Download NAME________________________ American History Facts

NAME________________________
American History Facts
Mr. Brooks - 8th Grade
Sunnyvale Middle School - Sunnyvale, Texas
Exploration and Colonization
1.
1620 – Arrival of the Pilgrims and the signing of the Mayflower Compact.
2.
Jamestown, VA, the first permanent English settlement, was founded in 1607.
3.
Mercantilism is an economic theory that a country’s strength is measured by the amount of wealth
(gold) it accumulates; that a country should sell more than it buys. Colonies exist for the benefit of
making the “mother country” rich through trade and commerce.
4.
The English Bill of Rights expanded the protection of the rights of English citizens. It served as a
model for the American Bill of Rights.
5.
The House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly in America (Jamestown, Virginia).
6.
The Magna Carta, signed in 1215 by King John, was the first document that began to limit the absolute
power of the king over the wealthy landowners.
7.
The Mayflower Compact was the agreement signed in 1620 by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, MA, to
consult each other about laws for the colony and a promise to work together to make it succeed.
8.
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the French and Indian War and required France to give up all claims
to land in North America.
American Revolution
9.
Ben Franklin was an inventor, statesman, diplomat to France, signer of the Declaration of
Independence and delegate to Constitutional Convention.
10.
Bernardo de Galvez was the Spanish governor of Louisiana who drove the British from Baton Rouge
and Natchez and opened New Orleans to the colonists to use as a port for shipping.
11.
Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to convince colonists that it was time to
become independent from Britain. It had a tremendous influence.
12.
Concord, Massachusetts was the site of the first battle of the American Revolution.
13.
Crispus Attucks was an African/Native American man who was killed in the Boston Massacre.
14.
George Washington was leader of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, later chairman of
the Constitutional Convention, and became the first President of the United States.
15.
Haym Salomon helped negotiate for financial assistance from France and Holland to help pay for the
Revolutionary War. He raised money needed by Washington to pay for the Battle of Yorktown.
16.
James Armistead was an enslaved African American who gathered military information about the
British for the Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette freed him later.
17.
John Adams argued for a fair trial for the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre, played key
roles in the writing of the Declaration of Independence and at the Constitutional Convention, and was
our 2nd President.
18.
John Paul Jones was a fearless naval officer in the American Revolution who won many battles and
inspired Americans with his famous “I have not yet begun to fight” when he was asked to surrender his
ship to the British.
1
NAME________________________
American History Facts
19.
King George III was the King of England during the Revolutionary War. He refused the Olive Branch
Petition sent by the 2nd Continental Congress in the colonist’s effort to avoid war.
20.
Mercy Otis Warren was a female antifederalist who spoke boldly about her fears the Constitution
would be too strong of a central government.
21.
Patrick Henry was a passionate patriot who became famous for his fiery and energized speeches in
favor of American independence. One of his most famous quotes was “Give me liberty or give me
death!”
22.
Sam Adams was a member of the Sons of Liberty who started the Committee of Correspondence to stir
public support for American independence. He helped organize protests against Britain.
23.
The Articles of Confederation was the first American constitution. It created a weak national
government that gave more power to the individual states.
24.
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the American Revolution because with the influence of
Benjamin Franklin, France became our ally.
25.
The British defeat at Yorktown, Virginia by George Washington’s troops, with the help of the French
navy, signaled the end of the American Revolution.
26.
The Declaration of Independence (1776) was a document written mainly by Thomas Jefferson. It
listed grievances the colonies had with England and explained why they were going to break away.
27.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776.
28.
The first shots of the American Revolution were fired at Lexington, Massachusetts in April 1775.
29.
The Marquis de Lafayette was a French nobleman so inspired by the ideals of the Declaration of
Independence that he volunteered his services and financial assistance to George Washington.
30.
The Treaty of Paris of 1783 ended the Revolutionary War and forced Britain to recognize the U.S. as
an independent nation. The western border of the U.S. became the Mississippi River.
31.
Thomas Jefferson was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence; became the 3rd President of
the United States and purchased the Louisiana territory, and founded the University of Virginia.
32.
Thomas Paine wrote pamphlets like Common Sense and The Crisis to encourage American
independence and resolve. They both had a tremendous influence in encouraging the Patriots.
33.
Tyranny is a cruel and unjust government that ignores human rights.
34.
Wentworth Cheswell was an African American veteran of the Revolutionary War who, like Paul
Revere, rode all night to warn of the British invasion. He rode a different direction from Revere.
Writing the Constitution/More Perfect Union
35.
Ratify means to approve by vote, as in ratifying the Constitution.
36.
A Representative Government is a government system allowing specified voters to elect
representatives to make laws for them.
37.
A Republic is a specific form of democracy in which voters choose representatives to govern them.
38.
Abigail Adams, (wife of President John Adams) was an advocate for women’s rights. She asked for
the men not to forget the women when creating a new government for the United States.
39.
Alexander Hamilton was a leader of the Federalists, first Treasurer of the United States, creator of the
Bank of the U.S., and killed in a duel by Aaron Burr (Vice President of the United States).
