APUSH Period 3 mnenomic devices

Sugar Act

Sweet tax:

Britain taxed sugar and molasses to raise money.

• Tip: Think sugar makes everything sweet, but now it costs extra.

Vice-Admiralty Court

No jury, just vice:

British courts run by a judge only, for smuggling cases.

• Tip: Colonists hated it because it was unfair.

Stamp Act

Stamp your paper, pay your caper

Taxes on paper goods; you needed a stamp to prove you paid.

Virtual Repersentation

Repersented in spirit, not in seat

• Colonists were told Parliament represented them even though they had no colonial representatives.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

Congress fights the stamp

• First unified colonial protest against taxation.

Declaratory Act (1766)

We still rule

• Britain declares it has the right to make laws over colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”

Townshend Acts (1767)

Townshend taxes glass, paint, tea

Taxes on imported goods to pay governors’ salaries.

8. John Dickinson’s Letter From a Pennsylvania Farmer

Farmer fights unfair taxes

Argued Parliament could not tax colonies without consent.

Daughters of Liberty

Women weave, women fight

Boycotted British goods, made homemade products.

Committees of Correspondence

Colonies chat secretly

Spread news and organize resistance between colonies.

Tea Act (1773)

Cheap tea, colonists peeved

Gave British East India Company monopoly; led to anger, not savings.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Tea overboard

• Protest against Tea Act; colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.

Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts (1774)

Britain cracks down hard

Punishment for Boston Tea Party; closed Boston Harbor, restricted meetings.

First Contiential Congress (1774)

Colonies unite to complain

• Protested Intolerable Acts, coordinated boycotts.

Lexington and Concord (1775)

Shots heard round the world

First battles of the Revolution

Second Contiential Congress (1775)

War management

Managed war effort, created Continental Army, appointed Washington.

Thomas Paine/Common Sense (1776)

Plain talk, radical walk

Pamphlet urging independence; convinced colonists to break with Britain.

Mercantalism

“Mother Country Comes First”

• Colonies exist to benefit the mother country

• Raw materials → Britain, finished goods → colonies

Trigger phrase: Colonies = economic servants

Salutary neglect

“SALUTE and LEAVE”

• Britain salutes 👋 and walks away

• Loose enforcement of laws

Trigger phrase: Hands-off Britain before 1763

Liberalism

“LIBERTY for the individual”

• Individual rights

• Consent of the governed

• Limited government

Trigger phrase: Locke = life, liberty, property

Decleration of Independence

“BREAK-UP LETTER”

• Lists grievances

• Explains natural rights

• Declares separation from Britain

Trigger phrase: We’re done with the king

Enlightenment

“LIGHT UP your thinking”

• Reason over tradition

• Science, logic, natural laws

Trigger phrase: Think, don’t just obey

Radical Whig Ideology

“POWER CORRUPTS”

• Fear of tyranny

• Government must be watched

• Inspired colonial suspicion of Britain

Trigger phrase: Constant vigilance

Memory sentence

“Sugar Stamps Virtually Stamp Declaratory Towns, Farmers’ Daughters Corresponded Tea Parties Coerce Congress’ Lexington Seconds Paine.”

Tories

“TORE-y for the king”

• Loyalists

• Supported Britain

Trigger phrase: Pro–British colonists

Whigs

“WHIGS want independence”

• Opposed monarchy

• Supported resistance

Trigger phrase: Anti-king, pro-liberty

Whig theory of mixed government

“MIXED = CHECKS”

• Balance of power

• Prevent tyranny

• King + Parliament + courts

Trigger phrase: No one branch too strong

• Ohio River Valley

• 1754–1763

• British war debt

• Taxes after the war

French and Indian War

Memory Sentence #2

Mercantilism controlled trade, salutary neglect ignored the colonies, Enlightenment and liberalism inspired Whigs to fear tyranny and declare independence from Tory rule.

