US History Terms PDF

Hillbilly - a white man who is poor and lives in the South and also doesn't own slaves Nat Turner - A prominent enslaved African American man who led a large slave rebellion in Virginia, known as "Nat Turner's Rebellion," which resulted in the violent deaths of multiple white people and ultimately...

Hillbilly - a white man who is poor and lives in the South and also doesn't own slaves Nat Turner - A prominent enslaved African American man who led a large slave rebellion in Virginia, known as "Nat Turner's Rebellion," which resulted in the violent deaths of multiple white people and ultimately led to increased repression of enslaved people in the South Positive Good - The argument made by some Southern leaders that slavery was not just a necessary evil but actually beneficial for both the enslaved people and the Southern economy, claiming that slavery was a civilizing force that provided care and Christianity to slaves Worcester v. Georgia - a landmark Supreme Court case from 1832 where the court ruled that states could not enforce laws on Native American land, essentially establishing the Cherokee Nation as a separate sovereign entity and declaring Georgia\'s attempts to regulate activity within Cherokee territory as unconstitutional Judicial Review - the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws passed by Congress or actions taken by the executive branch unconstitutional, essentially acting as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution Second Party System - A name for the political party system from the 1820s to 1850s, characterized by the rivalry between the Democratic Party and the Whigs Sectionalism - The political, economic, and social loyalty to a specific region of the US, often prioritizing the interests of that region over the nation as a whole, leading to significant tension and division between different parts of the country Second National Bank - A privately owned financial institution established in 1816 to stabilize the American economy after the War of 1812, acting as a central bank by regulating currency and managing funds Potato Famine - The devastating period in Ireland between 1845 and 1852 where a plant disease called potato blight destroyed the majority of the potato crop, the primary food source for the poor Irish population, leading to widespread starvation and mass emigration to the US. Market Revolution - A significant period in early 19th century American history where the economy shifted from a largely agrarian, self-sufficient system to a more industrialized, market-based system driven by advancements in transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture, which fundamentally changed the way goods were produced and distributed across the nations John Marshall - The fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, known for significantly strengthening the federal government's power through landmark ruling that favored a loose interpretation of the Constitution Lewis and Clark - The famous expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, commissioned by Jefferson to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase territory, mapping the land, establishing relations with Native Americans, and documenting the flora and fauna of the western US Martin Van Buren - A prominent Jackosnian Democrat and politician who served as the 8th president, known for his key role in developing the spoils system and for skillfully navigating political factions within the Democratic Party. Hudson River School - A mid-19th century American art movement primarily focused on landscape paintings, particularly depicting the beauty of the Hudson River Valley, which celebrated the natural landscape of the US and often conveyed a sense of national pride and romanticism.  Chattel Slavery - A system of slavery where enslaved people are considered as personal property of their owner, meaning they have no legal rights and can be bought, sold or inherited like any other piece of property. Transcendentalism - An American philosophical movement that emphasized the inherent goodness of humanity, the importance of intuition and self-reliance, and a deep connection with nature, often criticizing societal institutions that they believed corrupted individuals Causes of the Panic of 1837 - President Jackson's policies, including his "Specie Circular," which mandated government payments only in gold and silver, his decision to let the charter of the Bank of the US expire, and the subsequent proliferation of pet banks that issued excessive paper money. Corrupt Bargain - The political deal made between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay in the 1824 election, where Clay threw his support to Adams in exchange for being appointed Secretary of State, handing Adams the presidency even though Jackson had won the popular vote John C. Calhoun - A antebellum politician from South Carolina who strongly advocated for states' rights and the concept of nullification, arguing that states could veto federal laws they deemed unconstitutional, in relation to protecting the institution of slavery William Lloyd Garrison - An American abolitionist who fiercely advocated for the immediate end of slavery through his newspaper The Liberator, which strongly criticized slavery and called for its immediate abolishment Abolition - The movement in the US aimed at ending the practice of slavery, particularly the organized campaign that gained momentum in the mid-19th century  Temperance - A social