American History Test 2

virginia

Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their POPULATION. "Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation. The "Large state" plan was the first general plan for the Constituion offered in Philadelphia. Its key points were bicameral legislature, and an executive and a judiciary chosen by the national legislature.

Virginia Plan

"Big State Plan" A concept of government crafted by James Madison and adopted by delegates to the convention that created the United States Constitution, this plan proposed a stronger central government than had existed under the Articles of Confederation; to prevent too much power being placed in the hands of one person or persons, the plan proposed that the powers of the federal government be divided amongst officials of executive, judicial, and legislative branches.

Missouri Compromise

"Compromise of 1820" over the issue of slavery in Missouri. It was decided Missouri entered as a slave state and Maine entered as a free state and all states North of the 36th parallel were free states and all South were slave states.

Alexander Hamilton

"founding father," and author of the Federalist Papers, the first Secretary of the Treasury, and the architect of the first fiscal plan for the United States after ratification of the Constitution. He is most popular for losing a duel with Aaron Burr that eventually cost him his life.

Seven Years War

(1756-1763 CE) Known also as the French and Indian war. It was the war between the French and their Indian allies and the English that proved the English to be the more dominant force of what was to be the United States both commercially and in terms of controlled regions.

Alien & Sedition Act

(1798) Four measures passed during the undeclared war with France that limited the freedoms of speech and press and restricted the liberty of noncitizens.

Treaty of Ghent

(December 24, 1814) Ended the War of 1812 and restored the status quo. For the most part, territory captured in the war was returned to the original owner. It also set up a commission to determine the disputed Canada/U.S. border.

Whiskey Rebellion

(GW) In 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey, and several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the offenders. In October, 1794, the army, led by Washington, put down the rebellion. The incident showed that the new government under the Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem, in contrast to the inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to deal with Shay's Rebellion.

New Jersey

-New Jersey delegate William Paterson's plan of government in opposite of the Virginia Plan, it proposed a single-chamber congress in which each state had one vote. This created a conflict with representation between bigger states, who wanted control befitting their population, and smaller states, who didn't want to be bullied by larger states., 2 houses, representation would be equal for each state; each state would have 1 representative

Era of Good Feelings

..., A name for President Monroe's two terms, a period of strong nationalism, economic growth, and territorial expansion. Since the Federalist party dissolved after the War of 1812, there was only one political party and no partisan conflicts.

Intolerable Act

..., Intolerable Acts, passed in 1774, were the combination of the four Coercive Acts, meant to punish the colonists after the 1773, Boston Tea Party and the unrelated Quebec Act. The Intolerable Acts were seen by American colonists as a blueprint for a British plan to deny the Americans representative government. They were the impetus for the convening of the First Continental Congress.

Describe Monroe's policies towards expansionism and interventionism.

..., foreign policy statement by President James Monroe stating that 1) the US would not interfere in European affairs, and 2) that the US would not allow European influence or interference on our side of the world (Western Hemisphere)

Treaty of Paris

1. British would recognize the existence of the US as an independent nation; 2. The Mississippi River would be the western boundary of US; 3. Americans would have fishing rights off Canadian coast; 4. American would pay debts owed to British merchants and honor Loyalist Claims for property taken during the war

Samuel Adams

1722-1803. Second cousin to John Adams, he was a Massachusetts statesman and organizer of the Boston Tea Party. This fellow served in the continental congress and signed the declaration of independence, but was opposed to a strong federal government

the tea act

1773- allow British East India Company sell tea direct to colonist

Louisiana Purchase

1803 purchase of the Louisiana territory from France. Made by Jefferson, this doubled the size of the US. Included the port of New Orleans and extended the United States to the Rocky Mountains; some critics believed Jefferson didn't have the power to purchase land nor should we pay that much money

Louisiana purchase

1803. US acquires territory of Louisiana from France. The purchase was a vital achievement in the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. At the time, it faced domestic opposition as being possibly unconstitutional. Although he believed that the U.S. Constitution did not contain any provisions for acquiring territory, Jefferson decided to purchase Louisiana to protect United States trade access to the port of New Orleans and free passage on the Mississippi River. Bonaparte spent the proceeds on his planned invasion of Great Britain.

Florida

1819- Under the Adams-Onis Treaty, Spain sold this to the U.S., and the U.S. gave up its claims to Texas.

