APUSH Unit 3 Test Review

Key Figures of the American Revolutionary and Early Republic Eras

George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first President of the United States. He presided over the Constitutional Convention and set numerous precedents for the executive branch.
Benjamin Franklin: Noted diplomat, scientist, and philosopher. He was instrumental in securing French aid during the Revolution and was a key negotiator for the Treaty of Paris (1783).
George Grenville: British Prime Minister who ended the policy of salutary neglect; he initiated the Sugar Act and Stamp Act to pay off debts from the French and Indian War.
Samuel Adams: A leader of the Sons of Liberty and a master of propaganda, he helped organize the committees of correspondence and agitation against British taxation.
Crispus Attucks: A man of African and Native American descent widely regarded as the first casualty of the American Revolution, killed during the Boston Massacre.
John Adams: A prominent lawyer and patriot who defended the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre to demonstrate colonial commitment to law; later served as the second President of the United States.
John Locke: Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas of natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the social contract heavily influenced the Declaration of Independence.
John Jacques Rousseau: Enlightenment thinker who advocated for the "General Will" and the idea that government should be based on the consent of the governed.
Adam Smith: Author of "The Wealth of Nations" (1776), he argued against mercantilism and in favor of free-market capitalism and the "invisible hand."
King George III: The British monarch during the American Revolution; he was the primary target of the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Paine: Author of the pamphlet "Common Sense," which used plain language to argue for immediate independence from Britain.
Thomas Jefferson: Principal author of the Declaration of Independence and an advocate for limited central government; served as the first Secretary of State.
Charles Cornwallis: British General whose surrender at Yorktown in 1781 effectively ended the military conflict of the Revolutionary War.
Abigail Adams: Wife of John Adams and an early advocate for women's rights; she famously urged her husband to "remember the ladies" in the new code of laws.
Mercy Otis Warren: A political writer and propagandist who authored plays and poems supporting the Patriot cause and later wrote a history of the Revolution.
Benjamin Rush: A physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence; he was a leader in the American Enlightenment and advocated for social reform.
Alexander Hamilton: The first Secretary of the Treasury and leader of the Federalist Party; he proposed a comprehensive financial plan to stabilize the U.S. economy.
James Madison: Known as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role at the Constitutional Convention; he was a primary author of the Federalist Papers.
John Jay: Diplomat and first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; he co-authored the Federalist Papers and negotiated Jay's Treaty with Great Britain.
"Publius": The pseudonym used by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay when writing the Federalist Papers.
Roger Sherman: Proposed the Connecticut (Great) Compromise, which settled the dispute between large and small states regarding representation.
Citizen Genet: A French envoy to the U.S. who sparked a diplomatic crisis by attempting to recruit American privateers to fight for France, violating U.S. neutrality.
John Marshall: Fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; his rulings expanded the power of the federal government and the judiciary.
French Minister Talleyrand: The French foreign minister involved in the XYZ Affair, where his agents demanded bribes from American diplomats.

The French and Indian War and the End of Salutary Neglect

Fort Necessity: The site of George Washington's only military surrender; it was the opening skirmish of the French and Indian War.
Albany Plan of Union: A 1754 proposal by Benjamin Franklin to create a unified government for the thirteen colonies for defense; it was rejected by both the colonies and the Crown.
"Join or Die": A famous political cartoon created by Benjamin Franklin (featuring a severed snake) to promote the Albany Plan and colonial unity.
Treaty of Paris (1763): The treaty that ended the French and Indian War; France lost almost all its North American territory, while Britain gained Canada and all land east of the Mississippi.
Salutary Neglect: The unofficial British policy of lenient enforcement of parliamentary laws in the colonies, allowing them to develop economically and politically on their own.
Pontiac’s Rebellion: A 1763 Native American uprising against British expansion in the Great Lakes region; it led to the issuance of the Proclamation of 1763.
Proclamation of 1763: A British edict prohibiting colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, intended to prevent further conflict with Native Americans but deeply resented by colonists.
Iroquois Confederacy: A powerful alliance of six Native American nations that played a strategic role in the balance of power between the French and the British.

