American Revolution & Early U.S. History: Key Events, Figures, and Legislation

Albany Plan

1754 plan by Benjamin Franklin to unite colonies for defense; rejected.

Benjamin Franklin

Founding Father; diplomat, inventor, helped draft Declaration and Constitution.

Boston Massacre

1770 clash where British soldiers killed 5 colonists; fueled anti-British sentiment.

Boston Tea Party

1773 protest against Tea Act; colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Coercive/Intolerable Acts

1774 British laws punishing Boston; closed harbor, limited self-rule.

Committees of Correspondence

Colonial networks sharing news, organizing resistance.

First Continental Congress

1774 meeting of colonies to coordinate resistance to Britain.

George Grenville

British prime minister; enforced taxes like Sugar and Stamp Acts.

Lexington & Concord

1775 first battles of the American Revolution ("shot heard 'round the world").

Patrick Henry

Virginia orator; "Give me liberty or give me death!"; opposed British rule.

Proclamation of 1763

Banned settlement west of Appalachians to ease tensions with Natives.

Seven Years' War

Global conflict (1756-1763); in America, called French and Indian War.

Stamp Act

1765 tax on printed materials; first direct tax on colonies.

Townshend Duties

1767 taxes on imports like glass, paper, tea; spurred boycotts.

Virginia Resolves

Patrick Henry's resolutions against the Stamp Act; claimed only assemblies could tax.

American Patriots

Colonists supporting independence from Britain.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. constitution; weak central government, no power to tax.

Benedict Arnold

American general who defected to the British as a traitor.

Common Sense

1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine urging independence.

Daniel Shays

Leader of Shays' Rebellion (1786) protesting taxes; exposed weakness of Articles.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document declaring U.S. independence, authored by Jefferson.

George Washington

Commander of Continental Army; later first U.S. president.

Hessians

German mercenaries hired by Britain to fight colonists.

John Locke

English philosopher; natural rights ideas influenced Declaration.

Loyalists/Tories

Colonists loyal to Britain during Revolution.

Northwest Ordinance

1787 law organizing Northwest Territory; set path for new states, banned slavery there.

Saratoga

1777 American victory; turning point that brought French alliance.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of Declaration; 3rd U.S. president; Democratic-Republican leader.

Yorktown

1781 final major battle; British surrender ended war.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist leader; first Treasury Secretary; author of financial plan.

Alien and Sedition Acts

1798 laws restricting immigrants and speech against government.

Antifederalists

Opposed Constitution; wanted stronger state powers, demanded Bill of Rights.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments guaranteeing individual liberties.

Checks and Balances

System where each government branch limits the others' powers.

Citizen Genêt

French diplomat who tried to rally U.S. support for France against Britain.

Federalists

Supported strong central government, Constitution; led by Hamilton, Adams.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments.

French Revolution

1789 revolt in France; deeply divided U.S. opinion.

Great Compromise

1787 agreement creating bicameral Congress (Senate & House).

Hamilton's Financial Plan

Assumption of state debts, national bank, excise taxes, tariffs.

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution"; later 4th president.

Jay's Treaty

1794 treaty with Britain; settled debts, kept peace but angered Republicans.

John Adams

2nd president; Federalist; handled XYZ Affair, passed Alien & Sedition Acts.

Neutrality Act

1793 declaration by Washington to stay out of European wars.

Pinckney's Treaty

1795 treaty with Spain; secured Mississippi River navigation rights.

Quasi War

Undeclared naval war between U.S. and France (1798-1800).

Republicans (Democratic-Republicans)

Party led by Jefferson, Madison; favored states' rights, farmers.

Revolution of 1800

Peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Jefferson's Republicans.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

1798 statements claiming states could nullify federal laws.

Washington's Farewell Address

1796 warning against political parties and foreign alliances.

Whiskey Rebellion

1794 farmers' revolt against excise tax; Washington put it down with troops.

XYZ Affair

1797 incident where French officials demanded bribes from U.S. envoys; sparked anti-French feeling.