Court Cases
Mabury v. Maddison
Marbury v. Madison (1803) is a landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review in the United States, affirming the Court's power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. The case arose when William Marbury sued Secretary of State James Madison for failing to deliver his judicial commission, signed by outgoing President John Adams. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Columbian Exchange, Negitives and Positives on both Natives and Europeans
The Columbian Exchange (post-1492) revolutionized global ecology and human society by transferring plants, animals, culture, human populations, and technology. Positives included a massive increase in global food supply and population growth, while negatives centered on catastrophic indigenous population losses due to diseases and the forced transatlantic slave trad
This colony was founded by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom.
Plymouth
This event involved colonists dumping tea into Boston Harbor.
Boston Tea Party
These essays supported ratification of the Constitution.
Federalist Papers
Dred Scott v Sandford
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) was a landmark Supreme Court decision ruling that enslaved people were not U.S. citizens and could not sue for freedom in federal court. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney held that Congress could not prohibit slavery in territories, declaring the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This ruling fueled abolitionist outrage and significantly hastened the Civil War
This river was important for trade and westward expansion and stretches from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
What is the Mississippi River?
This cash crop helped Jamestown survive economically.
tobacco
This pamphlet by Thomas Paine encouraged independence from Britain.
Common Sense
This addition to the Constitution guarantees freedoms like speech and religion.
Bill of Rights
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) was a landmark Supreme Court case that legalized racial segregation in the United States by establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine. The 7-1 ruling upheld Louisiana’s Jim Crow laws, arguing that segregated public facilities did not violate the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
This mountain range formed a natural barrier for early colonists moving west.
What are the Appalachian Mountains?
This war between Britain and France in North America increased British debt and led to new taxes on colonists.
French and Indian War
This battle was the turning point of the Revolutionary War and convinced France to support America.
Battle of Saratoga
This political warning by George Washington advised the United States to avoid permanent foreign alliances.
Washington’s Farewell Address
Washington feared foreign conflicts could divide the young nation. Importance: The warning influenced U.S. foreign policy for many years.
Brown v. Board of Edu
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) was a landmark Supreme Court case declaring that state-sanctioned segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. The unanimous ruling established that "separate but equal" facilities are inherently unequal, violating the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, effectively overturning Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and fueling the Civil Rights Movement
The purchase of this territory from France in 1803 doubled the size of the United States.
Louisiana Territory/Purchase
This idea stated that the colonies should export raw materials and buy manufactured goods from the mother country.
mercantilism
This treaty officially ended the Revolutionary War.
Treaty of Paris (1783)
This speech by Abraham Lincoln redefined the Civil War as a fight against slavery.
Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln gave the speech during the Civil War after the Battle of Gettysburg. Purpose: He wanted to honor fallen soldiers while reminding Americans that the war was about preserving democracy and freedom. Why It Matters: The speech transformed the meaning of the war into a struggle for equality and national unity.
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade (1973) was a landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide, ruling 7-2 that the 14th Amendment’s right to privacy protects a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy. The decision established a trimester framework, restricting state regulation of abortion early in pregnancy, and energized the "pro-life" movement, becoming a key issue in the rise of the modern conservative movement. [1, 2, 3]
This region became a major source of conflict before the Civil War because people debated whether slavery would expand there.
The western territories/the territories gained after the Mexican-American War
This 1676 rebellion led by former indentured servants and frontier farmers exposed tensions between wealthy planters and poorer colonists in Virginia.
Bacon’s Rebellion
Frontier settlers were frustrated by Native American conflicts and lack of support from Virginia’s government. Importance: The rebellion pushed wealthy landowners to rely more on enslaved labor instead of indentured servants.
This slogan summarized colonial anger toward British taxes imposed without colonial representation in Parliament.
“No taxation without representation”
Colonists argued that only their own elected assemblies should tax them. Importance: The slogan united many colonists against British authority.
This amendment abolished slavery.
13th Amendment
Congress proposed the amendment during the Civil War under Abraham Lincoln’s leadership. Purpose: The amendment permanently ended slavery in the United States. Why It Matters: It was a major turning point in Reconstruction and expanded freedom for formerly enslaved people.