General Study Notes Request

The belief that the United States is unique and superior, marked by exceptional qualities and destiny.

A group of English Protestants who sought religious freedom. Plymouth Colony was the colony of the Puritans.

A Puritan leader who led the Massachusetts Bay Colony and famously expressed the idea of America as "a city upon a hill."

A celebration held by the Pilgrims in 1621, symbolizing their cooperation with Native Americans.

John Smith was an explorer and leader of the Jamestown Colony. Pocahontas was a Native American who interacted with the colonists.

The belief that a country's wealth is measured by its gold and silver reserves. This theory influenced early English colonization, leading to the search for precious metals in the Americas.

A form of labor contract where individuals agreed to work for a set period of time (usually 5-7 years) in exchange for passage to America, food, and shelter. It was a common practice in the early Southern colonies.

The transition from indentured servitude to slave labor in the Southern colonies. This shift was driven by factors such as the decreasing cost of slaves compared to indentured servants, the belief that slaves offered tighter control, and the growing need for labor on large plantations.

A set of laws enacted by the Virginia colony to regulate the institution of slavery. This code established the legal basis for hereditary slavery and defined the rights and limitations of both slaves and slave owners.

A global conflict (1756-1763) that involved Britain, France, Spain, and Native American tribes. It began in North America over control of the Ohio Valley and spread to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Britain ultimately emerged victorious.

The war had significant consequences for colonial America. Britain's victory led to increased control of the colonies, while the war's cost contributed to British policies that angered colonists, culminating in the American Revolution.

A British law requiring colonial governments to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers stationed within their territories.

Religion played a central role in New England colonies. It was deeply intertwined with public life, shaping laws, education, and social norms.

The power of the Supreme Court to determine if a law is constitutional.

A landmark Supreme Court case establishing the principle of judicial review in 1803.

A Supreme Court case in 1819 that affirmed the federal government's power to create a national bank.

The belief that the Constitution should be interpreted flexibly to adapt to changing times.

The acquisition of a vast territory from France in 1803, doubling the size of the United States.

A journey of exploration across the Louisiana Purchase from 1804-1806.

The practice of forcing American sailors into the British Navy.

An incident in 1807 where British soldiers attacked an American ship in US waters, escalating tensions.

The Philadelphia Convention (1787) was initially meant to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately led to the creation of a new governing document: the United States Constitution.

A compromise reached at the Philadelphia Convention that established a bicameral Congress. The Senate would have equal representation for each state, while the House of Representatives would have representation based on population.

This compromise involved counting enslaved people as 3/5ths of a free person for purposes of representation and taxation. This decision partially addressed the concerns of Southern states who wanted to count slaves for representation but not for taxation.

The Northwest Ordinance defined how new territories could become part of the United States. It set specific stages for territories to progress towards statehood, starting with an assembly and eventually reaching a population of 60,000 to apply for statehood.

This principle suggests that the power of the government ultimately resides in the people and their consent. This means that the government derives its legitimacy from the people it governs.

This principle divides governmental power among different branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

A system where each branch of government has the power to limit the actions of the other branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.

This clause required states to return escaped slaves to their owners, even in states where slavery was illegal. It was a major source of tension and conflict leading up to the Civil War.

The sinking of the British passenger ship Lusitania by German U-boats in 1915, killing 128 Americans. This event significantly shifted American public opinion towards entering World War I.

A secret diplomatic communication from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the United States during World War I. This intercepted telegram outraged Americans and fueled public support for war.

President Woodrow Wilson's plan for a just and lasting peace after World War I. Key ideas included self-determination for nations, open diplomacy, and the creation of a League of Nations.

A period of intense fear of communist and socialist influence in the United States following World War I, marked by persecution of suspected radicals.

A famous legal case in 1925 involving a teacher who was accused of teaching the theory of evolution in Tennessee, which was illegal at the time because it contradicted biblical creationism.

A landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, effectively dismantling the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

The exodus of white residents from urban areas to suburbs, often due to integration policies and the influx of African Americans.

A year-long protest led by Rosa Parks and the NAACP, refusing to ride segregated public buses in Montgomery, Alabama, that ultimately led to desegregation of public transportation.

A conflict involving the Arkansas governor's attempt to prevent Black students from attending a desegregated school, which was ultimately resolved by President Eisenhower sending in federal troops to ensure their safety.

A series of nonviolent protests by African American students who staged sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Greensboro, North Carolina, which resulted in the desegregation of stores.