Key Concepts in American History

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts from American history, providing definitions for important events, figures, and legislation.

Northwest Ordinance

Legislation enacted in 1787 that established a method for admitting new states to the Union.

Three-Fifths Clause

A provision in the U.S. Constitution which counted three-fifths of a state's slave population for representation and taxation.

Alexander Hamilton

The first Secretary of the Treasury and a key figure in the establishment of the financial system of the United States.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 revolt against the government's tax on whiskey, which demonstrated the federal government's ability to enforce its laws.

Federalist Party

The first political party in the United States, formed by supporters of Alexander Hamilton.

Democratic-Republicans

Political party formed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in opposition to the Federalists.

Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington's address at the end of his presidency emphasizing unity and warning against political factions.

Alien and Sedition Acts

A series of laws passed in 1798 that restricted immigration and criticized the government.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Political statements that argued states could nullify federal laws considered unconstitutional.

Revolution of 1800

The first peaceful transfer of power between political parties in the U.S., from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans.

Marbury v. Madison

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.

Louisiana Purchase

The 1803 acquisition of territory from France that doubled the size of the United States.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

An exploration of the newly acquired western territory, commissioned by President Jefferson.

Tecumseh

Native American leader who sought to unite various tribes against American expansion.

Tenskwatawa

A Native American religious leader and brother of Tecumseh who played a key role in the resistance against American settlers.

Treaty of Fort Jackson

A treaty that ended the Creek War, forcing the Creek Nation to surrender significant territory.

Hartford Convention

A series of meetings in 1814-1815 where New England Federalists discussed their grievances regarding the War of 1812.

Era of Good Feelings

A period of relative peace and political unity in the United States following the War of 1812.

Missouri Compromise

An agreement passed in 1820 allowing Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. policy that opposed European colonization and intervention in the Americas.

Corrupt Bargain

The alleged deal in 1824 between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay that denied Andrew Jackson the presidency.

Andrew Jackson

The seventh president of the United States, known for his populist policies and the Indian Removal Act.

American System

An economic plan introduced by Henry Clay aimed at promoting industry and internal improvements.

Election of 1828

The presidential election where Andrew Jackson defeated incumbent John Quincy Adams.

Spoils System

The practice of a successful political party giving public office to its supporters.

Trail of Tears

The forced relocation of Native American nations from their ancestral homelands in the 1830s.

Market Revolution

A period of rapid economic growth and change marked by the expansion of markets and industry.

Erie Canal

A manmade waterway that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, significantly facilitating trade and transportation.

Nativism

The policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants.

Factory Girls

Young women who worked in factories during the Industrial Revolution, often under harsh conditions.

Cult of Domesticity

A cultural belief in the 19th century that emphasized the role of women as homemakers.

Second Great Awakening

A religious revival movement in the early 19th century that encouraged a personal relationship with God.

Joseph Smith

The founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, also known as Mormonism.

Temperance

A social movement against the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Seneca Falls Convention

The first women's rights convention held in 1848, which advocated for equal rights, including suffrage.

Abolitionism

The movement to end slavery and emancipate enslaved people.

Gradual emancipation

The process of phasing out slavery over a period of time, rather than immediate release.

William Lloyd Garrison

An influential abolitionist known for his anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator.

Frederick Douglass

An escaped slave who became a prominent activist, author, and orator advocating for abolition and equality.

King Cotton

A term used to describe the economic dominance of cotton in the Southern U.S. economy.

Cotton gin

A machine that revolutionized cotton production by dramatically speeding up the process of removing seeds.

Manifest destiny

The 19th-century doctrine that justified American territorial expansion across North America.

Compromise of 1850

A set of laws aimed at resolving tensions between slave and free states.

Fugitive Slave Act

Laws that required the return of runaway slaves to their owners and imposed penalties on those who aided them.

Bleeding Kansas

A series of violent confrontations between anti-slavery and pro-slavery factions in Kansas.

Republican Party (1854)

A political party formed in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, primarily opposing the expansion of slavery.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Dred Scott decision

A Supreme Court ruling that declared African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in federal court.

John Brown's raid

An attempt by the abolitionist John Brown to initiate an armed slave revolt by capturing an armory.

Fort Sumter

The site in Charleston, South Carolina, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.

Emancipation Proclamation

An executive order by Abraham Lincoln that freed slaves in the Confederate states.

Battle of Gettysburg

A major turning point in the Civil War, resulting in a Union victory.

Sherman's March to the Sea

A military campaign led by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War, known for its destructive tactics.

Thirteenth Amendment

The constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.