8th Grade US History Semester 1 Exam Study Guide
Hand in Study Guide with Test.
Chapter 3 (p.68-105)
1. Toleration Act of 1649 Why Significant? - First law supporting religious tolerance in coloniesreflected some colonial government’s desire to protect the rights of minority groups.
2. The Mayflower Compact- First attempt at self-government in the colonies- based on covenant
(legal agreement) between the government and the people for the common good.
3. The English Bill of Rights- British law that limited the monarch and increased the power of
Parliament-Greatly influenced the writers of the US Constitution.
4. Mercantilism (p.92)- Careful control of trade for the purpose of increasing wealth.
5. Navigation Acts- Passed by Parliament between 1650 and 1696 (p.92-93) Purpose was to force
the American colonist to trade only with England.
6. Enlightenment Ager of Reason- 1700’s movement that held that you could improve society
through science, logic, and reasoning. Enlightenment idea of “Social Contract” influenced
American founding fathers’ view that they were justified in breaking away form Britain.
7. French and Indian War- Cause” Standoff between France and British over control of the Ohio
Valley. Result Treat of Paris (1763) gave British control of Canada and all French lands east of
the Mississippi (except New Orleans). France lost almost all of its lands in North America.
8. Major causes of conflict with Britain leading to the American Revolution- Taxation without
representation (Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Intolerable Acts.
9. Samuel Adams Founder of the Committees of Correspondence- Important leader of Son’s of
Liberty and Patriot cause.
10. Stamp Act of 1765- First direct tax on colonists-taxed paper products-angered colonists.
11. Sons of Liberty (p.100)- Patriots who protested British laws-often with violence.
12. Boston Tea Party- Colonial rebellion against British tax on tea-Led to strict laws being imposed
on colonists (intolerable acts)
13. Intolerable Acts (also called Coercive acts)- Series of laws punishing the colonist for the
Boston Tea Party- included closing of Boston Harbor, cancellation of charter and restrictions on
when legislature could meet, trail in England for crimes of British officials in colonies,
Quartering Act, Quebec Act.
14. Republicanism- System of government with an elected head of state instead of a monarch, and a
constitution that limits the power of the government.
Chapter 4 (p. 109-141)
15. First Continental Congress (goal & results)- To state colonist’s concerns to King and ask him
to correct the problems.
16. Declaration of Rights(p.112)- Drafted a the 1st Continental Congress- list of ten resolutions sent
to King George III (Included the right to “life, liberty, and property”)
17. Patriots- Colonistst who fought for independence from Britain.
18. Major Battles of the American Revolution- Sequence, turning points, significanceLexington (1st, Americans Lost) 2. Concord (Americans Won) 3. Bunker Hill
(American Lost) 4. Trenton (Americans Won-sneak attack, change of strategy to
offensive instead of defensive) 5. Saratoga (Americans won-turning point, French
gave aid to Patriots) 6. Yorktown (Last battle-Americans Won) Also know about
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Valley Forge- discouraging time, low on supplies & surviving harsh winter without
adequate protection.
Minutemen Civilian Militia- protected the colonies
Second Continental Congress (main issue0 Delegates form the colonies met to discuss
whether the situation with England could be solved with a peaceful solution, or if it was
time for war. (First attempt at a Republican form of government.)
Common Sense by Thomas Paine- Citizens have a natural right to govern themselves and
should make the laws for the nation. (His ideas of Social Contract justified the colonist’s right to
break away form Britain!)
Declaration of Independence- Main author = Thomas Jefferson. Stated that all people have
unalienable right of live, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Also said that King George III had
violated colonist’s rights by taxing them without their consent (“Taxation without
Representation!).
Thomas Jefferson- Wrote Declaration of Independence
Loyalists- Colonists who sided with the British and didn’t think American colonists needed
independence.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…”
Explain what this passage form the Declaration of Independence means. Make sure to
explain the underlain parts, to give some example of the rights it refers to?
**“Self evident”- Truths means obviously true.
**“All men are created equal”- refereed to all white men. Most of our Founding Fathers did not
think that African Americans, Native Americans, or women were “Created Equal.”
**“endowed by their creator” with “unalienable Rights” means that they believed that God
gives people some rights that cannot be taken away by men, because they were not given by men.
These rights are things like life, liberty, pursuit of happiness… listed specifically in Bill of Rights
as freedom or religion, speech , press, assemble and petition.
