AMSTUD 3B

1st Continental Congress

gathering of delegates from twelve of the thirteen American colonies that took place in 1774 in Philadelphia. This assembly was convened in response to the Intolerable Acts, which were punitive measures imposed by the British government, and it aimed to address colonial grievances regarding taxation and lack of representation.

Battle of Lexington and Concord

marked the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. This confrontation was significant as it symbolized the beginning of armed resistance against British rule, showcasing the colonists' resolve to defend their rights and liberties.

Declaration of Independence

foundational document that announced the American colonies' separation from British rule, asserting their right to self-govern and listing grievances against King George III. This pivotal text reflects Enlightenment ideals and significantly influenced both American identity and the global movement for democracy and independence.

Loyalists (Tories)

viewpoints held by those in the American colonies who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution. These individuals believed in maintaining ties with Britain for economic stability, social order, and protection against perceived threats from radical revolutionaries

Patriots

American colonists who opposed British rule during the American Revolution and fought for independence

Battle of Saratoga

marked a pivotal turning point in the American Revolutionary War, as it resulted in a significant victory for the American forces against the British. This battle not only boosted American morale but also convinced France to enter the war as an ally of the colonies, altering the course of the conflict.

Treaty of Alliance with France

formal agreement between the American colonies and France during the American Revolution, aimed at supporting the colonies in their fight for independence from British rule. This alliance was pivotal in providing crucial military support, resources, and recognition to the American cause, significantly influencing the outcome of the war.

Treaty of Paris

signed on September 3, 1783, between the American colonies and Great Britain, ended the American Revolution and formally recognized the United States as an independent nation.

Daughters of Liberty

groups of patriotic women in the American colonies who actively supported the colonial cause by organizing boycotts of British goods, promoting non-importation movements, and producing homespun substitutes to promote economic self-sufficiency

Republican Motherhood

a concept that emerged after the American Revolution, emphasizing the crucial role of women in nurturing the new republic by educating their children to be virtuous, civic-minded citizens

Haitian Revolution

a successful 1791-1804 slave uprising in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti) that led to the establishment of the first independent black republic and the only nation founded by a slave revolt.

Articles of Confederation

the first U.S. constitution (1781-1789), establishing a weak central government and a loose confederation of states that retained most power

Land Ordinance/Northwest Ordinance/Northwest Territory

measure under the Articles of Confederation that provided a systematic process for admitting new states to the Union from the Northwest Territory, while simultaneously establishing governance, banning slavery, and guaranteeing civil liberties in the region, making it a landmark act for westward expansion and American governance.  

Shay’s Rebellion

an armed revolt by debt-ridden farmers in western Massachusetts (1786-1787) protesting economic hardship and high taxes, which exposed the severe weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and fueled demands for a stronger central government, ultimately leading to the Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention

a 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where delegates from the thirteen original states drafted the U.S. Constitution, replacing the weak Articles of Confederation with a stronger federal system

Virginia Plan

a proposal presented by delegates from Virginia at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that called for a strong national government with a bicameral (two-house) legislature where representation would be based on state population.

New Jersey Plan

a proposal presented at the 1787 Constitutional Convention by William Paterson, advocating for a unicameral (one-house) legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of population size, to protect the interests of smaller states.

Great Compromise

an agreement during the 1787 Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on state population and a Senate with equal representation for every state, thereby resolving the conflict between large and small states and paving the way for the Constitution's ratification. 

Three-Fifths Compromise

an agreement made at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of determining a state's total population for Congressional representation and taxation.

Slave Trade Compromise

a 1787 agreement at the Constitutional Convention that allowed Congress to regulate commerce but prohibited it from banning the international slave trade for 20 years, until 1808.

Federalists

supporters of the U.S. Constitution and a strong national government during the late 18th-century ratification debates

Anti-Federalists

individuals and groups who opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they feared a powerful central government would threaten state and individual liberties.

Federalist Papers

85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym "Publius" to advocate for the ratification of the US Constitution.

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution" for his crucial role in drafting and ratifying it, including his influential essays in The Federalist Papers. He is also credited as the "Father of the Bill of Rights" for sponsoring the first ten amendments.

federalism

a system of government where power is divided and shared between a central (national) government and regional (state) governments, each exercising direct authority over individuals.

separation of powers

he governmental principle of dividing a government's responsibilities into three distinct, independent branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—to prevent any one branch from accumulating too much authority.

Bill of Rights

the popular term for the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791. It guarantees fundamental individual rights and civil liberties—such as freedoms of speech, religion, and the press—and limits the power of the federal government.