American History Vocab by Sadhika Lalam _ Student - GreenLevelHS

Civilization

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:45:09 UTC

An urban society is created through various factors, including government, specialized labor, and advanced technology, to remain successful.

Mercantilism

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:46:36 UTC

An economic policy that is based on the idea that wealth and profit can be created by trading.

Columbian Exchange

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:47:23 UTC

A set of trade routes connecting the early world for goods and wealth.

Indentured Servant

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:48:37 UTC

A slave who has agreed to work for a master for a set amount of time in exchange for passage, room, and board.

Chattel Slavery

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:49:31 UTC

When slaves can be legally bought or sold and given away as property.

Puritans

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:51:04 UTC

Puritans are a group of English Protestants who were set to purify the New England church ands its catholic practices.

Triangular Trade

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:52:21 UTC

A transatlantic trade system connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Encomienda System

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:53:38 UTC

A forced labor system that was brought upon the Spanish by Americans disguised as trade.

Southern Colonies

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:54:12 UTC

The Southern Colonies consisted of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia

Middle Colonies

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:55:33 UTC

Made up of New York, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, known for their great farm land.

New England Colonies

slalam — 2025-08-27 15:56:44 UTC

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut are known for having elite religion, economy, and religion.

Proclamation Line of 1763

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:00:21 UTC

a British-produced boundary marked in the Appalachian Mountains at the Eastern Continental Divide

Patriot

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:01:11 UTC

Those who supported gaining independence from Britain.

Tory

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:02:52 UTC

Colonists who chose to stay loyal to British colonization.

Articles of Confederation

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:03:54 UTC

The first draft of the US Constitution had a weak central government.

Federalists

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:05:10 UTC

Supported a strong, singular central government along with the ratification of the US Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:06:14 UTC

Those who opposed a strong, singular central government and opposed the ratification of the US Constitution.

Enlightenment

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:09:19 UTC

The rise of new ideologies, including, natural rights, self-government, and reason. Shift in the number of people who believed in religion.

Albany Plan of Union

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:10:29 UTC

Ben Franklin's plan to unite all the colonies, even though it failed.

Northwest Ordinance

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:11:49 UTC

Banned slaves in the North West territories and established a new process to establish new states.

Newburgh Conspiracy

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:14:53 UTC

Officers in the army are considering a rebellion due to unpaid wages. Washington diffused the situation.

Great Compromise

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:15:34 UTC

combines ideas of NJ and VA to create a bicameral legislature.

Three-Fifths Compromise

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:17:05 UTC

Enslaved people were now counted as 3/5 of a person in the population.

Salutary Neglect

slalam — 2025-09-08 16:17:53 UTC

A policy where the British ignored colonies, which led to self-rule.

Political Party

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:32:41 UTC

A group of people who share the same ideas about government and work together to get their candidates elected

Marbury vs. Madison

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:33:19 UTC

A famous Supreme Court case in 1803 that gave the Court the power to decide if laws are constitutional, also known as judicial review.

Temperance Movement

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:33:42 UTC

A movement where people wanted to stop or limit drinking alcohol because they thought it caused problems in society.

Abolition Movement

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:33:57 UTC

A movement to end slavery in the United States.

Women’s Rights Movement

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:37:35 UTC

A movement where women fought for equal rights, like voting, owning property, and having more say in society.

Cotton Gin

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:38:01 UTC

A machine invented by Eli Whitney that quickly cleaned cotton. It made cotton production faster but also increased slavery in the South.

Steam Engine

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:38:29 UTC

A machine that uses steam power to run things like trains and boats, making travel and trade much faster.

Factory System

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:38:45 UTC

A way of producing goods where many workers and machines are all in one place, making items quicker and cheaper.

Canals

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:39:04 UTC

Man-made waterways built to move goods and people more easily, especially before railroads.

Monroe Doctrine

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:39:21 UTC

A U.S. policy from 1823 that told European countries to stay out of the Americas and not make new colonies.

Democratic Party

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:39:40 UTC

A political party that started with Andrew Jackson, known for supporting the “common man” at the time.

Whigs

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:39:54 UTC

A political party in the 1800s that opposed Andrew Jackson and wanted Congress to have more power than the President.

Telegraph

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:40:09 UTC

– An invention that sent messages quickly over long distances using electric signals, like an early text message.

Interchangeable Parts

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:40:32 UTC

Identical machine-made parts that made it easier to fix and build things, leading to mass production.

Impressment

slalam — 2025-09-28 15:40:51 UTC

When the British captured American sailors and forced them to work on British ships, which helped cause the War of 1812.

