US History & Government: Vocabulary List

US History & Government: Vocabulary List
1. Proclamation of 1763
Line created by British that colonists could not cross.
Created to prevent conflicts between colonists and Native Americans.
2. French & Indian War
Colonists fought with Britain against France and its Indian allies
Britain took control of Ohio River Valley
3. Mercantilism
Colonies exist for the benefit of the mother country
Colonies provide natural resources
Britain did not want colonies manufacturing their own goods
Salutary neglect
4. New England Colonies
Trading and fishing
Rocky soil – no plantations or slaves
5. Southern Colonies
Plantations & slaves
6. Common Sense
Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine
Kings are bad – colonies need independence
7. Natural Rights
Rights that all people are born with (John Locke’s Enlightenment Idea)
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Included in the Declaration of Independence
8. Self Government
Mayflower Compact
Virginia House of Burgesses
Early forms of democracy or republics
9. Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Declared colonies’ independence from Britain
Included colonial grievances and natural rights
10. Revolutionary War
War between Britain and the colonists – Taxation without Representation
America won its Independence from Britain

11. Articles of Confederation
First plan for government – (Shay’s Rebellion) failed and replaced by Constitution
National government too weak & State governments too powerful
National government couldn’t collect taxes
Only 1 branch of government – Legislative (Congress)
No President or Supreme Court
1 success was government had a way to allow new states to bet admitted
12. Land Ordinances
Land Ordinance of 1785 & Northwest Ordinance
Set a pattern of development of new territories
Provided guidelines for new states to be admitted
13. Constitution
A written plan for government
Replaced the Articles of Confederation
Gave more power to the national government
14. Ratify
To approve
Constitution had to be ratified (approved) before it could be used
15. Federalist/Antifederalist
First political parties
Federalists – favored a strong national (federal) government
*Supported the Constitution
*Wrote the Federalist Papers to gain support for the Constitution
*Led by Hamilton
Antifederalists – favored strong state governments
*Wanted a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution
*Led by Jefferson
16. Alexander Hamilton
Wanted a National Bank
Had a plan to get rid of the National Debt
Wanted to strengthen America’s economy
17. Cabinet
President’s advisors
Chosen by the President
Example of Unwritten Constitution
Head of national departments (Ex. Secretary of State)

18. Federalism
Power is shared between the states and the national government
Reserved Powers = State Powers
Delegated Powers = National powers
Concurrent Powers = Shared powers
19. Checks & Balances
Ways that each branch of government can control (check) the other 2 branches.
Examples: veto, impeach, appoint justices, approve appointments, approve treaties, laws ruled
unconstitutional
20. Separation of Powers
National government power separated into 3 branches
o Legislative Branch – Congress
o Executive Branch – President – Commander & Chief
o Judicial Branch – Supreme Court
21. Great Compromise
Compromise between New Jersey and Virginia Plans
Created a bicameral (2 house) legislative branch (Congress)
o Senate – 2 for each state
o House of Representatives – based on a state’s population
22. Unwritten Constitution
Parts of our government that are needed but not actually found in the Constitution
Examples: President’s Cabinet, Political Parties, Judicial Review
23. Amendment
An addition or change to the Constitution
“Flexibility”
24. Elastic Clause
Part of the Constitution that allowed for change – synonym of amendment
Allows government to make laws to fit a changing society – Necessary & Proper Clause
Implied Powers
Examples: Louisiana Purchase, FCC, minimum wage, ect.
25. Electoral College
Each state gets electoral votes, same as number of total representatives
Popular vote in each state determines the electoral votes
Criticized because electoral vote doesn’t always reflect popular vote

