APUSH period 3 test

Sugar Act (1764)

Tax and crackdown on smuggling to raise revenue after the French and Indian War. Colonists protested loss of trial by jury and due process.

Currency Act (1764)

Banned colonial paper money, worsening debt and making Britain look controlling.

Stamp Act (1765)

Direct tax on paper goods. First widespread protests, boycotts, and mobs.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

Nine colonies met, argued taxation required representation, and coordinated resistance.

Virtual representation

British claim Parliament represented all subjects including colonists. Colonists rejected it.

Committees of Correspondence (1772+)

Networks that shared news of British actions. Created united political resistance.

Sons of Liberty

Militant protest group behind boycotts and Boston Tea Party. Sometimes used violence.

Regulators (1760s–1771)

Backcountry Carolinians protesting corrupt colonial elites. Showed internal colonial tensions.

Daughters of Liberty

Women boycotting British goods, promoting homespun cloth. Expanded women’s political influence.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Parliament asserted full power over colonies after repealing Stamp Act.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Import taxes that funded royal officials. Led to new boycotts.

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers killed 5 civilians. Became patriot propaganda.

Tea Act (1773)

Gave East India Company cheap direct tea sales. Seen as manipulation to accept taxes.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Patriots dumped tea into harbor. Direct challenge to British authority.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Punishment for Tea Party. Closed Boston port; limited self-government. Forced unity.

Continental Congress (1774–1789)

Led resistance then governed the United States during the war.

Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775)

First fighting of the Revolution. Militia push British back to Boston.

Battle of Bunker Hill (1775)

Boosted American confidence despite British win and high British casualties.

Continental Army (1775)

Unified army under George Washington.

Common Sense (1776)

Thomas Paine argued monarchy is illegitimate. Massively increased independence support.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Jefferson argued natural rights and listed grievances against King George III.

Thomas Jefferson

Main author of Declaration, supporter of republican liberty and limited government.

Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation (1775)

Offered freedom to enslaved men who joined the British. Increased Southern support for the Revolution.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Turning point. American victory convinced France to ally.

Valley Forge (1777–78 winter)

Washington’s army endured starvation but emerged trained and unified under Baron von Steuben.

Treaty of Alliance with France (1778)

France officially supports Americans with navy and troops.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Recognized American independence and territory to the Mississippi River.

Abigail Adams

Advocated women’s rights. “Remember the ladies” to her husband John Adams.

Republics

Governments based on people’s consent, not monarchy. Emphasized civic virtue.

Suffrage

Most states tied voting to property. Debate grew for broader rights after Revolution.

Separation of church and state

Idea that religion should not control government. Advanced especially in Virginia.

Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom (1786)

Jefferson’s law in Virginia ending state church and religious taxes. Model for First Amendment.

Free labor

Paid labor became linked to independence and freedom instead of slavery or servitude.

Inflation (Revolution era)

Paper money lost value. Hurt poor Americans and caused unrest.

Free trade

Reduced government regulation. Became a key republican economic idea.

Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations (1776)

Promoted free markets and economic liberty. Influenced American leaders.

Loyalists

Colonists who supported Britain. Many faced confiscation, exile, and discrimination.

Abolition (early movement)

Northern states began ending slavery gradually after the Revolution.

Freedom petitions

Enslaved people filed legal requests for liberty arguing natural rights applied to them.

Lemuel Haynes

Black patriot minister who argued freedom must apply to all.

Free Blacks

Population increased in the North after gradual emancipation.

Republican Motherhood

Women expected to train virtuous citizens, expanding women’s education.

Articles of Confederation (ratified 1781)

Weak central government. States kept power. Hard to tax or enforce laws.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Surveyed western land into grid system. Provided public education in each township.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Process for new states, banned slavery in Northwest Territory. Major achievement.

Empire of liberty

Jefferson’s idea of expanding territory while spreading republican ideals.

Shays’ Rebellion (1786–87)

Massachusetts farmers protested taxes and foreclosures. Proved Articles were too weak

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Created stronger federal government to replace Articles.

James Madison

“Father of the Constitution.” Proposed Virginia Plan and wrote Federalist Papers.

Virginia and New Jersey Plans (1787)

Large state vs small state representation proposals. Compromised into a bicameral legislature.

Electoral College

Indirect election of president. Limited pure majority rule.

Federalism

Shared power between national and state governments.

Separation of powers

Three branches to prevent tyranny.

Checks and balances

Each branch limits the others.

Three-Fifths Clause (1787)

Counted enslaved people as 3/5 for representation. Protected slavery politically.

Ratification (1787–88)

Debate over approving Constitution.

The Federalist Papers (1787–88)

Essays arguing for Constitution. Authors Madison, Hamilton, Jay.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed stronger national government. Demanded a Bill of Rights.

Bill of Rights (1791)

First 10 Amendments protecting civil liberties.

First Amendment (1791)

Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.

Treaty of Greenville (1795)

Ended Battle of Fallen Timbers. Native land ceded in Ohio.

Annuity system

Yearly federal payments to tribes to influence and control them.

Gradual emancipation

Northern states passed laws ending slavery slowly over generations.

Notes on the State of Virginia (1785)

Jefferson wrote about race and nature. Claimed Black inferiority, justifying slavery.

Assimilation

US strategy for Native Americans to adopt white culture and economy.

Bank of the United States (1791)

Hamilton’s plan to stabilize economy. Opposed by strict constructionists.

Strict constructionists

Believed federal government only had powers explicitly listed in the Constitution.

French Revolution (1789+)

Divided Americans. Republicans supported France; Federalists opposed radicalism.

Impressment

British seizure of American sailors into Royal Navy. Major grievance.

Jay’s Treaty (1795)

Avoided war but favored Britain. Angered Republicans and the public.

Federalists vs Republicans (1790s)

First party system. Federalists wanted strong central government; Republicans championed states’ rights.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

PA farmers protested whiskey tax. Washington’s response proved new government’s strength.

Judith Sargent Murray

Early advocate of women’s equality and education.

Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)

Warned against political parties and foreign alliances.

XYZ Affair (1797–98)

French bribery demand. Led to anti-French anger and the Quasi-War.

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Federalists suppressed immigrants and free speech. Huge backlash.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798–99)

Claimed states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws.

“Revolution of 1800”

Peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Republicans with Jefferson’s election.

12th Amendment (1804)

Separate votes for president and vice president to fix election issues.

Gabriel’s Rebellion (1800)

Failed slave revolt in VA. Led to harsher slave laws.

John Marshall

Chief Justice who strengthened federal power and judicial review.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review. Court can strike down laws.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Doubled US territory for $15M. Jefferson stretched constitutional power.

Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06)

Mapped the West and strengthened claims to Oregon.

Barbary Wars (1801–05)

US fought North African states to stop pirate tribute.

Embargo Act (1807)

Banned foreign trade. Intended to pressure Britain and France but hurt US economy.

Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa (1800s)

Native leaders who built Pan-Indian resistance against American expansion.

War of 1812 (1812–1815)

War with Britain over impressment and expansion into Native lands.

Fort McHenry (1814)

Defense of Baltimore inspired national pride. Known for the anthem associated with the event.

Andrew Jackson

War hero in 1812 and later president. Symbol of western expansion and white democracy.

Battle of New Orleans (1815)

Huge American victory after Treaty signed. Boosted nationalism.

Hartford Convention (1814–15)

Federalists opposed the war, looked disloyal, and party collapsed after.