American History Vocabulary

Part 1: Definitions and Example Sentences

1. Colony – A territory under the immediate political control of a distant state.
   Example: The New England colonies were established by English settlers seeking religious freedom.
2. Mercantilism – An economic policy where colonies exist to profit the mother country through trade regulations.
   Example: The British enforced mercantilist policies to control colonial commerce.
3. Salutary Neglect – A period when Britain loosely enforced parliamentary laws in the American colonies.
   Example: Salutary neglect allowed colonial assemblies to gain power and self-governance.
4. Triangular Trade – A three-legged trade route between Europe, Africa, and the Americas involving goods and slaves.
   Example: Merchants profited from triangular trade by exchanging rum and textiles for enslaved people.
5. Enlightenment – An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.
   Example: Enlightenment ideas influenced colonial leaders like Thomas Jefferson.
6. Social Contract – The agreement between people and their government defining and limiting rights and duties.
   Example: Colonists argued that British rulers violated the social contract by denying representation.
7. Taxation Without Representation – The principle that it is unjust to tax citizens without their consent through elected officials.
   Example: Colonists cried “no taxation without representation” in response to Parliament’s taxes.
8. Stamp Act – A 1765 law requiring many printed materials in the colonies to carry a tax stamp.
   Example: The Stamp Act sparked widespread protest and boycotts among colonists.
9. Boston Tea Party – A 1773 protest where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.
   Example: Participants disguised as Native Americans to protest the Tea Act.
10. Intolerable Acts – A series of punitive laws passed in 1774 to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party.
    Example: Colonists called these measures the Intolerable Acts because they restricted their freedoms.
11. Declaration of Independence – The 1776 document declaring the American colonies free from British rule.
    Example: The Declaration of Independence asserted natural rights like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
12. Federalism – A system of government dividing power between a central authority and constituent units.
    Example: The Constitution established federalism to balance state and national interests.
13. Constitution – The supreme law outlining the structure and functions of the U.S. government.
    Example: Delegates at the Constitutional Convention drafted the document in 1787.
14. Checks and Balances – A design in government where each branch can limit the powers of the others.
    Example: The president can veto legislation, which is part of checks and balances.
15. Bill of Rights – The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing individual liberties.
    Example: Freedom of speech and religion are protected by the Bill of Rights.
16. Separation of Powers – The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent abuse.
    Example: Separation of powers assigns legislative duties to Congress.
17. Ratification – The formal approval process of a legal document, such as the Constitution.
    Example: The Constitution required ratification by nine states before taking effect.
18. Popular Sovereignty – The principle that political power resides with the people.
    Example: Debates over popular sovereignty arose in new territories regarding slavery.
19. Manifest Destiny – The belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America.
    Example: Manifest Destiny fueled the westward migration of settlers.
20. Abolitionism – The movement to end slavery in the United States.
    Example: Abolitionism gained momentum in the early 19th century.

Part 2: Fill in the Blank (Use each word once)

1. The establishment of Jamestown in 1607 marked the first permanent English ____________.
   
   
   
2. The British policy of ____________ was designed to restrict colonial trade to benefit the mother country.
   
   
   
3. During ____________, British officials turned a blind eye to the enforcement of parliamentary laws.
   
   
   
4. Enslaved Africans were forcibly transported as part of the ____________.
   
   
   
5. Philosophers like John Locke influenced the colonists through ideas from the ____________.
   
   
   
6. Government authority was thought to stem from the ____________ between rulers and the governed.
   
   
   
7. Colonists protested ____________, asserting their rights as English subjects.
   
   
   
8. The ____________ taxed all legal documents and newspapers in the colonies.
   
   
   
9. Colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor during the ____________ in protest of British taxes.
   
   
   
10. Parliament passed the ____________ to punish Massachusetts for its rebellious actions.
    
    
    
11. In 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the ____________ declaring independence from Britain.
    
    
    
12. The division of power between national and state governments reflects ____________.
    
    
    
13. The ____________ serves as the fundamental law of the United States.
    
    
    
14. Each branch of government can limit the others under ____________.
    
    
    
15. The ____________ protects freedoms such as speech, religion, and assembly.
    
    
    
16. The ____________ divides governmental functions among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
    
    
    
17. The ____________ of the Constitution required approval by special state conventions.
    
    
    
18. The doctrine of ____________ emphasizes that power lies with the people.
    
    
    
19. The concept of ____________ justified U.S. territorial expansion in the 1800s.
    
    
    
20. The ____________ movement sought to abolish slavery nationwide.
    
    
    

American History Vocabulary Answer Key

(This key corresponds to the fill-in-the-blank section of American History Vocabulary.)

