DCUSH Road to Revolution Review

Salutary Neglect

The king of England did not really keep an eye on the colonies, meaning they struggled a lot in terms of economy. This made Americans mad because they were not being seen but it was also somewhat good because it allowed for many in America to find independence and less rule over from the king. Independent governments were made and eventually the king had to step in to control it.

Navigation Acts

taxes put on goods going in and out of English colonies, enforced by Sir Edmund Andros that was able to make more money for the King of England but started a trend of smuggling in the English colonies.

Enlightenment

A movement that was most present in Europe that put emphasis on new ideas like human rights and philosophers like John Locke and Voltaire were able to spread their ideas widely. The movement spread to America, bringing the idea of independence and value to the common man which most likely was one of the contributing factors to the revolution.

Mercantilism

The idea that there is a limited amount of wealth in the world. For example, world wealth is like pie. So if someone has a large slice of wealth, it automatically means others have less wealth.

Seven Years' War(French and Indian War)

fought by British and French in North America. It ended with the British gaining territory in North America but had lots of debts that led to colonial discontent and the American Revolution.

Stamp Act and repeal

stamp act created to help obtain more money for the colonies, but ended up leaving a trail of discontent and want for revolution in the colonies. This was one of the leading taxes that most heavily influenced the American revolution.

Tea Act

While it lowered the price of tea, it also gave East Indian companies a monopoly on tea sales from the Colonists, and threatened colonial merchants. It’s another example of taxation without representation.

Townshend Act

The British Parliament imposed taxes on many foreign goods, such as paper, ink, glass, paint, and more that the colonists needed. It gave the British an opportunity to raise revenue from the colonists.

British East India Company

Basically British’s monopoly of tea. The creation of this company allowed for tea to be directly sold to colonies and imposed the tea act, which the colonists did not like. This was a major factor that led to the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Massacre

Colonists crowded soldiers in Boston and threw snowballs and rocks at them, protesting the King’s placement of them in the city, and it ended with some colonists getting shot and others injured. This sparked discourse in America and was one of the leading causes of hatred for the king and revolution for the common man.

Boston Tea Party

Colonists dress up as native americans and throw tea off of a ship on the Boston harbor. Important because it is another act of revolution that colonists do to show their unhappiness with the king.

Intolerable Acts

Four laws that were passed by the British Parliament and was implemented on the Colonists to punish them after the Boston Tea Party. It consisted of the Boston Port Act, which closed the Boston Harbor, the Massachusetts Government Act: stripped away self

Common Sense Thomas Paine

Paine wrote Common Sense to advocate for American Independence from Great Britain, and to persuade colonists to have the same idea. In the end, Paine was able to gain support from many colonists, who wanted to be separate from Great Britain as well.

Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson

It is known as the colonies' “breakup letter” to King George the third. It allowed the thirteen original colonies to be free and independent states, and they were finally separated from Great Britain.

Saratoga

A significant battle because the Colonies won and was a major turning point in the war. It boosted morale and secured France as an ally.

Yorktown

Final Battle of the American Revolution where British troops were cornered in Chesapeake Bay, with Americans on land, and the French Navy in the bay.

Republican Motherhood

New roles that women took on after the revolutionary war, usually centered around being educators for their children on political and societal ideals.

Egalitarianism

the concept of equality for all people: equal rights and liberties for all people.

3/5ths Compromise

The population of a state determined how many representatives they got in congress. This agreement, reached at the Constitutional Convention between northern and southern states, decided ⅗ of a states slaves would count toward that states population. This was a compromise, but unfair to African Americans, as they didn’t receive representation in congress.

Elitism

People who are elite in a society. Wealthy, white, landowning men such as the founding fathers, are an example of this.

Foreign Relations between the French and the British before, during, and after the war

Before: intense colonial rivalry for control over North America (Seven Years War) During: still hostile, as the French were still upset about their colonial losses

After: instability and heightened tensions because of France's own revolution and France's prior support of the U.S.

All of this is important because it shows that the British and the French never really got along.

Federalists

group of people that were for a strong central government and feared mobocracy and the “unwashed masses”. The divide between federalists and anti

Anti

Federalists

Alexander Hamilton

Founding Father and Federalist who believed America needed a strong central government. He believed trade was necessary, but was wary about America's economy becoming dependent on other countries, and supported manufacturing because it expanded our economy domestically. He supported tariffs and taxes on foreign goods and trade. He also promoted national debt.

