U.S. History: Federal Courts, Treaties, and Political Acts

Judiciary Act of 1789

Created 3 levels of federal courts, defined their powers and relationship to state courts, with Supreme Court handling appeals and some original jurisdiction.

Protective Tariff

Import tax on goods produced overseas, intended to encourage buying domestic products.

Excise Tax

Tax charged on a product's manufacture, sale, or distribution.

Neutrality Proclamation

Statement declaring that the United States would not take sides with any European countries at war.

Jay's Treaty

Treaty in which Britain agreed to pay for stolen/destroyed American goods, abandon forts in the Northwest, and the U.S. would pay debts owed to Britain.

Pinckney's Treaty

Treaty where Spain gave up claims to western U.S., set the Florida-U.S. boundary, and allowed U.S. access to the Mississippi River.

Treaty of Greenville

Treaty granting the U.S. claim to most Indian lands in the Northwest Territory, securing settler safety, in exchange for $20,000 of goods to Native Americans.

XYZ Affair

Diplomatic incident where French agents demanded a $250,000 bribe and $12 million loan from U.S. diplomats.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Four laws passed to supposedly protect the U.S., but actually intended to suppress opposition; included raising residence requirements, permitting deportation, and banning criticism of the government.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Written by Jefferson and Madison asserting that states could declare federal laws unconstitutional.

Nullification

The idea that states have the right to void laws they consider unconstitutional.

Sectionalism

• Result of ____ palcing regional interests above nation