AP U.S. History: Period 3 Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key events, acts, groups, compromises, and documents from the French and Indian War through the drafting and ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

French and Indian War / Seven Years War

A conflict from 1756 to 1763 where the French and British fought for land in North America; Britain won, ending with the Treaty of Paris, but the resulting debt and policies created colonial resentment.

Proclamation of 1763

A British order preventing colonists from expanding westward to the Appalachian Mountains to maintain peace with Native Americans, which fostered resentment among the colonists.

Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

A rebellion by Native Americans against British colonies occurring after the Seven Years War when colonists attempted to expand westward onto Native territory.

Paxton Boy’s Rebellion (1763)

An incident where frontier settlers in Pennsylvania murdered 21 peaceful Natives during Pontiac's Rebellion to acquire land, facing no legal consequences and escalating tensions.

Stamp Act

A British tax placed on printed materials, including newspapers and legal documents.

Quartering Act

A British law mandating that colonists house and feed soldiers, thereby increasing British military presence in the colonies.

Townshend Act

British legislation that taxed imported goods from Britain, specifically glass, lead, paint, tea, and paper.

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

A radical colonial organization formed after the Stamp Act to seek independence from Britain and lead protests, boycotts, and resistance.

Boston Massacre

A confrontation where protesting colonists threw ice at British troops, prompting soldiers to fire into the crowd and kill 5 people, including Crispus Attucks.

Boston Tea Party

A protest where colonists disguised as Native Americans boarded a British ship and dumped chests of tea into the harbor to boycott British taxes.

Intolerable / Coercive Acts

Punitive British acts aimed at punishing and isolating Boston by weakening the Massachusetts legislature and damaging its economy, which led the colonies to unify.

First Continental Congress (1775)

A convention of delegates from 12 colonies (excluding Georgia) convened to discuss a unified response to the Intolerable Acts and defend colonial liberties.

Olive Branch Petition (1775)

A final colonial attempt at reconciliation expressing loyalty to Great Britain and asking King George III to intervene with Parliament to safeguard colonial rights, which was rejected.

Second Continental Congress (1785)

A gathering representing all 13 colonies that marked the first time complete independence from Britain was considered.

Patriots

Colonists who supported the Revolutionary War and fought to gain independence from Britain.

Loyalists ("tories")

Colonists who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the Revolutionary War, with strong presence in New York, New Jersey, and Georgia.

Republican Motherhood

A post-Revolution concept meant to counteract women's direct responsibilities and participation in government.

Declaration of Independence (July 4th, 1776)

A formal document drafted by Thomas Jefferson that separated the 13 colonies from Great Britain, outlined grievances, and appealed for foreign assistance.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (1775–’76)

An influential pamphlet urging American colonists to sever political ties with Great Britain and declare independence as the only logical course.

Battle of Saratoga (October 1777)

An American victory during the Revolutionary War that prompted France to enter the war and assist the colonists.

Siege at Yorktown (October 1778)

The decisive military engagement that brought an end to the Revolutionary War.

Treaty of Paris (Revolutionary War)

The peace agreement that concluded the Revolutionary War, in which Great Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation.

Articles of Confederation (1777)

The first national framework and constitution of the U.S., featuring only a legislative branch and granting dominant power to the states out of fear of centralized tyranny.

Land Ordinance of 1785

An ordinance passed under the Articles of Confederation granting Congress the authority to survey and sell western territories.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Legislation establishing guidelines for creating new states and formally banning slavery in the Northwest and other new territories.

Shay’s Rebellion

An uprising by indebted farmers facing property foreclosures over taxes, which highlighted the inability of the national government under the Articles of Confederation to maintain order.

Virginia Plan

A constitutional proposal providing larger states with more votes and representation in Congress based on population size.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal advocating that all states receive an equal number of votes in Congress regardless of population.

Great Compromise

A constitutional agreement establishing a bicameral legislature comprising the House of Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (two members per state).

3/5ths Compromise

A constitutional compromise counting every five enslaved individuals as three free persons for taxation and population representation, giving Southern states an advantage.

Federalist

A proponent of the new Constitution who believed that the federal government should overrule state governments.

Anti-Federalist

An opponent of the new Constitution who believed state law should take precedence over the federal government and feared a strong national government would strip people's rights.

The Federalist Papers

A series of political essays authored by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison aimed at persuading Anti-Federalists to ratify the Constitution.

Federalist Paper #10

An essay arguing that a representative national government provides the primary remedy against political divisions and factions.

Federalist Paper #51

An essay explaining that a strong government combined with separation of powers prevents tyranny and protects individuals from self-destruction.

Federalist Paper #84

An essay asserting that an enumerated Bill of Rights is unnecessary and dangerous because the Constitution itself safeguards liberties and unlisted rights could be compromised.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments added to the Constitution to appease Anti-Federalist concerns regarding the protection of individual liberties.