american history vocab by Janelle Marrero _ Student - SalemMS

civilization

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 15:54:42 UTC

an advanced organized society

mercantilism

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 15:58:28 UTC

an economic system of trade based on the idea that a nation's wealth increased by increasing their trade

columbian exchange

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 16:00:41 UTC

the widespread trade between the "old world" and the americas

indentured servant

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 16:02:20 UTC

a person who agrees to serve a master for a period of time and is free when that time ends

chattel slavery

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 16:04:25 UTC

a system where people are treated like property and can be bought/sold. they don't have rights or freedoms

puritans

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 16:06:20 UTC

english protestants that believed the catholic church needed to be "purified" of its traditions. they had strict morals

triangular trade

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 16:08:02 UTC

a system of trade where goods and slaves were traded along three routes connecting europe, africa, and the americas

encomienda system

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 20:46:43 UTC

a spanish labor system that gave control of the natives for labor to the spanish, but in exchange, they had to protect them and teach them to be catholic

southern colonies

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 20:48:38 UTC

british colonies in the southeastern united states (Virginia, Maryland, north Carolina, and georgia)

middle colonies

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 20:51:25 UTC

english colonies located between the new england and southern colonies (new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, and delaware)

new england colonies

jamarrero — 2025-08-27 20:53:14 UTC

a group of english colonies (new hampshire, massachusetts, rhode island, and connecticut)

proclamation line of 1763

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 15:36:10 UTC

a boundary drawn by the british along the appalachian mountains, prohibiting american colonists from settling west of the line, to prevent conflicts with the native americans and organize territorial claims after the 7 year war.

patriot

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 15:38:40 UTC

a group of colonists that fought for independence from britain during the american revolution.

tory

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 15:41:14 UTC

a tory, also known as a loyalist, was a colonist who remained loyal to the british and opposed american independence.

articles of confederation

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 15:43:31 UTC

the first us written constitution. established a weak central government and could not tax. its failure led to the creation of the Constitution

federalists

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 15:46:02 UTC

first american political party that advocated for a strong national government, a national bank, and federal supremacy over states' rights. they wrote the federalist papers and advocated for the ratification of the constitution.

anti-federalists

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 15:48:07 UTC

a group that opposed the ratification of the us constitution, fearing it would create a national government that was too powerful and would threaten individual liberties and state sovereignty.

enlightenment

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 15:51:25 UTC

also known as the age of reason, the enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement that emphasized reason, skepticism, and humanism over blind faith. influenced the american revolution with ideals such as natural rights, liberty, and the separation of church and state.

albany plan of union

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 15:56:31 UTC

a proposal by benjamin franklin to create a centralized government for the 13 colonies, primarily for the collective defense during the french and indian war. it was approved by the albany congress but was rejected by the british crown and individual colonial assemblies, who feared it would diminish their power. although it failed, it represented an early vision of colonial unity.

northwest ordinance

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 15:58:53 UTC

act passed by the us congress that established a framework for the organized settlement and admission of the northwest territory into the union.

newburgh conspiracy

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 16:02:48 UTC

an aborted military uprising by continental army officers at newburgh, new york, who, frustrated by the confederation congress' failure to pay them, threatened to march on the national capital to force congress for pay and pensions.

great compromise

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 16:04:50 UTC

an agreement reached at the constitutional convention that established a bicameral legislature for the us government. it resolved a conflict between large and small states over representation and created the senate and house of representatives

three-fifths compromise

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 16:08:53 UTC

agreement during the constitutional convention that allowed states to count three out of every five enslaved people for the purpose of counting population for taxes and representation.

salutary neglect

jamarrero — 2025-09-08 16:12:27 UTC

the unofficial british policy of loosely enforcing parliamentary laws and trade regulations in the american colonies. it allowed the colonies to develop greater autonomy and self-governance. it ended after the seven year war.

political party

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 15:57:56 UTC

an organized group of people who come together to exercise political power by coordinating candidates to compete in elections.

marbury v madison

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:00:15 UTC

a decision of the us supreme court that established judicial review. which means that courts can strike down laws if they think they violate the constitution.

temperance movement

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:01:49 UTC

a social reform effort that advocated for the prohibition of alcohol consumption due to its negative effects.

abolition movement

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:03:23 UTC

a social and political campaign that sought to end slavery and the slave trade.

