The American Revolution: New Regimes (1756-1800)

Vocabulary flashcards covering the political and institutional history of the American Revolution, including state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, and war finance.

National government

The term used to describe Congress prior to 1789, as the term 'federal' only applies to the government implemented under the federal constitution of 1789.

Wilkes Fund Controversy

A 1770 conflict in South Carolina where the governor suspended the assembly and never recalled it, effectively leaving the colony without an assembly.

Colonial charters

The royal documents that set out the basic framework and rules of government for each British colony, serving as a precursor to written constitutions.

British Constitution

An unwritten constitution composed of unwritten rules, judicial precedent, English common law, and documents like the Magna Carta and Bill of Rights.

Corsican Republic

A 1755-1769 republic that adopted a written constitution authored by Pascal Paoli, which remarkably granted women the right to vote.

Pascal Paoli

The revolutionary leader and principal author of the Corsican Constitution of 1755.

Massachusetts Constitution of 1775

The first state constitution, created when the legislature voted to revise the charter and replace the royal governor with an elected executive council.

Massachusetts Constitution of 1780

A model governing document created by John Adams using a separate constitutional convention and a referendum for ratification by the people.

Mixed and balanced constitution

A constitutional model from Polybius that combines monarchy (the one), aristocracy (the few), and democracy (the many) to prevent corruption.

Three-branch model of separation of powers

A concept derived from Montesquieu's 'Spirit of the Laws' (1748) proposing an independent judiciary to constrain the legislative and executive branches.

Two-branch model of separation of powers

A model followed by John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau that separates government into only legislative and executive branches.

Virginia Constitution of 1776

An influential model authored primarily by George Mason that featured three branches of government and a bicameral legislature.

Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776

A populist model that rejected checks and balances in favor of an all-powerful unicameral legislature and a plural executive committee.

Council of revision

A body in the 1776 Pennsylvania Constitution elected to review and nullify unconstitutional laws passed by the legislature.

Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union

America's first national charter, drafted by John Dickinson, which functioned as a military alliance where Congress had no authority to levy taxes.

John Dickinson

The chairman of the committee that drafted the Articles of Confederation and its principal author.

Hyperinflation

The economic result of Congress over-issuing the paper dollar, leading to its final collapse in value by the spring of 1781.

Nationalist block

A political faction, strongest in the South, that sought to strengthen the national government by allowing Congress to collect a national impost.

Localist block

A political faction, supported by New England and backcountry farmers, that opposed strengthening Congress at the expense of state authority.

National impost

A proposed import duty that the nationalist block sought to implement to provide Congress with direct revenue to pay for the war.

Newburgh Conspiracy

A 1783 incident where disaffected army officers nearly attempted a military coup due to lack of pay, but were dissuaded by George Washington.

Robert Morris

A wealthy merchant and banker who served as Secretary of the Treasury and was a prominent leader of the nationalist block.