APUSH Period 3

Townshend Acts

1767; The British placed taxes on colonial imports of tea, glass, and paper. Colonies protested because they believed Britain had no right to tax them without representation.

Boston Massacre

1770; British soldiers fired on a crowd of angry colonists, killing 5 people. This event increased anger toward the British and was used as propaganda against British rule.

Boston Tea Party

1773; Colonists protested the Tea Act by dumping British tea into Boston Harbor. This showed colonial resistance to British taxation and led Britain to punish Massachusetts.

Coercive Acts

1774; Four acts directed at punishing the people of Boston and Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, including closing Boston Harbor. The harsh laws united many colonies against Britain.

Quebec Act

1774; This law expanded Quebec’s territory and allowed French Catholics to practice their religion. Many colonists disliked it because they feared Britain was limiting colonial expansion and rights.

First Continental Congress

1774; Colonial delegates met in 1774 to respond to the Coercive Acts. They agreed to boycott British goods and demanded that Britain respect colonial rights.

Lexington and Concord

April 19, 1775; British troops marched to Concord to seize colonial weapons and supplies. Fighting broke out at Lexington and Concord, beginning the Revolutionary War.

Second Continental Congress

1775-1781; Colonial delegates met in 1775 to manage the war and organize resistance against Britain. They created the Continental Army and eventually declared independence.

Bunker Hill

June 17, 1775; Colonial forces fought British troops near Boston and caused heavy British casualties despite losing the battle. The battle showed that the colonists could seriously challenge the British army.

Tories (Loyalists)

1770s-1780s; Loyalists were colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the Revolution. Many feared that independence would cause violence, instability, or economic problems.

Common Sense

1776; Thomas Paine’s 1776 pamphlet argued that the colonies should become independent from Britain. It helped persuade many colonists to support independence.

Articles of Confederation

1777-1781; The Articles created the first national government of the United States and gave most power to the states. The weak national government struggled to raise money, regulate trade, and enforce laws.

Yorktown

1781; American and French forces surrounded British troops at Yorktown, forcing General Cornwallis to surrender. The victory effectively ended major fighting in the Revolutionary War.

Land Ordinance

1785; This law created a system for surveying and selling western lands. It organized settlement and helped the government raise money from land sales.

Philadelphia Convention

1787; Delegates met to fix the problems of the Articles of Confederation. Instead, they created an entirely new government and wrote the U.S. Constitution.

Northwest Ordinance

1787; This law created a system for governing and admitting new states from the Northwest Territory. It also banned slavery in the territory and established requirements for becoming a state.

The Federalist Papers

1787-1788; A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting the Constitution. They explained why the new Constitution and stronger federal government were necessary.

National Bank

1791; Alexander Hamilton proposed a national bank to manage government money and strengthen the economy. It helped the federal government handle its finances and encouraged economic growth.

Bill of Rights

1791; The first ten amendments to the Constitution protect individual freedoms and limit government power. They were added partly to address Anti-Federalist concerns about individual rights.

Citizen Genet

1793; A French diplomat who tried to gain American support for France during its war with Britain. His actions challenged Washington’s policy of neutrality and contributed to tensions between the US and France.

Whiskey Rebellion

1794; Farmers in Pennsylvania protested a federal tax on whiskey. Washington sent troops to stop the rebellion, showing that the new federal government could enforce its laws.

Jay’s Treaty

1794; This agreement with Britain settled some problems left over from the Revolutionary War and improved trade. However, many Americans criticized it for being too friendly toward Britain.

Washington’s Farewell Address

1796; Washington warned Americans about political parties and becoming too involved in foreign conflicts. His advice influenced American politics and foreign policy for many years.

XYZ Affair

1797-1798; French representatives demanded money from American diplomats before negotiations could begin. Americans became angry with France, increasing support for a stronger military and leading to an undeclared naval conflict.

Alien and Sedition Acts

1798; These laws increased government power over immigrants and punished certain forms of criticism of the government. They were controversial because many Americans believed they violated free speech and other rights.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

1798-1799; Jefferson and Madison argued that states could challenge federal laws they believed were unconstitutional. The resolutions responded to the Alien and Sedition Acts and raised questions about states’ rights.

Election of Thomas Jefferson

1800; Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams after a controversial and closely contested election. Jefferson’s victory marked a peaceful transfer of political power between opposing political parties.