American Revolution & Early U.S. History: Key Events, Policies, and Movements

What was the Proclamation of 1763?

A decree that kept settlers from moving westward after the French and Indian War.

What was the Sugar Act?

A tax imposed by the British government to generate revenue for troops in the US.

What was the Stamp Act?

A tax requiring a stamp on every paper good, leading to colonial protests and eventual repeal.

What was the Stamp Act Congress?

A meeting of delegates from nine colonies to coordinate resistance against the Stamp Act.

What were the Townshend Duties?

Taxes on items like lead and glass, aimed at raising revenue for defense and administration.

What does 'Virtual Representation' mean?

The British claim that Parliament represented all British subjects, including colonists who did not vote.

What were the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts?

Laws passed to punish Boston after the Tea Party, including closing the harbor and dissolving the Massachusetts Assembly.

What was the significance of Lexington and Concord?

The first battles of the American Revolution, marking the start of open conflict between Britain and the colonies.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Bunker Hill?

A moral victory for the colonists, demonstrating their ability to stand up to British troops despite losing the battle.

What was the Olive Branch Petition?

A final plea from the Continental Congress to King George III to restore peace, which he rejected.

What was the Declaration of Independence?

A document primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson outlining grievances against the British Crown.

What was the role of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense'?

A pamphlet that galvanized support for independence by arguing that Americans could win the war.

What were the American advantages during the Revolution?

Fighting for independence, not needing to invade England, and the ability to prolong the war.

What were the British disadvantages during the American Revolution?

Had to defend an empire, could not focus solely on the war, and faced logistical challenges in controlling all colonies.

What was the significance of the Battle of Saratoga?

A crucial American victory that convinced France to enter the war, changing the dynamics of the conflict.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Yorktown?

A decisive victory for American and French forces, leading Britain to negotiate peace.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

The first constitution of the United States, which was weak and lacked the power to tax or maintain a national army.

What was Shays' Rebellion?

An uprising that exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the government's inability to maintain order.

What was the Great Compromise?

A plan that established a bicameral legislature with a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation.

What was the 3/5ths Compromise?

An agreement counting enslaved people as 3/5 of a person for representation purposes.

What is Federalism?

A system of government where powers are shared between the national and state governments.

What was the Whiskey Rebellion?

A protest against a whiskey tax that demonstrated the strength of the new federal government when Washington suppressed it.

What were Hamilton's three goals for America?

Establish national credit, encourage manufacturing and commerce, and strengthen federal power.

What was Jefferson's opposition to the national bank?

He believed it was unconstitutional and would lead to government overreach.

What was Jefferson's main concern regarding a national bank?

He feared it was unconstitutional and would lead to government overreach.

What interpretation of the Constitution did Jeffersonians advocate?

Strict interpretation: the federal government can only do what the Constitution explicitly allows.

What is the loose interpretation of the Constitution held by Hamiltonians?

The government can take actions not forbidden by the Constitution if they are deemed 'necessary and proper' (elastic clause).

What was the combined size of the US national and state debt in 1789?

79 million dollars.

Where were the Federalists strongest in the United States?

In the Northeast, coastal cities, among merchants, bankers, and urban professionals.

Where were the Democratic-Republicans strongest?

In the South and West, among farmers, artisans, and frontier settlers.

What was Jefferson's vision for America?

An agrarian republic of independent farmers, minimal government, and local control.

What was impressment in the context of early American history?

The British practice of seizing American sailors and vessels.

What did Jay's Treaty accomplish?

It improved trade and secured British withdrawal from frontier forts but failed to stop impressment.

What was significant about the Election of 1796?

John Adams (Federalist) became president, and Thomas Jefferson (Dem-Rep) became VP, highlighting political divisions.

What led to the development of political parties in the 1780s and 1790s?

Conflicts over Hamilton's financial plan, foreign policy, and interpretation of the Constitution.

What did the Federalist Political Party favor?

A strong central government, an industrial economy, close ties with Britain, and rule by elites.

