Questions and Answers
What funded the first British settlements and allowed for wealthy investors to share?
Joint Stock Company
What is the economic theory that a nation could increase its wealth and power by obtaining as much gold and silver as possible?
Mercantilism
What was the first successful British colony established in 1607?
Jamestown
What was the second successful British colony established in 1620?
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What term describes the exchange of goods between Europe and the Americas following the discovery of new plants and animals?
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What intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries emphasized human reason and rights?
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What movement challenged church authority in the 18th century?
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Who is known for his philosophy regarding natural rights and the social contract?
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What are the natural rights of man as articulated by philosophers?
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What theory states that people in society choose to be governed as long as their rights are protected?
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What document declared independence for the colonies from England?
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What system of government creates a central government and local state governments with divided powers?
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What system was built into the Constitution to ensure no branch of government becomes too powerful?
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What is the separation of the powers of government into different branches called?
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What was created by the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War for a unified government?
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What document serves as the basis for the government in the United States?
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What were added to the Constitution in 1791 to secure specific rights for individual people?
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What war led to conflict between the colonies and Britain over taxation?
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What was the political battle between 1765 and 1783 that led to the independence of the United States?
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Who fought between the British Empire and the United States from 1812 to 1814?
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_________________ were the first American political party that believed in the ideas of nationalism and industrialization.
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_____________ emerged as the Democratic-Republican Party and was led by Thomas Jefferson.
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What event led to the 12th Amendment?
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Who is famous for writing the Declaration of Independence and was the third president of the United States?
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Who fought for American Independence and was a member of the Continental Congress?
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What amendment was established due to confusion in the election process?
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What case established the principle of judicial review?
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What is the power of courts to decide the validity of acts of the legislative and executive branches of government?
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What doctrine warned European nations to stay out of American affairs?
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What was the large area of land purchased from France that doubled the size of the United States?
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What was the policy of westward expansion believed to be a divine right of the American people?
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Who first ran for president in 1824 and lost due to Congress choosing the winner?
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What system involved the removal of political opponents from federal offices?
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What agreement allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state?
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What compromise allowed California to be admitted as a free state and left the status of slavery in New Mexico and Utah territories to popular sovereignty?
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What laws guaranteed the right of owners to recover escaped slaves?
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What book by Harriet Beecher Stowe put a human face on slavery?
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Who was a white man that fought against slavery and died fighting for it?
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What Supreme Court case ruled against a slave who sued for freedom and argued his case based on having lived in free territory?
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What act passed in 1854 organized territories acquired in the Louisiana Purchase to decide on the issue of slavery?
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What term describes the idea that people living in a territory had the right to decide whether to allow slavery?
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What is the term for withdrawal from the union?
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What was formed by several states in the southern part of the United States in February 1861?
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What were the first shots of the Civil War fired at?
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Who won the election of 1860?
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What years did the Civil War take place?
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Study Notes
Colonial Foundations
- Joint Stock Company enabled wealthy investors to fund British settlements.
- Jamestown was established in 1607 as the first successful British colony by the Virginia Company, led by John Smith; faced severe hardships with only 60 survivors out of 400 by 1609.
- Plymouth, the second successful British colony, was founded in 1620.
Economic Theories and Exchanges
- Mercantilism suggested nations increase wealth through acquiring gold/silver and favorable trade.
- The Columbian Exchange resulted in the transfer of crops, livestock, technology, culture, and diseases between the Americas and Europe, dramatically altering both continents.
Enlightenment and Individual Rights
- Enlightenment emphasized reason and human rights; significantly influenced the founding fathers.
- John Locke introduced ideas of natural rights (life, liberty, property) and social contract theory, proposing that governments are formed through consensual governance to protect these rights.
Foundations of American Governance
- Declaration of Independence outlined grievances against King George III and asserted the colonies' desire for independence.
- Federalism defined a system where powers are divided between national and state governments.
Constitutional Framework
- The Constitution established a government structure with checks and balances across three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
- The Articles of Confederation created a weak government structure prior to the Constitution, lacking effective executive and judicial powers.
Key Amendments and Legal Principles
- Bill of Rights, added in 1791, ensured specific individual rights after some states demanded protections before ratifying the Constitution.
- The 12th Amendment, established in 1804, necessitated separate votes for President and Vice President.
Early Conflicts and Wars
- The French and Indian War led to increasing tensions between colonies and Britain over taxes, setting the stage for the American Revolution.
- The War of 1812 solidified the U.S. as an independent nation.
Political Parties and Leadership
- Federalists supported a government led by the elite, while Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson, emphasized ordinary citizens' ability to govern.
- Andrew Jackson expanded presidential power, introducing the Spoils System, emphasizing loyalty over merit in governmental positions.
Slavery and Sectional Tensions
- Missouri Compromise allowed Missouri to join as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while demarcating a dividing line for future territories regarding slavery.
- Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a free state and allowed territories to decide on the issue through popular sovereignty.
Abolitionist Movements
- "Uncle Tom's Cabin," authored by Harriet Beecher Stowe, advanced the abolitionist cause in the North and enraged Southern sentiments by humanizing enslaved people.
- Dred Scott's case challenged the legal status of slavery; the Supreme Court denied his claim for freedom based on his residence in free territory.
Civil War Onset
- Secession was the withdrawal of Southern states from the Union, leading to the conflict known as the Civil War.
- The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, marking the start of violent conflict between the Confederacy and Union forces.
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Description
Test your knowledge with these flashcards on US History Chapter 1. Covering key concepts such as Joint Stock Companies and Mercantilism, this quiz is perfect for reinforcing important terms and definitions related to early British colonial history. Prepare to ace your review with these helpful study aids!
