APUSH Units 1-5 ┌( >‿<)┘

House of Burgesses

1619, the first elected legislative assembly in the New World established in the Colony of Virginia in 1619, representative colony set up by England to make laws and levy taxes but England could veto its legistlative acts; it set a precedent for future parliaments to be established

Mayflower Compact

1620, A document signed by 41 of the male passengers on the Mayflower prior to their landing at Plymouth that agreed to form a body politic to submit to the majority's rule; This set the precedent for future constitutions to be written

Petition of Rights

1628, A legal petition sent to King Charles I from Parliament complaining about the breeches in the law; Foreshadowed later colonial petitions for rights.

Maryland Toleration Act

Act that was passed in Maryland that guaranteed toleration to all Christians, including Catholics; Though it did not sanction much tolerance, the act was the first seed that would sprout into the first amendment, granting religious freedom to all.

Control of the Purse

Since the legislative branch controlled the payment of the British governor's/executive's salary, he was forced to be loyal to that legislature; This gave colonists some influence in colonial law, but angered local British leaders

Bacon's Rebellion

Rebellion of discontent former landless servants led by Nathaniel Bacon. Though the rebellion was crushed, it caused a move from indentured servants to African slaves for labor purposes.

"Salutary Neglect"

From about 1690-1760, the American colonies suffered from neglect from the motherland. During this time, the colonies were given indirectly more autonomy in provincial and local matters while supporting Britain economically; The autonomy would ultimately backfire when colonials grew accustomed to the treatment and despised any type of restraint, resulting in a rebellious attitude towards the acts passed by Britain after the Seven Years War.

Middle Passage

A route where slaves were transported to the colonies/new world. Most if not all of the slaves in America came by this route.

Letters from an American Farmer

A document written by an emigrant French aristocrat turned farmer posing the famous question, "What, then, is the American, this new man?" This is the only critical edition available of what is regarded as the first ever work of American literature.

New England Confederation

New England colonists formed the New England Confederation in 1643 as a defense against local Native American tribes and encroaching Dutch. The colonists formed the alliance without the English crown's authorization.

Iron Act

Part of the British Trade and Navigation acts; it was intended to stem the development of colonial manufacturing in competition with home industry by restricting the growth of the American iron industry to the supply of raw metals. This set a feeling of discontent and a feeling of being a tool among colonials.

Molasses Act

A law that imposed a tax on molasses, sugar, and rum imported from non-British foreign colonies into the North American colonies; it was aimed to reserve a monopoly of the colonies. This caused anger among colonials due to the fear of increased prices of rum, since they felt that the British West Indies could not meet the needs of the colonies.

Navigation Acts

Series of laws designed to restrict England's carrying trade to English ships. The law angered colonials who felt that they could profit more if they were not restricted and that they were just tools of British mercantilism.

Great Awakening

It was a revival of religious importance in the 17th century. It undermined older clergy, created schisms, increased compositeness of churches, and encouraged missionary work, led to the founding new schools. It was first spontaneous movement of the American people (broke sectional boundaries and denominational lines).

Zenger Case

The Zenger Case was a trial against the author of an article in a New York newspaper that criticized a corrupt British governor. Zenger was charged with sedition and libel, but he was acquitted. The event was a contribution to the adaptation of the policy of freedom of the press.

Paxton Boys

An uprising of frontiersmen in Pennsylvania who massacred (nonviolent) Conestoga Indians. Governor attempted to try those involved, but they were never tried This showed the bias against frontiersmen in the eastern government, and prompted 600 frontiersmen to march on Philadelphia.

Albany Plan of Union

Colonial confederation calling for each town to have independence in a large whole. It was used for military defense and Indian policies Set a precedent for later American unity.- overally, failed

Peace of Paris

This ended the Seven Years War/French and Indian war between Britain and her allies and France and her allies. The result was the acquisition of all land east of the Mississippi plus Canada for Britain, and the removal of the French from mainland North America.

Proclamation Line

The line that was setup by the British that forbids any movement/settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. This angered many colonials, who felt that the current space was too crowded, and that they had every right to move if they desired to since it was they that battled against the French during the Seven Years

Writs of Assistance

It was a search warrant allowing officials to enter buildings in which smuggled goods may be. It required no cause for suspicion and homes were often ransacked. It influenced the fourth amendment to ensure that officials required a warrant for search and seizures.

Sugar Islands

The only land that France had in the New World after the Seven Years war. These were the places where many New England merchants smuggled sugar from.

Sugar Act

Amended the Molasses Act that had taxed all foreign molasses entering the U.S. at sixpence a gallon in 1764. The new act ended the previous British policy of keeping Americans out of all revenue-raising measures.