George Washington

1st president. His presidency was defined by The Whiskey Rebellion and the National Treasury

John Adams

2nd president. Won the election in what was known as the corrupt bargain. His presidency was defined by the xyz affair and the Alien and sedition act

Thomas Jefferson

3rd president. His presidency was defined by the expansion of executive power with the Louisiana purchase, the Louis and Clark expedition, embargo act of 1807.

James Madison

4th president. His presidency was defined by the war of 1812, asked congress for a declaration of war, Treaty of Ghent,

James Monroe

5th president. The era of good feelings. The defining moments of his presidency were the Missouri compromise, and the Monroe doctrine.

Shays Rebellion

A Series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.

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.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise between Northern and Southern states that broke the deadlock over how slaves should be counted for purposes of representation. Three-Fifths of slaves would be included in population totals, benefiting Southern states that had the largest concentration of slaves by inflating their representation in the House of Representatives.

Nullification

A concept espoused by southerners following the Missouri Compromise that would have given southern states the right to refuse to obey laws that they did not agree with

Declaration of Independence

A document written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, in which the thirteen colonies stated their reasons for freeing themselves from British rule.

Boston Harbor

A group of Boston citizens organized a protest on December 16, 1773, which was against the British tax on tea imported to the colonies. The citizens were angry and disallowed three British ships to unload their cargo in Boston. Led by Samuel Adams and members of the Sons of Liberty, the group, disguised as Mohhawk Indians boarded the ships and dumped all the tea into Boston Harbor in protest. The American government later refused to pay for the tea and was punished through closure of the port.

Tariff of 1828

A protective tariff passed by the U.S. Congress that came to be known as the "Tariff of Abominations" to its Southern detractors because of the effects it had on the Antebellum Southern economy; it was the highest tariff in U.S. peacetime and its goal was to protect industry in the northern United States from competing European goods by increasing the prices of European products.

The Federalist Papers

A series of eighty-five essays by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay that argued for the ratification of the Constitution. These essays suggested that the three separate branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) would prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. The essays were largely successful at convincing skeptical delegates to ratify the Constitution (although the promised Bill of Rights helped too!).

Yorktown

A siege in Yorktown Virginia were 7,000 British troops awaiting resupply from the British Navy were sieged by the French Navy and American ground troops led by George W. The British were forced to surrender. This caused great commotion in Britain and many thought it was over for Britain. It was considered the victory battle of the war.

War of 1812

A war between the U.S. and Great Britain caused by American outrage over the impressment of American sailors by the British, the British seizure of American ships, and British aid to the Indians attacking the Americans on the western frontier. Also, a war against Britain gave the U.S. an excuse to seize the British northwest posts and to annex Florida from Britain's ally Spain, and possibly even to seize Canada from Britain. The War Hawks (young westerners led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun) argued for war in Congress. The war involved several sea battles and frontier skirmishes. U.S. troops led by Andrew Jackson seized Florida and at one point the British managed to invade and burn Washington, D.C. The Treaty of Ghent (December 1814) restored the status quo and required the U.S. to give back Florida. Two weeks later, Andrew Jackson's troops defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans, not knowing that a peace treaty had already been signed. The war strengthened American nationalism and encouraged the growth of industry.

The Treaty of Ghent

A war between the U.S. and Great Britain caused by American outrage over the impressment of American sailors by the British, the British seizure of American ships, and British aid to the Indians attacking the Americans on the western frontier. The Treaty of Ghent (December 1814) restored the status quo and required the U.S. to give back Florida. Two weeks later, Andrew Jackson's troops defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans, not knowing that a peace treaty had already been signed. The war strengthened American nationalism and encouraged the growth of industry.

Articles of Confederation

A written agreement ratified in 1781 by 13 original states, This document, the nations first constitution, was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781 during the revolution. the document was limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage

Mississippi river

After the French and Indian War, the English gained land all the way to this river in the Treaty of Paris in 1763.

What incidents led to the ever-widening split between the American colonies and England?

After the Seven Years War, London implemented heavy taxes to try to offset the cost of the war. Heavy taxation, no representation, and drastic measures to show power from the British Government.

Bill Of Rights

Although the Anti-Federalists failed to block the ratification of the Constitution, they did ensure that the Bill of Rights would be created to protect individuals from government interference and possible tyranny. The Bill of Rights, drafted by a group led by James Madison, consisted of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guaranteed the civil rights of American citizens.

