U.S. History Chapter on Federal Government Issues

Many unique societies with different languages, cultures, and political structures.

European nations sought wealth, labor, and religious expansion through colonization.

Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands each had unique motivations and methods of colonization.

Spain focused on wealth extraction through conquering and converting, often with a brutal approach.

France sought alliances and trade with native populations, aiming for a blend of cultures.

England established permanent settlements and focused on agriculture, aiming for long-term societal development.

British North America developed distinct regional societies due to diverse environmental, economic, and social factors.

Factors like climate, resources, and religious beliefs influenced the development of different societies within British North America.

A group of people who supported American independence from Great Britain.

A group of people who wanted America to remain under British rule.

A document that established a government for the newly independent United States of America. It emphasized a loose union of states with limited central power.

This group acted as the government of the American colonies during the Revolutionary War. They issued the Declaration of Independence and drafted the Articles of Confederation.

A series of acts passed by the British Parliament that were highly unpopular in the American colonies. They aimed to tighten British control and restrict colonial liberties.

An historian who argued that Massachusetts during the colonial era was relatively democratic because land was attainable for hardworking people.

An historian who argued that Virginia during the colonial era wasn't democratic, even though the number of voters was high.

An historian who claimed that the American colonies were deeply connected to the British monarchy, even though they held a more limited power within the overall British system.

An early traveler who provided a relatively unbiased account of Native American societies in North America.

A writer who believed Native Americans did not have a legitimate claim to land they didn't actively cultivate.

A system where settlers were granted 50 acres of land for each person (including themselves) they brought to the colony. This system encouraged migration and rapid population growth in the Chesapeake region.

The primary cash crop grown in Chesapeake colonies, providing significant economic wealth and driving the demand for labor, including indentured servants and later enslaved Africans.

A colony in New England founded by Roger Williams, who was banished from Massachusetts for advocating religious freedom and separation of church and state. Rhode Island was known for its tolerance of different religious beliefs and practices.

The practice of owning land as a private entity, distinct from the communal ownership of land practiced by some Native American tribes. This difference in land ownership philosophies contributed to conflict between European settlers and Native Americans.

Driven by religious persecution in England, a group of Protestant dissenters seeking to reform Christianity and establish communities based on strict religious principles, settling in Massachusetts and other New England colonies.

The practice of trading and bartering goods with Native Americans for survival and economic gain, particularly prevalent in New England colonies. It often included trading for fur, fish, and other resources.

The colonies of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, often called Middle Colonies because they were located between New England and the Chesapeake colonies. They had diverse populations, economies, and religious practices.

A colony established by William Penn, a Quaker who promoted religious tolerance and fair treatment of Native Americans. It became a haven for diverse religious groups, particularly those seeking religious freedom.

A colony established by Charles II as a reward for his loyal supporters during the English Civil War. It became a center for fur trading and a diverse population.

A major uprising in Virginia in 1676, led by Nathaniel Bacon, against the colonial government's policies toward Native Americans and the elite's control of the economy. It challenged the power structure and exposed class tensions in colonial Virginia.

A series of accusations of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, which resulted in the deaths of 20 individuals. It reflected the fears and social tensions of the time, highlighting religious intolerance and accusations of witchcraft.

The process of using enslaved labor on plantations, especially for producing cash crops like rice, indigo, and tobacco, which became increasingly prominent in the British colonies, particularly in the southern colonies.

The practice of treating enslaved Africans as property and subjecting them to forced labor, harsh treatment, and the denial of basic human rights. Slavery became a major economic and social institution in the British colonies, shaping the development of the colonies and generating significant profits.

The migration of people from Barbados, a Caribbean island, to South Carolina, bringing with them their knowledge of rice cultivation and a strong slave society. This contributed to the development of a plantation economy and slave labor system in South Carolina.

The increasing reliance on enslaved labor as a result of declining Native American populations, the proven success of slave labor in other British colonies, and the demand for labor in agriculture, trade, and port cities. This led to expanded slave trade and the growth of slave societies.

A shift in religious expression from formal rituals to emotional experiences, seeking comfort and hope through personal connections to God.

An Anglican minister who criticized the new preachers of the Great Awakening, arguing they lacked proper training and understanding of Christianity.

An Anglican cleric who supported the Great Awakening, emphasizing personal involvement and a closer relationship with God.

The belief that the most capable and hardworking individuals should lead society.

An economic philosophy emphasizing individual pursuit of self-interest within a free market, with minimal government intervention. It advocates for ethical competition and the natural consequences of choices.

A political philosophy emphasizing government intervention to ensure better outcomes for citizens. It believes in active governmental roles in improving society.

A period of relaxed British oversight of the American colonies, allowing colonists to develop their own governance and economies.

Colonists' belief that they should have representation in the British Parliament, allowing them to consent to taxation. This became a major point of contention leading to the Revolution.

A tax imposed by the British Parliament on all printed materials in the American colonies, fueling resistance and sparking the cry for 'No Taxation Without Representation'.

A declaration by the British Parliament asserting their right to legislate for the American colonies in all cases whatsoever, regardless of colonial consent. It further strained relations between Britain and its colonies.