Stamp Act

A means of raising revenue in the colonies, and was passed by Parliament. It stated that all legal documents, contracts, licenses, pamphlets, and newspapers must carry a stamp that is taxed. It angered the colonists greatly, and led to the creation of the Stamp Act Congress.

Virtual & Actual Representation

The British claimed that all British subjects were represented by members of the House of Commons, while the colonials argued that they were not at all represented as they did not choose their representatives. This caused more anger in the colonies, and influenced how representation functioned after the war.

Regulators

This name applies to several groups of insurgents who, in 1764, wanted to protect the rights of their community. They believed that the tax money was being unevenly distributed. Many of its members joined the American Revolutionists.

Stamp Act Congress

A meeting of delegations from many of the colonies, the congress was formed to protest the newly passed Stamp Act It adopted a declaration of rights as well as sent letters of complaints to the king and parliament, and it showed signs of colonial unity and organized resistance.

Sons of Liberty

A secret society of patriots which was organized in 1765 in the colonies. They formed a Committee of Correspondence to defend themselves against British actions. It was one of the first forms of organized resistance against the British parliament, and members took part in the Boston Tea Party.

Declaratory Acts

Act which was issued in 1766 in order to confirm the British government's right to pass acts which were legally binding to the colonists. It was used to save face after the colonists forced the repeal of the Stamp Act.

Quartering Act

It allowed for British officers to be permitted to stay in the homes of colonials to cut down maintenance cost of the colonial garrison. IT angered many colonists, and influenced the third amendment.

Charles Townshend

British Prime Minister. Influenced Parliament to pass the Townshend Acts.

Boston Massacre

An event that took place in Boston where colonial agitators provoked British troops with snowballs with rocks inside them. The result was an accidental firing of muskets into the crowd and the death of some colonials; it became a prime piece of anti-British propaganda.

Lord North

British Prime Minister during revolution. He had passed the Coercive Acts and supported the king greatly to the extent that Britain was ruled only by the king.

Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania

A declaration of rights at the Stamp Act Congress It argued against the duties of the Townshend acts in this publication.

Gaspee Incident

A schooner was beached in Providence, RI, This upset Americans because it was one of the last of the customs racketeering ships. It was burned down by local inhabitants. It greatly angered the British and showed how militant the colonials were becoming.

Tea Act

Act eliminated import duties entering England, lowering the selling price to consumers, also allowing selling directly to consumers, hurting middlemen. It angered the colonies since it gave a monopoly to the British East India Tea Company, thus forcing local tea sellers out of business.

Boston Tea Party

A group, disguised as Indians boarded the ships and dumped all the tea into Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea Act. It angered the British, and led to the closure of Boston harbor as well as the other Coercion Acts.

Intolerable or Coercive Acts

Several laws that were composed in 1774 in response to colonial rebellion. (Boston Tea Party) It angered the colonies greatly, pushing them further into unity.

Quebec Act

Law which established Roman-Catholicism as the official religion in Quebec and gave it more freedom in order to keep from interferring in war(please them). Angered protestants and colonials who felt that they deserved better.

First Continental Congress

The congress was the colonists' response to the Coercive/Intolerable Acts. This called for a complete boycott of all British goods in 12 of the 13 colonies, showing a growth in unity.

Lexington and Concord

These were the first "battles" of the Revolutionary War. Lex, delayed troops on way to concord. IT showed that the British had only military resolve in mind.

Olive Branch Petition

The petition was a last ditch effort- created by the second Continental Congress- to have King George III redress colonial grievances to avoid further bloodshed The king refused to receive it, and it showed that Britain's only choice was war, and also that the colonists weren't all for full independence

Hessians

German mercenaries that were hired by the British for putting down the rebellion of the colonies. The hiring of these men showed to the colonists that the British had only military action in mind as a solution to the current problems.

Bunker Hill

a battle that took place on the strategic point of Breed's Hill. British victory on account of the depletion of American supplies. yet gave them confidence- It pushed Americans towards a final decision for war.

Second Continental Congress

The congress had resolved that the only option was war due to the rejection of the Olive Branch Petition. It named George Washington as commander in chief of the Continental army and later on adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Common Sense

This was a pamphlet that was written by a Thomas Paine, a common man in the colonies. The pamphlet supported and gave reason to support secession from Britain as well as promote a representative type of government.

Declaration of Independence

Document that contained a list of grievances placing the blame on George III. Additionally, it asserted certain natural rights It was the colonies official declaration of rebellion.

Republican Mothers

The ideal American women. raised patriots Proved to be the defining role for women in the 19th century.

Articles of Confederation

The articles were the first governing document that unified the colonies against the British It showed the French that the colonials were serious about independence and that they had a post-war plan.

