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Crash Course AP US History: Key Terms Flashcards

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6679012078Columbian Exchange-exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between Europe and the New World -New World corn, tomatoes, + potatoes affected European diet -domesticated horses, cows, + pigs introduced to the New World -Europeans brought smallpox, decimating the population of the New World; Venereal diseases brought back to the Old World0
6679012079Mercantilism-British economic philosophy in the 17th and 18th centuries -colonies exist to benefit the mother country -obtain large amounts of gold and silver, establish a favorable balance of trade with its colonies1
6679012080Half-Way Covenant-est. by Puritans -ease requirements for church membership and maintain control -allowed baptism of the children of baptized but unconverted Puritans2
6679012081Enlightenment-18th century philosophy -stressed reason could be used to improve the human condition -natural world provided models for human institution -natural rights, such as life, liberty, and happiness, exist3
6679012082The First Great Awakening-wave of religious revivals -1730s and 1740s -power of the Puritans waned4
6679012083Constitutional Convention-1787 -sought to correct weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation -strong central government to share power with the states5
6679012084Separation of Powers-division of power among legislative, judicial, and executive branches -Alexander Hamilton defended6
6679012085Checks and Balances-each branch of power checks the power of the other branches7
6679012086Hamilton's Financial Plans-assume state debts -create a national bank -impose tariffs to protect home industries8
6679012087Judicial Review-est. in Marbury vs Madison -Supreme Court can strike down unconstitutional acts of Congress9
6679012088American System-Henry Clay -designed to unify the nation -strengthen economy by means of protective tariffs + national bank -internal improvements such as canals and new roads10
6679012089Republican Motherhood-aka Cult of Domesticity -idealization of women as wives and mothers -suggested women were responsible for raising children and remaining virtuous citizens of the new American republic11
6679012090Transcendentalism-philosophical and literary movement of the 1800s -emphasized a simple life and celebrating the truth found in nature and personal emotion and imagination -Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau12
6679012091Utopian Communities-small-self sufficient communities -developed in the 19th century -attempted to achieve perfection -Brook Farm, New Harmony, + Oneida13
6679012092Perfectionism-belief that humans can will to create communities based on cooperation and mutual respect14
6679012093The Second Great Awakening-wave of religious enthusiasm -1800 to 1830 -Middle-class women worked to make Americans aware of moral issues posed by slavery -led to reformist zeal for causes such as prison reform and anti-liquor laws15
6679012094Jacksonian Democracy- Andrew Jackson + supporters -respect for abilities and aspirations of the common man -expansion of white male suffrage -appointment of political supporters to government positions (patronage) -opposition to privileged Eastern elites16
6679012095Nullification-legal theory that a state can invalidate any federal law the state deems unconstitutional -concept first introduced by Jefferson + Madison in Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions in 1798 -Calhoun was a strong proponent, inspiring a convention in South Carolina to declare the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional17
6679012096Manifest Destiny-19th century belief -obligation to expand westward to the Pacific Ocean18
6679012097Popular Sovereignty-settlers have the sole right to decide on presence of slavery -led to divisive debate over the expansion of slavery -Kansas-Nebraska Act: 1st great test19
6679012098Reconstruction-focused on reorganizing the governments of the Southern states after the Civil War -allowed them to reenter the Union20
6679012099Social Gospel-19th century reform movement -based on belief that Christians have a responsibility to confront social problems actively -led by Christian ministers -real social change results from dedication to both religious practice and social reform21
6679012100Gospel of Wealth-wealthy were the guardians of society -duty to serve and lead society in humane ways -Andrew Carnegie22
6679012101Social Darwinism-in society, a natural evolutionary process occurs, with the fittest surviving -Wealthy businessmen such as John D. Rockefeller23
6679012102Frontier Thesis-Frederick Jackson Turner -frontier experience helped make American society more democratic + shape American values -cheap, unsettled land + inspiration from frontier spurred democracy24
6679012103New Immigrants-massive wave of immigrants who came to the US between 1880 and 1924 -Old Immigrants: English, German, Scandinavian vs New Immigrants: Southern and Eastern Europeans25
6679012104Nativism-favored interests of native-born people over the interests of immigrants -Know-Nothings of 1840s were the first nativist political party -nativism grew stronger with the arrival of large new immigrant groups -directed hostility toward Irish + German Catholics26
6679012105Vertical Integration-company controls both the production and distribution of its product -Andrew Carnegie: Steel27
6679012106Horizontal Integration-one company gains control over other companies that produce the same product -Rockefeller: Oil28
6679012107Populism-1890s -mainly agrarian movement -supported unlimited coinage of silver, govt ownership of the railroads, and policies that favored farmers + the working class29
6679012108Progressivism-sought to use government to help create a more just society -fought against impure foods, child labor, corruption, and trusts -Teddy Roosevelt + Woodrow Wilson30
6679012109Muckrakers-early 20th century journalists -exposed illegal business practices, social injustices, and urban political bosses -Upton Sinclair, Jacob Riis, and Ida Tarbell31
6679012110Roaring Twenties-period of social unrest and tension during the 1920s -immigration restriction, rise of fundamentalism, and changing sexual values32
6679012111Prohibition-1919-1933 -illegal to buy, sell, or transport alcohol -rise in organized crime and defiance of the law -18th and 21st amendment33
6679012112Isolationsim-US foreign policy -called for Americans to avoid entangling political alliances following World War I -Washington's Farewell Address -Neutrality Acts of the 1930s34
6679012113Containment-US foreign policy during the Cold War -designed to contain or block the spread of communism -Kennan: American diplomat and specialist on USSR -"the Long Telegram" advocated35
6679012114McCarthyism-public accusations of disloyalty without sufficient evidence -increased following World War II -Senator Joseph McCarthy played on fears -claimed communists infiltrated the US State Department and other federal agencies -climate of paranoia36
6679012115Domino Theory-if one country "falls" to communism, neighbors will also be "infected"37
6679012116Massive Retalliation-military doctrine developed during the Cold War -asserted the US would retaliated with massive force -deterrent to preemptive strikes launched by an enemy38
6679012117Black Power-movement of the 1960s -advocated African Americans establish control of their political and economic lives -Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and Huey Newton39
6679012118Watergate-series of political scandals and cover-ups -resulted in Nixon resigning from office in 197440
6679012119Detente-relaxation of tensions between the US and the USSR -introduced by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger + Richard Nixon -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) -expanded trade with USSR -Nixon's trips to China and Russia41
6679012120Reaganomics-economic policies of President Ronald Reagan -aka supply-side economics -promote growth and investment by: deregulating business, reducing corporate tax rates, and lowering federal tax rates for upper + middle classes42
6679012121Affirmative Action-attempts to open access to education and employment for members of groups that experienced discrimination (based on race, ethnicity, sex, etc). -sometimes imposed quotas43

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