APUSH U3 Full Review - Nimai Bhumana

Seven Years' War (French and Indian War)

war fought in the colonies from 1754 to 1763 between the English and the French for possession of the Ohio River Valley area, eventually the English won the war and the Peace of Paris was negotiated in 1763

George Washington

1st President of the United States; led a militia; led a small militia to stop French from completing Fort Duquesne

Albany Plan of Union (1754)

plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade (taxes), military (troops), and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown

Peace of Paris (1763)

peace treaty signed to end the French and Indian War;

Britain gained French Canada and Spanish Florida and extended their control in North America

salutary neglect

an English policy of relaxing the enforcement of regulations in its colonies in return for the colonies' continued economic loyalty; British turned to stricter policies due to colonist's advantage of this policy

Pontiac's Rebellion (1763)

Indian uprising in the Ohio Valley region that killed 2,000 settlers since natives did NOT want colonists to settle onto their lands

Proclamation of 1763

law forbidding English colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains; met with anger from colonists since British won in the Seven Years' War and was awarded the western lands of the Americas

Patrick Henry

a leader of the American Revolution and a famous orator who spoke out against British rule of the American colonies

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

held in New York; agreed to not import British goods until Stamp Act was repealed

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

organizations that led protests, helped American soldiers, instated a boycott, and generally resisted the British

Committes of Correspondence

an organization designed to spread news through the colonies about the causes of the revolution

Intolerable Acts (1774)

a series of laws set up by Parliament to punish Massachusetts for its protests against the British

George |||

King of England during the American Revolution

Sugar Act of 1764

law passed by the British Parliament setting taxes on molasses and sugar imported by the colonies

Quartering Act of 1765

an act passed by the British that allowed British troops to live in the homes of the colonists

Stamp Act of 1765

an act passed by the British parliment in 1756 that raised revenue from the American colonies by a duty in the form of a stamp required on all newspapers and legal or commercial documents

Declaratory Act of 1766

act passed in 1766 just after the repeal of the Stamp Act, which stated that Parliament could legislate for the colonies in all cases

Townshend Acts of 1767

laws passed in 1767 that taxed goods such as glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea

Tea Act of 1773

1773 act which eliminated import tariffs on tea entering England and allowed the British East India Company to sell directly to consumers rather than through merchants and led to the Boston Tea Party.

Enlightenment

a philosophical movement that emphasized science and reason as guides to help see the world more clearly; 'Age of Reason'

Deism

a popular Enlightenment era belief that there is a God, but that God isn't involved in people's lives or in revealing truths to prophets

Rationalism

belief in reason and logic as the primary source of knowledge instead of emotions and feelings

social contract

an agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed

John Locke

English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

a French man who believed that Human beings are naturally good & free & can rely on their instincts; government should exist to protect common good, and be a democracy

Thomas Paine

American Revolutionary leader and pamphleteer who supported the American colonist's fight for independence and supported the French Revolution

First Continental Congress (1774)

A meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies (not Georgia) in response to the Intolerable Acts, aiming to organize colonial resistance and petition the king.

Suffolk Resolves (1774)

A declaration made in Massachusetts that rejected the Intolerable Acts and called for a boycott of British goods and preparation for military defense; endorsed by the First Continental Congress.

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Convened after the battles of Lexington and Concord; served as the de facto national government during the Revolutionary War, eventually adopting the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms (1775)

A statement issued by the Second Continental Congress explaining why the colonies had taken up arms against British tyranny.

Olive Branch Petition (1775)

A final attempt by the colonists to avoid war with Britain; it pledged loyalty to the Crown and asked King George III to intervene in Parliament's policies—he rejected it.

Prohibitory Act (1775)

A British law passed in response to colonial rebellion that declared the colonies in open rebellion and cut off trade, escalating the conflict.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

A document drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson declaring the colonies' independence from Britain, based on Enlightenment principles of natural rights and government by consent.

Articles of Confederation (ratified 1781)

The first constitution of the U.S., creating a weak central government with most powers retained by the states; proved ineffective in solving national problems.

Thomas Jefferson

Main author of the Declaration of Independence; a leading figure in the Revolution and advocate of Enlightenment principles.

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams who urged him to "remember the ladies" in the new government; her letters are early expressions of women's political thought.

Molly Pitcher

Nickname for women (notably Mary Ludwig Hays) who brought water to soldiers during battle and sometimes took over cannon duties during combat.

Deborah Sampson

Disguised herself as a man to fight in the Continental Army, symbolizing the active (but often unrecognized) role of women in the war.

Patriots

Colonists who supported independence from Britain and often served in local militias or the Continental Army.

Loyalists (Tories)

Colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the Revolution; many were harassed, lost property, or fled during/after the war.

Republican Motherhood

The belief that women should be educated in order to raise informed, virtuous citizens for the new republic.

