American History Flashcards

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Embargo Act

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Act put into law by Thomas Jefferson in 1807 that was the low point of his presidency. Outlawed the sailing of American ships to foreign ports. This law was intended to protect American ships from the impressment of foreign forces but ended up decimating the economies of port cities and reminded many Americans of the British Navigation Acts.

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War of 1812

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A war between the U.S. and Great Britain caused by American outrage over the impressment of American sailors by the British, the British seizure of American ships, and British aid to the Indians attacking the Americans on the western frontier. Enhanced nationalism of Americans.

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Hartford Convention

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Meeting of Federalists near the end of the War of 1812 in which the party listed its complaints against the ruling Republican Party. These actions were largely viewed as traitorous to the country and lost the Federalist Party much influence.

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Market Revolution

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Connected small farmers and traders to larger markets through the use of newly developed infrastructure. For example, the development of the Illinois Central Railroad shaped Chicago as a train-city and helped open areas of Illinois to commercial farming. Also shaped the way we work and labor today, affecting how we work for a wage and 'around a clock.'

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Steamboats

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Boats that could easily paddle upstream became a vital part of America's transportation system. Robert Fulton sailed his steamboat, the Clermont, up the Hudson River.

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Toll Roads

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Created on highways built by private companies to generate profit but were heavily avoided by Americans. Before 1830, they were owned by corporations chartered by state governments. Enforced state power.

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Erie Canal

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A 363-mile canal that connected the Great Lakes region to New York City, creating a dominant port of the city. Brought about the creation of new towns along the waterway (Buffalo, Rochester). Inspired the building of many other canals across the U.S. and sparked an interest in major waterway transportation.

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Telegraph

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An apparatus that used electric signals to transmit a message via a wire; use of Morse Code (a series of dots and dashes representing letters of the alphabet). Allowed people to communicate ideas and the price of goods across the country.

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Baltimore & Ohio

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First major railroad of the US.

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Railroads

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Connected the Western frontier to the other cities in the US; influenced trade, and stimulated the mining of coal for fuel and manufacturing of iron for materials to build trains.