French and Indian War
What 1754–1763 war between Britain and France over the Ohio River Valley ultimately ended French presence in mainland North America.
French and Indian War
Passed in 1765, this direct tax on paper/printed goods triggered widespread colonial protests and the popular phrase "No taxation without representation."
Stamp Act
Adopted in 1781, this weak first constitution of the United States lacked an executive branch and the power to levy direct taxes.
Articles of Confederation
As the first Secretary of the Treasury, he championed a national bank, assumption of state debts, and tariffs to build American industry.
Alexander Hamilton
This diplomatic scandal during John Adams' presidency involved French officials demanding bribes before beginning negotiations, sparking an undeclared naval war.
XYZ Affair
Benjamin Franklin proposed this 1754 plan to unify the colonies for mutual defense, featuring the famous "Join, or Die" cartoon.
Albany Plan of Union
Thomas Paine published this hugely influential 1776 pamphlet arguing for complete independence from Great Britain in plain language.
Common Sense
This 1786–1787 armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers highlighted the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation.
Shay's Rebellion
George Washington sent federal troops to suppress this 1794 Pennsylvania protest against an internal tax, demonstrating the new federal government's authority.
Whiskey Rebellion
Negotiated in 1794, this controversial treaty with Great Britain sought to resolve post-Revolutionary tensions and avoid war, but angered Democratic-Republicans who saw it as too favorable to the British.
Jay's Treaty
This 1763 Native American uprising against British expansion led directly to the British issuing the Proclamation of 1763.
Pontiac's Rebellion
These colonial resistance groups, organized by Samuel Adams, facilitated communication and coordinated opposition to British policies across colonies.
Committees of Correspondence
This Constitutional Convention agreement settled representation by creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise)
In his 1796 address, George Washington warned the nation against political parties and permanent foreign alliances. What is this speech known as?
George Washington's Farewell Address
This revolutionary idea held that women were responsible for raising civic-minded sons and instilling democratic values in future citizens.
Republican Motherhood
This official British decree forbade colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent further conflict with Native Americans.
Proclamation of 1763
Parliament passed these harsh coercive measures in 1774 to punish Massachusetts following the Boston Tea Party.
Intolerable Acts (or Coercive Acts
Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, this collection of essays defended the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Federalist Papers
A response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, these 1798 resolutions drafted by Jefferson and Madison introduced the concept of state nullification.
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Enacted under the Articles of Confederation, this 1787 law established a process for admitting new states and banned slavery in the Old Northwest.
Northwest Ordinance
This concept describes Britain's pre-1763 policy of loosely enforcing trade regulations, which ended when Britain needed to pay off massive war debts.
Salutary Neglect
This 1770 confrontation in Massachusetts left five colonists dead and was heavily used as anti-British propaganda by Paul Revere and others.
Boston Massacre
Demanded by Anti-Federalists as a condition for ratification, these first ten amendments were added to protect individual rights from government overreach.
Bill of Rights
This peaceful power transfer following the election of Thomas Jefferson proved that the U.S. constitutional system could handle intense partisan rivalry.
Revolution of 1800 (or Election of 1800)
Debates over Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan, foreign policy during the French Revolution, and the balance between federal authority and states' rights led directly to the emergence of these first two formal political parties in the United States.
Federalists and Democratic Republicans