APUSH Ch. 7 + 8 Flashcards

Ethan Allen

Leader of the Green Mountain Boys who conquered Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point with Benedict Arnold.

William Howe

British general at Bunker Hill, known for scandalous behavior that led to American ridicule.

Nathanael Greene

"Fighting Quaker" known for his strategic retreat to tire British forces, clearing much of Georgia and North Carolina.

Richard Montgomery

Irish general who defected to the Revolutionary Army, took Montreal, and died in the assault on Quebec.

Benedict Arnold

General who initially fought for the Americans but later attempted to betray them by plotting to sell out West Point.

John Burgoyne

British general who surrendered his army at Saratoga after being left to fight alone by General Howe.

Charles Cornwallis

British general defeated by Nathanael Greene and surrendered at Yorktown to Washington and French leaders.

Thomas Paine

Radical propagandist for independence, author of "Common Sense," advocating for separation from England.

George Rogers Clark

American frontiersman who conquered Illinois forts, influencing post-war territorial negotiations.

Richard Henry Lee

Virginia statesman who declared the colonies should be free and independent, influencing the Declaration of Independence.

John Paul Jones

Notable Navy officer who played a key role in destroying British merchant ships during the Revolutionary War.

Admiral de Grasse

French navy officer who blockaded the British fleet at Yorktown, aiding Washington's assault.

Comte de Rochambeau

Leader of French troops who assisted in the Yorktown assault, contributing significantly to the American victory.

Benjamin Franklin

Founding Father who negotiated the war treaty with France and contributed to the formation of the United States.

Mercenaries

Soldiers-for-hire, notably German Hessians, whose desertion to America caused controversy for the British.

Natural rights

Fundamental rights like life and liberty, emphasized by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence.

Privateers

Privately owned ships authorized to attack British supply ships during the Revolutionary War.

Second Continental Congress

Assembly of representatives that appointed George Washington as leader of the Revolutionary Army.

Common Sense

Thomas Paine's influential book that rallied Americans against British rule and shaped foreign policy.

Olive Branch Petition

A petition to King George III expressing loyalty while requesting an end to hostilities, rejected by the king.

Hessians

German mercenaries known for their low loyalty, often deserting to stay in America.

Declaration of Independence

Formal declaration authored by Jefferson, asserting American independence and inspiring global revolutions.

Loyalists/Tories

American colonists who remained loyal to King George III during the Revolution.

Patriots/Whigs

Supporters of the American Revolution advocating for independence from British rule.

Treaty of Paris of 1783

Agreement granting full independence to the U.S. and securing territorial claims post-war.

Patrick Henry

Virginia statesman famous for his "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech, championing states' rights.

Daniel Shays

Revolutionary War veteran who led Shays' Rebellion, prompting the creation of the Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton

New Yorker who advocated for a strong central government and organized the Constitutional Convention.

James Madison

Co-author of The Federalist Papers and advocate for anti-slavery principles.

Primogeniture

Law allowing only the eldest son to inherit land, impacting younger sons' economic opportunities.

Checks and balances

System ensuring that each government branch can limit the powers of the others.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself, a key argument for Anti-Federalists.

Civic virtue

The commitment of citizens to the public good, cited by Federalists against state sovereignty.

Republican motherhood

The role of women in promoting republican values within the family post-Revolution.

States’ rights

Powers reserved for states in a republican government, including various social issues.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that government leaders derive their authority from the consent of the governed.

Civil law

Written laws enacted through statutes, requiring judges to apply them as written.

Common law

Laws based on court rulings and customs, forming the basis of the U.S. legal system.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. constitution, creating a weak central government with limited powers.

Northwest Ordinance

Legislation governing the Old Northwest, addressing colonial governance.

Shays’ Rebellion

Uprising of veterans and farmers that led to the drafting of the Constitution.

Virginia Plan

Proposal for a bicameral Congress with representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for a unicameral Congress with equal representation for each state.

Great Compromise

Merging of the Virginia and New Jersey plans. Creates a bicameral Congress, with one house with representation based on population, and one house with equal representation

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise during the period of the Constitution’s creation which counted slaves as ⅗ of a person when talking about representation in Congress

Electoral College

The system in place to elect the president. The people do not vote for the president directly, but rather each state has a certain number of votes based on adding the amount of representatives and senators a state has.

Land Ordinance of 1785

A law that stated that the land in the NW should be sold and the money made should be used to pay off debts. They split the land into plots for houses and school and other important buildings creating an orderly settlement.

Federalists

Those who were in support of the Constitution. More powerful, educated and wealthier than the Anti-Federalists. 

Anti-Federalists

Those who were against the Constitution. Less organized and had less power than the federalists. Their papers were usually less refined in writing craft as a result of lower education.

The Federalist

 A collection of papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to defend the constitution and the idea of a strong central government. Sold in book form as the Federalist