concepts Flashcards
“American Adam”
Myth which depicts a new man who is innocent and who has no past, who can define himself as he likes in the newfound American land.
encomienda
System for colonization established by the Spanish colonizers in the 15th Century. The Spanish settler was the encomendero, who was responsible for the land and native population of a respective territory. The natives, named the encomendados, had to work the land, which was their way of “paying back” the colonizer for protection and Christian faith. Not exactly slavery, as the encomendados were not property of the encomendero.
indentured servitude
System which allowed Europeans to travel to America. They had their travel costs and accommodation paid for, but they had to work the land for a number of years as if they were slaves. When that period was over they were granted liberty and a freedom package.
mercantilism
Idea that presents that the government of a nation must accumulate lots of wealth though the management of a colony, reducing the reliance on other countries and importation and promoting exportation.
divine Providence
Belief shared by the Pilgrims. They thought that all of the hardships they went through were necessary, and that in the end, God would reward them with the sacred land and success.
Salutary Neglect
Period from 1621 to 1756 in which the English Parliament had little to no involvement in the American colonies, which as a result started growing autonomy. Nevertheless, they were still tied to the British Empire, even though having no representation in the parliament.
Boston Tea Party
Boycott which happened in December 1773 as a response to the Tea Act. A group of patriots, dressed as Native Americans, dumped the whole cargo of tea of a British ship into the Boston Harbor.
Louisiana Purchase
Purchase in 1803 to the French which gave the United States numerous territories to the West and allowed the Westward Expansion (called Louisiana Purchase because the territory was called that way since the french king was King Louis, but the present state Louisiana was not included).
trail blazing
Process through which Puritans and settlers opened up paths during the Westward Expansion with the help of groups of adventurers.
“buffalo soldiers”
Former slaves who defended the white settlers against the Native Americans during the Westward Expansion.
Manifest Destiny
Doctrine coined by John L. O’Sullivan in 1845. Manifest Destiny said that it was the white man’s labor to overspread the continent and take Native land, as it was done in God’s Providence and they were a better nation which had to civilize the Indigenous.
American exceptionalism
Thought that replaced Manifest Destiny and is still used today. It declares the United States to be the best and most powerful nation in the world.
the Homestead Act
Act approved in 1862 which divided the land in 160-acre plots and sold them to citizens 21 years old and older, who were willing to work the land for 5 years. If in 5 years the homesteader proved to make a profit, they could keep the land for a small payment.
the Dawes Act
Act passed in 1887 with the purpose of diminishing Native Americans and grabbing land. It encouraged Native Americans to become farmers in small plots of land unsuitable for farming or livestock. The Native Americans had to pay taxes to the government for the parcel of land given, but as they had no profits they had to abandon the land or they died of starvation. White settlers closely followed and invaded the land.
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Document signed in 1848 which gave the United States the southwestern states from Mexico after the Anglos had invaded Texas. The Mexican population who stayed in Texas after the treaty became the chicanos.
Removal Act
Act signed in 1830 by Andrew Jackson. After failing to make the Native Americans assimilate, Jackson expelled more than 70k Natives west of the Mississippi, into arid land they did not know and which was inhabited by other indigenous tribes.
Trail of Tears
Consequence of the Removal Act of 1830, also named as the Cherokee Trail of Tears. It was the displacement of 70k Native Americans west of the Mississippi, away from their sacred land. The travel was done during the winter, so many of them died.
Ghost Dance
Form of prayer which could be practiced by any indigenous tribe which originated after the Trail of Tears as a religious response.
Middle Passage
Name given to the journey African slaves had to do through the Atlantic from West Africa to the American colonies.
the Underground Railroad
Abolitionist system which helped slaves escape their plantations and arrive in free land in the north (northern states or Canada). It was not a literal Underground Railroad, but a network of white abolitionists who guided slaves toward freedom and hosted them.
the Missouri Compromise
Act passed in 1820 which traced a line at the middle of the United States, declaring the stated in the south slave states (and Missouri) and the north states free of slavery.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Act signed by the southern states after the Missouri Compromise which opened the land of Kansas and Nebraska for future admission of slave states, breaking with the compromise.
the Confederacy
Agreement between the Southern states which had Jefferson Davis as a president and opposed to the Union, with Abraham Lincoln as president. They were still under the management of the Union, as it was the legitimate government.
the Declarations of Causes
Documents which followed the model of The Declaration of Independence, but read as documents to unmake a nation. They were written by the Confederacy and named all the grievances the Union supposedly inflicted on them. It resulted in the American Civil War.
