1754-1800 A New Nation Formed

French and Indian War

war between Britian and France over the control of land in the Ohio River Valley

Stamp Act

British law that required colonists to pay a tax on printed materials (newspapers, legal docs, playing cards, etc.)- first direct tax on the colonists

Coercive Acts

(aka the Intolerable Acts) harsh laws passed to punish MA after the Boston Tea Party including closing Boston Harbor

Sons of Liberty

secret organization of American colonists formed to oppose British laws and taxes (Stamp Act), using boycotts and sometimes violence

Lexington and Concord

first battles of the American Revolution; “short heard around the world…”

American Revolution

war in which the 13 American colonies fought against Britian for independence

Patriots

colonists who supported the American Revolution

Loyalists

colonists who wanted to stay loyal to Britian

Neutralists

didn’t really care if the colonies stayed loyal to Britain or became independent

Thomas Paine

political writer and revolutionist who wrote the pamphlet Common Sense

Common Sense

written by Thomas Paine (1776) and urged the Colonists to declare independence by criticizing Britain’s monarchy

Thomas Jefferson

founding father, main author of the D of I (1776); promoted democracy and individual rights

Declaration of Independence

document written by Thomas Jefferson that declared the colonies independence from Britain (people have unalienable rights that the government must protect)

George Washington

commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, the 1st President, and a Founding Father

Battle of Trenton

surprise attack led by George Washington after crossing the Delaware River where the Continental Army defeated Hessian troops

Battle of Saratoga

turning point of the revolution; American forces defeated the British which convinced France to ally with the colonies and provide military support 

Battle of Yorktown

last major battle of the revolution; American and French forces trapped Gen. Cornwallis and his troops in VA, forcing them to surrender (ended the war)

Treaty of Paris 

officially ended the revolution; U.S. is recognized as being independent

Articles of Confederation

America’s first constitution; lacked authority to tax or regulate trade; weak national government because the states were more powerful

Land Ordinance of 1785

system to survey and sell land in order to pay the national debt  (640 acres)

Northwest Ordinance 

(1787) set rules for governing the Northwest Territory; created the process for territories to become states and banned slavery there

Republican Motherhood 

idea that mothers needed to raise children with republican ideals

Shay’s Rebellion

uprising of poor farmers in Massachusetts that protested high taxes and debt

Constitutional Convention

meeting in Philadelphia where delegates from the states gathered to replace the Articles of Confederation with a stronger national government- wanted a chief executive, power to tax and an Independent Judiciary

Great Compromise

agreement at the Constitutional convention that created a two-house Congress: Senate and House of Rep. 

3/5 Compromise

stated that slave would count as 3/5 of a person to determine the states level of tax and representation

Federalists

led by Alexander Hamilton; wanted a strong central government 

Anti-federalists 

led by Thomas Jefferson; wanted state governments to be more powerful than the national government 

Bill of Rights

first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution; designed to protect individual liberties

Policy of Neutrality

George Washington’s foreign policy decision to keep the U.S. out of European wars (especially Britain and France)

Washington’s Farewell Address

Washington’s final message to the nation- warning against political parties and creating foreign allies

election of 1800

first time that political power was transferred peacefully between two different political parties