What did the Democratic-Republican Political Party advocate?

States' rights, an agrarian economy, support for France, and expanded political participation.

What were the Alien & Sedition Acts?

Federalist laws that restricted immigration and free speech, drawing strong opposition.

What were the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions?

Responses by Jefferson and Madison arguing for states' rights to nullify unconstitutional federal laws.

What was the X, Y, Z Affair?

A diplomatic incident where French agents demanded bribes from American diplomats, leading to the Quasi-War.

What was the Quasi-War?

An undeclared naval war between the U.S. and France in the Caribbean that ended with peace under Adams.

What was significant about the Election of 1800?

It marked a peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans.

What was Jefferson's philosophy of government?

He believed in a small, limited government and feared it could become a threat.

What was the outcome of Jefferson's attempt to impeach Federalist judges?

It failed, affirming judicial independence.

What did Marbury v. Madison establish?

Judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.

What was the significance of the Louisiana Purchase?

It doubled the size of the nation and was purchased from France.

What was the Embargo Act?

Jefferson's attempt to avoid war by stopping trade, which ultimately hurt American businesses.

Who was James Madison?

The fourth president who led the U.S. through the War of 1812 against Britain.

Who were the War Hawks?

Young congressmen like Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun who pushed for war with Britain.

What was the Battle of New Orleans?

A battle fought after the War of 1812 ended, which catapulted Andrew Jackson to fame.

What inspired the Star-Spangled Banner?

The American defense of Baltimore during the Battle of Ft. McHenry.

What was the Hartford Convention?

A meeting of Federalists opposing the War of 1812, proposing constitutional amendments, seen as treasonous after the victory.

What did the Adams-Onis Treaty accomplish?

Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and defined the boundary with Spanish territory.

What was the Missouri Compromise?

It maintained the balance of free and slave states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as free.

What were the causes of the Market Revolution?

A shift from workshops to factories, mainly in the North, contributing to sectional differences.

What impact did the Market Revolution have?

Transportation improvements, technological innovations, and growth of wage labor.

What was the Erie Canal?

A major infrastructure project that boosted trade and lowered costs.

What was the corrupt bargain in the Election of 1824?

An alleged deal where Clay supported Adams in exchange for becoming Secretary of State.

What was significant about the Election of 1828?

Andrew Jackson won a very contentious election.

What was the Indian Removal policy?

Jackson forcibly removed Native American tribes, notably the Trail of Tears for the Cherokees.

What was the Tariff of 1828 and its impact?

It favored Northern manufacturers but hurt Southern consumers, leading to the Nullification Crisis.

What was the South Carolina Exposition and Protest?

Written by John C. Calhoun, arguing that states had the right to nullify federal laws violating the Constitution.

What were 'pet banks'?

State banks that received federal deposits after Jackson dismantled the national bank, leading to inflation.

Who were the Reformers in early 19th century America?

White, middle-class, Protestant, traditional-minded, native-born, urban Americans.

What inspired the 2nd Great Awakening?

Anxiety about rapid social change, urban poverty, and moral decline, leading to activism.

Who was Charles G. Finney?

The father of the 2nd Great Awakening who emphasized personal salvation and social reform.

What were camp meetings?

Gatherings to bring the church to the people, involving preaching and socializing.

What was Dorothea Dix known for?

Her efforts to help the mentally ill and establish asylums across the states.

What reforms did Horace Mann advocate?

Public education funded by taxes, age and ability classification, extended school year, standardized curriculum.

What was the American Colonization Society?

An organization that raised money to purchase slaves and transport them back to Africa.

What was the American Anti-Slavery Society?

A society with 250,000 members that hosted lectures and wrote petitions for immediate emancipation.

Who was William Lloyd Garrison?

The founder of The Liberator, a newspaper advocating for abolition, who was arrested for his activism.

What led to the Women's Rights Movement?

Resistance to women's involvement in the abolitionist movement and the desire for voting rights.