APUSH-Unit 2 Vocab

The French & Indian War

The French & Indian War

A war between France and Great Britain in North America which was fought to determined who controlled the vast North American Territory. Great Britain ended up winning and were granted a lot of land in North America such as Canada, Florida, and more land east of the Mississippi River.

The Proclamation of 1763

This was a proclamation line preventing American colonists from settling the Ohio River Valley, was a response to Pontiac’s Rebellion, and was supposed to be temporary. However, it angered colonists because they had just fought a war to gain control of the Ohio River valley and now they can’t settle it. This would later contribute to the causes of the American Revolution.

Republicanism

It'‘s a concept that involves preventing concentration of power, providing for the common good, equal opportunity, and making sure government leaders were independent, meaning that they didn’t get or owe favors from anyone. This idea contributed to the American Revolution because the colonists didn’t like having taxes imposed on them by a monarchy because because they didn't think taxes were for the common good and a monarchy is a concentration of power.

Mercantilism

An economic policy seeking a favorable balance of trade meaning that exports should be greater than imports. In an attempt to gain mercantile control, Great Britain established the Navigation Acts that stated that the colonies could only trade with Great Britain and that imports and exports had to be on British ships.

The Stamp Act

A tax on public paper in the colonies which included almanacs, newspapers, and legal documents. This angered the colonists because they didn't have any representatives in the parliament that was imposing taxes on them and this played a key role in the causes of the American Revolution.

The Sons of Liberty

A well-organized Patriot paramilitary political organization that was established to undermine British rule in colonial America. These were the people who dressed up as Native Americans and carried out the Boston Tea Party.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. It was written in plain language that the average person could understand and was the first work to openly ask Great Britain for independence.

The Battle of Saratoga

It was a battle in upstate New York in October 1777 commanded by American generals Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold. It was the most important battle of the war because it convinced France to start providing aid to the colonies.

Loyalist

Colonists who were loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution. These people constituted about one-third of the population of the American colonies during that conflict. They were mostly characterized by being wealthy and living on large plantations.

“Republican Motherhood”

The ideology representing women's roles in the time before, during, and after the American Revolution. It was the idea that daughters and mother should be taught to uphold ideas of Republicanism. They would pass their Republican values to further generations. This idea separated women from men but at the same time it encouraged the education of women and their importance in society.

The Articles of Confederation

Established a central government that consisted of just one body. Each state was given one vote, with at least 9/13 votes needed to pass important laws. However, it didn’t give Congress the power to regulate commerce or to collect taxes which was a big weakness.

The Northwest Ordinance

For the large territory lying between the Great Lakes and Ohio River, Congress passed a law that set the rules for creating new states. It granted limited self-government to the developing territory and prohibited slavery in the region.

Shays’ Rebellion

In the summer of 1786, Captain Daniel Shays who was a Massachusetts farmer led other farmers in an uprising against high state taxes, imprisonment for debt, and lack of paper money. The rebel farmers stopped the collection of taxes and forced the closing of debtors’ courts. In January 1787, when Shays and his followers attempted to seize weapons from the Springfield armory, the state militia of Massachusetts broke Shays’ Rebellion.

The Great Compromise

Provided for a two-house Congress. In the Senate, states would have equal representation, but in the House of Representatives, each state would be represented according to the size of its population.

The Anti-Federalists

People who feared that the new government would be too strong. They tended to be small farmers and settlers on the western frontier.

The Bill of Rights

Amendments drafted largely by James Madison in 1789 and 10 of them were ratified in 1791.

The Neutrality Proclamation (1793)

Believing that the young nation was not strong enough to engage in a European war, he issued a proclamation of US neutrality in foreign affairs. This caused Jefferson to resign from the cabinet because he did not agree.

Jay’s Treaty

It was a treaty stating that Great Britain would leave their forts in the Northwest Territory but only if we pay back all debts owed to them. However, they don’t tell us that they wouldn’t stop searching and seizing US ships. It was narrowly ratified by the Senate and angered colonists who were in support of France.

The Alien and Sedation Acts

This increased the years required for US immigrants to qualify for US citizenship from 5 years to 14 years. It also allowed for presidents to deport immigrants who were considered to be dangerous. This also made it illegal to criticize either the president or Congress and imposed fines or imprisonment for editors who violated the law. This would be a violation of the First Amendment.

The Revolution of 1800

The Democratic-Republican Party candidate, Vice President Thomas Jefferson, defeated the Federalist Party candidate, president John Adams. The election was a political realignment that ushered in a generation of Democratic-Republican leadership.

The Federalist Party

The leaders of this party were John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. They viewed the Constitution loosely and wanted to create a strong central government. They also wanted to aid business, create a national bank, and supported high tariffs.