American History Unit 2 Key Terms

French and Indian War

This conflict resulted in France losing its territory in America and led England to consider new ways to pay for their colonies in America

Albany Plan of Union

Though it failed, this represented the first time the colonies considered joining together for common defense

Shays’ Rebellion

Action by Massachusetts farmers in response to what they saw as unfair taxes, exposed weakness in Articles of Confederation

Proclamation of 1763

This order from King George III told the colonists not to settle past the Appalachian Mountains

Stamp Act

This direct tax on the colonists taxed most printed materials and led to numerous protests in the colonies 

Sons of Liberty

This group formed to protest the Stamp Act, organizing protests and harassing tax collectors

Nonimportation agreements

Signed by colonists, this led to a boycott of British goods in protest of the Stamp Act

Articles of Confederation

First written plan of government for the United States which was weak and replaced

Boston Massacre

In this event, British soldiers killed five colonists in Massachusetts as a result of tension created by the Townshend Acts

Committee of Correspondence

A type of group formed in the colonies to communicate with other colonies about British activities

Boston Tea Party

This colonial protest to the Tea Act led to Britain passing the Intolerable Acts 

Intolerable (Coercive) Acts

This series of laws from Britain responded to the Boston Tea Party, including laws that shut down the Boston port, expanding the Quartering Act, and further limiting the colonists’ rights

First Continental Congress

Meeting in which delegates from the colonies met and asked King George III to restore colonial rights and spoke against the Intolerable Acts

Lexington and Concord

The first armed conflict between colonial and British forces, considered the “shot heard around the world”

Olive Branch Petition

Last effort of the Second Continental Congress to reconcile with King George III, which he rejected

Second Continental Congress

Meeting which delegates from the colonies created the Continental Army and declared independence from Britain

Thomas Paine

Wrote “Common Sense,” a pamphlet that argued for independence from Britain

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence 

This document asserted that Britain had violated the natural rights of the colonists and concluded that the British government no longer had authority over the colonists

Loyalists

Colonists who sided with the British during the American Revolution

Valley Forge

Location where the Continental Army, under Washington, endured a harsh winter  but famously emerged stronger and more disciplined

Battle of Saratoga

Major turning point in the American Revolution that convinced France to help America

Battle of Yorktown

Last major battle of the American Revolution and victory for America

1893 Treaty of Paris

Ended the American Revolution with England recognizing the United States as a new nation

Republic

Form of government in which power resides with a body of citizens entitled to vote for elected officials who represent the voters and who must govern according to laws and a constitution