APUSH UNIT 3 FLASHCARDS

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from American History lecture notes, including events and figures from the colonial era through the early republic.

Albany Plan of Union

1754 plan by Benjamin Franklin to unite colonies for defense against France. Proposed a council of colonial reps. First formal attempt at colonial unity, foreshadowed later unification.

Benjamin Franklin

Founding Father, diplomat, inventor, Enlightenment thinker. Helped draft Declaration of Independence, secured French alliance. Symbol of Enlightenment ideals; diplomacy with France was critical for winning independence.

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five. Used as Patriot propaganda to fuel anti-British sentiment; heightened colonial resistance.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Protest against Tea Act; colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor. Provoked the Coercive Acts; symbol of resistance to taxation without representation.

Boycotting

Colonists refused to buy British goods (esp. after Stamp, Townshend Acts). Most effective colonial protest strategy; hurt British merchants and pressured Parliament to repeal taxes.

Coercive/Intolerable Acts (1774)

Punitive laws after Boston Tea Party (closed Boston port, reduced self-gov’t, quartered troops). United colonies in opposition; seen as direct threat to liberty → led to First Continental Congress.

Committees of Correspondence

Colonial networks of communication about British threats. Spread resistance ideas; helped coordinate boycotts and later revolutionary efforts.

Currency Act (1764)

Banned colonies from issuing paper money. Hurt colonial economy; example of Britain tightening economic control.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Repealed Stamp Act but asserted Parliament’s right to legislate for colonies 'in all cases whatsoever.' Revealed Britain’s insistence on authority; foreshadowed future conflict.

Enlightenment

18th c. intellectual movement emphasizing reason, natural rights, liberty (Locke, Montesquieu). Inspired colonial leaders (Jefferson, Franklin); core ideas in Declaration of Independence.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Colonial delegates met to respond to Intolerable Acts; issued Declaration of Rights and grievances; organized boycotts. First united political action of colonies; step toward independence.

Fort Duquesne

French fort at strategic Ohio Valley site; site of Washington’s failed mission (1754). Sparked French and Indian War.

French and Indian War / Seven Years’ War (1754–63)

Conflict between Britain and France (with Native allies) over North America. Britain gained huge territory but massive debt → led to taxing colonies; ended salutary neglect.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended French and Indian War. France lost all North American territory; Britain dominant. Colonists no longer needed British protection; conflict over frontier policies (Proclamation Line).

George Washington (General)

Commander of Continental Army; led at Valley Forge, Yorktown. Key unifying figure; symbol of republican leadership.

Hessians

German mercenaries hired by Britain during Revolution. Angered colonists (foreign troops seen as tyranny); many defected to Patriots.

John Locke

English Enlightenment philosopher; argued for natural rights (life, liberty, property) and consent of governed. Influenced Jefferson & Declaration of Independence.

Letter from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (1767–68, John Dickinson)

Essays opposing Townshend Acts; argued Parliament could regulate trade but not tax colonies without consent. Widely read; strengthened colonial resistance.

Massachusetts Circular Letter (1768)

Written by Samuel Adams, urging colonies to resist Townshend Acts. Britain dissolved Massachusetts legislature, fueling resistance.

John Adams

Lawyer defending British soldiers at Boston Massacre; later revolutionary leader and diplomat. Helped push independence; 2nd U.S. president.

Quartering Act (1765)

Required colonists to house and supply British soldiers. Seen as violation of rights; fueled resentment of standing armies.

Minutemen

Colonial militia trained to fight at a minute’s notice. First fighters at Lexington and Concord (1775).

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Principle that Parliament had ultimate authority over colonies. Clashed with colonial belief in self-rule → core cause of Revolution.

Patriots

Colonists supporting independence from Britain. Broad movement ranging from elites to farmers; opposed Loyalists.

Paul Revere

Patriot silversmith; spread propaganda of Boston Massacre; famous midnight ride. Helped alert militia at Lexington and Concord.

Paxton Boys (1763)

Scots-Irish vigilantes in Pennsylvania who attacked Native Americans. Example of frontier hostility; showed tension between backcountry and elites.

Regulator Movement (1760s–70s)

Uprising in North/South Carolina by backcountry settlers against colonial elites. Revealed class tensions within colonies; not directly tied to Revolution but showed unrest.

Pontiac’s War/Rebellion (1763)

Native uprising against British expansion after French and Indian War. Led to Proclamation Line of 1763.

Proclamation Line of 1763

Banned settlement west of Appalachians to avoid conflict with Natives. Angered colonists eager to expand; viewed as betrayal after helping win war.

Prohibitory Act (1775)

British law declaring colonies in rebellion; cut off trade. Last step before full war; convinced many colonists independence was necessary.

George Washington

Revolutionary War general, 1st President (1789–1797). Set precedents (cabinet, 2-term limit), warned against factions and foreign alliances in Farewell Address.

Constitutional Convention (1787, Philadelphia)

Meeting to revise Articles of Confederation; instead drafted U.S. Constitution. Created stronger federal government with separation of powers and checks and balances.

