Period 3 Review: 1754-1800 The road to the Revolution, the American Revolutionary War, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, and Shaping the New Republic

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, people, events, and concepts from the notes on the road to the Revolution and the formation of the American republic.

Albany Plan of the Union

Ben Franklin's 1754 proposal for an intercolonial government to coordinate defense and taxes; not adopted, but it set a precedent for later colonial cooperation.

Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War)

Global conflict (1754–1763) between Britain, France, and Spain over colonies and trade; British victory increased empire control but left Britain with war debt and colonial tensions.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

End of the Seven Years’ War; Britain gained Canada and Florida; France ceded Louisiana to Spain; shifted balance of power in North America.

Proclamation of 1763

Prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to stabilize fronts; angered colonists hoping to expand westward.

Sugar Act (1764)

Tax on foreign sugar and stricter enforcement of trade laws; smugglers could be tried without a jury.

Stamp Act (1765)

Direct tax on printed paper in the colonies; led to widespread protests and the creation of the Stamp Act Congress.

Quartering Act (1765)

Colonists required to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers stationed in the colonies.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Parliament asserted its authority to tax and legislate for the colonies ‘in all cases whatsoever.’

Townshend Acts (1767)

Taxes on colonial tea, glass, and paper to pay crown officials; led to protests, boycotts, and smuggling.

Boston Massacre (1770)

Clash in which British troops killed five colonists; used as propaganda by colonists to fuel revolutionary sentiment.

Tea Act (1773)

Gave the East India Company a monopoly on tea in the colonies; aimed to rescue the company but angered colonial merchants and consumers.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Colonists, disguised as Native Americans, dumped 342 chests of BEIC tea into Boston Harbor in protest.

Intolerable/Coercive Acts (1774)

Punitive measures including the Port Act, MA Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and expanded Quartering Act; aimed at punishing Massachusetts.

Prohibitory Act (1775)

British act declaring the American colonies in rebellion and blocking aid and trade with them.

Olive Branch Petition (1775)

Colonial last-ditch appeal to King George III for reconciliation; rejected by the Crown.

Suffolk Resolves (1774)

colonies urged boycott of British goods and preparation for defense; helped spur the Continental Association.

Declaration and Resolves (First Continental Congress, 1774)

Document urging Parliament to restore colonial rights while recognizing Parliament’s authority to regulate commerce.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Adopted July 4, 1776; Thomas Jefferson’s list of grievances against King George III and assertion of natural rights and independence.

Articles of Confederation (ratified 1781)

First US Constitution; created a weak central government with states retaining most power; 9/13 to pass laws, 13/13 to amend.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Plan to survey and sell western lands, with proceeds supporting public education in each township.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Set rules for creating new states from the Northwest Territory and banned slavery in that region.

Shays’ Rebellion (1786–87)

Massachusetts farmer uprising highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles and provoking calls for a stronger central government.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Meeting in Philadelphia to draft a new framework of government; led to the U.S. Constitution.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise, 1787)

Created a bicameral legislature: House representation based on population and Senate with equal representation.

3/5 Compromise (1787)

Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation in Congress.

Federalists vs Anti-Federalists

Debate over a strong national government vs states’ rights; influenced the push for a Bill of Rights.

Bill of Rights (ratified 1791)

First 10 amendments protecting individual liberties and limiting federal power.

Judiciary Act of 1789

Established a federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and associate justices, and created district and circuit courts.

Hamilton’s Financial Program

Policy to pay national debt, assume state debts, impose tariffs, and create a national bank.

National Bank

Proposed by Hamilton to stabilize currency and manage government funds; debated as constitutional under the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

Washington declared the US neutral in the French Revolutionary Wars, avoiding entangling alliances.

Jay Treaty (1794)

Agreement with Britain to evacuate posts and resolve some disputes; kept the US out of war but sparked controversy over impressment and trade.

Pinckney Treaty (1795)

Agreement with Spain granting navigation rights on the Mississippi and access to New Orleans; favorable for western farmers.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Western farmers’ revolt against Hamilton’s whiskey tax; federal forces suppressed the rebellion to demonstrate strength.

Farewell Address (1796)

Washington warned against entangling alliances, political parties, and sectionalism; emphasized the two-term tradition.

XYZ Affair (1797–1798)

French agents demanded bribes to open peace talks; fueled anti-French sentiment and calls for war against France.

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Laws restricting immigration and curbing opposition press; aimed at weakening Democratic-Republicans and French influence.

Kentucky Resolution (1798)

Jefferson’s call for states to nullify unconstitutional federal laws—argued for states’ rights.

Virginia Resolution (1798)

Madison’s counterpart asserting states could nullify federal laws that violated the Constitution’s compact.

Judicial Review (established 1803)

Supreme Court power to declare statutes unconstitutional; established by John Marshall’s decisions.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments to balance authority.

Separation of Powers

Division of government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny.

Checks and Balances

Each branch can limit the others’ powers to maintain internal balance.

Electoral College

System for electing the president; each state has electors equal to its total representation in Congress.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Constitutional clause granting Congress power to pass laws needed to execute its enumerated powers.

Deism

Belief in a non-interventionist creator who sets laws but does not intervene in daily affairs.

Rationalism

Philosophical belief in reason as the primary source of knowledge and truth.

Social Contract

Idea that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed and must protect natural rights.