The American Revolution and the Articles of Confederation

Flashcards covering key historical figures, documents, and events from the American Revolution and the Articles of Confederation.

What was Common Sense and who published it?

A pamphlet written and published in January 1776 by Thomas Paine that used Enlightenment philosophy to argue that it would be contrary to common sense to allow British injustices to continue.

How does the transcript distinguish the American Revolution from the American Revolutionary War?

The American Revolution is defined as an anti-colonial revolt (1765-1773) where the Thirteen Colonies established the United States, whereas the American Revolutionary War occurred from 1775 to 1783.

What event served as the origin for the beginning of the American Revolution?

The aftermath of the French and Indian War, when Britain sought to resolve the debt that the war had created.

What was the purpose of the Olive Branch Petition of July 1775?

It was a statement by the Continental Congress that reasserted colonial loyalty to King George III and asked him to intervene with Parliament on behalf of the colonies.

How did King George III respond to the Olive Branch Petition?

The king refused to recognize the legitimacy of the Continental Congress to make any such request.

What major key details and positions are listed for Thomas Jefferson?

He was a Founding Father who authored the Declaration of Independence, served as First Secretary of State (1779-1781) and Second Vice President (1797-1801), helped found the Democratic-Republican Party in 1794, and co-authored the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.

What were the contents and significance of the Declaration of Independence?

It announced the official break of the colonies from England. It included a preamble reflecting Enlightenment philosophy on natural rights, along with 27 grievances and charges of wrongdoing against the crown and Parliament.

What was the core principle of Republican Motherhood?

The notion that women should be educated so that they could teach their children, at home, the proper values of being a citizen.

What were the main characteristics and ratification year of the Articles of Confederation?

Ratified in 1781, it was the first U.S. constitution, which strongly favored states' rights and forbade Congress from levying taxes before being replaced following Shays' Rebellion.

What guidelines were established by the Northwest Ordinance of 1785?

It established that territories with at least 60,000 people could apply for statehood with equal status to existing states, and it banned slavery north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi.

What was Shays' Rebellion and what was its primary political outcome?

An insurrection in Massachusetts (1786-1787) led by Daniel Shays over oppressive taxes and debt collectors that helped spur the Constitutional Convention.