Period 3 Essential Vocabulary

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts from American history, focusing on the events leading to the American Revolution and the early years of the United States.

Albany Conference (1754)

Meeting of British colonies to discuss common concerns like westward expansion and Indian relations.

Seven Years War (1756-1763)

Conflict also known as French & Indian War, fought between England and France over control of Ohio River Valley.

Pontiac's Rebellion (1763)

Indian uprising led by Chief Pontiac against British forts in North America.

Proclamation of 1763

British decree reserving land west of the Appalachian Mountains for Indian use only.

Stamp Act (1765)

Tax imposed by British parliament on newspapers and legal documents to raise revenue from colonies.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

Meeting of delegates from colonies to protest against the Stamp Act.

Sons of Liberty

Political group formed to resist British taxation, including the Stamp Act and the Tea Act.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Series of taxes on imported goods that led to colonial outrage and resistance.

Boston Massacre (1770)

Incident where British troops killed five colonists, escalating anti-British sentiment.

Committee of Correspondence

Network established to inform colonies about British actions.

Tea Act of 1773

Act giving British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in America, leading to the Boston Tea Party.

Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts (1774)

Series of punitive laws passed in response to the Boston Tea Party.

First Continental Congress

Gathering of colonial delegates to address grievances against the British Crown.

Lexington & Concord

First military engagements of the American Revolutionary War.

Common Sense

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence.

Declaration of Independence

Document declaring the colonies' independence from Britain, adopted on July 4, 1776.

American Revolution

Conflict for independence fought between the American colonies and Britain.

Loyalists/Tories

Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution.

Pennsylvania Gradual Emancipation Law

Law passed in 1780 to end slavery in Pennsylvania.

Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom

Legislation proposed by Thomas Jefferson ensuring religious equality.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, governing during the Revolutionary War.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Policy for surveying and distributing public land in the Northwest Territory.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Legislation that provided a method for admitting new states from the Northwest Territory.

Shay's Rebellion (1786)

Armed uprising by farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic injustices.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Meeting to draft the new Constitution of the United States.

The Great Compromise

Agreement to create a bicameral legislature to balance the interests of large and small states.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement counting three-fifths of a state's slave population for taxation and representation.

Federalists/Anti-Federalists

Federalists supported the Constitution; Anti-Federalists opposed it, fearing centralized government.

Bill of Rights (1791)

First ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties.

Washington's Cabinet

Advisory group established by George Washington to aid in executive decisions.

Hamilton's Financial Plan

Economic strategy to stabilize the U.S. economy, including creation of a National Bank.

Neutrality Proclamation (1793)

Washington's declaration that the U.S. would remain neutral in European conflicts.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Revolt against the federal excise tax on whiskey, demonstrating federal authority.

Jay's Treaty (1795)

Treaty aimed at resolving disputes between the U.S. and Britain.

Pinckney's Treaty (1795)

Agreement between Spain and the U.S. allowing free navigation of the Mississippi River.

Washington's Farewell Address (1796)

Message warning against political parties and foreign alliances.

Federalist Party

Political party led by Hamilton advocating for a strong central government.

Democratic-Republican Party

Political party led by Jefferson advocating for states' rights and strict interpretation of the Constitution.

XYZ Affair/Quasi War

Diplomatic incident that escalated tensions between the U.S. and France.

Alien & Sedition Act (1798)

Laws aimed at restricting immigration and curtailing free speech.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolves (1798)

Statements asserting states' rights to nullify federal laws.

Midnight Judges

Judges appointed by Adams on his last day in office to maintain Federalist influence.

Abigail Adams

Wife of President John Adams who advocated for women's rights.

Republican Motherhood

Ideology that emphasized women's role in educating future citizens.

Phyllis Wheatley

First published African-American female poet in America.

Mercy Otis Warren

Political writer and propagandist who supported the American Revolution.