us history final Flashcards
what was the battle of trenton?
On Christmas day at night, Washington’s soldiers began crossing the Delaware River. The next morning, they surprise attacked the British mercenaries which were Hessians.
federalism
divided power between national and state governments
what motivated europeans to come to colonies in north america?
practice their religions freely, make money, etc.
colony
an area settled by immigrants or their descendants who remain subjects of the mother country
mercantilism
ultimate goal was self-sufficiency and all countries were in a competition to acquire the most gold and silver
-export more than you import, balance of trade
navigation acts
no country could trade with colonies unless…
-goods shipped on english ships
-had to pass through english port
-wanted to ensure england would be primary beneficiary in colonial trade
salutary neglect
relaxed enforcement in return for loyalty
indentured servitude
a worker bound by a voluntary agreement to work for a specified period of years often in return for free passage to an overseas destination.
seeds of self-government
Although governors had power of colonies, colonial assembly’s paid the governors salary and influenced the governor from the approval of laws to the appointment of judges.
how did the french and indian war lead to tensions with british?
gb was broke after the war, so they tax the colonies
-americans became aware that they were only seen as a way for the british to gain money
french and indian war
a war in North America between France and Britain (both aided by indian tribes) for possession of land
treaty of paris
-gb claimed east mississippi
-spain (france ally) got new orleans and louisiana
proclamation of 1763
colonists believed gb didn’t care about them
sugar act
law passed by the British Parliament setting taxes on molasses and sugar imported by the colonies
stamp act
-passed by pm george grenville
-purchase stamped paper for every legal doc, license, newspaper, pamphlet, etc.
how did colonists resist the stamp act?
-“No taxation without representation”
^declaration of rights and grievances
townshend acts
indirect tax, materials=glass, lead, paint, etc.
-imported materials (tea)
how did colonists resist townshend acts?
-boycott british goods
what led to the boston massacre?
the quartering of british soldiers in colonists homes & competition between british soldiers and colonists for the same jobs
committee of correspondence
-massachusetts and Virginia
-communicate to other colonies about threats to American liberties
intolerable acts
In 1774 Parliament passed a series of laws, the Coercive Acts, to punish the rebellious colonists.
what action did the colonists take after intolerable acts? (1774)
-50 delegates met in philadelphia for dec of colonial rights
Lexington and Concord
first battles of the Revolutionary War
samuel adams
American Revolutionary leader and patriot, Founder of the Sons of Liberty and one of the most vocal patriots for independence; signed the Declaration of Independence
sons of liberty
A group of colonists who formed a secret society to oppose British policies at the time of the American Revolution
daughters of liberty
organization of colonial women formed to protest British policies
declaration of rights and grievances
petition to the king urging him to redress colonial grievances and restore colonial rights; recognized Parliament’s authority to regulate commerce
boston tea party
protest against increased tea prices in which colonists dumped british tea into boston harbor
-cause=beic hit hard by taxes, tea act
martial law
type of rule in which the military is in charge and citizens’ rights are suspended
first continental congress
September 1774, delegates from twelve colonies sent representatives to Philadelphia to discuss a response to the Intolerable Acts
minutemen
citizen soldiers who could be ready to fight at a minute’s notice
second continental congress
They organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and appointed the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence
-paper money
battle of bunker hill
-thomas gage=strike @ breeds hill
-sent 2400 gb troops
-over 1k deaths, bloodiest
olive branch petition
-most colonists and delegates felt loyal to king
-blamed bloodshed on king’s ministers
-return to former harmony
-he said colonies in rebellion, sent naval blockade
common sense
-thomas paine, attacked king
-lexington and concord=hand of the king
-freedom=american destiny, allow free trade, aid from gb enemies
-social and economic opportunities for all
thomas paine
American Revolutionary leader and pamphleteer (born in England) who supported the American colonist’s fight for independence and supported the French Revolution (1737-1809)
john locke
English philosopher who argued that people have natural rights
patriot
farmers, artisans, merchants, landowners, elected officials, 50% of population
-nathanael greene, james armistead, etc
loyalist
charles inglis=clergyman, joseph brant=mohawk chief, isaac wilkins
saratoga
A battle that took place in New York where the Continental Army defeated the British. It proved to be the turning point of the war. This battle ultimately had France to openly support the colonies with military forces in addition to the supplies and money already being sent.
valley forge
Place where Washington’s army spent the winter of 1777-1778, a 4th of troops died here from disease and malnutrition, Steuben comes and trains troops
profiteering
-selling goods that are “broken”/scam for high price
fredrich von steuben
a German officer who was helping turn the American soldiers into a professional army.
marquis de lafayette
French soldier who joined General Washington’s staff and became a general in the Continental Army.
general charles cornwallis
British general who fought the Patriots in the south; surrounded at Yorktown and surrendered to George Washington
battle of yorktown
Last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis and his troops were trapped in the Chesapeake Bay by the French fleet. He was sandwiched between the French navy and the American army. He surrendered October 19, 1781.