26. Bill of Rights
1 st 10 amendments
Antifederalists wanted it added
Protects our rights from the government
Examples: Freedom of speech, religion, due process – fair trial
27. Washington’s Farewell
Washington wanted the country to stay neutral
Proclamation of neutrality
US was not strong enough to get involved with other countries, might lose new independence
28. Laissez Faire
Government should leave businesses alone, keep their nose out of businesses
29. Lobbying
Special interest groups that influence legislatures to get laws passed
Example of unwritten constitution
Lobbyists are criticized for having too much influence on legislatures
30. John Marshall Court
Supreme Court Justice, all decisions led to the power of the national government increasing
31. Marbury v. Madison
Supreme Court case that established judicial review
32. Judicial Review
Power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional
Established by Marbury v. Madison
Example of unwritten constitution
33. Louisiana Purchase
Doubled the size of the US
Bought by Jefferson
US farmers gained control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans
34. Embargo Act
Jefferson passed a law that banned trade with all other countries
Helped keep the US neutral
Hurt the US, was intended to hurt Britain and France
35. War of 1812
War between Britain and the US
Britain was impressing US sailors and arming Native Americans
Francis Scott Key wrote “Star Spangled Banner” about battle of Fort Mchenry

36. Monroe Doctrine
US foreign policy that warned Europe to leave Latin America alone
Made the US in control of the Western Hemisphere
37. Andrew Jackson
Used the spoils system – gave government jobs to political supporters
Passed Indian Removal Act – Trail of Tears
Nicknamed “King Andrew” (remember the cartoon) *powerful President
38. Manifest Destiny
Americans had the right to settle westward all the way to the Pacific Ocean
39. Abolitionist Movement
Goal was to end slavery
Organized the Underground Railroad (Harriet Tubman)
Frederick Douglas (North Star Newspaper)
William Lloyd Garrison (Liberator Newspaper)
40. Women’s Rights Movement (Women’s Suffrage)
Goal was to get equal rights and suffrage for women
Organized the Seneca Falls Convention and wrote Declaration of Sentiments
Leaders were Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott
41. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
A book written to show how evil slavery was
Used to spread the Abolitionist Movement
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe
42. Missouri Compromise
Settled a conflict over new states – kept balance between number of free and slave states
Missouri entered the Union as a slave state
Maine entered as a free state
43. Compromise of 1850
Settled a conflict over new states – kept balance between number of free and slave states
Created the Fugitive Slave Law
44. Fugitive Slave Law
Law that allowed slave owners to catch slaves that escaped to the North
Forced slaves to head to Canada for freedom
Angered Northerners who were now forced to be a part of slavery
45. Kansas-Nebraska Act
Allowed new states to use popular sovereignty to decide slavery issue
Bleeding Kansas (John Brown)

46. Popular Sovereignty
New states could vote to decide whether or not they would be a free or a slave state
47. Sectionalism
Loyalty to a part of the country rather than the country as a whole
North vs. South vs. West
Slavery issue increased sectionalism
48. Causes of Civil War
Lincoln was elected – South knew he was against slavery
Sectionalism – North and South were very different places
State’s Rights – Southern states wanted states’ rights (Nullification)
Secession – Lincoln and the North was fighting to preserve the Union
49. The North’s Strengths During the Civil War
More railroads than the South
More factories than the South
Factory production increased
50. Dred Scott v. Sanford
Slaves are property not citizens
Missouri Compromise voided – government can’t prohibit slavery in territories
51. Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln freed slaves in the Confederacy
Civil War became a fight over ending slavery
52. Reconstruction
Plan to “fix” south after the Civil War
Lincoln’s plan was too lenient on the South
13 th , 14 th , & 15 th Amendments passed
Freedmen’s Bureau helped former slaves
53. Black Codes
Southern laws to limit rights of African Americans
Poll taxes, grandfather clause, literacy tests (prevent African Americans from voting)
54. Jim Crow Laws
Segregation laws in the South
Limited rights of African Americans
55. Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme court ruled that segregation was legal
Public facilities had to be separate but equal.

