NW Period 3 Flashcards: 1754-1800, Revolutionary

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.