Treaty of Paris of 1783 (results) - Official end of the American Revolution, Set new borders of
USA, Britain officially recognized or independence.
Chapter 5. (p. 148-175)
28. Magna Carta (1215)- British law that required the British royalty (King) to obey the
same laws as the people.
29. Articles of Confederation, reasons of adoption and why they failedReason adopted = Once the America declared independence form Britain they
needed to establish a new national government. The Articles were our first nation
government.
Reason failed =
1. States held most of the power
2. Only one branch (No executive of judicial branches), so no checks and
balances
3. Legislative breach with hew powers
BIG problem was that it was hard for the national government to provide
protection of the nation since they couldn’t force states to provide soldiers.
30. Ratification- official approval
31. Land Ordinance of 1785 Purpose- Sell of plots of land in the NW Territories to pay off
national debt form the American Revolution.
32. Northwest ordinance of 1787- Established a procedure for new states to be admitted to
the union (60,000 people + constitution) and banned slavery in the territories.
33. Shay’s Rebellion Government imposed high taxes on land to help pay off war
debt—hit the framers hardest, to they rebelled. This exposed the weakness of the Federal
Government compared to the states.
34. Constitutional Convention (purpose and issues) Original Purpose- To revise &
improve (not replace) the Article of Confederation. In the end they wrote the
Constitution.
35. Virginia Plan- Would give highest power to central government. Would create a
bicameral (two-branch) legislature- with the number of delegate (representatives) based
on the population of the states.
36. New Jersey Plan- Would give the states equal power in the federal government since the
number of representatives would be the same for all states in a unicameral legislature.
Also Federal government regulates commerce and can tax states.
37. Great Compromise (what were the disputes and solutions?) Dispute = how the number
of delegate to congress would be determined---Solution---Created a bicameral legislature
with Reps in the senate the same for all states, and Reps in House of Reps determined by
population.
38. Three-Firths Compromise- Solution to dispute over whether or nor slaves would be
counted toward number or reps in congress- only 3 out of 5 slaves will count.
39. Popular Sovereignty- Political power belongs to the people
40. Federalism- Sharing of power between states and national government
41. Legislative Branch- proposes and passes laws (Congress)
42. Executive Branch- includes president and department to help run the government.
43. Judicial Branch- Made up of the courts, which interpret the laws, punish criminals, and
settle disputes.
44. Checks and Balances- System that keeps one branch of government form becoming too
powerful.
45. Antifederalists- Group that opposed the Constitution because they felt that it gave the
federal government too much power.
46. Federalists- Supports of the constitution-gave a stronger central government and thought
the constitution provided a good balance of power.
47. Amendment- Official change to the constitution.
48. The Bill of Rights (purpose)- It was added to the constitution to protect citizens rights,
(Some states refused to ratify with more individual rights added)
Chapter 6 (p.182-225)
49. Role/powers of each branch of government, Legislative, Judicial, Executive- See #41,
42, 43
50. Checks and Balances- See #44 Also Examples: President check Congress with veto of
laws. Congress checks Executive with impeachment or by rejecting appointments,
treaties, etc. Judicial checks both Legislative and executive by declaring laws of actions
unconstitutional.
51. Main Duties/responsibilities of US Citizens Required: Register of selective service,
pay taxes, obeys laws, Optional: Should VOTE, but not required.
52. Bill of Rights’ Reason we needed them and what right or rights are established by
each?
#1- Basic freedoms: Religion, press, speech, petition (express dissatisfaction with Gov.),
assembly
#2- Bear arms & Militia
#3- No quartering of soldiers
#4- No unreasonable search and seizure without warrant
#5- Indictment required for trail for serious crime, can’t be tried twice for same crime (no
double jeopardy), entitled to due process of law (fair application of law)
#6- Right to a speedy trial and impartial jury and a public trial (citizens must serve jury
duty to provide this.
#7- Civil cases can have a jury too
#8- Right to post bail and to not have the bail set too high. No cruel and unusual
punishment (Still a controversy as to whether “capital punishment” is cruel and unusualleft up to states to decide. Still legal in most states.
#9- Anything not stated or denied to the states, is left up those the States.
#10- There is other rights that are not stated.
#9 and #10- protect rights that are not addressed already by the first 8
amendments.