What was the nullification crisis?

An act by South Carolina which said it would not pay high tariffs of 1828 and 1832 and if the federal government tried to force them into paying the tariffs, then South Carolina would secede from the Union

Corps of Discovery

Another name for the Lewis and Clark Expedition that explored the Louisiana Purchase to see what was out there.Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were commissioned by President Jefferson to head an exploratory expedition to the Pacific coast. The Corps of Discovery was a diverse 50 member group consisting of immigrants, Clark's slave York, and a female guide and translator, Sacagawea. The expedition brought valuable information on the West to an expansion-minded United States.

Antifederalists

Antifederalists opposed a constitution establishing a strong central government, and supported power and influence being in the hands of the states. Antifederalists believed that a Bill of Rights was essential to protect individual civil liberties. Antifederalists did not believe that the Articles of Confederation were ineffective but rather needed to be amended. Antifederalists believed only small state government could effectually protect rights. Antifederalists were small farmers, often from rural areas.

How did the 1820s and 1830s expand American political participation?

By 1829 every state with the exception of NC had done away with the requirement of land ownership in order to vote. This allowed all WHITE males (expt those in NC) to participate in voting.

Whigs

Conservatives and popular with pro-Bank people and plantation owners. They mainly came from the National Republican Party, which was once largely Federalists. They took their name from the British political party that had opposed King George during the American Revolution. Their policies included support of industry, protective tariffs, and Clay's American System. They were generally upper class in origin. Included Clay and Webster

Describe the emergence of a distinct two-party system in the Jacksonian era.

Consisted of The Whigs and The Democrats. Jackson supported the democrats while Henry Clay supported the Whigs. Democrats went back to Jefferson's republicans and Whigs went back to Hamilton's federalists. Big issue in debates was Westward expansion and industrialization.

Second Continental Congress

Convened in May 1775, the Congress opposed the drastic move toward complete independence from Britain. In an effort to reach a reconciliation, the Congress offered peace under the conditions that there be a cease-fire in Boston, that the Coercive Acts be repealed, and that negotiations begin immediately. King George III rejected the petition.

How did the Louisiana Purchase change the dynamics of the US politically, economically, and culturally?

Expanded executive power, doubled the size of the U.S., was the first federally owned land, incentivized westward expansion, and in the end due to a inflated value of land and Jefferson's change to except only hard money (of gold or silver) caused economic collapse as the westward land bubble burst.

Federalists

Favored a constitution establishing a strong central government. Federalists wanted to limit state power within, and argued that the Senate (two reps per state) adequately represented state interests. They didn't believe that the Bill of Rights was necessary. They believed that the Articles of Confederation was an ineffectual document because Congress' power was limited in requesting cooperations from states. Federalists saw a strong central government as the best way to protect individual freedom. Federalists were farmers, merchants, and artisans. Propaganda: The Federalists Papers

What were the most significant differences between the federalists and the ant-federalists?

Federalists wanted a powerful federal government, while antifederalists wanted a weak federal government with most of the power belonging to the states. Federalists favored ratification of the constitution, while antifederalists opposed ratification. Federalists did not believe that a Bill of Right was needed due to limited federal power, however antifederalists still wanted a Bill of Rights to protect the rights of the people.

Oregon Territory

For twenty years, the British and the United States agreed to jointly occupy this region. But in the mid-1840s this region became a political issue in the United States, with many expansionists willing to risk war to get all of the territory, including present-day British Columbia (54 40 or fight!). In 1846, Britain and the United States agreed to extend the 49th Parallel, forming the modern border between Canada and the United States. The settlers quickly applied for territorial status, which Congress granted in 1849. The territory was gradually split up, and in 1859, it—with its present borders—became the 33rd state.

What factors gave rise to the Whig Party? How did the Whig Party differ from the Democratic Party?

Founded in 1834 to unite faction opposed to President ("King") Jackson. The party favored federal responsibility for internal improvements. It ceased to exist by late 1850's when the party members divided over the issue of slavery. It was led by Henry Clay. It also believed in expanding federal power on economy and encouraged industrial improvement. It linked them to the patriots of the American Revolution. It differed from the democratic party that believed in wear central government, states' power, strict reading of Constitution,debt is bad and needs to be paid, people who can learn what to vote for can rule, slavery=necessary, freedom of speech=crucial, middle class, poor, families, laborers, artisans, shopkeepers, agricultural, S and SW, Francophiles

Townshend Act

In 1767 Charles Townshend (London's chief financial minister) persuaded Parliament to pass the Townshend Acts. These acts put a light import duty on such things as glass, lead, paper, and tea. The acts met slight protest from the colonists, who found ways around the taxes such as buying smuggled tea. Due to its minute profits, the Townshend Acts were repealed in 1770, except for the tax on tea. The tax on tea was kept to keep alive the principle of Parliamentary taxation.

