HPS 300: United States History Exam 2 Study Guide

Flashcards covering key individuals, concepts, and events for the HPS 300 U.S. History Exam 2.

What type of leadership did George Washington and Thomas Jefferson promote?

Democratic and republican leadership based on limited government, individual liberty, and civic responsibility

Discuss the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.  How did it align with Jefferson’s vision for America’s future? 

A land deal in which the United States, under President Thomas Jefferson, bought approximately 828,000 square miles of territory from France, doubling the size of the nation. Supporting his ideal of a nation of independent, land-owning farmers, expanding agrarian society westward, and ensuring widespread access to land and resources, which he believed were essential for preserving liberty and democracy. 

How did the French Revolution impact American political and economic life?  Be sure to discuss the Embargo of 1807?

Intensified political divisions in the U.S. and disrupted trade, leading to the Embargo of 1807, which aimed to protect American neutrality but instead severely harmed the U.S. economy.

What were the causes and effects of the War of 1812 (including the Hartford Convention)?

British impressment of American sailors, interference with U.S. trade, and support for Native American resistance against westward expansion, while the effects included a surge in American nationalism, the decline of the Federalist Party after the anti-war Hartford Convention, and increased U.S. manufacturing due to trade disruptions.

What were the key provisions of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798?  Are they still in effect today?  How did they lead to the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions?

Included laws that extended the residency requirement for citizenship, allowed the president to deport non-citizens deemed dangerous, and criminalized criticism of the federal government; they are no longer in effect today, and they led to the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions as a response by Jefferson and Madison, who argued that states had the right to nullify unconstitutional federal laws

How did the Haitian Revolution impact the United States?

Inspiring enslaved and free Black people with its message of freedom, causing fear among American slaveholders of similar uprisings, and leading to shifts in U.S. foreign policy and trade as the U.S. cautiously navigated relations with the new independent Black republic

Discuss examples of armed uprisings against slavery including Nat Turner’s Rebellion, Gabriel’s Rebellion, John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, Denmark Vessey’s Conspiracy, and the Amistad revolt.  

Armed uprisings against slavery included Nat Turner’s Rebellion (1831), where Turner led a violent slave revolt in Virginia; Gabriel’s Rebellion (1800), a planned but failed slave revolt in Virginia; John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry (1859), an armed attempt to start a slave rebellion by seizing a federal arsenal; Denmark Vesey’s Conspiracy (1822), a planned but uncovered slave revolt in South Carolina; and the Amistad revolt (1839), where enslaved Africans on a Spanish ship took control and fought for their freedom

Discuss other means of slave resistance besides armed uprisings, including escape on the Underground Railroad.  What factors would have made escape difficult?

Besides armed uprisings, slaves resisted through everyday acts of defiance, work slowdowns, sabotage, preserving cultural traditions, and escape via the Underground Railroad—a secret network helping slaves reach free states or Canada; however, escape was difficult due to harsh penalties, geographic obstacles, lack of resources, betrayal, and the constant threat of capture by slave catchers and law enforcement

Discuss the arguments in favor of slavery used by Southerners as well as those utilized by Northerners.

Southerners argued slavery was essential for their economy, justified by racist beliefs in white superiority and claims that slavery was a “civilizing” institution providing care for enslaved people, while Northerners, especially abolitionists, argued slavery was morally wrong, violated principles of freedom and equality, and hindered economic progress by supporting an outdated, exploitative system

What was the significance of the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison?

Established the principle of judicial review, giving the Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional and thus strengthening the judiciary’s role as a coequal branch of government

How did the cotton economy influence slavery in the South and westward migration?

Increasing demand for enslaved labor to cultivate cotton plantations, and it also fueled westward migration as settlers moved to new fertile lands to grow cotton, spreading slavery into territories like Alabama and Mississippi

What interests drove American acquisition of Florida and how was it finally achieved?

The desire to stop Native American raids, end Spanish control, and expand U.S. territory drove the American acquisition of Florida, which was finally achieved through the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, where Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. in exchange for settling border disputes and U.S. payment of claims against Spain

What was the primary issue the Missouri Compromise aimed to resolve and what were its key components?

Aimed to resolve the conflict over the balance of slave and free states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while banning slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Territory north of the 36°30' latitude line

What was the purpose of the Monroe Doctrine?