A series of taxes imposed by the British Parliament on goods imported from Britain into the American colonies, leading to widespread boycotts and further fueling colonial resistance.

A violent confrontation between British soldiers and colonists in Boston, fueled by rising tensions and frustration. The incident further inflamed anti-British sentiment in the colonies.

A network of communication established by Samuel Adams among colonial patriots to spread information about British actions and coordinate resistance efforts.

A protest by colonists in Boston where they dumped 342 chests of British tea into the harbor, in response to increased taxes and to protest the monopoly granted to the British East India Company.

Punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party, further escalating tensions and strengthening colonial resolve for independence.

The American colonists leveraged their familiarity with the terrain and their guerilla fighting style to overcome the British.

The French provided crucial support to the American Revolution, including military personnel, supplies, and naval power which ultimately helped secure victory.

The American colonies, unlike Britain, had a large pool of potential soldiers motivated by their desire for independence, giving them a numerical advantage.

The British, although possessing a powerful navy and a large standing army, struggled to adapt to the unique guerilla warfare tactics employed by the Americans.

The Articles of Confederation, the initial government structure of the United States, lacked the power to tax or regulate commerce efficiently, leading to economic and political challenges.

The conflict between the Federalists, who favored a strong central government, and the Anti-Federalists, who feared centralized power, was resolved by the Federalists' agreement to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

The 10th Amendment reserved powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, addressing Anti-Federalist concerns about centralized power.

Congress, under the Constitution, was granted the power to regulate interstate commerce, allowing for a more unified national market.

The Constitution established a robust system of government with three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial, each with distinct powers, designed to create balance and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

The Constitution explicitly denied Congress the power to pass ex post facto laws, which punish individuals for actions that were legal when they were committed.

The Constitution prohibited Congress from suspending the writ of habeas corpus, which guarantees individuals the right to challenge their imprisonment.

The Constitution granted Congress the implied power to enact laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.

Breen's thesis proposes that consumer culture played a key role in uniting the colonies during the American Revolution. He argues that shared consumption patterns fostered a sense of shared identity and economic dependence on Britain, eventually leading to their rebellion when colonial consumption was taxed unfairly.

Breen argues that the colonists' dependence on goods imported from Britain led them to become increasingly aware of their vulnerability in the economic relationship, eventually leading them to resist British taxation.

The colonists' participation in boycotts of British goods demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice for their political goals, highlighting the power of collective action in bringing about change.

A major turning point in US history, this amendment limited the number of terms a president could serve to two.

The group of advisors chosen by the President to lead different departments of the executive branch, like Defense and Treasury.

The legislative branch of the US government, responsible for creating laws.

A landmark law passed by Congress that established the federal court system.

A strong advocate for states' rights, he believed that a powerful federal government could lead to tyranny.

A strong central government, especially if powerful, would lead to the development of an aristocracy, which he saw as harmful.

He argued that a strong central government was vital to unify the country economically and to pay off debt.

A strong advocate for a powerful federal government, he believed in creating a strong national economy through trade and industry.

The practice of giving preference to one's own region or state over the interests of the nation as a whole.

The Louisiana Purchase was a significant land acquisition from France, giving the US control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans.

This landmark Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review, giving the court the power to strike down laws deemed unconstitutional.

The US refused to accept imports from Britain and France, attempting to force them to respect American neutrality.

The US declared war on Britain in 1812, after years of diplomatic tension and British interference with American shipping.

The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 without much change in territory, but it did lead to a period of peace and renewed national unity.

A group of Federalist leaders who met during the War of 1812 to discuss the future of the country, and the possibility of secession from the Union.

The belief that the United States was destined by God to expand across North America.

An agreement in 1850 that aimed to resolve territorial disputes between North and South, including California's admission as a free state.

A movement that pushed for the immediate end of slavery, advocating for the moral and ethical necessity of abolition.

A movement advocating for a gradual end to slavery, often arguing for practical and less disruptive strategies.

An era in the US characterized by relative political harmony and one-party dominance, following the War of 1812.

A doctrine stating that the United States would not interfere in European affairs, while also declaring the Western Hemisphere off-limits for further European colonization.

Andrew Jackson's policy that required payment for public lands in gold and silver, aiming to stabilize the economy and curb speculation.

The belief that American settlers were destined to expand westward across the continent, often justifying westward expansion and displacement of Native Americans.

A series of reforms and movements that emerged in the early 19th century, emphasizing personal and social improvement, often fueled by religious revivals.

A group of communities that attempted to create self-sufficient and ideal societies based on communal living and religious principles.

A religious movement that emphasized communal living, religious principles, and a strong social structure, eventually migrating westward.

A group of individuals who advocated for the abolition of slavery through various approaches, ranging from gradualism to immediate action.

A state in the Western Hemisphere whose inhabitants chose to declare independence from Mexico in 1836 due to clashes over slavery, religion, and government control.

A war between the United States and Mexico between 1846 and 1848, sparked by disagreements over territory and fueled by American expansionism.