HIST 1301 EXAM 2 review

French and Indian War (1754–1763)

War between Britain and France for control of North America. The victory gave Britain more land but heavy debt, leading to new taxes that pushed the colonies toward revolution.

Fort Duquesne

French fort in the Ohio Valley that controlled key trade routes. Britain’s failed attack there sparked the French and Indian War.

George Washington / Fort Necessity (1754)

Washington’s failed defense at Fort Necessity began the French and Indian War and gave him his first military experience.

Albany Plan of Union (1754)

Benjamin Franklin’s plan to unite the colonies for defense. It was rejected but became an early step toward colonial unity.

General Edward Braddock (1755)

Led a failed attack on Fort Duquesne and was killed. His defeat showed British weakness and boosted colonial confidence.

Lord Loudoun

Harsh British commander who ignored colonial assemblies and imposed strict control

William Pitt (1757)

Reimbursed assemblies, replaced Loudoun, sent more British troops, and worked with colonial leaders. His strategy helped Britain win but created war debt that led to colonial taxation.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended the french and indian war; France lost its North American lands. Britain gained Canada but was left with huge debt, leading to stricter colonial control.

Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

A native american uprising in 1763 led by the ottawa war chief pontiac against british rule in the great lakes region after the seven year’s war

Proclamation Line of 1763

Banned colonial settlement west of the Appalachians. Colonists felt betrayed and ignored the order.

Writs of Assistance

Search warrants letting officials look for smuggled goods anywhere. Colonists saw them as violations of liberty.

Revenue Act (1762)

Tightened trade enforcement, ending Britain’s “salutary neglect.” Colonists resisted the new strict policies.

Sugar Act (1764)

Tax on imported sugar and molasses, angered colonists.

Currency Act (1764)

Banned colonial paper money, causing financial strain and resentment.

Quartering Act (1765)

Required colonists to house and supply British troops, viewed as military occupation.

Stamp Act (1765)

Taxed printed materials like newspapers and legal papers. First direct internal tax, sparking mass protest.

“No Taxation Without Representation”

Colonists argued only their own assemblies could tax them, becoming the revolution’s core principle.

Virginia Resolves (1765)

Patrick Henry’s claim that only colonial assemblies could tax colonists, justifying resistance to Britain.

Sons of Liberty

Group that organized protests, boycotts, and resistance against British taxes, mobilizing common citizens.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

Delegates from nine colonies met to oppose the Stamp Act, wrote the declaration of rights and grievances marking the first united colonial action.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Repealed the Stamp Act but asserted Parliament’s full authority over colonies.

Townshend Duties (1767)

expanded what would be taxed

John Hancock

Wealthy merchant accused of smuggling. Became a symbol of defiance against British control.

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers killed five colonists during a protest. Patriots used it as propaganda to unite colonists.

Samuel Adams

put on a highly publicized funeral

Tea Act (1773)

Gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea, seen as a trick to accept taxes.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest. Britain responded with harsh punishment.

Coercive (Intolerable) Acts (1774)

British’s punishments for the boston tea act; Closed Boston Harbor and limited town meetings, uniting colonies against British oppression.

Quebec Act (1774)

Gave Canadians power in Ohio River valley/ west

First Continental Congress (1774)

a meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 American colonies held in Philadelphia to respond to the British Parliament's Intolerable Acts

General Thomas Gage’s Orders

Ordered to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock and seize colonial weapons, showing Britain’s readiness for force.

Old North Church Lantern Signal

Lanterns signaled British troop movement, warning militias to prepare for battle.

Midnight ride; Paul Revere, William Dawes, Samuel Prescott

Rode from Boston to Warn the countryside that British troops were coming, allowing militias to mobilize quickly.

Lexington (April 19, 1775)

First clash between British and colonial militia. The first shots of the Revolution were fired here. marking the start of the American Revolutionary War

Captain John Parker

Militia leader at Lexington

“Shot Heard Round the World”

Describes the first gunfire at Lexington, marking the start of a global movement for independence.

Concord & Minutemen Response

Colonial militias attacked redcoats and forced them to retreat to Boston, proving their strength.

Second Continental Congress (May 1775)

Met to organize the war, raise an army, and act as the colonies’ central government.