2
NAME________________________
American History Facts
40.
Amend means to change, as in amendments to the Constitution.
41.
Antifederalists were people opposed to a powerful Constitution, preferring more power be given to the
state governments than to the national government. They tended to favor an agricultural economy.
42.
Checks and Balances is a system set up by the Constitution in which each branch of the federal
government has duties that serve to check, or control, the actions of the other branches.
43.
Democracy is a form of government that is run for and by the people, giving people the supreme power.
44.
Federalism is the sharing of power, or responsibilities, between the state and the national governments.
45.
Federalists were supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong national government and
supported a diversified (manufacturing & farming) economy.
46.
Free Enterprise is the opportunity of individuals to own private businesses to compete with other
businesses to make a profit with little interference from government control.
47.
George Mason was an influential antifederalist from Virginian who proposed a Bill of Rights to the
Constitution. He refused to sign his approval until a Bill of Rights was added.
48.
George Washington’s Farewell Address advised the United States to stay “neutral in its relations with
other nations” and to avoid “entangling alliances”.
49.
James Madison is considered to be the “Father of the Constitution” and was president during the War
of 1812.
50.
Republicanism was an attitude toward society in the late 1700s based on the belief that the good virtue
and morality of the people were essential for a republic form of democracy to work.
51.
Separation of Powers is a system in which each branch of government has it’s own specific duties.
52.
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution and detail the protection of individual
liberties. Ideas for these rights were borrowed from the English Bill of Rights.
53.
The Constitution of the United States (1787) sets out the laws and principles of the government of the
United States. It created a stronger national government than the Articles of Confederation.
54.
The Constitution of the United States was written in 1787.
55.
The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander
Hamilton, defending the need for a strong Constitution and encouraging it’s ratification.
56.
The Great Compromise created two houses of Congress. One based on population (House of
Representatives), the other gave equal representation to each state (the Senate).
57.
Three-fifths Compromise was permission granted at the Constitutional Convention to the Southern
states that they could count 3 of every 5 slaves in their population to determine representation in
Congress.
58.
Unalienable rights are rights that cannot be given up or taken away. Life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, are examples found in the Declaration of Independence.
59.
Three Branches of Government are the Legislative Branch (Congress), the Judicial Branch (Supreme
Court), and the Executive branch (President).
60.
The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law” restricting freedom of speech, religion,
press, assembly, and petition.
61.
The Second Amendment guarantees the right of states to organize militias, or armies, and the right of
individuals to bear arms.
3
NAME________________________
American History Facts
62.
The Third Amendment forbids the government to order private citizens to allow soldiers to live in their
homes.
63.
The Fourth Amendment requires that warrants be issued if property is to be searched or seized (taken)
by the government.
64.
The Fifth Amendment protects an accused person from having to testify against him or herself (selfincrimination); bans double jeopardy, and guarantees that no person will suffer the loss of life, liberty, or
property without due process of law.
65.
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy public trial by an impartial jury; the right to a
lawyer; the right to cross examine witnesses; and the right to force witnesses at a trial to testify.
66.
The Seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil suits.
67.
The Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail or fines.
68.
The Ninth Amendment states that the people have rights other than those specifically mentioned in the
Constitution.
69.
The Tenth Amendment states that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states.
Early Republic/Age of Jackson/Manifest Destiny/Industrialism
70.
A protective tariff is a tax placed on goods from another country to protect industry at home.
71.
A tariff is a tax on imports. (Note the difference in “protective tariff” #32 above)
72.
Andrew Jackson was the leader of the original Democratic Party and a “President of the people”. More
common people became eligible to vote during his time. He was also responsible for the Trail of Tears,
which forced Native Americans west of the Mississippi River.
73.
Civil Disobedience is the refusal to obey or follow a government law(s) as a means of passive or nonviolent resistance because of one’s moral conviction or belief opposing the law.
74.
Daniel Webster was a Massachusetts Congressman and Senator who became a spokesman for the
North. He emphasized that the preservation of the Union was more important than individual state’s
rights.
75.
Gibbons v. Ogden established that a state could not enact laws that would interfere with trade between
states or interstate commerce.
76.
Henry Clay was a powerful Kentucky Senator who designed several slavery compromises such as the
Missouri Compromise (1820) and the Compromise of 1850. He also proposed the American System
where tariffs collected would be used to build roads and canals to connect east to west.
77.
James Monroe was the 5th president (Democratic-Republican) and author of the Monroe Doctrine,
which shut down the western hemisphere to European expansion or interference.
78.
John C. Calhoun was a South Carolina Congressman and Senator who became a spokesman for the
South before and during the Civil War. He supported states rights and the doctrine of nullification.
79.
John Quincy Adams was the son of John Adams, served as 6th president, and promoted the idea of
America stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific (Manifest Destiny).
80.
Judicial Review is the right of the Supreme Court to examine laws passed by Congress and judge or
determine whether they are constitutional or not.
4
NAME________________________
American History Facts
81.
