Colonial Economics and Mercantilism

An economic system where a country aims to become wealthy by selling more goods to other countries than it buys, focusing on exporting more than importing, often controlling trade through government policies to accumulate wealth.

The exchange of goods, people, and natural resources between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Southern colonies were established to cultivate and export cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo.

The Southern colonies had a warm climate and fertile soil, ideal for large-scale plantation agriculture, allowing them to grow cash crops. However, this climate also fostered diseases like malaria and yellow fever, leading to a reliance on slave labor.

Southern colonies initially had some cooperation with American Indians through trade, but it ultimately led to conflict and displacement as European settlers sought more land.

The Southern colonies made money by growing cash crops like tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton on large plantations.

The Middle Passage was a brutal part of the transatlantic slave trade where Africans were forcibly transported from Africa to the Americas.

The forced transportation of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, serving as the middle leg of the triangular slave trade. Enslaved Africans were sold into slavery upon arrival. This journey was brutal and deadly due to cramped conditions, disease, and inhumane treatment on slave ships.

A British policy of relaxed enforcement of trade laws and other regulations on the American colonies during the late 17th century to the mid-18th century. This allowed the colonies a degree of autonomy in their affairs.

The first democratically-elected legislative body in the British American colonies, established in 1619 in Virginia. It represented the colonists' early steps towards self-governance.

Residents came together to share their opinions on public issues, engage in deliberation, and make decisions regarding laws and budgets. This exemplified direct democracy in action.

A written agreement signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, outlining their commitment to establish a self-governing colony based on democratic principles.

A document adopted in 1639 by the Connecticut Colony, outlining its system of government, featuring a representative assembly and limitations on the power of the governor.

A treaty signed in 1763, ending the French and Indian War. It granted control over all French land east of the Mississippi River to the British, greatly expanding their territory in North America.

A law passed by the British Parliament in 1765, imposing a direct tax on printed materials in the American colonies. This tax caused outrage among colonists, fueling their growing resentment towards British rule.

The idea that individuals possess inherent rights to 'life, liberty, and property,' which cannot be taken away by any government or authority.

A system of governance where power is divided among different branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

The French government, in order to weaken its longtime rival, Great Britain, supported the American colonists during the Revolutionary War by providing military aid and financial resources.

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams played crucial roles as diplomats to France, successfully securing essential French support for the American cause.

Women made significant contributions to the war effort through various roles, such as managing the homefront, producing supplies, raising funds, acting as spies, providing medical care, and participating in boycotts and protests.

While most Native American tribes attempted to remain neutral, many ultimately sided with the British due to concerns about further land loss from westward expansion by the colonists.

Enslaved and free Blacks supported the war effort through various ways, including working in non-combat roles, petitioning for freedom, and escaping to British-controlled territory in hopes of gaining liberty.

The weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that the federal government lacked the power to enforce its laws effectively, due to limited authority and reliance on state cooperation.

Daniel Shay's Rebellion, a revolt by farmers facing economic hardship, exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, as the central government's inability to effectively respond led to calls for a stronger federal government.

The Great Compromise resolved the dispute between large and small states during the Constitutional Convention by creating a bicameral legislature with representation in the House based on population and in the Senate with equal representation for each state.

The Constitution features a separation of powers to prevent any single branch of government from becoming too powerful, dividing governmental authority into three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The Virginia colony was established primarily for economic gain, specifically to cultivate and export tobacco.

Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded primarily for religious freedom, as a haven for Puritan settlers seeking to practice their beliefs.

Early struggles for Jamestown included lack of food due to the focus on gold, disease, and conflict with the Powhatan Confederacy.

The widespread cultivation of tobacco in Virginia boosted the colony's economy and led to a demand for labor, eventually resulting in a reliance on enslaved Africans.

The major economic activities of New England were shipping, shipbuilding, fishing, and subsistence farming. It was largely self-sufficient.

Pennsylvania was founded as a refuge for Quakers, seeking religious freedom and tolerance for their beliefs.

The House of Burgesses was the first representative legislative body in the Americas, marking an early step towards self-government in the colonies.

