APUSH Unit 3 Key Concepts

Key concepts for AP US History Unit 3: British North America + Revolution & Republican Culture (1754-1800).

Seven Years’ War (definition)

A conflict between Britain, France, and American Indians over British and French expansion.

Colonial opposition

Resistance from colonists against British attempts to prevent westward expansion and impose taxes without representation.

Enlightenment ideas

Philosophical concepts that emphasized individual rights and self-governance, influencing colonial leaders' arguments for independence.

Benjamin Franklin

A prominent colonial leader who played a significant role in the American independence movement.

Patriot movement

A collective effort by colonists, including men and women, to support the cause of independence against British rule.

Continental Army

The unified military force of the colonies during the Revolutionary War, led by George Washington.

Common Sense (1776)

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for independence and republican government, influencing public opinion.

Republican motherhood

An ideal that emphasized women's roles in teaching republican values within the family, elevating their status in society.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States, creating a stronger, limited central government after independence.

Constitutional Convention

A gathering of delegates to create a new constitution, addressing issues of representation and federal authority.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written by Hamilton and Madison promoting the ratification of the Constitution and outlining Federalist principles.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee individual rights and limit government power.

Northwest Ordinance

Legislation that established a framework for admitting new states and promoted education and property rights while banning slavery in the Northwest Territory.

American Indian alliances

Strategic partnerships formed by various tribes with Europeans and the U.S. to protect their lands and resources.

Spanish mission settlements

Expansions into California that created opportunities for cultural blending and social mobility among local populations.

Diplomatic initiatives

Efforts by the U.S. government to manage relationships with European powers in North America, particularly Britain and Spain.

Result of Seven Years’ War

British victory, territorial expansion in North America, and tremendous debt from the war.

Societal result of American Revolution

Increased awareness of inequalities in society, call for abolition of slavery, greater political democracy

American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence inspired

France, Haiti, and Latin America’s independence movements

British alliances with American Indians

Tensions between the US and Britain because American Indians wanted to limit migration of white settlers and maintain control of tribal lands and natural resources

Cause of Seven Years’ War

Britain’s growing colonist population threatened French-Indian trade networks and American Indian autonomy.

loyalist

colonists who remained loyal to the British crown

neutral

colonists who wanted to stay out of the conflict and remain “peaceable and quiet”

Minutemen

New England colonial militiamen that mobilized on short notice (in a “minute”)

First Continental Congress

September 1774: gathering to discuss the crisis of the Intolerable Acts

Second Continental Congress

provisional government of the US during most of the Revolutionary War

Continental Association

October 20, 1774: agreement among American colonies to enforce British good boycotts

Revenue Act of 1762

required absentee customs officers to take post in colonies to stop bribery

Currency Act of 1764

banned American colonies from using paper money as legal tender, which ensured merchants didn’t pay paper and boosted British wealth

Sugar Act 1764

lowered the duty on French molasses and raised penalties for smuggling

Stamp Act of 1765

tax on all paper used in colonies including college diplomas, court documents, land titles, etc.

Quartering Act of 1765

requested by General Thomas Gage, a British military commander; required the colonial government to provide barracks and food to British troops

Stamp Act Congress

October 1765: 9 assemblies met in New York City to protest the loss of American “rights and liberties”, result of Stamp Act

Sons of Liberty

colonists (merchants, artisans) who banded together to protest British taxation Acts

Townshend Act of 1767

Charles Townshend imposes duties on colonial imports of tea, glass, lead paper, painters’ colors, etc.

Proclamation Line

a boundary between colonies and Indian land, a temporary barrier

camp followers

women who cared and fed Continental Army troops

Treaty of Alliance 1778

a military alliance between the United States and France, formalized France’s military and financial support of the revolutionary American government

Treaty of Paris 1783

treaty between the United States and Britain that ended the Revolutionary War, established the US as an independent country

First Report on Public Credit (1790)

Alexander Hamilton’s report that recommended that the federal government assume all state debts and fund the national debt, aimed to make the US credit wealthy