53. Electoral College- What is it? What conflict did it resolve? (Ch.6 &7) Delegates form
states who that vote to decide who will be president. Resolved conflict over how the
president would be selected---by congress or by the public---it was a compose--- the
people vote, then the Electoral College takes the final decision based on the people’s
vote.
54. Federal System- sharing of power between states and nation government
55. Powers- reserved, delegated, concurrent (states and federal government) (p.182 and 201)
Reserved: (states) control local issues like schools, local businesses, marriage, safety.
Delegated: (Federal Gov) military, declare war, foreign & interstate trade, post offices,
coin money, foreign policy, and any laws needed to get the job done (Elastic Clause)
Concurrent: both law and order, taxes, borrow money, banks, couts, public welfare.
56. Majority Rule- Greatest # of people make the rules and policies for everyone.
57. Indict: Process by which Grand Jury decides if there is enough evidence to take a
persons to trail for a serious crime.
58. Impeach- When the house of Representatives brings charges of wrongdoing against the
president or other public official.
59. Due process- requires that lass be applied fairly-protects the rights of the accused.
60. Eminent Domain: government can take private property to benefit the public (must pay
citizen for it.
61. PAC’s- Political Action Committees- raise money for candidates who support certain
issues.
Chapter 7 (p. 230-255)
62. Precedent- Actions that set an example for future actions.
63. Judiciary Act of 1789- Set up three level federal court systems, Purpose- to increase
stability of national Gov.
64. National debt- Owed by the national government to other countries and US citizens
65. Alexander Hamilton’s economic plan 1. Pay debt- Pay off bonds at full value- even
though it allowed speculators to a make a profit 2. Pay most of state debt 3. Gain revenue
with some taxes, but mostly high tariffs on foreign goods 4. Stabilize Banking system by
creating a National Bank and National Mint.
66. Jefferson versus Alexander Hamilton regarding plan for a national bank- Jefferson
opposed Hamilton’s plan--- didn’t want to pay full value on bonds. Hamilton’s plan
helped business people more; Jefferson wanted to support farmers more. Jefferson though
Hamilton’s plan for a National Bank was unconstitutional.
67. Protective tariffs (p. 241)- Protect tariffs, protect manufactured domestic products form
foreign competition- Southern states (farmers opposed them-wanted to get cheaper
foreign products they needed.)
68. Loose Construction & Strict Construction (what are they and who held each view)Jefferson=Strict Construction= literal interpretation of the Constitution- can’t do it if the
Constitution doesn’t say so. Hamilton= Loose construction= can do things that the
Constitution does not specifically forbid.
69. Neutrality Proclamation- Washington’s policy statement that the US would not take
sides in disputes between European countries.
70. Pinckney’s Treaty- Treaty with Spain that resolved border dispute with Spain (31
degrees N) and opened New Orleans for US ships.
71. Treaty of Greenville- ended conflicts with Native Americans and gave US Indian lands
in NW Territory.
72. Whiskey Rebellion- Federal government tax on whiskey led to rebellion by
Pennsylvania farmers because they couldn’t afford the tax and though it was unfair.
Washington led army because he wanted to emphasize the fact that Fed Gov. can tax
states and they have to obey.
73. George Washington (farewell address/advice)- 1. No debt 2. No permanent foreign
ties. 3. No Political Parties
74. First Political Parties- Federalists: Strong Central Government, supported industry and
business. Democratic-Republicans: Stronger state governments, supported farmers.
75. 1796 Vice President (who was he and how was he chosen?)- Jefferson was VP (Adams
was President) VP was the person with the 2nd most votes.
76. XYZ Affair- French tried to bribe US before they would negotiate a treaty-angered
Americans-Federalists called for war-President Adams opposed going to war.
77. Alien and Sedition Acts- Laws passed by Congress (Federalists) in an attempt to crush
opposition to war with France-limited foreign born citizens’ rights and limited freedom of
speech and press of all citizens.
78. Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions- Stated that the Alien and Sedition Acts were
unconstitutional and supported the ide that states could challenge laws passed by the
federal government.
79. Jay’s Treaty- Settled disputes form 1790s between US and Britain- British left US forts
and paid damages fro US ships, US didn’t make British pay tier debt for slaves freed
ruing the revolution. Most Americans did not like the treaty.