56. Gilded Age
Name created by Mark Twain for the end of the 19 th Century
Large gaps between the rich and poor
57. Transcontinental Railroad
Federal government gave railroad companies land to build it
Helped in the settlement of the west
Made transportation cheaper and faster
Led to the downfall of the buffalo and the Plains Indians
58. Monopoly/Trust/Pool
A company that controls or dominates an industry
Worked to eliminate competition to increase profits
59. Social Darwinism
The belief that stronger businesses should be allowed to eliminate weaker businesses
Supporters of social Darwinism also believed in laissez faire and the formation of monopolies
60. Robber Barons
Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan, Ford, Vanderbilt
Used ruthless business tactics to eliminate competitors and form monopolies
Philanthropists – donated money
61. Sherman Antitrust Act/Interstate Commerce Act
Laws passed to eliminate trusts/monopolies
Laws showed that the government could regulate/control businesses
Promoted competition in business
62. Labor Union
American Federation of Labor – Samuel Gompers
Organized workers to improve working conditions and increase wages
Easier for skilled workers to unionize
Government used force to stop early unions (Pullman Strike & Haymarket Riot)
63. Dawe’s Act
Government program to force Native Americans to assimilate
Helped settle the West and achieve manifest destiny
64. Homestead Act
Government program that gave land to white settlers
Helped settle the Great Plains
65. Granger Movement
Organization of farmers to help fight against high railroad costs

66. Populist Party
Political party made up of farmers and factory workers
Hoped to achieve an 8 hour work day
Were responsible for direct election of senators and graduated income taxes
Wanted to reform our currency and use a silver standard
67. Pendleton Civil Service Act
This law ended the spoils system
People have to take a civil service test to get government jobs
68. Old Immigrants
Came to America for economic reasons and settled in northern cities
Immigrants from Ireland and Germany
Irish immigrants discriminated against because they were Catholics
69. New Immigrants
Came to America for economic reasons and settled in northern cities
Immigrants from Russia, China, and Japan
Chinese immigrants discriminated against more than other groups
70. Melting Pot Theory
The belief that immigrant cultures blend together to make a new American culture
Immigrants assimilate into American culture
71. Nativists
People that did not want immigrants in America
Formed the Know-Nothing Party to stop immigration
Chinese Exclusion Act and Gentlemen’s Agreement are nativist laws
72. Muckrakers
Journalists that used the press to expose the problems in American society.
Jacob Riis –How the Other Half Lives (Photos of tenements)
Upton Sinclair- The Jungle (Meat Packing Plants)
Ida Tarbell – The History of the Standard Oil Company (Corrupt Monopolies)
73. Imperialism
When one country takes over another country
Examples: Spanish American War, Buying Alaska, Taking over Hawaii, Panama Canal
74. Imperialism Policies
Monroe Doctrine – US protects Latin America
Roosevelt Corollary – US is the Police of Latin America
Big Stick Policy – Speak softly and carry a big stick
Dollar Diplomacy – Use money to control Latin America

75. Spanish American War
Caused by yellow journalism and sinking of the Maine
US helped Cuba gain independence from Spain
US won Puerto Rico, Guam, and Philippines
76. Yellow Journalism
When journalists exaggerate stories to influence readers’ opinions
Was used to make Americans want war with Spain after the sinking of the Maine
77. Theodore Roosevelt
President that built the Panama Canal and the national parks
Passed Meat Inspection Law
Nicknamed the Trust Buster – ended bad trusts/kept good trusts (Bear Cartoon)
A Progressive that ran for President for the Bull Moose Party
78. Panama Canal
Built by President Roosevelt
Connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to speed up trade
Example of imperialism
79. Progressive Era
Reform period where laws were passed to give people more control of government
Social welfare programs were passed
Examples: Meat Inspection Law, Direct Election of Senators, Referendum.
80. Federal Reserve
A national bank in charge of controlling the supply of money
It also controls the interest rates
81. 19 th Amendment
Law that gave women the right to vote (Women’s Suffrage)
Started with the Seneca Falls Convention
Movement started by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton
82. World War I
The first modern war (The Great War)
Fought in Europe, started by MAIN causes
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
83. US Joins World War I
Sinking of the Lusitania by German U-Boats
Zimmerman Telegram from Germany asking Mexico to fight the US

