Hist 101 Midterm

Pontiac's War

A war between colonists and Indigenous people over land, with a British response.

Whiskey Excise Tax

A federal tax on whiskey that hit farmers in Pennsylvania the hardest.

Whiskey Rebellion

A response by the government, sending troops led by George Washington to quell the unrest over the whiskey tax.

Quakers

A religious group led by William Penn in Pennsylvania, known for their religious tolerance and pacifism.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a strong central government with a two-house legislature apportioned by population.

Lord Dunmore's Proclamation

A proclamation offering freedom to any enslaved men who fought for the British in 1775.

Black Legend

The belief that the Spanish Empire was more oppressive towards Indigenous people than other European empires.

Tea Act

An act that gave the British East India Company a monopoly on selling tea to the American colonies.

Walking Purchase

A 1737 land deal in which Pennsylvania colonists deceived the Delaware Indians to claim more land.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A provision that counted three-fifths of the enslaved population for determining state representation.

Townshend Acts

Parliamentary measures that taxed tea and other goods, establishing a Board of Customs Commissioners.

Breadbasket Colonies

Middle colonies known for rich soil, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Atlantic Slave Trade in the Constitution

Systematic importation of Africans to the Americas, with a trade end stated in the Constitution.

Federalists

A political group favoring a strong central government, including figures like George Washington.

Bank of the United States

The first bank proposed by Alexander Hamilton, established in 1791 to manage currency and loans.

Hartford Convention

A meeting of New England Federalists protesting the War of 1812, proposing seven amendments.

Boston Massacre

A clash on March 5, 1770, where British soldiers killed five colonists.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing framework of the U.S., providing for a weak central authority from 1781 to 1788.

Proclamation Line of 1763

A British decree that prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Natural Rights

Enlightenment ideas asserting that people are born with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property.

Haitian Revolution

The first successful slave revolt that led to Haiti’s independence in 1804.

Common Sense

A 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence.

Disestablishment

The policy of separating church and state by removing government support for religious institutions.

Intolerable Acts

Measures passed in response to the Boston Tea Party, imposing strict penalties on Massachusetts.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Four laws passed in 1798 restricting free speech and limiting rights of noncitizens.

Republican Motherhood

An ideology promoting women's role in raising future citizens post-Revolutionary War.

Neolin

A Delaware prophet promoting Indigenous unity and rejecting European influence.

Shays’ Rebellion

A 1786-1787 uprising led by Daniel Shays for debt relief and against property seizures.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution adopted in 1791 to guarantee individual rights.

War of 1812

A conflict between the U.S. and Britain over shipping and alliances with Indigenous groups.

Antifederalists

Opponents of the Constitution who feared it limited states’ rights, leading to the Bill of Rights.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident where French officials demanded a bribe from American diplomats.

Salutary Neglect

An informal British policy allowing significant colonial autonomy in exchange for loyalty.

Bacon's Rebellion

A failed 1676 revolt against Virginia's government due to high taxes and Indigenous policies.

Columbian Exchange

The transatlantic exchange of goods, people, and diseases beginning with Columbus's voyages.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing U.S. independence.

Louisiana Purchase

The 1803 acquisition of territory from France that doubled the size of the U.S.

Mayflower Compact

A 1620 agreement among Pilgrims for self-governance in Plymouth Colony.

Battle of Saratoga

A pivotal Revolutionary War battle that led France to support the American cause.

Marbury v. Madison

A Supreme Court case establishing judicial review over the constitutionality of laws.

Puritans

A religious group seeking to purify the Church of England, settling in Massachusetts.

Sons of Liberty

A radical group formed in response to the Stamp Act, including Samuel Adams.

Jay’s Treaty

A treaty between the U.S. and Britain addressing trade disputes and military presence.

Boston Tea Party

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

Quasi-War

An undeclared naval conflict between the U.S. and France from 1798 to 1800.

House of Burgesses

The first elected assembly in colonial America, established in Virginia in 1619.

Gabriel’s Conspiracy

A planned 1800 slave uprising in Virginia, led by blacksmith Gabriel.

Tecumseh

A Shawnee leader who attempted to unite Indigenous tribes against American expansion.

Homespun Clothing

Cloth made by colonists to boycott British goods and demonstrate patriotism.

Crispus Attucks

One of the first casualties in the Boston Massacre.

Alexander Hamilton

Secretary of the Treasury who proposed a national bank and the assumption of state debts.

Headright Policy

A system granting land to colonists who paid their way to Virginia.