U.S. History Flashcards

Flashcards for U.S. History Exam Review

Who came in 2nd in the Election of 1864?

McClellan

Ulysses Grant

Who best symbolizes corruption in politics?

British policy allowed American colonies to govern themselves with minimal interference

What is Salutary Neglect?

Keep colonies obedient and profitable by giving them some power

What was the policy goal of Salutary Neglect?

Colonies developed their own governments and economic systems, gaining a taste of independence.

What was the result of Salutary Neglect?

Acts like the Stamp Act and Tea Act.

What led to the American Revolution, after the policy of Salutary Neglect ended?

British tax on printed goods.

What was the Stamp Act of 1765?

Raise money to pay off war debts from the French and Indian War.

Why did the British implement the Stamp Act?

Massive protests with the slogan “No taxation without representation.

How did the colonists react to the Stamp Act?

United 9 colonies to respond to Stamp act

What was the Stamp act congress?

Repealed in 1766 due to colonial resistance and pressure from British merchants losing business.

What happened to the Stamp Act and why?

Secret American colonists opposing British taxes and rule.

Who were the Sons of Liberty?

Fight “No Taxation without Representation.

What was the purpose of the Sons of Liberty?

Organized boycotts, protests, tarring and feathering officials, led the Boston Tea Party.

What actions did the Sons of Liberty take?

Increased tensions leading up to the American Revolution.

What was the impact of the Sons of Liberty?

Refused to buy British goods, effective in hurting merchants financially.

What were boycotts, as colonial methods of resistance?

Public opposition to taxes and acts.

What were protests/demonstrations, as colonial methods of resistance?

Drafted Declaration of Rights and Grievances; pressured repeal of Stamp Act.

Besides uniting 9 colonies to respond to Stamp act, what else did the Stamp act congress do?

All people have unalienable rights — life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

What are natural rights?

To protect these rights.

What is the government's purpose according to the Declaration of Independence?

Power comes from the people; people should vote for what they want.

What is Popular Sovereignty?

Enlightenment.

What influenced the Ideas of the Declaration of Independence?

Intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, science, and people-based government.

What was the Enlightenment?

Reason over tradition, natural rights (life, liberty, property).

What did the Enlightenment emphasize?

Government must protect rights.

What did the Enlightenment believe about government?

Separation of powers to prevent tyranny.

What did the Enlightenment believe about the structure of power?

Freedom of speech and religion.

What freedoms did the Enlightenment emphasize?

French military and financial aid, especially naval support at the Battle of Yorktown.

How did the colonists win the American Revolution?

Poor communication and strategy.

What were British mistakes during the Revolution?

Guerrilla warfare.

What war strategy was new and hard to counter, helping the colonists?

Ended the American Revolution.

What was the Treaty of Paris (1783)?

Britain ceded territory from Florida to Canada, east of the Mississippi.

What territory did Britain cede in the Treaty of Paris (1783)?

Recognized American sovereignty, beginning westward expansion.

What did the Treaty of Paris (1783) recognize?

Northern - Canada, Southern - Florida (returned to Spain), Western - Mississippi River.

What were the borders of the U.S. after the Treaty of Paris (1783)?

No power to levy taxes.

What was one weaknesses of Articles of Confederation (1781–1789)?

No national currency.

What was one weaknesses of Articles of Confederation (1781–1789)?

Each state had its own, causing inflation and inefficiency.

Why was the fact that there was no national currency a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

No executive branch (no president).

What was one weaknesses of Articles of Confederation (1781–1789)?

No judicial branch to settle disputes.

What was one weaknesses of Articles of Confederation (1781–1789)?

9/13 states needed to agree to pass laws.

What major hurdles did the Articles of Confederation face in passing laws?

Amendments required unanimous approval.

What major hurdles did the Articles of Confederation face in amending?

Big states wanted representation based on population (Virginia Plan).

What plan did big states want during the great compromise discussion?

Small states wanted equal representation (New Jersey Plan).

What plan did small states want during the great compromise discussion?

Roger Sherman

Who created a bicameral legislature during the Great Compromise?

House of Representatives and Senate

What were the two houses that Roger Sherman created during the Great Compromise?

Based on population

How is the House of Representatives structured?

Two senators per state

How is the Senate structured?

Representatives voted in; senators initially selected by state legislatures.

How were representatives and senators selected?

Federalist favoring a strong central government.

What were Hamilton's views about the U.S. government?

First Secretary of Treasury.

What role did Hamilton hold in government?

Hold government funds, Issue stable national currency, Loan money to business and industry, Manage war debt.

What was the purpose of Hamilton's Bank of the U.S.?

The “Necessary and Proper” clause.

What clause did Hamilton use as implied power for the Bank of the U.S.?

Supported by Northeast; opposed by Jefferson.

Who supported and who opposed Hamilton's Bank of the U.S.?

Advise the president on decisions. Run government departments to separate powers and lighten the president’s workload.

What is the Role of the President’s Cabinet?

