Unit 3 APUSH Terms - Chapter 6+

Republican Motherhood (Late 1700s)

1) Belief that women had an important role in the new government of the United States by protecting morality and nurturing civic virtue in their husbands and children.

2) Led to an increased role for women in the United States, because it encouraged women to get an education.

3) Women became more political during the American Revolution, serving as nurses, cooks, running family farms, and even sometimes posing as soldiers. These political roles led to a focus on developing republican ideals in their children when the war was over.

Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

1) First constitution of the United States, which was created during the Revolutionary war.

2) The central government was intentionally very weak and had very few powers: it had no army, could not tax, could not regulate trade, and lacked a federal court system.

3) The weaknesses in the government created major economic problems and led to turmoil such as Shays' Rebellion.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

1) Organized the Northwest territory for government and future statehood.

2) Granted freedom of religion, banned slavery, and provided for public education in the territory.

3) One of the only major accomplishments of Congress under the Articles of Confederation.

Three-fifths Compromise (1789)

1) This addition to the constitution stated that each slave would count as 3/5 of a person when determining total population.

2) This population count was used to determine taxation and representation in Congress.

3) This was meant to serve as a compromise between northern and southern states while creating the Constitution, which would not have been ratified without this compromise.

Federalist Papers (1787)

1) A series of essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.

2) The purpose of the essays was to convince Americans to ratify the Constitution.

3) There were 85 essays that advocated for the creation of a strong central government.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

1) A formal declaration by George Washington, who publicly declared neutrality in conflicts between Great Britain and France.

2) Washington was concerned about the new nation's ability to handle foreign conflicts.

3) This caused political division, resulting in Jefferson's resignation from the cabinet.

Shays’ Rebellion (1787)

1) This uprising was caused by farmers who were upset over high taxes and imprisonment over debt.

2) Many of the farmers had fought in the American Revolution and stopped the collection of taxes.

3) This demonstrated a weakness in the Articles of Confederation, as only the state militia was able to stop the uprising.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

1) Alexander Hamilton introduced excise taxes as part of his financial plan.

2) Western Pennsylvania farmers rejected the tax on distilled grains. 3) Washington sent troops to stop the protests, demonstrating the power of the new federal government under the U.S. Constitution.

Treaty of Greenville (1795)

1) As settlers began moving west and encroaching on native lands, violence broke out.

2) The native tribes were supplied by the British, but the Americans defeated the native confederation at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

3) The natives gave up the Ohio Territory, which was open to colonial settlement.

Alexander Hamilton’s Financial Plan (1796)

1) Goal was to stabilize the U.S. economy after the Articles of Confederation.

2) Consisted of a national bank, tariff and federal government's assumption of state debt.

3) Thomas Jefferson and other states' rights advocates were against this and worried it only benefited the wealthy and gave too much power to federal government.

Federalist party (1790s)

1) Led by Alexander Hamilton 2) Believed in a national bank, tariffs, loose interpretation of Constitution, and pro-British 3) Supported by the wealthy and business owners, especially in the North

Democratic-Republicans (1790s)

1) Led by Thomas Jefferson

2) Anti-national bank and tariff but believed in strict interpretation of Constitution and pro-French

3) Supported by small farmers, especially in the South

Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)

1) Set precedent for serving maximum of two terms as president

2) Warned against getting involved in European affairs and forming alliances

3) Warned against forming political parties (but advice was too late)

Alien & Sedition Acts (1798)

1) Passed by President John Adams

2) Allowed the president to deport any foreigner deemed dangerous and made it illegal to speak out against the president

3) Passed as a means for the president to reassert control in response to growing demands to go to war against France

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (1798)

1) Written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in response to Alien & Sedition Acts

2) Argued that states could nullify federal law

3) Only adopted by two states but raised question of how much power states should have versus federal government

Bill of Rights (1791)

1) First ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution

2) Proposed by the Anti-Federalists, who believed the rights of the people needed to be protected

3) Written by James Madison and typically supported by southern delegates

Abigail Adams (1744-1818)

1) The wife of John Adams and the mother of future president John Quincy Adams. She served as the first lady of the United States from 1797-1801.

2) Often separated from her husband due to his work with the American Revolution, like many women of the day, she oversaw the family's household and raised 4 children on her own. She maintained constant correspondence (letters) with her husband and other revolutionary figures such as Thomas Jefferson.

3) She was a strong advocate for women's rights, female education, and the abolition of slavery. While women did not gain equality as a result of the American Revolution, she supported the development of Republican Motherhood, which allowed more educational opportunities for women in early America.

Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)

1.) First African American female writer and enslaved person to be published in the United States. Her book "Poems on Various Subjects" was published in 1773, pioneered African-American literature.

2.) Born in West Africa (Senegal), she was kidnapped at the age of 7 and brought to Boston as part of the Middle Passage. She worked for the Wheatley family, who encouraged her poetry.

3.) Wheatley wrote about the new republic, covering topics such as the Stamp Act. She also wrote poems about George Washington AND George Whitefield.