APUSH Midterm Review

Mercantilism: An economic theory emphasizing the accumulation of wealth and resources through a favorable balance of trade, particularly by colonies providing raw materials to their mother countries.

• Historical Significance: Shaped European colonial policies and intensified competition for colonial possessions.

Columbian Exchange: The transatlantic exchange of crops, animals, technology, culture, and diseases between the Americas, Europe, and Africa following the arrival of Europeans in the Americas.

• Historical Significance: Drastically transformed societies through population changes, agricultural shifts, and cultural exchanges.

Christopher Columbus: Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic under Spanish sponsorship, initiating European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

• Historical Significance: His voyages marked the beginning of sustained European interaction with the Americas.

Pueblo Revolt (1680): A rebellion by the Pueblo people against Spanish colonization and religious oppression in present-day New Mexico.

• Historical Significance: Temporarily drove the Spanish out and showcased resistance to European domination.

Anasazi: Ancient Native American culture in the Southwest known for building cliff dwellings and pueblos.

• Historical Significance: Demonstrates early adaptation to arid environments.

Encomienda System: Spanish labor system granting colonists the right to demand tribute and forced labor from Indigenous people in exchange for supposed protection and Christianization.

• Historical Significance: Exploited Indigenous labor and resources, leading to significant social and demographic changes.

Bartolome De Las Casas: Spanish priest and advocate for Native American rights who criticized the encomienda system.

• Historical Significance: Influenced reforms like the New Laws of 1542.

Iroquois Confederacy: A powerful alliance of six Native American tribes in the northeastern United States.

• Historical Significance: Played a strategic role in colonial alliances and conflicts.

Spanish/Dutch/French/English Settlement: European powers established colonies with distinct goals and interactions with Native Americans.

• Historical Significance: Differing approaches led to varying degrees of cooperation and conflict with Indigenous peoples.

Virginia Company: A joint-stock company that established Jamestown in 1607, the first permanent English settlement in America.

• Historical Significance: Played a key role in early colonial development.

Chesapeake Colonies: Maryland and Virginia, characterized by tobacco cultivation and reliance on indentured servants and enslaved Africans.

• Historical Significance: Economic and social structures shaped by plantation agriculture.

Middle Colonies: Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware; known for diverse populations and mixed economies.

• Historical Significance: Served as a bridge between northern and southern colonies.

Jamestown: The first permanent English settlement in 1607.

• Historical Significance: Marked the beginning of English colonization in America.

Powhatan: Leader of the Powhatan Confederacy; initially helped the Jamestown settlers.

• Historical Significance: His interactions reflect early Native and English relations.

Cash Crops (tobacco, etc.): High-value crops grown primarily for sale rather than subsistence.

• Historical Significance: Central to the economic success of colonies like Virginia.

Indentured Servants: Laborers who worked for a set period in exchange for passage to America.

• Historical Significance: Preceded the transition to racialized slavery.

New England Colonies: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire; characterized by small farms, religious focus, and communal living.

• Historical Significance: Played a key role in the cultural and political foundations of America.

Mayflower Compact: An agreement by the Pilgrims in 1620 to govern themselves through majority rule.

• Historical Significance: Early form of self-government in the colonies.

William Bradford: Leader of the Pilgrims and governor of Plymouth Colony.

• Historical Significance: Helped establish successful governance.

John Winthrop: Leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, known for envisioning the "City upon a Hill."

• Historical Significance: Symbolized the Puritan vision for a model Christian society.

“City upon a hill”: John Winthrop’s vision of the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a model society.

• Historical Significance: Reflects Puritan ideals and colonial aspirations.

Pequot War: Conflict between New England colonists and the Pequot tribe in 1637.

• Historical Significance: Demonstrated violent tensions between settlers and Native Americans.

Thomas Hooker: Founder of Connecticut and advocate for expanded voting rights.

• Historical Significance: Promoted early democratic principles.

Roger Williams: Advocate for religious freedom and founder of Rhode Island.

• Historical Significance: Influenced the development of separation of church and state.

Anne Hutchinson: Challenged Puritan leaders; expelled to Rhode Island.

• Historical Significance: Early advocate for religious and gender equality.

King Philip’s War: Conflict between New England colonists and Native Americans (1675-1678).