Manifest Destiny was the name given to the belief in the 1800s that it was “meant to be” for the United
States to extend its borders from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
82.
Marbury v. Madison was the 1803 Court decision where the Supreme Court used its power of judicial
review for the first time to declare an act of Congress as unconstitutional.
83.
McCulloch v. Maryland was where Maryland tried to tax a branch of the national bank. The court
ruled it could not because states do not have jurisdiction over national institutions.
84.
Nullification is the idea (doctrine) of a state declaring a federal law illegal.
85.
Popular Sovereignty means the government’s power comes from the people. During the 1800s, it
referred to allowing each territory/state to decide for itself whether or not to allow slavery.
86.
President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Purchase (Territory) from France in 1803.
87.
Primary Sources are the original records of an event. They include eyewitness reports, records created
at the time of an event, speeches, and letters by people involved in the event, photographs and artifacts.
88.
Secondary Sources are the later writings and interpretations of historians and writers. Often secondary
sources, like textbooks and articles, provide summaries of information found in primary sources.
89.
Sectionalism is a strong sense of loyalty to a state or section instead of to the whole country.
90.
The Cotton Gin was an invention by Eli Whitney that sped up the cleaning of cotton fibers. This meant
more cotton could be grown leading to an increased demand for slaves.
91.
The Industrial Revolution was the era (Late 1700’s – 1800’s) in which making goods at home (cottage
industries) changed to factory production using powered machinery took place.
92.
The Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy statement by President James Monroe stating that 1) the
U.S. would not interfere in European affairs, and 2) that the United States would not allow European
influence or interference on our side of the world (Western Hemisphere).
93.
The Northwest Ordinance was a policy of establishing the procedures for the orderly expansion of the
United States by outlining steps for becoming a territory and then a state.
94.
The successful use of the steamboat by Robert Fulton revolutionized transportation and trade in the
United States. Ships could now travel upstream as easily as downstream.
95.
Virtue refers to beneficial qualities of moral excellence and goodness associated with our Founding
Fathers.
Reform and Culture
96.
An abolitionist was a person who wanted to end slavery in the United States.
97.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, along with Lucretia Mott, organized the Seneca Falls Convention (New York)
signaling the birth of the Women’s Rights Movement in the United States.
98.
Frederick Douglass was a former slave who became one of the most influential black abolitionist in the
country due to his exceptional personality and speaking ability.
99.
Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who became “a conductor” on the Underground Railroad and
helped over 300 slaves to freedom in the North.
100.
Susan B. Anthony took the women’s rights movements and built it into a national organization;
working for better jobs and pay for women. She also opposed slavery and supported the temperance
movement.
5
NAME________________________
101.
American History Facts
The Temperance Movement was a campaign in the 1800s against the sale or use of alcohol.
Sectionalism and Civil War/Reconstruction
102.
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, setting all slaves in the
Confederate states free. It did not free slaves in the North. That required an amendment later.
103.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States who successfully kept the United States
(Union) together. He was assassinated 5 days after the Civil War ended.
104.
Appomattox Court House is the small town in Virginia where Robert E. Lee surrendered the
Confederate Army to Ulysses S. Grant (in the home of a local citizen) ending the Civil War.
105.
Dred Scott v. Sanford was the Supreme Court decision that said slaves were property and not citizens.
This meant that slave owners could take their slaves into free states.
106.
Hiram Rhodes Revels was a black minister and educator who helped recruit black soldiers for the
Union army. After the war, he filled the unexpired term of Jefferson Davis in the U.S. Senate during
Reconstruction.
107.
Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederacy during the Civil War.
108.
Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address stated that, “no state…can lawfully get out of the Union” and that
the Union must be preserved. He assured Southerners slavery was lawful where it existed and pledged
there would be no war unless the South started it. It was an effort to reconcile differences.
109.
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address delivered in spirit of healing the nation’s wounds at a time when
the end of the war was within sight. Focused on reunification, not punishment of the South.
110.
Robert E. Lee was the General of the Confederate Army and was one of the main reasons the South
was able to survive the war as long as they did.
111.
Stonewall Jackson was a Confederate general famous for rallying his troops in the First Battle of Bull
Run. His troops said he stood there like a “stonewall”.
112.
The Battle of Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) was the turning point in the Civil War for the North.
Confederate troops were forced to retreat and never invaded the North again.
113.
The capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi by the North in 1863 effectively split the Confederacy into two
parts (east & west) and gave total control of the Mississippi River to the Union.
114.
The Civil War was fought from 1861-1865 (April, 1861-April, 1865 “Across Five Aprils”)
115.
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.
116.
The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees citizenship and rights to all people born or naturalized in the
United States.
117.
The Fifteenth Amendment guarantees the right to vote to all citizens regardless of race.
118.
The first shots of the Civil War were fired on Fort Sumter, in South Carolina.
119.
The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln honored Union soldiers who gave their lives so that
“…government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
120.
Ulysses S. Grant was the main general of the Union Army and was responsible for leading the United
States to ultimate defeat of the Confederacy.
6