84. Sedition Act
Law passed during WWI that took away Constitutional rights
Made it illegal to say or print anything negative about the government
85. Wilson’s 14 Points
President Wilson’s plan to prevent further wars in Europe
One of the 14 points was to end the alliance systems
86. League of Nations
President Wilson’s idea for a national peacekeeping organization
Failed because the US refused to join
87. Treaty of Versailles
Treaty that ended WWI and led to the start of WWII
Blamed Germany for the war and made the pay war reparations
88. Roaring 20s
US economy was great in the 1920s
People can afford to buy more but are saving less than they were before
Flappers, Harlem Renaissance, Red Scare
89. Open Door Policy
Policy that allowed equal trade with China
US was afraid that Europe would have an unfair trade advantage with China
90. Great Migration
African Americans migrated to northern cities
Competition for jobs created racial tension and sometimes race riots
91. Teapot Dome Scandal
President Harding’s administration was very corrupt
Oil officials gave bribes to use government land for oil (Teapot Dome, Wyoming)
92. Scopes Trial
A trial against a science teacher that broke a Tennessee law by teaching evolution
It was a conflict between traditional and modern values
93. Red Scare
US fear of communism
Led to the violation of Constitutional rights
94. Sacco and Vanzetti Trial
2 immigrants wrongly accused and executed for murder
Convicted because of racists and nativists

95. Temperance Movement
Reform movement to make alcohol illegal
Blamed alcohol for many problems in America
Led to the passage of the 18 th Amendment and prohibition
96. 18 th Amendment (Prohibition)
Made alcohol illegal in the US
Created organized crime
Bootleggers – made and sold illegal alcohol
Speakeasy – secret illegal bars
97. 21 st Amendment
Made alcohol legal again
Repealed the 18 th Amendment
98. Flappers
Women of the 1920s who wanted to be independent and outgoing
Had short bobbed hair, drank alcohol, and smoked
99. Harlem Renaissance
African Americans artists in Harlem that influenced American culture
Langston Hughes- Poetry
Duke Ellington – Jazz Music
100. Ford’s Assembly Line
Henry ford produced cars faster and cheaper using an assembly line
Allowed the mass production of products
Soon almost all produced were made using an assembly line
101. Schenck v. United States
Supreme Court ruled Espionage Act constitutional
“Clear and present danger” doctrine
Civil rights can be limited for reasons of national security
102. The Great Depression
The day the stock market crashed was called Black Tuesday
Caused by speculation and buying stocks on margin/credit
Caused by overproduction and underconsumption
103. The Dust Bowl
Giant dust storms in the Great Plains area
Caused by poor farming techniques and drought
Farmers moved west to escape the Dust Bowl

104. President Hoover
He was blamed for the Great Depression
Hoovervilles and Hoover Blankets are proof he was blamed
He believed in trickledown economics and giving businesses money
He did not believe in directly helping the people
105. FDR
Created the New Deal to help end the Great Depression
Believed in directly helping the people
106. The New Deal
Programs are alphabet soup (TVA, FDIC, CCC, PWA)
Government gained more power and debt increased
Helped unions – passed Wagner Act
Government created jobs and controlled businesses
107. Good Neighbor Policy
FDR passed this law to improve relations with Latin America
US would no longer intervene in Latin American affairs
108. WWII
Ended the Great Depression
US joined after attack on Pearl Harbor
The country mobilized for war
Citizens bought war bonds and planted victory gardens
109. Lend Lease Act
FDR promised to give money to European countries fighting against Germany in WWII
US helped the Allies without joining the war
110. Pearl Harbor
Japan secretly attacked US navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Caused the US to join WWII
111. Japanese Internment
Japanese Americans were held out of fear after Pearl Harbor
They lost their homes and jobs
Violated the rights of citizens to protect national security
112. Korematsu v. United States
Court ruled that Japanese Internment was constitutional
Civil liberties may be limited to protect national security
113. Rosie the Riveter
Women that worked in factories during WWII

