us history chapter 2

Stamp Act

1765 law requiring colonists to buy a stamp for official documents.

Townshend Acts

1767 law that taxed imports into the colonies.

Boston Massacre

1770 event where British soldiers killed five colonists.

Boston Tea Party

Protest where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts

Series of laws punishing Massachusetts for protests against British policies.

martial law

Rule by the military instead of civilian authority.

minutemen

Civilian soldiers who fought on the Patriot side during the American Revolution.

Second Continental Congress

Meeting of colonial delegates that approved the Declaration of Independence.

Common Sense

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence.

Thomas Jefferson

Main author of the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence

Document explaining the ideals of the American colonists and their break from Britain.

Patriots

Colonists who wanted independence from Britain.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained faithful to Britain; also called Tories.

Battle of Trenton

Christmas day 1776 battle where Americans defeated Hessian mercenaries.

Battle of Saratoga

1777 battle that convinced France to help America in the Revolution.

Yorktown

1781 battle in Virginia that led to American victory in the Revolutionary War.

Treaty of Paris

1783 treaty that officially ended the American Revolution.

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of the Treasury who advocated for a national bank.

Democratic-Republicans

Political party led by Thomas Jefferson favoring strong state governments.

two-party system

Government system in which two parties compete for power.

excise tax

Tax on manufacturing, sale, or distribution of items.

neutrality

Refusal to take part in a war between other nations.

Whiskey Rebellion

Uprising of Pennsylvania distillers against Hamilton's excise tax.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws increasing the naturalization period and penalizing government criticism.

nullification

Doctrine allowing states to declare a federal law void.

Aaron Burr

Tied with Jefferson in the election of 1800; killed Hamilton in a duel.

Marbury v. Madison

Case that established the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review.

Louisiana Purchase

1803 purchase that doubled the size of the US for $15 million.

Sacajawea

Native American guide for Lewis and Clark's expedition.

impressment

British practice of forcing American sailors into the British Navy.

William Henry Harrison

Led US forces in the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Tecumseh

Shawnee chief who attempted to unite Northwestern Indian tribes.

War Hawks

Southerners and Westerners eager for war with Britain.

Andrew Jackson

General who defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans.

James Madison

President in 1808 who pushed for war with Britain.

George Washington

First president who created the Cabinet and warned against political parties.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Stated that states could refuse unconstitutional federal laws.

Causes of the War of 1812

Impressment, desire for Canadian land, and ship seizures.

Events in the War of 1812

Included the Battle of New Orleans and the Embargo.

Washington's Farewell Address

Warned about political parties, debt, and foreign affairs.

Treaty of Ghent (1814)

Ended the War of 1812.

Articles of Confederation

America's first government with a weak central authority.

Great Compromise

Compromise for equal representation in one house and population-based in another.

Shays' Rebellion

Protest by farmers for debt forgiveness leading to stronger government demand.

Legislative Branch

Congress, responsible for making laws.

Executive Branch

President, VP, and Cabinet; responsible for enforcing laws.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court and lower courts; responsible for interpreting laws.

Checks and Balances

System allowing each government branch to limit others' power.

Antifederalists

Opposed ratification of the Constitution, e.g., Patrick Henry.

The Federalists Papers

Series promoting support for the Constitution's ratification.

The U.S. Constitution

Supreme law of the land, consisting of 7 Articles and 27 Amendments.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Established procedures for creating territories and states.

Virginia Plan

Plan favoring larger states with a bicameral legislature.

New Jersey Plan

Plan favoring smaller states with a unicameral legislature.

The 3/5 Compromise

Debate on whether enslaved people count for representation.

Ratification

Process of accepting the newly created Constitution.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution during its ratification.

Daniel Shays

Led uprising of Massachusetts farmers in 1786.