French and Indian War

“FRENCH fight for LAND, Britain wins but LOSES money”

• French & Indian War → France + Native Americans vs. Britain

• LAND → fought over Ohio River Valley

• Britain wins → gains Canada & territory

• LOSES money → massive war debt

WAR → DEBT → TAXES → REVOLT”

• War fought in North America

• Britain goes into debt

• Britain taxes colonies

• Colonists rebel

Saratoga (1777)

“SARAtoga = STOP & SIGNAL”

• Turning point of the war

• Showed colonies could win

• Signal to France to help

Trigger: Turning point → French help

Treaty of Paris (1783)

PARIS = PEACE”

• Ends Revolutionary War

• Britain recognizes U.S. independence

Trigger: War over

Republic

REPRESENTATIVE RULE”

• People elect leaders

• No monarch

Trigger: No king

Popular Sovereignty

“POWER TO THE PEOPLE”

• Government gets power from the people

Trigger: People rule

John Adams-Thoughts on Government

THREE-BRANCH ADAMS”

• Separation of powers

• Bicameral legislature

• Checks and balances

Trigger: Strong but limited government

Articles of Confederation

“LOOSE KNOT”

• Weak national government

• Strong states

• No taxing power

Trigger: Too weak

Northwest Ordinance/Land Ordinances

“MAP TO STATEHOOD”

• Process for new states

• Banned slavery north of Ohio River

Trigger: Organized westward expansion

Shay’s Rebellion (1786-87)

SHAYS SHAKES THE SYSTEM”

• Farmers revolt over debt

• Shows Articles are weak

Trigger: Need stronger government

Virginia Plan

BIG STATE PLAN”

• Representation based on population

Trigger: Big states benefit

New Jersey Plan

“SMALL STATE PLAN”

• Equal representation for states

Trigger: Small states benefit

Great Compromise

“HOUSE + SENATE”

• Two-house legislature

• Population + equal representation

Trigger: Meet in the middle

Federalists

“FEDERAL = STRONG CENTER”

• Supported Constitution

• Wanted strong national government

Trigger: Pro-Constitution

Anti-Federalists

“AFRAID OF POWER”

• Opposed Constitution

• Wanted Bill of Rights

Trigger: Protect states & individuals

Constitution

“FRAMEWORK”

• Supreme law

• Separation of powers

• Checks and balances

Trigger: New government

Federalist Papers

“SELL THE CONSTITUTION”

• Essays by Hamilton, Madison, Jay

• Promoted ratification

Trigger: Persuasion

Memorazation sentence #3

“Saratoga stopped the war, France became friends, Paris made peace, a republic gave people power, weak Articles broke down, Shays scared leaders, big and small states compromised, Federalists wrote papers to pass the Constitution.”

Bill of rights

“FIRST TEN = FREEDOMS”

• Protect individual liberties (speech, religion, trial, arms, etc.)

• Trigger: First 10 amendments

Alexander Hamilton

HAMMERS the Economy”

• Federalist leader, strong central gov’t, economic genius

• Trigger: Bank, debt, taxes

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

“BANK, TAX, DEBT”

• Pay off debt, national bank, excise taxes, tariffs

• Trigger: Economic foundation for U.S.

Tarrif

“TAX ON IMPORTS”

• Protect U.S. industry; generate revenue

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

“Farmers FIGHT TAX ON WHISKEY”

• Showed federal government could enforce law under Constitution

Jay’s Treaty (1794)

“JAY’S PEACE WITH BRITAIN”

• Britain leaves forts in NW, trade limited

• Trigger: avoided war, unpopular in South/West

Federalist Party

“FEDERAL = STRONG CENTER”

• Hamilton, Adams, strong central gov’t, pro-Britain

Democratic-Republican Party

“JEFFERSON FARMERS”

• Limited central gov’t, strict Constitution, pro-French

XYZ Affair (1797)

“X Y Z = INSULT”

• French demanded bribes from U.S. diplomats

• Trigger: “Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute”

Alien Act (1798)

ALIENS BLOCKED

Targeted immigrants, especially those who might support the Democratic-Republicans, delaying citizenship and limiting political influence.

Sedition Act (1798)

SILENCE CRITICS

Made it illegal to publish or speak critically about the federal government

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798-99)

STATES CAN SAY NO”

• Jefferson & Madison argue states can nullify unconstitutional federal laws

Virginia Dynasty

“JAMES, MADISON, MONROE RULE”

• 1800–1824, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe

• Trigger: Presidents from VA dominate

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

“JUDICIAL REVIEW”

• Court can declare laws unconstitutional

Lousiana Purchase (1803)

“DOUBLE THE LAND”

• Bought territory from France, expanded U.S.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

“LEAD & CHART”

• Explore Louisiana Territory, map, scientific discovery

Embargo Act (1807)

STOP TRADE”

• Jefferson stops trade with Britain & France

• Trigger: hurts U.S. economy more than Europe

War Hawks

“YOUNG FIGHTERS”

