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Jamestown
First English settlement in the New World to discover the land and riches. John Rolfe found the tobacco crop and it became one of the largest cash crops in the nation to support the south's economy. The Headright system was created to attract more people to Jamestown by supplying new inhabitants with 50 acres of land in return for labor work. -
Pilgrims/Puritans
John Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony, wanted to create the perfect puritan society referred to as the "City on a Hill." There was no religious tolerance in this colony, as they only accepted Puritans. The Puritans had a capitalistic work ethic working to produce goods to be sold elsewhere. The Mayflower compact was the first governing document of this colony. The halfway covenant was a partial membership to the church in order to restore religious ways of life. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon was a small-town farmer in Virginia who led an armed rebellion against his local government. Farmers were not content with Governor William Berkeley's policies concerning taxes, or the behavior of their neighboring native americans. Bacon had promised slaves as well as indentured servants (people working to pay off a debt; would later be freed) freedom in return for their support of his side. He grew a large following by promising lies to those who had nothing better to lose. -
Mercantilism/Salutary Negelct
Mercantilism is an economic policy to expand the trading economy of a nation. Around 1650, Britain implemented this policy within the colonies by buying the raw goods Americans produced, and processing them back in Great Britain to be sold. Great Britain was guilty of committing salutary neglect in the 17th and 18th centuries, leaving the colonies to create and regulate their own policies. Later on, the British would regret this neglect in hopes of dominating the colonies with their own rule. -
Deism
Deism if a form of monotheism (believing in only one supreme power) that does not follow the belief that God intervenes in the physical world. This religion was different from those already established such as christianity and judaism, because God does not interfere with the way of life on Earth. Deism allows nature to take its course, there is no authoritative power overseeing individual people's outcomes. -
The Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening was the revival of protestantism in Europe and North America. During the early-mid 18th century. Many Americans leaned off of the church's rule during this time, and left their politics in the hands of the state government. The Awakening changed the way many followed their religion, and it gave churches less power in the political sphere because they weren't as influential. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian war was fought between Great Britain and France. Great Britain's victory led to their large accumulation of land in North America. This war created massive amounts of debt for the British, so they ended their salutary neglect of the colonies to tax them- enacting several supervised acts such as the stamp act. The Proclamation line of 1763 was drawn as an effect of the war prohibiting Americans from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, which would soon call for havoc. -
Revolutionary War
Americans had grown tired of the tensions between themselves and Great Britain, and decided to go to war for independence. The help of France on the American side was a large benefactor to the American victory, because they provided a navy, as well as helped with skill, strategy, and cleanliness. The Treaty of Paris of 1783 ended the war and declared the United States of America as its own independent nation. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the document used to established independent statehood from Great Britain in order to form our new nation. Its main purpose was to provide an explanation to foreign countries as to why America fought to separate from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration, and had it signed by 56 members of the Second Continental Congress. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution drafted between the 13 states of America. The lack of taxes and governmental authority led to increased debt from the war, and an overall weak central government. Daniel Shays led an armed rebellion against the weak government and the policies it supported, leading to the Constitutional Convention to discuss changes within governmental control. -
Northwest Land Ordinances of 1785/1787
Both land acts were created with the purpose of keeping the settlement of the west organized and orderly. The Land Ordinance of 1785 established that farmers could purchase a title to farmland in the undeveloped west. The Land Ordinance of 1787 established government for the Northwest territories in Canada. -
Constitution
The Constitution of the U.S. established a three-part system consisting of the judicial, legislative, and executive branches to share federal authority and bolster the power of government. It also set up federal courts that ensured fair and just laws. The Federalists supported the ratification, and the anti-Federalists did not. The Constitution only required 9 out of the 13 states to be in majority to ratify the constitution. -
Hamilton Economic Policy
1st Treasurer of the U.S., Alexander Hamilton, created an economic plan to strengthen America's economy. The funding and assumption plan: federal government took over the state governments' debt. The tariff of 1789: protected trade and raised profits for the federal government. The Bank of the U.S.: expansion of monetary power that was heavily debated on. Jefferson opposed the economic plan because it didn't benefit the common man. Political parties grew with debates on the economic plans. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution of the U.S. with the initial purpose to come to a compromise with the anti-Federalists over ratification. The importance of the Bill of Rights was to ensure that no one branch or individual had more power than anyone else. Each right added into the first ten amendments were issues the anti-Federalists thought needed to be addressed in order to pass the Constitution. -
Eli Whitney
Eli Whitney was the man responsible for the invention of the Cotton Gin. This machine was single handedly responsible for the south's economic boom, because it produced cotton at a much faster rate than slaves. This technology increased slavery usage to pick the cotton, and increased their economy as well. Eli Whitney also created interchangeable parts to make the repair and replacement costs of technology cheaper and more manageable. -
