Unit 1: Colonial America
An organized effort to resist or overthrow authority.
What is a Rebellion?
A system of government where power comes from the people through participation and elections.
What is a Democracy?
A group of advisors to the President who lead departments like Treasury and State.
What is a Cabinet?
When Britain forced American sailors into the British navy.
What was impressment?
Member of Congress and War Hawk; supported the war to defend U.S. independence and honor.
Who was Henry Clay?
When people make rules and decisions for themselves.
What was Self-Government?
Fair treatment under the law, especially in court cases.
What is due process?
Washington’s decision to step down after two terms, setting an example of peaceful transition of power.
What is a two-term limit?
The movement of settlers into the western territories of the U.S. during the 1800s.
What is Westward Expansion?
Journalist who coined the term “Manifest Destiny” in 1845.
Who was John O'Sullivan?
A settlement ruled by a distant country.
What is a Colony?
An alliance or loose union of independent states.
What is a Confederation?
An action or decision that serves as an example for future leaders to follow.
What is a Precedent?
The U.S. purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France, which doubled the size of the country.
What was the Louisiana Purchase?
First U.S. president; his farewell speech shaped early American political values.
Who was George Washington?
A person who worked for a set number of years to pay off the cost of coming to America.
What is Indentured Servitude?
The supreme law of the United States that replaced the Articles of Confederation.
What is the Constitution?
Washington’s declaration that the U.S. would stay out of European wars between France and Britain.
What was the Neutrality Proclamation (1793)?
Saying one thing but doing another; Jefferson was accused of this by Federalists for buying Louisiana without clear constitutional authority.
What is Hypocrisy?
Anti-Federalist; demanded protections for individual liberties.
Who is George Mason?
Groups of Indigenous peoples with their own cultures, governments, and lands.
Who are the Native Americans?
The first ten amendments that guarantee individual freedoms.
What are the Bill of Rights?
A farmer uprising over whiskey taxes that tested the power of the new federal government.
What was the Whiskey Rebellion (1794)?
Powers given to the president to enforce laws and lead the country.
What is Executive Power?
Revolutionary writer who published Common Sense, a pamphlet arguing that the colonies should break away from Britain and create their own government.
Who was Thomas Paine?
An economic system where colonies exist to make money for the mother country.
A government with limited power over states. They had a weak central government.
What were the Articles of Confederation?
The strength and authority of the national government compared to the states.
What is Federal Power?
Key trade route for western farmers; control of it was a main reason for buying Louisiana.
What is the Mississippi River?
Federalist and first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Who was John Jay?
Rights all people are born with — life, liberty, and property. Used in the Declaration of Independence as “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.”
What are Natural Rights?
A change or addition to the Constitution.
What is an amendment?
A bank proposed by Hamilton to stabilize the economy and manage government funds.
What was the National Bank?
Conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain over trade restrictions, impressment, and national honor.
What was the War of 1812?
Enlightenment thinker who argued people are born with natural rights (life, liberty, property) and that governments must protect these rights.
Who was John Locke?
A document written in 1776 that explained why the 13 colonies wanted to break away from Britain and become their own country.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Dividing government responsibilities into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What are the Separation of Powers?
Decisions about how a country interacts with other nations.
What is Foreign Policy?
Major American victory after the peace treaty was signed; boosted national pride and unity.
What was the Battle of New Orleans?
Secretary of State; favored states’ rights and a limited national government. He later became the 3rd President of the United States. He also made the Louisiana Purchase, showing flexibility as a leader.
Who was Thomas Jefferson?
The idea that the people have the power to rule themselves.
What was Popular Sovereignty?
A 1786 uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting taxes and debt; revealed weaknesses in the Articles.
What was Shay's Rebellion?
Washington’s final speech as president (1796), warning against political parties and foreign alliances.
What was Washington's Farewell Address?
Belief that Americans were given Providence or the God given right to expand.
What was Manifest Destiny?
Federalist; wrote many of the Federalist Papers. Also Treasury Secretary; supported strong federal power and helped manage war debt.
Who is Alexander Hamilton?