US History Study Guide PDF

1. Washington’s Cabinet ​ First executive cabinet under President George Washington. ​ Included: ○​ Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State) – Handled foreign affairs. ○​ Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of the Treasury) – Focused on economic policy. ○​ Henry Knox (Secretary of War)...

1. Washington’s Cabinet ​ First executive cabinet under President George Washington. ​ Included: ○​ Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State) – Handled foreign affairs. ○​ Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of the Treasury) – Focused on economic policy. ○​ Henry Knox (Secretary of War) – Managed military matters. ○​ Edmund Randolph (Attorney General) – Provided legal advice to the president. 2. Hamilton’s Economic Program ​ Aimed to stabilize the U.S. economy and establish credit. ​ Three main parts: 1.​ Assumption of state debts – Federal government took on state debts from the Revolutionary War. 2.​ Creation of a national bank – Established the First Bank of the U.S. to regulate currency and credit. 3.​ Tariffs and excise taxes – Raised revenue through import taxes and the Whiskey Tax. 3. Federalists – Who Made Up This Party? ​ Led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. ​ Supported a strong central government and favored a loose interpretation of the Constitution. ​ Backed by merchants, bankers, and wealthy elites, especially in the Northeast. ​ Pro-British in foreign policy. 4. Election of 1800 ​ Thomas Jefferson vs. John Adams; ended in a tie between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. ​ House of Representatives decided the winner after 36 votes. ​ Jefferson won – First peaceful transfer of power between political parties (Federalists → Democratic-Republicans). ​ Led to the 12th Amendment, which changed how the president and vice president were elected. 5. "XYZ" Affair ​ 1797 diplomatic scandal between the U.S. and France. ​ French officials (labeled X, Y, and Z) demanded bribes before negotiating with U.S. diplomats. ​ Led to anti-French sentiment and the Quasi-War (an undeclared naval conflict). 6. "Republican Motherhood" ​ The idea that women’s role was to educate and instill Republican values in their children. ​ Encouraged women’s education but didn’t push for full equality. 7. Women & the Medical Profession ​ Women were largely excluded from the medical field. ​ Midwifery was common, but men began to take over the profession. ​ Few educational opportunities for women in medicine. 8. Second Great Awakening ​ Early 1800s religious revival focused on personal salvation and reform. ​ Encouraged moral and social change (abolitionism, temperance, women’s rights). ​ Led by preachers like Charles Finney. 9. Jefferson & the Military ​ Reduced military spending and size of the army/navy. ​ Preferred state militias over a strong standing army. ​ However, he expanded naval power during the Barbary Wars (1801-1805). 10. Aaron Burr & Alexander Hamilton ​ Political rivals due to Burr’s controversial actions (like trying to steal the presidency in 1800). ​ Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel in 1804. ​ Hamilton was killed; Burr’s political career ended. 11. War of 1812 – Causes ​ British impressment of American sailors. ​ British support for Native American resistance. ​ Desire for land expansion into Canada. ​ War Hawks in Congress pushed for war. 12. Battle of Tippecanoe (1811) ​ U.S. forces led by William Henry Harrison vs. Native Americans led by Tecumseh’s brother, the Prophet. ​ U.S. victory weakened Native resistance in the Northwest. ​ Increased tensions between the U.S. and Britain (who had supported Native forces). 13. Eli Whitney ​ Invented the cotton gin (1793) – revolutionized cotton production, increased slavery in the South. ​ Developed interchangeable parts, leading to mass production. 14. American Government & Land (Construction) ​ Land policies like the Northwest Ordinance (1787) set rules for western settlement. ​ Land Act of 1800 made it easier to buy federal land. 15. "War Hawks" ​ Young Congressmen (mostly from the South & West) who wanted war with Britain. ​ Leaders: Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun. ​ Believed war would allow the U.S. to expand into Canada and stop British aggression. 16. War of 1812 & the Federalist Party ​ Federalists opposed the war, especially merchants in New England. ​ Some even considered secession. ​ Their opposition led to their downfall after the war. 17. Hartford Convention (1814-1815) ​ Federalists met in Hartford, Connecticut, to protest the war. ​ Proposed constitutional amendments to limit government power. ​ Seen as unpatriotic after the war ended; Federalist Party collapsed. 18. Treaty of Ghent (1814) ​ Ended the War of 1812 – restored pre-war boundaries, but didn’t address major issues like impressment. ​ No clear winner, but U.S. saw it as a victory. 19. War of 1812 & Native Americans ​ Native Americans lost British support after the war. ​ Many were pushed west as U.S. expansion continued. ​ Tecumseh’s Confederacy collapsed after his death.