• Historical Significance: Devastated Native populations and reduced resistance.

Virginia House of Burgesses: The first representative assembly in the American colonies.

• Historical Significance: Early example of self-government.

Bacon’s Rebellion: Uprising of Virginia settlers in 1676 against colonial leaders.

• Historical Significance: Exposed tensions between social classes and colonial policies.

King William’s War: Conflict between England and France in North America (1689-1697).

• Historical Significance: Early instance of colonial involvement in European wars.

Triangle Trade: A system of trade connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

• Historical Significance: Spread goods, enslaved people, and cultural exchanges across continents.

Middle Passage: The horrific journey enslaved Africans endured to the Americas.

• Historical Significance: Symbolizes the brutal realities of slavery.

Stono Rebellion: A slave revolt in South Carolina in 1739.

• Historical Significance: Led to stricter slave laws.

Mercantilism: See Period 1 definition.

Navigation Acts: British laws regulating colonial trade to benefit the mother country.

• Historical Significance: Contributed to colonial dissatisfaction.

Salutary Neglect: British policy of loosely enforcing colonial laws.

Historical Significance: Allowed colonial self-governance to flourish.

Albany Plan of Union

• Definition: A 1754 proposal by Benjamin Franklin to create a unified government for the 13 colonies.

• Historical Significance: First formal suggestion of colonial unity; laid groundwork for later unification during the Revolution.

French and Indian War

• Definition: A conflict (1754–1763) between Britain and France over North American territory, involving Native American alliances.

• Historical Significance: Led to British dominance in North America but created debt that spurred taxation of the colonies.

Proclamation of 1763

• Definition: British edict forbidding colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.

• Historical Significance: Angered colonists eager to expand, fueling tensions with Britain.

John Peter Zenger

• Definition: A colonial printer tried for libel in 1735 who argued for freedom of the press.

• Historical Significance: His case established a precedent for free speech in America.

Stamp Act

• Definition: 1765 British tax on printed materials in the colonies.

• Historical Significance: Provoked widespread colonial resistance and the rallying cry of "no taxation without representation."

Republican Motherhood

• Definition: The belief that women should educate children in civic virtue and republican ideals.

• Historical Significance: Elevated women's roles as guardians of republican values.

Stamp Act Congress

• Definition: A 1765 meeting of delegates from nine colonies to oppose the Stamp Act.

• Historical Significance: Demonstrated colonial unity and resistance to British policies.

Sons of Liberty

• Definition: A radical group of colonists opposing British taxation, known for organizing protests like the Boston Tea Party.

• Historical Significance: Played a key role in mobilizing resistance.

Declaratory Act

• Definition: 1766 British law asserting Parliament's authority over the colonies.

• Historical Significance: Reinforced tensions despite the repeal of the Stamp Act.

Townshend Acts

• Definition: 1767 British taxes on imports like glass, tea, and paper.

• Historical Significance: Increased colonial resentment and spurred boycotts.

Benjamin Franklin

• Definition: Founding Father, diplomat, and advocate for colonial unity.

• Historical Significance: Key figure in the Albany Plan, diplomacy during the Revolution, and the Constitutional Convention.

Boston Massacre

• Definition: A 1770 confrontation where British soldiers killed five colonists.

• Historical Significance: Used as propaganda to fuel anti-British sentiment.

Tea Act

• Definition: 1773 law allowing the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, undercutting local merchants.

• Historical Significance: Sparked the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Tea Party

• Definition: A 1773 protest where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.

• Historical Significance: Provoked the Intolerable Acts and escalated tensions.

Intolerable Acts

• Definition: 1774 punitive laws passed after the Boston Tea Party.

• Historical Significance: United colonies against Britain and led to the First Continental Congress.

1st Continental Congress

• Definition: A 1774 meeting of delegates from 12 colonies to respond to British policies.

• Historical Significance: Coordinated colonial resistance and laid groundwork for independence.

The American Revolution

Loyalists vs. Patriots

• Definition: Loyalists supported British rule, while Patriots sought independence.

• Historical Significance: Highlighted internal divisions within the colonies.

Common Sense

• Definition: A 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating independence.

• Historical Significance: Inspired widespread support for the revolutionary cause.