Warn European powers against further colonization or interference in the Americas, asserting that any attempts to do so would be viewed as acts of aggression against the United States

Discuss changes in transportation, communication, and production during the first half of the 19th century (Market Revolution/Evolution).

During the first half of the 19th century, the Market Revolution brought major changes including the expansion of canals and railroads that improved transportation, the invention of the telegraph revolutionizing communication, and the rise of factories and mechanized production that transformed manufacturing and boosted the economy

What started the Nullification Crisis and how was it resolved?

Began when South Carolina declared the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional and refused to enforce them, asserting the right to nullify federal laws; it was resolved through a compromise tariff negotiated by Henry Clay and the threat of military action by President Andrew Jackson, which defused tensions and upheld federal authority

What was the outcome of Worcester v. Georgia regarding the Cherokee?  Was the Supreme Court able to effectively protect Indigenous lands?  Why or why not?

Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee Nation was a sovereign entity and that Georgia’s laws had no authority over Cherokee lands, but the Court was ultimately unable to effectively protect Indigenous lands because President Andrew Jackson and the federal government refused to enforce the ruling, leading to the forced removal known as the Trail of Tears

How would you describe the relationship between the Cherokee people and the British (and later the Americans).  What strategies did the Cherokee employ in an attempt to keep their land?

The Cherokee initially had complex relationships with the British and later Americans, involving alliances, trade, and diplomacy; to keep their land, they adopted strategies like negotiating treaties, adopting European-style government and laws, converting to Christianity, and pursuing legal battles, including appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, to assert their sovereignty and rights

Were the Cherokee successful in avoiding forced removal in the 1830s?  Why or why not?

The Cherokee were not successful in avoiding forced removal in the 1830s because despite their legal victories and efforts to assimilate, the federal government and President Andrew Jackson ignored the Supreme Court’s rulings and enforced the Indian Removal Act, leading to the tragic Trail of Tears

How did the Mexican-American War increase tension between the North and the South?  How did the Compromise of 1850 attempt to resolve this tension?

The Mexican-American War increased tension between the North and South by raising the question of whether new territories acquired from Mexico would allow slavery, intensifying sectional conflicts; the Compromise of 1850 attempted to resolve this by admitting California as a free state, strengthening the Fugitive Slave Act, and allowing popular sovereignty in some territories to decide the slavery issue locally

What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act?  What was the effect on Kansas specifically?

Allowed settlers to decide whether to allow slavery through popular sovereignty, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise; this led to violent conflict in Kansas, known as "Bleeding Kansas," as pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers clashed over control of the territory

What was the significance of the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision?  

The Supreme Court ruled African Americans were not U.S. citizens and had no right to sue in federal court, and declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, effectively allowing slavery in all U.S. territories—deepening sectional tensions and pushing the nation closer to civil war.

What were the main factors contributing to the tension between the North and the South?

Disputes over the expansion of slavery into new territories, economic differences between the industrial North and the agricultural, slave-based South, conflicts over states' rights versus federal authority, and cultural divisions intensified by events like the Fugitive Slave Act, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision.

What immediate factors led to the secession crisis and what was the first state to secede? 

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who opposed the expansion of slavery, and Southern fears that their political power and way of life were under threat; South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860.

In what ways was the Civil War considered the first modern war?  

It featured advanced technology like railroads, telegraphs, ironclad ships, and rifled weapons, involved large-scale industrial production, mass mobilization of troops, and total war strategies that targeted both military and civilian resources.

How many people died during the Civil War and how did these numbers force Americans to reconsider the way they thought about death?

Approximately 620,000 to 750,000 people died during the Civil War, making it the deadliest conflict in American history, and this staggering loss forced Americans to reconsider death by reshaping national mourning practices, expanding cemeteries, prompting the government to take responsibility for identifying and burying the dead, and influencing religious and cultural views on sacrifice, the afterlife, and the meaning of a "good death."

Discuss the goals of the Emancipation Proclamation and its impact.

Weaken the Confederacy by freeing enslaved people in rebelling states, shift the war’s focus to a fight against slavery, and discourage foreign nations from supporting the South; its impact included freeing thousands of enslaved people, encouraging Black enlistment in the Union Army, and redefining the Civil War as a battle for human freedom.