women's right movement

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:04:50 UTC

a social and political campaign advocating for the equal rights and opportunities for women.

cotton gin

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:06:16 UTC

a machine invented by eli whitney that efficiently separated the sticky seeds from cotton fibers.

steam engine

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:07:15 UTC

a heat engine that converts the energy stored in steam into mechanical work.

factory system

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:08:19 UTC

a method of mass production that emerged during the industrial revolution.

canals

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:09:40 UTC

an artificial waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats or ships.

monroe doctrine

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:11:43 UTC

a principle of us policy, originated by president james monroe, that any intervention by external powers in the politics of the americas is a potentially hostile act against the us.

democratic party

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:13:47 UTC

a left-leaning us political party. the oldest active political party.

whigs

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:16:29 UTC

political party formed to oppose the policies of president andrew jackson and the democratic party. they thought jackson was tyrannical.

telegraph

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:17:21 UTC

a system of transmitting messages from a distance along a wire.

interchangeable parts

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:18:10 UTC

standardized, precisely manufactured components that can be substituted for one another in a product without requiring custom fitting

impressment

jamarrero — 2025-09-26 16:19:04 UTC

was the british royal navy's forcible seizure of american sailors to serve in the british navy

manifest destiny

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:44:24 UTC

the belief that the united states was destined by God to expand across the north american continent and spread democracy and capitalism.

compromise of 1850

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:46:27 UTC

a series of laws passed by congress to defuse tensions between free and slave states. it admitted california as a free state

kansas-nebraska act

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:48:55 UTC

us law that nullified the missouri compromise and created the territories of kansas and nebraska. it allowed each territory to decide if they wanted slaver through popular sovereignty.

popular sovereignty

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:51:20 UTC

the principle that the authority of a government is created by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives.

fugitive slave act

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:52:59 UTC

a series of laws that forced the return of enslaved people who escaped to free states

sectionalism

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:54:10 UTC

loyalty to one's own region or section of the country instead of the country as a whole

secession

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:55:16 UTC

the act of a state withdrawing from the federal union to become a separate nation

union

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:56:32 UTC

the northern states that remained loyal to the federal government during the civil war

confederacy

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:57:54 UTC

the confederate states of america, formed by the 11 southern states that seceded from the us to preserve slavery and state's rights

thirteenth amendment

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:58:38 UTC

abolished slavery and involuntary servitude across the us

fourteenth amendment

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 15:59:53 UTC

defines us citizenship, guarantees equal protection, and ensures due process for all citizens

fifteenth amendment

jamarrero — 2025-10-17 16:01:09 UTC

prohibits states from denying citizens the right to vote based on race

capitalism

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 15:47:53 UTC

an economic system where private individuals or corporations own the means of production and operate them for profit, with prices and production determined by a free market driven by supply and demand

cornelius vanderbilt

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 15:49:37 UTC

19th-century american financier and railroad tycoon who built a fortune in the steamship and railroad industries, eventually becoming one of the richest men in america.

andrew carnegie

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 15:51:23 UTC

built a steel empire, becoming one of the nation's wealthiest men and a leading figure in the rise of big business. Legacy is defined by philanthropic work of funding libraries and universities.

john d. rockefeller

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 15:53:16 UTC

american industrialist and philanthropist, best known for funding the standard oil company. one of the world's wealthiest men. became a leading philanthropist

jp morgan

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 15:55:45 UTC

american financier on the nation's industrial and financial development. key figure in consolidating industries by orchestrating mergers, creating monopolies.

titans of industry

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 15:57:40 UTC

powerful business leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who built massive companies, dominated industries, and amassed great wealth. credited with driving industrial growth.

robber barons

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 15:59:19 UTC

extremely wealthy and powerful capitalists and industrialists who were perceived to have built their fortunes through unethical and exploitative practices.

unions

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 16:00:30 UTC

an organization of workers who band together to negotiate for better pay, benefits, and working conditions.

migration

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 16:01:45 UTC

the movement of people from one place to another, driven by factors like economic opportunities

gilded age

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 16:03:36 UTC

a period in us history characterized by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and westward expansion, alongside significant social problems like corruption, wealth inequality, and labor unrest.

