Period 3 APUSH Vocab (copy)

Salutary Neglect

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

King William’s War

The North American extension of the War of the Grand Alliance (1689–1697) between France and England.

French & Indian War/Seven Years’ War

A conflict between Britain and France (1754–1763) over North American territory, culminating in British victory and the Treaty of Paris 1763.

The Albany Congress

A 1754 meeting of colonial representatives to discuss collective defense against French and Native American threats.

The Albany Plan of Union

Benjamin Franklin’s proposal to unite the colonies under a single government for mutual defense, ultimately rejected.

General Edward Braddock

British commander in the French and Indian War, known for his disastrous defeat at Fort Duquesne in 1755.

Treaty of Paris - 1763

Ended the French and Indian War, ceding French territories in North America to Britain.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

1763 Native American uprising against British postwar policies in the Great Lakes region.

Proclamation of 1763

British decree forbidding colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to ease tensions with Native Americans.

George Grenville

British Prime Minister who enforced the Sugar Act and Stamp Act to raise revenue from the colonies.

Molasses Act 1733

British law imposing a tax on molasses imports to control colonial trade and protect British West Indies sugar producers.

Sugar Act 1764

British law reducing the tax on molasses but increasing enforcement of smuggling laws, angering colonists.

Quartering Act 1765

Required American colonists to provide housing and supplies for British troops stationed in the colonies.

Stamp Act 1765

Direct tax on printed materials in the colonies, sparking widespread protest and contributing to revolutionary sentiment.

Whigs

British political party that generally supported colonial grievances against taxation and British policies.

Sons & Daughters of Liberty

Colonial protest groups formed to oppose British taxation, particularly the Stamp Act, often through direct action.

Samuel Adams

Prominent patriot leader in Boston, key organizer of opposition to British policies and a leader in the Sons of Liberty.

Stamp Act Congress

A 1765 meeting of colonial delegates in New York to organize opposition to the Stamp Act.

Patrick Henry

Virginia orator and politician known for his fiery speeches advocating colonial rights, including “Give me liberty or give me death!”.

Declaratory Act

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

Townshend Acts

A series of British measures (1767) imposing duties on colonial imports, leading to protests and boycotts.

Boston Massacre

A 1770 clash between British soldiers and colonists in Boston, resulting in the deaths of five civilians.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest in which colonists, angered by the Tea Act, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.

Coercive Acts

Harsh laws passed in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, intended to punish Massachusetts and suppress dissent.

Quebec Act

A 1774 law extending the boundaries of Quebec and granting rights to Catholics, angering colonists.

Intolerable Acts

Colonial term for the Coercive Acts and Quebec Act, seen as severe infringements on colonial autonomy.

The Continental Congress

Assemblies of colonial delegates (1774–1789) that coordinated resistance to British rule and later governed the colonies during the Revolution.

Lexington & Concord

The first battles of the American Revolutionary War, fought in April 1775 between colonial militia and British troops.

Minutemen

Colonial militia members who could be ready to fight at a moment's notice during the Revolutionary War.

Second Continental Congress

Convened in 1775, it directed the American Revolutionary War and adopted the Declaration of Independence.

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and later the first President of the United States.

Battle of Bunker Hill

A 1775 Revolutionary War battle near Boston, demonstrating colonial resolve despite British victory.

Olive Branch Petition

A final attempt by the Second Continental Congress to avoid war with Britain by pledging loyalty to the crown, rejected by King George III.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

A 1776 pamphlet advocating for American independence from Britain, influencing public opinion.

John Locke’s Social Contract

Enlightenment idea that governments are formed to protect natural rights, influencing American revolutionary thought.

Deism

Belief in a rational, creator God who does not intervene in human affairs, embraced by some Enlightenment thinkers.

Declaration of Independence

Document drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, declaring the American colonies’ independence from Britain.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, creating a weak national government with limited powers.

Continental Army

The army formed by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 to fight against Britain in the Revolutionary War.

American Revolution

The war (1775–1783) in which American colonies fought for independence from British rule.

Battle of Saratoga

A 1777 turning point in the Revolutionary War, where American forces won a decisive victory, securing French support.

Battle of Yorktown

The final major battle of the Revolutionary War in 1781, where British General Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces.

Treaty of Paris

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

John Adams

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

Republican Motherhood

The idea that women played an important role in teaching republican values to children after the Revolution.

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams, known for her advocacy of women's rights and her letters urging her husband to 'remember the ladies'.

Alexander Hamilton

Founding Father, first Secretary of the Treasury, and leader of the Federalist Party, promoting a strong national government.

Federalist

Supporter of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and a strong national government.

Anti-Federalist

Opponents of the Constitution’s ratification, fearing centralized power and advocating for a Bill of Rights.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Legislation that organized the Northwest Territory and established a process for admitting new states to the Union.

Shay’s Rebellion

A 1786–1787 uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices, highlighting weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

James Madison

'Father of the Constitution,' key architect of the U.S. Constitution and the fourth President of the United States.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for representation in Congress based on state population, favoring larger states.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for equal representation for each state in Congress, favoring smaller states.

The Great Compromise

Agreement combining elements of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement that counted three-fifths of a state's enslaved population for representation and taxation purposes.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties.

The Federalist Papers

A series of essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution.

Bank of the United States

A national bank proposed by Alexander Hamilton to stabilize the American economy and support government operations.

Thomas Jefferson

Founding Father, author of the Declaration of Independence, and leader of the Democratic-Republican Party.

Democratic-Republicans

Political party led by Thomas Jefferson, advocating for states' rights and a limited federal government.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

Washington’s declaration that the U.S. would remain neutral in the conflict between France and Britain.

Jay Treaty (1794)

A treaty between the U.S. and Britain that resolved outstanding issues but was unpopular with many Americans.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 uprising by Pennsylvania farmers protesting a federal excise tax on whiskey, suppressed by Washington's forces.

The Pinckney Treaty (1795)

A treaty with Spain granting the U.S. access to the Mississippi River and New Orleans for trade.

Daniel Boone

A frontiersman who helped blaze the Wilderness Road and settle Kentucky.

Washington’s Farewell Address

Washington's 1796 speech advising the nation to avoid political parties and foreign alliances.

John Adams

Second President of the United States and a leading Federalist who faced challenges like the XYZ Affair and Alien & Sedition Acts.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident in which French officials demanded bribes from American envoys, leading to an undeclared naval conflict.

Alien & Sedition Acts

Laws passed in 1798 that restricted immigration and limited free speech critical of the government.

Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

Statements authored by Jefferson and Madison, asserting the states' right to nullify unconstitutional federal laws.