John D. Rockefeller was a wealthy industrialist who controlled the oil industry through his company, Standard Oil.

Andrew Carnegie gained immense wealth by controlling the steel industry through his company, Carnegie Steel.

Vertical integration occurs when a company controls every aspect of a product's production, from raw materials to distribution and sale.

Horizontal integration refers to a company buying out its competitors, expanding its own market share and reducing competition.

Thomas Edison was a prolific inventor. He is credited with inventing the light bulb, improving the phonograph for sound recording, and creating the motion picture camera (kinetoscope).

The telegraph and telephone revolutionized communication, allowing faster and easier messaging than the Pony Express, leading to increased westward expansion.

European immigrants to the U.S. after the Civil War primarily arrived at Ellis Island in New York City, where they underwent immigration processing.

Asian immigrants to the U.S. after the Civil War primarily arrived at Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, where they experienced stricter processing and potential detention.

From the mid-19th century to the late 19th century, most immigrants to the U.S. came primarily from Germany and Ireland.

After the Civil War, most immigrants to the U.S. came from Italy and Russia.

King George III prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent conflict with Native American tribes but also keep the colonists focused on the colonies for economic and political reasons.

A group of colonists who organized protests against British taxation, including the Boston Tea Party, using various methods like boycotts and demonstrations to challenge unfair tax policies.

A series of punitive measures passed by British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party, intended to punish the colonists for their defiance and further tighten British control over the colonies.

The colonists boycotted British goods, refusing to buy them, putting pressure on British businesses and economy, forcing the British to rethink their policies, and ultimately contributing to the American Revolution.

Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, crafting its core arguments for declaring independence from British rule, emphasizing the principles of natural rights and self-governance.

The first part of the Declaration of Independence is a list of grievances against King George III and the British government, outlining how the colonists felt wronged and justifying their desire for independence.

The second part of the Declaration of Independence introduces the philosophical basis for the colonists' right to declare independence, emphasizing natural rights and the right to self-government, making the argument for their separation from British rule.

The third part of the Declaration of Independence formally declares the colonies' independence from Great Britain, stating that the colonies are free and independent states, marking a momentous shift in relationships.

Thomas Paine, with his powerful pamphlet 'Common Sense,' played a crucial role in rallying public support for independence, inspiring the colonists with arguments for a republican government and separation from British rule.

The Land Ordinance of 1785 focused on dividing western land into rectangular townships, each divided into smaller plots for sale, contributing to the westward expansion of the United States.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 outlined the process for new territories to become states, including the requirement of achieving a certain population and forming a representative government, defining the rules of westward expansion.

A portion of the proceeds from land sale in each township was dedicated to establishing a public school, reflecting the early commitment to education in the United States.

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, established a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state, resolving the debate between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention.

The 3/5 Compromise, a controversial attempt to strike a balance between Southern states desiring to count slaves for representation and Northern states opposing it, counted enslaved people as 3/5 of a person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives.

The founding fathers created a system of checks and balances, dividing powers among different branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial), to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful and ensuring a balance of power.

Hamilton's economic plan advocated for a strong central government and a national bank to facilitate trade, develop industries, and stabilize the national economy, sparking debates about the role of government in the economy.

The case Marbury v. Madison established Judicial Review, empowering the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress and actions taken by the president, creating an important check on the powers of the other branches of government.

Committees of Correspondence were groups of colonists who wrote letters to each other to discuss how to respond to British actions, coordinating resistance and sharing information about British policies.

Popular sovereignty is the idea that the people of a territory should decide whether or not to allow slavery. It was a key idea in the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

The Free Soil Party wanted to stop the spread of slavery into new states and territories, believing it would undermine the economic opportunities for free white settlers.

In the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court ruled that slaves were not citizens and had no right to sue in federal court, also declaring the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

John Brown was a radical abolitionist who led a raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859 in an attempt to seize weapons and incite a slave uprising, though his plan failed and he was ultimately executed.

Abraham Lincoln's position on slavery was that he opposed its expansion into new territories, believing it was morally wrong, but did not advocate for immediate abolition at the start of his presidency.

