AP U.S. History: The Presidencies of George Washington and John Adams (1789–1801)

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the major domestic and foreign policies, events, and figures of the Washington and Adams administrations from 1789 to the Election of 1800.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

A 1794 uprising of farmers in western Pennsylvania protesting an excise tax on distilled liquor, which President George Washington quelled using federal military forces to demonstrate the executive power of the new national government.

Neutrality Proclamation (1793)

A formal announcement issued by President George Washington declaring that the United States would remain neutral in the ongoing conflict between Great Britain and France, urging the country to avoid foreign entanglements.

Jay's Treaty (1794)

An agreement negotiated with Great Britain to prevent another war that established trading regulations and secured the withdrawal of British troops from frontier forts, but failed to address the British impressment of American sailors.

Pinckney's Treaty (1795)

A treaty between the United States and Spain that established the northern border of Spanish Florida at the 31st parallel and granted American merchants free navigation of the Mississippi River and access to the Port of New Orleans.

Hamilton's Economic Plan

Alexander Hamilton's financial program to manage national debt through federal assumption of state debts (secured by agreeing to move the capital to Washington, D.C.), create a national bank, issue stable currency, and levy protective tariffs and excise taxes.

Washington's Farewell Address

President George Washington's 1796 valedictory statement warning the American public against the divisiveness of political parties and the dangers of becoming entangled in permanent foreign alliances and conflicts.

Washington's Cabinet

The advisory body established by President George Washington consisting of the heads of executive departments: Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury, and Henry Knox as Secretary of War.

Election of 1796

The presidential contest in which Federalist John Adams won the presidency by a narrow electoral margin (71 to 68 votes) over Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson, who became vice president after finishing second.

Abigail Adams

Key political advisor and wife to John Adams who ran the family farm, promoted republican virtues, opposed slavery, and advocated for women's legal rights and representation ('Remember the Ladies').

XYZ Affair

A 1797–1798 diplomatic incident in which French agents demanded bribes and loans before American delegates could meet with the French foreign minister, inciting anti-French sentiment, naval expansion, and heightened American nationalism.

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

A series of laws passed during John Adams's presidency that raised citizenship residency requirements to 14 years, authorized the deportation of noncitizens deemed dangerous, and criminalized malicious speech or publications against the federal government.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798)

Political measures drafted secretly by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson asserting that states had entered into a compact with the federal government and had the constitutional right to nullify federal laws that exceeded federal authority.

Nullification

The constitutional doctrine advanced in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions arguing that individual states have the authority to declare federal laws void and unenforceable within their borders if the federal government oversteps its powers.

Revolution of 1800

The presidential election in which Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson defeated Federalist incumbent John Adams, marking the first peaceful transfer of power between opposing political factions in modern democratic history.

Judiciary Act of 1801

Legislation passed by the Federalist-controlled lame-duck Congress that created sixteen new federal circuit judgeships and numerous other judicial positions prior to Thomas Jefferson taking office.

Midnight Judges

Federalist judges appointed by President John Adams in the final hours of his administration under the Judiciary Act of 1801, intended to maintain Federalist influence in the judiciary branch.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The landmark Supreme Court case arising from the midnight judge appointments under Chief Justice John Marshall that formally established the doctrine of judicial review.