Causes of Revolution
What was the main purpose of the Stamp Act of 1765?
To raise revenue for Britain after the French and Indian War.
Who wrote Common Sense, urging independence from Britain?
Thomas Paine.
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson.
What plan proposed representation based on population?
The Virginia Plan.
Who was the first Secretary of the Treasury?
Alexander Hamilton.
What slogan represented the colonists’ anger at taxation without representation?
“No taxation without representation.”
What was the significance of the Battle of Saratoga?
It convinced France to ally with the colonies.
What were the natural rights listed by Jefferson?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
What compromise created a bicameral legislature?
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise).
What did George Washington warn against in his Farewell Address?
Political parties and foreign alliances.
What event led directly to the Intolerable Acts?
The Boston Tea Party.
What treaty officially ended the Revolutionary War?
The Treaty of Paris (1783).
What was one major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
The federal government could not tax or enforce laws.
What issue did the Three-Fifths Compromise address?
How enslaved people would count for representation and taxation.
What event tested Washington’s authority to enforce federal law?
The Whiskey Rebellion.
What was the goal of the First Continental Congress (1774)?
To coordinate colonial resistance to British policies.
Which group made up the majority of Loyalists?
Wealthy merchants and government officials.
What event exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
Shays’ Rebellion.
What were the Federalist Papers written to support?
Ratification of the Constitution.
What was the main difference between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans?
Federalists favored strong central government; Democratic-Republicans favored states’ rights.
How did the Enlightenment influence revolutionary ideas in the colonies?
It promoted natural rights and the idea that government is based on consent of the governed.
How did the war affect enslaved people in the colonies?
Some gained freedom by fighting for either side; northern states began gradual emancipation.
How did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 impact slavery?
It banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.
What principle divides power between national and state governments?
Federalism.
What was the purpose of the Alien and Sedition Acts?
To limit criticism of the government and weaken the Democratic-Republican opposition.