U.S. History Regents Exam Review Flashcards

Flashcards about U.S. History Regents Exam Review

What were the earliest colonies in North America?

Jamestown, Massachusetts Bay, and New Amsterdam

What were the main goals of the British policy of mercantilism toward the American colonies?

To get raw materials and create new markets

What were the main differences between the Massachusetts and Virginia colonies?

Massachusetts was settled by Puritans seeking religious freedom and built towns with small farms, while Virginia was settled by businessmen seeking profit from tobacco and developed large plantations.

In what way was the Mayflower Compact an early example of democracy in America?

It was an agreement among the Puritan settlers to follow the idea of self-government.

What was the House of Burgesses?

The first elected legislature in the American colonies, a first step toward representative government.

Who did the work on the early plantations in Virginia?

Slaves

How was the British policy of salutary neglect good for both the British king and the American colonies?

The British got raw materials, and the American colonies bought only British-made products.

How did geography contribute to differences between the North and the South?

Geography contributed to differences because the North had rocky soil and a colder climate, leading to smaller farms and a focus on trade and industry, while the South had fertile soil and a warmer climate, leading to large-scale agriculture.

Why did the British decide to raise taxes on the American colonists? How did the Americans react?

The British wanted the Americans to pay for the French and Indian War, so they raised taxes, which led the American colonists to protest.

How did Enlightenment ideas influence the Declaration of Independence?

Enlightenment ideas like natural rights and social contract influenced the Declaration of Independence.

What are natural rights and what do they have to do with government?

Unalienable rights that cannot be taken away and must be protected by the government.

Where does the government get its power from, according to the Declaration?

From the consent of the governed.

According to the Declaration, what is the primary responsibility of the government? What do people have the right to do if the government fails to live up to this responsibility?

To protect people’s natural rights, and if it fails, the people have the right to alter or abolish that government.

What were the main weaknesses of the government under the Articles of Confederation?

It had only a legislative branch, no power to collect taxes, and the states had most of the power.

The Northwest Ordinance was the one positive achievement of the Articles of Confederation. What did it do?

It defined the procedure for adding new states into the nation.

Why did the Framers decide to write a new Constitution?

Because it was too weak to effectively govern the new nation.

What were the main differences between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation?

The Constitution created a stronger central government with three branches, while the Articles of Confederation had a weak central government with only one branch.

What issue did the Great Compromise resolve? How did it do so?

Representation in Congress. It created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives (proportionate representation) and a Senate (equal representation).

What are the ways that the Constitution prevents the government from becoming too powerful?

Limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, flexibility, and federalism.

What are the three branches of government? Explain the main job of each.

Executive (enforces laws), Legislative (makes laws), and Judicial (interprets laws).

Name and explain some examples of checks and balances.

The President can veto laws passed by Congress, and the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional.

What are the different ways that the Constitution provides for flexibility (ability to change) in the government?

The elastic clause allows Congress to make laws about any issue it sees as necessary, and amendments can be added to the Constitution.

How does the Bill of Rights guarantee people’s civil liberties?

By establishing civil liberties.

How do you think George Washington reacted to a conflict between England and France?

He would have supported isolationism and staying out of the conflict.

What does the power of judicial review allow the Supreme Court to do?

To declare laws unconstitutional.

The two-party system, lobbying, and the president’s two-term tradition are examples of what idea?

The unwritten Constitution.

Why was Thomas Jefferson against Alexander Hamilton’s proposal for a National Bank?

Because it’s not mentioned in the Constitution.

What was a main result of the fighting between Jefferson and Hamilton?

The creation of the first political parties.

How did the actions of Chief Justice John Marshall change the US government?

He created the concept of the judicial review

What were the main steps in US territorial growth during the 1800s?

Louisiana Purchase, Texas Annexation, and the Mexican Cession.

In what ways did the US government encourage westward expansion in the 1800s?

The Erie Canal, Andrew Jackson’s policy of "Indian removal," the Homestead Act, the transcontinental railroad, and the California Gold Rush,

How was the idea of manifest destiny used to justify US westward expansion?

Saying that God had given the US the right to expand all the way to the Pacific Ocean, even if it meant taking the territory of other people.

What advantages did the US gain with the Louisiana Purchase?

New territory, New Orleans, and control of the Mississippi River.

What was Andrew Jackson’s policy of Indian removal, and how did it affect Native Americans during the period of westward expansion?

Forcing Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi River, which led to the Trail of Tears.

Why did westward expansion lead to increased tensions over slavery in the US?

New territories meant more sectionalism issues over slaves

What compromises did the North and South try to make over the issue of slavery? Why didn’t they work?

Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the passage of a fugitive slave law, and they didn't work in the long run

How did the Dred Scott case and the election of Lincoln help lead to the Civil War?

They caused greater division between the North and the South.

What reason did the Southern states give for secession?

Because they feared that he would try to get rid of slavery.

How did the Reconstruction Amendments attempt to protect the rights of newly freed slaves?

The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. These amendments attempted to protect the rights of African- Americans in the South.

What were the main methods used by state governments in the South to deny African Americans their constitutional rights?

Jim Crow laws to segregate public facilities and prevent blacks from voting – for example, literacy tests, the “grandfather clause” and the poll tax.

How did most former slaves in the South make a living in the years following the Civil War?

Sharecropping

What did the Supreme Court say about segregation in the Plessy v. Ferguson case?

That “separate but equal” facilities were legal.

What were the main reasons (causes) for industrial growth in the late 1800s?

