US History & Government: Vocabulary List

1. Proclamation of 1763

Line created by British that colonists could not cross.

Created to prevent conflicts between colonists and Native Americans.

2. French & Indian War

Colonists fought with Britain against France and its Indian allies

Britain took control of Ohio River Valley

3. Mercantilism

Colonies exist for the benefit of the mother country

Colonies provide natural resources

Britain did not want colonies manufacturing their own goods

Salutary neglect

4. New England Colonies

Trading and fishing

Rocky soil – no plantations or slaves

5. Southern Colonies

Plantations & slaves

6. Common Sense

Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine

Kings are bad – colonies need independence

7. Natural Rights

Rights that all people are born with (John Locke’s Enlightenment Idea)

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Included in the Declaration of Independence

8. Self Government

Mayflower Compact

Virginia House of Burgesses

Early forms of democracy or republics 9. Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson

Declared colonies’ independence from Britain

Included colonial grievances and natural rights

10. Revolutionary War

War between Britain and the colonists – Taxation without Representation

America won its Independence from Britain

11. Articles of Confederation

First plan for government – (Shay’s Rebellion) failed and replaced by Constitution

National government too weak & State governments too powerful

National government couldn’t collect taxes

Only 1 branch of government – Legislative (Congress)

No President or Supreme Court

1 success was government had a way to allow new states to bet admitted

12. Land Ordinances

Land Ordinance of 1785 & Northwest Ordinance

Set a pattern of development of new territories

Provided guidelines for new states to be admitted

13. Constitution

A written plan for government

Replaced the Articles of Confederation

Gave more power to the national government

14. Ratify

To approve

Constitution had to be ratified (approved) before it could be used

15. Federalist/Antifederalist

First political parties Federalists – favored a strong national (federal) government

*Supported the Constitution *Wrote the Federalist Papers to gain support for the Constitution *Led by Hamilton

Antifederalists – favored strong state governments *Wanted a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution

*Led by Jefferson

16. Alexander Hamilton

Wanted a National Bank

Had a plan to get rid of the National Debt

Wanted to strengthen America’s economy

17. Cabinet

President’s advisors

Chosen by the President

Example of Unwritten Constitution

Head of national departments (Ex. Secretary of State)

18. Federalism

Power is shared between the states and the national government

Reserved Powers = State Powers

Delegated Powers = National powers

Concurrent Powers = Shared powers

19. Checks & Balances

Ways that each branch of government can control (check) the other 2 branches.

Examples: veto, impeach, appoint justices, approve appointments, approve treaties, laws ruled unconstitutional

20. Separation of Powers

National government power separated into 3 branches o Legislative Branch – Congress o Executive Branch – President – Commander & Chief o Judicial Branch – Supreme Court

21. Great Compromise

Compromise between New Jersey and Virginia Plans

Created a bicameral (2 house) legislative branch (Congress) o Senate – 2 for each state o House of Representatives – based on a state’s population

22. Unwritten Constitution

Parts of our government that are needed but not actually found in the Constitution

Examples: President’s Cabinet, Political Parties, Judicial Review

23. Amendment

An addition or change to the Constitution

“Flexibility”

24. Elastic Clause

Part of the Constitution that allowed for change – synonym of amendment

Allows government to make laws to fit a changing society – Necessary & Proper Clause

Implied Powers

Examples: Louisiana Purchase, FCC, minimum wage, ect.

25. Electoral College

Each state gets electoral votes, same as number of total representatives

Popular vote in each state determines the electoral votes

Criticized because electoral vote doesn’t always reflect popular vote

26. Bill of Rights

1st 10 amendments

Antifederalists wanted it added

Protects our rights from the government

Examples: Freedom of speech, religion, due process – fair trial

27. Washington’s Farewell

Washington wanted the country to stay neutral

Proclamation of neutrality

US was not strong enough to get involved with other countries, might lose new independence

