Key Terms from U.S. History Survey to the Civil War

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from U.S. History leading up to the Civil War.

Second Continental Congress

Established to supply the army and reconcile with England from 1775 to 1778; included members like John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.

Whiskey Rebellion

A revolt in the 1790s against a tax on whiskey, demonstrating federal government authority when President Washington sent troops to suppress it.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained loyal to England during the Revolutionary War, constituting 20-30% of the population.

Jay’s Treaty

An agreement in 1749 resolving post-revolutionary war disputes between the U.S. and Great Britain, aimed at military and trade issues.

Battle of Bunker Hill

A costly battle for the British in 1775, demonstrating the escalating conflict between America and Britain.

Common Sense

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence and criticizing monarchical government.

Pinckney’s Treaty

Defined U.S. and Spanish Florida borders and granted the U.S. navigation rights on the Mississippi River.

Joseph Brant

A Mohawk chief who advocated for Native American affairs and negotiated peace treaties after the Revolutionary War.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident between the U.S. and France in 1797-1798 that led to increased tensions and the Quasi-war.

Yorktown

A decisive city in Virginia where British forces surrendered, marking the last major engagement of the Revolutionary War.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws passed in 1798 that raised residency requirements for citizenship and restricted speech against the government.

Marbury v. Madison

The landmark 1803 case that established the principle of judicial review in the U.S. legal system.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the U.S. ratified in 1781 which created a weak central government.

Gabriel’s Rebellion

A failed slave revolt in Virginia in 1800, leading to severe repercussions and more restrictive laws on slavery.

Gradual Emancipation

A policy aimed at slowly abolishing slavery rather than an immediate end, advocated by some abolitionists.

American Colonization Society

A group that promoted sending freeborn African Americans and emancipated slaves back to Africa.

Louisiana Purchase

The 1803 acquisition of territory from France under Thomas Jefferson, doubling the U.S. size.

Northwest Ordinance

Established a protocol for admitting new states to the union and addressed land governance in the Northwest Territory.

Sacajawea

A Shoshone guide and interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition, facilitating diplomatic relations with Native tribes.

Shays’ Rebellion

A violent protest in Massachusetts highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Tecumseh

A Shawnee chief who sought to unite Native American tribes against U.S. territorial expansion.

Virginia and New Jersey Plans

Two proposals during the Constitutional Convention regarding the structure of government, one favoring larger states and the other smaller states.

War of 1812

Conflict between the U.S. and Britain caused by trade restrictions and impressment of sailors.

Battle of Fallen Timbers

An American victory in 1794 that ended the Northwest Indian War and led to the Treaty of Greenville.

Jemima Wilkinson

A religious reformer advocating for gender equality and the abolition of slavery.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing individual rights and addressing anti-federalist concerns.

Adams-Onís Treaty

An 1819 treaty between the U.S. and Spain that ceded Florida to the U.S. and defined western territorial boundaries.

Toussaint Louverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution who fought for the abolition of slavery and is regarded as a key figure in Haiti's independence.

Missouri Compromise

The 1820 agreement that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state while establishing a boundary for slavery.

Judith Sargent Murray

An early advocate for women's rights who argued for women's educational equality and intellectual capabilities.