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French and Indian War
conflict between France and Britain (1754-1763) over territorial control in North America, ultimately won by the British, but leaving them heavily in debt
Parliamentary Acts
Laws passed by the British Parliament regulating colonial affairs and asserting British authority over the American colonies.
Stamp Act
1765 British law imposing a tax on most printed materials in the American colonies, leading to widespread protest and boycotts
Townshend Acts
Series of British laws (1767) imposing duties on imported goods in the American colonies, leading to increased tensions and protests
Boston Massacre
Incident in 1770 in which British soldiers killed five colonists during a confrontation in Boston, intensifying anti-British sentiment.
Sons of Liberty
Secret society formed to protest British policies and promote colonial rights and liberties, often using acts of resistance
Committees of Correspondence
Colonial communication networks established to coordinate resistance efforts against British policies and share information
Boston Tea Party
1773 protest in which colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act
First Continental Congress
Assembly of colonial delegates (1774) convened in response to the Intolerable Acts, advocating for colonial rights and imposing economic sanctions against Britain
Albany Congress
1754 meeting of colonial representatives to discuss mutual defense during the French-Indian War, resulting in the Albany Plan of Union.
Sugar Act
1764 British law imposing taxes on sugar and other imported goods, contributing to colonial discontent and protests
Samuel Adams
Colonial leader and founding member of the Sons of Liberty, played a key role in organizing opposition to British policies
Stamp Act Congress
1765 meeting of colonial delegates to protest the Stamp Act and assert colonial rights, marking the first unified response to British taxation
Quartering Act
British law (1765) requiring colonists to provide housing and provisions for British soldiers stationed in America
Declaratory Act
1766 British law asserting Parliament's authority to pass laws binding on the American colonies "in all cases whatsoever."
Tea Act
1773 British law granting the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, leading to the Boston Tea Party.
Intolerable Acts
Series of punitive laws (1774) passed by the British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party, aimed at asserting British authority in Massachusetts.
Declaration of Rights and Grievances
1774 document issued by the First Continental Congress outlining colonial grievances against British policies and asserting colonial rights
Second Continental Congress
Assembly of colonial representatives (1775-1781) that declared independence, drafted the Articles of Confederation, and conducted the Revolutionary War
Common Sense
Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 advocating for American independence and republican government, influencing public opinion.
Battle of Yorktown
1781 decisive battle of the Revolutionary War, resulting in the surrender of British forces under General Cornwallis to American and French troops.
Treaty of Paris
1783 treaty ending the Revolutionary War, in which Britain recognized American independence and ceded territory to the United States
Articles of Confederation
First constitution of the United States (1781-1789), establishing a weak central government with limited powers.
Battle of Lexington and Concord
1775 opening engagements of the Revolutionary War, where colonial militia confronted British troops, marking the beginning of armed conflict
Olive Branch Petition
1775 colonial peace proposal to King George III, expressing loyalty and seeking reconciliation, rejected by the British.
Thomas Paine
English-American political activist and author of "Common Sense," advocating for American independence and republican government
Loyalist
American colonists who remained loyal to the British crown during the Revolutionary War, often facing persecution and exile.
Patriot
American colonists who supported independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War, advocating for colonial rights and liberties.
Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father and American statesman, diplomat, scientist, and inventor, played a key role in securing French support during the Revolutionary War.
John Adams
Founding Father and second President of the United States, played a key role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and negotiating the Treaty of Paris
Thomas Jefferson
Founding Father and third President of the United States, principal author of the Declaration of Independence
George Washington
Founding Father, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and first President of the United States
Alexander Hamilton
Founding Father, American statesman, and first Secretary of the Treasury, advocated for a strong central government and financial system.
Enlightenment
Intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individualism, influencing American political thought and the founding principles of the United States
Declaration of Independence
1776 document declaring American independence from British rule, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress
Deborah Sampson
Revolutionary War soldier who disguised herself as a man to serve in the Continental Army.
Abigail Adams
Wife of John Adams and advocate for women's rights and education, known for her correspondence advocating for women's rights
Valley Forge
Winter encampment (1777-1778) of the Continental Army in Pennsylvania, marked by harsh conditions and suffering but also training and resilience.
Baron von Steuben
Prussian military officer who trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge, improving discipline and effectiveness
Northwest Ordinance
1787 law establishing a process for admitting new states to the Union and prohibiting slavery in the Northwest Territory.
Shays' Rebellion
1786-1787 uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting high taxes and debt, highlighting weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and leading to calls for a stronger central government.
Virginia Plan
Proposal at the Constitutional Convention calling for a strong central government with proportional representation in the legislature
New Jersey Plan
Proposal at the Constitutional Convention calling for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state
Great Compromise
1787 agreement at the Constitutional Convention creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.
Electoral College
System established by the Constitution for electing the President, involving electors chosen by each state, with the number of electors based on the state's representation in Congress.
Three-Fifths Compromise
1787 agreement counting three-fifths of the slave population for representation and taxation purposes, addressing the issue of slave representation in Congress.
Federalists
Advocates for ratification of the Constitution and supporters of a strong central government, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
Democratic-Republicans
Political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison advocating for states' rights and a strict interpretation of the Constitution
Alien and Sedition Acts
Series of laws passed in 1798 restricting immigration and limiting criticism of the government, aimed at suppressing dissent against Federalist policies
Bill of Rights
First ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights and liberties, added to appease Anti-Federalist concerns
First Bank of the United States
Proposal by Alexander Hamilton for a national bank to manage government finances and stimulate the economy, leading to the establishment of the First Bank of the United States in 1791. The bank was modeled after the Bank of England and would serve as a central repository for federal funds, issue currency, and provide loans to the government and private businesses.
Whiskey Rebellion
1794 uprising in western Pennsylvania in response to a federal excise tax on whiskey, suppressed by President Washington's militia, demonstrating the power of the new federal government to enforce its laws.
Washington's Farewell Address
1796 address by President George Washington, advising against permanent foreign alliances and political factions, emphasizing national unity and the importance of the Constitution.
Proclamation of 1763
British decree prohibiting colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, issued after the French-Indian War to avoid conflicts with Native Americans.
Republican Motherhood
Ideology prevalent in the late 18th and early 19th centuries emphasizing the role of women in instilling republican values in their children and contributing to the moral fabric of the nation.
Revolution of 1800:
Peaceful transfer of power from the Federalist Party to the Democratic-Republican Party in the presidential election of 1800, marking the first transfer of power between political parties in the United States.