Declaration of Independence

• Definition: The 1776 document declaring colonial independence from Britain.

• Historical Significance: Justified rebellion and outlined principles of liberty.

George Washington

• Definition: Commander of the Continental Army and first U.S. president.

• Historical Significance: Led the colonies to victory and shaped the early republic.

Articles of Confederation

• Definition: The first U.S. constitution (1781–1789).

• Historical Significance: Created a weak central government, leading to calls for a stronger framework.

Northwest Ordinance

• Definition: A 1787 law for governing the Northwest Territory.

• Historical Significance: Established a process for admitting new states and prohibited slavery in the territory.

Treaty of Paris

• Definition: The 1783 treaty ending the American Revolution.

• Historical Significance: Recognized U.S. independence and established borders.

 The Constitution

Shays’ Rebellion

• Definition: A 1786 uprising by Massachusetts farmers protesting taxes and debt.

• Historical Significance: Exposed weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and spurred calls for a stronger government.

Constitutional Convention

• Definition: The 1787 meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation, resulting in the U.S. Constitution.

• Historical Significance: Established the framework of the federal government.

Great (CT) Compromise

• Definition: An agreement creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

• Historical Significance: Resolved disputes between large and small states.

3/5 Compromise

• Definition: An agreement to count three-fifths of enslaved people for representation and taxation.

• Historical Significance: Highlighted tensions over slavery in the new government.

Separation of Powers (Checks and Balances)

• Definition: The division of government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny.

• Historical Significance: Ensured a balance of power in the Constitution.

Federalists

• Definition: Supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong central government.

• Historical Significance: Played a key role in ratification and governance.

Anti-Federalists

• Definition: Opponents of the Constitution who favored stronger state governments and demanded a Bill of Rights.

Historical Significance: Their advocacy led to the adoption of the Bill of Rights.

Great! Here are the remaining terms filled out for you:

### The New Nation (continued)

Alexander Hamilton’s Economic Plan

Definition: A plan devised by Alexander Hamilton to stabilize the American economy, which included the establishment of a national bank and the assumption of state debts.

Historical Significance: Laid the foundation for the American financial system and helped establish the country's creditworthiness.

Thomas Jefferson’s Agrarian Republic

Definition: Jefferson's vision for America, focused on rural farming communities and a limited central government.

Historical Significance: Influenced American political ideals and policies during his presidency.

Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans

Definition: The first two political parties in the United States, with Federalists supporting a strong central government and Democratic-Republicans advocating for states' rights.

Historical Significance: Shaped early American political culture and policies.

Whiskey Rebellion

Definition: A 1794 uprising of farmers in western Pennsylvania protesting an excise tax on whiskey.

Historical Significance: Tested the new national government's ability to enforce law and order.

Washington’s Farewell Address

Definition: George Washington's final message to the nation, warning against political parties and foreign alliances.

Historical Significance: Influenced American foreign policy for many years.

John Adams

Definition: The second President of the United States and a Founding Father.

Historical Significance: Played a key role in the early development of the nation and faced significant foreign policy challenges.

XYZ Affair

Definition: A diplomatic incident in 1797 in which French officials demanded bribes from American negotiators.

Historical Significance: Led to an undeclared naval war between the United States and France, known as the Quasi-War.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Definition: Laws passed in 1798 that allowed the government to imprison or deport non-citizens and prosecute critics of the government.

Historical Significance: Controversial acts that limited civil liberties and contributed to the downfall of the Federalist Party.

VA and KY Resolutions

Definition: Political statements drafted in 1798 and 1799, in which Virginia and Kentucky legislatures declared the Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional.

Historical Significance: Introduced the concept of nullification and states' rights.

Revolution of 1800

Definition: The presidential election of 1800, which resulted in the first peaceful transfer of power between political parties in the U.S.

Historical Significance: Demonstrated the stability and resilience of the American political system.

Thomas Jefferson

Definition: The third President of the United States and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Historical Significance: Oversaw the Louisiana Purchase and promoted the principles of republicanism.

Louisiana Purchase

Definition: The acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803.

Historical Significance: Doubled the size of the United States and opened up the west for exploration and settlement.

Agrarian republic

Definition: A society based on small-scale agriculture and rural communities.

