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w/ gpt
Reform
Efforts made to change or improve the current system
Colonists loyal to England
Loyalists; about 1/3 of colonists remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution.
Patriots, Loyalists, Neutral
1/3 of the colonists were Patriots, 1/3 were Loyalists, and 1/3 were neutral during the Revolution.
Colonial mob activity
Intimidatory actions by Patriots, including tar and feathering, to discourage Loyalists.
Relocate 100k loyalists
After the Revolution, Loyalists left America, many relocating to Canada or England.
African Americans and Abolitionism
The North saw an increase in abolitionism, with some states working towards abolition by 1810.
1793 - Cotton Gin
Invented by Eli Whitney; made it easier to remove seeds from cotton, boosting textile production.
B. Banneker
Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught African American scientist and surveyor.
P. Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley, a poet from Boston, was one of the first African American writers published in the U.S.
Women’s rights in New England
Divorce rules were eased; Abigail Adams advocated for women's rights through letters.
1790 - Women’s suffrage in NJ
New Jersey granted women the right to vote in the 1790s, but this was later repealed.
Blueprints for Government
Early state constitutions were written documents acting as blueprints for governance.
Natural Rights
8/13 states included a Bill of Rights in their constitutions to protect individual liberties.
Articles of Confederation
Wartime government from 1775-1787; weak central government with a unicameral legislature.
Northwest Ordinance
A 1787 law that established a process for territories to become states and banned slavery in the Northwest.
Federal issues under Articles
Problems with trade, currency, inflation, and national debts under the Articles of Confederation.
Shay’s Rebellion (1786)
A farmer-led uprising in Massachusetts, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Constitutional Convention (1787)
A meeting in Philadelphia where the U.S. Constitution was drafted to replace the Articles of Confederation.
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan
Virginia Plan favored large states with representation based on population; New Jersey Plan favored equal representation.
Great Compromise
Created a bicameral legislature: House of Representatives (population-based) and Senate (equal representation).
3/5 Compromise
Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for both taxation and representation purposes.
President's role
Executive branch; serves a 4-year term, no term limits initially set, elected by the Electoral College.
Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist
Federalists supported the Constitution; Anti-Federalists demanded a Bill of Rights for ratification.
Federalist Papers
A series of essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay to support ratification of the Constitution.
Bill of Rights (1788-89)
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, written by James Madison, protecting individual freedoms.
Note 
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