British Imperial Taxation and Colonial Resistance

Sugar Act (1764): The first law passed by Parliament specifically to raise revenue from the colonies; it lowered the tax on molasses but increased enforcement against smuggling.
Currency Act (1764): Prohibited colonies from issuing their own paper money, forcing them to pay debts in gold or silver.
Quartering Act (1765): Required colonists to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers stationed in the colonies.
Stamp Act (1765): A direct tax on all legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards; it triggered the first widespread, coordinated colonial resistance.
Townshend Acts (1767): Indirect taxes on imported goods such as glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea; they also authorized the use of Writs of Assistance.
Writs of Assistance: General search warrants used by British customs officials to search colonial homes and warehouses for smuggled goods.
Stamp Act Congress: A meeting of delegates from nine colonies to draft a petition to the King; it marked an early instance of inter-colonial cooperation.
Sons of Liberty: Secret organizations that used grassroots activism and sometimes violence (tarring and feathering) to intimidate tax collectors and protest British policies.
Boston Massacre (1770): A confrontation where British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five; used as propaganda to fuel anti-British sentiment.
The Gaspee (1772): A British customs ship that was boarded and burned by Rhode Island colonists in an act of open defiance.
Tea Act (1773): Allowed the East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, making it cheaper but asserting Parliament's right to tax.
Boston Tea Party (1773): A protest where the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Mohawk Indians, dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
Intolerable/Coercive Acts (1774): A series of punitive laws passed in response to the Tea Party, including the closing of Boston Harbor and the suspension of the Massachusetts charter.
Quebec Act (1774): Extended the boundaries of Quebec into the Ohio Valley and granted religious freedom to Catholics, which Protestant colonists viewed as a threat.
Virtual Representation: The British theory that members of Parliament represented the interests of the entire empire, including the colonies, even if the colonists did not vote for them.
Navigation Acts: A series of laws designed to restrict colonial trade to England, supporting the system of mercantilism.
Internal vs. External Taxes: Colonists generally accepted "external" taxes (tariffs on trade) but rejected "internal" or "direct" taxes (like the Stamp Act) imposed without their consent.
Declaratory Act (1766): Passed alongside the repeal of the Stamp Act, it stated that Parliament had the absolute right to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever.

Philosophical Foundations and the Decision for Independence

Natural Law: The belief that all individuals possess inherent rights that no government can justly take away.
Social Contract Theory: The idea that individuals give up some freedom to a government in exchange for the protection of their rights; if the government fails, the citizens may overthrow it.
Second Treatise of Government: John Locke's work outlining the principles of natural rights and the purpose of government.
Wealth of Nations: Adam Smith's 1776 book challenging mercantilism and promoting the benefits of free enterprise.
Republican Form of Government: A system where power resides in the people and is exercised through elected representatives, emphasizing civic virtue.
Common Sense: Thomas Paine's pamphlet which argued that a small island (Britain) should not rule a large continent (America) and that monarchy was an absurd form of government.
Olive Branch Petition: An 1775 attempt by the Second Continental Congress to seek reconciliation with King George III; it was flatly rejected.
Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776): Primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, it formally dissolved ties with Britain and listed the philosophical justifications for revolution.
Patriots vs. Loyalists: Patriots supported independence; Loyalists (Tories) remained loyal to the British Crown, often for economic or cultural reasons.

The American Revolution (1775–1783)

Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775): The "shot heard 'round the world"; the first military engagements of the war.
2nd Continental Congress: The governing body that managed the war effort, adopted the Declaration of Independence, and drafted the Articles of Confederation.
Minutemen: Colonial militia members trained to be ready for battle at a minute's notice.
War of Attrition: The strategy used by the Americans to wear down the British will to fight by avoiding decisive defeats and extending the conflict.
Battle of Trenton (1776): A surprise victory by Washington after crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night, boosting colonial morale.
Battle of Saratoga (1777): The turning point of the war; this victory convinced France to officially enter the war as an American ally.
Battle of Yorktown (1781): The final major battle where American and French forces trapped Cornwallis, leading to his surrender.
Treaty of Paris (1783): Formally recognized the independence of the United States and set the new nation's borders at the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and the 31st parallel.

The Articles of Confederation and the Critical Period

Articles of Confederation: The first constitution of the U.S., which created a weak central government with no power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.
Weaknesses of the Articles: Included a lack of an executive branch, no national court system, requirement of unanimous consent for amendments, and inability to maintain a national army.
Land Ordinance of 1785: A success under the Articles; it established a system for surveying and selling western lands, reserving one section in each township for public education.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Established a process for admitting new states to the Union on equal footing with the original thirteen and prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory.
Shay’s Rebellion (1786): An uprising of debt-ridden farmers in Massachusetts; it highlighted the weaknesses of the central government and the need for a stronger constitution.
Annapolis Convention (1786): A meeting called to address trade barriers; its poor attendance led to the call for a broader convention in Philadelphia to revise the Articles.