Daughters of Liberty

Women who supported the boycott of British goods by making homemade goods; an important form of economic resistance.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

A turning point in the Revolutionary War; American victory convinced France to openly ally with the colonies.

Valley Forge (1777-1778)

The winter encampment where Washington's army endured harsh conditions but became better trained under Baron von Steuben.

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

The final major battle of the Revolutionary War; British General Cornwallis surrendered to Washington, effectively ending the conflict.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Officially ended the Revolutionary War; Britain recognized American independence and granted generous western boundaries.

Land Ordinance of 1785

A policy under the Articles of Confederation that set up a standardized system for surveying and selling western lands.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

A major success of the Articles; established a process for admitting new states from the Northwest Territory and banned slavery there.

Shays' Rebellion (1786-87)

A rebellion of farmers in Massachusetts protesting debt and tax collection; exposed the weaknesses of the Articles and fueled calls for a stronger central government.

James Madison

Often called the 'Father of the Constitution,' Madison played a central role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and later co-founded the Democratic-Republican Party.

Alexander Hamilton

Leading proponent of a strong national government, Hamilton co-authored The Federalist Papers, established the national bank, and shaped economic policy as the first Treasury Secretary.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution's ratification who favored a strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution's ratification as originally written. They feared centralized power and demanded a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.

The Federalist Papers

A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay defending the Constitution and explaining its principles to help secure ratification.

Constitutional Convention

The 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where delegates convened to revise the Articles of Confederation but ultimately drafted a new Constitution.

Federalism

The division of power between a central (national) government and regional (state) governments.

Separation of Powers

The constitutional principle dividing government authority across three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—to prevent concentration of power.

Checks and Balances

Mechanisms by which each branch of government can limit the powers of the others to maintain equilibrium.

Virginia Plan

Proposed at the Constitutional Convention, it called for a bicameral legislature with representation in both houses based on population.

Great Compromise

Also known as the Connecticut Compromise; it merged the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan, establishing one legislative house with proportional representation (House of Representatives) and one with equal representation (Senate).

Senate

The upper chamber of Congress, granting equal representation (two senators) to each state.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress, with representation based on population.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that three-fifths of a state's slave population would count toward both representation and taxation.

Commerce Compromise

Agreement that allowed Congress to regulate interstate and international commerce (including tariffs) but forbade taxes on exports from state and allowed slave trade to continue until 1808.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental civil liberties and limiting government power to address Anti-Federalist concerns.

National Bank

The Bank of the United States, proposed by Hamilton, which served as the nation's financial agent—stabilizing currency and public credit.

Federalist Party

Led by Hamilton, this party favored strong national authority, commercial and industrial development, and close British relations.

Democratic-Republican Party

Founded by Jefferson and Madison, it championed states' rights, agrarian values, and closer ties with France.

John Adams

Second U.S. President (1797-1801), a Federalist who presided during rising international tensions and domestic dissent.

Washington's Farewell Address

President George Washington's 1796 message warning against permanent foreign alliances, political parties, and sectionalism.

Alien and Sedition Acts

1798 Federalist laws that included tougher naturalization requirements and criminal penalties for criticizing the government, widely viewed as violations of free speech.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Political statements drafted by Jefferson and Madison asserting that states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws, especially targeting the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Battle of Fallen Timbers

1794 military conflict where U.S. forces defeated Native American confederation in the Northwest Territory.

Treaty of Greenville

1795 treaty between the U.S. and Native American tribes, giving the U.S. claim to much of the Northwest Territory after their victory.

Whiskey Rebellion

1794 uprising in western Pennsylvania against a federal excise tax on whiskey, quelled by a show of force by the Washington administration, demonstrating federal authority.

French Revolution

The 1789-1799 upheaval in France that sparked intense partisan debate in the U.S. over whether America should support revolutionary ideals.

Proclamation of Neutrality

President Washington's 1793 declaration that the U.S. would remain neutral amid the conflict between France and Britain.

Citizen Genêt

French envoy Edmund Genêt who tried to recruit American support for France's wars, prompting diplomatic controversy and challenging the administration's neutrality stance.

Jay Treaty

1794 treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain that resolved remaining Revolutionary War tensions and promoted trade, though it angered pro-French Americans.

Pinckney Treaty

1795 treaty with Spain granting the U.S. navigation rights on the Mississippi River and use of the port of New Orleans—along with border definitions.

Right of Deposit

The right granted under the Pinckney Treaty allowing Americans to store goods in New Orleans before shipping down the Mississippi.

XYZ Affair

1797 diplomatic scandal in which French agents (named X, Y, and Z) demanded bribes from American diplomats, fueling anti‑French sentiment and leading to a quasi‑war at sea.

Northwest Ordinance

1787 legislation establishing a structured process to admit new states from the Northwest Territory and banning slavery in that region.

Indian Intercourse Act

A set of federal regulations passed in 1790 (and updated later) governing interactions with Native Americans, including land purchases and trade.