Historical Significance: Reflects Jefferson's vision for America and influenced early American policies and values.

### War and Good Feelings (continued)

James Monroe

Definition: The fifth President of the United States, known for the Monroe Doctrine.

Historical Significance: His presidency marked the "Era of Good Feelings," characterized by national unity and the decline of partisan politics.

Era of Good Feelings

Definition: A period of national unity and political harmony following the War of 1812.

Historical Significance: Saw the decline of the Federalist Party and the dominance of the Democratic-Republican Party.

Monroe Doctrine

Definition: A foreign policy statement made by President Monroe in 1823, declaring that the Americas were off-limits to European colonization.

Historical Significance: Became a cornerstone of American foreign policy.

Missouri Compromise

Definition: An agreement passed in 1820 to maintain the balance of power between slave and free states.

Historical Significance: Temporarily alleviated sectional tensions over the issue of slavery.

Henry Clay’s American System

Definition: A plan proposed by Henry Clay to promote economic growth through protective tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements.

Historical Significance: Influenced economic policy in the early 19th century and promoted the idea of a self-sufficient national economy.

### The Jacksonian Democracy (continued)

Universal manhood suffrage

Definition: The principle that all adult men should have the right to vote, regardless of property ownership.

Historical Significance: Expanded the electorate and laid the foundation for modern democratic participation.

Andrew Jackson

Definition: The seventh President of the United States, known for his populist policies and strong executive action.

Historical Significance: His presidency marked the era of Jacksonian democracy, which emphasized greater democracy for the common man.

Spoils system

Definition: The practice of giving government jobs to political supporters and friends.

Historical Significance: Became a central feature of Jacksonian democracy and led to widespread patronage and corruption.

Sectionalism

Definition: The division of the United States into different regions with distinct economic, social, and political interests.

Historical Significance: Contributed to tensions leading up to the Civil War.

Erie Canal

Definition: A canal completed in 1825 that connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

Historical Significance: Facilitated trade and economic growth in the Northeast and Midwest.

Robert Fulton

Definition: An American engineer and inventor who developed the first commercially successful steamboat.

Historical Significance: Revolutionized transportation and commerce with the introduction of steamboats.

Tariff of Abominations and Nullification Crisis

Definition: A high tariff passed in 1828 that angered Southern states, leading to a crisis over the right of states to nullify federal laws.

Historical Significance: Highlighted the growing sectional divide and set the stage for future conflicts over states' rights.

Indian Removal Act

Definition: A law passed in 1830 that authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River.

Historical Significance: Led to the Trail of Tears and the displacement of thousands of Native Americans.

Trail of Tears

Definition: The forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands to designated Indian Territory, resulting in the deaths of thousands.

Historical Significance: Represents a dark chapter in American history and the consequences of federal Indian removal policies.

Pet Banks

Definition: State banks selected by President Jackson to receive federal deposits after he vetoed the recharter of the Second Bank of the United States.

Historical Significance: Contributed to the Panic of 1837 and economic instability.

Panic of 1837

Definition: A financial crisis that led to a severe economic depression in the United States.

Historical Significance: Highlighted the weaknesses in the American banking system and contributed to the rise of the Whig Party.

Whigs

Definition: A political party formed in opposition to Andrew Jackson and the Democrats, advocating for a strong federal government and economic modernization.

Historical Significance: Played a significant role in American politics in the mid-19th century.

Martin Van Buren

Definition: The eighth President of the United States, known for his role in the development of the Democratic Party.

Historical Significance: Presided over the Panic of 1837 and faced significant economic challenges.

William Henry Harrison

Definition: The ninth President of the United States, known for his brief tenure in office.

Historical Significance: His death just 31 days into his presidency highlighted the need for clear presidential succession.

John Tyler

Definition: The tenth President of the United States, who succeeded William Henry Harrison.

Historical Significance: Faced significant opposition from Congress and his own party, but set important precedents for presidential succession.

Samuel Morse

Definition: An American inventor who developed the telegraph and Morse code.

Historical Significance: Revolutionized communication and had a profound impact on American society and industry.

### South

King Cotton

Definition: A term used to describe the dominance of cotton production in the Southern economy.

Historical Significance: Highlighted the economic and social importance of cotton and its ties to slavery.

