APUSH Period 3

John Adams

Second President of the United States and a leading advocate for independence during the American Revolution. He played a key role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and served as a diplomat in Europe.

Samuel Adams

A founding father and influential leader in the American Revolution, known for his role in organizing opposition to British policies, particularly the Boston Tea Party. He also served as a governor of Massachusetts.

Albany Congress

A conference held in 1754 to foster greater colonial unity and strengthen relations with Native Americans during the French and Indian War. The congress aimed to address common colonial issues and promote cooperation against French threats.

Albany Plan of Union

Proposed by Benjamin Franklin, which eventually failed but led to the first attempt to organize 13 colonies.

Benjamin Franklin

Created Albany Plan of Union and framer of the Declaration of Independence.

King George III

The King of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War, known for his opposition to colonial independence and for enforcing taxes and regulations that escalated tensions with the colonists.

Alexander Hamilton

Founding father, influential in shaping the financial system of the United States (Hamilton financial plan), and the first Secretary of the Treasury.

Patrick Henry

Young VA lawyer that stood against House of Burgess and demanded recognization of rights of all citizens.

Thomas Jefferson

Democratic Republican, “Father of the Constitution”

James Madison

the fourth President of the United States and key architect of the Constitution, known for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Bill of Rights.

Thomas Paine

Author of “Common Sense” which was a revolutionary pamphlet advocating for American independence from Britain.

Paxton Boys

A group of frontiersmen from Pennsylvania who took violent action against Native Americans in the 1760s, believing they were protecting their settlements.

William Pitt

a British statesman who served as Prime Minister during the French and Indian War, he played a key role in expanding British territorial claims in North America.

Publius

The collective pseudonym used by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay when they wrote the Federalist Papers to promote the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Sons of Liberty

A secret organization of American patriots formed in the colonies to oppose British taxation and policies, using protests, boycotts, and sometimes violence to assert their rights.

George Washington (French and Indian War)

A military leader during the French and Indian War, he gained valuable experience that later contributed to his leadership in the American Revolutionary War. He initially commanded colonial forces in several key battles against the French. z

George Washington (Revolutionary War)

The commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, he led American forces to victory against the British and became the first President of the United States.

George Washington (President)

The first President of the United States, he served two terms from 1789 to 1797 and is often referred to as the "Father of His Country" for his leadership in the founding of the nation.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws passed in 1798 that restricted immigration and curtailed free speech by making it easier to deport foreigners and prosecute those who criticized the government.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States, created in 1781, which established a weak central government and was eventually replaced.

Battle of Fallen Timbers

A 1794 battle in Ohio that helped secure US control over the Northwest Territory against Native American tribes. British were supplying NA’s with weapons so that angered the colonists into the war.

Boston Massacre

A deadly confrontation in 1770 between British soldiers and American colonists, resulting in the death of five colonists and fueling anti-British sentiment.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest by American colonists against British taxation, where they dumped tea into Boston Harbor to oppose the Tea Act.

Constitution

The fundamental document that outlines the framework of the United States government, including the separation of powers, rights of citizens, and the processes for amending laws.

Constitutional Convention

A gathering in 1787 where delegates from the states convened to create a new constitution, replacing the Articles of Confederation.

Declaratory Act

A 1766 British law stating that Parliament had the right to legislate for the American colonies "in all cases whatsoever," asserting their authority over colonial governance. (Basically meaning they tax whatever whenever.)

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

A series of punitive laws passed in 1774 by the British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party, aimed at consolidating British control over the colonies.

• The Boston Port Bill, which closed Boston Harbor

• The Massachusetts Government Act, which replaced the elective local government with an appointive one and increased the powers of the military governor

• The Administration of Justice Act, which allowed British officials charged with capital offenses to be tried in another colony or in England

• The Quartering Act, which permitted the requisition of unoccupied buildings to house British troops

Jay’s Treaty

A 1794 agreement between the United States and Great Britain that ended the impressment of American sailors but not the occupation of Northwest territory. It aimed to resolve lingering issues from the Revolutionary War and facilitate trade between the two nations.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that aimed to create a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of population, to ensure smaller states had a voice in the new government.

Northwest Ordinance

Congress granted limited government and ban of slavery of land between Great Lakes and Ohio River under A.O.C.

Pinckney’s Treaty

A 1795 agreement between the United States and Spain that granted the United States navigation rights on the Mississippi River and defined the border between the U.S. and Spanish Florida, because Spanish concerns over American expansion and worry of British and American allyship.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

A Native American uprising in 1763 led by Chief Pontiac against British post-war policies in the Great Lakes region, which aimed to drive British settlers out of Native lands. It was stopped by the British almost instantaneously.

Proclamation of 1763

A British edict that prohibited American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, aimed at stabilizing relations with Native Americans after the French and Indian War.

Shay’s Rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786-1787 led by man and other Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices and the lack of government response to their financial difficulties, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Stamp Act

A 1765 British law imposing a direct tax on the colonists for printed materials, requiring that many documents carry an official stamp to show that the tax had been paid.

Sugar Act

A 1764 British law that imposed a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies, aiming to raise revenue and curb smuggling.

Townshend Acts

A series of acts passed in 1767 by the British Parliament, imposing duties on various goods imported to the American colonies, including tea, glass, and paper, which led to heightened colonial resistance.

What the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, and Townshend Acts had in common

They were all British taxes imposed on the American colonies that fueled resistance and contributed to the Revolutionary sentiment, which eventually led to rebellion

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Political statements drafted in 1798 and 1799 asserting that states had the right to nullify federal laws deemed unconstitutional, in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for the structure of the US federal government, presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, advocating for a bicameral legislature with representation based on state population, that favored larger states.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 advocating for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, favoring smaller states.

Whiskey Rebellion

A violent tax protest in 1794 against the federal excise tax on whiskey, highlighting tensions between rural and urban interests and leading to a strong federal response, signifying that federal law trumped state.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident in 1797-98 involving a confrontation between the United States and France, where American envoys were solicited for bribes by French officials, leading to an undeclared naval conflict known as the Quasi-War.

3/5 Compromise

A constitutional agreement reached in 1787 that determined how slaves would be counted for representation and taxation purposes, allowing three out of every five slaves to be counted as part of the population.

Committees of Correspondence

A network of communication established in the early 1770s among the colonies to coordinate resistance against British policies and promote colonial unity, created by Samuel Adams.

Federalist Papers

A series of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Franco-American Alliance

A treaty established in 1778 between France and the American colonies during the Revolutionary War, pledging mutual support against Britain and reinforcing diplomatic ties.

French Revolution

A period of political and social upheaval in France from 1789 to 1799, which significantly impacted global politics and inspired revolutionary movements, like the American Revolution.

Great Compromise

An agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that established a bicameral legislature, combining the Virginia Plan's population-based representation and the New Jersey Plan's equal representation for states, created by Henry Clay

Olive Branch Petition

A final attempt by the Continental Congress to avoid war with Britain in 1775, asserting the colonies' loyalty to the Crown while requesting resolution of grievances. The petition was rejected, leading to further escalation of the conflict.

Republican Motherhood

The concept that women had a vital role in teaching republican values and instilling civic virtue in their children, thereby contributing to the nation's moral and political welfare.

Dates of Period 3