apush period 3

Abigail Adams

(1744-1818) The 2nd first lady. We have learned about the fight for independence from her letters that she wrote to John Adams.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the 1787 Constitution, they cast the document as antidemocratic, objected to subordination of the states to the central government, and feared loss of individual liberties without a bill of rights.

Articles of Confederation

(1781) First American constitution; created a loose confederation with a weak Congress that could not regulate commerce or collect taxes; replaced in 1789.

Bill of Rights

(1791) First ten amendments to the Constitution; secured individual rights and reserved powers to the states.

Declaration of Independence

(July 4, 1776) Statement drafted by Jefferson declaring U.S. independence; allowed foreign aid and inspired later revolutions.

Democratic-Republicans

1790s party favoring strict constitutional interpretation, small government, and a nation of independent farmers; led by Madison and Jefferson.

Washington's Farewell Address

(1796) Warned against permanent alliances and advised temporary alliances only in exceptional circumstances.

Federalism

System dividing power between national and state governments, each enforcing its own laws and needing mutual consent for changes.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution; favored strong national government with checks and balances to protect liberties.

French and Indian War

(1754–1763) War between Britain and France in North America; resulted in French removal from continent and contributed to the Seven Years’ War.

Intolerable Acts

(1774) Laws punishing Boston after the Tea Party; closed Boston Port, altered the charter, expanded Quartering Act; led to First Continental Congress.

Jay's Treaty

(1794) Agreement with Britain: they would leave U.S. outposts and pay damages for seized ships; U.S. agreed to pay pre-Revolution debts and follow Britain’s trade rules with France.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

(1798–1799) Secretly written by Jefferson and Madison; argued states could judge constitutionality of federal laws and nullify them.

Loyalists

Colonists loyal to Britain during the Revolution; also called "Tories."

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Organized Northwest Territories; created path to statehood and prohibited slavery in the region.

Pontiac's Rebellion

(1763) Violent Native uprising led by Pontiac; crushed by British using extreme tactics including smallpox blankets.

Proclamation of 1763

British law forbidding settlement west of Appalachians; angered colonists.

Republicanism

Political theory of representative government based on popular sovereignty and civic virtue; alternative to monarchy.

Republican wife and mother

Post-Revolution ideal stressing women’s role in raising virtuous, republican-minded families.

Separation of powers

Constitutional system dividing authority among legislative, executive, and judicial branches; basis for checks and balances.

Shay's Rebellion

(1786) Armed revolt by Massachusetts farmers demanding lower taxes and stopping foreclosures; fueled fears of mob rule.

Sons of Liberty

Patriotic group opposing the Stamp Act and enforcing boycotts.

Stamp Act

(1765) Tax on paper goods; repealed after protests; sparked “no taxation without representation.”

U.S. Constitution

(1787–1788) Framework of U.S. government replacing Articles of Confederation.

Salutary Neglect

Long-term British policy of lax enforcement of colonial taxes and trade laws.

Albany Plan of the Union

(1754) Franklin’s plan to unite colonies for defense and trade; rejected by colonies and Crown.

Benjamin Franklin

Influential printer, inventor, diplomat; helped secure French support during Revolution.

William Pitt

British leader during French and Indian War; strengthened military efforts leading to British victory.

King George III

British king who dissolved colonial governments, imposed taxes, and rejected Olive Branch Petition.

Sugar Act

(1764) British tax on sugar, coffee, wine, molasses; colonists smuggled to avoid it.

Patrick Henry

Revolutionary leader, famous orator, author of the Virginia Resolves.

Virginia Resolves

Statements from the Virginia House of Burgesses declaring Parliament had no right to tax colonies.

Stamp Act Congress

1765 meeting of colonies opposing Stamp Act; issued rights declaration and petitions.

Declaratory Act

(1766) Asserted Parliament’s authority to legislate for colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”

Townshend Duties

(1767) Import taxes on glass, lead, paper, paint, tea; designed to raise revenue for Britain.

Boston Massacre

(1770) British soldiers fired on crowd, killing five; inflamed anti-British sentiment.

Samuel Adams

Revolutionary leader, founder of Sons of Liberty; signed Declaration.

Virtual Representation

British idea that Parliament represented all subjects, even without elections.

Actual Representation

Colonial belief that they should be taxed only by elected colonial representatives.

Gaspée Incident

(1772) Colonists burned British customs ship Gaspée; led to more Committees of Correspondence.

Tea Act

(1773) Allowed British East India Company monopoly on tea; caused Boston Tea Party.

Daughters of Liberty

Women promoting boycotts and homespun goods to reduce reliance on Britain.

Boston Tea Party

(1773) Colonists dumped tea into harbor to protest Tea Act.

First Continental Congress

(1774) Response to Intolerable Acts; supported boycotts and petitioned king.

Lexington and Concord

(April 1775) First battles of Revolution; “shot heard ’round the world.”

Second Continental Congress

(1775) Attempted reconciliation with Britain; rejection led to independence.

John Dickinson

Wrote “Letters from a Farmer”; opposed British taxes but also opposed independence.

Olive Branch Petition

(1775) Last colonial offer of peace; rejected by Britain.

Thomas Paine

Author of Common Sense; promoted independence; supported French Revolution.

Thomas Jefferson

Delegate who wrote Declaration of Independence; later 3rd U.S. President.

Battle of Bunker Hill

Early battle showing American strength; British won but with heavy losses.

Battle of Saratoga

Turning point; convinced France to ally with U.S.

Patriots

Colonists who supported independence from Britain.

Battle of Yorktown

(1781) Final major battle; British surrender ended war.

Treaty of Paris 1783

Ended Revolution; recognized U.S. independence and granted land to Mississippi River.

Homespun

Home-made cloth used to support boycotts of British goods.

Critical Period

(1783–1789) Era under Articles of Confederation marked by instability.

Alexander Hamilton

First Treasury Secretary; created national bank and financial plan.

Philadelphia Convention

(1787) Drafted the U.S. Constitution; presided over by Washington.

James Madison

“Father of the Constitution”; 4th U.S. President.

Virginia Plan

Proposal for representation by population; favored large states.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for equal representation for all states.

Great Compromise

Created bicameral Congress: House by population, Senate equal.

The Federalist Papers

Essays by Hamilton, Madison, Jay advocating Constitution.

Report on Public Credit

Hamilton’s plan to assume state debts and build national credit.

National Bank

(1791) Bank to hold government funds and stimulate economy; opposed by Jefferson and Madison.

Whiskey Rebellion

(1794) Protest against whiskey tax; crushed by Washington, showing federal strength.

Neutrality Proclamation

(1793) Washington’s declaration that U.S. would remain neutral in European wars.

John Adams

2nd President; passed Alien and Sedition Acts; avoided war with France.

XYZ Affair

French attempt to demand a bribe from U.S. diplomats; increased tensions.

Quasi War

(1798–1800) Undeclared naval war between U.S. and France.

Alien and Sedition Acts

(1798) Laws allowing deportations and restricting criticism of government.

Nullification

Doctrine that states can void unconstitutional federal laws.

Aaron Burr

Jefferson’s VP; political rival of Hamilton; tied Jefferson in election of 1800.

12th Amendment

Required separate electoral votes for president and vice president.

Revolution of 1800

Jefferson’s election marked peaceful transfer of power and return to “republican principles.”