Period 3

Samuel Adams

was a prominent American revolutionary leader and a key figure in organizing opposition to British taxation, including the Stamp Act. Part of the Sons of Liberty

Townshend Acts

were a series of British laws passed in 1767 that imposed taxes on imported goods such as tea, glass, paper, and paint, leading to increased colonial protests

Boston Massacre

was a deadly confrontation in 1770 between British soldiers and Boston colonists, resulting in the deaths of five colonists and fueling anti-British sentiments.

Committees of Correspondence

one of the ways colonists communicated about threats to American liberties

Boston Tea Party

a group of colonists who disguised themselves as Native Americans and 18,000 pounds of British tea over board in retaliation of the Tea Act

French and Indian War

1754-1763. Britain and France fight for North America; Britain wins but gains massive debt. Colonists gain military experience; tensions between Britain and colonies increase

Treaty of Paris Proclamation Line

1763. Britain gains Canada and land east of the Mississippi River.

Colonists were forbidden to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Sugar Act - Stamp Act

1764-65. First major tax aimed at raising revenue from colonies. First direct tax on printed materials; sparks "No taxation without representation."

Stamp Act Congress

1765. Colonies unite to protest British taxation.

Intolerable Acts and 1st Continental Congress

1774. Punishes Massachusetts; unites the colonies in coordinated resistance

Battles of Lexington & Concord & 2nd Continental Congress

1775. Revolutionary War begins & colonists organize a military under Washington

Common Sense

Written by Thomas Paine in 1775 to encourage independence within the colonies

Declaration of Independence

1776. Declares independence

Battle of Saratoga

1777. Turning point in war, French on the US side.

Articles of Confederation

1777. While ratified in 1781, was our first national government but was weak overall

Battle of Yorktown

1781. British surrender

Treaty of Paris

1783. British accepts US independence

Shay’s Rebellion

1787. “farmers protest” Highlights how weak Articles of Confederation are

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Establishes process for admitting new states & ban on slavery in the nw

Constitutional Convention (ratified 1788)

great compromise, 3/5 compromise

Great Compromise

established a bicameral idea of government with the Senate and the house of representatives

3/5ths Compromise

3/5ths of a states slaves would be counted towards the population because of debate from southern and northern delegates regarding northern states receiving more representatives

Federalism

system of government that divides power between a central national government and state govs.

Anti-federalists

opposed strong central government thus opposing the constitution. Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee. Typically large states with strong economies. Eventually became the Democratic-Republican Party

Federalists

supported the ratification of the Constitution. George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton. Typically those with weaker economies

Patriots

supporters of independence

loyalists

opposed independence and stayed loyal to the crown

When was the Bill of Rights ratified?

1791

Alien and Sedition Acts

Restrict immigration and limit criticism of the federal government

How many people are in the Senate?

100

How many people are in the House of Representatives?

435

What is the Electoral College?

each state chooses the number of senators and representatives the state has in Congress who would cast ballots for the candidates

Checks Legislative Branch (Congress) has on the Judicial Branch

impeach supreme court justices, reject appointments to the Supreme Court, propose constitutional amendments to overrule judicial decisions

What check does the Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) have on the Legislative Branch (Congress)?

may declare laws unconstitutional

What checks does the Judicial Branch (SUpreme Court) have on the Executive Branch (President)?

may declare executive actions unconstitutional

What checks does the Executive Branch have on the Judicial Branch?

appoints judges

What checks does the Executive Branch have on the Legislative Branch?

may adjourn Congress in certain situations, may veto bills

What checks does the Legislative Branch have on the Executive Branch?

may reject treaties, withhold funding for presidential initiatives, may impeach a president, may override a veto

Successes of the Articles of Confederation

winning the revolutionary war, treaty of Paris, northwest ordinance of 1783,

Failures of the Articles of Confederation

inability to regulate commerce, no common currency, no power to tax, shay’s rebellion