GROWING APART VOCABULARY

U.S. History – Unit 4

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787

Legislative act passed by Congress that set up

guidelines for the admission of new states.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

In 1830s interests in this grew rapidly and was a reflection of

new belief in the ability of every person, tool to teach “national

values” and of society’s obligation to its citizens

NOAH WEBSTER

American writer who wrote textbooks to help the

advancement of education. He also wrote a dictionary which

helped standardize the American language

LOUISIANA PURCHASE

Territory west of Mississippi River, U.S. under President

Thomas Jefferson purchased from France in 1803 for $15 million – doubled land size of

U.S.

LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION

Scientific exploration of the new Louisiana territory in 1804 increased geological and scientific knowledge, strengthened U.S. claims to Oregon

territory, improved relations with Native American tribes, and

developed maps and land routes for future fur trappers and settlers

WAR OF 1812

War between the United States and Great Britain which lasted until 1814, caused by British

impressment of American sailors into British navy & British trading guns to Native Americans in Ohio

River Valley - ending with the Treaty of Ghent and a renewed sense of American nationalism

NATIONAL IDENTITY

a sense of, and pride in, the character of one’s nation

NEW YORK CITY

Originally the Dutch capital city of New Netherlands, named New Amsterdam – major city for shipping and

trade

ERIE CANAL

363 mile long artificial waterway connecting the Hudson River

(NYC) with Lake Erie, built between 1817 and 1825 to connect eastern U.S. and great lakes in Midwest in order to increase settlement and

trade

AMERICAN SYSTEM

Idea of Henry Clay argued for a strong banking system to provide

abundant credit, a strong protective tariff for American produce, and a new system of

road and canals (infrastructure) to improve flow of trade

INFRASTRUCTURE

Roads, rail lines, service and utilities, canals, etc.

MONROE DOCTRINE

an American foreign policy opposing interference in the

western hemisphere from outside powers (Eur. & Russia) in exchange U.S. stay out of

Euro affairs.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

a period of rapid growth in the use of machines in

manufacturing and production that began in the mid-1700s.

ELI WHITNEY

American inventor who developed the cotton gin. Also contributed to the concept of

interchangeable parts.

COTTON GIN

a machine that separates the seeds from raw cotton fibers –

harvested cotton process MUCH faster, leads to “Cotton

Kingdom” in South and increasing demands for slaves

INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS

Identical components that can be used in place of one

another in manufacturing

SECTIONALISM

Devotion to the interests of one geographic region

(economic, social, political, cultural) over interests of the

country as a whole.

MANIFEST DESTINY

The belief that America had the God-given right and duty

to expand across the continent to Pacific Ocean

THE ALAMO

Old Spanish mission that is best remembered for the battle

fought there for Texas independence, 1836

Mexican army was lead by Santa Anna, all Texans killed in battle

ANNEXATION OF TEXAS

U.S. takes over territory in 1845; was one of the causes of

the Mexican-American war.

OREGON TERRITORY

Northwest Territory acquired by the U.S. from Great Britain under President Polk in 1848

MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR

War declared in 1846 after Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande into Texas. Was ended

with Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which gave the U.S.

Texas, New Mexico, and California, in exchange for $15

million to Mexico

GADSDEN PURCHASE

Strip of land in present day New Mexico and Arizona that was acquired by U.S. in 1853

for $10 million.

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH

mass migration to California following the discovery of gold

in 1848 – rapidly increased Cal’s diverse population

ANDREW JACKSON

Hero of Battle of New Orleans, supported by “common man,” pursued harsh policy toward Native Americans; supported minimal government and the

spoils system.

JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY

Term that describes the spirit of the age led by Andrew Jackson; during this period, more offices

became elective, voter restrictions were reduced or eliminated and popular participation and politics

increased

UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE

principle that every man had a right to vote, regardless of

whether he owned property.

SPOILS SYSTEM

System of employing and promoting civil servants who are friends and supporters of

the group in power.

LAISSEZ-FAIRE ECONOMICS

Hands off approach to government; government should not interfere in the

economy.

INDIAN REMOVAL ACT

President Andrew Jackson’s measure that allowed state officials to override federal

protection of Native Americans who were forced to sell tribal lands and relocated west to

Oklahoma

STRICT INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

This view of the Constitution meant that it was to be

followed exactly to the word, a philosophy adopted by

Jefferson & Jackson

TRAIL OF TEARS

800 mile forced March by the Cherokee from their homeland in Georgia to Indian Territory;

resulted in the deaths of thousands of Cherokee

Indians.

TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

political party system with two major political parties.

EDUCATION REFORM

Changes made in educational systems that were designed to

filter through to society to make America a better and safer place – education for

men and women

TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT

Organized campaign to eliminate alcohol consumption

ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT

movement to end slavery

WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Organized effort to improve political, legal, and economic

status; it was largely inspired by women’s frustration with their

limited participation rights in the abolitionist movement.

ELIZABETH CADY STANTON

Women’s rights advocate who organized to Seneca Falls

Convention

SENECA FALLS CONVENTION

First women’s rights convention, held in 1848

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE

women’s right to vote

SUSAN B. ANTHONY

An early leader of the women’s suffrage movement, co-

founded the National Women’s suffrage Association with Elizabeth Cady Stanton in

1869.