The Federalists Papers

collection of 85 essays written by major federalists like Hamilton, Madison, and Jay. These helped to try to establish a strong central government, something which anti-federalists like Thomas Jefferson opposed.

Bill of Rights

created after the revolution in order to protect individual rights of people. Many were concerned that America would fall back into a sort of tyranny but the bill of rights established individual freedoms and rights to most people.

Washington’s Farewell Address

Washington's submission of non-presidency, in which he stated many different themes and warnings. He focused on urging America to protect national unity, and stay clear of divided political parties and foreign alliances.

permanent alliances

not actually permanent, just referring to the times of the american revolution. America allied with France for economic and military support, with Spain in order to protect territory like Florida in America, and with the Netherlands who provided funding and loans.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Irish and French Immigrants were sent back to Ireland and France and labeled “Aliens” and not citizens. This was after the number of years you have to be in the US to be a citizen (and have the right to vote) was changed from 5 to 14.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Documents written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison that argued the Alien Sedition acts were unconstitutional.

National Bank

Alexander Hamilton proposed the idea of the first national bank with the purpose of managing finances, issuing currency, and providing a central source of capital. This was important because it was a very federalist idea that eventually became a real thing in 1791, leading to America’s leaning towards federalism.

tariffs, excise taxes

taxes and tariffs were aimed at taking money from people in order for a specific cause, like when the British did it with the Stamp and Tea acts, and even when America did it after the revolution, eventually sparking protests like the whiskey rebellion.

Whiskey Rebellion

Rebellion in 1794 in western Pennsylvania where the tax on whiskey in that area provoked the people living there to rebel. This led to George Washington’s militia stopping the rebellion, showcasing the true power of the American government over the colonists.

Constitutional Convention

a meeting of the founding fathers that essentially created the constitution, forming a strong federal government of checks and balances for the new union. This was important as it created the basis for America and what it would become.

Virginia Plan

It was proposed at the constitutional convention, and it advocated for three branches of government as well as a bicameral legislature that was based on the population of a state. Important because it was essential in establishing a strong government in America.

New Jersey Plan

created in opposition to the Virginia plan for the cause of allowing smaller states to have more representation in the government system. Important because it caused a divide between people about government that needed to be solved.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

the compromise of the virginia plan and the New Jersey plan. It took both sides, allowing for the bicameral structure of the congress with two senators for each state and the number of representatives in the house was based on population. Important because it was one of the first instances of compromise in government and is the basis of the government structure we have today in America.

Checks and Balances

System of government where each branch shares and balances power in order to make sure one branch doesn’t become more powerful than the other. They have the ability to “check” each other and ensure this doesn’t occur.

3/5ths Compromise

A law that stated that only 3/5ths of the slave population in certain areas would be counted for certain things. This took away even more rights from slaves because not all of them were even being counted as people, meaning they essentially didn’t matter in terms of being a person.

Three Branches of Government

Judicial(Supreme Court), Executive (President), and Legislative (Congress).

Electoral College

States that the president and Vice President will be voted on by the people. There are three main branches of the American Government/Electoral College: legislative, judicial, and executive.

Judiciary Act 1789

established the American federal court system, establishing the supreme court as well. It was implemented by George Washington.

National Debt

The total amount of money a country’s federal government owes its creditors. Most national debt in this time was based on war debts.

Democratic-republican party

Created in opposition to the Federalist party, essentially with the ideas of the anti-federalists, as it was created by Jefferson and Madison. Important because it sparks an early divide of political parties that we know today.

Proclamation of Neutrality 1793

A statement made by the United States government claiming they would remain neutral in regards to foreign warfare. It was originally written with the war between the French and Great Britain in mind.

Citizen Genêt

A French diplomat who arrived in the United States in hopes of the US joining France’s side of the war. His actions lead to the Genêt Affair.

Jay Treaty

An agreement between the United States and Great Britain settling old disputes from the American Revolution. It also protected trade between the two countries.

Pinckney Treaty

Treaty between Spain and the US and decided territorial lines between them, allowing the US to travel along the Mississippi river and the port of New Orleans. This along with further expansion westward.

XYZ Affair

A scandal in which three French agents demanded bribes from the U.S. or they would continue to seize American ships. The incident got worse and led to the quasi war with France. This was important because it showed the leadership style of the founding fathers and tested their ability to defend their country and colonists.

Revolution of 1800

After the 1800 presidential election, a shift was made from the Federalist Party to the Democratic-Republican Party. Jefferson's win led to a huge shift in politics in the US.