• Shuffle
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Alphabetize
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Front First
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Both Sides
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Read
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
Reading...
Front

Card Range To Study

through

image

Play button

image

Play button

image

Progress

1/88

Click to flip

Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;

Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;

H to show hint;

A reads text to speech;

88 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Aztecs
Native American empire in Central America (modern day Mexico)

Capital city of Tenochtitlan

Conquered by Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes
Incas
Native American empire in South America

Built extensive road system throughout continent

Developed quipus ("talking knots") for recording information
Hernan Cortes
Spanish conquistador

Conquered the Aztecs with only 500 soldiers

Inspired other conquistadors like Francisco Pizarro
Columbian Exchange
Transfer of plants, animals and diseases between "Old World" of Europe, Asia, and Africa to "New World" of the Americas.

Dramatically changed American landscape

Diseases from "Old World" caused many deaths of Native Americans
Jamestown
First permanent English settlement in New World (1607).

Founded by a joint stock company

Struggled to survive in first few years

John Rolfe introduced tobacco to help colony survive
Puritans
Sailed from England on the Arbella in 1630 to escape religious persecution

Established Massachusetts Bay colony

John Winthrop, first governor, believed colony would be an ideal Christian community, a "City Upon a Hill."
Roger Williams
Was banned from Massachusetts Bay colony for religious dissent

Founded Providence (Rhode Island colony), which became center for religious freedom
Georgia
Founded by James Oglethorpe

Started as a colony for poor English citizens and people jailed for unpaid debts
Albany Congress
In 1754, delegates of seven colonies met in Albany, NY to unite with local Natives against the French

Ben Franklin created "Albany Plan," drew "Join or Die" cartoon to encourage formation of union.

Though delegates rejected the plan, it was a model for later Articles of Confederation
New England Colonies
Inhabited by English settlers, Puritans

Strong middle (small farmer and merchant) class

Important center of shipbuilding
Mid Atlantic Colonies
Predominantly inhabited by Dutch, German, and Swedish

Quakers (Pennsylvania) one of the largest religious groups

Region known for farming, staple crops, commercial trade, and religious toleration
Southern Colonies
Largely dependent on agriculture (farming), both small farms and large plantations.

Heavily dependent on slave labor and indentured servant labor

Enacted Slave Codes (laws) to control slave population
Backcountry/Frontier
Mainly Scots-Irish

Frequent contact with Native Americans

Fiercely independent, rebellious

Lead westward expansion
Great Awakening
Religious revival in 1730s and 1740s to renew religious faith among colonists

Emotional gatherings, spread idea that all were born sinners but could be saved;

Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" became in influential sermon
Proclamation of 1763
King George III of Britain to ban settlement of lands west of Appalachian mountains

Created border between Native and Colonial lands

Ignored by many colonists who continued to settle and trade west of the Ohio River valley
Boston Tea Party
Colonists disguised as Native American dump 342 tea chests into Boston Harbor

In protest of Britain's Tea Act, which allowed East India company to export directly to colonies

Resulted in Britain passing Coercive Acts (called "Intolerable Acts" by colonists
Declaration of Independence
Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson

Approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776

Declared that all men possess "inalienable rights" and formally broke ties with the British Crown
Battle of Saratoga
Turning point in American Revolutionary War
Major victory for Patriots and a turning point in the American Revolutionary War

Helped win support from France, Spain, and other foreign powers to American cause
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Great Britain recognizes independence of United States, ending American Revolutionary War

Set new borders of U.S.: From Great Lakes in the North to Mississippi River in the West to Florida in South
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Passed by Confederation Congress under the Articles of Confederation

Created Northwest Territory for settlement (present day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin)

Created system for bringing new states into the Union
Articles of Confederation
National government created in 1776 by Committee of Thirteen

Created Confederate Congress with limited federal powers. Did NOT establish a president or court system.

Allowed Congress to make coins, borrow money and negotiate treaties

Did not allow Federal government to tax or to provide troops for national defense
Shay's Rebellion
Uprising in Massachusetts by farmer and Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays against state tax on land

Demonstrated weakness of central government under Articles of Confederation to respond to uprisings.

