APUSH UNIT 3

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

(1) Congress could not collect taxes (2) No separate executive or judiciary system. (3)required an unanimous vote from all states to amend (4) No national currency

3/5 Compromise

Counted enslaved people for votes to comprise for the southern need for more representation

Abigail Adams

First Lady to John Adams; advocated for women's rights early in the republic when Constitution was drafted

African Americans during revolutionary war?

British offered freedom to African Americans. Eventually, around 5,000 African Americans served alongside the Patriots.

Albany Plan of Union

Proposed joint colonial government for defense and taxes by 7 colonies during French and Indian War, failed due to lack of funding, but set precedent for colonial unity

Alien and Sedition Acts

Series of laws passed in 1798 by the United States Congress by Federalist Party, aimed at restricting citizenship of foreigners and limiting criticism of the government. Very unpopular

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, arguing that it gave too much power to the federal government. They advocated for a Bill of Rights later in the Constitution.

Articles of Confederation

First constitution of the United States, adopted in 1777 and ratified in 1781. They established a loose union of states with a weak central government, granting most power to the individual states

Bill of Rights

First 10 Amendments to the US Constitution written to guarantee individual rights; written to appease anti-Federalists like James Madison and Thomas Jefferson

Boston Massacre

Incident where British troops fired on crowd of angry Bostonians, causing an accidental shooting; massive propoganda victory for anti-British colonists

Checks and Balances

Power of each branch would be limited by the powers of the others, for example Presidential Veto

Committees of Correspondence

Network of committees in various colonies which circulated reports of the British undermining American liberties

Common Sense

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine which advocated independence to colonists from Britain in simple, easy-to-understand language; effective in convincing much of the public to independence causeac

Connecticut Plan/ Great Compromise

A Constitutional compromise that established the Senate with equal state representation and the House of Representatives based on population

Continentials

During 1775-1777, a currency called "continentals" circulated. When British occupied American ports, their value plummeted, rendering them worthless.

Debate on the Bill of Rights

The debate surrounding the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution. The Federalists argued that a bill of rights was unnecessary while the Anti-Federalists insisted it was essential for protecting individual liberties

Declaration Act

Act which declared Parliament alone had the right to levy taxes after Stamp Act was repealed in 1766

Democratic Republican Party

First political party. Support by Thomas Jefferson, opposed Hamilton Financial Program, Strictly follow constitution, Supported by South an West

Economic Problems with the Aritlcles of Confederation

Weak government wasn't able to collect taxes and couldn't regulate internal trade; resulting in economic weakness as states bickered amongst themselves

Electoral College System

Originally in Constitution, each state (though it's legislature) appoints electors who formally elect the President and Vice President. The system was designed to limit some of the power of a direct popular election

Fedarlism

A system with a strong but limited central government adopted after the Articles of Confederation

Federalist party

First political party. Supported Hamilton's Financial Program. Loosely interpret constitution, mainly supported by North

French and Indian War (7 Years War)

The decisive war which cemented British control of the Americas at the expense of the French and laid foundation for British-colonial tension

Great Compromise

Compromise during the Constitutional Convention where both the House of Representatives (which favored large states) and the Senate (which favored smaller ones) were adopted together

Hamilton's Financial Program

1. Pay off the national debt and assume state debts 2. Protective tariff 3. Create a national bank

Intolerable Acts 1774

A series of laws passed by the British Parliament to punish the colony of Massachusetts Bay for the Boston Tea Party such as closing Harbor and increase military there

Judiciary Act of 1789

Established a Supreme Court with one chief justice and five associate justices, 13 district federal courts were also established with lesser judicial powers than the Supreme Court.

Kentucky and Virgnia Resolutions

A state could nullify federal law if the federal government broke the compact. Also took stance stating that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional

Land Ordinance of 1785

Bill passed by Congress under the Aritlces of Confederation that split up land in the west and designated land for public education

National Bank

Depositing government funds and print banknotes to provide a stable US currency, supported by North, opposed by Anti-Federalists

New Jersey Plan

This constitutional plan proposed a single legislature with equal representation for each state. Favored smaller states.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Most important law passed under the Articles of Confederation; setup system where new states created from the Northwest territory, prohibited slavery in the region, and granted it limited self-governance

Olive Branch Petition

Colonists wanted peace yet the right to keep their colonial rights, so they set this to King George, who dismmissed the petition and passed the Phrobitiory Act, hich halted all trade between Britain and the colonists immediatly.

Pontiac's Rebellion

Rebellion of Native American Chief Pontiac against British encroachment; distrust of colonials caused British to send the army, deepening their financial crisis

Proclomation of 1763

Effort to ensure peace between Natives and colonists by declaring line in the Appalachian Mountains no colonist could settle across; colonists hated it

Public Land Act

Established orderly procedure for dividing and selling federal lands at moderate prices, made it easier to add new states to Union

Quartering Act (1765)

Act requiring colonists to provide food and housing for British soldiers in the colonies

Ratification of Constitution, How easy was it to do? What did it take?

Process by which Constitution was adopted across the United States; required numerous compromises like the Great Compromise (creating modern Congress) and the 3/5ths compromise (relating to representation in Congress and taxes)

Republican Motherhood

Societal structure where women taught children republican values in the home; first major movement for women in society

Salutary Neglect

British policy where they had little direct control in the colonies and didn't enforce many trade laws; ended after Peace of Paris

Seperation of Powers

Dividing power among different branches of government, between executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Allowed for no abuse by one certain power.

ex: Executive, legislative, and judicial branches with checks and balances; e.g., Senate appoints judges, judiciary reviews government actions

Shays Rebellion

Farmers were angered by taxes and fought against the Massachusetts militia; This highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Significance of the Cotton Gin

This invention could quickly process cotton and therefore made it more profitable leading to a desire to increase the number of slaves in the south

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

A violent secret society formed to resist British taxation in the American colonies before the Revolution, particularly targeting the Stamp Act. They employed tactics such as torture against tax collectors

Stamp Act

British law placing taxes on printed paper goods; first direct tax directly on people instead of just a tariff

Stamp Act Congress

Gathering of colonial representatives in 1765 to protest British taxation without colonial consent. They produced the "Declaration of Rights and Grievances," asserting that only colonial assemblies had the right to impose taxes. This event helped unite the colonies against British policies

Strengths of Articles of Confederation

Document provided a limited power for federal government, and introduced too much power to the states in congress

Sugar Act (1764)

Bill that placed taxes on imported sugar and enforced Navigation Acts more harshly; ended Salutary Neglect

The Delegates of the First Continental Congress

Attending the convention, were wealthy white men

The Federalists Papers

A collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to support the ratification of the Constitution.

3/5 Compromise

A compromise which determined that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the HOR. It was a pivotal agreement in the debates over representation and slavery.

Treaty of Paris

Treaty that ended the Revolutionary Wars where Britain withdrew from America and recognized it as a nation; not properly enforced due to weakness of Articles of Confederation

Two Term Tradition

A majority of presidents would serve for 2 terms then exit office voluntarily, however, Franklin Roosevelt broke this tradition by being elected for a 3rd term

Virginia Plan

This Constitutional plan proposed a strong central government with a bicameral legislature, favoring representation based on a state's population. Favored large states

Whiskey Rebellion

Direct taxes on whiskey, Pennyslvanian farmers refused to pay the federal tax and rebelled. Washington placed 15,000 state militia to counter rebellion. Proved Government would enforce laws

Why was Battle of Saratoga significant?

This battle convinced France to join the war for American independence against the British

Writ of Assistance

A general license to search colonist's home without the need for a judge's warrant; comprised enforcement portion of the Townshed Act