Unit II (ACHS)

mercantilism

mercantilism

an economic theory and policy in colonial America that emphasized the idea that a nation's wealth and power were dependent on accumulating precious metals, such as gold and silver, through a favorable balance of trade. Colonies were seen as sources of raw materials and markets for finished goods to benefit the mother country.

The Seven Years War

Also known as the French and Indian War in North America, it was a global conflict (1756-1763) between Great Britain and France and their respective allies. The war had significant consequences for the American colonies and ultimately contributed to tensions leading up to the American Revolution.

Pontiac's Rebellion

(1763-1766) a Native American uprising against British colonial rule in the Ohio River Valley and Great Lakes region. It was sparked by discontent among indigenous peoples over British policies following the French and Indian War.

Navigation Acts

a series of British laws enacted in the 17th century that regulated trade between England and its colonies. They aimed to ensure that colonial trade primarily benefited England by restricting colonial trade with other nations.

Sugar Act

(1764) a British law that imposed taxes on sugar and other goods imported into the American colonies. It was one of the early revenue measures that led to colonial opposition to British taxation without representation.

Stamp Act & Stamp Act Congress

(1765) imposed a direct tax on printed materials in the American colonies, requiring the use of stamped paper for various legal documents and publications. The Stamp Act Congress, held in 1765, brought together colonial representatives to protest against the tax.

Proclamation of 1763

a British decree that prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. It was intended to reduce conflicts with Native Americans and control westward expansion.

Salutary Neglect

refers to the British policy of lax enforcement of colonial trade laws and regulations in the early 18th century. This policy allowed the American colonies a degree of self-governance and economic freedom, contributing to their development.

Intolerable Acts

also known as the Coercive Acts - a series of punitive measures imposed by the British government on Massachusetts in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party. They were intended to suppress colonial dissent and tighten British control.

Declaration of Independence

adopted on July 4, 1776 - a document written primarily by Thomas Jefferson that announced the American colonies' decision to break away from British rule and establish themselves as an independent nation.

Boston Tea Party

a protest that took place on December 16, 1773, in which American colonists, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships and dumped crates of tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act.

The American Revolution

the political and military conflict (1775-1783) between the American colonies and Great Britain, resulting in the colonies gaining independence and forming the United States of America.

Lexington & Concord

marked the beginning of armed conflict between British troops and American colonial militia, escalating tensions into the American Revolution.

Republican Motherhood

an ideology in the late 18th century that emphasized the role of women in teaching republican values and virtues to their children, contributing to the development of civic-minded citizens in the new American republic.

Boston Massacre

occurred on March 5, 1770, when British soldiers fired on a crowd of colonists in Boston, resulting in the deaths of several civilians. It became a symbol of British oppression in the colonies.

The Enlightenment

an intellectual and philosophical movement in the 18th century that emphasized reason, individualism, and the pursuit of knowledge. Enlightenment ideas influenced American political thought and the development of democratic principles.

Townshend Acts

passed in 1767, imposed taxes on various goods imported into the American colonies, including tea, glass, paper, and paint. They led to colonial boycotts and protests.

George III

the British monarch who reigned during the American Revolution. His policies and actions, such as taxation without representation and the suppression of colonial dissent, contributed to the outbreak of the conflict.

Locke

an English philosopher whose ideas on natural rights, government by consent, and the social contract influenced American political thought and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

Writs of Assistance

legal documents that allowed British customs officials to search for smuggled goods in colonial America without specifying a particular location or probable cause, leading to concerns about privacy and abuse of power.

Thomas Paine

an English-American writer and political activist who authored influential pamphlets such as "Common Sense" (1776), which argued for American independence from Britain.

Patriots

colonists who supported the American Revolution and the cause of independence from British rule. They actively resisted British authority and played key roles in the revolutionary movement.

Loyalists

also known as Tories, were colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution. They opposed the push for independence and often faced persecution from Patriots.

Hessians

German mercenaries hired by the British during the American Revolution to fight against the American colonists. Their presence further fueled anti-British sentiment.

Treaty of Paris

(1783) officially ended the American Revolution and recognized the independence of the United States from Great Britain. It established the boundaries of the new nation.

Northwest Ordinance

a U.S. law that established a system for governing the Northwest Territory (the region that became the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin) and provided a process for admitting new states to the Union.

Sons of Liberty

a secret organization formed in the American colonies to protest British policies and taxation without representation. They played a significant role in organizing protests and resistance against British rule.

Battle of Yorktown

(1781) the final major military engagement of the American Revolution. American and French forces, led by General George Washington, defeated the British, leading to British surrender and effectively ending the war.

Shay's Rebellion

an armed uprising in Massachusetts in 1786-1787 led by Daniel Shays, a former Revolutionary War captain. It was a response to economic grievances and highlighted weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States, in effect from 1781 to 1789. They created a weak central government with limited powers, eventually leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.