Lead up to the war
Seven Year's War (French & Indian War)
Global conflict between European nations, primarily Britain and France, that began in North America in 1754, erupted in Europe in 1756, and ended in 1763. France ultimately ceded all of its North American territories to England and Spain, but the enormous cost of the war also damaged the British economy.
Stamp Act
Imposed a duty on all transactions involving paper items. Prompted widespread, coordinated protests and was eventually repealed.
Whiskey Rebellion
Uprising led by farmers in Pennsylvania who led protests against the excise tax on whiskey. Proved the new strength of the federal government.
Federalists vs. Anti-federalists
Federalists: Supporters of the ratification of the Constitution. Many came from urban and commercial backgrounds.
Anti-federalists: Opponents of ratification to the constitution. Generally from more rural and less wealthy backgrounds than federalists.
Declaration of Independence
Document declaring the independence of the colonies from Great Britain. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and then debated/revised by the Continental Congress.
Proclamation Line of 1763
Act of Parliament that restricted colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. The proclamation line sparked protests from rich and poor colonists.
Townshend Acts
Instituted an import tax on a range of items including glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea. They prompted a boycott of British goods and contributed to violence between British soldiers and colonists.
Treaty of Greenville
Treaty signed following the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The treaty forced Native Americans in the Northwest territory to cede vast tracts of land in the U.S.
Three-fifths compromise
Compromise between delegates to count enslaved persons as three-fifths of a free person in deciding the proportion of representation in the House of Representatives and taxation by the federal government.
Olive Branch Petition
Document sent to King George III of Great Britain in 1775 by the Continental Congress as a final attempt to avoid war between the British government and its American colonies
Boston Tea Party
Rally against British tax policy organized by the Sons of Liberty on December 16, 1773, consisting of about fifty men disguised as Native Americans who boarded British ships and dumped about forty-five tons of tea into the Boston Harbor.
Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts
Acts of parliament passed in response to the Boston Tea Party. The acts closed the port of Boston until residents paid for the damaged property and moved MA court cases against royal officials back to England in a bid to weaken colonial authority.
Jay's Treaty
Treaty that required British forces to withdraw from U.S. soil, required American repayment of debts to British farms, and limited U.S. trade with the British West Indies.
Virginia plan vs. New Jersey plan
Virginia Plan: Strong central gov, bicameral legislature, and a system of representation based on population.
New Jersey Plan: Created one legislative house in the federal government and granting each state equal representation in it.
Treaty of Paris
Treaty that formally ended the American Revolution.
Albany Plan of Union
Plan put together by Benjamin Franklin to create a more centralized colonial government that would establish policies regarding defense, trade, and territorial expansion, as well as aim to facilitate better relations between colonists and Native Americans. The plan was never implemented.
Boston Massacre
1770 clash between colonial protestors and British soldiers in Boston that led to the death of five colonists. The conflict was used to promote the patriot cause.
Judiciary Act of 1789
The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the federal judiciary system of the United States, including the structure, powers, and jurisdiction of the courts, and the qualifications of the judges and other officials
Name 3 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
- Limited central government
- No power to tax
- No power to regulate trade
- Could not raise an army
- No national court system
- No executive branch
- Difficult to amend
- No uniform currency
- Could not enforce laws on states
Republican Motherhood
Supported women's education so that they could in turn instruct their son's in principles of republican government.
Pontiac's Rebellion
Large-scale Native American uprising against British rule in the Great Lakes region following the French and Indian War, led by Ottawa chief Pontiac, where various tribes united to attack British forts and settlements in an attempt to halt further colonial expansion
Enlightenment
European cultural movement spanning the late 17th century to the end of the eighteenth century emphasizing rational and scientific thinking over traditional religion and superstition.
Alien & Sedition Acts (tell me about both)
Acts passed by the federalist-controlled Congress. The Alien Act allowed the president to imprison or deport non-citizens; the Sedition Act placed significant restrictions on political speech.
The Great Compromise
Agreement reached at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature for the United States. The senate would have equal representation (2 senators) across each state while the house of representatives would be based on population.
First vs. Second Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress primarily focused on coordinating a colonial boycott against British goods in response to the Intolerable Acts, while the Second Continental Congress, convened after the Revolutionary War had begun, took the more decisive step of declaring American independence from Britain and drafting the Declaration of Independence.