• Southern & Western Congressmen pushing for war (1812)

Hartford Convention (1814)

“FEDERALISTS FUSS”

• New England Federalists oppose War of 1812

• Trigger: end of Federalist Party

Treaty of Ghent (1814)

“WAR ENDS, NO TERRITORY CHANGED”

• Ends War of 1812

Battle of New Orleans (1815)

“JACKSON WINS AFTER PEACE”

• Andrew Jackson defeats British after treaty signed

John Marshall

“MARSHALL MEANS STRONG COURT”

• Chief Justice, strengthens federal power, judicial review

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

BANK STANDS, STATE CAN’T TAX”

• Federal government stronger than states

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

FEDS CONTROL INTERSTATE TRADE”

• Congress regulates interstate commerce

Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)

“PRIVATE CONTRACTS PROTECTED”

• States can’t interfere with private charters

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

“EUROPE STAY OUT”

• Western Hemisphere off-limits to European colonization

• Trigger: U.S. asserts influence in Americas

House of Repersentivies

Peoples House

• Population-based repersentation

Trigger: Repersents the people directly

Legislative Branch

Makes laws

• Congress= House + Senate

Lawmaking power rests here.

Judicial Branch

Interprets Laws:

Courts, Supreme Court.

Tip: Can declare laws unconstitutional.

Excuitive Branch

Carries Out Laws:

President and cabinet.

Tip: Enforces laws made by Congress.

Washington’s Farewell Adress

Stay Neutral & No Parties:

Advice to avoid permanent alliances and political factions.

Tip: Guide for foreign policy and political unity.

Senate

States’ House:

Equal representation for states.

Tip: Protects smaller states’ interests.

Electoral college

People Elect President Indirectly:

System for presidential elections.

Tip: Prevents direct popular vote, balances state influence.

The Pickney Treaty (1795)

Friends with Spain:

U.S. gains navigation rights on Mississippi, border with Florida.

Proclimation of Neautrality

Stay Out of War:

Washington keeps U.S. neutral in European conflicts.

Thomas Jefferson

Agriculture & States:

Vision of an agrarian republic, strict Constitution.

Election of 1800

Peaceful Power Shift:

Jefferson defeats Adams, first peaceful transfer of power.

Tip: Set precedent for democratic transition of power.

Slave trade

“Ships Trade Slaves”

• Ships = Middle Passage across the Atlantic

• Trade = part of the Triangular Trade system

• Slaves = forced labor in the Americas (plantations)

Remember: economic system + human exploitation.

3/5ths Compromise

“3 out of 5 People Count”

• Enslaved people counted as 3/5 of a person

• Used for representation in Congress and taxation

• Gave southern states more political power

Roger Sherman (Great Compromise)

“House Big, Senate Equal”

• House of Representatives = population-based

• Senate = equal representation (2 per state)

• Created a bicameral legislatureRoger Sherman proposed the compromise

• Balanced large vs small state interests

• Helped prevent the Constitutional Convention from failing

Great Compromise

“House Big, Senate Equal”

• House of Representatives = population-based

• Senate = equal representation (2 per state)

• Created a bicameral legislature

Navagation Acts

“NAVigate with British Ships”

• Colonial trade limited to British ships

• Certain goods had to go through England

• Angered colonists and increased tension

Mercantile System

“Gold In, Raw Out”

• Colonies send raw materials

• Mother country gains wealth and power

• Colonies restricted from manufacturing

Republic

“People Vote, Leaders Rule”

• Citizens elect representatives

• Power comes from the people, not a king

• Core idea of U.S. government after independence

Treaty of Alliance (1778)

“France Friends Forever (1778)”

• Alliance between U.S. and France

• France provided money, troops, and navy

• Helped secure victory against Britain

• France officially allies with U.S.

Trigger: France joins the war

Pennslyvania’s Constution

“Pennsylvania = Power to the People”

• Strong legislature, weak executive

• Unicameral (one-house legislature)

• Very democratic for its time (expanded voting)

Reflects fear of centralized authority.

Delegated Powers

“DEL = Federal Does”

• Powers given to the national government

• Examples: tax, declare war, regulate trade

• Listed mainly in Article I of the Constitution

Reserved Powers

“RES = States Retain”

• Powers kept by the states

• Examples: education, local laws, elections

• Protected by the 10th Amendment