Social Sciences 7 Final Review Vocabulary abolition The movement to end slavery. Alamo Old Spanish mission in San Antonio, Texas where Mexican forces under Santa Anna besieged Texans trying to get their independence. The Texans were killed and the battle became a rallying point for the Texas independence movement. Albany Plan of Union Proposal by Ben Franklin to create one government for the 13 colonies during the French and Indian War. amendment addition to the Constitution. Antifederalists Group of people that were against ratification of the Constitution. They were led by Patrick Henry. Appomattox Location where Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate army to Ulysses S. Grant. archaeologists Social scientist who studies artifacts to help understand a culture. Articles of Confederation First Constitution of the United States up to 1787. It was weak and replaced by the Constitution. artifacts An object made by a human, such as a tool. Battle of Gettysburg Battle in Pennsylvania that was the turning point of the Civil War. Robert E. Lee was defeated and never again attempted to invade the North. Battle of Saratoga Turning point of the Revolutionary War. General Burgoyne surrendered close to 7,000 British soldiers. France joined the American side as a result of this battle in New York State. bill proposed law Bill of Rights First ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee the rights and liberties of individuals. blockade Using ships to make sure goods don t enter or leave a country. Great Britain blockaded the colonies during the American Revolution. Boston Massacre A March 5, 1770 event in which 5 rioting colonists were shot by British soldiers. The soldiers were found innocent of doing anything wrong. 1
Boston Tea Party A 1773 protest in which Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawk Indians dumped British tea into Boston harbor. boycott Refusing to buy a certain good. In this time period, it means refusing to buy taxed goods in order to get taxes repealed. It was the most commonly used colonial protest. cabinet The advisors to the President. checks and balances Principle of the Constitution that gives each branch of government the power to make sure the other branches do not get too powerful. climate The average weather conditions for an area. What you expect the weather to be like. colony People who settle in a distant land but who are ruled by their native land. The original 13 states started off as a colony of England (Great Britain). Columbian Exchange The exchange of goods and ideas that occurred between the Old World (Europe, Asia, Africa) and the New World (North and South America) after Columbus rediscovered the Americas. Common Sense 1776 pamphlet written by Thomas Paine which explained why it was obvious that the colonies should be free from British rule. Almost everybody read it and it was very persuasive. compromise When two groups each give in a little of their demands in order to reach an agreement. Compromise of 1850 An attempt to end the issue of slavery in new territories. California was admitted as a free state, a stronger fugitive slave law was passed, and popular sovereignty would be used to settle the issue of slavery in the lands of the Mexican Cession. Confederate States The southern states that left the United States during the Civil War. Congress Main group of the legislative branch. It makes the laws and consists of the Senate and House of Representatives. constitution Written rules for government, the United States Constitution is an example. Constitutional Convention Meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 to discuss how to fix the Articles of Confederation. Eventually it wrote the Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation. 2
Continental Army Name for the colonial army led by George Washington during the American Revolution. culture Total way of life of a group of people. It includes food, clothing, music, religion, etc. Declaration of Independence A July 4, 1776 document stating that the 13 English colonies were a free and independent nation. It was written by Thomas Jefferson. democratic The idea that all people are equal and have the same rights. The west was the most democratic area of the United States. Democratic-Republicans Political party that was in favor of strong state governments and a weak United States government. It was led by Thomas Jefferson. Most Democratic- Republicans were previously members of the Anti-Federalists and shared the same beliefs. Often called the Republicans. Dred Scott v. Sandford African American Dred Scott sued for his freedom. In 1857 the Supreme Court ruled that as an African American he was not a citizen and therefore could not sue. It also said that the government could not limit where a person brought their slaves. Electoral College Group of electors from each state who actually elect the President. Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln s declaration in 1863 that slaves in the Confederacy were free. environment The total surroundings of an area including physical, cultural and social conditions. Era of Good Feelings The time period when James Monroe was the President. The economy was going well, political parties weren t fighting and things in the United States were good. Erie Canal It was a canal connecting Buffalo and Albany in New York. It was built in 1825 under the leadership of DeWitt Clinton. executive branch Branch of government responsible for carrying out the laws.. export Good traded out of the country. factory Place where machines and workers are brought together to make goods. federalism Principle of the Constitution that says the government power is shared between the United States government and the states. Federalists Political party that wanted a strong central government. It was led by John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. 3
