Dates and Years
Years in which the Declaration of Independence AND the Constitution were created
1776 + 1787
Who was the author of Common Sense and why was it important?
Thomas Paine - introduced the colonists to Enlightenment (and biblical) arguments in favor of independence and against monarchy in language they could understand
What is self-government and what role does it play in this period?
Government by the people of the place that is being governed. Important because the colonies had self-government prior to the Seven Years War, and felt that they had a right to it when Britain began to take more control.
Identify the context and intention of the Proclamation Line of 1763.
-Passed after Seven Years War and Pontiac's Rebellion
-Britain had a lot of new land but wanted to organize it before allowing colonists to settle (don't want to get into another war)
-Wanted to prevent conflict with Native Americans
April 1775
Identify 3 important achievements or experiences of George Washington.
-Fought in Seven Years War
-General of Continental Army
-President of Constitutional Convention
-First President
Enlightenment philosophy that claims that the government only has power because the people give it power/allow it to govern them.
Consent of the governed
Law that announced that Parliament had the right to pass any law on the colonies that it wanted to. (Must give year as well)
Declaratory Act - 1766
Year the Stamp Act was passed
1765
Identify James Madison's political party AND one achievement of his.
Democratic-Republican
-Drafted Virginia Plan/Constitution
-Drafted Bill of Rights
-Jefferson's Secretary of State
-4th President
What is "natural rights theory"?
The Enlightenment belief that all humans are born inherently equal with certain rights that governments can neither grant nor take away
Identify what the Coercive Acts were, when they were passed, and one specific thing that they did.
-Laws passed to punish Boston for the Boston Tea Party
-1774
-Closed Boston Harbor for commercial use, required that MA officials be chosen/appointed by the crown, allowed British officials to have their trials held in Britain, strengthened Quartering Act
Years of the First and Second Continental Convention
1774 + 1775
Two groups active during the years preceding and during the American Revolution who organized boycotts, nonimportation agreements, and protests of Parliamentary laws and taxes
Sons and Daughters of Liberty
Identify two concerns of the Antifederalists in the late 1780s.
-Central government would be too strong
-States' powers would be limited
-No Bill of Rights/protections of certain rights
Identify what the Alien and Sedition Acts did, who supported them, and why they were passed.
-Allowed the deportation or imprisonment of non-citizens and banned "false, scandalous, or malicious" speech against the government
-Passed by Federalists in Congress, supported by John Adams
-Most non-citizens were supports of the Democratic-Republican party
Years of the Seven Years War
1754-1763
Identify which role Alexander Hamilton had in the Washington administration and one specific policy that he implemented.
-Treasury Secretary
-US assuming state debts
-New taxes, tariffs, and bonds to increase revenue and support American industry
-Maintain debt to keep investors invested in US
-Pay off securities at face value
-Establish national bank
Identify three important policies or precedents set by Washington.
-2 terms
-US neutrality
-Created executive departments
-Loose interpretation of Constitutional powers
Identify the purpose of the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.
"Nullified" the Alien + Sedition Acts and claimed that states had the right to nullify any law that gave the federal government powers not granted in the Constitution.