Eli Whitney / Cotton Gin

Definition: An American inventor known for inventing the cotton gin, a machine that revolutionized cotton production.

Historical Significance: Greatly increased the efficiency of cotton processing and contributed to the expansion of slavery.

Gabriel Prosser

Definition: An enslaved blacksmith who planned a large slave rebellion in Richmond, Virginia, in 1800.

Historical Significance: His planned rebellion heightened fears of slave uprisings and led to harsher laws against enslaved people.

Denmark Vesey

Definition: A freedman who planned a slave revolt in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1822.

Historical Significance: His plan was thwarted, but it contributed to growing tensions over slavery.

Nat Turner

Definition: An enslaved preacher who led a violent slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831.

Historical Significance: His rebellion led to stricter slave laws and increased tensions between the North and South.

Yeoman farmers Definition: Small landowning farmers who worked their own land and typically owned few or no slaves. Historical Significance: Represented the majority of Southern

Abolitionism

Definition: A movement to end slavery. Historical Significance: Led to the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery in the U.S.

Gag rule

Definition: A series of congressional resolutions that limited the discussion of slavery. Historical Significance: Suppressed anti-slavery petitions and heightened sectional tensions.

Grimke Sisters

Definition: Sarah and Angelina Grimke, Southern sisters who became prominent abolitionists and women's rights activists. Historical Significance: Their work highlighted the intersections of abolitionism and women's rights.

Market Revolution

Definition: A period of rapid economic growth and change in the U.S. during the early 19th century. Historical Significance: Transformed the American economy, leading to industrialization and changes in labor.

Francis Cabot Lowell

Definition: An American industrialist who developed the Lowell system of textile production. Historical Significance: His mills became a model for industrialization and labor practices.

Lowell Mills

Definition: Textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, that employed young women under a strict labor system. Historical Significance: Represented the beginnings of industrial labor in the U.S.

Female factory labor

Definition: Employment of women in factories, particularly in the textile industry. Historical Significance: Marked the entry of women into the industrial workforce and changed labor dynamics.

Cult of Domesticity

Definition: A prevailing value system among the upper and middle classes during the 19th century in the U.S. and Great Britain. Historical Significance: Defined women's roles as homemakers and caretakers, limiting their opportunities outside the home.

Irish Labor

Definition: The influx of Irish immigrants who provided much of the labor for American infrastructure projects. Historical Significance: Contributed to the growth of American cities and infrastructure, despite facing discrimination.

Second Great Awakening

Definition: A Protestant religious revival during the early 19th century in the U.S. Historical Significance: Spurred reform movements, including temperance, abolition, and women's rights.

Horace Mann

Definition: An American education reformer who promoted public education. Historical Significance: Advocated for universal public education and improved educational standards.

Temperance

Definition: A movement to limit or ban the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Historical Significance: Led to the Prohibition era in the U.S. and highlighted social reform efforts.

Dorothea Dix

Definition: An American activist on behalf of the mentally ill. Historical Significance: Advocated for the establishment of mental asylums and improved conditions for the mentally ill.

William Lloyd Garrison: The Liberator

Definition: An abolitionist who published the anti-slavery newspaper "The Liberator." Historical Significance: His publication was influential in spreading anti-slavery sentiment.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Definition: An American author who wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Historical Significance: Her novel galvanized anti-slavery sentiment and increased support for abolition.

Frederick Douglass

Definition: A former enslaved person who became a leading abolitionist and orator. Historical Significance: His writings and speeches highlighted the realities of slavery and promoted abolition.

Harriet Tubman

Definition: An escaped enslaved woman who became a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad. Historical Significance: Helped many enslaved people escape to freedom and was a prominent abolitionist.

Sojourner Truth

Definition: An African American abolitionist and women's rights activist who was born into slavery. Historical Significance: Known for her speech "Ain't I a Woman?" and her advocacy for both abolition and women's rights.

Elijah Lovejoy

Definition: An abolitionist newspaper editor who was murdered by a pro-slavery mob. Historical Significance: His death became a rallying point for the abolitionist movement.