First Continental Congress In 1774, meeting of the colonies that decided to boycott British goods and set up and train militias. French and Indian War War from 1754 to 1763 between the English and their Native American allies against the French and their Native American allies. The British won gaining most of the French land in the colonies including Canada. geography The study of the earth and its features. It includes the people, land, and resources of an area. Gettysburg Address Speech made in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln after the Battle of Gettysburg. It said that the people who have died in the Civil War had died to preserve the United States democratic way of life. government The rulers of a country or area. There are many different types of government such as democracy. Great Compromise Compromise regarding representation at the Constitutional Convention. It was a compromise between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan. It set up the government with three branches of government and a bicameral legislature. Haudenosaunee People of the longhouse. This was the Iroquois name for themselves. House of Burgesses Representative legislature of colonial Virginia. House of Representatives House of Congress whose membership is determined by the population in the state. import Goods bought from another country. impressment British practice of taking sailors off United States ships and forcing them to serve in the British navy. It was a main cause of the War of 1812. independence When a person or colony declares themselves free from another group. The colonies declared themselves free from Great Britain. Indian Removal Act A law passed in 1830 which forced many Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi River. industrial revolution Period when machines replaced hand tools, and steam and other new sources of power replaced human and animal power. Goods were being made in factories. interchangeable parts Machine-made parts that were exactly the same. This made the assembly line in factories possible. 4
Intolerable Acts - Series of laws passed in 1774 designed to punish Boston for the Boston Tea Party. They closed the port of Boston, passed a Quartering Act and forbid town meetings. judicial branch Branch of government which determines if laws are fair or constitutional. The main group of this branch is the Supreme Court. judicial review Principle of the Constitution that says the judicial branch can declare a law unconstitutional. Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 law which established the Kansas and Nebraska territories and allowed for popular sovereignty to decide on the issue of slavery. legislative branch Branch of government which makes the laws. Congress is the main group. legislature Group of people who make the laws for an area. An example is our Congress. Lewis and Clark Expedition Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led this mission to explore the Louisiana Purchase from 1804-1806. They traveled to the Pacific Ocean and back and were guided by Sacagawea. limited power of government Principle of the Constitution that said the power of government was limited. It could only use the power given to it by the Constitution. longhouse The home of the woodland Iroquois. It was often over one hundred feet long and housed many families. Louisiana Purchase When the United States bought the land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains from France for $15 million in 1803. loyalist Colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution. Manifest Destiny The idea that the United States had the duty to expand to the Pacific Ocean during the 1840s. Marbury vs. Madison 1803 court case which established judicial review. matrilineal Tracing a person s descent (ancestry) through the mother s side of the family. Mayflower Compact 1620 agreement that told how the Pilgrims would rule their settlement. It was signed before they landed at Plymouth. mercantilism Idea that a country became strong by increasing trade with its colonies and building up its gold supply. 5
Mexican Cession Territory including California and New Mexico acquired from Mexico after the Mexican War for $15 million. middle passage Slave trip from Africa to the colonies. militia Volunteer soldiers. Farmers, shopkeepers, etc. who served as soldiers when there was a need. Most of the American soldiers in the American Revolution were militia. Missouri Compromise Agreement in 1819 proposed by Henry Clay attempting to keep the number of slave and free states the same. Missouri entered the United States as a slave state and Maine as a free state. A line was drawn in the land of the Missouri Compromise and slavery was to be allowed south of it and banned north of it. Monroe Doctrine James Monroe made this statement in 1823 saying that Europe should stay out of the Latin America and the United States would defend these areas. nationalism Pride in your country. neutral Not taking sides in a struggle. People in the colonies who were not loyalists or patriots. Neutrality Proclamation 1793 statement of George Washington that said the United States would not get involved in the war between France and Britain. northwest passage A waterway through or around North America. Many explorers looked for it but it didn t exist. override - to overrule, the Congress can override a President s veto making the proposed bill a law. Parliament Representative Government of Great Britain. patriot Someone in the colonies who wanted independence from Great Britain. patriotism Showing pride in your country or cause. Pilgrims Settlers of Massachusetts who came to the Americas for religious freedom. plantation Large estates farmed by slaves in the Southern Colonies. political party Group of people with the same beliefs. popular sovereignty Principle of the Constitution that said the power of the government comes from the people. 6
