APUSH Unit 2: Cause -> Effect One-Pager Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, acts, battles, compromises, and political concepts from APUSH Unit 2 (1754–1791).

French & Indian War (1754-1763)

Conflict in which Britain and France fought over land and power in North America; Britain won but gained huge debt, leading Britain to want the colonies to help pay for the war.

Sugar Act (1764)

British law that taxed sugar/molasses and increased enforcement in the colonies.

Stamp Act (1765)

Direct British tax on printed materials that prompted colonial resistance under the slogan "No taxation without representation!"

Declaratory Act (1766)

Act declaring that Parliament had the right to make laws for the American colonies.

Townshend Acts (1767)

British taxes on goods including glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea, which colonists resisted through boycotts and protests.

Boston Massacre (1770)

Event where British soldiers killed several colonists; it was subsequently used as anti-British propaganda.

Tea Act (1773)

Act designed to help the British East India Company sell tea in the colonies, which colonists feared would support Parliament's right to tax them.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Protest during which colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor, prompting Britain to punish Massachusetts.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Laws passed in response to the Boston Tea Party that closed Boston Harbor and limited Massachusetts' self-government, leading to increased colonial unity.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Meeting held in 1774 where representatives from the colonies worked together to respond to British policies.

Lexington & Concord (1775)

The first major fighting of the American Revolution.

Second Continental Congress

Assembly that managed the Revolutionary War, created the Continental Army, and appointed George Washington as commander.

Battle of Bunker Hill (1775)

British victory that resulted in heavy losses, demonstrating to the colonists that they could resist Britain.

Olive Branch Petition (1775)

Colonial attempt to make peace with Britain, which was rejected by King George III.

Common Sense (1776)

Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that encouraged the American colonies to seek independence.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Document grounded in John Locke's ideas of natural rights and consent of the governed through which the colonies officially declared independence from Britain.

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas included natural rights (Life, Liberty, Property) and the concept that government derives its power from the people.

Saratoga (1777)

Major American victory that persuaded France to openly support America with money, weapons, troops, and naval help.

Valley Forge (1777-1778)

Military encampment where the Continental Army suffered through harsh conditions but emerged better trained and organized.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Peace treaty in which Britain formally recognized American independence.

Articles of Confederation

First frame of government created by Americans; it established a weak national government with no power to tax, no president, no national court, weak control of trade, and required a $\r\frac{9}{13}$ state majority to pass major laws.

Land Ordinance (1785)

Success under the Articles of Confederation that organized western land.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Success under the Articles of Confederation that established a process for territories to become states.

Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787)

Armed rebellion that revealed the national government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak to handle major problems.

Great Compromise

Constitutional Convention agreement creating a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with 2 members per state.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement at the Constitutional Convention counting enslaved people as $\r\frac{3}{5}$ of a person for representation and taxation purposes.

Electoral College

System established by the Constitution for indirect presidential election.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional principle dividing government authority among 3 distinct branches.

Checks & Balances

System allowing each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches.

Federalism

System of government where power is divided between the national and state governments.

Federalists

Group that supported the Constitution and wanted a stronger national government; led by figures such as Hamilton and Washington.

Anti-Federalists

Group that feared excessive national power and demanded protection for individual rights; led by figures such as Jefferson and Madison.

Bill of Rights (1791)

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, designed to protect individual liberties.