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Jamestown
Jamestown was founded by the Virginia Company after the failed colony of Roanoke. The purpose of Jamestown's establishment was to allow the English to reap the benefits of a North American colony. The success of Jamestown was due to the discovery by John Rolfe that the land was optimal for planting tobacco. Here, the headright system was created to attract new settlers by offering 50 acres of land to settlers who paid their way and additional land incentives for sponsoring other settlers. -
Pilgrims
The Pilgrims came to America in the 17th century on the Mayflower. After they landed at Plymouth, a majority of the new settlers signed the Mayflower Compact, a contract that set the rules for the new colony. They also developed relationships with nearby native tribes; they were in general tolerant of other religions because they themselves had escaped persecution in England. -
Puritans
The Puritans were another Separatist group that left England to escape religious persecution. One of their first colonies was the Massachusetts Bay Colony described as a "City on a Hill" by its governor John Winthrop. As time passed, the first generation Puritans were concerned that church membership was weaning; thus, the halfway covenant was passed for partial church membership. Full membership was awarded with a "conversion experience" but this system ultimately did not work out as wished. -
Mercantilism/Salutary Neglect
Mercantilism was an economic policy and belief that colonies existed solely to profit the mother country. The colonies would provide raw materials, while the mother country would produce manufactured goods with them.
Salutary neglect was the unofficial British policy of having loose enforcement of certain parlimentary laws to ensure American colonists' loyalty to the Crown. This essentially allowed the colonies to independently rule themselves. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was led by Nathaniel Bacon in retaliation against Virginian governor William Berkeley for failing to protect the frontier from native attacks. It saw indentured servants fighting with slaves; they were united by their bound servitude. The revolt died with Bacon's death, but it highlighted existing class struggles. It also increased the slave trade, as indentured servants were a big part of the rebellion. -
Deism
The belief that a higher power created the universe, then allowed the world to run by itself. It was inspired by certain ideas from the Enlightenment and gained some followers in the 18th century. A famous deist was Thomas Jefferson. -
Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious movement in which religious fervor greatly increased in the mid to late 18th century. A few famous preachers like George Whitefield went on speaking tours and inspired new religious passion. Its effect on established churches was that new denominations developed; there was a schism between "old lights" and "new lights." -
End of French and Indian War
The end of the French and Indian War resulted in the end of salutary neglect and revenue acts such as the Stamp Act. War debts resulted in Great Britain imposing more taxes on the colonists, taxing everything from paint to documents and ending the policy of salutary neglect with the Navigation Acts. Following the war, colonists became even more discontent being under British rule. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by King George III and drew a line following the Appalachian Mountains. It was passed in attempt to stop stop American colonists from encroaching on native lands. However, this was not successful as colonists ignored the proclamation and continued to move westward. -
Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War, started with the Battle of Lexington and Concord, was fought between the American colonies and Great Britain. After the Battle of Saratoga, the French decided to send their navy and other resources. French aid was the deciding factor in winning the war, especially at the Battle of Yorktown. -
Declaration of Independence
This document was written by Thomas Jefferson and contained a preamble and a list of grievances against King George III. The preamble states that all men are created equal and deserve unalienable rights from the government, which the British did not grant them. Its purpose was to declare independence from Great Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution that was passed after the end of the Revolutionary War. It created a weak central government as it aimed to create a friendship between states. Its flaws included short presidential terms, no separation of powers, and no checks and balances. Congress was also unable to raise an army, which caused issues when Shay's Rebellion arose regarding unpaid war debts. -
British violations of Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the Revolutionary War. The British agreed to give up all forts in US territory and recognize the United States as a new country. However, the British did not follow the former condition as they maintained a presence in their forts, which would cause later issues for America. -
Land Ordinance of 1785 and 1787
Land Ordinance of 1785 - this created town squares by a grid system; every 36 square miles had to have a school and town center.