Seneca Falls Declaration 1848

Definition: The first women's rights convention in the U.S., held in Seneca Falls, New York. Historical Significance: Produced the Declaration of Sentiments, which demanded equal rights for women.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Definition: A leader in the women's rights movement and a key organizer of the Seneca Falls Convention. Historical Significance: Her work laid the foundation for women's suffrage and equal rights.

Manifest Destiny

Definition: The belief that American expansion across the continent was justified and inevitable. Historical Significance: Fueled westward expansion and contributed to conflicts with Native Americans and other nations.

Republic of Texas

Definition: An independent nation that existed from 1836 to 1845 before joining the United States. Historical Significance: Its annexation led to the Mexican-American War.

James K. Polk

Definition: The 11th President of the United States, known for his expansionist policies. Historical Significance: Oversaw the Mexican-American War and the acquisition of the Oregon Territory and California.

Mexican War

Definition: A conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. Historical Significance: Resulted in the U.S. acquiring vast territories in the West.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

Definition: The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War in 1848. Historical Significance: Mexico ceded a large portion of its northern territories to the U.S.

CA Gold Rush

Definition: A period of rapid migration to California following the discovery of gold in 1848. Historical Significance: Led to California's rapid population growth and statehood.

Wilmot Proviso

Definition: A proposed amendment to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico. Historical Significance: Intensified sectional conflicts over the expansion of slavery.

Compromise of 1850

Definition: A series of laws intended to settle the issue of slavery in territories acquired from Mexico. Historical Significance: Included the Fugitive Slave Act and admitted California as a free state.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Definition: A law that allowed residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether to allow slavery. Historical Significance: Led to violent conflicts known as "Bleeding Kansas."

Ostend Manifesto

Definition: A document advocating for the U.S. to acquire Cuba from Spain. Historical Significance: Highlighted the expansionist ambitions of the U.S. and increased tensions over slavery.

Bleeding Kansas

Definition: A series of violent conflicts in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers. Historical Significance: Exemplified the deepening sectional divide over slavery.

Sumner-Brooks Beating

Definition: An incident in which pro-slavery Congressman Preston Brooks attacked anti-slavery Senator Charles Sumner with a cane. Historical Significance: Increased tensions between the North and South and highlighted the violent nature of the slavery debate.

John Brown

Definition: An abolitionist who led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry. Historical Significance: His raid aimed to incite a slave rebellion and heightened sectional tensions.

Harper’s Ferry Raid

Definition: An 1859 raid led by John Brown on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Historical Significance: Aimed to start a slave uprising but ultimately failed, leading to Brown's capture and execution.

Republican Party

Definition: A political party founded in the 1850s that opposed the expansion of slavery. Historical Significance: Became the dominant political party in the North and elected Abraham Lincoln as President in 1860.

Abraham Lincoln

Definition: The 16th President of the United States, who led the nation during the Civil War. Historical Significance: Emancipated the slaves and preserved the Union.

Election of 1860

Definition: The presidential election in which Abraham Lincoln was elected as the first Republican President. Historical Significance: Led to the secession of Southern states and the start of the Civil War.

Dred Scott

Definition: An enslaved African American who sued for his freedom in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case. Historical Significance: The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and had no standing to sue.

Fort Sumter

Definition: The site of the first shots of the Civil War in April 1861. Historical Significance: The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the Civil War.

“Copperhead” Democrats

Definition: Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and advocated for a peace settlement with the Confederacy. Historical Significance: Their opposition to the war created political challenges for the Union government

Here is an overview of the historical significance and definitions of the requested terms:

Civil War and Reconstruction Terms

1. Bull Run/Manassas: The first major battle of the Civil War (1861) near Manassas, Virginia, revealing the war would be long and bloody. A Confederate victory.

2. Gettysburg: A turning point of the Civil War (1863), this Union victory in Pennsylvania was the largest battle fought in North America, ending Confederate hopes of invading the North.

3. Robert E. Lee: The Confederate Army's general, known for his leadership in major battles and eventual surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox.

4. Sherman’s March to the Sea: A Union military campaign (1864) led by General William T. Sherman, involving a destructive march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, to cripple the Confederate war effort.

5. Ulysses S. Grant: Union general who led the North to victory and later became the 18th President of the United States.

