APUSH Period 3 Notes Overview

The Crisis of Empire, Revolution, and Nation Building

The Crisis of Empire, Revolution, and Nation Building

The period from 1754-1800 marked by Great Britain's attempts to control its North American colonies, leading to colonial resistance and the American Revolution.

French and Indian (Seven Years) War (1754-1763)

• Beginning: George Washington and militia was sent by colonies to gain control of French forts on the Ohio River Valley, but failed

• Albany Plan of Union

  Immediate Effects:

• No European powers left in America

• British Naval dominates

• Natives experiencing more autonomy

Salutary Neglect

The British policy before the French and Indian War that allowed colonies to operate with minimal interference, which changed after the war.

Taxation Without Representation

The colonial grievance against British taxes imposed without colonial consent, leading to resistance and the independence movement.

Common Sense

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine (1776) advocating for American independence from Great Britain, emphasizing the disadvantages of remaining connected to Britain.

Declaration of Independence

The document ratified on July 4, 1776, outlining grievances against King George III and asserting the colonies' right to self-governance.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States, establishing a weak central government that struggled to address various challenges.

Constitutional Convention

The 1787 meeting where delegates drafted the U.S. Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation, addressing the need for a stronger central government.

Federalism

The system established by the Constitution that divides powers between the national and state governments, allowing for a balance of authority.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, added to protect individual liberties and address Anti-Federalist concerns about government power.

Shays’s Rebellion

A 1786 uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and prompting calls for reform.

Great Compromise

The agreement during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature, balancing representation by population and equal state representation.

Federalists vs

The debate between supporters of the Constitution (Federalists) and opponents (Anti-Federalists) over the balance of power in the new government.

Natural Rights

The Enlightenment principle that individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty, and property, influencing revolutionary thought and the Declaration of Independence.

Republican Motherhood

The idea that women had a role in shaping the moral and civic values of the new nation, emphasizing their importance in the republic.

Pinckney’s Treaty

The 1795 agreement between the U.S. and Spain allowing American navigation of the Mississippi River and defining borders in Florida.

Neutrality Act

The 1793 legislation by President Washington to maintain U.S. neutrality in European conflicts, warning against permanent alliances.

Cotton Gin

Eli Whitney's 1793 invention that revolutionized cotton production in the South, increasing reliance on slavery and shaping the southern economy.

General Edward Braddock

• A British general during the French and Indian War.

• Known for leading an expedition against Fort Duquesne in 1755, but failed.

• His defeat marked a significant setback for British forces in North America.

Albany Plan of Union (Intercolonial government) 1754

• meeting of representatives from several American colonies.

• Aimed to create a unified government for the colonies to better defend against threats by recruiting troops and enforcing taxation, like attacks from Native Americans and the French.

• Proposed by Benjamin Franklin

• The plan was never approved, as the colonies preferred to keep their independence.

Peace of Paris 1763

Ended the Seven Years war

Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

• Initiated by Chief Pontiac (Native)

• Angered by west expansion of Britain and poor treatment

• Attacked and rebelled

  Result:

• British send troops

• Britain regulates west expansion with future laws to avoid conflict

• Recognition of Native autonomy

Proclamation of 1763

• Issued by King George III following the conclusion of the French and Indian War.

• Aimed to stabilize relations with Native Americans by prohibiting colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.

• Established a boundary line to prevent conflicts between settlers and indigenous peoples.

• This policy was met with resistance from colonists eager for westward expansion.

Patrick Henery

• Most influential during Stamp Act 1775

• Founding Father and Governor of Virginia

• fiery speeches advocating for independence from British rule.

• "Give me liberty, or give me death!"

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

A gathering of (9/13) colonial delegates to discuss responses to the Stamp Act and to organize resistance.

• Held in New York

• British king doesn’t have authority to tax colonists due to lack of colonial representation in parliament

• Resulted in the draft of the Declaration of Rights and Grievances

• Boycott

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

Secret society formed in 1765 in response to the Stamp Act that engaged in protests, boycotts, and acts of civil disobedience

• Exp: vandalized, destroyed stamped goods, and harmed revenue officials.