28. Laissez Faire

Government should leave businesses alone, keep their nose out of businesses

29. Lobbying

Special interest groups that influence legislatures to get laws passed

Example of unwritten constitution

Lobbyists are criticized for having too much influence on legislatures

30. John Marshall Court

Supreme Court Justice, all decisions led to the power of the national government increasing

31. Marbury v. Madison

Supreme Court case that established judicial review

32. Judicial Review

Power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional

Established by Marbury v. Madison

Example of unwritten constitution

33. Louisiana Purchase

Doubled the size of the US

Bought by Jefferson

US farmers gained control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans

34. Embargo Act

Jefferson passed a law that banned trade with all other countries

Helped keep the US neutral

Hurt the US, was intended to hurt Britain and France

35. War of 1812

War between Britain and the US

Britain was impressing US sailors and arming Native Americans

Francis Scott Key wrote “Star Spangled Banner” about battle of Fort Mchenry

36. Monroe Doctrine

US foreign policy that warned Europe to leave Latin America alone

Made the US in control of the Western Hemisphere

37. Andrew Jackson

Used the spoils system – gave government jobs to political supporters

Passed Indian Removal Act – Trail of Tears

Nicknamed “King Andrew” (remember the cartoon) *powerful President

38. Manifest Destiny

Americans had the right to settle westward all the way to the Pacific Ocean

39. Abolitionist Movement

Goal was to end slavery

Organized the Underground Railroad (Harriet Tubman)

Frederick Douglas (North Star Newspaper)

William Lloyd Garrison (Liberator Newspaper)

40. Women’s Rights Movement (Women’s Suffrage)

Goal was to get equal rights and suffrage for women

Organized the Seneca Falls Convention and wrote Declaration of Sentiments

Leaders were Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott

41. Uncle Tom’s Cabin

A book written to show how evil slavery was

Used to spread the Abolitionist Movement

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe

42. Missouri Compromise

Settled a conflict over new states – kept balance between number of free and slave states

Missouri entered the Union as a slave state

Maine entered as a free state

43. Compromise of 1850

Settled a conflict over new states – kept balance between number of free and slave states

Created the Fugitive Slave Law

44. Fugitive Slave Law

Law that allowed slave owners to catch slaves that escaped to the North

Forced slaves to head to Canada for freedom

Angered Northerners who were now forced to be a part of slavery 45. Kansas-Nebraska Act

Allowed new states to use popular sovereignty to decide slavery issue

Bleeding Kansas (John Brown)

46. Popular Sovereignty

New states could vote to decide whether or not they would be a free or a slave state

47. Sectionalism

Loyalty to a part of the country rather than the country as a whole

North vs. South vs. West

Slavery issue increased sectionalism

48. Causes of Civil War

Lincoln was elected – South knew he was against slavery

Sectionalism – North and South were very different places

State’s Rights – Southern states wanted states’ rights (Nullification)

Secession – Lincoln and the North was fighting to preserve the Union

49. The North’s Strengths During the Civil War

More railroads than the South

More factories than the South

Factory production increased

50. Dred Scott v. Sanford

Slaves are property not citizens

Missouri Compromise voided – government can’t prohibit slavery in territories

51. Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln freed slaves in the Confederacy

Civil War became a fight over ending slavery

52. Reconstruction

Plan to “fix” south after the Civil War

Lincoln’s plan was too lenient on the South

13th, 14th, & 15th Amendments passed

Freedmen’s Bureau helped former slaves 53. Black Codes

Southern laws to limit rights of African Americans

Poll taxes, grandfather clause, literacy tests (prevent African Americans from voting) 54. Jim Crow Laws

Segregation laws in the South

Limited rights of African Americans 55. Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme court ruled that segregation was legal

Public facilities had to be separate but equal.

