American History

Mini Unit 2

Enlightenment

A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions.

The Great Awakening

Religious revival in the American colonies of the eighteenth century during which a number of new Protestant churches were established.

Enlightenment and The Great Awakening

Challenged traditional authority and the Church of England's beliefs.

The Sugar Act of 1764

An Act the British enforced that intended to reclaim money lost from the French and Indian War. The British taxed Americans on things like sugar, molasses, wine, and textiles.

The British effectively collected taxes from the Sugar Act by…

decreasing prices of smuggled goods to reduce the need to smuggle and limiting trade between Europe and America. They also passed an Act called the Currency Act which allowed for Americans to not be able to use paper money.

The Townshend Acts

A tax that the British Parliament passed in 1767 that was placed on leads, glass, paint and tea, which helped Britain cover expenses.

The Quartering Acts

Acts of Parliament requiring colonial legislatures to provide supplies and quarters for the troops stationed in America.

The Quartering Acts of 1765 and 1774 led to the Boston Massacre because…

The colonists were angry that their rights and freedom were taken away and that they were getting no financial aid and still expected to house the British soldiers.

The Boston Massacre

The first bloodshed of the American Revolution (1770), as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans/The Americans rioted against the Quartering Acts which led to the first shot of the American Revolution.

The Intolerable (Coercive) Acts

A series of four acts made to separate Boston and New England from the rest of the colonies. These laws were passed to prevent resistance on British rule from the rest of the colonies. However the colonists decided to join together to help the New England and Boston colonies.

The Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest against British taxes in which Boston colonists disguised as Mohawks dumped valuable tea into Boston Harbor.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord

The battles of Lexington and Concord initiated the Revolutionary War between the American colonists and the British. British governor Thomas Gage sent troops to Concord to stop the colonists who were loading arms. The next day, on April 19, 1775, the first shots were fired in Lexington, starting the war. The battles resulted in a British retreat to Boston

The Stamp Act

1765; law that taxed printed goods, including: playing cards, documents, newspapers, etc.

Taxation without Representation

the idea that it is unfair to tax someone without giving them a voice in government (in this case particularly Parliament)

Trade Restrictions in the colonies

The British government prevented the colonies from trading with any countries other than Britain.

Denial of Civil Liberty

The colonists had to follow laws the English citizens did not. They were not allowed many common English rights and were denied much freedom.

Desire for Autonomy

The colonies wanted to be independent and create their own systems of government and rules. They believed the King of Britain did not understand their needs since he was not in America or experiencing their problems. This led to the creation of The Declaration of Independence.

The Enlightenment

Before the 18th century Monarchs, nobility, and clergy were seen as superior. In the 18th century rational thinkers stated to question these authorities and the rights of the individual were emphasized. John Locke fought for our natural rights (rights we are born with, life, liberty, and property).

The Seven Years War

After the Seven Years War tension arose between the British colonies and the French and American Indians. The British Crown relied on colonial forces, equipment, and personnel to win the conflict. King George III went back on his promise to regard participants land grants.

Colonial Unrest

The Colonists were mad about tight control by the British so they started evading taxes from the Sugar Acts, Townshend Acts, Stamp acts, and the Tea Acts. The new laws posed by the Intolerable Acts were the last straw.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

After the Battles of Lexington and Concord colonial leaders met at Second Continental Congress and attempted to avoid war with Great Britain. They did this by attempting to extend the Olive Branch Petition in July of 1775. The Lee Resolution was passed after the Petition failed to assert colonial independence. Two days later the Declaration of Independence was written.

The Revolutionary War

Patriots supported independence and liberty. Loyalists supported British subjects. The Continental Congress acted as the governing body during the War. General George Washington led the Continental Army. Victory at Saratoga in 1777 secured French aid. American resolve was tested during a harsh winter at valley forge and the aid of women and other non-combatants supported Continental forces. American-French forces were victorious in 1783.

The Articles of Confederation

The first attempt at unifying the colonies into a single country. The articles government was a confederacy (a government that gave most of its power to the states). The drafters made a weak national government due to fear of tyranny. This did not work because the government was not allowed to impose taxes, create treaties, settle with American Indians, or command a national military. During Shay's Rebellion they were unable to muster suppressive forces.

The U.S. Constitution

The Constitutional Convention chose to form a federation-a union of states that held some local authority, but must defer to the power of the national government. Government = 3 branches, Legislative (headed by US Congress (creates laws)). Executive (headed by the President of the US (enforces laws)). Judicial (headed by the Supreme Court of the US (interprets laws)). this government was determined to split power and reduce tyranny.

The Amendment System

Allows changes to the constitution with 3/4 of the states' approval.

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Forming the Legislature

Slave states supported larger states on the decision to choose representatives based on State population. The 'Connecticut Compromise' split the law-making body of Congress into two houses. The House of Representatives (determined by state population) and the Senate (2 representatives per state). Part of the compromise allowed slave states to count 3/5 of their slave population towards their representative count in the House.

Checks and Balances

To protect the government from becoming tyrannical in one branch a system of 'checks and balances' was put into place. This allowed the three government branches to check each other so one didn't become too powerful.