1. Salutary Neglect: British policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws, meant to keep American colonies obedient to England.
2. King William’s War: The North American extension of the War of the Grand Alliance (1689–1697) between France and England, part of a broader European conflict.
3. French & Indian War/Seven Years’ War: A conflict between Britain and France (1754–1763) over North American territory, culminating in British victory and the Treaty of Paris 1763.
4. The Albany Congress: A 1754 meeting of colonial representatives to discuss collective defense against French and Native American threats.
5. The Albany Plan of Union: Benjamin Franklin’s proposal to unite the colonies under a single government for mutual defense, ultimately rejected.
6. General Edward Braddock: British commander in the French and Indian War, known for his disastrous defeat at Fort Duquesne in 1755.
7. Treaty of Paris - 1763: Ended the French and Indian War, ceding French territories in North America to Britain.
8. Pontiac’s Rebellion: 1763 Native American uprising against British postwar policies in the Great Lakes region.
9. Proclamation of 1763: British decree forbidding colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to ease tensions with Native Americans.
10. George Grenville: British Prime Minister who enforced the Sugar Act and Stamp Act to raise revenue from the colonies.
11. Molasses Act 1733: British law imposing a tax on molasses imports to control colonial trade and protect British West Indies sugar producers.
12. Sugar Act 1764: British law reducing the tax on molasses but increasing enforcement of smuggling laws, angering colonists.
13. Quartering Act 1765: Required American colonists to provide housing and supplies for British troops stationed in the colonies.
14. Stamp Act 1765: Direct tax on printed materials in the colonies, sparking widespread protest and contributing to revolutionary sentiment.
15. Whigs: British political party that generally supported colonial grievances against taxation and British policies.
16. Sons & Daughters of Liberty: Colonial protest groups formed to oppose British taxation, particularly the Stamp Act, often through direct action.
17. Samuel Adams: Prominent patriot leader in Boston, key organizer of opposition to British policies and a leader in the Sons of Liberty.
18. Stamp Act Congress: A 1765 meeting of colonial delegates in New York to organize opposition to the Stamp Act.
19. Patrick Henry: Virginia orator and politician known for his fiery speeches advocating colonial rights, including “Give me liberty or give me death!”
20. Declaratory Act: British law passed in 1766 asserting Parliament’s authority to legislate for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”
21. Townshend Acts: A series of British measures (1767) imposing duties on colonial imports, leading to protests and boycotts.
22. Boston Massacre: A 1770 clash between British soldiers and colonists in Boston, resulting in the deaths of five civilians.
23. Boston Tea Party: A 1773 protest in which colonists, angered by the Tea Act, dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.
24. Coercive Acts: Harsh laws passed in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, intended to punish Massachusetts and suppress dissent.
25. Quebec Act: A 1774 law extending the boundaries of Quebec and granting rights to Catholics, angering colonists.
26. Intolerable Acts: Colonial term for the Coercive Acts and Quebec Act, seen as severe infringements on colonial autonomy.
27. The Continental Congress: Assemblies of colonial delegates (1774–1789) that coordinated resistance to British rule and later governed the colonies during the Revolution.
28. Lexington & Concord: The first battles of the American Revolutionary War, fought in April 1775 between colonial militia and British troops.
29. Minutemen: Colonial militia members who could be ready to fight at a moment’s notice during the Revolutionary War.
30. Second Continental Congress: Convened in 1775, it directed the American Revolutionary War and adopted the Declaration of Independence.
31. George Washington: Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and later the first President of the United States.
32. Battle of Bunker Hill: A 1775 Revolutionary War battle near Boston, demonstrating colonial resolve despite British victory.
33. Olive Branch Petition: A final attempt by the Second Continental Congress to avoid war with Britain by pledging loyalty to the crown, rejected by King George III.
34. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense: A 1776 pamphlet advocating for American independence from Britain, influencing public opinion.
35. John Locke’s Social Contract: Enlightenment idea that governments are formed to protect natural rights, influencing American revolutionary thought.
36. Deism: Belief in a rational, creator God who does not intervene in human affairs, embraced by some Enlightenment thinkers.
37. Declaration of Independence: Document drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, declaring the American colonies’ independence from Britain.
38. Articles of Confederation: The first constitution of the United States, creating a weak national government with limited powers.
39. Continental Army: The army formed by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 to fight against Britain in the Revolutionary War.
40. American Revolution: The war (1775–1783) in which American colonies fought for independence from British rule.
41. Battle of Saratoga: A 1777 turning point in the Revolutionary War, where American forces won a decisive victory, securing French support.
42. Battle of Yorktown: The final major battle of the Revolutionary War in 1781, where British General Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces.
43. Treaty of Paris: The 1783 agreement that officially ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized U.S. independence.
44. John Adams: Founding Father, advocate for independence, and second President of the United States.
45. Republican Motherhood: The idea that women played an important role in teaching republican values to children after the Revolution.
46. Abigail Adams: Wife of John Adams, known for her advocacy of women's rights and her letters urging her husband to “remember the ladies.”
47. Alexander Hamilton: Founding Father, first Secretary of the Treasury, and leader of the Federalist Party, promoting a strong national government.
48. Federalist: Supporter of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and a strong national government.
49. Anti-Federalist: Opponents of the Constitution’s ratification, fearing centralized power and advocating for a Bill of Rights.
50. Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Legislation that organized the Northwest Territory and established a process for admitting new states to the Union.
51. Shay’s Rebellion: A 1786–1787 uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices, highlighting weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.
52. James Madison: “Father of the Constitution,” key architect of the U.S. Constitution and the fourth President of the United States.
53. Virginia Plan: A proposal for representation in Congress based on state population, favoring larger states.
54. New Jersey Plan: A proposal for equal representation for each state in Congress, favoring smaller states.
55. The Great Compromise: Agreement combining elements of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
56. Three-Fifths Compromise: An agreement that counted three-fifths of a state's enslaved population for representation and taxation purposes.
57. Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties.
58. The Federalist Papers: A series of essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution.
59. Bank of the United States: A national bank proposed by Alexander Hamilton to stabilize the American economy and support government operations.
60. Thomas Jefferson: Founding Father, author of the Declaration of Independence, and leader of the Democratic-Republican Party.
61. Democratic-Republicans: Political party led by Thomas Jefferson, advocating for states' rights and a limited federal government.
62. Proclamation of Neutrality (1793): Washington’s declaration that the U.S. would remain neutral in the conflict between France and Britain.
63. Jay Treaty (1794): A treaty between the U.S. and Britain that resolved outstanding issues but was unpopular with many Americans.
64. Whiskey Rebellion: A 1794 uprising by Pennsylvania farmers protesting a federal excise tax on whiskey, suppressed by Washington's forces.
65. The Pinckney Treaty (1795): A treaty with Spain granting the U.S. access to the Mississippi River and New Orleans for trade.
66. Daniel Boone: A frontiersman who helped blaze the Wilderness Road and settle Kentucky.
67. Washington’s Farewell Address: Washington's 1796 speech advising the nation to avoid political parties and foreign alliances.
68. John Adams: Second President of the United States and a leading Federalist who faced challenges like the XYZ Affair and Alien & Sedition Acts.
69. XYZ Affair: A diplomatic incident in which French officials demanded bribes from American envoys, leading to an undeclared naval conflict.
70. Alien & Sedition Acts: Laws passed in 1798 that restricted immigration and limited free speech critical of the government.
71. Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions: Statements authored by Jefferson and Madison, asserting the states' right to nullify unconstitutional federal laws.