pre-civil war

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Inflation

A general and progressive increase in prices

virginia plan

Proposal to create a strong national government with 3 branches

northwest ordinance

a law passed by Congress in 1787 that specified how western lands would be governed

checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

new jersey plan

A constitutional proposal that was intended to benefit small states like delaware, NJ, maryland

electoral college

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

john adams

America's first Vice-President and second President. Sponsor of the American Revolution in Massachusetts, and wrote the Massachusetts guarantee that freedom of press "ought not to be restrained."

cotton gin

A machine for cleaning the seeds from cotton fibers, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793

alien+sedition acts

tightended restrictions on foreign-born americans; limited speech critical of gov.

Sourjourner Truth

formerly enslaved woman, abolitionist, helped escape enslaved people to freedom

thomas jefferson

Wrote the Declaration of Independence

Louisiana Purchase

1803 purchase of the Louisiana territory from France. Made by Jefferson, this doubled the size of the US.

exploration of the west

Lewis and Clark expedition (1804), Zebulon Pike Louisiana

XYZ Affair

A 1797 incident in which French officials demanded a bribe from U.S. diplomats

nullify

to counter; make unimportant

oral tradition

Literature that passes by word of mouth from one generation to the next.

marbury v madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

Barbury Pirates

pirates from Barbary States ( Morocco, Algiers, Tunisia, and Tripoli); seized US merchant ships and demanded tribute; Jefferson sent troops and then the Marines to force Pirates to stop

Hamiliton/Burr Duel

Burr demanded Hamilton apologize for the insults or explain them. Hamilton stayed quiet, so Burr demanded a duel.

war of 1812

A war (1812-1814) between the United States and England which was trying to interfere with American trade with France.

treaty of ghent

Treaty that ended the War of 1812 and maintained prewar conditions; both countries pledged to work towards ending the slave trade

battle of new orleans

A battle during the War of 1812 where the British army attempted to take New Orleans. Due to the foolish frontal attack, Jackson defeated them, which gave him an enormous popularity boost.

Adam-Onis Treaty (1819)

Treaty in which Spain cedes all of Florida to the U.S. but in return U.S. would give up Texas

Missouri Compromise

an agreement in 1820 between pro-slavery and anti-slavery; made maine a free state while missouri a slave state

monroe doctrine

A statement of foreign policy which warned European power should not interfere in affairs within the United States or in the development of other countries in the Western Hemisphere.

common wealth

a political community founded for the common good

joseph smith

religious leader who founded the Mormon Church in 1830 (1805-1844)

polygamy

having more than one spouse at a time

oklahoma territory

A territory that was once set aside for use by Native Americans that was thrown open for settlement in 1889.

zachary taylor

12th President, war hero (mexican-american war)

brigham young

United States religious leader of the Mormon Church after the assassination of Joseph Smith

ute

indigenous tribe

revival

the act or process of bringing back to life

utopia

an ideal society

indian removal act

Passed in 1830, authorized Andrew Jackson to negotiate land-exchange treaties with tribes living east of the Mississippi; involved forced emigration of tens of thousands of American Indians to the West.

black hawk

Sauk leader who in 1832 led Fox and Sauk warriors against the United States (1767-1838)

napoleon

French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)

vagueno

portable desk of spanish orgin

presidio

jail, fortification

pueblo

a communal village built by Indians in the southwestern United States

Ft. Junipenno

Junipero Serra, Spanish Catholic priest

compromise

an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.

mediation

negotiation to resolve differences conducted by some impartial party

expansionist

a follower or advocate of a policy of territory

annexation

Legally adding land area to a city in the United States

James K. Polk

11th President; extended the territory of the US (annexed republic of texas, oregon territory)

John Slidell

senator and lawyer sent by Polk to buy California, New Mexico, and Texas from the Mexicans. Mexico rejected his offer and Polk sent Taylor's army into Mexico

horance mann

led the educational movement for public schools

lucretia mott

Quaker women's rights advocate who also strongly supported abolition of slavery

elizabeth cady stanton

A prominent advocate of women's rights, Stanton organized the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention with Lucretia Mott

seneca falls

(1848) the first national women's rights convention at which the Declaration of Sentiments was written

Doretha Dix (1802-1887)

helped reform inhumane treatment for psychological disorders; created mental hospitals

England (1833) - Slavery

outlawed british trade in enslaved people

Pio Pico

Last governor of California under Mexico's rule

Horace Greeley

An American editor of a leading newspaper, a founder of the Republican party, reformer and politician; helped support reform movements and anti-slavery efforts through his New York Tribune newspaper

Oregon Trail

Trail from independence Missouri to Oregon used by many pioneers during the 1840s

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

dictator; in charge of the alamo attack

alamo

a mission and fort in San Antonio, Texas, where Mexican forces massacred rebellious Texans in 1836

Davy Crockett

United States frontiersman and Tennessee politician who died at the siege of the Alamo (1786-1836)

Lone Star State

Texas

Sam Houston (1793-1863)

american general and statesman who played a prominent role in texas; 1st and 3rd president of republic of texas