Colonial Era
What was the first permanent English colony?
Jamestown
What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
To explain the reasons why the colonies were separating from Great Britain and to declare their independence
What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
The government had no power to tax, no executive branch (President), and was too weak to handle crises
What were the causes of the War of 1812?
British impressment of sailors, interference with trade, and British support for Native American resistance.
What is the definition of the Industrial Revolution?
A shift from hand-made goods to machine-made goods in factories.
What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?
the first framework of self-government in the colonies
What happened at the Battle of Saratoga?
It was the "turning point" of the war because it convinced France to join as an American ally.
What was the Great Compromise?
It created a bicameral (two-house) legislature: the House (by population) and the Senate (equal for all states)
What were the effects of the War of 1812?
Increased American nationalism, the end of the Federalist Party, and a rise in U.S. manufacturing.
What was the Erie Canal and its effects?
It connected the Hudson River to the Great Lakes, lowering shipping costs and making New York City a major trade hub
What were the effects of Bacon's Rebellion?
It led to a shift away from indentured servants toward a greater reliance on enslaved African labor
What were the effects of the Boston Tea Party?
It led to the "Intolerable Acts," which closed Boston Harbor and further angered the colonists
What was the Three-fifths Compromise?
An agreement to count three-fifths of the enslaved population for both representation and taxation purposes
What was the significance of the Election of 1800?
It was the first peaceful transfer of power between opposing political parties (Federalists to Democratic-Republicans).
What were the effects of the Panic of 1819?
A period of falling prices and bank failures that led to widespread economic distress and distrust of banks
What is mercantilism?
An economic system where colonies exist to provide raw materials and wealth to the "mother country" (Britain)
What was the role of women in the American Revolution?
They managed farms/businesses, acted as nurses, and served as "Daughters of Liberty" by boycotting British goods
What were the Federalist views on government?
They favored a strong central government, a national bank, and a "loose" interpretation of the Constitution.
What was the significance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
It mapped the Louisiana Territory and established American claims to the Pacific Northwest.
What was McCulloch v. Maryland?
A Supreme Court case that ruled the National Bank was constitutional and that states cannot tax federal institutions.
What was the Middle Passage?
The brutal middle leg of the Triangle Trade that transported enslaved Africans to the Americas.
What were the effects of the Revolution on slavery?
While many Northern states began to abolish it, slavery became more deeply entrenched in the South.
What were the effects of Hamilton's Economic Plan?
It helped stabilize the economy but sparked debate over whether the federal government had too much power.
What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?
Laws that allowed the government to deport foreigners and jail people for criticizing the government.
What was the "Second Middle Passage"?
The forced migration of enslaved people from the Upper South to the Deep South to work on cotton plantations