Crisis leads to Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention
Held in 1787 in Philadelphia to improve the Articles of Confederation

Delegates included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and James Madison, sometimes known as the "Father of the Constitution"

Developed first draft of what would be the United States Constitution

Included the controversial "3/5ths Compromise", which resolved dispute over slave representation in congress by allowing 3/5th of a state's slave population in its overall population count
The Great Compromise
Resolved debate between "Large State" Virginia Plan for a two house (bicameral) legislature based on state population and "Small state" New Jersey Plan for a one house (unicameral) legislature based on equal (two votes each) representation for each state

Established both an upper house (the Senate, with each state having two votes) and a lower house (the House of Representatives, votes based on population) to balance the two plans
James Madison
Sometimes known as the "Father of the Constitution" for his active role and participation in the Constitutional Convention

Along with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, wrote the Federalist Papers to convince ratification of the new Constitution
Three Fifths Compromise
Agreement to resolve debate over slave representation in Congress

Southern States wanted slaves to count fully, Northern states wanted slaves to count for taxes but not representation.

Compromise allowed states to count 3/5th of their slave population for representation in Congress

Northern delegates also agreed not to wait 20 years before seeking to end the slave trade
First Amendment Rights
Establishment Clause: Congress cannot make a law establishing a state religion (freedom of religion)

Freedom of Speech

Right to Assemble

Right to petition government for a redress of grievances
Separation of Powers
The Constitution divided the federal government into three branches, each designed to "balance" each other to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful

The legislative branch (Congress) makes the nation's laws

The executive branch (headed by President) enforces laws Congress passes

The judicial branch (system of federal courts headed by the U.S. Supreme Court) reviews cases and hears appeals from lower courts.
Federalist Papers
Co-authored by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison under the name "Publius"

Written to convince states to ratify the new Constitution (particularly holdout states like New York)

Strongly influenced public debate over the Constitution during ratification
Washington's Farewell Address
Written in 1796 after Washington decided not to run for a third term as president.

Warned that sectionalism and the influence of political parties could threaten the public good

Warned about excessive national debt

Warned about forming permanent alliances with foreign powers and preserving American independence

Warned of the importance of preserving the balance of powers in the Constitution and making alterations only through deliberate Amendment process
Election ("Revolution") of 1800
Thomas Jefferson narrowly won presidency against incumbent John Adams

Electoral between Aaron Burr and Jefferson lead to 12th Amendment, requiring separate ballots for President and Vice president

First peaceful transfer of power between one political party (Federalists) to another (Republicans)
Judicial Review
Power of the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether a law passed by Congress in unconstitutional

Established by Marbury vs.Madison case
Louisiana Purchase
Bought from France's Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803 under Thomas Jefferson's presidency

Almost doubled the size of the United States,opening vast new territory for expansion and exploration

Led to the Lewis and Clark expedition
War of 1812 (causes)
Britain's impressment (forcing to serve in the British navy) of U.S. sailors

Interference of American trade (contrary to American sovereignty and independence)

British aid to Native Americans in Northwest conflict with U.S.

Pressure in Congress by "War Hawks" to protect American honor
Treaty of Ghent
Ended the War of 1812 between Britain and the U.S.

Each nation returned the territory it conquered during the war

Signed before the last battle of the War, the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
Overwhelming defeat of British invasion by American forces

Launched military and political career of American commander General Andrew Jackson

Fought after Treaty of Ghent formally ended hostilities
Embargo
Banning of trade against another country

The Embargo Act of 1807 banned trade against Britain and France in response to their capturing of U.S. ships.
Monroe Doctrine
Declared that foreign powers shall not be allowed to make new colonies in North and South America

Viewed any European interference in Latin America as a hostile act
Missouri Compromise
Introduced in Congress by Henry Clay in 1820

Allows Maine to enter as a free state, Missouri to enter as a slave state

Slavery is prohibited an any new territories north of the 36 degree 30 minute line
The "Corrupt Bargain"
In the Presidential Election of 1824, John Quincy Adams won the electoral vote but Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, forcing the House of Representatives to decide.

Speaker of the House Henry Clay influenced vote by backing Adams, who won the presidency

Adams appointed Clay as Secretary of State, causing Jackson to accuse the two of a making a "corrupt bargain"
Trail of Tears
President Jackson ignored U.S. Supreme Court decision in Worcester v. Georgia and orders U.S. troops to remove Cherokee from the South to Western Indian territory

One fourth of the 18,000 Cherokee died during the 800 mile march
Jacksonian America
In early 1800s many states remove property requirements to vote allowing many more white men to vote.

