APUSH (Chapter 7-10)

Mercantilism

When a nation attempts to sell more than they buy to increase income.

Navigation Acts

An act created by Britain that stated that colonists can only sell products to Britain and can only transport goods on British ships. This restricted foreign ships from trading with colonists, therefore, resulting in the smuggling of goods by colonists.

Salutary Neglect

The fact that the British did not really enforce any of the laws they had created. It was not in print nor established. (Laws Britain imposed on the colonists that weren't legally enforced: Sugar Act, Stamp Act and Quartering Act.)

Writs of Assistance

Branching off of the response of the colonists to the Navigation acts, British passed this new law that stated that there can be any search done on a colonial home or business without a warrant to check for illegal trade.

Sugar Act

A tax imposed by the British on wine, sugar, coffee, timber, iron, and molasses. This act was mostly created to decrease colonist smuggling by using the money received from the taxes to send British troops over to America to enforce the Navigation Acts. (1764)

Stamp Act

An act imposed by the British that was designed to help pay warfare debt caused by the French and India War. This act taxed diplomas, newspapers, calendars, dice, playing cards, etc. (1765)

Quartering Act

An act imposed by the British that stated that if British troops sent to the New World, thanks to the Sugar Act, were to need food or a place to stay, the colonists MUST provide this for them. (1765)

Stamp Act Congress

A congress made up of 9/13 of the colonies formed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives to meet up in New York and discuss how to get relief from parliament. They wrote a letter asking for this relief and they also brought up how they were imposed "taxation without representation." The British responded to this by purging the Stamp Act.

Declaratory Act

However, just after the Stamp Act was repealed, the British enforced this new law stating that if you live in the colonies, you now have to follow British law. This cleansed the colonies of Salutary Neglect.

Townshend Act

This Act was composed of five acts in total. It mostly taxed imported goods, especially tea. (1767)

Boston Massacre

Because of the Townshend Acts, a street fight occurred on March 5, 1770, between a "patriot" mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers, leading to the death of 5 colonists known as the Boston Massacre.

Thomas Preston

Commanding officer of the troops involved in the Boston Massacre.

Crispus Attucks

Former black slave who was also the first colonist shot in the Boston Massacre.

John Adams (Not important)

Defended the two British officers who were accused of shooting and killing five of the colonists without being told to by Thomas Preston. The officers were released but branded on the hand for their acts.

The Gaspee Incident

This incident involved an English ship (The Gaspee) patrolling the coast of Rhode Island to prevent other ships (French ships, Spanish ships, etc.) from docking into the colonies. One night, the colonists decided to lead the Gaspee into shallow water by tricking them into thinking the colonists' boat was a foreign boat. Once the Gaspee was stuck, the colonists climbed aboard and kidnapped the troops and burned the Gaspee to the ground.

Committees of Correspondence

This group of like minded people was formed as a result of the Boston Massacre. It's main purpose was to gather people from each colony to discuss what was happening in the colonies at the time.

Sam Adams

Because the British had practically given a monopoly to the East India Company for tea sold to the colonies, Sam Adams initiated a rebellious group along with John Hancock called the "Sons of Liberty" who dumped all shipments of tea into the harbor, refusing to buy it. This was also known as the Boston Tea Party. (December 1773.)

The Coercive/ Intolerable Acts

These acts were established in response from King George III to the Boston Tea Party. These were the acts:

BOSTON PORT ACT- Stated that the Boston Port will be closed until the tea that was thrown into the harbor is paid for.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE- Any British official accused of a crime in the colonies will be tried in Boston.

QUARTERING ACT- (Look at card 7)

MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNMENT ACT- Power given to the colonists in the Massachusetts government was reduced.

First Continental Congress

This group was formed as a response from the colonists to the Coercive/Intolerable Acts. This group consisted of all colonies except Georgia (Georgia still needed British enforcement to help with their Native American "problem") to discuss what they should do to solve their problems without fighting the British.

Payton Randolph

Randolph basically ran the First Continental Congress. He had three jobs:

1.) Come up with something to oppose intolerable acts.

2.) Create an association to boycott British goods.

3.) Come up with 10 rights that the colonists should have.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: The First Continental Congress was created to settle their grievances with the British WITHOUT conflict. They wanted to prove that they were still loyal to the British. THEY WERE NOT SEEKING INDEPENDENCE YET.

Lexington and Concord

Ever heard of the term "a shot heard from around the world"? Welcome to its derivation! This was where the first shots were fired between sneaky colonists and "red coats" (they were actually called "regulars.") The backstory: British troops were going to kidnap Sam Adams and John Hancock in Lexington the middle of the night. Minutemen (men that had to be ready to fight in under a minute) began fighting the British in Lexington. As the British began moving to Concord for gunpowder, Paul Revere had already warned the colonists by riding into town yelling "The regulars are coming!" Upon the troops' arrival, they were ambushed by colonists hiding in bushes and trees.

Second Continental Congress

The congress was made to:

1.) Still express grievances to King George III.

2.) Appoint a leader of the army.

Olive Branch Petition

This petition was written by John Dickinson (Originally drafted by Thomas Jefferson but his version was a little "too mean" to send to the King) and adopted by the Second Continental Congress. It basically sucked up to King George the III by addressing him as their "most gracious sovereign" Keep in mind, this was their last attempt at averting war. They wanted their needs met without going to battle, but the King wasn't so "gracious" about it.

The Battle of Bunker Hill

This was the first major battle of the American Revolution.

Hessians

German soldiers hired by King George III to help British Troops with the colonists.