Chapter 8 Sec. 1-2 (p.262-277)
80. Twelfth Amendment (p.267) - Changed the way the president and vice president are
elected (separate ballots).
81. Significance of Marbury v. Madison- Supreme court case that helped establish the
Supreme Court’s power of judicial review and it power to check the other branches of
government.
82. John Marshal- Chief Justice of the Supreme Court-wrote the decision for the Marbury v.
Madison case.
83. Judicial Review- the power to declare any acts of Congress unconstitutional.
84. Louisiana Territory & Louisiana Purchase- Area of land first claimed by Spain, who
traded it to France because Spain was having trouble keeping American’s out, then
France (Napoleon) sold it to the US for $15 million because he needed to fund his war
against the British. Louisiana Purchase- This about doubled the area of the U.S.
85. Lewis and Clark Expedition- Meriwether Lewis and Wm. Clark & Corps of Discovery,
commissioned by Jefferson---Goals: River route to Pacific & Map and learn about people
and resources of Louisiana Purchase. Results: Made it to Pacific, but not by river route all
the way. Brought back wealth of information.
86. Zebulon Pike Expedition- Sent by Jefferson to explore the Colorado region of the
Louisiana Purchase and to find the headwaters of the Red River---helped outline the
Western boundary of the Louisiana Territory and New Spain.
87. USS Constitution- a large warship that was designed to end the attacks by pirates from
the Barbary States of North Africa.
88. Impressment- When U.S. citizens were captured by accident they were sometimes
forced to serve in the army or navy, this led to increased tensions between Great Britain
and the United States.
89. The Embargo Act- this law banned trade with all foreign countries. Jefferson hoped that
this embargo would punish British & France, and also protect American merchant ships
from capture.
90. Tecumseh- a Shawnee chief. Tecumseh hoped to unite the Native American tribes of the
NW frontier, the south and the Eastern Mississippi Valley.
91. Battle of Tippecanoe- U.S. defeated Tecumseh and his followers in this battle. This
defeat destroyed an attempt that Tecumseh had of uniting a great Indian confederation.
92. War Hawks- Young members of congress that were led by Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun
ad Felix Grundy. They took lead in calling a war against Great Britain.
93. War of 1812 (Causes and Effects) - Causes: Impressment of American Sailors,
Interference with American Shipping, British Military aid to Native Americans. EffectIncreased sense of national pride, American manufacturing boosted and Native American
resistance weakened.
94. Treaty of Fort Jackson- after Jackson’s troops won the battle of Horseshoe Bend
against the Creek tribe; the Creek were forced to give up millions of acres of their land.
95. Treaty of Ghent- Treaty signed in Belgium on December 24, 1814 ended the War of
1812.
Chapter 9 (308-311)
96. Convention of 1818 - this treaty known as the Convention of 1818 set the border
between the United States and Canada at 49 degrees N latitude as far west as the Rocky
Mountains. I gave the US fishing rights off parts of the Newfoundland and Labrador
coasts. Interest in the fur trade in Oregon country was shared with Britain.
97. Adams-Onis Treaty - In 1819 Spain settled all border disputes between Spain and
the United States.
98. Monroe Doctrine - an exclusive statement of American policy warning European powers
not to interfere with the Americas. It had 4 basic points. 1. The United States would not
interfere in the affairs of European nations. 2. The United States would recognize and not
interfere with European colonies that already existed in North and South America. 3. The
Western hemisphere was to be off-limits to future colonization by any foreign power. 4.
The United States would consider any European power’s attempt to colonize or interfere
with nations in the Western Hemisphere to be a hostile act.
99. American System - a series of measures intended to make the United States
economically self-sufficient. They pushed for a national bank and a single US currency
and a protective tariff to pay for roads and canals.
100.
McCullough v Maryland - the court case asserted the implied powers of
Congress in allowing for the creation of a national Bank 1819.
101.
Gibbons V Ogden - the court said that the states could not interfere with the
power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. 1824\
102.
Missouri Compromise - settled the conflict that had arisen from Missouri’s
application for statehood. Missouri would enter the union as a slave state. Maine would
enter as a free state. Slavery would be prohibited in any new territory or state north of
the 36 degrees 30 minute line.
103.
Educational Reforms - Early American leaders expressed a belief that
democracy would only succeed in a country of educated and enlightened people. States
established boards of education and became the ones in charge of public education. 1837
Massachusetts established the first board of education.