Unit 2: Founding a New Nation

Seven Years' War

1756 - 1763. A global conflict involving major European powers; fought in North America as the French and Indian War, ultimately ending in British victory and territorial gains.

Albany Plan of Union

1754. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin; plan to unify the colonies for defense and governance during the Seven Years' War, but it was rejected by both the colonies and British government.

Treaty of Paris of 1763

Feb. 10, 1763. Ended the Seven Years' War with Britain gaining Canada and French territories east of the Mississippi; Spain got Louisiana.

Pontiac's War

1763 - 1766. A Native American uprising led by Chief Pontiac (of the Odawa) against British post-war policies in the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley following the Seven Years' War.

Proclamation of 1763

A British decree that prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent conflicts with Native Americans after the Seven Years War.

John Locke

An Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas about natural rights (life, liberty, property) and social contract theory greatly influenced the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence.

King George III

King of Great Britain from 1760 to 1820. His policies and taxation measures fueled colonial discontent and led to the American Revolution.

salutary neglect

British policy of lax enforcement of colonial trade laws; allowed American colonies to basically self-govern.

Virtual Representation

British argument that Parliament represented all British subjects, including colonists, despite the colonists' lack of direct representation in Parliament.

Sugar Act

1764. British law that taxed sugar and molasses imported into the colonies; aimed at raising revenue and cracking down on smuggling.

Stamp Act of 1765

1765. British tax requiring colonists to purchase stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and other times; led to widespread protests among colonists.

Townshend Acts

1767. A series of British laws imposing duties on imported goods like glass, paper, and tea; led to boycotts among colonists.

Committees of Correspondence

1772 - 1774. Colonial networks organized bu leaders like Samuel Adams to coordinate resistance against British policies and foster unity among the colonies.

Boston Massacre

March 5, 1770. Deadly confrontation in Boston where British soldiers killed 5 colonists (including Crispus Attucks), escalating tensions between Britain and the colonies.

Boston Tea Party

Dec. 16, 1773. A protests led by the Sons of Liberty where colonists (disguised as Mohawk Native Americans) dumped over 90,000 pounds of British tea into the Boston Harbor to oppose the Tea Act.

Coercive Acts

1774. Known as the Intolerable Acts by colonists; British laws that punished Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party by closing Boston Harbor and restricting colonial self-government.

Continental Congress

A series of colonial assemblies; First Continental Congress in 1774 addressing grievances against Britain, Second Continental Congress in 1775 managing the Revolutionary War and drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Lexington & Concord

April 19, 1775. The first battles of the American Revolution; British troops clashed with colonial militia, leading to "the shot heard 'round the world."

George Washington

Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution; later the first President of the U.S.

Olive Branch Petition

July 5, 1775. A final attempt by the Second Continental Congress to avoid war with Britain, sent to King George III who rejected it.

Common Sense

Published Jan. 10, 1776. Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence from Britain using plain language to persuade the common people.

Thomas Paine

Revolutionary writer and activist who supported American independence from Britain; most known for his pamphlet Common Sense.

Declaration of Independence

Ratified July 4, 1776. A document drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress; proclaimed the colonies' independence from Britain and listed all the colonists' grievances against King George III.

Battle of Saratoga

Oct. 17, 1777. Major turning point in the American Revolution where American forces, led by Horatio Gates, defeated British General John Burgoyne and securing French support for the colonies.

Battle of Yorktown

Oct. 19, 1781. The final major battle of the Revolutionary War where British General Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces led b George Washington.

Articles of Confederation

1781 - 1789. The first constitution of the U.S.; created a weak central government with limited powers, later replaced by the U.S. Constitution.

Loyalists

American colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the Revolutionary War.

Patriots

American colonists who supported independence from Britain and fought against British forces during the Revolutionary War.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Law passed under the Articles of Confederation that established a system for dividing and selling land in the West.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Law passed under the Articles of Confederation that created a procedure for admitting new states into the country and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Shays' Rebellion

1786 - 1787. Revolt led by Daniel Shays and Massachusetts farmers protesting high taxes and debt; highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

James Madison

Known as the "Father of the Constitution" and was a key writer of the Constitution; co-author of the Federalist Papers; fourth President of the U.S.

