US History Semester Exam Study Guide
Major Historical Era: Exploration and Colonization
1. Reasons for European Exploration
a. God – to spread religion
b. Gold – to gain wealth
c. Glory – to gain power and fame
2. Establishment of Jamestown, VA in 1607
a. 1st Permanent English settlement and colony
b. Started as a chartered colony as an economic investment for members
c. House of Burgesses - 1st formally elected government in the New World
d. Colony survived with the help of Pocahontas
e. Colony saved by the arrival of tobacco seeds from the West Indies
3. Arrival of the Pilgrims, Puritans, and Separatists
a. Left Europe to escape religious persecution
b. Signing of the Mayflower Compact, establishing a form of self-government based on a social contract
c. Settled in the New England colonies
d. 3) Founding of Connecticut colony, Government - Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
4. Other Arrivals
a. French – occupied area near the Great Lakes and Canada, mainly interested in the Fish and Fur Trade, got along with Native Americans
b. Spanish – settled in the South and built missions in Texas and California for cultural influence
c. Africans – mainly brought over as enslaved people, though some were free
5. Characteristic of Colonies
a. New England Colonies – Cold climate, poor soil, subsistence(survival) farming
b. Middle Colonies – Mild climate, descent soil for wheat fields
c. Southern Colonies – Warm climate, best for large-scale agriculture(plantations)
1. Georgia established for debtors and poor people and a military barrier to Spanish Florida
6. Mercantilism - Economic theory that a nation’s power is based on its wealth, and colonies exist for the benefit of the Mother Country.
7. Proclamation of 1763: Established by the British after the French and Indian War to avoid conflicts between American colonists and Native Americans
Major Historical Era: The Revolution Era
8. Road to Independence and War – Causes, Opposing Sides, and Declaration of War
a. British overtaxed colonists to pay for the debt they incurred with the French and Indian War and their war with France.
b. Taxation without Representation: American colonists taxed without their consent or voice
i. Stamp Act: taxed all printed matter in an effort to raise money to clear English debt. American colonists boycotted British made goods in response to this act.
ii. Intolerable Act: a law in retaliation or punishment for the Boston Tea Party incident
c. Opposing Sides
i. Patriots – Colonists who sought their independence from Great Britain
ii. Loyalists – Colonists who were loyal to and supported the British
iii. Pacifists – People who refuse to fight in wars, mostly Quakers.
9. Declaration of Independence – written by Thomas Jefferson on July 4, 1776
a. Declared the colonists’ grievances and reasons for separating from England.
b. Personally directed grievances to King George III for letting it happen.
c. Included natural rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
d. Thomas Paine wrote “Common Sense”, a pamphlet to encourage colonists that it was right to seek their independence from Great Britain.
10. The American Revolutionary War
a. Battle of Lexington and Concord - 1st battle known as “the shot heard round the world”. The other nations waited and watched to see if the “rag tag” American army could defeat Europe’s most powerful and successful nation.
b. Crossing of the Delaware: Gen. Washington and his troops surprised the British at Trenton, NJ
c. Battle of Saratoga: A Patriot victory that became a turning point in the war because it boosted American spirits and gave other nations belief that the colonists could win
d. Battle of Yorktown: A Patriot victory where Gen. Washington defeated Gen. Cornwallis resulting in the Colonists’ winning the Revolutionary War because Britain thought the war was too costly to pursue.
e. Treaty of Paris (1783) - Treaty signed in Paris, France to end the war kicking the British off of American soil.
Major Historical Era: The Constitutional Era
11. Articles of Confederation
a. America’s 1st Constitution
b. Strength: Set up NW Ordinance as a way to admit states into the Union
c. Strength: Allowed the Treaty of Paris to be signed, ending the war
d. Weakness: Shay’s Rebellion, an event at a federal arsenal that proved the Articles of Confederation were too weak of a government.
12. US Constitution – written by James Madison on September 17, 1787,
a. Became known as the “Supreme Law of the Land”
b. Documents that influenced the writing of the US Constitution: 1) The Magna Carta, 2) The English Bill of Rights, and 3) the Enlightenment Period.
c. Supported by Federalists for a strong central governments
d. The Federalists Papers: Written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison to promote, explain, and defend the Constitution
e. Not supported by Anti-federalists who insisted on individual liberties
f. Great Compromise: A compromise to determine how Congressional representatives are chosen – Senate: 2 per state regardless of population; House of Representatives: Based on population
g. 3/5th Compromise: Resolved a conflict on the counting of slaves for representation purposes
13. Principles of Government
a. Federalism: A government principle that allowed the sharing of powers between the Federal and State Governments
b. Checks and Balances: A government principle that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful
c. Popular Sovereignty: principle where the people are the source of government’s power
d. Republicanism: a principle where people elect their political representatives.
14. The United States Bill of Rights - 1st 10 Amendments to the Constitution, which protects individual liberties from government abuse.
- 1st Amendment: Guarantees individual 5 freedoms: freedom of the press, 2) freedom of speech, 3) freedom to peacefully assembly, 4) freedom of religion, and 5) freedom to petition the government for a redress of grievances
- 2nd Amendment: the right to bear arms.
- 3rd Amendment: Prevents the quartering of troops in private houses.
- 4th Amendment: Allows freedom from unreasonable search and seizure of property.
e. 5th Amendment: Gives the right 1) The right to due process of the law, 2) The right to not testify against yourself, and 3) The right to not be tried for the same crime twice (double jeopardy)
15. Amend: To change the Constitution. The amendment process allows the Constitution to adjust for changing times.
16. Duties: Things we must do as a US Citizen. These duties include:
a. Obeying the laws
b. Serving on a jury when told
c. Paying taxes………………..You can be arrested for not doing your duty.
17. Responsibilities: Things we should do as citizens. These include:
a. Voting
b. Staying informed of what’s happening in the government
c. Knowing your rights.
18. The Judiciary Act of 1789: Established a system of 13 district courts and 3 circuit courts
19. Marbury versus Madison: A court case that established the principle of judicial review.
a. Judicial Review - Involves reviewing all bills and laws to ensure they follow the Constitution.
20. George Washington
a. Leadership qualities included a willingness to listen to different points of view.
b. Inherited financial problems of debt from the Revolutionary War.
c. Set 2 precedents (actions taken for the 1st time that others follow):
i. 1) Serve only 2 terms as president, and
ii. 2) The establishment of an executive cabinet.
21. Alexander Hamilton: 1st Secretary of Treasury appointed by George Washington
a. Developed a plan to build the economy which included:
i. 1) A national bank
ii. 2) A Whiskey tax, and
iii. 3) A protective tariff. Tariff is a tax on imported goods.
22. Washington’s Farewell Address: Warned in his farewell speech 1) not to form political parties, and 2) not to be entangled in foreign affairs.
23. The Louisiana Purchase: Happened in the year of 1803
a. Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana territory from France for $15 million dollars. This gave France money to extend their empire in Europe.
b. The purchase doubled the size of the United States
c. The purchase gave the US access and control of the Mississippi River.