reform movement that advocated for moderation or complete abstinence from alcohol consumption, often tied to religious beliefs and concerns about the negative societal impacts of excessive drinking. Urbanization - The historical process where a large number of people moved from rural areas to cities, causing a significant population increase in urban centers, primarily driven by industrialization and economic opportunities in the growing cities  Second Great Awakening effects - Significantly increased church membership, sparked various social reform movements like abolitionism and women's rights, and empowered women to take on more prominent roles within religious communities  Pet Banks - A derogatory term for state-chartered banks that Jackson chose to deposit federal funds in after he vetoed the recharter of the Second Bank, favoring these banks because of their political loyalty. Romanticism - A literary and artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th century, characterized by a strong emphasis on individual emotion, imagination, the beauty of nature, and a rejection of the rationalism of the Enlightenment era Jacksonian Democracy - A movement for more democracy in American government in the 1850s, led by Jackson Erie Canal - A historic canal built in New York that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, which significantly facilitated westward expansion and trade by drastically reducing transportation costs between the East Coast and the Midwest Lewis and Clark - The famous expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, commissioned by Jefferson to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase territory, mapping the land, establishing relations with Native Americans, and documenting the flora and fauna of the western US Martin Van Buren - A prominent Jackosnian Democrat and politician who served as the 8th president, known for his key role in developing the spoils system and for skillfully navigating political factions within the Democratic Party. Hudson River School - A mid-19th century American art movement primarily focused on landscape paintings, particularly depicting the beauty of the Hudson River Valley, which celebrated the natural landscape of the US and often conveyed a sense of national pride and romanticism.  Chattel Slavery - A system of slavery where enslaved people are considered as personal property of their owner, meaning they have no legal rights and can be bought, sold or inherited like any other piece of property. Transcendentalism - An American philosophical movement that emphasized the inherent goodness of humanity, the importance of intuition and self-reliance, and a deep connection with nature, often criticizing societal institutions that they believed corrupted individuals Causes of the Panic of 1837 - President Jackson's policies, including his "Specie Circular," which mandated government payments only in gold and silver, his decision to let the charter of the Bank of the US expire, and the subsequent proliferation of pet banks that issued excessive paper money. Corrupt Bargain - The political deal made between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay in the 1824 election, where Clay threw his support to Adams in exchange for being appointed Secretary of State, handing Adams the presidency even though Jackson had won the popular vote John C. Calhoun - A antebellum politician from South Carolina who strongly advocated for states' rights and the concept of nullification, arguing that states could veto federal laws they deemed unconstitutional, in relation to protecting the institution of slavery William Lloyd Garrison - An American abolitionist who fiercely advocated for the immediate end of slavery through his newspaper The Liberator, which strongly criticized slavery and called for its immediate abolishment Abolition - The movement in the US aimed at ending the practice of slavery, particularly the organized campaign that gained momentum in the mid-19th century  Temperance - A social reform movement that advocated for moderation or complete abstinence from alcohol consumption, often tied to religious beliefs and concerns about the negative societal impacts of excessive drinking. Urbanization - The historical process where a large number of people moved from rural areas to cities, causing a significant population increase in urban centers, primarily driven by industrialization and economic opportunities in the growing cities  Second Great Awakening effects - Significantly increased church membership, sparked various social reform movements like abolitionism and women's rights, and empowered women to take on more prominent roles within religious communities  Pet Banks - A derogatory term for state-chartered banks that Jackson chose to deposit federal funds in after he vetoed the recharter of the Second Bank, favoring these banks because of their political loyalty. Romanticism - A literary and artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th century, characterized by a strong emphasis on individual emotion, imagination, the beauty of nature, and a rejection of the rationalism of the Enlightenment era Jacksonian Democracy - A movement for more democracy in American government in the 1850s, led by Jackson Erie Canal - A historic canal built in New York that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, which significantly facilitated westward expansion and trade by drastically reducing transportation costs between the East Coast and the Midwest