social darwinism

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 16:05:20 UTC

the belief that the principles of "survival of the fittest" from darwin's theory of evolution apply to human societies, justifying social and economic inequalities as natural and inevitable

gospel of wealth

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 16:06:58 UTC

an 1889 article by andrew carnegie asserting that the wealthy have a moral obligation to use their money to benefit society through philanthropy

muckraking

jamarrero — 2025-11-06 16:08:52 UTC

a style of investigative journalism where writers exposed corruption and social injustices through their articles and books to inform the public and push for social, economic, and political reforms.

women's suffrage

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:19:35 UTC

the decades-long social and political movement that advocated for the constitutional right of women to vote in elections and to run for public office

prohibition

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:20:34 UTC

the nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the united states from 1920 to 1933. this period was established by the 18th amendment and enforced by the volstead act, but it ultimately failed

isolationism

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:21:43 UTC

a foreign policy doctrine where the us sought to minimize its involvement in international affairs, conflicts, and alliances, focusing instead on national interests and domestic development.

imperialism

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:22:25 UTC

the policy and practice of extending the nation's power and influence over foreign territories and peoples, primarily from the late 19th to early 20th centuries

alfred thayer mahan

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:24:44 UTC

a us naval officer and historian whose writings on naval strategy, especially in his book the influence of sea power upon history, argued that a nation's greatness depended on its powerful navy, overseas bases, and control of sea lanes. his theories significantly influenced us expansionism, the growth of the navy under presidents like roosevelt, and the acquisition of territories like the philippines, hawaii, and the panama canal.

open door policy

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:26:16 UTC

a diplomatic proposal to the major world powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, aimed at safeguarding us commercial interests in china by ensuring equal access to chinese markets and preventing any single colonial power from monopolizing trade or partitioning the country

militarism

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:27:14 UTC

the belief that military power is essential for national security and greatness, leading to a policy of aggressive military preparedness and the glorification of military ideals

nationalism

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:28:37 UTC

a belief in the superiority of the us and a prioritization of its interests above other nations, manifesting in various ways from national pride to policies focused on economic protectionism. it has influenced domestic and international policy and is characterized by a desire for the country's political independence, self-determination, and the promotion of national identity

league of nations

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:29:44 UTC

an international organization established after wwI, largely driven by us president woodrow wilson's "fourteen points" peace plan, to promote peace and cooperation, ensure collective security, and prevent future wars through diplomacy and negotiation

treaty of versailles

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:30:58 UTC

the 1919 peace treaty that ended wwI, but it is most known for its contentious debate and ultimate failure to be ratified by the senate. the treaty imposed harsh terms on germany, such as territorial losses, heavy reparations, and military disarmament, and created the league of nations

great migration

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:32:09 UTC

the mass movement of over six million black americans from the rural southern us to the urban areas of the north, midwest, and west between approximately 1916 and 1970. This pivotal internal migration in us history dramatically reshaped the nation's demographics, culture, and politics.

zimmerman telegram

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:33:42 UTC

a secret diplomatic communication issued from the german foreign office that proposed a military alliance between germany and mexico if the united states entered wwI against germany

stocks on margin

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:34:57 UTC

purchasing shares with borrowed money from a broker, using a small percentage of the purchase price as a down payment and borrowing the rest. this practice amplifies both potential gains and losses and was a key factor in the 1929 stock market crash

tariffs

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:35:56 UTC

a tax, or duty, imposed by a government on imported goods and services. in us history, tariffs have been used primarily for two main purposes: generating revenue for the federal government and protecting domestic industries from foreign competition.

3 r's

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:37:03 UTC

the "three r's" refer to the primary goals of president franklin d. roosevelt's new deal program, enacted during the great depression: relief, recovery, and reform.

island hopping

jamarrero — 2025-11-25 13:39:12 UTC

a military strategy used by the us during wwII to capture key japanese-held islands in the pacific, bypassing others to avoid heavy casualties and a prolonged conflict. by capturing strategically important islands, the allies built airstrips and naval bases, which allowed them to get closer to japan and launch attacks while also cutting off their supply lines.

holocaust

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 18:59:27 UTC

the systematic, state-sponsored persecution of Jews by the nazi german regime and its allies. also the murder of millions of others targeted by the nazis for political, ideological, or biological reasons.