Boston Massacre

In March 1770, a crowd of colonists protested against British customs agents and the presence of British troops in Boston. Violence flared and five colonists were killed.

Corrupt Bargain

In the election of 1824, none of the candidates were able to secure a majority of the electoral vote, thereby putting the outcome in the hands of the House of Representatives, which elected John Quincy Adams over rival Andrew Jackson. Henry Clay was the Speaker of the House at the time, and he convinced Congress to elect Adams. Adams then made Clay his Secretary of State.

What is the significance of the Second Continental Congress

It met in 1776 and drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence, which justified the Revolutionary War and declared that the colonies should be independent of Britain.

Jacksonian Democracy

Jacksonian Democracy refers to the political philosophy of United States President Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson. Jackson's Democratic Party was resisted by the rival Whig Party. More broadly, the term refers to the period of the Second Party System (1824-1854) when Jacksonian philosophy was ascendant as well as the spirit of that era. It can be contrasted with the characteristics of Jeffersonian democracy, which dominated the previous political era. The Jacksonian era saw a great increase of respect and power for the common man, as the electorate expanded to include all white male adult citizens, rather than only land owners in that group.

Who was the "Father of the Constitution"

James Madison

Name three famous Federalists

John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison

Describe the government set up by the US Constitution.

Legislature, executive, and national judiciary, congress would have the power to raise money, states would be prohibited from infringing on property rights,

Missouri River

Lewis and Clark started on this river to go to the town of St. Charles; They used this as their highway through the unknown lands.

New York Evening Post

New-York Evening Post served as the voice of the Federalists. Helped to build the party system and a national political culture.

Delaware river

On Christmas night in 1776, Washington's troops sailed across this river towards Trenton, New Jersey. Washington led a surprise attack on Hessian troops camped there. This was a Patriot victory. Later, Washington went on to defeat the British again at Princeton, New Jersey.

How did radicals use the "Boston Massacre" to drum up support for the idea of Revolution?

Paul Revere, a silversmith, engraver, and a member of the Boston Sons of Liberty, used The Boston Massacre to stir up indignation against the British army. Revere inaccurately depicted a well armed line of British soldiers firing into an unarmed crowd. This propaganda was affective in pushing apathetic colonists into seeing England as a tyrant.

Describe the significance of the phrase, "No taxation without representation."

Said by Patrick Henry, slogan for colonies that stated that they wanted representatives in Parliament to stand up for the coloniesclaimed taxes were unjust, insisted only they or their elected reps had the right to pass taxes, parliament had no right ot tax them since they didnt elect reps, and they were willing to pay taxes only if their colonial legislatures passed them.

Outline the steps in the path to the American Revolution, from the passage of the Sugar Stamp Acts to the Declaration of Independence.

Sugar act, Stamp act, Taxation without representation, boycotts, Townshend act, admiralty, Boston Massacre, Propaganda, Boston Tea Party, over reaction from parliament: shut down ports, suspended Mass charter and took away self govt, support for revolution broadened, 1st continental congress drafted letter to King George, the shots heard round the world, Jefferson drafted the declaration of Independence.

lexington and concord

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BEGAN IN MASSACHUSETTS IN TOWNS OF CONCORD AND LEXINGTON Shots heard round the world." General Thomas Gage sent 1,000 troops to seize the ammunition in Lexington and Concord. Dawes and Revere heard that the British were coming and warned the villages and farms. When the British troops arrived in Lexington, several dozen minutemen were waiting in the town common. Shots were fired and eight minutemen were killed. The British troops advanced onto Concord and discovered that the Americans had moved the powder supply. Using guerilla warfare, the colonists harmed the British.

What is the significance of Marbury v. Madison?

The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, (the Judiciary Act of 1789).

Ohio

The Battle of Fallen Timbers resulted in the Treaty of Greenville and cleared the Indians from the ____ Territory.