Washington's Neutrality Proclamation
Washington's Neutrality Proclamation was an announcement made by first president of the United States of America, George Washington, stating that the U.S. would remain neutral within the conflicts between France and Great Britain. The Proclamation included legal consequences if any American were to assist one side of the war. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington's Farewell Address was the letter he wrote while leaving the presidency to his fellow Americans warning against powerful political parties and making alliances with foreign powers. Washington feared the creation of political parties would divide the nation. Additionally, he feared if the U.S. made allies with foreign powers, it would make our country more of a target in wars that did not originally involve us. -
Alien and Sedition Act
The alien and sedition acts were laws passed under the presidency of John Adams of the Federalist party. The alien act made it more difficult for an immigrant to become a citizen, allowing the imprisonment and deportation of threatening immigrants. The sedition act proposed that anyone using slander against the government would be criminalized. Kentucky and Virginia ruled in their state legislatures that these acts were unconstitutional. -
British Violations of the Treaty of Paris
After the Treaty of Paris of 1783 was signed and agreed upon, Great Britain still had men occupying land in North America. The British took up territory in and around the Great Lakes, as well as confiscating American slaves. Additionally, the British impressed American ships in hopes to start trade with them again, however, all it did was disturb America's shipping economy. -
Election of 1800
The election of 1800 was between candidates John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. This was the first time the candidates used campaigning as a means to gain more votes. It was also the first peaceful transition between opposing political parties in the white house. Additionally, the electoral college allowed voters to vote for a president and a vice president, instead of voting twice. -
Cult of Domesticity
Within upper and middle class women, this "cult" looked at the position of women in society. The ideal here was that a woman's place was in the home cooking, cleaning, and looking after the children. Women were not expected to work in politics or produce anything with monetary value as a functioning part in America's economy. Books and magazines were published exploiting these societal restrictions for women to understand their 'place'. -
Emerson, Cooper, and other authors
Authors such as Emerson, Cooper, Thoreau, and Stowe provided literary works during this time that were heavily symbolic, as they often had a hidden lesson or purpose behind them. Emerson and Thoreau wrote about Transcendentalism, and how to live your life free from materialistic obsession. Cooper romanticized life on the frontier in the West, which interested American settlers. Stowe spread awareness of the cruel institution of slavery to awaken abolitionists in the north. -
Marbury v. Madison
Supreme court justice, John Marshall, made the executive decision in this case that would become the starting ground for judicial review. This case is looked at throughout history because it was the start of just and fair court cases in our federal court system. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition of the Louisiana territory from Napoleon of France to America. Jefferson wanted this gained land so that the American people could expand their settling out west. Jefferson did not like the Natives inhabiting space that American citizens wanted to live in, so he was especially happy to buy out their homes. -
Lowell System
As the Market Revolution expanded and industrialized, factories rapidly developed in New England. This system depended on water-powered factories from the river to facilitate electricity. Many young women in the states would work in these textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts to gather money and an independent life style before marrying. -
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was more of a territorial battle between the United States and Great Britain, only a few years after the Revolutionary war. The factors leading up to this war were the British impressment of American sailors/ships and the British claiming territory inside of the United States. The British were supposed to surrender all of their forts in the West as agreed to in the Treaty of Paris of 1783, however they did not comply. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was a collection of meetings in Hartford, Connecticut between the Federalist party concerning the War of 1812. The party wanted to discuss the government's increasing amount of authority, and how to proceed. These meetings were held secretly to discuss how the war would individually impact their home states' economies. Many feared that New England would secede from the Union due to their anger with the war. -
American System
Henry Clay was a politician who devised a plan to unify the nation supported by the whig party. The American system was composed of three parts: a tariff to promote U.S. industry, a national bank to enforce commerce, and federal subsidies for domestic improvements to develop economic markets in order to support agriculture. The improvement of the infrastructure, such as building canals, helped merchants travel at a faster rate, so it was more effective for the market. -
Missouri Compromise of 1820
States were trying to keep the balance in the House of Representatives between slave and free states. When the Missouri and Maine territories were acquired, the Compromise of 1820 stated that Missouri would be a slave state, and Maine would be a free state. This facilitated the 36 30 line that established north of the line would be free states, and south of the line would be slave states. -
Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism was the philosophical movement in the eastern U.S. to protest the mainstream way of thinking, and to combat materialism in order to feel balanced with nature. Many famous writers such as Thoreau and Emerson emerged during this time to challenge how Americans were thinking. -
Monroe Doctrine
This was the United States opposing Europe's colonization in America. It was significant because this showed that the United States was a threatening world power. President Monroe defined the role of Europe in the Western hemisphere. The Roosevelt Corollary was an add-on to the doctrine proposed by President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt justified American intervention in the West hemisphere in his addition to the doctrine. -
Andrew Jackson