6. Antietam: A Union victory in 1862 in Maryland, known as the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history. It prompted Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

7. Jefferson Davis: President of the Confederate States during the Civil War.

8. Appomattox: The site of Lee’s surrender to Grant in 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

9. Anaconda Plan: The Union’s strategy to blockade Confederate ports and control the Mississippi River to suffocate the South economically and militarily.

10. John Wilkes Booth: The actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in 1865.

11. Emancipation Proclamation: Issued by Lincoln in 1863, it declared freedom for slaves in Confederate-controlled territories.

12. Lives of Black Soldiers: Black soldiers, many freedmen, faced discrimination and lower pay in the Union Army but played a crucial role in its victory.

13. Total War: A strategy used by the Union, especially Sherman, involving the destruction of civilian and economic resources to weaken the South’s ability to fight.

14. NYC Draft Riots: A violent response to the Union draft in 1863, primarily by working-class immigrants opposed to the war and racial equality.

15. Military Reconstruction: A post-war effort to rebuild the South and integrate freed slaves into society, involving military districts and federal oversight.

16. Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President, who led the U.S. through the Civil War, abolished slavery, and promoted Reconstruction.

17. Ten Percent Plan: Lincoln’s plan to readmit Southern states if 10% of their voters pledged loyalty to the Union and accepted emancipation.

18. Civil Rights Act (1866): Granted citizenship and equal rights to African Americans, countering Black Codes.

19. Andrew Johnson: Lincoln’s successor as President, known for his lenient Reconstruction policies and impeachment.

20. Tenure of Office Act: A law restricting the President’s ability to remove certain officeholders without Senate approval, leading to Andrew Johnson's impeachment.

21. Ku Klux Klan: A white supremacist group formed during Reconstruction to intimidate African Americans and resist racial equality.

22. Reconstruction Acts of 1867 and 1868: Laws dividing the South into military districts and requiring states to ratify the 14th Amendment and grant Black men voting rights for readmission to the Union.

23. Carpetbaggers: Northern opportunists who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often viewed negatively by Southerners.

24. Scalawags: Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party.

25. Election of 1876: Contested presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden, resolved by the Compromise of 1877.

26. Rutherford B. Hayes: The 19th President, elected in 1876, who ended Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South.

27. Compromise of 1877: An agreement resolving the 1876 election, marking the end of Reconstruction as federal troops left the South.

28. Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the South after Reconstruction.

29. Civil War Amendments: The 13th (abolished slavery), 14th (citizenship and equal protection), and 15th (voting rights for Black men) amendments.

Westward Expansion and Post-Reconstruction

30. Pacific Railway Act: Authorized the construction of the transcontinental railroad, facilitating westward expansion.

31. Morrill Act: Provided federal land for the establishment of colleges focused on agriculture and mechanical arts.

32. Homestead Act: Gave settlers 160 acres of free land if they farmed it for five years, encouraging westward settlement.

33. Native Americans: Indigenous peoples displaced by U.S. expansion, often forced onto reservations through treaties and wars.

34. Medicine Lodge Treaty (1867): Agreements between the U.S. government and Native tribes, relocating them to reservations.

35. George Custer: U.S. Army officer defeated at the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876).

36. Little Bighorn: A Native American victory where Lakota and Cheyenne forces defeated Custer’s troops.

37. Dawes Severalty Act: A 1887 law aiming to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual plots.

38. Wounded Knee: A massacre of Lakota Sioux in 1890, marking the end of major Native resistance.

Gilded Age and Populism

39. Miners: Played a crucial role in westward expansion, fueling economic growth and conflicts over resources.

40. Joseph Smith / Brigham Young: Leaders of the Mormon faith, with Brigham Young leading the migration to Utah.

41. Cowboys: Central figures in the cattle industry, driving herds across the open range.

42. Cattle Boom: The rise of cattle ranching and the beef industry in the West after the Civil War.

43. Range Wars: Conflicts over land and water use between ranchers, farmers, and sheepherders.

44. Frontier Thesis: Frederick Jackson Turner’s argument that the frontier shaped American democracy and character.

45. Grange Movement: A farmers' organization advocating for economic and political reforms, including regulation of railroads.

46. Populism: A political movement advocating for the rights of farmers and laborers against economic elites.

47. Populist Party: A political party formed in the 1890s, supporting reforms like direct election of senators, income tax, and regulation of railroads.