APUSH Unit 3: Birth of a Republic - Key Terms

Baron von Steuben

A Prussian born aristocrat and military leader that assisted the American cause during the Revolutionary War.

Battle of Saratoga

A turning point of the Revolution in October 1777, when an army of 6,000 British soldiers surrendered in New York.

Battle of Yorktown

A siege that ended in October 1781 when Washington trapped 8,000 British soldiers on a peninsula in Virginia.

Ben Franklin

America's leading diplomat of the time who served as a statesman and advisor throughout the Revolutionary era.

Boston Massacre

Confrontation between British soldiers and Boston citizens in March 1770 where troops shot and killed five colonials.

Coercive Acts (1774)

British actions to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, including closing the port of Boston and revoking Massachusetts's charter.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Passed as the British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act; it asserted Parliament's sovereignty over colonial taxation.

George III

King of England during the American Revolution, known for advocating harsh policies toward the colonies.

George Washington

Commander of the colonial army whose integrity and judgment were crucial to the colonial cause.

John Dickinson

Conservative leader who wrote Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, advocating for colonial rights while urging conciliation with England.

John Jay

Lead diplomat in negotiating the Treaty of Paris (1783) who gained all of America's goals for independence.

John Locke

English philosopher who wrote that governments have a duty to protect people's life, liberty, and property.

Loyalists (Tories)

Colonists who remained loyal to England, often older and better educated members of the Anglican Church.

Marquis de Lafayette

French aristocrat and military leader who assisted the Americans in the Revolutionary War, particularly at the Battle of Yorktown.

Patrick Henry

An early advocate of independence known for declaring: 'Give me liberty, or give me death.'

Pontiac's Rebellion (1763)

Indian uprising in the Ohio Valley region that killed 2,000 settlers, leading to British prohibitions on colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Salutary neglect

British policy before 1763 of generally leaving the colonies alone to conduct their own internal affairs.

Samuel Adams

Agitator and leader of the Sons of Liberty who supported independence and was the primary leader of the Boston Tea Party.

Seven Years War

Fought between England and France from 1756 to 1763, known as the French and Indian War in the colonies.

Sons of Liberty

Street gangs that formed during the Stamp Act crisis to enforce boycotts and intimidate British officials.

Stamp Act (1765)

A tax on more than fifty items such as pamphlets and newspapers, leading to strong protests among colonists.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

Met in New York City to protest the Stamp Act; nine colonies petitioned the king and organized a boycott.

Sugar Act (1764)

Designed to raise revenue by stiffening the Molasses Act and establishing new customs regulations.

Thomas Jefferson

Lead author of the Declaration of Independence; in it, he explained the colonists’ philosophy of government and the reasons for independence. He wrote that governments that did not protect unalienable rights should be changed. First secretary of state, who led opposition to the Hamilton/Washington plan to centralize power at the expense of the states; after founding the Democratic Republican Party to oppose these plans, Jefferson was elected vice president in 1796 and president in 1800.

Thomas Paine

Writer of Common Sense, a pamphlet calling for a break with England, which provided a clear rationale for independence.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Levied taxes on imported items such as paper, glass, and tea, viewed by colonials as revenue-raising measures.

Virtual representation

British claim that Parliament represented all Englishmen.

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of the Treasury, strong nationalist.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws to suppress French agents and limit speech.

Annapolis Convention

1786 meeting to discuss interstate commerce issues.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of U.S. Constitution ratification fearing power concentration.

Democratic Republican Party

Party led by Jefferson opposing centralized power.

Farewell Address

Washington's warning against foreign alliances and factions.

Federalist Papers

Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution.

Federalist Party

Hamilton's party favoring strong central government.

Federalists

Supporters of U.S. Constitution ratification.

Great Compromise

Established bicameral Congress with population-based representation.

James Madison

Key figure in drafting the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Jay's Treaty

1794 agreement for British evacuation of forts.

Loose constructionist

Believes in broad interpretation of Constitution's powers.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for equal representation in a unicameral Congress.

Northwest Ordinance

1787 law organizing Northwest Territory for statehood.

Pinckney's Treaty

1795 agreement granting navigation rights on Mississippi.

Shays's Rebellion

1786 uprising highlighting weaknesses of the Articles.

Strict constructionist

Interprets Constitution narrowly, limiting federal power.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted slaves as three-fifths for representation and taxation.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

States' rights to nullify unconstitutional federal laws.

Virginia Plan

Proposal for a strong national government with two houses.

Whiskey Rebellion

1794 uprising against whiskey tax demonstrating federal authority.

XYZ Affair

Diplomatic incident escalating tensions with France.