APUSH unit 3

French & Indian War

(1754-1763) 7 Years War between Britain and France in North America, resulting in British dominance in the region and significant debt leading to colonial taxation. It involved Native American alliances on both sides and resulted in the Treaty of Paris (1763), which expanded British territory but increased tensions with American colonists due to subsequent taxation efforts.

Impact: Taxation efforts, including the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts, fueled discontent among colonists and contributed to revolutionary sentiments.

Albany Plan of Union

(1754) First proposal to unify the colonies during the French & Indian War, suggested by Benjamin Franklin. It aimed to create a centralized government for the colonies for defense against Native American threats and improve colonial relations but it met resistance.

Colonial: feared a Grand Council would erode their power & autonomy.

British: feared it would reduce their authority in the colonies.

Importance: early attempt to unify the disparate colonies for collective defense and governance. It highlighted the need for cooperation among the colonies in the face of external threats.

Impact: rejected, but set a precedent for future unification efforts. It contributed to the growing sentiment for independence and cooperation among the colonies, influencing later movements leading up to the American Revolution.

Salutary Neglect

A policy of avoidance of strict enforcement of parliamentary laws, allowing colonial autonomy in exchange for economic loyalty to Britain.

Importance: Allowed colonies to benefit from self-governance while still being economically tied to Britain. Helped cultivate the idea of American self-determination.

Impact: Contributed to the eventual desire for independence among the American colonies. Led to resist British taxation and control. This resentment laid the groundwork for revolutionary sentiments

Navigation Acts

(17th & 18th centuries) A series of laws designed to restrict colonial trade to England and its colonies, ensuring that the economic benefits of trade flowed back to 'mother country' Britain.

Importance: Aimed to control colonial trade and create economic advantages for Britain.

Impact: Intensified colonial resentment and contributed to the revolutionary sentiment leading to the American Revolution.

Constitutional Convention

(1787) a gathering in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, aimed at addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and drafting the United States Constitution.

Importance: led to significant debates over federal versus state power and representation, resulting in the establishment of a stronger national government.

Impact: creation of the Constitution, which serves as the foundation of American law and government.

Continental Congress

(1774-1789) a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that acted as the national government during the American Revolution.

Importance: coordinating the colonial resistance against British rule and led to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

Impact: uniting the colonies against Britain, fostering a sense of American identity, and laying the groundwork for the future Constitution and governance of the United States.

Battle of Fort Necessity

(1754) The first military engagement of the French & Indian War where British colonial forces, led by George Washington, established Fort Necessity in the Ohio Valley. The battle ended in a decisive defeat for Washington and his troops against French forces, forcing their surrender and highlighting the challenges of colonial military operations.

Importance: start of open hostilities between Britain and France in North America. It underscored the military inadequacies of the colonial forces and demonstrated the need for improved coordination and strategy among the colonies in the face of French aggression.

Impact: escalation of the French & Indian War. It served as a crucial learning experience for Washington and set in motion a series of military campaigns that would eventually lead to British dominance in North America.

George Washington

1st President of the United States, commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and a key leader at the Constitutional Convention. He is often referred to as the "Father of His Country" for his pivotal role in founding the nation, Founding Father. On U.S. dollar bill and the quarter.

Washingoton’s Farewelll Address

(1796) message to the American people as he retired after two terms as President. It emphasized national unity, warned against the dangers of political factions and foreign entanglements, and stressed the importance of maintaining a neutral foreign policy.

Importance: lasting influence on American politics and foreign policy, shaping debates about neutrality, partisanship, and the role of the United States in the world.

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

(December 1777-June 1778) Continental Army endured extreme hardship due to a lack of supplies, inadequate housing, and harsh weather conditions and was transformed into a more disciplined and effective fighting force under the leadership of George Washington

Vital for the American Revolution as the army gained experience, training, and confidence, setting the stage for future victories.

Baron von Steuben, a Prussian military officer, played a crucial role in training the soldiers, introducing rigorous drills and improving their military skills. 

Battle of Yorktown

(1781) ¨Sieige of Yorktown” The final major battle of the American Revolutionary War, Yorktown, Virginia, where British General Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces, leading to the end of British rule in the colonies.

Led to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, officially recognizing American independence.

George Washington's leadership at Yorktown solidified his reputation as a military commander and contributed to his later election as the first president of the United States. 

Baron von Steuben

Prussian military officer who trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge, improving their discipline and effectiveness.

Arrived in America in 1778 and was appointed by George Washington as the Continental Army's acting inspector general. 

Blue Book: developed and published "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States," a drill manual that became the standard for American army training for decades.

Key role in the British surrender in the Battle of Yorktown.

Charles Cornwallis

British general who commanded forces during the American Revolutionary War and ultimately surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown, leading to the conclusion of the war.

Significant role in the American Revolution and his subsequent governorship of India and Ireland, establishing and solidifying British rule in India and Ireland.

Battle of Brandywine

(1777) A major battle fought in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania during the American Revolutionary War leading to the capture of Philadelphia by British, where British forces under General Howe defeated the Continental Army led by George Washington, resulting in a retreat to Germantown.

Contributed to France's decision to recognize the United States and formally ally with the American colonists.

The capture of Philadelphia was not a decisive victory for the British, and the war continued for several more years, ultimately ending in American independence.

Germantown, Pennsylvania

(1777) Site of the Battle of Brandywine during the American Revolutionary War where George Washington's forces engaged British troops, culminating in an American retreat.

Early anti-slavery stance, a pivotal moment in the development of abolitionist thought.

(1688) 4 Quakers established Germantown and issued a petition against slavery, arguing that the Golden Rule was a moral basis for abolishing slavery and advocating for universal human rights. This early act of opposition, even though some Quakers later owned slaves, demonstrates the Quakers' commitment to social justice and their early influence on the abolition movement.

Edmund Braddock

British general during the French and Indian War, known for his leadership in the disastrous expedition against Fort Duquesne in 1755. His defeat marked a significant turning point in the war, leading to increased British military focus in North America.

His strategies and European warfare were critiqued for lack of innovation, and his failure to adapt to guerrilla warfare contributed to significant losses for British forces.

Battle of the Monongahela

(July 9, 1755) Braddock, Pennsylvania major defeat for British forces led by General Edward Braddock against French and Native American forces, efforts to gain control of the Ohio River Valley. The battle highlighted the British army's inexperience in fighting in North American terrain and the effectiveness of French and Native American tactics.

1 of the most consequential battles in North America before the Revolutionary War. 

Contributed to the Proclamation of 1763, which angered many colonists by restricting westward expansion. 

General Braddock: Died from his wounds a few days after the battle.

George Washington: Served as a field officer in Braddock's army and played a significant role in the aftermath of the battle.

Daniel Boone: Was also present at the battle, though he remained with the wagon train and did not actively participate.

Proclamation of 1763

A declaration by the British Crown that prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, aiming to stabilize relations with Native Americans and avoid further conflicts following the French and Indian War. It angered many colonists seeking new land and contributed to rising tensions leading to the American Revolution.

The proclamation was also intended to protect the existing fur trade in the trans-Appalachian region, which was a lucrative business for British merchants. 

Many colonists ignored the Proclamation and continued to move west, leading to increased tensions with Native Americans and further resentment towards British authority. British tyranny and anti-British sentiment

Daniel Boone

An American frontiersman and explorer, renowned for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky. Boone played a pivotal role in westward expansion, navigating through Native American territories, and is often considered one of the first folk heroes of American frontier life.

His adventures contributed to westward migration, and he helped establish the Wilderness Road, which facilitated westward migration and significantly impacted the development of states like Kentucky and Tennessee.