US History: French & Indian War

French and Indian War

The war that marks the start of Period 3 (1754-1763).

Cause of the French & Indian War

Conflict between Britain and France over the Ohio River Valley.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

The agreement that ended the French & Indian War.

Result for Britain from the war

They gained land but were deeply in debt.

Salutary Neglect

The policy that ended after the war, increasing tensions with the colonies.

Proclamation of 1763

Forbade colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Sugar Act (1764)

To raise money by taxing imported sugar and enforcing trade laws.

Stamp Act (1765)

A direct tax on printed materials — seen as 'taxation without representation.'

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

The organization formed to protest British taxes.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Taxes on imports like glass, paint, and tea.

Tea Act (1773)

Gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

The event that was a protest against the Tea Act.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Punishment for the Boston Tea Party; closed Boston Harbor and restricted self-government.

First Continental Congress (1774)

The colonial response to the Intolerable Acts.

Lexington and Concord

The first battle of the American Revolution (1775).

Declaration of Independence (1776)

The document that formally broke ties with Britain.

John Locke

The Enlightenment thinker who influenced the Declaration of Independence (natural rights, social contract).

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

The turning point battle of the Revolution.

Turning point significance of Saratoga

It convinced France to ally with the U.S.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The agreement that officially ended the war.

Territory gained from Treaty of Paris (1783)

Land up to the Mississippi River.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. national government.

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

Congress couldn't tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.

Major accomplishments under the Articles

Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

Shays' Rebellion

An event that exposed the weakness of the Articles (1786-87).

Constitutional Convention

Held to revise the Articles of Confederation.

The Great Compromise

Created a two-house Congress (Connecticut Compromise).

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted enslaved people as 3/5 of a person for representation.

Three branches of government

Legislative, Executive, Judicial.

Checks and balances

Each branch limits the powers of the others.

Federalists

Supported the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the Constitution due to fears of a strong central government and wanted a Bill of Rights.

Federalist Papers

Essays defending the Constitution, written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.

Bill of Rights

Added in 1791.

George Washington

The first U.S. President.

Washington's precedent on terms

Serving only two terms.

Hamilton's Financial Plan

Assume state debts, create a national bank, impose tariffs and excise taxes.

Whiskey Rebellion

Showed that the new federal government could enforce its laws (1794).

Washington's Farewell Address

Advised to avoid political parties and foreign alliances.

Washington's foreign policy

Neutrality.

XYZ Affair

French officials demanded bribes from American diplomats, causing anger in the U.S. (1797).

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws that limited criticism of the government and targeted immigrants (1798).

Political party supporting Alien and Sedition Acts

The Federalists.

Opposition to Alien and Sedition Acts

Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson and Madison).

Revolution of 1800

Peaceful transfer of power from Federalists (Adams) to Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson).

Republicanism

Government based on consent of the governed and civic virtue.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments.

Republican Motherhood

Emphasized women's role in teaching republican values to their children.

Major continuity during this period

Ongoing conflict between liberty and order.

Major change during this period

Shift from colonial rule to an independent, stronger national government.