Manifest Destiny

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:27:42 UTC

This was the 19th-century belief that the United States was meant to expand its control and democracy across the whole continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Compromise of 1850

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:28:46 UTC

A group of laws passed by Congress that tried to settle disagreements over whether slavery would be allowed in new western lands. It included allowing California to enter as a free state and creating a stricter Fugitive Slave Act.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:29:22 UTC

A law from 1854 that set up two territories and allowed the people living there to vote on the issue of slavery. This act ended earlier rules and immediately led to violence in the area.

Popular Sovereignty

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:29:46 UTC

The principle that the people who live in a territory should vote to decide if they will allow slavery or not. Using this idea for new territories made the national debate over slavery much worse.

Fugitive Slave Act

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:30:07 UTC

A federal law that required all U.S. citizens and officials, even those in free states, to assist in the capture and return of enslaved people who had run away. This made many Northerners resent the institution of slavery.

Sectionalism

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:30:32 UTC

A stronger loyalty to one's own region of the country rather than to the nation as a whole. Disagreements over slavery and economics caused this division to grow into a major cause of the Civil War.

Secession

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:30:55 UTC

the formal act of a state choosing to leave the United States. This occurred when eleven Southern states left the Union between 1860 and 1861 to create the Confederacy.

Union

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:31:22 UTC

The term used to identify the USA, particularly the government and the loyal states of the North, who fought to stop the secession and preserve the country.

Confederacy

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:31:48 UTC

The political government, officially called the Confederate States of America, which was formed by the eleven states that seceded from the Union. They fought the Civil War to protect states' rights and slavery.

Thirteenth Amendment

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:32:20 UTC

A constitutional change, passed in 1865, that completely and legally abolished slavery in every part of the United States.

Fourteenth Amendment

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:32:51 UTC

An amendment, passed in 1868, that declared that all people born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens and guaranteed all citizens equal protection under the law.

Fifteenth Amendment

slalam — 2025-10-21 14:33:23 UTC

This amendment, passed in 1870, secured the right to vote for all male citizens, stating that voting could not be denied based on a person's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Capitalism

slalam — 2025-11-03 22:45:58 UTC

A system where people and companies own businesses instead of the government. Everyone competes to make money, which can lead to new ideas and products, but also creates rich and poor groups.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

slalam — 2025-11-03 22:46:27 UTC

A powerful businessman who made his fortune in railroads and shipping. He helped improve transportation across the U.S. and was one of the first major industrial leaders during the Gilded Age.

Andrew Carnegie

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:06:46 UTC

A famous steel businessman who became one of the richest men in America. He believed in giving back to society and donated much of his money to build libraries, schools, and universities.

John D. Rockefeller

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:07:13 UTC

The founder of Standard Oil, which became the largest oil company in the U.S. He was known for controlling most of the oil industry and for being both criticized as a “robber baron” and praised as a “titan of industry.”

JP Morgan

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:07:31 UTC

A wealthy banker who helped organize and finance major companies like General Electric and U.S. Steel. He also helped the government during financial crises, showing how powerful bankers were in this era.

Titans of Industry

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:07:58 UTC

A positive nickname for the wealthy businessmen who helped grow America’s economy in the late 1800s. They created jobs, improved industries, and helped modernize the country.

Robber Barons

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:08:23 UTC

A negative nickname for powerful businessmen who became rich by using unfair or ruthless methods. They were accused of treating workers badly, cheating competitors, and caring only about money.

Unions

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:08:46 UTC

Groups of workers who came together to fight for better working conditions, fair pay, and shorter hours. They often went on strikes and protested to make workplaces safer and more

Migration

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:09:17 UTC

When people move from one place to another to find better jobs, land, or living conditions. During the Gilded Age, many people moved from rural areas or other countries to cities to work in factories.

Gilded Age

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:10:01 UTC

A time in U.S. history (late 1800s) when the country looked wealthy and successful on the outside but had deep problems underneath, like poverty and unfair working conditions. The name “gilded” means covered in gold but not pure underneath.

Social Darwinism

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:10:21 UTC

The idea that only the strongest people, businesses, or nations survive and succeed. Many rich people used this idea to justify their wealth and to argue against helping the poor.

Gospel of Wealth

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:10:37 UTC

A belief started by Andrew Carnegie that rich people had a responsibility to use their money to improve society. This led many wealthy people to donate to charities, schools, and libraries.

Muckraking

slalam — 2025-11-03 23:12:47 UTC

A type of journalism that exposed corruption, unfair working conditions, and other problems in society. Muckrakers helped the public learn the truth and encouraged government reforms.

Unit 6

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:35:07 UTC

Women’s Suffrage

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:36:13 UTC

Women’s suffrage was the movement fighting for women to have the right to vote. It took many protests and marches over decades. Women finally gained the right to vote in 1920 with the 19th Amendment.

Prohibition

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:36:29 UTC

Prohibition was the period from 1920–1933 when alcohol was illegal in the United States. The government thought banning alcohol would reduce crime and improve society. Instead, it led to illegal bars and more organized crime.