The immediate cause of the South's secession from the U.S. was the election of Abraham Lincoln, who had campaigned on a platform opposing the expansion of slavery, leading Southern states to fear for the future of the institution.

Habeas corpus is a legal right that protects people from arbitrary arrest and detention. It requires that a person be brought before a judge and told the charges against them.

Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War because he believed it was necessary to quickly detain Confederate sympathizers and prevent sabotage without the delays of a formal trial.

The Battle of Antietam was a turning point in the Civil War, leading to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Emancipation Proclamation declared that slaves in Confederate states would be freed, though it did not apply to those in Union states or border states.

In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln urged the nation to remember and honor the sacrifices of soldiers who died for the cause of union and to strive to create a nation where all men are equal.

Lincoln's phrase, "With charity towards all and malice toward none," in his second inaugural address reflected his desire for reconciliation and healing after the war, emphasizing forgiveness and rebuilding the nation.

Ulysses S. Grant was the commander of the Union army, leading it to victory over the Confederacy at the end of the Civil War.

Robert E. Lee was the commander of the Confederate army during the Civil War, leading the South in a valiant but ultimately defeated effort to defend its independence.

Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate general, earned his nickname at the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) for his steadfast defense against Union forces. He was tragically killed by friendly fire during the war.

William T. Sherman was a Union general known for his aggressive tactics during the Civil War. His famous "March to the Sea" through Georgia was a devastating campaign that aimed to cripple the South's capacity to wage war.

Jefferson Davis was the president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, leading the South's efforts to secede from the Union.

Fort Sumter was the site of the first shots fired in the Civil War, marking the beginning of the conflict between the Union and the Confederacy.

The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single day of fighting in American history, resulting in a Union victory that ultimately led to Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought over three days in Pennsylvania, marked a turning point in the Civil War, ending Confederate advances into Union territory and signifying the beginning of their decline.

The Battle of Vicksburg, a prolonged siege in Mississippi, was a crucial Union victory because it divided the Confederacy in half, effectively cutting off vital supply lines and weakening their ability to fight.

President Johnson's plan for Reconstruction focused on quickly readmitting Southern states to the Union by requiring them to ratify the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery, and pledge loyalty to the U.S. government.

Congressional Reconstruction imposed stricter conditions for the readmission of Southern states, requiring them to ratify the 14th and 15th amendments, which granted citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, and to ensure equal protection of the law for all citizens.

Following Lincoln's assassination, Reconstruction became more contentious as President Johnson and Congress clashed over the best way to rebuild the South, with President Johnson favoring a lenient policy and Congress pushing for stricter measures to protect African American rights.

President Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives for violating the Tenure of Office Act, which prevented him from removing Andrew Johnson from office without the Senate's consent.

The 13th amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery in the United States, ending the institution that had been a major cause of the Civil War.

The 14th amendment to the Constitution declared that all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. were citizens and granted them equal protection of the law. This was a crucial step in securing equal rights for African Americans following the Civil War.

The 15th amendment to the Constitution guaranteed the right to vote to all citizens regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This was a major achievement in the fight for equal rights after the Civil War.

The first permanent English colony in North America, established in 1607, located in present-day Virginia.

The first democratically-elected legislative body in the British American colonies, established in 1619 in Virginia, represented the colonists' early steps towards self-governance.

The event where a group of colonists, disguised as Native Americans, dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act.

The primary author of the Declaration of Independence, crafting its core arguments for declaring independence from British rule, emphasizing the principles of natural rights and self-governance.

A document signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, outlining their commitment to establish a self-governing colony based on democratic principles.

The three branches of the U.S. government are the executive branch (President), legislative branch (Congress), and the judicial branch (Supreme Court).

The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land, meaning it is the most powerful document and any other law must adhere to its principles.

Each representative serves a two-year term.

Each senator serves a six-year term.

Judicial review is the power of the Supreme Court to decide if a law is constitutional.

The Louisiana Purchase showed Jefferson was willing to interpret the Constitution loosely to expand the nation's territory.