Anti-Federalists vs. Federalists

Federalists supported Constitution (Hamilton, Madison); Anti-Federalists feared strong central gov. Debate led to inclusion of Bill of Rights.

Shays’ Rebellion (1786–87)

Armed revolt of farmers in Massachusetts protesting debt and taxes. Showed weakness of Articles; pushed elites to support stronger Constitution.

James Madison

“Father of the Constitution,” Federalist leader, later 4th President. Wrote much of Constitution, co-authored Federalist Papers, authored Bill of Rights.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Law establishing process for new states in NW territory; banned slavery there. Success of Articles of Confederation; model for westward expansion.

Land Ordinance (1785)

Surveyed and divided western lands into townships for sale and settlement. Funded national gov’t; one of few Articles successes.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist, 1st Secretary of Treasury; authored Federalist Papers. Created financial system (Bank of U.S., assumption of debt); opponent of Jefferson.

Annapolis Convention (1786)

Meeting to discuss trade issues under Articles. Led directly to Constitutional Convention.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed Constitution, feared tyranny, wanted stronger state rights. Their demands led to Bill of Rights.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. constitution (1781–1789); weak central gov, no power to tax. Failure highlighted need for stronger Constitution.

Bill of Rights (1791)

First 10 amendments guaranteeing civil liberties. Secured ratification of Constitution by addressing Anti-Federalist concerns.

Checks and Balances

Constitutional system where each branch limits the others. Prevents tyranny; cornerstone of U.S. gov.

Federalism

Power divided between federal and state govs. Compromise between strong national authority and states’ rights.

Federalist Papers (1787–88)

Essays by Hamilton, Madison, Jay promoting ratification of Constitution. Influential in shaping support for Constitution.

Federalists

Party led by Hamilton/Adams; favored strong central gov, pro-British. First U.S. political party; opposed by Democratic-Republicans.

Great Compromise

Combined Virginia and New Jersey Plans → bicameral legislature (Senate + House). Solved representation debate; key to Constitution’s approval.

Elastic Clause / Necessary and Proper Clause

Gave Congress power to make all laws 'necessary and proper.' Basis for implied powers (ex: Bank of U.S.); controversy between Hamilton and Jefferson.

Limited Government

Principle that gov power is restricted by Constitution. Core idea of Constitution to prevent tyranny.

Alien & Sedition Acts (1798)

Federalist laws restricting immigrants and limiting criticism of gov. Seen as unconstitutional; led to Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions.

Bank of the United States (1791)

National bank created by Hamilton. Sparked debate over implied powers; Jefferson opposed.

Democratic-Republicans

Party led by Jefferson/Madison; favored states’ rights, agrarian society, pro-French. Rival to Federalists; first party system.

Farewell Address (1796)

Washington’s advice: avoid political parties and foreign entanglements. Influenced U.S. foreign policy (neutrality).

Impressment

British practice of seizing American sailors into navy. Major cause of War of 1812.

Jay’s Treaty (1794)

Treaty with Britain; British left NW forts but U.S. made concessions. Unpopular but avoided war; deepened partisan divide.

John Adams

2nd President; Federalist. Alien & Sedition Acts; avoided war with France despite XYZ Affair tensions.

Judicial Review

Power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional (Marbury v. Madison, 1803). Strengthened judicial branch.

New Jersey Plan

Constitutional proposal for equal representation (small states). Merged into Great Compromise.

Republican Motherhood

Idea women should raise virtuous, patriotic citizens. Expanded women’s role in civic life but not equality.

Separation of Powers

Division of power among legislative, executive, judicial branches. Prevents tyranny; key feature of Constitution.

Suffrage

Right to vote. Initially limited (white, property-owning men); expanded over time.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution = supreme law of land. Resolved conflicts between state and federal laws.

Thomas Jefferson

Democratic-Republican leader, 3rd President. Wrote Declaration; Louisiana Purchase; opposed Hamilton’s Federalists.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted enslaved people as 3/5 for representation/taxes. Temporary compromise over slavery at Constitutional Convention.

Virginia Plan

Constitutional proposal for representation by population (large states). Basis for House of Representatives.

Nullification

Idea states can invalidate federal laws they deem unconstitutional. Raised in VA & KY Resolutions; foreshadowed Civil War conflicts.

Pinckney’s Treaty (1795)

Treaty with Spain; U.S. gained navigation rights on Mississippi, New Orleans access. Boosted western farmers; diplomatic success.

Citizen Genêt Affair (1793)

French diplomat tried to rally Americans to fight Britain despite U.S. neutrality. Tested Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

Washington declared U.S. neutral in French Revolution wars. Set precedent for avoiding European conflicts.

Revolution of 1800

Jefferson’s election victory over Adams; peaceful transfer of power. Showed strength of new democracy.

Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions (1798–99)

Written by Jefferson and Madison against Alien & Sedition Acts; argued for nullification. First states’ rights challenge to federal power.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Farmer protest against whiskey tax in Pennsylvania. Washington crushed rebellion, proving strength of new Constitution.

XYZ Affair (1797–98)

French diplomats demanded bribes to negotiate. Outrage in U.S. → “Quasi-War” with France; increased anti-French sentiment.