Period 3 Timeline (1754 - 1800) Review

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering Period 3 timeline (1754–1800) key events, laws, battles, and political developments.

What was the purpose of Benjamin Franklin's "Join or Die" cartoon and the Albany Congress in 1754?

The cartoon conveyed the importance of colonial unity for managing Indian relations and defense against France, while encouraging Britain to support a unified colonial government. The Albany Congress directly advocated for colonial unity in America.

What initial conflict sparked the Seven Years' War (1754–1763)?

A dispute over the Ohio River Valley, where George Washington was sent to secure land and clashed with French troops, leading to a formal declaration of war.

What were the major outcomes of the Seven Years' War for the colonies and Native Americans?

The Treaty of Paris allowed British westward expansion, left Native Americans to deal with hostile British forces (triggering Pontiac's Rebellion), increased colonial war debt, and prompted colonial resistance to the Proclamation of 1763.

What did the Proclamation of 1763 dictate?

It forbade colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent conflicts with Native Americans, though colonists settled there anyway.

Why was the Sugar Act of 1764 historic?

It was the first law passed by Parliament specifically to raise tax revenue for Britain, increasing duties on foreign sugar from the West Indies.

What did the Stamp Act of 1765 require, and how did colonists react?

It mandated stamped paper to certify tax payments on bills of sale, legal/commercial documents, and ~50 trade items. Colonists viewed it as fiscal aggression, declared "no taxation without representation," formed the Stamp Act Congress (27 delegates), and adopted nonimportation agreements.

What was the British concept of "virtual representation"?

The British claim that members of Parliament represented all British subjects throughout the empire, including American colonists who had not elected them.

What did Parliament declare in the Declaratory Act of 1766?

Passed after repealing the Stamp Act, it stated that British authority to tax the American colonies was the same as its authority to tax Great Britain.

What items were taxed under the Townshend Acts of 1767, and what executive action occurred in New York?

It levied light import duties on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea. The London government suspended New York's legislature for failing to comply with the Quartering Act.

Who was the first person killed in the Boston Massacre of 1770, and who defended the troops?

Crispus Attucks was the first killed when redcoats fired on a crowd throwing snowballs. John Adams defended the redcoats, and only two were convicted of manslaughter.

What triggered the Boston Tea Party in 1774?

The British East India Company was awarded a complete monopoly on American tea. In protest, a hundred Bostonians dressed as Indians dumped 342 chests of tea into the Atlantic Ocean.

What four measures comprised the Intolerable Acts of 1774?

1. Boston Port Act (closed the harbor until tea damages were paid).
2. Restrictions placed on town meetings.
3. A new Quartering Act lodging troops anywhere.
4. Quebec Act extending Quebec's borders south to the Ohio River.

What key body was formed by the First Continental Congress in 1774?

It created The Association, which called for a complete boycott of British goods.

What occurred at Lexington and Concord in 1775?

British troops sent to Lexington fired on colonial "minute men" who refused to disperse rapidly. Redcoats pushed into Concord but were forced to retreat, beginning the Revolutionary War.

What main arguments were presented in Thomas Paine's Common Sense (1776)?

It argued for total independence from Britain and the creation of a democratic republic, using simple vocabulary accessible to all people.

What military outcomes occurred at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton (1776–1777)?

At Trenton, George Washington surprised and captured 1,000 Hessians. At Princeton, Washington inflicted a sharp defeat on a small British detachment, greatly boosting American morale.

Why was the Battle of Saratoga (1777) considered the turning point of the war?

General Burgoyne was forced to surrender to Horatio Gates after General Benedict Arnold delayed the British advance. The victory secured essential French aid and led Britain to offer home rule to the colonies.

What were the core weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (1777)?

It created a weak central government with no executive branch, no power to tax, no power to regulate commerce, required 9 state votes to pass bills, and required unanimous ratification for amendments.

What happened during the winter at Valley Forge (1777–1778)?

11,000 soldiers stationed in severe winter conditions suffered from disease and death, but were held together by commitment to the patriot cause and George Washington.

How was General Cornwallis defeated at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781?

Admiral de Grasse, George Washington, and Rochambeau cornered General Cornwallis while the British lacked control of the seas, achieving the last decisive American victory.

What were the main terms of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

It established that territories would initially be subordinate to the federal government, forbade slavery in the region, and created the framework for admitting new states into the Union.

What caused Shays' Rebellion in 1787 and what was its impact?

Poor farmers led by Captain Daniel Shays protested mortgage foreclosures and tax delinquencies, demanding paper money and suspended property takeovers. It heightened fears of "democratic despotism" and strengthened support for a stronger federal government.

Who wrote the Federalist Papers (1787–1788) and what was their goal?

A collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay urging the ratification of the Constitution.

What four main components made up Hamilton's Economic Plan in 1790?

1. Funding at par (assuming state war debts).
2. Tariff revenue (first tariff law set an 8% duty on imports).
3. Whiskey excise tax.
4. A National Bank to store surplus funds, print paper currency, and stimulate business.

How did the political two-party system originate in 1792?

It began as an opposition movement by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson against Alexander Hamilton's financial programs, splitting into the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans and Hamiltonian Federalists.

How did President Washington handle the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794?

When farmers protested the high excise tax under "Liberty and no excise" and tarred officers, Washington ordered an army to capture the rebels, dispersing them and demonstrating federal enforcement power.

What were the terms and main drawback of Jay's Treaty (1795)?

Britain agreed to evacuate the Northwest territory, compensate for shipping losses, and grant trading privileges. However, it set no deadline for execution and deeply upset France.

What did George Washington advise in his 1796 Farewell Address?

He advised avoiding "permanent alliances" (favoring temporary alliances in extraordinary emergencies) and warned against the influence of political parties.

What occurred during the XYZ Affair under President John Adams?

French agents asked three American diplomats (including John Marshall) for a bribe to meet the French foreign minister, sparking public outrage under the slogan "Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute."

What were the Alien Laws and Sedition Act of 1797?

Alien Laws raised residence requirements for citizenship and allowed executive deportation of dangerous foreigners. The Sedition Act penalized anyone impeding government policy or falsely defaming officials with fines or imprisonment.

What principle was introduced by the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions?

Written by Thomas Jefferson (Kentucky) and James Madison (Virginia), they argued that if the federal government violated the compact, a state had the power to nullify the federal law.