Overview of Colonial America: 1754-1800

Salutary Neglect

British non-interference in colonies before 1763.

French and Indian War

Conflict (1754-1763) between Britain and France.

Proclamation of 1763

Prevented colonial westward expansion post-war.

Sugar Act

Tax on sugar and molasses imported to colonies.

Stamp Act

Tax on printed materials in the colonies.

Quartering Act

Colonists required to house British soldiers.

Townshend Acts

Taxes on imported goods to the colonies.

Tea Act

Tax on tea, leading to Boston Tea Party.

Intolerable Acts

Punitive laws against Massachusetts following Boston Tea Party.

Quebec Act

Extended Quebec's boundaries and granted religious freedom.

Stamp Act Congress

First unified colonial response against British taxation.

Committees of Correspondence

Colonial networks for communication and coordination.

Continental Congress

Assembly of colonial delegates for independence discussions.

Enlightenment Ideas

Philosophical movement influencing revolutionary thought.

Declaration of Independence

Document declaring American colonies' independence from Britain.

Homefield Advantage

Colonial familiarity with terrain aiding military efforts.

French Assistance

Support from France after Battle of Saratoga.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent to all individuals, emphasized by Enlightenment.

Consent of the Governed

Government's legitimacy derived from the people's approval.

Separation of Powers

Dividing government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and Balances

System preventing any government branch from becoming dominant.

Federalism

Power distribution between federal and state governments.

Virginia Plan

Proposal for representation based on state population.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for equal representation for all states.

Great Compromise

Established bicameral legislature balancing state representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted three-fifths of slave population for representation.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution and strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents fearing excessive federal power.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting individual liberties.

Shays' Rebellion

Uprising highlighting weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Whiskey Rebellion

Demonstrated federal government's strength under the Constitution.

Hamilton's Plan

Federal assumption of state debts and establishment of a bank.

Jefferson's Opposition

Advocated for a weak central government and agrarianism.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws limiting immigration and restricting speech against government.

Nullification

States' rights to invalidate federal laws deemed unconstitutional.

XYZ Affair

Diplomatic incident straining U.S.-France relations.

Pinckney's Treaty

Resolved U.S.-Spain border disputes and navigation rights.

Election of 1800

First peaceful transfer of power between political parties.

Northwest Ordinance

Established governance and banned slavery in Northwest Territory.