Part 2: Fill in the Blank – Answers & Explanations

1. Answer: colony
   Step-by-Step: The question refers to Jamestown as the first permanent English ____. From Part 1, a “colony” is defined as a territory under the political control of a distant state, which fits Jamestown’s status.
2. Answer: mercantilism
   Step-by-Step: The blank describes a British policy restricting colonial trade to benefit the mother country. That policy is “mercantilism,” an economic system tying colonies’ trade to the wealth of their ruler.
3. Answer: Salutary Neglect
   Step-by-Step: The clue names a period when British officials ignored enforcement of parliamentary laws. This period is called “Salutary Neglect,” when colonists largely managed their own affairs.
4. Answer: Triangular Trade
   Step-by-Step: Enslaved Africans were carried in a three-legged route between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This forced movement was part of the “Triangular Trade.”
5. Answer: Enlightenment
   Step-by-Step: The ideas of John Locke and other philosophers belong to the intellectual movement known as the “Enlightenment,” which emphasized reason and individual rights.
6. Answer: Social Contract
   Step-by-Step: Government authority deriving from an agreement between rulers and the governed refers to the “Social Contract,” which defines mutual rights and duties.
7. Answer: Taxation Without Representation
   Step-by-Step: Colonists’ rallying cry against unjust taxes without elected voices is “Taxation Without Representation,” denouncing Parliament’s levies.
8. Answer: Stamp Act
   Step-by-Step: The tax on printed materials like newspapers and legal documents is the “Stamp Act” of 1765, which required colonists to buy stamped paper.
9. Answer: Boston Tea Party
   Step-by-Step: The protest by dumping tea into Boston Harbor to oppose British taxes is known as the “Boston Tea Party.”
10. Answer: Intolerable Acts
    Step-by-Step: Britain’s punitive laws in 1774 to punish Massachusetts for the Tea Party were dubbed the “Intolerable Acts” by colonists.
11. Answer: Declaration of Independence
    Step-by-Step: The 1776 document declaring freedom from Britain is the “Declaration of Independence.”
12. Answer: Federalism
    Step-by-Step: The division of power between national and state governments is called “Federalism.”
13. Answer: Constitution
    Step-by-Step: The fundamental law outlining the structure of the U.S. government is the “Constitution.”
14. Answer: Checks and Balances
    Step-by-Step: The system where each branch limits the others is “Checks and Balances.”
15. Answer: Bill of Rights
    Step-by-Step: The first ten amendments guaranteeing civil liberties are the “Bill of Rights.”
16. Answer: Separation of Powers
    Step-by-Step: Dividing governmental functions among legislative, executive, and judicial branches describes “Separation of Powers.”
17. Answer: Ratification
    Step-by-Step: The process of formally approving the Constitution by state conventions is called “Ratification.”
18. Answer: Popular Sovereignty
    Step-by-Step: The idea that political power rests with the people is known as “Popular Sovereignty.”
19. Answer: Manifest Destiny
    Step-by-Step: The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent is “Manifest Destiny.”
20. Answer: Abolitionism
    Step-by-Step: The movement to end slavery throughout the United States is called “Abolitionism.”

History Word Mix-Up

Get your brain in gear by unscrambling these key American history terms. Write the correct vocabulary word on the line. (Hint: All words appear in American History Vocabulary.)

1. NOCYLO
   __________
   
   
2. CNITAUONSTOI
   __________
   
   
3. GNTIHNELMEMNIT
   __________
   
   
4. RIMECTLISAANM
   __________
   
   
5. SUALTARY
   __________
   
   
6. AILTRANUGR
   __________
   
   
7. TRWASOCN OLCIAS
   __________
   
   
8. REISLADEFM
   __________
   
   
9. OPLYAPR EGISRNOEVTY
   __________
   
   
10. LSYYABOHIIN
    __________
    
    
    

Take 5 minutes to complete this warm-up. Once finished, we’ll review the answers together!

Word Connection Exit Ticket

Choose one term from American History Vocabulary that stood out to you today. Then complete the prompts below.

1. Vocabulary Term: ________________________________
   
   
2. Why did you choose this term?
   Explain in one or two sentences.
   
   
   
3. How does this term relate to a current event or your own experience?
   Describe your connection in a short paragraph.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! We’ll discuss a few responses at the start of our next class.