DCUSH DPM

Colonial North America

Bacon’s Rebellion - Nathaniel Bacon led a revolt against the governor of Virginia after he was refused the property of the Natives, this led to more slavery

House of Burgesses - the first elected assembly, in 1619

Mercantilism - a theory where the government seeks to regulate the economy and trade in order to promote domestic industry

Influences on early government - The British system of government, Enlightenment ideas about democracy and individual rights, and the experience of self-government in the colonies all influenced the development of early American government.

Salutary Neglect - A British policy in the mid-1700s of loosely enforcing trade regulations in the colonies, which allowed them to develop greater autonomy.

Democratic Uprisings - uprisings against British rule, which led to the Revolution

Conditions in the colonies - New England colonies were known for shipbuilding and fishing, Southern for agriculture, and Middle colonies for wheat

Effects on Natives - diseases, forced to give up land, etc.

The Revolutionary Period

Causes of American Revolution - Americans felt as if British were oppressing them (taxation without representation, lack of representation in Parliament)

Acts passed by Parliament - Stamp Act, Townshend Act, Intolerable Acts, etc.

Philosophies of founding documents - Ideas about individual rights, democracy, and self-government found in documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These ideas were influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Montesquieu.

Articles of Confederation - The first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1777, which created a weak central government and gave most power to the states. It was later replaced by the Constitution.

Shays’ Rebellion - An uprising of farmers in Massachusetts in 1786-87, led by Daniel Shays, in response to high taxes and economic hardship. It highlighted the need for a stronger central government and contributed to the push for a new constitution.

Constitutional Convention - A meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and draft a new constitution. The delegates produced the Constitution, which created a stronger federal government with three branches.

Colonial Feelings about Britain - American colonists had mixed feelings about Britain. Some were loyal to the British crown, while others felt oppressed by British policies and wanted greater independence. These tensions eventually led to the American Revolution.

Constitution - The supreme law of the United States, adopted in 1787, which established a federal government with three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) and a system of checks and balances.

Proclamation of 1763 - A law issued by the British government prohibiting American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. This angered colonists who wanted to expand westward and contributed to tensions between Britain and the colonies.

Declaration of Independence - A document written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, which declared the American colonies’ independence from Britain and listed grievances against the British government. It famously states that "all men are created equal" and have certain unalienable rights, including "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."