56. Gilded Age

Name created by Mark Twain for the end of the 19th Century

Large gaps between the rich and poor

57. Transcontinental Railroad

Federal government gave railroad companies land to build it

Helped in the settlement of the west

Made transportation cheaper and faster

Led to the downfall of the buffalo and the Plains Indians

58. Monopoly/Trust/Pool

A company that controls or dominates an industry

Worked to eliminate competition to increase profits

59. Social Darwinism

The belief that stronger businesses should be allowed to eliminate weaker businesses

Supporters of social Darwinism also believed in laissez faire and the formation of monopolies 60. Robber Barons

Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan, Ford, Vanderbilt

Used ruthless business tactics to eliminate competitors and form monopolies

Philanthropists – donated money

61. Sherman Antitrust Act/Interstate Commerce Act

Laws passed to eliminate trusts/monopolies

Laws showed that the government could regulate/control businesses

Promoted competition in business

62. Labor Union

American Federation of Labor – Samuel Gompers

Organized workers to improve working conditions and increase wages

Easier for skilled workers to unionize

Government used force to stop early unions (Pullman Strike & Haymarket Riot)

63. Dawe’s Act

Government program to force Native Americans to assimilate

Helped settle the West and achieve manifest destiny 64. Homestead Act

Government program that gave land to white settlers

Helped settle the Great Plains

65. Granger Movement

Organization of farmers to help fight against high railroad costs

66. Populist Party

Political party made up of farmers and factory workers

Hoped to achieve an 8 hour work day

Were responsible for direct election of senators and graduated income taxes

Wanted to reform our currency and use a silver standard

67. Pendleton Civil Service Act

This law ended the spoils system

People have to take a civil service test to get government jobs

68. Old Immigrants

Came to America for economic reasons and settled in northern cities

Immigrants from Ireland and Germany

Irish immigrants discriminated against because they were Catholics

69. New Immigrants

Came to America for economic reasons and settled in northern cities

Immigrants from Russia, China, and Japan

Chinese immigrants discriminated against more than other groups

70. Melting Pot Theory

The belief that immigrant cultures blend together to make a new American culture

Immigrants assimilate into American culture

71. Nativists

People that did not want immigrants in America

Formed the Know-Nothing Party to stop immigration

Chinese Exclusion Act and Gentlemen’s Agreement are nativist laws 72. Muckrakers

Journalists that used the press to expose the problems in American society.

Jacob Riis –How the Other Half Lives (Photos of tenements)

Upton Sinclair- The Jungle (Meat Packing Plants)

Ida Tarbell – The History of the Standard Oil Company (Corrupt Monopolies)

73. Imperialism

When one country takes over another country

Examples: Spanish American War, Buying Alaska, Taking over Hawaii, Panama Canal

74. Imperialism Policies

Monroe Doctrine – US protects Latin America

Roosevelt Corollary – US is the Police of Latin America

Big Stick Policy – Speak softly and carry a big stick

Dollar Diplomacy – Use money to control Latin America

75. Spanish American War

Caused by yellow journalism and sinking of the Maine

US helped Cuba gain independence from Spain

US won Puerto Rico, Guam, and Philippines 76. Yellow Journalism

When journalists exaggerate stories to influence readers’ opinions

Was used to make Americans want war with Spain after the sinking of the Maine

77. Theodore Roosevelt

President that built the Panama Canal and the national parks

Passed Meat Inspection Law

Nicknamed the Trust Buster – ended bad trusts/kept good trusts (Bear Cartoon)

A Progressive that ran for President for the Bull Moose Party

78. Panama Canal

Built by President Roosevelt

Connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to speed up trade

Example of imperialism 79. Progressive Era

Reform period where laws were passed to give people more control of government

Social welfare programs were passed

Examples: Meat Inspection Law, Direct Election of Senators, Referendum. 80. Federal Reserve

A national bank in charge of controlling the supply of money

It also controls the interest rates

81. 19th Amendment

Law that gave women the right to vote (Women’s Suffrage)

Started with the Seneca Falls Convention

Movement started by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

82. World War I

The first modern war (The Great War)

Fought in Europe, started by MAIN causes

Militarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism 83. US Joins World War I

