APUSH Unit 3

French and Indian War (1754–1763)

War between Britain and France over the Ohio River Valley; began with George Washington’s clash; part of a larger global conflict and led to British victory but massive debt

Seven Years’ War

Global version of the French and Indian War fought in Europe, Africa, and Asia; first “world war” and increased British dominance

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended war; Britain gained Canada and land east of Mississippi, Spain gave Florida; France lost most North American land

Proclamation of 1763

Banned settlement west of Appalachians to avoid Native conflict; angered colonists who wanted land

Pontiac’s Rebellion

Native American resistance led by Pontiac against British control; showed continued Native power and caused Britain to limit expansion

Salutary Neglect

Britain loosely enforced laws, allowing colonies to develop self-government and independence habits

George Grenville

Prime minister who enforced taxes and cracked down on colonies to pay war debt

Navigation Acts

Required colonies to trade mainly with Britain, restricting economic freedom

Quartering Act

Forced colonists to house/feed British troops; increased resentment

Stamp Act (1765)

Tax on paper goods (legal docs, newspapers); first direct internal tax; hit many colonists and sparked widespread protest

“No taxation without representation”

Colonists believed taxes required direct representation, not virtual

Virtual Representation

British claim that Parliament represented all citizens, even without direct voting

Stamp Act Congress

First unified colonial protest; petitioned for repeal and asserted rights

Sons of Liberty

Organized protests, boycotts, and sometimes violence against British officials

Daughters of Liberty

Promoted boycotts and made homemade goods to avoid British imports

Declaratory Act (1766)

Repealed Stamp Act but asserted Parliament’s full authority to tax colonies

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers killed 5 colonists; used as propaganda to fuel anti-British sentiment

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Protest against Tea Act; colonists dumped tea to resist taxation and monopoly

Coercive (Intolerable) Acts (1774)

Closed Boston Harbor, increased control, expanded Quartering Act; united colonies in anger

First Continental Congress (1774)

Coordinated colonial response; still wanted rights, not independence

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Managed war, created Continental Army, moved toward independence

Common Sense (1776)

Thomas Paine’s pamphlet arguing monarchy is wrong and independence is necessary; widely influential

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Justified independence using Enlightenment ideas; listed grievances against King George III

Natural Rights

Basic rights (life, liberty, property) given by God, not government

Social Contract

Government exists by consent to protect rights; can be overthrown if it fails

Republicanism

Power comes from the people; citizens elect representatives

Patriots

Supported independence for liberty and self-rule

Loyalists

Remained loyal to Britain for stability, economic ties, or fear of change

George Washington

Led Continental Army; kept army together despite losses and low morale

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Major American victory; convinced France to ally with US

French Alliance

France provided troops, navy, and supplies, crucial for victory

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Final victory; British surrender ended major fighting

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Recognized US independence and doubled its territory

Republican Motherhood

Women educated children in civic values; expanded women’s education but not rights

Articles of Confederation

Weak national government; states held most power; no executive or courts

Weakness of Articles

No power to tax, regulate trade, or raise army; led to economic and political instability

Shays’ Rebellion (1786–87)

Farmers rebelled over debt/taxes; showed need for stronger government

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Organized western lands, banned slavery there, set path to statehood, promoted education

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Meeting to fix Articles but created new Constitution

Separation of Powers

Divided government into legislative, executive, judicial branches

Checks and Balances

Each branch can limit the others to prevent tyranny

Federalism

Power shared between national and state governments

Virginia Plan

Representation based on population; favored large states

New Jersey Plan

Equal representation; favored small states

Great Compromise

Created House (population) and Senate (equal)

Three-Fifths Compromise

Enslaved counted as 3/5 for representation and taxation

Federalists

Supported strong central government and Constitution

Anti-Federalists

Opposed strong central government; wanted Bill of Rights

Federalist Papers

Essays defending Constitution and explaining its benefits

Bill of Rights (1791)

First 10 amendments protecting freedoms like speech, religion, and due process

Washington’s Cabinet

Advisors (Jefferson, Hamilton, Knox, Randolph); set precedent for executive departments

Judiciary Act (1789)

Created federal court system with Supreme Court at top

Political Parties

Formed due to disagreements over policy; not planned by founders

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist; supported strong government, industry, national bank

Thomas Jefferson

Democratic-Republican; supported agriculture, states’ rights, strict Constitution

National Bank

Central bank to stabilize economy, manage debt, and improve credit

Strict vs Loose Interpretation

Debate over whether Constitution should be interpreted narrowly or broadly

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Farmers protested tax; government crushed it, showing strength of new Constitution

Neutrality Proclamation

US avoided foreign wars to protect economy and stability

Alien and Sedition Acts

Restricted speech and targeted immigrants; increased federal power

Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions

Argued states can nullify unconstitutional federal laws

National Identity

Americans saw themselves as free, republican citizens; influenced culture and politics

Westward Expansion

Movement into new lands after independence; caused conflict

Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794)

US defeated Native coalition, opening Ohio Valley

Treaty of Greenville

Gave US control of Ohio territory after Native defeat

Jay’s Treaty

Britain removed troops from forts; avoided war but unpopular

Pinckney’s Treaty

Spain allowed US access to Mississippi River and New Orleans

Expansion of Slavery

Spread west as southern farmers moved; increased sectional tension

Regional Differences

North moved toward abolition and industry; South relied on slavery and agriculture