Key Terms and Events • Laissez-Faire – French for “Leave it alone,” a theory promoting minimal government intervention in the economy. • Impressment – Forcing individuals into public service, especially into the navy. • Embargo – A government order stopping trade with other countries. • Industry – The production of goods by businesses and factories. • Interchangeable Parts – Standardized parts that can be replaced in manufactured products. • Mass Production – A method of producing goods quickly and cheaply in large quantities. • Cotton Gin – A machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds. • Eli Whitney – Inventor of the cotton gin and interchangeable parts. • Electoral College – A system in which electors choose the president and vice president. • Louisiana Purchase – Land deal under Thomas Jefferson in which the U.S. bought territory from France, doubling its size. • Tecumseh – Shawnee leader who allied with the British and fought against U.S. settlers in the west. • Sacagawea – A Shoshone woman who guided Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Ocean. • Steam Engine – A machine powered by coal-heated steam, allowing factories to be built away from water sources. The Election of 1800 • John Adams, Aaron Burr, and Thomas Jefferson faced off. • Jefferson and Burr tied. • Alexander Hamilton convinced a congressman to break the tie in favor of Jefferson. • The 12th Amendment was created to prevent future electoral tie issues. Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency • Focused on: • Limiting government intervention (Laissez-Faire approach). • Promoting agriculture. • Encouraging self-sufficiency. • Introduced judicial review, strengthening the judicial branch with checks and balances. • Encouraged western expansion and trade along the Mississippi River. The Louisiana Purchase and Westward Exploration • With U.S. expansion, Congress organized an expedition. • Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were chosen to explore the new territory. • Along the way, they met Sacagawea, who served as an interpreter and guide. Tensions with Britain and France • Both nations attempted to block U.S. trade. • The U.S. imposed an embargo on both, which backfired and hurt American merchants. • In 1808, James Madison was elected president. • The Star-Spangled Banner was written during this period and later became the national anthem. • Dolly Madison saved a famous portrait of George Washington during the War of 1812. Industrialization and Economic Shifts • As the U.S. expanded, industry grew, especially in the North. • Early factories were powered by watermills; later, steam, oil, and gas were used. • The textile industry became the dominant industry in the North. • Francis Lowell built a major textile factory in Boston. • Eli Whitney’s contributions: • Interchangeable parts – Allowed for standardized gun manufacturing. • Cotton gin – Sped up the cotton cleaning process. The South and the Rise of Cotton • Cotton became highly profitable, increasing demand for enslaved labor. • The cotton gin made cotton processing more efficient. • In 1808, the international slave trade was banned, but enslaved labor remained crucial to the Southern economy. Life of Enslaved Workers • Men worked as blacksmiths, carpenters, and painters. • Women worked as maids, cooks, and childcare workers. • Children served as household servants and field laborers. • Some enslaved individuals were rented out to work in factories. • Most had little to no education. • Forms of resistance included breaking tools and equipment. • Harsh punishments were given for defiance or escape attempts. • Many families were separated through slave auctions. Nat Turner’s Rebellion (1831) • Nat Turner and his followers attacked and killed several Virginia plantation owners and their families. • Turner was captured two months later, tried, and executed. • The rebellion led to even harsher conditions for enslaved people in the South in

Silk Road

A vast network of trade routes established during the Han Dynasty of China that connected the East to the West.

Han Dynasty

The dynasty during which the Silk Road was established.

Silk

The most valuable commodity traded along the Silk Road.

Other goods traded on the Silk Road

Spices, tea, porcelain, and precious metals.

Cultural exchange

One of the significant effects of the Silk Road, alongside trade.