AP U.S. History Unit 2 Review

Salutary Neglect

British policy of loosely enforcing trade regulations and allowing American Colonies considerable freedom in economic and political matters during the 17th & 18th century

Albany Plan

Plan by Benjamin Franklin Proposed for the unification of the American colonies under a central government, primarily aimed at coordination colonial defense during the French and Indian War

French and Indian War

Conflict lasting 1754-1763 in North America, primarily involving British Colonist and their Native American Allies against the French and their own indigenous partners

Reshaped territorial claims in Norther America, leading to the American Revolution

Virtual Representation

British governmental theory that Parliament spoke for all British subjects, including Americans, even if they did not vote for its members

Treaty of Paris 1763

The agreement to end the French and Indian War. As a result Britain gained control of Canada and Florida, while France gave Louisiana to Spain

Whigs

a political party that emerged in the early 1830s to oppose what members saw as President Andrew Jackson's abuses of power

Pontiac's Rebellion

1763 - An Indian uprising after the French and Indian War. They opposed British expansion into the western Ohio Valley and began destroying British forts in the area. The attacks ended when the leader was killed.

Proclamation of 1763

the British government which forbade British colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, and which required any settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east.

Sugar Act

law passed by the British Parliament setting taxes on molasses and sugar imported by the colonies

Stamp Act

1765; law that taxed printed goods, including: playing cards, documents, newspapers, etc.

Declaratory Act

Act passed in 1766 just after the repeal of the Stamp Act. Stated that Parliament could legislate for the colonies in all cases.

Townshend Acts

laws passed in 1767 that taxed goods such as glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea

Sons of Liberty

A secret society of American patriots formed to protect the rights of the colonist and fight taxation by the British government.

They organized protest and boycotts against the British

Daughters of Liberty

This organization supported the boycott of British goods. They urged Americans to wear homemade fabrics and produce other goods that were previously available only from Britain. They believed that way, the American colonies would become economically independent.

Boycott

A group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest against its policies

Samuel Adams

A Founding Father of the United States, American statesman, and political philosopher. He advocated for colonial rights and planned resistance against the British

James Otis

A colonial lawyer who defended (usually for free) colonial merchants who were accused of smuggling. Argued against the writs of assistance and the Stamp Act.

John Adams

America's first Vice-President and second President. Sponsor of the American Revolution in Massachusetts, and wrote the Massachusetts guarantee that freedom of press "ought not to be restrained."

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams. During the Revolutionary War, she wrote letters to her husband describing life on the homefront. She urged her husband to remember America's women in the new government he was helping to create.

Committee of Correspondence

A network of communication among the colonies to coordinate resistance against British policies and promote resistance against taxation without representation.

Boston Massacre

Deadly confrontation that took place on March 5th 1770 between British soldiers and a group of colonial civilians, resulting in the death of 5 colonist. After, there was more buildup to the American Revolution

Tea Act

A law passed by the British Parliament in 1773 that granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies, allowing it to sell tea at a reduced tax rate. This act aimed to help the struggling company and assert British authority over colonial trade.

Boston Tea Party

a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773, where American colonist frustrated British taxation without representation, dumped 342 chest of British tea into the Boston harbor

Coercive Acts / Intolerable Acts

After the Boston Tea Party British Parliament shutdown the Boston Harbor in 1774, altered the Massachusetts Charter, and allowed British troops to be quartered in private homes. To serve as a punishment to American colonists.

Quebec Act

1774; an act of the Parliament of Great Britain which set procedures of governance in the Province of Quebec.

Continental Congress

A series of gatherings of the representatives from the 13 Colonies that served as a governing body during the American Revolution.

Lexington and Concord

April 19, 1775, were the first major military actions between the British Army and Patriot militias from British America's Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War.

Olive Branch Petition

The final attempt by the Second Continental Congress in July 1775 to avoid a full-blown war with Great Britain.

Bunker Hill

One of the first battles in the Revolutionary War. Americans built a small fort on Breed's Hill, the British attacked. The British suffered heavy casualties but overall won the battle.

George Washington

1st President of the United States. He played a pivotal role in leading the American colonies to victory during the American Revolution and set key precedents for the presidency and the new government

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that claimed the colonies had a right to be an independent nation

Declaration of Independence

Foundational document that announced the American colonies separation from British rule, asserting their right to self-govern and listing grievances against King George III

King George III

The monarch of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760-1820, know for his role during a tumultuous period that included the American Revolution

Saratoga

A battle that took place in New York where the Continental Army defeated the British. It proved to be the turning point of the war. This battle ultimately had France to openly support the colonies with military forces in addition to the supplies and money already being sent.

Yorktown

the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. This pivotal conflict saw American and French forces, under General George Washington and French General Rochambeau, lay siege to British General Cornwallis's troops, leading to the surrender of the British forces

Loyalists

American colonies who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution. These individuals believed in maintaining ties with Britain for economic stability, social order, and protection against perceived threats from radical revolutionaries.

Treaty of Alliance

a formal agreement between the American colonies and France, signed in 1778 during the Revolutionary War, which provided military support and assistance to the Americans in their fight against British rule

Articles of Confederation

the first written constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a weak central government that lacked the power to tax or regulate trade.

This framework aimed to unify the thirteen states but ultimately proved ineffective in addressing economic and political challenges, leading to its replacement by the Constitution.

Shay's Rebellion

an armed uprising that took place in 1786-1787 in western Massachusetts, protesting economic injustices and the lack of government response to the economic struggles faced by farmers.

Constitutional Convention

a gathering of delegates in 1787 aimed at addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and creating a new framework for the U.S. government.

Virginia Plan

a proposal presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that outlined a framework for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature, where representation would be based on population

New Jersey Plan

a proposal presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 aimed at amending the Articles of Confederation rather than replacing them. It advocated for a unicameral legislature where each state would have equal representation, regardless of population size

Great Compromise

this balanced the needs of states with larger populations that wanted representation based on population with those of smaller states that preferred equal representation, ultimately leading to a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Federalist Papers

a collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution

Anti-Federalists

a group of individuals who opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in the late 18th century, advocating for stronger state governments and fearing that a powerful central government would threaten individual liberties.

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1791, which outline and guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms for individuals.