• Key figure includes Samuel Adams

John Dickinson's "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" (1767-1768)

Series of essays that expressed that the British had the right to regulate colonies trade and commerce, but NOT taxing without consent from assemblies (colonies reps)

James Otis

• Member of Massachusetts Legislators: “Master of the Laws”

• Wrote Massachusetts Circular Letter (with Samuel Adams): Petition sent to every legislator in colonies to protest against Townshed Acts (1767)

• Argued against the Writ of Assistance

• “No taxation without representation”

Samuel Adams

• Leader of Massachusetts Patriots (separate from Britain)

• Organized Boston Tea Party, to protest against taxation

• Established Committee of Correspondence

Committee of Correspondence (1772)

Exchange of letters between colonies regarding suspicious British activities that may be seen as a threat to the colonies.

• Facilitated communication

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Series of Acts (coercive and Quebec) that aimed to punish the colonies AFTER the Boston tea party

• Seen as “intolerable” by the colonists

Whigs

• Dominant political party in British Parliament

• Parliament > King (corrupt)

• Key Figure: John Locke

• Inspired colonists independence

Lord Fedrick North

• Becomes new Prime Minister in 1770 replacing Lord George Grenvile

• Repealed Townshed acts

• Kept small tax on tea

Charles Townshed (1767)

• Replaces Greenvile treasure position

• Implemented Townshed acts

Lord George Grenville

• Held prime minister and treasurer position (in beginning of 1760’s)

• Gets treasurer position replaced before resigning prime minister position

• Implemented Sugar/Revenue act of 1764, Quartering act of 1765, and Stamp act of 1765

Sugar Act (1764)

A British law imposing STRICTER ENFORCEMENT OF taxes on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies as well as other goods including wine, coffee, and indigo

• aimed at reducing smuggling and increasing revenue due to French and Indian war debt

• Also required prosecuted smugglers tried by crown appointed judge with no jury

Quartering Act 1765

Colonists had to provide for stationed British Troops food and living quarters

Stamp Act (1765)

A British tax requiring colonists to purchase special stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and other publications.

• First tax that was directly imposed for the colonists to pay, while previously merchants had to pay and increase price of goods to compensate

• Imposed to increase funds to support British military

Declaratory Act (1766)

A British law asserting Parliament's authority to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever."

• Response to the colonial opposition of the Stamp Act

Townshend Revenue Acts (1767)

A series of British laws imposing duties on ALL imported goods, leading to colonial protests.

• Implemented to pay for British Officials working in the colonies which lead to their independence of colonial assemblies

• Writ of Assistance- License to search anyone, even private property and ships, if suspected of smuggling

• Seen as an invasion of property since the writ didn’t specific conditions in which British Officials could search by colonists

Tea Act (1773)

A British law allowing the East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies to avoid bankruptcy at a cheaper price

• Also to bribe colonists to buy and thus recognizing Parliaments right to tax

• lead to colonial boycotts

• Boston Tea Party: colonists disguised as Natives dumped hundreds of chests of tea —> Had mixed opinion (+ defend liberties, - too radical)

Coercive Acts (1774)

• Punish colonists for Boston Tea Party

1. Port Act: Closed Boston port → Restricted Trade → Damaged Boston economy

2. Massachusetts Government Act: Decreased power of Massachusetts legislator by restricting meetings resulting in increased power of Royal Government

3. Administration of Justice Act: Royal officers accused of crime tried in Britain to protect from colonial resentment

• Expanded Quartering Act to PRIVATE HOMES

Quebec Act (1774)

Organize newly gained territory from France

• Expanded, + territory, Quebec more east → Colonists fear their lands may be taken away

• Declared official religion of Quebec territory as Roman Catholic → RESENTMENT from protestant majority colonies

• No representative government (assemblies) in Quebec → Colonists fear that their self-governing could also be taken away from the British Government