APUSH Unit 2: American Revolution & Early Republic Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, dates, and historical significance from APUSH Unit 2: American Revolution & Early Republic.

Proclamation of 1763

British law preventing colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. Angered colonists who wanted western land and showed Britain was willing to restrict colonial expansion after the French and Indian War.

Sugar Act (1764)

Tax on sugar/molasses and stricter enforcement of trade laws. One of the first major postwar taxes; increased colonial resentment toward taxation without representation.

Stamp Act (1765)

Tax requiring stamps on newspapers, legal documents, licenses, and other printed materials. Caused widespread protests and helped unite the colonies against British taxation.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

Meeting of colonial representatives protesting the Stamp Act. Demonstrated growing intercolonial cooperation and argued that only colonial representatives could tax colonists.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Taxes on imported goods such as glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea. Renewed colonial resistance and led to boycotts and increased tensions with Britain.

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers killed five colonists during a confrontation in Boston. Patriot propaganda used the event to portray Britain as tyrannical and increase anti-British sentiment.

Committees of Correspondence

Networks that allowed colonies to communicate about British policies and resistance. Helped coordinate colonial resistance and created greater unity among the colonies.

Sons of Liberty

Colonial resistance group that organized protests against British taxation. Helped lead resistance to the Stamp Act and other British policies; made protest more organized and forceful.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Patriots dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act. Provoked Britain into passing the Intolerable Acts, dramatically escalating the crisis.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Punitive British laws imposed on Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party. Instead of isolating Massachusetts, they united the colonies against Britain and helped lead to the First Continental Congress.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Meeting of colonial delegates to coordinate a response to British policies. Demonstrated colonial unity and organized a boycott of British goods.

Common Sense (1776)

Thomas Paine's pamphlet arguing that the colonies should become independent from Britain. Made independence more understandable and popular among ordinary colonists.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Document declaring that the colonies were independent from Britain and explaining their grievances. Formally created the United States and established ideas of natural rights and government by consent.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Major American victory over British forces in New York. Turning point of the Revolution; convinced France to openly ally with and support the Americans.

Battle of Yorktown (1881)

American and French forces trapped and defeated Cornwallis's British army in Virginia. Effectively ended major fighting and led Britain toward peace negotiations.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Treaty officially ending the Revolutionary War. Britain recognized American independence and gave the United States territory extending west to the Mississippi River.

Articles of Confederation (1777/1781)

America's first national government, giving most power to the states. Created a weak central government that struggled with taxation, military funding, and economic problems, leading to calls for a stronger Constitution.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Law establishing a process for territories north of the Ohio River to become states. Created an organized system for western expansion and prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Shays' Rebellion (1786–87)

Uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting debt and high taxes. Exposed weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and convinced many leaders that a stronger national government was necessary.

Great Compromise

Constitutional agreement creating a bicameral Congress: House based on population, Senate with equal representation. Resolved the major dispute between large and small states and made the Constitution possible.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement counting three-fifths of enslaved people for purposes of representation and taxation. Increased Southern political representation while embedding slavery into the Constitution.

Checks and Balances

System in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches. Prevents one branch from becoming too powerful and reflects the Founders' fear of tyranny.

Separation of Powers

Division of government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Prevents concentration of power and creates the basic structure of the U.S. federal government.

Bill of Rights (1791)

First ten amendments to the Constitution protecting individual liberties. Helped secure ratification by protecting rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and due process.

Trenton & Princeton (1776–77)

Washington's victories over Hessian and British forces in New Jersey. Boosted American morale after a difficult period in the war.

Fugitive Slave Act (1793)

Federal law requiring escaped enslaved people to be returned to their enslavers. Demonstrated that slavery remained deeply embedded in the new federal system.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Farmers protested a federal tax on whiskey. Washington's government suppressed the rebellion, proving the new federal government had greater enforcement power.

Jay's Treaty (1795)

Agreement between the United States and Britain resolving several post-Revolution disputes. Improved relations with Britain but was highly controversial because many Americans thought it favored Britain.

Washington's Farewell Address (1796)

Washington's final public address as president. Warned against political parties and permanent foreign alliances.

Adams Presidency (1797)

John Adams became the second president; his presidency included the XYZ Affair and Alien and Sedition Acts. Raised major debates about foreign policy, immigration, federal power, and free speech.