Land Ordinance of 1787 - passed by the Articles of Confederation Congress; established protocol for adopting Canadian territory. It abolished slavery and put in place territorial government for each new territory. -
Constitution
The Constitution majorly strengthened the federal government. There multiple debates during its creation, for instance, representation of various states and Bill of Rights. Anti-Federalists did not want to support the Constitution unless a Bill of Rights was passed to protect individual rights. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was passed to satisfy Anti-Federalist demands and allow for the ratification of the Constitution. It consists of the first ten amendments, and it grants rights like the freedom of speech and right to bear arms to American citizens. -
Hamilton's Economic Policies
Hamilton wanted to pay off foreign debts from the Revolutionary War and establish a national bank. The federal government would take over state debt responsibilities and sell bonds to pay off domestic debts. He also wanted high tariffs to protect America's infant industries. Jefferson hated these policies and this debate contributed to the development of political parties. -
Washington's Neutrality Proclamation
Washington declared neutrality when asked for America's position in the conflict between France and Great Britain. He felt that America was too juvenile of a nation to be involved in foreign affairs. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin revolutionized cotton production in the South. Whitney promoted the idea of interchangeable parts that made for easier manufacturing and maintenance. By facilitating the process of removing cotton's sticky seeds, plantation owners were allowed to significantly increase output of cotton. This increased demand for slave labor, since one slave could man the cotton gin while others harvested teh cotton. -
Political Parties
The Founding Fathers did not like the idea of political parties, but they nonetheless formed during Washington's presidency. They were viewed as dangerous; in the Federalist Papers, Madison discussed the issue of factions. In his Farewell Address, Washington warned against the formation of political parties because of their effect on unity. -
Washington's Farewell Address
In ending his presidency, Washington gave a Farewell Address in Philadelphia. He encouraged a foreign policy of neutrality and warned against the development of political parties. However, this warning was left unheeded as soon the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties formed in the following presidencies. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
These were passed by John Adams in response to political turmoil over the Quasi-War with France. The Alien and Sedition Acts threatened punishment for those who spoke out against the government and made it harder for people to obtain citizenship. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions to advocate nullification of these acts; Jefferson wanted Kentucky to secede. -
Election of 1800
This was a peaceful transition from Adam's Federalist Party to Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party. The Alien and Sedition Acts were a point of contention, and the decision came to the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House Alexander Hamilton gave his support to Jefferson. This was seen as a remarkable election, as it was the first to see the peaceful transfer of power between opposing political parties. -
19th Century Authors
In the early half of the 19th century, American literature began to rise as its own style. Famous authors included Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and James Fenimore Cooper. Emerson and Thoreau were famous Transcendentalists who wrote about nature and government. Cooper wrote stories about pioneers establishing their lives out west. Other famous figures in literature were Edgar Allan Poe, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Walt Whitman. -
Louisiana Purchase
Under Thomas Jefferson, the Louisiana Territory was acquired from Napoleon Bonaparte for $15 million. Jefferson was motivated by the port of New Orleans, but he was unsure of the constitutionality of this decision as this would enact the implied powers clause of the Constitution. Since Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican, he interpreted the Constitution directly but nothing was said about the President's ability to purchase land. -
Marbury vs. Madison
This case established the process of judicial review and solidified the concept of checks and balances. With this decision, the Supreme Court was able to have as much power as the other branches in being able to declare laws unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ruled that the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional, so Marbury should not have been able to petition the court for his appointment as a federal judge. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain and was sparked mainly by the issue of impressment. British ships were taking American sailors and forcing them to serve in the royal navy; under pressure by the War Hawks, James Madison asked Congress for a declaration of war against Great Britain. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war, but this war is generally seen as not accomplishing anything of use for the United States. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was a meeting between various members of the Federalist Party to discuss their issues with the War of 1812 and weaning political power. Many at the meeting supported New England secession. The report resulting from the convention was a failure as nobody took their concerns seriously; soon after the meeting, the Federalist Party fell apart and was dissolved. -
Lowell System
Francis Cabot Lowell invented this labor system in the 19th century in Massachusetts, which consolidated all stages of textile production under one roof. He utilized rivers to power his factories and young girls from nearby town to supply the labor for operating these machines. "Lowell mill girls," as they were known, lived in boarding houses and were encouraged to pursue their own interests to some extent. -
Compromise of 1820
Also known as the Missouri Compromise, this was devised by Henry Clay to help resolve conflicts over the admission of Missouri. In the end, Missouri was admitted as a slave state while Maine was admitted as a free state. A line was drawn at the 36°30′ parallel; any territory above the line would be admitted as a free state while any territory below the line would be admitted as a slave state. -
Monroe Doctrine
Written mainly by Monroe's Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, the Monroe Doctrine stated that the US would get involved if any European power attempted to interfere in North or South American affairs; it was an assertion of American dominance even though we could not effectively enforce it. In 1904, the Roosevelt Corollary was added to threaten any country that tried to interfere in Latin American affairs. -
American System
Henry Clay, Speaker of the House at the time, was a major proponent of the economic plan called the "American System." It consisted of three parts: a high tariff to protect American industry, a national bank to foster commerce, and federal funding for infrastructure projects. Canals proliferated with the American System, and they became major highways for trade and helped grow the American economy. -
Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement that believed in the goodness of people and nature; Transcendentalists seeked to transcend the world of rationality and reason. Famous Transcendentalists include Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. They were outspoken critics of slavery toward the 1850s and participated in experimental communities such as Brook Farm and Walden Pond. -
Andrew Jackson's Presidency
Jackson championed the common man when he was elected, but some saw him as "King Jackson." He brutally expelled Native Americans from their homes onto the Trail of Tears and killed the national bank. He instead put US money into pet banks, or state banks, which led to a financial panic during his successor's presidency. During the Jacksonian era, suffrage was extended to most adult white males, and this was seen as a victory for Jacksonian Democrats. -
William Lloyd Garrison
Garrison was a famous abolitionist who founded the newspaper "The Liberator" and the American Anti-Slavery Society. He called for the immediate abolition of slavery, unlike the American Colonization Society's view of gradual abolishment. Later on in life, Garrison became an advocate for women's suffrage. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a result of the Tariff of Abominations (1828), which angered Southern states by placing a high tax on imported goods. Vice President John C. Calhoun supported nullification as a native of South Carolina, making President Andrew Jackson hated him. Jackson threatened South Carolina with a military force upon the South threatening secession. The tariff ended being lowered, but the sectionalism still remained. -
Election of 1844
This was the presidential election between James K. Polk and Henry Clay. Democratic-Republican Polk called for annexation of Texas given Mexico's cooperation while Whig candidate Clay opposed the annexation of Texas. Polk won the election over Clay because of his position. When the Mexican War broke out over the Texan border, Whigs were not happy because they were in general not supportive of American westward expansion. -
Irish Immigration
The Irish potato famine in the mid-19th century significantly increased the number of Irish immigrants to the United States. Their migration caused anti-immigrant sentiment to develop and culminated in actions such as the creation of the Know-Nothing party. The Know-Nothing, or Nativist, Party called for strict immigration measures and preventing immigrants from holding public office. -
Manifest Destiny
This was the belief that it was a God-given right for Americans to expand westward. Most Whigs rejected this, as they thought expansion of territory would bring slavery with it while taking away industrialization. On the other hand, Democrats supported this; many followed Jefferson's belief in that expansion should be welcomed as it brought more land for agriculture. Thus, this term was also used by Democrats in justifying the Mexican-American. -
Popular Sovereignty
This was the idea that people of a state should be able to govern themselves and appoint their own leaders. During the period of time after the Mexican-American War, popular sovereignty was a major point of dispute in the issue of slavery. It was written into laws such as the Compromise of 1850 and Kansas-Nebraska Act but caused physical and political fighting as not everyone agreed that popular sovereignty was the best course of action. -
Cult of Domesticity
This was an ideal promoted during the 19th century that women should stay home and take care of the household. Women were restricted to jobs such as teaching if they were to even work. It was also associated with republican motherhood, where women were expected to raise good citizens. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The signing of this treaty ended the Mexican-American War. The Texan border was established as the Rio Grande River and Mexico ceded land that has now become the Southwest. In return, the US agreed to assume debts owed by the Mexican government to US citizens and pay Mexico $15 million. Later, the Gadsden Purchase would add the strip of land to complete our modern-day border with Mexico. -
Seneca Falls Convention
This was a meeting held in Seneca Falls, New York between prominent feminists to discuss the political and social roles of women in the 19th century, organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, two women who met after being denied entry to an antislavery convention in London. Among the attendees included Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. From this convention, the Declaration of Sentiments was produced and it helped move forward the movement of women's suffrage. -
Compromise of 1850
Introduced by Henry Clay, this was a series of resolutions that were meat to please both the North and the South. It was sparked by California's request to enter as a free state while Utah and New Mexico would decide slavery by popular sovereignty (a rejection of the Wilmot Proviso). In Washington DC, the slave trade would be banned to appeal to the North. A new, stronger fugitive slave law would be passed to appeal to the South. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Compromise of 1820 and allowed popular sovereignty to decide the status of slavery in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. In Kansas, the election had to be redone many times as each time the other group called out what they saw as election fraud. It led to "Bleeding Kansas," with one of the most famous events being John Brown's raid and massacre of a family in the slavery capital of Kansas. -
Dred Scott vs. Sandford
This was a landmark Supreme Court case, presided over by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. It ruled that Dred Scott, as a black person, had no right to sue as he was not an American citizen. The most important part of this decision was that Taney ruled the Missouri Compromise to be unconstitutional. This decision cause immediate outrage in the North. -
Harper's Ferry
The raid on Harper's Ferry was led by John Brown, who tried to start a slave revolt but failed miserably, and ended up being executed for his actions. In the North, some viewed him as a martyr, while in the South, people viewed him as a madman. -
Lincoln/Republican Policy on Slavery in 1860
Lincoln and the Republican Party were anti-slavery. The Republicans had a policy of preventing slavery from spreading into other territories. During the Civil War, Republicans in Congress acted fast and passed legislation that established a high tariff, a national bank, and internal improvement funds. As for the issue of secession, Lincoln claimed the Southern states had no right to do so and refused anything that would result in the secession of the South from the Union. -
Civil War
This war broke out as the result of a longstanding controversy over slavery and states' rights. Going into the war, the North had the greater advantages with more people, money, and established infrastructure while the South only had superior generals. Even though they relied on Southern cotton imports, the British and French remained officially neutral in the conflict. Their neutrality was a detriment to the South as they had depended on foreign intervention to help their side in the war. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This was passed by President Lincoln following the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. It freed the slaves in the South, but Lincoln was apprehensive about signing this document as he feared border states would be then motivated to join the Confederacy. By passing this executive order, Lincoln essentially shifted the purpose of the war to solely fighting for the abolition of slavery.