Neutrality in foreign conflicts.

What was Washington’s Foreign Policy?

Precedent against permanent foreign alliances.

Besides neutrality in foreign conflict, what other Precedent did Washington set with his Foreign polict?

Disagreements over economy, foreign relations, and Constitution.

What caused the Growth of Political Parties?

French diplomats demanded bribes to negotiate with the U.S.

What was the XYZ Affair?

Sparked anti-French sentiment and led to the Quasi-War (Caribbean naval battles).

What did the XYZ affair result in?

Response to Alien and Sedition Acts, seen as unconstitutional.

What were the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions?

Jefferson (Kentucky) and Madison (Virginia)

Who wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions?

Argued states could nullify federal laws they saw as unconstitutional, sparking state vs. federal tensions.

What did the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions argue?

British impressment of U.S. soldiers, interference with U.S. trade, support for Native American resistance, pressure from War Hawks.

What were the causes of the War of 1812?

Resulted in decline of the Federalist party.

What did the War of 1812 result in?

Doubled the size of the U.S.

What was the Significance of the Louisiana Purchase?

Doubled the size of the U.S.

What was the significance of the Louisiana Purchase?

Established Judicial Review (Supreme Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional).

What did Marbury v. Madison establish?

“Common man” populist president.

How was Andrew Jackson as President described?

Used executive power boldly.

How did Andrew Jackson use his power as president?

Allowed federal government to relocate Native Americans west of the Mississippi.

What did the Trail of Tears / Indian Removal Act allow?

Forced Cherokee relocation after resistance and Supreme Court victory (Worcester v. Georgia).

What was the Trail of Tears about?

Conflict between Jackson (president) and Calhoun (VP) over states’ rights vs. federal rights.

What was Calhoun’s Exposition and Protest?

Document claimed states could nullify federal tariffs.

What did Calhoun's document claim?

Opposed South Carolina’s nullification of federal law.

What was Jackson’s Response to Nullification Crisis?

Threatened military force; passed the Force Bill to enforce laws.

How did Jackson respond to South Carolinas Nullification?

Began in New England.

Where did the Antebellum Era / Pre-Civil War Industrial Revolution begin?

Water/steam power, capital, workforce, transportation, technology (steam engine, textile mills).

What were the key factors of the Antebellum Era / Pre-Civil War Industrial Revolution?

Shifted U.S. from agrarian to industrial economy, causing urbanization and labor reform.

What did the Antebellum Era / Pre-Civil War Industrial Revolution shift?

Irish (fleeing famine) and Germans (economic/political unrest).

Which Immigrants arrived in the U.S. during 1820–1860?

Settled in Northeast cities and Midwest.

Where did the Immigrants of 1820-1860 settle?

Provided cheap labor; prompted nativist movements.

What effects did Immigration have on U.S. society in 1820–1860?

Focused on abolition, temperance, education (Horace Mann), mental health, prison reform, labor rights.

What were the Reform Movements in the Antebellum Era?

Second Great Awakening and industrialization.

What fueled the reform movements in the Antebellum Era?

Revolutionized commerce by reducing shipping costs. Fostered western expansion.

What were the Erie Canal and Canals in General effect of the Antebellum Era?

First women’s rights convention launched suffrage movement.

What happened at the Seneca Falls Convention (1848)?

Drew parallels to abolitionism; took place in Upstate New York.

What was the Women’s Rights Movement related to?

Father of public education.

Who was Horace Mann?

Promoted free, nonsectarian schooling. Expanded education access and reforms.

What did Horace Mann promote and do?

Campaign against alcohol consumption.

What was the Temperance Movement?

Rooted in moral reform and women’s activism; led to prohibition.

What were the roots of the Temperance Movement?

Rural farmers; elite owned plantations. Society rooted in land, honor, and slavery. Social structure deeply influenced by slavery.

What were the lives and beliefs like of Southerners of the Era?

Justified slavery as economic and moral good.

How did Southerners of the Era justify slavery?

Dominant cash crop by 1850. Deepened South’s economic dependence on slavery. Linked U.S. to global markets as a profitable exporter.

What was King Cotton and what effect did it have?

Slave trade banned in 1808; growth by natural reproduction only. Entrenched in society, increasing moral and political crises.

What was the deal with Slavery and Slave Growth?

Laws restricting enslaved peoples’ rights, formalizing racial hierarchy.

What were Slave Codes?

Methods ranged from work slowdowns to sabotage to Nat Turner’s Rebellion (1831). Demonstrated resilience but resulted in tighter restrictions.

How did slaves resist the system of Slavery?

Mixed views but generally skewed towards abolitionism.

How did Northerners believe about slavery?

African Americans free before the Civil War. Communities in northern and border states. Faced discrimination; played key roles in early civil rights.

Who were Free Blacks?

Secret network helping enslaved people escape to free states. Organized direct action against slavery; a moral catalyst.

What was the Underground Railroad?

Justified war and displacement as part of destiny.

What did Manifest Destiny justify?