Valley Forge

Place in Pennsylvania where George Washington and his Continental Army spent the winter. It allowed for Washington to regroup and retrain his rag-tag army.

Lafayette and von Stuben

Foreign advisors who helped train American soldiers. Lafayette helped urge France into allying, and von Stuben proved to be a valuable drillman.

Trenton

a battle that ended with an American victory against the Hessian mercenaries hired by the British. This battle proved to be a morale booster, and was one of Washington's few victories.

Saratoga

A battle that took place in New York where the Continental Army defeated the British. It proved to be the turning point of the war. This battle ultimately had France to openly support the colonies with military forces in addition to the supplies and money already being sent.

Yorktown

the last major engagement/battle of the war. Washington's armies along with the French naval fleet under de Grasse surrounded British general Charles Cornwallis and received his surrender It ended major engagements in the colonies, thus putting an "end" to the war.

Treaty of Paris

Treaty that officially ended the war. The negotiations were between the French, the Americans, and the British. The British gave the North West territory to the Americans.- were recognized as legit indep.

Stono Rebellion

slave rebellion; south-less rights

Currency Act

prohibits from creating money

Jay-Gardoqui Treaty

A treaty between Spain and the United States. It guaranteed Spain's exclusive right to navigate Mississippi River for 30 years. It also opened Spain's European and West Indian seaports to American shipping.

Land Ordinance of 1785

It set up how the new land gained after the revolution would be distributed and organized. The ordinance set up townships that were 36 sq miles where each plot of land was 1 sq mile and the 16th plot was sold for public schooling. The action was a huge success for the new government; it prevented a second revolution and was used for the later frontier states.

Northwest Ordinance; 1787

It declared that once a territory had a population of 60000, it would gain full statehood. However, before this, it would remain as a subordinate of the federal government. The action was a huge success for the new government; it prevented a second revolution and was used for the later frontier states.

Daniel Shays

a leader in a rebellion against the state of Massachusetts due to the amount of discontent of farmers that lost their land due to mortgage foreclosures and tax delinquencies during the war while they were off fighting. The rebellion, though put down by the state militia, signaled the need for a stronger central government.

Annapolis Convention

As a result of the commerce squabbles among the states, Virginia called for a convention in Annapolis to revise articles of confederation. It led to another one in Philadelphia, which was later to be the Constitutional Convention.

Great Compromise

A compromise that proposed two houses of Congress; one where the population would determine how many representatives a state has, and another to ensure that all states are represented equally. Created the House and Senate while resolving the dispute between the large and small states. - Roger Sherman

3/5 Compromise

It was a compromise between the northern states with the southern ones that decided that although slaves were not citizens, each one would count as 3/5 of a man for representation. It got Southern states to ratify the constitution.

Commerce Compromise

Compromise that made it so that only congress could regulate interstate commerce. It ended the commercial dispute where states would have different tariffs for other states.

Federalism

It was a belief in a strong and powerful central government. It had a strong influence for a couple of decades in the early country.

Separation of Powers

A system that separated the powers of government into three separate braches to limit arbitrary excesses by the government. It led to the system of checks and balances so that the government would not become centered on one branch.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensured that no particular branch of government gained too much power over another. It demonstrated the fear of absolute power in one group/individual as well as preventing one branch from overpowering the others.

Preamble

First sentence of the constitution. Outlined the purpose of writing the constitution.

Impeachment

The act of by which a legislative body formally levels charges against a high official of government.This is part of the system of checks and balances so that the judicial and the executive do not abuse their powers.

Filibustering

This is an attempt to obstruct a particular decision from being taken by using up the time available, typically through an extremely long speech. This would prevent the "opposing" party to pass an unfavorable law and ultimately force a compromise.

Elastic Clause

It states that Congress has the power "to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper" for governing the country. This was made due to the fact that no one knew what the country would be like in the future, and therefore this clause gave congress power to adjust to the times in order to preserve the strength of the union.

Habeas Corpus

Common law where a judge could release a state prisoner if he was held unlawfully It protected the rights of all and prevented abuse of power.

Ex Post de Facto

A law that makes illegal an act that was legal when committed increases the penalties for an infraction after it has been committed, or changes the rules of evidence to make conviction easier This was prohibited by the constitution in order to keep the justice system equal and fair.

Electoral College

The system that the United States used and still uses to elect the president. Each state has a number of electoral votes based on the number of representatives it has in congress. The system showed the lack of trust the founding fathers had in the common man.

Judicial Review

It was a power given to the judiciary branch in order to sustain checks and balances. This power let judges examine a law or act passed by the government to see if it was constitutional or not.

Treason

An act against one's country One can be tried for treason if two witnesses witness the act of treason.

