount of money flowing and sets interest rates

Teddy Roosevelt

The original "trustbuster" who broke up monopolies. Created the Square Deal, which granted equality for all who wanted to make money. Supported the Food & Drug Act and the protection of National Parks.

South Carolina

First state to secede from the Union

North

Had the industrial advantage in the civil war, had twice the density of railroads per square mile, and received gunpowder imports and controlled the navy

Jim Crow

Segregation laws enacted in the South after Reconstruction

Antietam

A major battle during the Civil War in 1862 led by Generals Grant and Lee, it was the bloodiest single day of the war

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States of America which led to the Confederacy in the Civil War

Monopoly

Exclusive control of one company over an entire industry

Trust

Group of separate companies that are placed under the control of a singular managing board in order to form a monopoly

Homestead Strike

1892 strike against Carnegie's steelworks in Homestead, Pennsylvania

Knights of Labor

Labor union that sought to organize all workers and focused on broad social reforms

Urbanization

The movement of people from rural areas to urban areas

Upton Sinclair

Muckraker, wrote The Jungle, key person involved with economic reforms

Meat Inspection Act

Made the government responsible for keeping food safe