international organizations

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:00:43 UTC

entities formed by multiple nations (like the un) or private groups to foster global cooperation on issues from peace and trade to health

united nations

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:02:14 UTC

an international organization established after wwII with the us as a founding member, aimed at maintaining peace, security, and cooperation among nations.

bretton woods system

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:04:05 UTC

a post wwII monetary framework creating fixed exchange rates, pegging other currencies to the us dollar, and pegging the dollar to gold, aiming for global economic stability and growth

nato

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:05:28 UTC

a us-led military alliance by north america and european democracies to counter soviet expansion and address modern threats like terrorism and cyber warfare

iron curtain

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:07:06 UTC

defined the post-wwII division of europe into societ-controlled communist east and democratic west, popularized by winston churchill to highlight the cold war's divide and isolation

warsaw pact

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:08:07 UTC

the soviet union's military alliance of eastern european communist states as a direct repsonse to west germany joining nato

containment

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:09:49 UTC

the cold war foreign policy strategy to stop the spread of communism beyond its existing borders, using economic, military, and political means short of direct large-scale war

domino theory

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:10:58 UTC

belief that if one nation fell to communism, its neighbors would soon follow, creating a chain reaction like falling dominoes.

mutually assured destruction

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:12:15 UTC

military doctrine where superpowers (us & ussr) had enough nuclear weapons to obliterate each other, ensuring that any first strike would trigger a devastating retaliation, thus deterring either side from initiating nuclear war through the certainty of mutual annihilation

atomic bomb

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:13:24 UTC

nuclear weapons developed during wwII

nuclear weapons

jamarrero — 2025-12-15 19:14:35 UTC

devistating devices using nuclear fission or fusion for immense energy. first used in combat on japan (hiroshima) and sparking the cold war arms race

great society program

jamarrero — 2025-12-16 16:55:38 UTC

president lyndon b. johnson's ambitious legislative agenda in the mid-1960s, aiming to eliminate poverty and racial injustice through major federal programs in education, healthcare, civil rights, and urban development, creating Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and environmental initiatives, though its funding was strained by the Vietnam War.

brown v board of education

jamarrero — 2025-12-17 13:32:35 UTC

andmark us supreme court case declaring state-sponsored segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine from plessy v. ferguson

reaganomics

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:32:30 UTC

the economic policies of president ronald reagan in the 1980's, centered on supply-side exonomics, characterized by significant tax cuts, especially for the wealthy

liberal

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:33:59 UTC

modern liberalism supports government interventian (new deal, social programs, regulation) to ensure social welfare, civil rights, and economic fairness

conservative

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:35:47 UTC

emphasizes preserving traditional values, institutions (like family, religion, nation), and established order, favoring gradual change over radical shifts, rooted in principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and strong defense

moral majority

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:37:38 UTC

a prominent political organization that mobalized conservative christians to advance traditional values, becoming a powerful force for the religious right by advocating for anti-abortion policies, opposing gay rights, supporting school prayer, and backing conservative candidates like reagan

trickle down economics

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:39:23 UTC

the theory that tax cuts and benefits for the wealthy and corporations stimuilate exonomic growth, which "trickles down" to benefit everyone through job creation and investment

monetary policy

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:40:43 UTC

us monetary policy managed by the fed involves controlling the money supply and interest rates to achieve maximum employment and stable prices (low inflation)

fiscal policy

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:42:31 UTC

fiscal policy is the government's use of taxation and spending to influence the economy, a concept formalized after the great depression, shifting from laissez-faire to active management to stabalize growth, control inflation, and redice unemployment

laissez-faire

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:44:17 UTC

french for "leave alone" describes an economic philosophy of minimal government interference in the marketplace, allowing free markets, competition, and private enterprise to drive economic growth

inflation

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:44:51 UTC

the general rise in prices and fall in money's purchasing power

deregulation

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:45:41 UTC

the process of removing or reducing government rules on industries to boost competition, efficiency, and economic growth

terrorism

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:46:33 UTC

involves the unlawful use of violence or threats for political/social goals, intimidating governments or populations

globalization

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:47:24 UTC

the process of growing worldwide interconnectedness, driven by increased cross-border flows of goods, services, people, information, and culture

gdp (gross domestic product)

jamarrero — 2026-01-09 17:48:21 UTC

the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within the us in a specific period