President Andrew Jackson introduced the Indian Removal act that negotiated with native American tribes to leave their homes behind and migrate out of the west for American settlers. Voting had been expanded to the majority of white male citizens in the U.S., credited to Jackson. Jackson wanted to get rid of the U.S. bank to give more power back to the states' governments. Pet banks supported paper currency, and were chosen after Jackson vetoed renewing the charter for the second national bank. -
Tariff of Abominations/Nullification Crisis
The Tariff of Abominations was a tax passed by congress to protect American industry. South Carolina was against this tariff since it taxed too heavily on them, and John C. Calhoun fought for the constitutional right of nullification. The Nullification Crisis was a period of conflict between South Carolina and the other states on the development of this decision. This nullification pushed the secession of the southern states. Jackson did not want it nullified, he signed in the Tariff of 1832. -
William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison was an abolitionist and reformer that published an anti slavery newspaper called the Liberator. Additionally, he created the American Anti-slavery Society which called for the immediate emancipation of slaves without compensation for their owners. This party split up after finding that Garrison supported the women's movement as well. -
Irish Immigration
Immigrants from Ireland were emigrating due to financial issues relating to the potato famine. Irish workers fled to the northeast towards New England work in factories for very little pay. From this immigration, the "Know-nothing" or "Nativist" party stemmed to oppose catholicism and show hostility towards the immigrants for stealing American's jobs. -
Mexico
The election of 1844 involved James K. Polk (Democrat) winning the presidency over Henry Clay (Whig). Polk favored the annexation of Texas, whereas Whig, Henry Clay, did not. Once Polk won the election, Texas was signed into being a state, and this ultimately led to the Mexican War. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest destiny is described as the Americans' "god-given right" to expand into the western territory of North America. Most of the Whig party opposed manifest destiny because they tried to get the appeal of many different types of voters opposed to president Andrew Jackson (he supported manifest destiny). The Democrats believed that westward expansion would strengthen their economy and give them more land to claim. -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
The treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was the treaty that ended the Mexican war between the United States and Mexico, which resulted in the land gain of Texas, California, Arizona, Colorado, etc. The land gain gave Americans more to debate about, because the Missouri compromise still existed, so they had to decide which states would be slave states, and which states would be free. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first convention for women's rights to discuss the place of women on the political, social, and economic spheres. This meeting was organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony in Seneca Falls, NY. They drafted a remake of the constitution, called "The Declaration of Sentiments" and included women in the statements originally just about men. -
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay introduced the Compromise of 1850 introduced California as a free state and abolished the slave trade in Washington D.C. Additionally, it implemented the fugitive slave act in California in order to reach a compromise between the north and the south. The fugitive slave act made it so that runaway slaves looking for freedom in California could be easily caught and returned to their masters. -
Popular Sovereignty/Kansas-Nebraska Act
Popular Sovereignty was the rule that each state could decide whether they would be a slave or free state based on democracy. Popular sovereignty repealed the Missouri Compromise, as well as the 36 30 line, changing the balance in the House of Representatives. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was the first time popular sovereignty was used in the political system, finalizing the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Violence broke out as a result of opposing views within state legislatures. -
Dred Scott Case
The legal case where Dred Scott, and American slave, was residing in a free state until his deceased master's brother put in a claim to retrieve his "property". The court ruled that Dred Scott could not be a citizen because he was property, however, this was a violation of the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri Compromise stated that all states above the 36 30 line were free, therefore, slavery was absolutely prohibited. The north was very angry about this decision and it rose tension. -
John Brown
Armed abolitionist led a slave revolt on a United States arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. This slave revolt deepened the sectional divide between the North and the South. The North applauded the revolt whereas the South saw it as a blatant act of violence. Brown was seen as a martyr in the north, but the south thought he was a monster. -
The Civil War
The causes of the civil war revolved around the sectionalism between the north and the south. The tensions between the two regions on slavery rose to violence and rampage. The economy of both regions were very different; the south grew king cotton and the north was fully industrialized. The south fought on their home turf, meanwhile the north had more advanced weapons and tactics. Britian and France failed to recognize the confederacy, so they did not aid them with cotton or supplies. -
Lincoln/Republican Policy on Slavery
Lincoln and the rest of the republican party advocated for the restriction of slavery, so it would not expand into the western territories. Lincoln heavily opposed secession because he wanted a more unified nation. Lincoln also believed that secession was unlawful and a form of treason. Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation to free all slaves residing in rebellious states during the civil war. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln made and executive order to free all slaves in the confederate states during the civil war. The south did not obey this order until it was in writing. Lincoln waited for the large victory at Antietam before announcing the proclamation. Although Lincoln said that all slaves in the rebellious states were "thencefoward and forever freed", many slave owners in the south just rehired their slaves on their plantations for very little pay.