Increasing population, transportation/communication advances, sources of energy, corporations, open immigration

What were some of the results of the idea of laissez-faire capitalism?

Government should not interfere in business, also known as “survival of the fittest."

How did the philosophy of Social Darwinism justify economic inequalities?

It justified large economic inequalities (big differences between rich and poor).

Why were some industrial leaders of the late 1800s called “robber barons”?

Because of their unfair business practices.

Why are monopolies bad for the economy? What were early examples of US monopolies?

Consumers suffered because of high prices and low-quality products.

How did the government finally try to control monopolies? Were they successful?

The Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act.

What were the problems that labor unions were most concerned with fixing?

Low pay and dangerous working conditions.

What were some examples of conflict between corporations and workers in the late 1800s?

The Railroad Strike of 1877, the Haymarket Riot, the Homestead Strike, and the Pullman Strike.

Why did the US follow a policy of open immigration during most of the 1800s?

To feed industry’s need for labor.

What was the difference between “old” and “new” immigrants?

“New immigrants” came from Southern and Eastern Europe, while “old immigrants” came from Northern and Western Europe.

Where did most immigrants to the US settle in the late 1800s and early 1900s? Why?

In the cities, because there were factory jobs.

What were the main social problems that reformers of the Progressive Era cared about?

consumer /child labor/ working/ living conditions, expanding democracy, business, women suffrage, and conservation

What was a “muckraker” and who were some important examples of muckrakers?

Muckrakers brought a “rake” to dig up the underground, or “muck.” Reformers of the Progressive Era

How did Jacob Riis and Jane Addams try to help the urban poor?

Riis photographed them, Addams opened settlement Houses

Which consumer protection laws were inspired by the muckraking of Upton Sinclair?

The Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.

Which Progressive laws were passed by the federal government to regulate big business?

Clayton Antitrust Act / Federal Trade Commission

How did the 17th Amendment attempt to reduce corruption in government? What other changes in government helped to expand democracy?

17th Amendment (direct election of senators) /Referendum, recall, secret ballot.

Why did the Progressive Era US government create the Federal Reserve system?

To regulate the money supply.

Which President is remembered for conservation and the creation of national parks?

Theodore Roosevelt/ conservation and the creation of national parks.

How was US imperialism related to industrialization and the rise of big business?

US demand for raw materials and new markets to sell products increased dramatically

What did the Roosevelt Corollary say the US had the right to do?

That the US had the right to be the “policeman” in the Western Hemisphere.

Which territories did the US gain after victory in the Spanish-American War?

Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, as well as control of Cuba.

How did America’s role in the world change after the Spanish-American War?

The US went from a policy of isolationism to interventionism.

Why was the US interested in building a canal across Panama?

Trade

At the beginning, what was the US attitude toward World War I?

Neutrality

What factors drew the US into entering World War I?

Neutrality to British propaganda, German submarine warfare (sinking of the ship Lusitania), the Zimmermann Note.

What did Wilson’s “14 Points” say about the League of Nations? Did Congress agree?

For fear of European conflicts

“clear and present danger” test to protect speech

The Schenck v. United States case and its “clear and present danger” test had on the Bill of Rights’ protection of freedom of speech

Why 1920 economic so great product innovation

The assembly line innovations and consumer

Sacco and Vanzetti case, the Scopes Trial, and the debate about “flappers” examples of a conflict between traditional and modern cultures in the 1920s

Sacco Vanzetti / Monkey / flapper

Why did Prohibition fail? What were the main effects of its failure?

Prohibition failed due to the inability of the government to enforce the law)

What were the main results of the rise in nativism during the 1920s?

The Red Scare; and the Immigration Acts of 1921 and 1924.

What were the goals of the immigration laws of 1921 and 1924?

To limit the number of immigrants from certain countries.

stock market crash

Overproduction of consumer goods

the Harlem Renaissance reflect the experiences of African-Americans in the 1920s

A movement of African American arts and culture.

1920 farm crop overproduced

The farms cropped were crop over producted

How prosperity become “false

Overproduction and speculation caused

causes of the 1920 great depression

Consumer goods and farm products, credit, stock market

Hoover blankent.

How the Depression changed Americans

No rain combine with overarming lead to what disaster

The Dust Bowl

FDR different HOOVER how

FDR changed Hoover repsonse to it

New deal work to survive

FDR New was created for help survive

How does New deal helped survive more

Examples of Social Security

The issue of FRD

FDR wanted to make the president too power

and how did the US seek to remain neutral at the beginning of World War II?

to stay war neutral, the Neutrality Acts was passed stating side

How the Lend-Lease Act and the idea of “cash and carry” the first steps toward US involvement in World War II?

to “cash and carry” were the first steps toward US

event led America directly into involvement in World War II?

The Japan

helped the war effort?

Rosie the riveter

was Rosie the Riveter what did she represent during World War II?

Rosie the riveter represented worker

Japanese Americans during World War II?

America

justify the use of atomic bombs against Japan?

President Harry Truman used the atomic Japan

World War II lead to Cold War?

the US and the Soviet Union.

primary US foreign policy during the Cold War? What was the main goal of this policy

contained goal

The Marshall Plan and its purpose

its main purpose?

Truman Doctrine say and where was it first

implemented [used]?

incident known as the Berlin Airlift.

Berlin Airlift to explain the events

Cold War involving Cuba.

U.S. got caught up in a Cold War conflict involving Cuba?

did it damage the rights of

McCarthyism damage