HIST 1301

British National Debt in 1763

Primarily caused by the French and Indian War and the continued British military presence in the American colonies.

Sugar Act of 1764

Main purpose was to raise taxes on molasses and strengthen enforcement of smuggling laws.

Stamp Act

Intended to raise revenue to support British troops and gain control over colonies, aimed to limit colonial self-governance.

Sons of Liberty

Responsible for acts of protest, including the Stamp Act Congress and public displays against British taxation.

Townshend Acts

Goals included raising taxes, asserting British control over colonies, but not promoting greater colonial unity.

Boston Massacre

An event that led to increased colonial unity against British policies, fueled by perceived overreach of British power.

Tea Act of 1773

Intended to help revive the struggling East India Company and raise revenue, while punishing colonial boycotts.

Committees of Correspondence

Significance included facilitating communication and coordination among colonies in resistance efforts.

First Continental Congress

Decided to boycott British goods and prepare for potential military action against British rule.

Dunmore’s Proclamation

Resulted in enslaved people joining British forces, increased commitment among Patriots to independence.

Republic

A form of government without a hereditary ruling class, led by representatives chosen through popular sovereignty.

Common Sense

Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet advocating for American independence, praised for its clarity and persuasive arguments.

British Operations Base

New York served as the main base for British military operations throughout most of the American Revolutionary War.

Battle of Saratoga

Considered the turning point of the war, leading to increased French support for the American cause.

Hessians

German soldiers hired by Great Britain to suppress the American rebellion.

George Washington's Tactics

Utilized strategies that emphasized flexibility and surprise to secure victories against British forces.

Southern Strategy

British plan focused on gaining loyalist support in Southern colonies; contributed to mixed results.

Patriots vs. Loyalists

American colonists were divided among those favoring independence, loyalty to the British crown, and neutrality.

Women during the Revolution

Performed various roles including maintaining homesteads and supporting military efforts; did not hold government offices.

Post-Revolutionary Government

American revolutionaries established a republican form of government following independence.

Franklin’s Virtues

Thirteen virtues promoted by Benjamin Franklin; included qualities like sincerity and temperance, but not education.

Republicanism Philosophy

Defined by the principle of popular sovereignty and governance without a monarchy.

Challenging Women's Status

Figures like Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren actively promoted women's rights and challenges to societal norms.

Separation of Church and State

Virginia had the clearest separation of church and state among the early American colonies.

Race and Slavery Ideas

Thomas Jefferson’s views on race reflected contradictions between his advocacy for liberty and the practice of slavery.

Articles of Confederation Powers

The national Confederation Congress lacked the power to tax and enforce treaties effectively.

Shays’ Rebellion Causes

Rooted in economic distress and lack of representation, reflecting wider issues of governance post-Revolution.

Connecticut Compromise

Resolved representation issues during the Constitutional Convention, establishing a bicameral legislature.

U.S. Constitution Ratification

Ratified by each state individually at special conventions rather than at a singular event.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution establishing fundamental rights; does not guarantee the right to education.

Hamilton's Financial Policies

Criticized for favoring speculators while disadvantaging poor veterans, particularly through public credit and taxation.

Federalist vs. Democratic-Republican Visions

Fundamental differences centered on views of government power, individual rights, and economic policy.

Jay’s Treaty of 1794

Controversial treaty addressing unresolved issues from the Revolutionary War, increasing partisan divisions.

Whiskey Rebellion Complaint

Farmers protested the tax on whiskey, reflecting wider grievances about political representation.

French Revolution Influence

Helped shape American political dynamics and the perception of internal vs. external challenges to the republic.

Adams’s Presidency Issue

Marked by conflicts with France and internal divisions within the Federalist Party.

Partisan Acrimony Examples

Included numerous political conflicts such as the jailing of Matthew Lyon and the XYZ Affair.

Louisiana Purchase Importance

Significantly expanded U.S. territory and control over key trade routes, notably the port of New Orleans.

Election of Thomas Jefferson

Referred to as the

Boston Massacre

A confrontation on March 5, 1770, resulting in the deaths of five people, including Crispus Attucks.

Coercive Acts

Four acts passed to punish Massachusetts for destroying tea and refusing to pay for damages.

Committees of Correspondence

Colonial shadow governments that coordinated resistance against the British.

Daughters of Liberty

Well-born British colonial women who led a non-importation movement against British goods.

Direct tax

A tax that consumers pay directly.

Indirect tax

A tax imposed on businesses rather than consumers.

Intolerable Acts

The name given by American Patriots to the Coercive Acts and the Quebec Act.

Loyalists

Colonists loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution.

Massachusetts Circular

A letter that articulated the unconstitutionality of taxation without representation.

No taxation without representation

The principle that colonists needed representation in Parliament to be taxed.

Non-importation movement

A widespread colonial boycott of British goods.

Proclamation Line

A boundary along the Appalachian Mountains preventing British colonists from settling west.

Sons of Liberty

Artisans and merchants who opposed the Stamp Act and fought for colonial rights.

Suffolk Resolves

A plan of resistance to the Intolerable Acts from Massachusetts.

Vice-admiralty courts

British courts without juries that dealt with maritime disputes.

Confiscation acts

Acts allowing state governments to seize Loyalist properties.

Continental currency

Paper currency printed by the Continental government to finance the Revolution.

Dunmore’s Proclamation

A decree offering freedom to enslaved or indentured servants who fought for the British.

Hessians

German mercenaries hired by Great Britain during the American Revolution.

Mecklenburg Resolves

North Carolina’s declaration of rebellion against Great Britain.

Minutemen

Colonial militias ready to fight at a minute's notice.

Popular sovereignty

The principle allowing citizens to decide issues by majority rule.

Republicanism

A political philosophy advocating for governance by elected representatives.

Thirteen colonies

The British colonies in North America that declared independence in 1776.

Yorktown

The location of British General Cornwallis's surrender to American forces.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the 1787 Constitution who favored stronger state governments.

Bicameral

Having two legislative houses.

Checks and balances

A system ensuring no one branch of government becomes too powerful.

Connecticut Compromise

A proposal for a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the upper house.

Conservative Whigs

The elite revolutionary class advocating for limited political participation.

Coverture

The legal status of married women, indicating dependence on their husbands.

Democracy

A government system in which the majority rule prevails.

Electoral College

The body that elects the President, based on state representatives.

Federalists

Supporters of the 1787 Constitution and a strong central government.

Majority rule

The principle that the majority should make binding decisions.

Manumission

The act of releasing an enslaved person by their owner.

Monarchy

A government headed by a monarch.

Proportional representation

A representation system favoring more populous states.

Radical Whigs

Revolutionaries advocating for broader political participation.

Three-fifths compromise

An agreement counting three out of every five enslaved persons for representation.

Unicameral

Having a single legislative house.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing individual rights.

Citizen Genêt affair

The controversy over the French representative attempting to involve the U.S. in France’s war.

Democratic-Republicans

Advocates of limited government opposing Federalist policies.

Impressment

The practice of capturing sailors for military service.

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of the Louisiana territory from France in 1803.

Marbury v. Madison

The landmark case establishing the Supreme Court's power of judicial review.

Revolution of 1800

The peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans.

The Terror

A violent period during the French Revolution from 1793 to 1794.

XYZ affair

The French attempt to extract a bribe from the United States during the Quasi-War.