ABC Book Of History

Catherine Thomas2nd

May 17, 2011

AAbstain- to not take part in some activity, such as voting

Alien- an immigrant living in a country in which they are not a citizen

Alliance- a close association of nations or other groups formed to advance common interests or causes.

Arsenal- a storage place for weapons and ammunition

BBlack Codes- law passed in the south just after the civil war aimed at controlling freedmen & enabling plantation owner to exploit African American workersBlockade- cut off and area by means of troops or warships to stop imports or exports

Bond- a note issued by the government, which promises to pay off a loan with interest

Boomtown- a community experiencing a sudden growth in business or population

CCabinet- a group of advisors to the president

Cash Crop- farm crop raised to be sold for money

Census- official count of a population

Compromise- agreement between 2 or more sides in which each side gives up some of what it wants

DDepression- a period of low economic activity & widespread unemployment

Disarmament- removal of weapons

Diversity- variety of difference

Draft- the selection of persons for required military service

E Effigy- a rag figure representing an unpopular individual

Emancipate- to free from slavery

Embargo- an order prohibiting trade with another country

Export- to sell goods abroad

FFederalism- the sharing of power between federal & state government

Forty-niners- people who went to California during the Gold RushFrigate- warship

Fugitive- runaway, or trying to run away

G Great Awakening- a powerful religious revival, began in the 1720’sGreenback- a piece of U.S. paper money first issued by the North in the Civil War

Guerrilla Tactics- referring to surprise attacks or raids rather than organized warfareGuerilla Warfare- a hit-&-run technique used in fighting a war

HHarvard College- First college the colonies, founded in 1636

Henry Clay- the great Compromiser, presented Missouri Compromise which delayed the Civil WarHouse of Burgesses- has the right to make laws, representative government. The first was the Virginia House of BurgessesHuman Rights- rights regarded as belonging to all persons, such as freedom from unlawful imprisonment, torture, & execution

IImmigrant- person moving from one country to another

Impressments- capturing of soldiers or sailors & forcing them to serve for your own forces

Inflation- continues to rise in price of goods or services

Isabella, Queen of Spain- gave Columbus permission to sail to the New World because Spain would become rich & Columbus promised to spread Christianity in the New World

JJay’s Treaty- John Jay persuaded Great Britain that war with the U.S. would only make things harder with their war with France

Judicial Branch- branch of government including the federal system, interprets nation’s laws

John Paul Jones- “Father of the Navy” raided British ports, 1777- “I have not yet begun to fight.”

Judicial Review- the right of the supreme court to determine if a law violates constitution

KKansas-Nebraska Act- decided Kansas and Nebraska territories would decide over slavery with popular sovereignty Key, Francis Scott- young attorney, wrote today’s National Anthem at witnessing Baltimore attack

Kublai Khan- Mongolian emperor, Marco Polo spent 17 years serving and learning about the Chinese Culture under Kublai Khan

Knox, Henry- General in the American Revolution, 1st secretary of war. 1785-1794

LLee, Robert E.- General to the Confederate army

Legislative Branch- branch of government that determines the Nation’s lawsLoyalists- American colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain and the King, opposed the war for independenceLincoln, Abraham- 16th President, Union President, passed Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, was the president during the Civil War

MMadison, James- Father of the Constitution, Republican, 4th President

Manifest Destiny- idea popular in the U.S. during the 1800’s that the country must expand itself to the pacificMayflower Compact- formal document, 1620, provided law and order for the Plymoth Colony, pledged loyalty to Great Britain

Minutemen- civilian soldiers who boasted they were ready to fight within a minute’s notice

N National Debt- amount of money a national government owes other governments or it’s people

Nationalism- loyalty to a nation and promotion of it’s interests above all othersNeutrality- position of not taking sides

Northwest Passage- water route through North America, sought by European explorers

OOglethorp, James- General, received charters to create colony for debtors, poor people, etc., to create a fresh start

Ordinance- law or regulation

Ordinance of 1785- established procedure for surveying and selling western lands North of Ohio River, divided territory

Overseer- a person who supervises a large operation it’s workers

PPaine, Thomas- published the pamphlet called Common Sense, this captured the attention of American Colonists, called for complete independence from Britain

Patent- document that gives an invent0r the sole legal right to an invention for a period of time Patriots- American Colonists who were determined to fight for independence from G. Britain until America won independence

Penn, William- wealthy English gentleman. King Charles owed Penn money and Penn asks for land in America instead. Settled the Philadelphia treaty, and made a treaty with the Delaware natives

Q Quakers- religious group, protestant descent: “Society of Friends”, believed everyone had an inner light that led them to salvationQuartering Troops- Amendment III: No Soldier shall in time of peace, be quartered in any house without owner’s consent, or in time of war unless prescribed by law Battle of Quebec- was thought to be impossible to attack, officer James Wolfe found a poorly guarded path and surprised and defeated the French armyQuebec Act- set up permanent government for Quebec and granted Religious Freedom for French Catholics.

RRatify- to give official approval toReconstruction- reorganization and rebuilding of the former Confederate States after the Civil WarRepublic- a government in which citizens rule through elective representatives

Revival- a series of meetings conducted by a preacher to arouse religious emotions

S Sacagawea- young Shoshone woman, led Lewis and Clark through Louisiana Expedition all while carrying her child on her back

Secession- to withdraw from the UnionSlave Codes- the laws passed in the Southern States that controlled and restricted enslaved peopleSubsistence Farming- farming in which only enough food to feed one’s family is produced

TTariff-a tax on imported or exported goods

Taylor, Zachary- Mexican War hero, 12th president

Temperance- use of little or no alcoholic drink

Triangular Trade- a trade route that exchanged goods between the West Indies, the American colonies, West Africa

UUnalienable Rights- rights that cannot be surrendered

Unconstitutional- not agreeing or consistent with the Constitution

Underground Railroad-system that helped enslaved African Americans follow a network of escape routes out of the South to freedom in the North

Utopia- community based on a vision of a perfect society sought by reformers

VVan Buren, Martin- 8th President, Democratic lawyer

Vicksburg Victory- after several months Union siege on Vicksburg. Vicksburg surrenders July 4, 1863

Veto- to reject a bill and prevent it from becoming a law

Virginia Company- group of merchants, joint-stock company. Settled in virginia

WWar Hawks- Republicans during Madison’s presidency who pressed for war with Britain

War of 1812- war between U.S. and Great Britain, 1812- 1815. U.S. gains land from the British Cession

Washington, George- 1st president, leader in the American Revolution

Writs of Assistance-legal document that enabled officers to search homes and warehouses for goods that might be smuggled

XXYZ Affair- French seized American ships that carried cargo to Britain, France sends nameless agents to settle dispute, Adams called it the XYZ Affair after the agents

YYork, Duke of- King Charles II’s brother, renamed New Netherland, New York

Yankee- Union Soldier

Yorktown, Virginia- General Cornwallis surrenders. U.S. victory, end of Revolution. America wins

ZZenger, John Peter-faced charges of libel for printing a critical report about the royal governor of New York. Alexander Hamilton defended him bringing up small step to freedom of speech