popular sovereignty The idea that a territory could vote whether or not to have slavery. Associated with the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Preamble Introduction to the Constitution. It stated the goals of the Constitution. precedent An example set for later people to follow. George Washington set many precedents. Pre-Columbian What the Americas were like before the arrival of Columbus. It especially deals with the culture of the people living there. President Head of the Executive Branch. primary sources An account from somebody who was actually there. Examples include photographs, pictures, autobiographies, and diaries. Proclamation of 1763 A 1763 law which forbid colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. Puritans Group of English Protestants who dominated early colonial Massachusetts. Quakers Religious group associated with Pennsylvania that was against war and who believed all people were equal in God s eyes. Quartering Act Act which made colonists house and feed British soldiers. racism Belief that one race is superior to another. ratify to approve raw materials Materials such as lumber that occur naturally in the environment. religious freedom The ability to practice your religion. representative government When voters elect people to govern themselves. Republican Party Political party formed in 1854 with the goal of keeping slavery out of the western territories. Revolutionary War A war fought between 1775-1781 where American colonists were able to defeat Great Britain and achieve their independence. secession Withdrawal from a group. The Confederate States seceded from the United States during the Civil War. 7
Second Continental Congress A 1775 meeting of the colonies which sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III asking for peace and set up the Continental Army with George Washington as its leader. secondary sources An account of an event from somebody who was not actually there. Examples include biographies, encyclopedia articles and textbooks. sectionalism Pride in a person s area of the country more than the country as a whole. Senate The upper house of Congress, the law-making body. There are two Senators elected from each state to Congress. Seneca Falls Convention Meeting for women s rights in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. separation of powers Principle of the Constitution that divided government power into three branches the executive, legislative, and judicial. slave codes Laws designed to keep slaves under control. For example, slaves were not allowed to read or write. slavery When people are forced to do work for another person or group. social sciences Group of sciences that study human society and social behaviors. Sons of Liberty Group of men who were protesting against British rule before the American Revolution. They were centered around Boston, Massachusetts. spoils system The practice of giving government jobs to supporters. Associated with Andrew Jackson. Stamp Act A 1765 law which placed a tax on paper documents such as newspapers, playing cards, and wills. states rights The idea that states have the right to limit the power of the federal government. States said they didn t have to follow laws they thought were unfair. suffrage The right to vote. Supreme Court Highest court is the United States. The main group in the judicial branch. tariff Tax on goods coming into a country. Tariff of Abominations Name given to an 1828 tariff by the South. It made goods more expensive for farmers in the South but helped northern industries. 8
Tea Act A 1773 law that gave a monopoly of the tea trade to the British East India Company. It led to the Boston Tea Party. temperance movement The movement against the use of alcohol. The Federalist Papers Series of essays explaining why the new Constitution was such a good idea. Written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton. Three-Fifths Compromise Compromise regarding slavery at the Constitutional Convention. Slaves would count as 3/5ths of a person for representation in Congress and taxes. tory Someone in the colonies who remained loyal to Britain. Also called a loyalist. Townshend Acts Laws passed in 1767 that taxed goods such as lead, glass, paint, paper and tea. traitor Someone who betrays their country. triangular trade - Colonial trade route between colonial New England, Africa and the West Indies. Uncle Tom s Cabin Novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852. It showed the evils of slavery and the Fugitive Slave Act. unconstitutional Not legal according to the Constitution. Underground Railroad Secret route to freedom in the North or Canada for slaves. veto To reject a bill, the President can veto bills that are proposed by Congress. War Hawks Congressmen from the South and West that wanted the War of 1812. A cause of the War of 1812. Washington s Farewell Address Washington s statement at the end of his presidency where he told Americans to avoid political parties and entangling alliances. It set a precedent that later presidents followed. 9