Sinking of the Lusitania by German U-Boats

Zimmerman Telegram from Germany asking Mexico to fight the US

84. Sedition Act

Law passed during WWI that took away Constitutional rights

Made it illegal to say or print anything negative about the government

85. Wilson’s 14 Points

President Wilson’s plan to prevent further wars in Europe

One of the 14 points was to end the alliance systems

86. League of Nations

President Wilson’s idea for a national peacekeeping organization

Failed because the US refused to join

87. Treaty of Versailles

Treaty that ended WWI and led to the start of WWII

Blamed Germany for the war and made the pay war reparations

88. Roaring 20s

US economy was great in the 1920s

People can afford to buy more but are saving less than they were before

Flappers, Harlem Renaissance, Red Scare

89. Open Door Policy

Policy that allowed equal trade with China

US was afraid that Europe would have an unfair trade advantage with China

90. Great Migration

African Americans migrated to northern cities

Competition for jobs created racial tension and sometimes race riots

91. Teapot Dome Scandal

President Harding’s administration was very corrupt

Oil officials gave bribes to use government land for oil (Teapot Dome, Wyoming)

92. Scopes Trial

A trial against a science teacher that broke a Tennessee law by teaching evolution

It was a conflict between traditional and modern values

93. Red Scare

US fear of communism

Led to the violation of Constitutional rights

94. Sacco and Vanzetti Trial

2 immigrants wrongly accused and executed for murder

Convicted because of racists and nativists

95. Temperance Movement

Reform movement to make alcohol illegal

Blamed alcohol for many problems in America

Led to the passage of the 18th Amendment and prohibition

96. 18th Amendment (Prohibition)

Made alcohol illegal in the US

Created organized crime

Bootleggers – made and sold illegal alcohol

Speakeasy – secret illegal bars

97. 21st Amendment

Made alcohol legal again

Repealed the 18th Amendment

98. Flappers

Women of the 1920s who wanted to be independent and outgoing

Had short bobbed hair, drank alcohol, and smoked

99. Harlem Renaissance

African Americans artists in Harlem that influenced American culture

Langston Hughes- Poetry

Duke Ellington – Jazz Music

100. Ford’s Assembly Line

Henry ford produced cars faster and cheaper using an assembly line

Allowed the mass production of products

Soon almost all produced were made using an assembly line

101. Schenck v. United States

Supreme Court ruled Espionage Act constitutional

“Clear and present danger” doctrine

Civil rights can be limited for reasons of national security

102. The Great Depression

The day the stock market crashed was called Black Tuesday

Caused by speculation and buying stocks on margin/credit

Caused by overproduction and underconsumption

103. The Dust Bowl

Giant dust storms in the Great Plains area

Caused by poor farming techniques and drought

Farmers moved west to escape the Dust Bowl

104. President Hoover

He was blamed for the Great Depression

Hoovervilles and Hoover Blankets are proof he was blamed

He believed in trickledown economics and giving businesses money

He did not believe in directly helping the people

105. FDR

Created the New Deal to help end the Great Depression

Believed in directly helping the people 106. The New Deal

Programs are alphabet soup (TVA, FDIC, CCC, PWA)

Government gained more power and debt increased

Helped unions – passed Wagner Act

Government created jobs and controlled businesses

107. Good Neighbor Policy

FDR passed this law to improve relations with Latin America

US would no longer intervene in Latin American affairs 108. WWII

Ended the Great Depression

US joined after attack on Pearl Harbor

The country mobilized for war

Citizens bought war bonds and planted victory gardens

109. Lend Lease Act

FDR promised to give money to European countries fighting against Germany in WWII

US helped the Allies without joining the war

110. Pearl Harbor

Japan secretly attacked US navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Caused the US to join WWII