The Constitutional Convention and Ratification

Constitutional Convention (1787): A meeting in Philadelphia originally intended to revise the Articles, resulting in the creation of an entirely new U.S. Constitution.
Virginia Plan: Proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population; favored large states.
New Jersey Plan: Proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state; favored small states.
Connecticut (Great) Compromise: Created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives (population-based) and a Senate (equal representation).
3/5 Compromise: Settled the dispute over how to count enslaved people for purposes of representation and taxation; three-fifths of the slave population would be counted.
Slave Trade Compromise: Agreed that the international slave trade would not be prohibited by Congress until the year 1808.
Separation of Powers: The division of government responsibilities into three distinct branches (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to prevent any one group from gaining total control.
Checks and Balances: A system that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches.
Federalism: The distribution of power between a central (national) government and constituent political units (states).
Popular Sovereignty: The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people.
The "Elastic Clause": Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which allows Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" for carrying out its enumerated powers.
Electoral College: The mechanism established by the Constitution for the indirect election of the President and Vice President.
The Preamble: The opening statement of the Constitution, beginning with "We the People," outlining the purposes of the new government.
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: Federalists supported the Constitution and a strong central government; Anti-Federalists feared the Constitution would lead to tyranny and demanded a Bill of Rights.
Federalist Papers: A series of 85 essays written to persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution.

The Shaping of the New Republic (1789–1800)

Cabinet Positions: Washington established the first cabinet, including the Secretary of State (Jefferson), Secretary of the Treasury (Hamilton), and Secretary of War (Knox).
Alexander Hamilton’s Financial Plan: Included the assumption of state debts, the creation of a national bank (Bank of the United States), excise taxes, and high tariffs to protect industry.
Loose vs. Strict Constructionism: Loose constructionists (Hamiltonians) used the elastic clause to expand federal power; strict constructionists (Jeffersonians) argued the government only has powers explicitly listed in the Constitution.
Report on Public Credit: Hamilton's proposal to fund the national debt at face value and assume state debts to establish the nation's creditworthiness.
Whiskey Rebellion (1794): A protest by Pennsylvania farmers against an excise tax on whiskey; Washington's firm response demonstrated the new government's power to enforce its laws.
Neutrality Proclamation of 1793: Washington's declaration that the U.S. would remain neutral in the conflict between Great Britain and Revolutionary France.
Jay’s Treaty (1794): An agreement with Britain intended to resolve tensions over trade and western forts; it was highly controversial and seen by many as too favorable to Britain.
Pinckney’s Treaty (1795): An agreement with Spain that granted the U.S. the right of deposit at New Orleans and settled the Florida boundary dispute.
Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794): The final battle between U.S. forces and the Northwest Native American Confederacy.
Treaty of Greenville (1795): Following the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Native American tribes ceded most of their lands in the Ohio country to the U.S. government.
XYZ Affair (1797-1798): A diplomatic incident involving the French demand for bribes, leading to an undeclared naval war known as the Quasi-War.
Quasi-War with France: An undeclared naval conflict from 1798 to 1800 caused by the XYZ Affair and French seizures of American merchant ships.
Convention of 1800: A treaty that ended the Quasi-War and formally terminated the 1778 alliance between France and the U.S.
Impressment: The British practice of seizing American sailors and forcing them into service in the Royal Navy.

Social Impacts and Revolutionary Ideals

Republican Motherhood: The idea that women should be educated so they could pass on Republican values (civic virtue) to their children, thereby ensuring the survival of the republic.
“Remember the ladies…”: A directive from Abigail Adams to John Adams in 1776, requesting that the new government grant women more rights and protections.
Influence of Revolutionary Ideals: The American Revolution inspired subsequent revolutions in France, Haiti, and Latin America, based on the concepts of liberty and equality.

Review Themes and Essay Topics

Causes and Effects of the French and Indian War: Shift from salutary neglect to active imperial management and increased taxation.
Colonial Reactions to British Policies: Evolution from petitions and boycotts (non-importation) to organized violence and eventual independence.
Weaknesses vs. Achievements of the Articles of Confederation: Inability to tax vs. successful land policy (Northwest Ordinance).
Constitutional Compromises: The Great Compromise, 3/5 Compromise, and the inclusion of the Bill of Rights.
Alexander Hamilton’s 5-Part Financial Plan: Excise taxes, Funding at Par, Assumption of State Debts, Tariffs, and the National Bank.
Evolution of US Foreign Relations: Navigating the tensions between the Anglo-French wars and securing borders against Spain and Native American tribes.