APUSH: Period 3 Vocabulary (copy)

Salutary Neglect

A British policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws meant to keep American colonies obedient to England.

King William’s War

A conflict (1689-1697) between England and France in North America, part of the larger War of the League of Augsburg.

French & Indian War/Seven Years’ War

A global conflict (1754-1763) between Britain and France, primarily fought in North America, leading to British dominance in the region.

The Albany Congress

A 1754 meeting of representatives from seven colonies to discuss better relations with Native Americans and defense against the French.

The Albany Plan of Union

A proposal by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 to create a unified government for the Thirteen Colonies, which was ultimately rejected.

General Edward Braddock

A British general whose defeat in 1755 during the French and Indian War highlighted the challenges faced by British forces.

Treaty of Paris - 1763

The agreement that ended the French and Indian War, resulting in British territorial gains in North America.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

A 1763 uprising by Native American tribes against British rule in the Great Lakes region following the French and Indian War.

Proclamation of 1763

A British decree that prohibited American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to appease Native Americans.

George Grenville

British Prime Minister who implemented several acts to raise revenue from the American colonies, including the Sugar Act and Stamp Act.

Molasses Act 1733

A British law imposing a tax on molasses imported into the colonies, aimed at reducing smuggling.

Sugar Act 1764

A law that reduced the tax on molasses but strengthened enforcement against smuggling.

Quartering Act 1765

A law requiring colonial assemblies to provide housing and supplies for British troops stationed in America.

Stamp Act 1765

A tax imposed on printed materials in the colonies, leading to widespread protest and the formation of the Stamp Act Congress.

Whigs

A political faction in the colonies that opposed British policies and advocated for colonial rights.

Sons & Daughters of Liberty

Organizations formed to resist British policies and promote colonial unity through protests and boycotts.

Samuel Adams

A colonial leader and activist who played a key role in organizing resistance against British policies.

Stamp Act Congress

A meeting of delegates from nine colonies in 1765 to protest the Stamp Act and assert colonial rights.

Patrick Henry

A prominent orator and politician known for his fiery speeches advocating for colonial rights and independence.

Declaratory Act

A 1766 British law asserting Parliament's authority to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever."

Townshend Acts

A series of laws passed in 1767 imposing duties on imported goods, leading to increased colonial resistance.

Boston Massacre

A deadly confrontation in 1770 between British soldiers and Boston colonists, escalating tensions leading to the American Revolution.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest against British tea taxes where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Coercive Acts

A series of punitive laws passed in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, also known as the Intolerable Acts.

Quebec Act

A 1774 law that extended Quebec's boundaries and granted religious freedom to Catholics, angering Protestant colonists.

Intolerable Acts

A term used by colonists to describe the Coercive Acts, which they viewed as oppressive measures.

The Continental Congress

A convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body during the American Revolution.

Lexington & Concord

The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, occurring in April 1775.

“Minutemen”

Colonial militia members who were ready to fight at a moment's notice during the American Revolution.

Second Continental Congress

A meeting of delegates in 1775 that managed the colonial war effort and moved incrementally towards independence.

George Washington

The commander of the Continental Army and later the first President of the United States.

Battle of Bunker Hill

June 17, 1775. Colonial forces held off British troops in a bloody fight near Boston. Eventually led to a loss, but the heavy losses demonstrated colonial militia’s resolve and strength.

Olive Branch Petition

A final attempt by the Continental Congress in 1775 to avoid war with Britain, which was rejected by King George III.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

A pamphlet published in 1776 advocating for independence from Britain and the establishment of a democratic republic.

John Locke’s Social Contract

A philosophical theory that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, influencing American political thought.

Deism

A religious belief that emphasizes reason and observation of the natural world, often associated with Enlightenment thinkers.

Declaration of Independence

The 1776 document declaring the colonies' independence from Britain, authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which created a weak central government.

Continental Army

The army formed by the colonies to fight against British rule during the American Revolution.

American Revolution

The conflict (1775-1783) in which the Thirteen Colonies fought for independence from British rule.

Battle of Saratoga

A turning point battle in 1777 that secured French support for the American cause during the Revolution.

Battle of Yorktown

The final major battle of the American Revolution in 1781, leading to British surrender and American victory.

Treaty of Paris

The 1783 agreement that officially ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.

John Adams

A Founding Father, the second President of the United States, and a key advocate for independence.

Republican Motherhood

The idea that women had a role in teaching republican values to their children, emphasizing women's importance in the new nation.

Abigail Adams

The wife of John Adams, known for her letters advocating for women's rights and her influence on her husband.

Alexander Hamilton

The first Secretary of the Treasury and a key architect of the American financial system and the Federalist Party.

Federalist

Supporters of a strong central government and the ratification of the Constitution.

Anti-Federalist

Opponents of a strong central government and the ratification of the Constitution, advocating for states' rights.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Legislation that established a framework for governing the Northwest Territory and admitting new states to the Union.

Shay’s Rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786-1787 by Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices and lack of government response.

James Madison

A Founding Father, the fourth President of the United States, and a key architect of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a new government structure that favored larger states by basing representation on population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a unicameral legislature that favored smaller states by providing equal representation for each state.

The Great Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature with both proportional and equal representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement that counted three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and taxation purposes.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties and rights.

The Federalist Papers

A series of essays written to promote the ratification of the Constitution and explain its principles.

Bank of the United States

A national bank established in 1791 to stabilize the American economy and provide a uniform currency.

Thomas Jefferson

The third President of the United States and a leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, advocating for agrarianism and states' rights.

Democratic-Republicans

A political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison that opposed Federalist policies and advocated for states' rights.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

A declaration by President Washington stating that the United States would remain neutral in foreign conflicts.

Jay Treaty (1794)

An agreement between the United States and Britain that resolved issues remaining from the Revolutionary War and facilitated trade.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 uprising by farmers protesting a federal excise tax on whiskey, demonstrating the federal government's authority.

The Pinckney Treaty (1795)

An agreement between the United States and Spain that established borders and granted Americans access to the Mississippi River.

Daniel Boone

An American pioneer and explorer known for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky.

Washington’s Farewell Address

A letter written by George Washington in 1796 advising against political parties and foreign alliances.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident in 1797-1798 between the United States and France that led to an undeclared war known as the Quasi-War.

Alien & Sedition Acts

A series of laws passed in 1798 that restricted immigration and limited free speech, targeting political opponents.

Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

Statements authored by Jefferson and Madison asserting that states could nullify federal laws that they deemed unconstitutional.