US History: Revolution to Era of Good Feelings

Revolutionary Cause: Taxation

Taxation without representation, such as the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts.

Revolutionary Cause: War Debt

British war debt from the French and Indian War was passed on to the colonists.

Revolutionary Cause: Protests

Protests, boycotts, and British enforcement actions like the Intolerable Acts and Boston Massacre.

Revolutionary Cause: Enlightenment

Enlightenment ideas promoted individual liberty and natural rights.

Articles of Confederation: Structural Weakness

Fear of tyranny led to a weak national government with no chief executive or courts.

Articles of Confederation: Taxation Weakness

Creators denied Congress the power to levy taxes directly due to a dislike of enforced taxation.

Why Articles Failed: Taxation

Congress lacked the power to tax and raise revenue to pay national debts.

Why Articles Failed: Executive

Lacked an executive branch with enforcement power to execute national laws.

Why Articles Failed: Voting

Required unanimous approval to amend and a supermajority to pass laws.

Why Articles Failed: Commerce

Inability to regulate commerce created economic conflicts between states.

The Great Compromise

Established a bicameral legislature with population-based House and equal-representation Senate.

Presidential Election Method

Elected through the Electoral College based on state popular vote results.

Federalist Arguments

A strong national government was essential for order, trade, rights, and defense.

Anti-Federalist Arguments

Feared a strong central government could become tyrannical without an explicit Bill of Rights.

Washington's Precedent: Term Limit

Established the two-term presidential limit.

Washington's Precedent: Cabinet

Created the Presidential Cabinet to advise the executive.

Washington's Farewell Address

Warned against political parties and permanent foreign alliances.

Whiskey Rebellion

Washington exercised federal authority to suppress the rebellion and enforce federal law.

First Two Political Parties

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

Federalist Party Platform

Favored a strong central government, loose constitutional interpretation, and a national bank.

Democratic-Republican Platform

Favored strong state governments, strict interpretation, and an agrarian economy.

Issue of Impressment

British and French navies forcibly seized American ships and pressed American sailors into service.

Washington's Response to Impressment

Sent John Jay to negotiate Jay's Treaty, temporarily avoiding war.

Adams's Response to Impressment

Attempted negotiations leading to the XYZ Affair and the Quasi-War with France.

Alien Act

Increased citizenship residency to 14 years and authorized deporting dangerous non-citizens.

Sedition Act

Made it a crime to publish false statements criticizing the federal government.

Response to Alien and Sedition Acts

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions claimed states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws.

Judicial Review

The Supreme Court's power to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.

Establishment of Judicial Review

Established by the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Laissez-faire Definition

An economic doctrine advocating minimal government intervention or regulation.

Jefferson's Ideal US

An agrarian republic of independent yeoman farmers with a small central government.

Importance of Mississippi River

Primary trade artery and port access to the Gulf of Mexico via New Orleans.

Louisiana Purchase Acquisition

Purchased from Napoleon of France for $15 million after he lost interest in a Western empire.

Lewis and Clark Goal: Route

To find a continuous water route to the Pacific Ocean (Northwest Passage).

Lewis and Clark Goal: Geography

To map the geography, rivers, and natural resources of the new territory.

Lewis and Clark Goal: Diplomacy

To establish diplomatic and trade relations with Native American tribes.

Lewis and Clark Goal: Science

To record scientific observations of native plants, animals, and climate.

War of 1812 Cause: Impressment

Continued British impressment of American sailors and seizure of ships.

War of 1812 Cause: Native Americans

British aid and arming of Native Americans resisting territorial expansion.

War of 1812 Cause: National Honor

American desire to defend national honor and annex Canadian territories.

War of 1812 Impact: Americans

Sparked national pride, unity, and economic independence through domestic manufacturing.

War of 1812 Impact: British

Successfully defended Canada and maintained European trade power without mainland loss.

War of 1812 Impact: Canadians

Developed a strong national identity after resisting US invasion attempts.

War of 1812 Impact: Native Americans

Devastating loss of land, leaders like Tecumseh, and British military backing.

War Hawk Definition

Young Democratic-Republican congressmen advocating war with Britain to expand territory.

Treaty of Ghent

Ended the War of 1812 by restoring pre-war boundaries and conditions.

American System: National Bank

Second Bank of the United States established to ensure a stable national currency.

American System: Tariffs

Protective tariffs to shield growing American industries from foreign competition.

American System: Infrastructure

Federal funding for internal improvements like roads, canals, and public works.

Industrial Revolution Definition

Shift from handcraft home production to large-scale machine manufacturing in factories.

Industrial Revolution Impact

Led to urban growth, factory labor, expanded transportation networks, and immigration.