John Marshall

The Marshall Court. As Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall upheld federal supremacy over the states and protected the interests of commerce and capital. Under Marshall, the Court became an equal branch of the government.

National Intelligencer

The National Intelligencer served as the official voice of the Democratic-Republicans. Helped to build the party system and a national political culture.

SC argument for nulification

The National government had been created by an agreement among sovereign states, each of which retained the right to prevent the enforcement within its borders of acts of congress that exceed the powers specifically spelled out in the constitution.

49th parallel

The Oregon Treaty of 1846 established an U.S./Canadian (British) border along this parallel. The boundary along the 49th parallel extended from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

Short term causes of the American Revolution

The Sugar Act and The Stamp Act were taxes on sugar and paper documents that burdened American business and commerce. The taxes, passed by Parliament, were decided without American representation. This caused boycotts and the birth of the term "No taxation without representation." Parliament did back down from the Sugar and Stamp acts but came back strong reaffirming their power by implementing the Townsend Act, a tax on goods imported into the colonies. This again turmoil, and American cities were filed with protest against the new duties. After 1768 rioting in the streets of Boston that was attributed to the seize of the ship Liberty for violating trade regulations, Royal troops were stationed in Boston. Then on March 5 1770

What role did foreign support play in the American victory during the Revolution?

The french navy, Spain helped a little, and the dutch financed it

What is meant by "the age of Jackson?"

The rise of democracy in the U.S. 1820-1850. White men no longer needed to own property to vote (in 1929 every state but NC was free of the land ownership requirement).

What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and how did they contribute to an emerging spirit of constitutionalism in the 1780s?

There was a president but no congress, had the authority to declare war but not gather an army, could make treaties but no power to enforce them, couldnt collect taxes, it was chaotic and there was no central rule, economic crisis.

The quebec act

This act, passed along with the Intolerable Acts in 1774, was designed to facilitate the incorporation of French Canadians and their land into Britain's colonial American empire. Quebec's boundary was extended to the Ohio River, Catholocism was recognized as Quebec's official religion, and a nonrepresentative government was established for its citizens. The act was condemned by the American colonists

What changes did the election of 1800 (and the administration of Jefferson) bring to the American government?

Thomas Jefferson's inauguration marked a change from the previous Federalist-controlled government. The nations political system became better defined and it's nationalistic and international position grew clearer in the period from 1801 to 1823.

George Washington's war strategy

Washington thought an effective defensive strategy was to maintain a series of fortifications or "posts." He would later decide that a mobile force was less vulnerable and more effective. He also understood the important role of naval power along the Atlantic coast of the thirteen colonies. He was always careful to consider the threat of the British navy and realized the enormous importance of getting the help of the French navy. Several of theses geographic factors would combine in Washington's decisive victory over Cornwallis at Yorktown.

jeffersonian democrats

Weak central government, states' power, strict reading of Constitution,debt is bad and needs to be paid, people who can learn what to vote for can rule, slavery=necessary, freedom of speech=crucial, middle class, poor, families, laborers, artisans, shopkeepers, agricultural, S and SW, Francophiles

Marbury v. Madison

[1] In Marbury v. Madison, John Marshall ended criticism that the Supreme Court functioned as a partisan instrument. By ruling that a section of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional, he also advanced the concept of judicial review and enhanced the independence of the judiciary. [2] Sec. of State James Madison held up one of John Adams' "Midnight Judges" appointments. The appointment was for a Justice of the Peace position for William Marbury. Marbury sued. Fellow Hamiltonian and Chief Justice John Marshall dismissed Marbury's suit, avoiding a political showdown and magnifying the power of the Court. This case cleared up controversy over who had final say in interpreting the Constitution: the states did not, the Supreme Court did. This is judicial review.

Teskwatawa

a religious prophet who called for complete separation from whites, the revival of traditional Indian culture, and resistance to federal policies.

What were the important compromises made within the Constitutional Convention?

congress compromise: bicameral representation - senate (2 reps per state) and house (proportional representation per state), slavery- 3/5ths compromise (every 5 slaves counted as 3 people), voting- left voting requirements to the states, direct voting for senators and congressman, executive branch elected by the electoral college.

What was the significance of the Battle of Yorktown?

it was the battle that ended the American Revolution.

What is meant by the phrase "the Age of Jackson?"

white men didnt have to own property to vote, growth of political system, jeffersonian democrats and whigs, 2 party system.