SOME OF THESE ARE COPY AND PASTED FROM THE BLOG, BUT MOST ARE JUST
LITTLE NOTES TO GIVE YOU A REALLY BASIC IDEA OF THE ID.
Stamp Act Congress- The Stamp Act Congress was a group of representatives from 9 colonies
that met in New York City in October of 1765. This congress created four important documents.
These documents were a declaration for colonists and Brits, two petitions, one to the House of
Commons, and one to the kind, and a memorial. These documents essentially stated that white
colonists were still Brits, despite living in North America and that even though they were to be
loyal to the England, they were to try to get the Stamp Act repealed.
Whiskey Rebellion- The Whiskey Rebellion, also known as the Whiskey Insurrection, occurred
during the 1790’s, when George Washington was president. It was a resistance movement in the
United States that started because the West was unhappy with the policies the national
government in the East put in place. One of these policies was the tax on whiskey, which is
where the movement gets its name.
Alien and Sedition Acts-notes
Marbury v. Madison- first time something declared unconstit. SC oversees govt
Louisiana Purchase- notes
Sacajawea- Sacagawea was the main guide and interpreter for the Corps of Discovery (Lewis
and Clark’s team of explorers). Without her knowledge of the land, the languages, and the people
of the great west, Lewis and Clark’s expedition would have failed. Sacagawea did not know any
English, but her French husband acted as an interpreter. While Sacagawea carried her son, Jean
Baptiste, she collected the edible plants. She also prevented many possible violent attacks from
the other tribes because an Indian war party would never travel with a woman and a child. Clark
referred to Sacagawea as his “pilot.”
Battle of New Orleans- Andrew Jackson push back Brits (war of 1812)
Missouri (Compromise?)- I know this
South Carolina Exposition- secession threat
William Lloyd Garrison-see The Liberator
James K. Polk- Last of the Jacksonian era of Presidency, Polk was the last strong President
before the Civil War. As a young politician he served in the Tennessee legislature and befriended
Andrew Jackson. In the House of Representatives he served as the Chief Lieutenant under
Andrew Jackson in his Bank War. He served as Speaker of the House between 1835 and 1839,
leaving to become the Governor of Tennessee.
-James Polk was the 11th president of the United States and the only Speaker of the House to
become president, he won the presidency in 1844 against Henry Clay. During his time in
office he expanded the United States to the Pacific Ocean which lead to three more states
being created in the Union, issued the first postage stamp, created the Naval Academy as
well as the Washington Monument.
Mexican-American War- In the years prior to the Mexican-American War, Americans were
settling in what was then Mexico’s territory, causing growing issues between the two countries.
After a fight between Mexican troops and General Zachary Taylor’s soldiers in May of 1846,
Congress allowed the declaration of war against Mexico. Battles continued throughout the west
and Mexico until General Winfield Scott captured Mexico City on September 14, 1847. With
their capital city under control of the enemy, Mexico surrendered and gave the US New Mexico
and California. In addition to the new territories, Mexico agreed to have the Rio Grande be the
border of Texas.
Dred Scott Case (1857)- Dred Scott was an African-American man born in Virginia in the
1790’s. He was owned by Peter Blow, but was given to John Emerson after marrying his wife,
Harriet. After Emerson’s death, Scott tried to buy his and his wife’s freedom from Emerson’s
widow, but she refused. Scott, who had lived as a slave in a free state, realized he had a case and
took it to court. The Supreme Court ruled against Scott and he was returned to the Emerson’s.
When Mrs. Emerson married an abolitionist, Scott and his wife were eventually emancipated.
“Radical Republicans”- Representative Thaddeus Stevens and Senator Charles Sumner (14th and
15th amendments, see notes)
Gettysburg and Vicksburg- surrender @ Vicksburg 1863
13th Amendment- officially abolished slavery and prohibits slavery. It was the first of the
Reconstruction Amendments and was finalized in 1865. This amendment followed the
Emancipation Proclamation.
14th Amendment- also one of the Reconstruction Amendments, this amendment states that
blacks cannot be citizens of the United States. It prohibits government from robbing people of
their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It also requires people equal protection and
rights under law.
“Radical Reconstruction”- anyone got a good explanation for this?
Ellis Island- pretty self-explanatory, NYC, immigration
U.S. Steel- major steel company founded by Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan in 1901
Tammany Hall- William Mooney who was a Revolutionary War Veteran, founded the Tammy
Society in 1789 in New York City. In 1798 Aaron Burr pushed to make the organization more of
a political force that supported anti- federalist principles, as well as to support Thomas Jefferson
in the election of 1800. The company soon became known for exchanging votes for benefits and
elected its first mayor in 1855. The Tammy Society would influence New York’s governing
force for the next 70 years. During the 1930’s Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and Franklin D.
Roosevelt began to reduce the power of Tammy Hall. It was ended finally in a reform put
forward by Mayor John V. Lindsay in the 1960’s.
Dawes Act- ends treaty system, NA willing to become civilized get land
Homestead Act- 1862 citizens/immigrants get 160 acres for small fee or 1.25/acre
John Rockefeller- founded Standard Oil Company
USS Maine- exploded and sank with 75% of crew in Havana Harbor, U.S. blames it on Spain ->
Spanish-American War (1898-1900)
Jacob Riis- muckraker
The Pure Food and Drug Act- 1906 (effective 1907) ensured safe consumption of drugs and food
processed in factories (work of muckrakers)
The Federal Reserve Act- financial backing, oversaw banks (1913- Woodrow Wilson)
Committee on Public Information- (1917-1919) got people excited for WWI participation
New York Journal (William Randolph Hearst)- pushed public opinion of Spanish-American War
(media fabrication)
Jane Addams and Hull House- leader in women’s suffrage and world peace, Hull Housecommunity house?
Return to Normalcy-notes
Black Tuesday- Stock Market Crash
Henry Wallace- Agricultural Administration Act (gov’t oversees crops, less crops-> higher
demand-> economy stimulated)
John Meynard Keynes- British economist
Social Security Act- designed to financially secure citizens esp. elderly
Wagner Act- right to unionize
Teapot Dome Scandal- see notes
Sacco and Vanzetti- two anarchists who committed murder supposedly and were executed
(1920- murder 1927- execution), were the trials really fair?
Court Packing- putting justices that agree in
Father Coughlin- controversial Catholic priest who used radio to first praise FDR, then bash him,
and then engage in anti-Semitic commentary
New Negroe Movement- black dignity and pride, Harlem Renaissance (1916)
Lend-Lease Program- allowed US to send supplies to the Allied nations w/out being involved in
WWII
Harry S. Truman- ended WWII, “starts” Cold War, in office through 1953
Cuban Missile Crisis- USSR places ICBM’s (intercontinental ballistic missiles) in Cuba (JFK
presidency)
Three Mile Island- nuclear reactor that had meltdown
HUAC- investigative committee
Great Society- “domestic programs” to get rid of poverty and racism (LBJ), see Wikipedia for
more info
Greensboro Sit-ins- see notes
Martin Luther King, Jr.- do I really need to say anything here?
New World Order- I think this has to do with the reconfiguration of world power in the Cold
War (capitalism vs. communism)
Berlin Wall- see notes
Brown v. Board of Education- desegregation
Malcolm X- black rights activist
Massive Resistance- designed to prevent desegregation
Détente-see notes
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan- attempt at Communism?