111. Japanese Internment

Japanese Americans were held out of fear after Pearl Harbor

They lost their homes and jobs

Violated the rights of citizens to protect national security

112. Korematsu v. United States

Court ruled that Japanese Internment was constitutional

Civil liberties may be limited to protect national security

113. Rosie the Riveter

Women that worked in factories during WWII

114. Nuremberg Trials

Nazi leaders were put on trial for war crimes during the Holocaust

It showed that leaders could be held accountable for their actions

115. The Manhattan Project

The secret development of the atomic bomb

President Truman decided to bomb Japan to end WWII

US dropped bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

116. Baby Boom

Large increase in births after the end of WWII

Baby boomers will put strain on the social security system as they retire

117. Suburbs & Interstate Highways

The automobile allowed Americans to live in suburbs

The Interstate Highway Act built better roads and allowed more suburbanization

118. Fair Deal

Truman’s plan to continue FDR’s reforms of the New Deal

Programs that increased government commitment to helping the people

119. The Cold War

The competition and tension between the US (Democracy) and the Soviet Union (Communism)

Led to a nuclear arms race and the space race

Korean War and Vietnam War are part of the Cold War

Cold War ends with the fall of the Berlin Wall

120. Containment

US policy to stop the spread of communism

Korean War and Vietnam War are fought to contain communism

121. Domino Theory

The belief that if one country falls to communism others will follow

The reason the US fought the Vietnam War was to stop the domino theory from happening

122. Truman Doctrine

US policy to limit the spread of communism and the Soviet Union

US would support countries in need against the spread of communism (containment)

123. Marshall Plan

US policy to limit the spread of communism and the Soviet Union

US would help the economies of Europe recover after WWII

124. Berlin Airlift

The US flew supplies into East Berlin

Helped stop the spread of communism and Soviet expansion

125. NATO

An alliance between the US and other countries to stop Soviet expansion

Provided collective security against the Soviet Union

126. Korean War

Fought to protect South Korea from communist North Korea

Fought because of containment

Korea remained divided (38th parallel) at the end of the war

127. McCarthyism

The witch hunt created by Senator McCarthy for the search of communists in the US

Trials ruined the reputations of many innocent Americans

Encouraged nativism and violated the rights of citizens because of a fear of communism

128. Rosenberg Case

Couple convicted and executed for being communists and Soviet spies

Showed nativist fears of foreigners

129. Civil Rights Movement

African Americans working to end segregation and get equal rights

Led by Martin Luther King Jr. (“I have a dream” speech)

Rosa Parks treatment led to the Montgomery bus boycott

130. Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme court’s ruling ended segregation in public schools

Reversed the earlier court decision in Plessy v Ferguson

Showed that the national government could overrule state laws

Little Rock 9 were escorted to school by the military

131. Martin Luther King Jr.

Leader of the Civil Rights Movement

Used nonviolent protest and civil disobedience

Led Montgomery bus boycott and march on Washington

Gave famous “I have a dream” speech and was assassinated

132. Communism in Cuba

Led by the dictator Fidel Castro

Cuban Missile Crisis because of Soviets putting missiles in Cuba

Bay of Pigs invasion was Kennedy’s FAILED secret plan to remove Castro

133. Vietnam

Many Americans protested and called it an unjust war

US starts war after they are attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin

Fought because of containment to stop the spread of communism

134. Great Society

President Johnson’s programs to help people and end poverty

Programs to improve the general welfare (Medicare & Medicaid)

Programs were abandoned because of the Vietnam War

135. President Nixon

Created the policy of détente to ease tensions with the Soviets

Resigned as President because of the Watergate Affair

New President Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon for any crimes

136. Miranda v. Arizona

Supreme Court case that protected the rights of the accused

“You have the right to remain silent”

137. Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court case that made abortion legal

Protected women’s right to privacy

Controversial case that has been challenged many times

138. President Carter

Major achievement was the Camp David peace accords

Tried to bring peace to the Middle East

Iranian hostage situation made people believe Carter was weak

139. President Clinton

Economy prospered during his presidency giving him high approval ratings

Helped prevent human rights violations in Bosnia

Was impeached for perjury but remained in office

140. President Bush

Defining moment of his presidency was the attack on September 11th

Department of Homeland Security was created because of terrorist attacks

War in Afghanistan against the Taliban started during Bush’s presidency

War in Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power