egalitarianism
A belief in the equality of all people
republic
A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting
republicanism
A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.
northwest ordinance of 1787
a law that established a procedure for the admission of new states to the Union
shays’ rebellion
daniel shays, too much taxation, farmers like him demanded that courts close
great compromise
roger sherman, 2 houses, equal rep in senate, population in house of rep
3/5 compromise
3/5 of slaves would be counted for, rep and tax
separation of powers
dividing the powers of government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches
legislative branch
laws
judicial branch
interpret laws
checks and balances
used to keep the government from getting too powerful in one branch
electoral college
A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president
judiciary act
-supreme court w/ chief justices, 5 associate justices
-3 fed circuit courts and 13 fed districts
-section 25= state court decisions=appealed by fed court is unconstitutional
alexander hamilton
1789-1795; First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.
thomas jefferson (differences)
-sharing power
-fear of absolute power/ruler
-democracy of farmers
-strict on constitution
-bank=unconstitutional
-econ based on farming
-payment of national debt
-plain ppl support
cabinet
dep of state=foreign affairs= thomas jefferson
dep of war=henry knox
dep of treasury= alexander hamilton
edmond randloph=attorney general
bank of the united states
a national bank funded by the federal government and wealthy investors
two party system
An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections.
excise tax
a tax on the production, sale, or consumption of goods produced within a country
executive branch
-carry out laws
Rise of the Republican Party
Emerged to combat the expansion of slavery into American territories after the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act
What event helped Lincoln ensure reelection?
shut down major southern port, chased confeds out of valley in northern virginia, victories in the north
What were the provisions of Henry Clay’s Compromise of 1850?
To satisfy the North: California would be admitted to union as a free state. To satisfy South: new and more effective fugitive slave law. To satisfy both: allowing residents of territories of New Mexico and Utah popular sovereignty. Federal government would pay Texas $10 million to surrender its claim to New Mexico (North was happy because it limited slavery in Texas to within its current borders. South was happy because money would help defray Texas’ expenses and debts from war with Mexico .
What action did Stephen Douglas take on Clay’s compromise that helped it pass?
He unbundled the pack of resolutions and reintroduced them hoping to obtain a majority vote for each measure individually. Death of president Taylor aided his efforts.
What is the Fugitive Slave Act?
An act that allowed the capturing of runaway slaves, part of the comp of 1850. Alleged fugitives were not entitled to a trial by jury and fugitives couldn’t testify on their behalf , statement by slave owner was all that was needed to have slave returned.
Who is Stephen A. Douglas?
Politician from Illinois who picked up compromise of 1850 after senate rejected it.
What effect did the Kansas-Nebraska act have on the Missouri Compromise of 1820?
It repealed the Missouri Compromise (the comp admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a non-slave state at the same time, so as not to upset the balance between slave and free states in the nation.)
Personal Liberty Laws
Forbade the imprisonment of runaway slaves and guaranteed that they would have jury trials. Northern lawyers dragged trials out (3-4 years) slave capturers expenses. 9 states passed.
Underground Railroad
Free African Americans and abolitionists created secret network of people who would risk themselves to aid slaves in their escape
Harriet Tubman
Born a slave and despite disability from being hit in the head, she became strong enough to eventually escape. She made 19 trips back to the south and helped 300 slaves.
Bleeding Kansas
Antislavery settlers founded a town called Lawrence so proslavery posse of 800 armed men burned down headquarters, destroyed newspapers printing presses and looted many houses and stores. When this news reached an abolitionist, he thought that this killed 5 people so he dragged 5 men from their beds in proslavary settlement and killed them. This triggered dozens of incidents throughout Kansas. 200 were killed so people called it “Bleeding Kansas”
What were the different beliefs that Lincoln and Douglas had on ending slavery?
Douglas: pop sov, slavery wasn’t immoral but a backwards labor system. Lincoln: Slavery is immoral, tried to make Douglas look like a defender of slavery.
What was the response to John Brown’s raid in the North and South?
In the south, Brown was viewed as a lunatic and the raid was seen as an act of terrorism. However, in the north, the raid was viewed with much more sympathetic eyes.
Dred Scott
Slave from Missouri. Owner took him North of Missouri Comp line where they lived together in free territory. Later, returned to Missouri where owner died to Scott began lawsuit for freedom.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln challenged Douglas to 7 open air debates on slavery. Douglas showed confidence, paced back and forth, used fists. Lincoln delivered speech solemnly using direct and plain diction.
John Brown
Abolitionist who was hanged after leading an unsuccessful raid at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia (1800-1858)
confederacy
the southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861
jefferson davis
President of the Confederate States of America
How did the Civil War begin?
Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Union forces surrendered.
What was especially damaging to the Union about Virginia’s secession?
They lost more states such as Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
