APUSH Period 3

Key Figures and Events Leading to the American Revolution

  • James Otis Jr: An early advocate for the colonists’ rights against British taxation. He famously argued against the Writs of Assistance, claiming they violated natural rights and sparked revolutionary thought among colonists.

Road to Revolution

  • British-French War: A series of conflicts that led to territorial disputes in North America affecting colonists; it solidified British dominance but exacerbated tensions between colonists and the British government.

  • Seven Years' War (French-Indian War): A global conflict that involved various nations, leading to American Indians siding with the French against the British in exchange for support against colonial encroachment.

    • Proclamation of 1763: Issued by the British government, it prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, causing frustration among those eager to expand and settle new lands, and contributing to the growing sentiment of discontent.

Colonial Independence

  • Taxation without Representation: This critical issue arose as colonists were unable to elect representatives to the British Parliament while simultaneously facing numerous taxes imposed by it. This fueled the revolutionary fervor.

  • Direct and Indirect Taxes: A distinction that became crucial among the colonists, with direct taxes being openly placed on items, while indirect taxes, such as those embedded in the prices of goods, often went unnoticed but were resented nonetheless.

Key Legislation and Events (1760-1775)

  1. Writs of Assistance (1760)

    • General search warrants issued to combat smuggling, allowing British officials to search property without specific cause. These were met with considerable colonial resistance due to the lack of legal justification.

  2. Pontiac’s Rebellion

    • A significant uprising led by the Ottawa chief Pontiac against British rule in the Great Lakes region, leading to more colonist organization against perceived injustices and taxes. The rebellion underscored the colonists’ dissatisfaction with British policies.

  3. Stamp Act Congress (1765)

    • This assembly discussed colonial rights concerning British taxation. The widespread violent protests that erupted led to the eventual repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766, highlighting colonial unity against Britain.

  4. Sons of Liberty

    • A clandestine group formed to protest the Stamp Act and other British measures. Their activism included boycotts and public demonstrations, leading to increased smuggling activities to avoid taxes.

  5. Sugar Act of 1764

    • This legislation lowered taxes on foreign molasses but imposed high taxes on refined sugar; colonists vehemently opposed these taxes, emphasizing their stance against taxation without representation.

  6. Stamp Act of 1765

    • A direct tax levied on printed materials, from newspapers to legal documents, inciting widespread unrest among colonists as they viewed it as an affront to their rights.

  7. Quartering Act of 1766

    • This act required colonists to provide housing and supplies to British soldiers, perceived as an intrusion on their rights and privacy and further inflaming anti-British sentiments.

  8. Declaratory Act of 1766

    • Following the repeal of the Stamp Act, this act reaffirmed British authority to impose taxes on the colonies, further aggravating the situation as it reinforced the idea of oppressive control.

  9. Townshend Acts (1765)

    • A series of acts imposed taxes on imports, including tea, glass, and paint. The anger catalyzed local production to resist British goods and aggravated tensions, culminating in events like the Boston Massacre.

Key Events Escalating Tensions

  • Boston Massacre (1770): A tragic conflict between colonists and British soldiers that resulted in several deaths. The incident became a rallying point and propaganda tool for colonial resistance against British oppression.

  • Committees of Correspondence: These were established to facilitate communication among the colonies regarding resistance efforts and to unify their actions against British policies.

  • Boston Tea Party (1773): A direct protest against the Tea Act, where colonists boarded British ships and dumped tea into Boston Harbor, leading to severe punitive measures from Britain, including the Intolerable Acts.

  • Intolerable Acts (1774): A series of punitive laws targeting Massachusetts in response to the Boston Tea Party, uniting the colonies in opposition to British tyranny. These acts restricted essential rights and liberties.

  • Lexington and Concord (1775): The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, signaling the start of armed conflict between colonists and British authorities.

Ideological Influences

  • Deism: An emerging belief system that suggested a god created the universe with natural laws but did not intervene in human affairs, presenting a contrast to traditional religious doctrines and influencing revolutionary thought.

  • Rationalism: A philosophical approach emphasizing reason and scientific inquiry, which became foundational in political theory and influenced the colonial desire for independence from perceived tyrannical governance.

  • Social Contract: A foundational concept in political philosophy positing that government is a construct established through mutual agreement among the people, focusing on promoting liberty and equality.

Revolutionary Leaders

  • Thomas Paine: Author of the influential pamphlet Common Sense, he boldly advocated for U.S. independence and critiqued monarchy, significantly shaping public opinion and mobilizing support for the revolutionary cause.

  • George Washington: Appointed commander of the Continental Army, he played a crucial role in uniting the colonies against British rule and leading the revolutionary struggle.

Formation of Government Post-Revolution

  • Articles of Confederation: Created a weak national government with limited powers, preventing it from levying taxes or regulating trade. The inadequacies became evident with rampant inflation and a lack of a unified response to crises.

  • Constitutional Convention: A landmark event where key compromises were reached, including the Great Compromise on legislative representation and the 3/5ths Compromise concerning slavery representation.

  • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: A significant ideological divide emerged, with Federalists advocating for a strong central authority while Anti-Federalists championed states’ rights and feared potential tyranny from a central government.

Early Presidential Policies

  • Washington's Neutrality Proclamation (1793): An important declaration seeking to keep the United States neutral in European conflicts, aimed at protecting the young nation from foreign entanglements and wars.

  • Jay's Treaty: Negotiated to address unresolved issues with Britain, this treaty faced backlash from pro-French factions in America but ultimately helped maintain peace and stability.

  • Whiskey Rebellion: This uprising demonstrated the federal government’s ability to enforce laws and marked an essential assertion of federal power in the growing nation.

  • Pickney’s Treaty: Due to the increasing Spanish influence the U.S. was concerned for its colonies. Thomas Pickney negotiated a treaty with Spain w/ 3 provisions

    • 1. Spain opened the lower Mississippi River and New Orleans to American trade

    • 2. Right of deposit was granted to America, allowing American merchants to store their goods in New Orleans without paying duties.

    • 3. The boundary between the United States and Spanish Florida was established at the 31st parallel, resolving territorial disputes and promoting peaceful relations.

XYZ Affair

  • XYZ Affair (1797-1798): A diplomatic incident between the United States and France that began when American diplomats were approached by French agents (referred to as X, Y, and Z) who demanded bribes for the privilege of meeting with the French foreign minister. This affair resulted in heightened tensions between the U.S. and France, leading to the Quasi-War, an undeclared naval conflict, and rallied American public support against French aggression.