Thomas Paine

Wrote "Common Sense." This opened the eyes of many who couldn't see British government for what it really was. It compared an ideal government to the one the British imposed. This sparked the American Revolution along with many other contributions to colonist rebellion.

Richard Henry Lee (Not Important)

The first person to bring up the idea of Independence. (June 7th, 1776)

Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson, this document composed of four sections:

1.) The Preamble- Explained the purpose of the declaration.

2.) Political Ideas- "Natural Rights" - rights that belong to people just because they're people. "Social Contract" - The idea that you have to give up certain rights in order for everyone to be safe. (Example: You can't go 80 mph in a school zone.)

3.) Accusing the King of his wrongdoing- (Longest Portion) -- Yes, this was written by Thomas Jefferson, everyone.

4.) Declares Independence-

This Document basically declared independence for the colonies, first discussed July 2nd, 1776, and established July 4th, 1776.

Patriots

Also known as "whigs," this group was the largest group and was mostly in the Northeastern part of the New World.

Loyalists

Also known as "tories," these colonists were New England born backstabbers who worshiped the British and fought for them in some cases. This group made up 20% of the colonists and practically all of the slaves since the British loved to bribe the slaves with freedom if they were loyal to them. However, they were harmed by colonists on many occasions, so as a result, many moved north to Canada.

Trenton

This was a small victory but was a morale boost for the colonists. Have you ever seen the infamous painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware? Well, this is where it originated. However, the painting is full of inaccuracies such as the fact that it was on Christmas eve night when George Washington crossed the Delaware and the painting displays daylight. I digress. The surprise attack was on the British which was, in the end, successful. The British commanding officer at the time was too busy partying to read the warning their spy had given them stating that George Washington was on his way. And, in the end, he was killed himself along with his men.

The Battle of Saratoga

BIGGEST AMERICAN VICTORY Background: British troops were planning to attack New York and take over. There were three groups of British troops: A group sent from Canada down the Hudson River, a group being sent down from Ontario, and a third group being sent up from the South. Now, these three groups of British troops were meeting at the same place to tackle New York. However, George Washington was a problem. At the time, he was in New Jersey so the British troops had the idea that if they attacked Philadelphia, George Washington would come in to help defend. This would send Washington further away from New York, making in less likely for him to come in time and defend it's ground. What the troops didn't know was that a man by the name of Horatio Gates already had high ground in New York and would completely slaughter them, which is essentially what he and his men did. The British retreat down to the South where they take over Georgia (of course) and South Carolina.

The Battle of King Mountain

Oh, this is a great battle. This battle was held on King Mountain in North Carolina. The entire British force in this battle was made up of 1000 loyalists and ONE that was actually born in Britain. This man goes by the name of Patrick Ferguson. He's very dedicated to winning this fight. He even stated, "Bring hell or high water, we are not leaving this mountain until we win." In fact, he's so dedicated that he decides to not use guns in this fight. "Only swords and fists." OH BOY. What he didn't know was that the colonists had rifles. Yes, RIFLES, ladies and gentlemen. The colonists absolutely SLAUGHTERED the loyalists. Ferguson was the last man standing so he acts like he's going to surrender, right? He walks up, shakes a colonists hand and then KNIFES HIM IN THE SIDE. What a guy. I highly recommend that you look at Ferguson's grave sight. It has rocks piled high above it to "keep him in the mountain."

The battle of Cowpens

Essentially a battle held in a cowpen. I am not kidding. It's a small victory, but it was a turning point of the Revolutionary War for the colonists in the South. This victory was led by Nathanael Greene. (The colonists did win this battle.)

The Battle of Yorktown

GEORGE WASHINGTON RECAPTURES NEW YORK EVERYONE. THAT'S RIGHT. YES. Now this happens during other things as well. A general, General Cornwallis, is holding a fort in New York, right? However, you got the French guarding the coasts of soon to be "America." Because of this, the British ships can't get supplies to the troops in the colonies. This leaves Cornwallis low on supplies, men, and hope. Thanks to French spy, Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington gets news of Cornwallis's fort and goes completely savage on the place, kidnapping Cornwallis and 2000 of his troops.

Battle of Chesapeake

FRENCH AND BRITISH SHIPS GO HAM ON EACH OTHER. French ships are guarding the coast lines (because who doesn't hate Britain at this point) and British ships aren't too happy considering they have troops in the colonies who need supplies. This turns into ONE HUGE GAME OF BATTLESHIP MY FRIENDS.

Treaty of Paris

The British finally caved in. This treaty signed in 1783 officially ended the revolutionary war.

State Constitution

The colonies finally got their independence, so, now what? Well, they were asking themselves the same question. Most of the government's power was at a state level, each issued a (vocabulary word) which contained a bill of rights for that state. Each state voted for local government and I'm gonna tell you, government was almost as weak as my ability to be active.

The Articles of Confederation

This was actually the first effort at a new form of government. Let me give you some examples of what this thing did: 1.) It does not give the right to tax the people, only the states can tax their people to pay for the war debt. 2.) It introduced the Executive Branch which can be a good or bad thing. Depends on who you're talking to. 3.) It had no authority over money or trade considering each state had their own form of currency. 4.) The only thing it really did that was "powerful" was solve state disputes. That's it, my friends. (1777)

Land Ordinance of 1785

Probably the only good thing that came out of The Articles of Confederation. In what is now Southeast Ohio, they formed 36 townships. Each township was one square mile a piece. Also, every 16th township was going to be reserved for a school. This influenced people to start moving west because WHO DOESN'T LOVE AN ORGANIZED COMMUNITY?

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Also one of the only good things that came out of the Articles of Confederation. This thing established a system of government for these new places in the west.

Shays's Rebellion