George Washington Appointed Commander

Chosen to lead the Continental Army

Common Sense (1776)

by Thomas Paine’s pamphlet that attacked monarchy and urged independence

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Written by Jefferson; declared natural rights and independence, officially creating the United States.

Loyalists

Colonists loyal to Britain for economic or political reasons, feared british military

Patriots

Colonists who supported independence and fought for self-government.

Slaves (50,000 Freed)

Thousands gained freedom by escaping or serving during the war, showing limited progress for liberty.

Native Americans

Mostly sided with Britain to stop American expansion, but lost land after the war.

Fort Ticonderoga (1775)

Captured by Americans, providing cannons that forced British troops from Boston.

Battle of Bunker Hill (1775)

Costly British victory that proved colonists could fight effectively against trained troops.

32,000 British Troops and Hessians

Large British army, including German mercenaries, sent to crush rebellion.

Battle of Trenton (1776)

Washington’s surprise victory attack on christmas after crossing the Delaware River, boosting morale and saving the cause.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

American victory that convinced France to ally with the U.S., turning point of the war.

Valley Forge (1777–1778)

Winter of suffering and training that turned Washington’s troops into a disciplined army.

British Southern Strategy

Britain tried to gain southern support but failed due to strong patriot resistance.

Cornwallis Moves to Virginia (1780)

British regrouped in Virginia, leading to the final battle at Yorktown.

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Washington and French forces trapped Cornwallis, forcing his surrender and ending major fighting.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

officially ended the American revolution war by having Britain recognize the U.S. as an independent nation. granted land to the Mississippi River.

Who Were “The People” (Voting Limits)

Voting limited mostly to white male property owners, excluding most Americans from early democracy.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government; weak central authority with no power to tax or enforce laws.

Financial Weakness Under Articles

Government couldn’t collect taxes or pay debts, causing instability and unrest.

Robert Morris’s Reform Plan

Proposed assuming national debt and adding a 5% import tax, but it failed under weak government.

Shays’ Rebellion (1786)

Farmers rebelled against high taxes and debt in Massachusetts, proving the Articles were too weak.

Annapolis Convention (1786)

a Meeting of delegates from 5 states to discuss trade issues; wanted to revise articles of confederation

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Delegates met in Philadelphia to replace the Articles with a stronger Constitution.

George Washington at Convention

Presided over meetings, giving the process legitimacy and unity.

James Madison / Virginia Plan

Proposed three branches and representation by population, forming the base of the Constitution.

National Executive (President)

Created to enforce laws, command the military, and lead the government effectively.

Ratification (9 of 13 States)

Required approval by nine states, sparking debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Federalists wanted a strong central government; Anti-Federalists feared oppressive government and demanded a Bill of Rights.

Federalist Papers

Essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay defending the Constitution and explaining its principles.

Constitution Took Effect (1789)

New federal government officially began under the Constitution.

Bill of Rights (1791)

First ten amendments protecting individual rights and ensuring support for the Constitution.

Cabinet Formation

Washington created departments like secretary of State, of Treasury, of War , and attorney general to manage government affairs.

Secretary of State; Thomas Jefferson

Advice the President

Secretary of Treasury; Alexander Hamilton

Advice the president on economic matters

Secretary of war; Henry Knox

Advice the president on matters of wars/defense

Attorney General; Edmund Randolph

Advice president on legal matters

Judiciary Act of 1789

established 13 federal district courts, 3 circuit courts, and one supreme court

Tariff Act of 1789

5% Tax on imports to raise revenue, protect emerging American manufacturing industries, and pay off the national debt from the Revolutionary War

Alexander Hamilton and Public Credit

Argued the federal government should assume state debts to strengthen national unity and credit.

Hamilton’s Four Reports (1790–1791)

Proposed plans to fund revolutionary debt, create a national bank, Excise tax (tax whiskey), and use tariffs to build the economy.

National Bank

Established to manage government funds and create a stable currency, strengthening national finance.

Excise (Whiskey) Tax

Tax on distilled spirits to raise revenue; sparked the Whiskey Rebellion testing federal power.

Protective Tariffs

Taxes on imported goods meant to support U.S. manufacturing and economic growth.