Constitutional Convention

May 25 - Sep. 17, 1787. A meeting in Philadelphia where delegates from 12 states drafted the U.S. Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation; led by George Washington.

Great Compromise

1787. An agreement at the Constitutional Convention to create a bicameral legislature, with population-proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate; satisfied both large and small states.

Three-fifths Compromise

1787. Compromise where enslaved individuals would count as 3/5 of one person in a population for representation and taxation purposes.

Federalist Papers

1787 - 1788. A series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton (51), James Madison (29), and John Jay (5) advocating for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and explaining the principles of federalism.

Bill of Rights

Ratified Dec. 15, 1791. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

limited goverment

A principle ensuring the government has only the powers granted by the Constitution; protected individual rights and prevented tyranny.

popular sovereignty

The idea that government authority comes from the people, who consent to be governed through voting.

separation of powers

A system dividing government powers among the 3 branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

checks and balances

A system ensuring that each branch of government can limit the powers of the others, maintaining balance and preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.

federalism

A system of government where power is shared between a central authority and individual states; established by the Constitution.

1. What role did the American colonists play in the Seven Years War?

Colonists supported the British by providing soldiers and supplies, as well as fighting alongside British forces in the North American theater of the conflict.

2. How did Native American life change in the 18th century?

Native Americans faced land loss, increased dependency on European goods, displacement due to westward colonial expansion, and disrupted alliances after the Seven Years' War.

3. What was the impact of the French and Indian War on Great Britain? On the colonies?

Britain gained vast territory in North America but also gained significant debt, leading to increased colonial taxation. The colonies gained military experience but resented British taxes and restrictions.

4. How did England try to rise money from the colonists?

By imposing taxes like the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts, aimed at covering war debts and maintaining colonial defense.

5. How did the violence around Boston in the spring of 1775 affect the proceedings in the Second Continental Congress?

The Battles of Lexington and Concord convinced the Congress to prepare for war, leading to the creation of the Continental Army under George Washington.

6. Why did the United States declare independence?

Because of British (especially King George III's) abuses of power, lack of representation in Parliament, and a desire for self-government.

7. What is the three-part structure of the Declaration of Independence?

1) Preamble, explaining natural rights.

2) List of grievances against King George III.

3) Formal declaration of independence from Great Britain.

8. What Enlightenment political philosopher had the greatest influence on Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration?

John Locke.

9. What factors made it difficult for the Continental Congress to create an effective Army?

The Continental Congress lacked funds, had short enlistment periods, and relied on untrained militias with limited resources.

10. What battle is considered the turning point in the war and why?

The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the American Revolution because it secured French military and financial support for the American cause.

11. Despite being at a clear disadvantage at the start of the war, the American patriots won. Why?

Americans had strong leadership, French assistance, knowledge of terrain, and resilience of the population.

12. In what ways did the Revolutionary War disrupt life for the people living in North America?

It caused economic hardship, displacement, destruction of property, and division between Loyalists and Patriots.

13. How radical was the American Revolution?

The Revolution was radical in establishing a republic with principles of equality and self-government, but was not radical in its continuation of slavery and limited rights for many. Buuuut on the grand scale of history (and for simplicity) it was still pretty radical.

14. In what ways did the Articles of Confederation function effectively, and what were its greatest failings?

It managed western land policies like the Northwest Ordinance, but failed to address financial issues, interstate disputes, and significant lack of centralized power.

15. What role did Shays' Rebellion play in the calling of the Constitutional Convention?

It exposed weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and prompted leaders to create a stronger federal government.

16. Who is considered the Father of the Constitution and why?

James Madison, because of his significant role in drafting the Constitution and advocating for its ratification, as well as crating the Virginia Plan.

17. Why is the Constitution often referred to as "a bundle of compromises"?

The different plans for representation in the House and Senate, the method of selecting the president, and the issue of slavery outlined in the Constitution had to be thoroughly debated and settled by compromise among delegates.

18. What are the underlying principles of the Constitution?

1) limited government

2) popular sovereignty

3) separation of powers

4) checks and balances

5) federalism