New nominating conventions allow more people to be active in electing their candidates

Start of the modern political party system
Wilmot Proviso
Proposed by Representative David Wilmot during Mexican War

Called for the abolition of slavery in all parts of the Mexican Cession

While it failed to become law, it demonstrated the growing sectionalism of the country
Compromise of 1850
Proposed by Henry Clay in Senate

Allowed California to enter as a free state, and

The territories of Mexican Cession (NM, AZ, UT) to decide slavery issue based on popular sovereignty

End of slave trade (though not slavery) in Washington, DC

New, stronger Fugitive Slave Law
Kansas Nebraska Act
Sponsored by Stephen Douglas in the Senate

Created Kansas and Nebraska territories, both decide slavery through popular sovereignty

No more 36 degree 30 minute line per Missouri Compromise

Causes rush of settlers into Kansas, violence
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Authored by abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe

Depicted cruelty of slavery

Sold millions of copies, sparked outrage in South and persuaded northerners to abolitionist cause
Bleeding Kansas
Pro slavery and abolitionist groups rush to settle in Kansas and form government

Two separate governments divided into armed camps form

John Brown's Pottawatomie Massacre of pro-slavery supporters begin months of deadly violence
Creation of Republican Party
Caused by Kansas-Nebraska Act

Abraham Lincoln an early leader of the Party
Election of 1860
Resulted in Republican win and Abraham Lincoln as President

Caused South Carolina to secede from the Union

Result was the formation of Confederate States of America by southern seceding states
Advantages of the North
Larger population for more troops and tax money

Most of the nation's factories and shipyards

Better network of railways and transportation
Advantages of the South
A strong military tradition providing many skilled officers

Needed only to defend itself rather than occupy large areas of enemy territory

Fought on their own territory
Appomattox Courthouse
After the fall of Richmond, Lee fled with his army, but Grant followed him and surrounded him at Appomattox Courthouse.

Lee met with Grant on in April 1865 to surrender his army, effectively ending the American Civil War.
Thirteenth Amendment
Made slavery illegal throughout the United States
Compromise of 1877
A compromise between Democrats and Republicans over the contested Presidential election of 1876.

Democrats agreed to allow Republican Rutherford Hayes to become President

Republicans agreed to remove all federal troops from the south, to fund improvements in the south, and to appoint a Democrat to Hayes' Cabinet

Effectively ended Reconstruction
Plessy v. Ferguson
U.S. Supreme Court case established that segregation was legal as long as facilities were "separate but equal"

Permitted segregation laws (Jim Crow laws) in southern states until the decision was overturned in 1954 by the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education
Battle of Little Big Horn
Led by Lt. Col George Armstrong Custer, who died in the attack

sometimes referred to as "Custer's Last Stand"
Geronimo
Apache who left his reservation with a small group of raiders to continue to fight against U.S. government

Avoided permanent capture for over 25 years
Wounded Knee
An attack on the Sioux by U.S. troops in South Dakota

Considered the last major event of more than 25 years of war on the Great Plains
Dawes Severalty Act
Forced American Indians to divide common territory into privately owned land

Was an attempt by the U.S. government to force American Indians to adopt Western culture
Andrew Carnegie
He was a leader in the steel industry who built his fortune in part through vertical integration

He later became a philanthropist, giving much of his fortune to build institutions such as libraries, schools, and other to support other charities

Wrote “The Gospel of Wealth”
John D. Rockefeller
He was a leader in the oil industry who build his fortune in part by both vertical and horizontal integration

His Standard Oil company eventually owned over 90% of the oil production in the U.S.
Haymarket Riot
Thousands of union members went on strike in Chicago to protest for an eight-hour workweek.

Violence broke out between strikers and police in which several people were killed and about 100 others were wounded

An investigation led to the arrest and conviction of eight anarchists on charges of conspiracy

Knights of Labor blamed, leading to a loss in membership
Second Wave of U.S. Immigration
"New immigrants" differed from earlier migrations in that they were mostly from Eastern and Southern Europe

Had diverse cultural and religious practices

Faced many challenges when arriving, including little money or English, prejudice and hostility from nativists, and anti immigration laws
William Jennings Bryan
Democratic Candidate for President in 1896

Supported many Populist Party platforms, including free coinage of silver

Famous "Cross of Gold" speech aimed to oppose the gold standard and illustrate how it was hurting farmers and workers by restricting the money supply
Gold Standard
Only gold could back U.S. currency

When tied to the gold standard, the money supply grew more slowly than the population, leading to deflation (a drop in money supply with fall in prices)
free coinage of silver
When both gold and silver are used as coined money in the economy

Was supported by Populist Party to help improve lives of farmers by causing inflation (expansion of money supply)
Populist Party
Worked to help farmers by pushing legislation to regulate railroads

Supported ending the power of big business over government and government ownership of railroads

Backed free and unlimited coinage of silver.

