American History Overview

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Questions and Answers

What concept emphasizes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

  • Civil Rights Movement
  • Economic Freedom
  • Manifest Destiny
  • American Dream (correct)

Which event marked the beginning of European interest in North America?

  • The Boston Tea Party
  • Establishment of Jamestown
  • The American Revolutionary War
  • The landing of Christopher Columbus (correct)

When was the Declaration of Independence signed?

  • 1789
  • 1776 (correct)
  • 1787
  • 1773

Which of the following events occurred first in the timeline of U.S. history?

<p>The establishment of British colonies (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What legislation introduced segregation in the Southern United States?

<p>Jim Crow laws (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Manifest Destiny' refer to in American history?

<p>A belief in a divinely ordained mission for westward expansion. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which event was a direct protest against British taxation?

<p>The Boston Tea Party (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant change occurred in 1865 related to slavery in the United States?

<p>The introduction of the 13th Amendment (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a part of the timeline for the making of the nation?

<p>The founding of the United Nations. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a result of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s to today?

<p>The establishment of a multicultural society. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

American Dream

The ideal of achieving success and prosperity in the United States, typically through hard work and opportunity.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the United States was ordained to expand westward and spread its ideology and values.

American Revolution

The war fought by the 13 British colonies to become independent from England.

Declaration of Independence

The official document declaring the 13 colonies free from British rule.

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U.S. Constitution

The fundamental law of the United States, establishing the structure and powers of the government.

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Unalienable Rights

Basic rights that cannot be taken away by the government. These rights are considered essential to human dignity and are protected by the Constitution. They include the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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Pursuit of Happiness

One of the unalienable rights listed in the Declaration of Independence. It encompasses the freedom to make choices and strive for personal fulfillment, but does not guarantee happiness itself.

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Westward Expansion

The historical movement of people and settlements from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States. It was fueled by the belief in Manifest Destiny and the desire for new land and resources.

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Frontier Spirit

A spirit of independence, self-reliance, and adventure associated with the westward expansion. It emphasized courage, resourcefulness, and a desire to explore new lands.

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Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws in the Southern United States, enacted between 1877 and the mid-1960s, that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. They denied them basic rights and opportunities.

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Study Notes

American Dream

  • Defined as progressing from poverty to wealth
  • Rooted in the concept of unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
  • Includes social, political, and economic aspirations

Manifest Destiny

  • Belief that the U.S. was divinely ordained to expand its territory
  • Driven by a desire to spread enlightenment and American ideals across the continent
  • Promoted westward expansion

Timeline: The Making of a Nation

  • Before 1492: Native American cultures existed for at least 15,000 years
  • 1492: Christopher Columbus's arrival marked the beginning of European interest
  • 1600s: British colonies established along the East Coast
  • 1607: Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement
  • 1620: Pilgrims arrived from England on the Mayflower
  • 1773: Boston Tea Party, a protest against British taxes
  • 1775-1783: American Revolutionary War
  • 1776: Declaration of Independence signed
  • 1787: U.S. Constitution written
  • 1789: George Washington became the first U.S. president
  • 1791: Bill of Rights added to the Constitution
  • 1807: Slave trade abolished
  • 1845-1852: Large immigration wave from Ireland due to the famine
  • 1861-1865: American Civil War; slavery abolished
  • 1865: Slavery officially abolished
  • 1896: Jim Crow laws introduced segregation
  • 1890-1920s: Significant immigration restrictions began
  • 1920s: Great Depression
  • 1950s-Present: Civil Rights Movement, abolition of Jim Crow laws
  • 1970s: Shift towards a more diverse and multicultural society
  • 1980-2021: Continued fights for equality (e.g., Black Lives Matter)
  • 1931: "American Dream" coined by James Truslow Adams
  • 1960/70s: Vietnam War
  • 1969: First Moon landing
  • 2001: 9/11 attack
  • 2008: First Black U.S. President

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