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe depicted the harsh realities of slavery in a way that stirred emotions and galvanized opposition to slavery in the North.

Manifest Destiny was the belief that the U.S. had a god-given right to expand its territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

The Supreme Court ruled that enslaved people were not citizens and had no right to sue in federal court.

The Great Compromise created a two-house Congress with a Senate (equal representation) and a House (representation based on population), satisfying small and large states.

The Battle of Gettysburg was a pivotal moment because it was a major defeat for the Confederacy, causing them to retreat and never again launch a major invasion of the North.

Lincoln's primary goal was to preserve the Union, meaning he wanted to keep the country together, even if it meant compromising on other issues.

The 13th Amendment officially abolished slavery in the United States.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense was a powerful pamphlet that argued for independence from Britain, swaying public opinion towards revolution.

Monopolies and trusts aimed to eliminate competition by controlling entire industries, allowing businesses to gain control over prices and stifle innovation.

This phrase, used in the Texas War for Independence, evokes a sense of defiance against the Mexican government's efforts to control Texas.

Oregon was not included in the Mexican Cession. The Mexican Cession was the territory ceded by Mexico to the United States following the Mexican-American War ending in 1848.

The Freedmen's Bureau, established during the Reconstruction era, provided essential aid and education to newly emancipated slaves, helping them adjust to freedom and build new lives.

The Emancipation Proclamation declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states. It did not free all slaves in the United States; slaves in border states or those in Union-controlled areas remained enslaved.

Nativism is the intense dislike and prejudice against immigrants by native-born people. It prioritizes the interests of those born in the country over those who have immigrated.

The House of Burgesses marked the first elected representative assembly in the Americas, signifying early steps towards self-governance in the colonies.

Bacon's Rebellion, a revolt by indentured servants seeking better conditions, led to a shift towards a greater reliance on African slaves as a more stable and controlled labor force.

John Rolfe was a key figure in the Virginia colony, credited with introducing and popularizing tobacco cultivation, which significantly boosted the colony's economy.

John Winthrop, a prominent Puritan leader, envisioned Massachusetts Bay as a model society, a "City Upon a Hill" that would set an example of religious piety and civic virtue for the rest of the world.

William Penn, a Quaker leader, founded Pennsylvania as a haven for religious freedom and tolerance, known as the "Holy Experiment," where people of diverse faith could live harmoniously.

Navigation Acts, enforced by the British, aimed to restrict colonial trade with other countries to benefit Great Britain's economy and increase its control over the colonies.

The involvement of France in the American Revolution, led by Marquis de Lafayette, provided crucial military and financial support that significantly strengthened the American war effort, ultimately contributing to their victory.

The Treaty of Paris of 1783 formally recognized the United States as an independent nation, granting them control of all land east of the Mississippi River, marking the end of British rule in North America.

The Proclamation Line of 1763, issued by King George III, prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent conflicts with Native Americans and maintain control over colonial expansion.

A period in American history after the Civil War where the federal government worked to rebuild the South and integrate former slaves into society.

The belief that the people of a territory should decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery.

A system of giving government jobs to supporters of the winning political party, often regardless of their qualifications.

A series of laws passed in the South after the Civil War that restricted the rights of African Americans.

A term describing the feeling of loyalty and support to one's region over the interests of the entire country.

A movement to abolish slavery in the United States.

The forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands to areas west of the Mississippi River.

A term referring to the forced migration of the Cherokee Nation from their homeland to Indian Territory, resulting in immense hardship and loss of life.

A rebellion led by Nat Turner, a slave, who hoped to end slavery. The rebellion was quickly put down but it led to stricter slave codes and increased fear of slave uprisings.

A system of economic and political control by a single company or individual, often through monopolies and unfair business practices.

A strategy where a company controls all steps of production, from acquiring raw materials to distributing the finished product.

A strategy where a company expands its market share by buying out its competitors.

A political organization that controls local government, often using patronage and favors to gain votes and influence.

An organization of workers who come together to improve working conditions, wages, and benefits through collective bargaining.

A political movement in the late 19th century that sought to address the concerns of farmers and working-class Americans.