114. Nuremberg Trials
Nazi leaders were put on trial for war crimes during the Holocaust
It showed that leaders could be held accountable for their actions
115. The Manhattan Project
The secret development of the atomic bomb
President Truman decided to bomb Japan to end WWII
US dropped bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
116. Baby Boom
Large increase in births after the end of WWII
Baby boomers will put strain on the social security system as they retire
117. Suburbs & Interstate Highways
The automobile allowed Americans to live in suburbs
The Interstate Highway Act built better roads and allowed more suburbanization
118. Fair Deal
Truman’s plan to continue FDR’s reforms of the New Deal
Programs that increased government commitment to helping the people
119. The Cold War
The competition and tension between the US (Democracy) and the Soviet Union (Communism)
Led to a nuclear arms race and the space race
Korean War and Vietnam War are part of the Cold War
Cold War ends with the fall of the Berlin Wall
120. Containment
US policy to stop the spread of communism
Korean War and Vietnam War are fought to contain communism
121. Domino Theory
The belief that if one country falls to communism others will follow
The reason the US fought the Vietnam War was to stop the domino theory from happening
122. Truman Doctrine
US policy to limit the spread of communism and the Soviet Union
US would support countries in need against the spread of communism (containment)
123. Marshall Plan
US policy to limit the spread of communism and the Soviet Union
US would help the economies of Europe recover after WWII
124. Berlin Airlift
The US flew supplies into East Berlin
Helped stop the spread of communism and Soviet expansion

125. NATO
An alliance between the US and other countries to stop Soviet expansion
Provided collective security against the Soviet Union
126. Korean War
Fought to protect South Korea from communist North Korea
Fought because of containment
Korea remained divided (38 th parallel) at the end of the war
127. McCarthyism
The witch hunt created by Senator McCarthy for the search of communists in the US
Trials ruined the reputations of many innocent Americans
Encouraged nativism and violated the rights of citizens because of a fear of communism
128. Rosenberg Case
Couple convicted and executed for being communists and Soviet spies
Showed nativist fears of foreigners
129. Civil Rights Movement
African Americans working to end segregation and get equal rights
Led by Martin Luther King Jr. (“I have a dream” speech)
Rosa Parks treatment led to the Montgomery bus boycott
130. Brown v. Board of Education
Supreme court’s ruling ended segregation in public schools
Reversed the earlier court decision in Plessy v Ferguson
Showed that the national government could overrule state laws
Little Rock 9 were escorted to school by the military
131. Martin Luther King Jr.
Leader of the Civil Rights Movement
Used nonviolent protest and civil disobedience
Led Montgomery bus boycott and march on Washington
Gave famous “I have a dream” speech and was assassinated
132. Communism in Cuba
Led by the dictator Fidel Castro
Cuban Missile Crisis because of Soviets putting missiles in Cuba
Bay of Pigs invasion was Kennedy’s FAILED secret plan to remove Castro
133. Vietnam
Many Americans protested and called it an unjust war
US starts war after they are attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin
Fought because of containment to stop the spread of communism

134. Great Society
President Johnson’s programs to help people and end poverty
Programs to improve the general welfare (Medicare & Medicaid)
Programs were abandoned because of the Vietnam War
135. President Nixon
Created the policy of détente to ease tensions with the Soviets
Resigned as President because of the Watergate Affair
New President Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon for any crimes
136. Miranda v. Arizona
Supreme Court case that protected the rights of the accused
“You have the right to remain silent”
137. Roe v. Wade
Supreme Court case that made abortion legal
Protected women’s right to privacy
Controversial case that has been challenged many times
138. President Carter
Major achievement was the Camp David peace accords
Tried to bring peace to the Middle East
Iranian hostage situation made people believe Carter was weak
139. President Clinton
Economy prospered during his presidency giving him high approval ratings
Helped prevent human rights violations in Bosnia
Was impeached for perjury but remained in office
140. President Bush
Defining moment of his presidency was the attack on September 11th
Department of Homeland Security was created because of terrorist attacks
War in Afghanistan against the Taliban started during Bush’s presidency
War in Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power