UNIT 3 APUSH (1754-1800)

The Article of Confederation

Inspired by the republican ideals of the Revolution, the new country was originally governed by this document which intentionally excluded a strong federal government out of fear of resembling the tyrannical government they saw in the British monarchy.

State governments held the most power while federal government was kept weak

The Seven Years War

The north American phase of this war is often called the French and Indian War. From the British point of view, the French provoked the war by building a chain of forts in the Ohio River Valley. One reason the French did so was to halt the westward growth of the British colonies. Hoping to stop the French from winning control of the Ohio River Valley, the governor of Virginia sent a small militia under the command of a young colonel named George Washington. After gaining a small initial victory, Washington’s troops surrendered to a superior force of Frenchmen and their American Indian allies

Effects of the French and Indian War

-Vast expansion of British territory in North America

-The removal of French influence

-Significant debt in Great Britain—>led to increased taxes in colonies and the release of salutary neglect 

-Established the British as the dominant naval power in the world

-The Proclamation of 1763

The Albany Plan of Union 

Recognizing the need for coordinating colonial defense, the British government had called for representatives from several colonies to meet in a congress at Albany, New York

Developed by Benjamin Franklin and developed an inter colonial government and system for recruiting troops and collecting taxes from the colonies for their common defense 

Never took place because the colonies were too concerned about preserving their own taxation power

British Victory of the French and Indian War

The British prime minister, William Pitt, dedicated vast amounts of wealth into this war, in which Britain fell into debt, and burdened the colonies with increased taxes.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

American Indians were angered by the growing westward movement. Pontiac’s alliance in the Ohio River Valley destroyed forts and settlements. British sent troops to put down the uprising.

Proclamation of 1763

In an effort to stabilize the western frontier, the British government issued a proclamation that prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. British hoped that limiting settlements there would also prevent future hostilities. Colonists were angered by this because this was the land they had fought for in the French and Indian War 

Taxation without Representation

Colonists pointed out that they could not directly elect representatives to Parliament, so they had no way to consent to or oppose British actions.

The Sugar Act (Revenue Act)

Placed duties on foreign sugar and certain luxuries 

A companion law also called for stricter enforcement of the Navigation acts to stop smuggling 

The Quartering Act

Required colonists to provide food and living quarters for British soldiers

The Stamp Act

Required that all revenue stamps be placed on most printed paper in the colonies, including legal documents, newspapers, pamphlets etc.

This was the first direct tax

The Stamp Act Congress 

Representatives from nine colonies met in New York in 1765. They resolved that only their own elected representatives had the legal authority to approve taxes.

Petitioned Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act

Neither the colonists nor the delegates were arguing for independence at this point*

They wanted to remain British subjects without the infringement on their rights*

Declaratory Act

This act asserted that Parliament had the right to tax and make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.” This declaration of policy would soon lead to renewed conflict between the colonists and the British government.

The Townshed Acts

Collected on colonial imports of tea, glass, paper and other items deemed a luxury. these taxes went to pay crown officials in the colonies.

Writ of Assistance 

The Townshed Acts also provided for the search of private homes with a general license to search anywhere was all that an official needed to conduct a search, as opposed to a judges warrant to search a specific property  

Letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania, John Dickinson

argued that Parliament could regulate commerce, but if it wanted to tax colonists, it had to have the approval of assemblies that included colonial representatives

Massachusetts circular letter, James Otis, Samuel Adams

Copies were sent to every colonial legislature. It urged the colonies to petition Parliament to repel the Townshed Acts

The Boston Massacre 

A group of colonist harassed a British guard. They fired into the crowed and killed five colonists, one of them being Crispus Attucks. At their trial for murder the 6 soldiers were defended by John Adams  

The Committees of Correspondence

Many Americans, including Samuel Adams, kept alive the view that the British were undermining their liberties. A principal device for spreading this idea was by means of:______________. Adams began the practice of organizing committees that would regularly exchange letters about suspicious or potentially threatening British activities.

Organized and spread information about colonial grievances 

The Sufflolk Resolves

Called for immediate repeal of the intolerable acts

Lexington and Concord

British troops went to seize military supplies from colonists in Concord. Paul Revere gathered the militia of Lexington to fight against the British but were forced to retreat. The British marched to Concord and took the military supplies, but on their way back to Boston were attacked by hundreds of militiamen firing from behind stone walls. 

First skirmish of the American Revolution

The Intolerable Acts 

Closed the British harbor until all the teat had been payed for 

The Treaty of Paris

Ended the American Revolutionary War and secured Western territory for the United States

Republican Motherhood

The most important way a woman could participate in a republican society was to educate her sons about liberty and government

Weaknesses of the Article of Confederation

-Couldn’t control international trade

-Financial problems (no way to collect taxes)

-Interstate commerce ( States put tariffs on goods and hampered free trade)

-Foreign relations (there were still British troops and they had no way to stop Britain's violation of the terms of peace)

Shays Rebellion 

Group of farmers who wanted the money they were owed from the government for fighting in the war.

Highlighted the weakness of the articles of confederation, specifically the lack of a national military 

Northwest Ordinance

-Regulated the unsettled Western territory

-Established public schools in that territory

-Abolished slavery in the new territory

-Dictated how territories could become States

Constitutional Convention

Originally met to just revise the articles, but eventually just wrote a new constitution

Goal was to strengthen the federal government without it becoming tyrannical

Constitutional Principals 

-Separation of powers(equal power-check and balance)

-Federalism(power is shared between state governments and federal government)

Virginia Plan

State Representation should be based on population (favored large States)

New Jersey Plan

Equal representation, 1 representative per state (favored smaller states)

The Great Compromise

Established a bicameral legislature

House of Representatives- Representation would be population based

Senate- representation would be equal

3/5ths Compromise

One slave counted as 3/5ths of an individual towards state Representation

Importation of enslaved people 

congress could not touch the slave trade 20 years after the ratification 

The federalists argued for/against the ratification of the constitution

their line of reasoning was that the federal government needed to be strengthen if the new republic was going to thrive economically and politically

The anti-federalists argued for/against the ratification of the constitution 

believed that strengthening the federal government would lead back to the problems they had in Britain 

They were mad that the Constitution had no bill of rights 

Washington’s precedents

-Cabinet of advisors

-Serve two terms

Washington’s Farewell Address 

-Don’t make political parties

-Don’t form permanent alliances

The Judiciary act

created a multi-level federal court system

What caused political parties to form

1)Economic policy-Alexander Hamilton proposed creation of a national bank

2)Foreign affairs-Democratic republicans wanted to aid France in their revolutionary war however federalists wanted to stay out of foreign conflict and protect trade

Neutrality proclamation

-Protects American trade

-kept the US from getting entangled in European conflicts 

Sedition acts

made possible the use of federal power to silence dissent against federalist policies

Passed during a time of growing fears about foreign influence

Virginia and Kentucky Acts

Stated that the alien and sedition acts were unconstitutional and enforceable

Any federal law that enable the government to operate beyond its constitutional power should be considered null and void by the states

American Identity 

abolishment of aristocracy 

religious toleration 

art, literature, architecture 

Battle of fallen timbers

washingtons troops fought against an alliance of native Americans in the Ohio River Valley

Ended with the treaty of greenville, which opened the ohio territory for settlement without any resistance

Jays Treaty

Great Britain agreed to withdraw its remaining troops in america

Pickney treaty

formally recognized the borders between us and Spanish territory

Opened the port of New Orleans and the Mississippi river to us merchants