Federalist Papers

The papers were a collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison explaining how the new government/constitution would work. Their purpose was to convince the New York state legislature to ratify the constitution, which it did.

Federalists

A political group who believed in a strong and powerful central government/executive branch. They were influential during Washington's presidency and taught America how to walk. Initiated political party system with the Republicans.

Republicans

Rivals of the Federalists who believed in a smaller government based on state rights. Their rivalry sparked tensions with Federalists, creating a political party system.

Funding

An economic policy of Hamilton where the government would pay the national debt at face value. It would help relieve the government out of its huge debt.

Assumption

Economic policy of Alexander Hamilton where the central government would assume the debts of all the states. It would tie the states closer to the federal government.

Bank of the US

The central bank of the nation designed to facilitate the issuance of a stable national currency and to provide a convenient means of exchange for the people. The bank was responsible for providing the nation economic stability.

Whiskey Tax

Part of the excise taxes, the whiskey tax added a tax on whiskey at seven cents a gallon This helped pay of some of the debt.

Report on Manufactures

A proposal written by Hamilton promoting protectionism in trade by adding tariffs to imported goods in order to protect American industry Though congress did not do anything with it, the report later influenced later industrial policies.

Neutrality Proclamation

A proclamation issued by Washington that proclaimed that The United States was a neutral state when war erupted again between France and England This illustrated the truism that self-interest is the glue of alliances.

Jay Treaty

A treaty which offered little concessions from Britain to the U.S Jay was able to get Britain to say they would evacuate the chain of posts on U.S. soil and pay damages for recent seizures of American ships. This resulted in a vitalization of the Democratic-Republicans and Pinckney's Treaty with the Spanish.

Pinckney Treaty

agreement between Spain and the United States, fixing the southern boundary of the United States at 31° N latitude and establishing commercial arrangements favorable to the United States. U.S. citizens were accorded free navigation of the Mississippi River through Spanish territory as well as privilege of a tax-free deposit. This treaty showed that the U.S. was slowly becoming a world player, as they made a treaty with Britain the previous year.

Farewell Address

The address was Washington's farewell letter that was written by Hamilton and published in newspapers It warned against permanent alliances and political parties.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic incident when made public in 1798, nearly involved the United States and France in war The incident ended the Franco-American treaty and resulted in the undeclared war between the two countries and prompted the build up of the U.S. Navy.

Barbary Pirates

These were Muslim pirates operating from the coast of North Africa that hampered merchant shipping in the area by breaking treaties, attacking ships, and taking hostages/prisoners. The attacks prompted the build up of the U.S. Navy to stop the attacks

Alien and Sedition Acts

the alien act allowed the exportation of any alien believed to be a threat to national security and during times of war; sedition act made it a criminal offense to plot against the government -oppressed people's first amendment rights

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions; Jay-Gardoqui Treaty

protest to the Alien and Sedition Acts; Virginia resolution said states had the right to intervene in unconstitutional acts in government; Kentucky resolution stated that federal government could not extend powers outside of constitutionally granted powers

Judiciary Act

Act was an effort by the lame duck Federalist majority in Congress to prolong its control of the federal judiciary before the end of John Adams' termThis effort showed that the Federalists were waning in power.

Mercy Otis Warren

New England woman who wrote many works. These included a history of the revolution, a play, and poems One of America's first writers.

Waltham Method

The method was a set of unique production methods used at Lowell's Mills. It is purported to increase efficiency, productivity and profits in ways different from other methods, which gave America a help in industrializing.

Yazoo Land Claims

Fraud perpetrated by several Georgia governors and the state legislature from 1795 to 1803 by selling large tracts of land to insiders at low prices. The lands were to be the states of Alabama and Mississippi later on and it was the first state law repealed by the Supreme Court.

Louisiana Purchase

The treaty describes the United States acquisition of more than 529,911,680 acres of territory from France in 1803. This greatly increased the size, power, and wealth of the U.S.

Marbury v. Madison

A court case that came from a dispute between Marbury and Madison where Madison refused to sign Marbury's appointment. IT established the basis for the exercise of judicial review and made the judicary branch equal in power.

Chesapeake-Leopard

An incident where the Leopard, a British warship, demanded the surrender for 4 deserters on the Chesapeake. It refused, and the Leopard fired upon the ship This escalated the tensions between the two nations, and directly caused the Embargo Act of 1807 and was an ingredient to the War of 1812.

Orders-in-Council

Set of several trade regulations which established a blockade of part of the continent of Europe and prohibited trade with France. Escalated tensions between Britain and America.establishes a blockade of part of the continent of Europe and prohibited trade w/ France un less American ships went to British ports for licenses for trades