Isolationism

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:36:49 UTC

Isolationism is when a country avoids getting involved in world affairs or foreign wars. The U.S. followed isolationism after WWI. Many Americans wanted to focus on problems at home instead of other countries.

Imperialism

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:37:05 UTC

Imperialism is when a powerful country takes over weaker areas for land, resources, or power. In the late 1800s, the U.S. expanded into places like Hawaii and the Philippines. This made the U.S. more involved globally.

Militarism

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:37:22 UTC

Militarism is when a country builds a strong military and believes it should use it to solve problems. This was one cause of WWI. Countries competed to have the biggest armies and weapons.

Nationalism

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:37:38 UTC

Nationalism means having strong pride and loyalty to your country. It can unite people, but it can also create tension with other nations. Nationalism in Europe helped lead to WWI.

League of Nations

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:38:17 UTC

The League of Nations was a peace organization created after WWI. Its goal was to prevent future wars by letting countries talk out their problems. The U.S. didn’t join, which made it weak.

Treaty of Versailles

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:38:33 UTC

The Treaty of Versailles officially ended WWI. It blamed Germany for the war and forced them to pay money and give up land. Many people believe it helped cause WWII.

Great Migration

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:38:49 UTC

The Great Migration was when millions of African Americans moved from the South to northern cities. They were looking for better jobs and less discrimination. This move changed the culture and population of many cities.

Zimmerman Telegram

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:39:00 UTC

The Zimmerman Telegram was a secret message from Germany to Mexico during WWI. It asked Mexico to attack the U.S. in exchange for land. When Americans found out, it increased support for joining WWI.

Stocks on Margin

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:39:14 UTC

Buying stocks on margin means borrowing money to buy more stocks than you can afford. People did this a lot in the 1920s. When the stock market crashed, they couldn’t pay back their loans.

Tariffs

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:39:30 UTC

Tariffs are taxes placed on imported goods. They are meant to protect American businesses from foreign competition. But they can also raise prices and harm trade.

3 Rs (New Deal)

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:41:00 UTC

The 3 Rs stand for Relief, Recovery, and Reform. These were FDR’s goals during the Great Depression. They aimed to help people immediately, fix the economy, and prevent future crises.

Island Hopping

slalam — 2025-11-20 13:41:14 UTC

Island hopping was a U.S. strategy in WWII in the Pacific. The military captured one island at a time, moving closer to Japan. This helped the U.S. get into bombing range of Japan.

Holocaust

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:48:55 UTC

The genocide during World War II in which Nazi Germany murdered about 6 million Jews and millions of others (ended in 1945).

Murder of Emmett Till

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:49:24 UTC

The 1955 lynching of a Black teenager in Mississippi; it became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.

International Organizations

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:50:27 UTC

Groups made up of multiple countries that work together on global issues (ex: UN, NATO).

Greensboro Sit-Ins

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:51:03 UTC

1960 peaceful protests by Black college students against segregation at a lunch counter in North Carolina.

United Nations (UN)

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:51:22 UTC

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, cooperation, and human rights.

March on Washington

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:51:57 UTC

A 1963 civil rights rally where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Bretton Woods System

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:52:19 UTC

A post–WWII economic system that stabilized currencies and created the IMF and World Bank.

Assassination of JFK

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:52:34 UTC

The 1963 killing of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:53:03 UTC

A military alliance formed in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, and Western European nations.

Assassination of MLK Jr.

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:53:48 UTC

The 1968 killing of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.

Iron Curtain

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:54:13 UTC

A term describing the political and ideological division between communist Eastern Europe and capitalist Western Europe.

Civil Rights Act of 1968

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:54:37 UTC

A law that outlawed housing discrimination and strengthened civil rights protections.

Warsaw Pact

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:55:01 UTC

A 1955 military alliance of the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies.

US Withdraws from Vietnam

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:56:28 UTC

The U.S. ended direct military involvement in Vietnam in 1973.

Containment

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:56:53 UTC

A U.S. policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Watergate Scandal

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:57:10 UTC

A political scandal that led to President Nixon’s resignation in 1974.

Domino Theory

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:57:40 UTC

The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:58:24 UTC

The idea that nuclear war would destroy both sides, preventing either from starting it.

Atomic Bomb

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:58:50 UTC

A powerful weapon first used by the U.S. in 1945 that helped end World War II and began the nuclear age.

Nuclear Weapons

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:59:13 UTC

Extremely powerful weapons developed after WWII and central to Cold War tensions.

Great Society Program

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:59:43 UTC

President Lyndon B. Johnson’s programs aimed at ending poverty and racial injustice.

Brown v. Board of Education

slalam — 2025-12-15 16:59:59 UTC

A 1954 Supreme Court case that declared school segregation unconstitutional.