Glossary
American Revolution
The war fought by the thirteen American colonies against Great Britain from 1775 to 1783, resulting in the independence of the United States.
Example:
The colonists' victory at the Battle of Yorktown effectively ended the American Revolution, securing their independence.
Articles of Confederation
The first governing document of the United States, adopted in 1781, which created a weak central government with limited powers.
Example:
Shays' Rebellion highlighted the critical weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, demonstrating the national government's inability to effectively respond to domestic unrest.
Bicameral
A legislative body consisting of two houses or chambers, designed to provide checks and balances within the legislative process.
Example:
The U.S. Congress is a bicameral legislature, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, ensuring diverse representation.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, which guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms to citizens.
Example:
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to appease Anti-Federalists who feared a strong central government might infringe upon individual liberties.
Checks and Balances
A system within the U.S. government where each branch (legislative, executive, judicial) has powers that limit or oversee the actions of the other branches.
Example:
The presidential veto power over legislation passed by Congress is a prime example of checks and balances in action, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Constitutional Convention
A gathering of delegates in Philadelphia in 1787 that was initially called to revise the Articles of Confederation but ultimately drafted the new U.S. Constitution.
Example:
The Constitutional Convention was a pivotal moment where delegates debated and compromised on fundamental issues, leading to the creation of a stronger federal government.
Declaration of Independence
A formal statement adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, declaring the thirteen American colonies independent from Great Britain.
Example:
Thomas Jefferson's eloquent words in the Declaration of Independence articulated the colonists' grievances and their philosophical justification for seeking self-governance.
Democracy
A system of government where supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation, usually involving periodically held free elections.
Example:
The American Revolution sparked a global interest in democracy, inspiring movements for self-governance in other parts of the world.
Displacement
The forced removal of people from their homes or traditional lands, often due to conflict, government policy, or expansion.
Example:
The displacement of Native American tribes, exemplified by the Trail of Tears, was a tragic consequence of westward expansion and the Indian Removal Act.
Federalism
A system of government where power is divided and shared between a central (national) government and individual state governments.
Example:
The U.S. Constitution established federalism by granting specific powers to the national government while reserving others for the states, like regulating education.
Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist
Two opposing political factions during the ratification of the U.S. Constitution; Federalists supported a strong central government, while Anti-Federalists advocated for stronger state governments and a Bill of Rights.
Example:
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over the ratification of the Constitution were published in essays like The Federalist Papers, shaping early American political thought.
French and Indian War
A North American conflict (1754-1763) that was part of a larger global war (the Seven Years' War) between Great Britain and France, with Native American allies on both sides.
Example:
The French and Indian War significantly increased Britain's debt and led to new taxes on the American colonies, setting the stage for the Revolution.
Great Compromise
An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature, with representation in the House of Representatives based on population and equal representation for each state in the Senate.
Example:
The Great Compromise successfully resolved the contentious debate between large and small states over legislative representation, preventing the convention from collapsing.
Indian Removal Act
A law passed in 1830 during Andrew Jackson's presidency, authorizing the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).
Example:
The Indian Removal Act led to the tragic Trail of Tears, where thousands of Cherokee and other Native Americans died during their forced march westward.
Napoleonic Wars
A series of major conflicts from 1803 to 1815 pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against various European coalitions.
Example:
The Napoleonic Wars in Europe significantly impacted American trade and foreign policy, eventually contributing to the War of 1812.
Native American
The indigenous peoples of North America, who faced significant displacement and conflict due to European colonization and American westward expansion.
Example:
Many Native American tribes, like the Cherokee, resisted forced removal from their ancestral lands, often through both legal and armed means.
Neutrality
The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict or disagreement, especially in international relations.
Example:
George Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality aimed to keep the young United States out of the ongoing conflicts between European powers like France and Britain.
Proclamation of Neutrality
A formal announcement issued by U.S. President George Washington in 1793, declaring the nation neutral in the conflict between France and Great Britain.
Example:
Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality aimed to protect the young nation's economic interests and avoid entanglement in European wars.
Saratoga
A decisive American victory in 1777 during the Revolutionary War, which convinced France to formally ally with the United States.
Example:
The Battle of Saratoga is considered the turning point of the American Revolution because it secured crucial French military and financial support.
Slavery
A brutal system of forced labor and ownership of people, primarily of African descent, that was central to the Southern economy in early America.
Example:
Despite the ideals of liberty, the institution of slavery persisted and expanded in the Southern states, creating a profound moral contradiction for the new nation.
Stamp Act
A British law passed in 1765 that imposed a direct tax on various printed materials in the American colonies, sparking widespread protest.
Example:
The Stamp Act was one of the first direct taxes imposed on the colonies by Britain, leading to cries of 'no taxation without representation!'
Thirteenth Amendment
An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1865, that officially abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
Example:
While the notes mention it as a later development, the Thirteenth Amendment ultimately fulfilled the promise of liberty for enslaved people, though decades after the Revolution.
War of 1812
A conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815, primarily over maritime rights, impressment, and British support for Native American resistance.
Example:
The burning of Washington D.C. by British forces was a notable event during the War of 1812, though the war ultimately ended in a stalemate.
Yorktown
The final major battle of the American Revolution in 1781, where a combined American and French force trapped and forced the surrender of the British army.
Example:
The British surrender at Yorktown effectively ended the fighting in the American Revolution, paving the way for peace negotiations.