Lost much of its influence after Republican victory in 1896 Presidential election
progressive amendments
16th: Allowed federal tax on income

17th: Allowed voters to vote for U.S. senators directly

18th: Prohibition (outlawing) of production and sale of alcohol in U.S.

19th: gave women the right to vote (suffrage)

21st: repealed Prohibition
imperialism
The practice of building an empire by founding colonies or conquering other nations

Practiced by many European nations, and at the beginning of 20th century, by Japan and the U.S. as well
"Seward's Folly"
Refers to the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 arranged by Secretary of State William H. Seward

While many at the time thought it was a waste of money, it added over 600,000 square miles to the U.S. and cost only two cents per acre
Spanish American War (causes)
The sinking of the U.S.S. Maine and the suspicion of Spain’s involvement,

Yellow journalism, mostly published by Hearst, including a controversial letter from the Spanish minister to the U.S.

Popular sympathy in the U.S. for the Cuban people and their struggle for independence
yellow journalism
Sensational and exaggerated news stories, often for the purpose of selling newspapers

Used by powerful publishers such as Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst to change public opinion and influence government policy
Platt Amendment
Stated that Cuba would have limited rights to make treaties,

Allowed U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Heir to the throne of Austria Hungarian Empire

Assassination by a Serbian nationalist was the "spark" that caused WWI to begin
Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points
President Wilson's Proposed system to avoid future wars

Included the right to self determination

Proposed the creation of a League of Nations
League of Nations
International organization created after World War I to settle international disputes and maintain peace and stability

Failed to stop aggressive acts by Italy, Germany, and Japan that led to World War II
Treaty of Versailles
Required Germany to pay financial reparations for causing WWI.

Included League of Nations and some of Wilson's other 14 Points

Rejected by U.S. Senate due to strong isolationism of Republicans and Wilson's refusal to compromise
flapper
young women who challenged conventional dress and behavior in the 1920s
assembly line
system of chains, slides, and conveyor belts used in manufacturing, with parts moving along the assembly line from one group of workers to another

dramatically reduced time needed to make industrial products, and helped lower production costs

Henry Ford's Ford Motor Company one of the first to use this innovation in mass producing automobiles
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)
Elected first in 1932, pledging a "new deal" for the American people during the Great Depression

FDR's New Deal programs were the first major government intervention into the economy
The New Deal
FDR's series of programs to battle the depression

Programs included:
CCC (Civilian conservation Corps): employed young men to service jobs
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority): provided flood control and electricity to one of nation's poorest areas
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission): Regulated securities (stock) market
NRA (National Recovery Administration): regulated industry and raised prices
SSA (Social Security Act): provided benefits to elderly, unemployed, and disabled
Containment
U.S. policy of preventing the spread of communism outside of the Soviet Union

Marshall Plan helped support containment policy by rebuilding western Europe to keep communism from spreading there
Marshall Plan
U.S. program of rebuilding Europe after WWII with over $13 billion in loans and grants between 1948 and 1951

Helped support containment policy by rebuilding western Europe to keep communism from spreading there
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Military alliance of democratic nations in Europe and the U.S. to defend against Soviet attack
Warsaw Pact
Military alliance of Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellite nations as a communist counterpart to NATO
Truman Doctrine
Policy of providing economic aid to foreign nations to fight communism
Brown v. Board of Education
U.S. Supreme Court case in 1954 that overturned the Court's "separate but equal" decision in Plessy v. Ferguson

Declared segregation unconstitutional, and in 1955 ordered public schools to desegregate
Rosa Parks
Refused to give up her seat to a white passenger in 1955, violating Montgomery, Alabama's bus segregation system and leading to her arrest

Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which led ultimately to a 1956 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court outlawing bus segregation, and brought Martin Luther King Jr. to the forefront of the civil rights movement