A National Identity: Continuity and Change (1754–1800)

Flashcards covering key historical events, political developments, and ideological shifts in American history from 1754 to 1800.

What were the primary causes of the French and Indian War (1754–1763)?

Disruption of the fur trade, disputes over land claims around the Great Lakes, expansion of growing British colonial populations into the interior, and threats to French–Indian trade networks and American Indian autonomy.

What was the major territorial outcome of the French and Indian War?

France was driven off the North American continent, ceding territory to Great Britain and Spain, while Britain significantly expanded its territorial holdings.

How did the French and Indian War impact Britain's relationship with its colonies?

Britain accumulated immense war debts, leading to imperial efforts to raise revenue and consolidate control, which created tensions that eventually led to colonial calls for independence.

What caused Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763 and what was its result?

Frustration over British policies and French abandonment caused American Indians to attempt a return to traditional ways and resist colonial encroachment. In response, Britain issued the Proclamation of 1763 to separate colonists and Indians.

What was the significance of the 1765 Stamp Act Revolts?

Colonists staged urban protests (some violent) against the tax, marking an end to salutary neglect and reflecting significant shifts in colonial political ideology.

Why did the Patriot cause succeed in the American Revolution (1776–1783)?

Success was achieved through colonial militias, the Continental Army, George Washington's military leadership, ideological commitment, resilience, and crucial aid from European allies like France.

What triggered Shays's Rebellion (1786–1787) and what was its impact?

Massachusetts farmers and former Revolutionary soldiers revolted against high state taxes. The rebellion convinced key national leaders that a stronger central government was necessary.

What caused the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794 and how was it resolved?

Western Pennsylvania distillers protested a federal whiskey tax by destroying a tax inspector's home. President Washington sent federal troops, disbanding the rebellion and proving the federal government could enforce policies and public order.

What were the terms and results of the 1795 Treaty of Greenville?

Following five years of war in the Northwest Territories, the United Indian Nations confederation was forced to cede much of Ohio and parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan to the United States.

What arguments and ideals energized the movement for American independence?

Calls for resistance were grounded in the rights of British subjects, individual rights, traditions of self-rule, and Enlightenment philosophies, expressed in documents like Thomas Paine's Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence.

What was the concept of "republican motherhood"?

An ideal emerging after the American Revolution that called on women to teach republican values within the family, giving women a new cultural and political importance.

What key provisions were included in the Northwest Ordinance?

It established a method for admitting new states to the Union, promoted public education, protected private property, and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.

How did Federalists overcome Anti-Federalist opposition to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

Federalists articulated their principles in the Federalist Papers (written primarily by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison) and promised to add a Bill of Rights enumerating individual rights.

Which two major political parties emerged in the 1790s and who led them?

The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, and the Democratic-Republican Party, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

What warnings did George Washington issue in his Farewell Address?

He encouraged national unity while cautioning against political factions and warning of the dangers of permanent foreign alliances.