How and when did the Civil War end?

The Civil War effectively ended in April 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, leading to the collapse of the Confederacy and the restoration of the Union.

What major principles did the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments introduce?  What loophole in the 13th Amendment proves to be problematic?

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery except as punishment for a crime, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship and equal protection under the law, and the 15th Amendment prohibited voting discrimination based on race or previous condition of servitude; the loophole in the 13th Amendment allowing slavery "as punishment for crime" led to exploitative practices like convict leasing and mass incarceration targeting Black Americans.

How did southern states and groups try to limit black civil liberties following the Civil War?  Consider the passage of Black Codes and the development of the KKK.  How did the federal government respond?  

After the Civil War, southern states enacted Black Codes to restrict the freedoms of Black people by controlling their labor, movement, and legal rights, while groups like the Ku Klux Klan used violence and intimidation to suppress Black civil rights and maintain white supremacy; in response, the federal government passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the 14th and 15th Amendments, and deployed troops during Reconstruction to enforce these laws and protect Black Americans, though enforcement waned over time.

Was Reconstruction a success? If so, how? If not, what were its failures?

Reconstruction was a partial success because it abolished slavery, granted citizenship and voting rights to Black Americans, and temporarily expanded political participation and civil rights; however, it ultimately failed to secure lasting racial equality or protect Black citizens from violence and discrimination, as white supremacist groups rose, federal enforcement weakened, and Jim Crow laws soon replaced Reconstruction’s gains.

Describe American society during the Gilded Age.  

American society during the Gilded Age was marked by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and economic growth, but also by stark social inequalities, political corruption, labor unrest, and the rise of powerful industrialists known as “robber barons,” alongside widespread poverty and challenging living conditions for many workers and immigrants.

Explain how “The Lost Cause” mythology developed and why it was appealing to many Southern whites.

“The Lost Cause” mythology developed after the Civil War as a way for Southern whites to romanticize the Confederacy by portraying their cause as noble, emphasizing states' rights over slavery, glorifying Confederate leaders, and minimizing the role of slavery, which was appealing because it helped them cope with defeat, maintain Southern pride, and justify the social order despite the war’s outcome.

Discuss motives for and examples of American imperialism.  Consider especially the Spanish-American War.

American imperialism was driven by motives like economic interests in new markets, strategic military advantages, and a belief in cultural superiority or “Manifest Destiny” on a global scale; the Spanish-American War exemplified this by leading to U.S. control over territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines after defeating Spain, marking the U.S.'s emergence as a global imperial power.

Discuss the Progressive movement in the United States.  

Aimed to address social, political, and economic problems caused by industrialization and urbanization by promoting reforms like government regulation of businesses, labor rights, women’s suffrage, improved public health, and efforts to reduce corruption and expand democracy.

What were the causes of American involvement in WWI?  When did WWI start and end and what year did the U.S. become involved?

World War I started in 1914 and ended in 1918, with the United States entering the war in 1917 due to causes including unrestricted German submarine warfare (notably the sinking of the Lusitania), the Zimmerman Telegram proposing a German-Mexican alliance, economic ties to the Allies, and a desire to make the world “safe for democracy.”

What were the impacts of WWI for the United States?  Consider the Espionage Act, the Sedition Act, the growth of federal power, the Red Scare, and the League of Nations.

Increased federal power through laws like the Espionage and Sedition Acts that limited free speech to suppress dissent, a postwar Red Scare fueled by fears of communism and anarchism, and contentious debates over joining the League of Nations, which the Senate ultimately rejected, reflecting isolationist sentiments despite Wilson’s push for international cooperation.

Discuss how eugenics impacted American society in the first half of the 20th century.  How was the Supreme Court decision in Buck v. Bell a reflection of the flawed science behind eugenics? 

Promoted the idea of improving the population by controlling reproduction, leading to forced sterilizations, discrimination against marginalized groups, and laws targeting immigrants and the disabled; the Supreme Court’s decision in Buck v. Bell (1927), which upheld compulsory sterilization, reflected this flawed science by endorsing the false belief that certain traits were hereditary and that sterilization was a legitimate public health measure.