APUSH Period 3 Review (1754- 1800)

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

• Fort Duquesne was in Pittsburgh, and began the French and Indian War. The British wanted in on the French fur trade, and began to encroach on French, and Indian land. The French built forts to protect against this encroachment, one of the most notable being Fort Duquesne.

• George Washington was sent in 1754 to tell the French that they were seen as a threat to British establishment of trade networks in the Ohio valley, this triggered military conflict with French, leading to war.

• Allies: Both the sides had close allies with Native tribes, the British were very closely allied with the Iroquois, they also wanted in on the fur trade. The French were members of the covenant chain, with the Hurons as their main allies.

• Many of the colonies gathered in the Albany Plan of Union, in attempts to rally to allie with Iroquois in order to defeat the French. This was created by Ben Franklin, and it was an ultimate failure but it symbolized that colonies were talking things through.

• William Pitt was the prime minister of Great Britain, and he wanted to take the French down. he devoted many resources to the war effort, securing significant debt for the British. They were ultimately able to defeat the French.

• Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War in 1763, This stated that the British would control everything east of the Mississippi, and the French were kicked out of North America.

• With the British win of this war, natives were upset with how the British would encroach upon their land. Pontiac gathered representatives to send the message to the British that they would not let them run over their land (Pontiac’s Rebellion). This set the Proclamation Line of 1763, cutting off westward migration at a certain point.

• March of the Paxton Boys followed Pontiac’s rebellion in 1763, as a fight against natives, attempting to capture them and gain their land. 

British Imperialism

• After the British had won the war, they were in significant debt. this led to the ultimate end of salutary neglect, meaning that they would actually need to enforce their taxation and policies.

• They began to try smugglers of goods through the use of Admiralty Courts, which meant no trial by jury, but rather judged by a direct appointee of the crown.

• Colonists were guaranteed that they had Virtual Representation, meaning that they had a voice in parliament because their best interest in mind.

• Sugar Act passed, this extended the Molasses Act, as it placed more taxes on sugar, molasses and coffee.

• Currency Act stopped colonists from making their own paper money.

• Stamp Act was a major Act passed by the British, where a tax was placed on all paper goods in the colonies. There was a stamp on these goods to show payment.

• The Stamp Act caused lots of controversy, leading to the Stamp Act Congress, where the colonists elected representatives to gather together to formulate a letter to the king, stating unfairness of the taxation without any representation.

• Quartering Act stated that colonists would need to supply soliders to keep peace within the colonies.

• Parliament repeals the Stamp Act due to colonial pushback, but it is replaced with the Declaratory Act, which gives parliament the unquestionable right to tax colonies.

• The Townshend Acts was another series of taxes placed on smuggled goods, this was not well taken.

• The Boston Massacre occurred as tensions were high from the Quartering Act and Townshend Acts, and troops in Boston were getting harassed and a shot was fired, which turned into a big battle.

• The Tea Act placed a monopoly on the British East India Company, sons of liberty did Boston Tea Party to rebel.

• The Intolerable Acts closed the port of Boston due to the Tea Party, this established the First Continental Congress, which decided on the action of boycotting, as well as sending a letter to the king in order to state they were not being represented.

• No Taxation without Representation was the rally cry of the colonists, as they held a strong belief in Republicanism, that their rights as individuals were important, and the power should be held by the people.

• “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania” written by John Dickinson, appealing to the average person.

• “Shot heard round the world” took place in Lexington and Concord, started the revolutionary War.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

• Daughters of Liberty gathered together as a group of women who participated by boycotting, making their own clothing and food, as well as other products to gain independence from British.

• The Sons of Liberty were the men most impacted by the taxation, urban merchants.

• Committees of Correspondence emerged in every colony, as a government system.

• Minute Men of Massachutess were colonists who trained and created independent militia groups.

• Loyalists accounted for about 30% of colonists, they held the notion that disobeying the King was disobeying God.

• George Washington was appointed as the leader of the Continental Army, and he was a very skillful military leader.

• Colonists utilized significant amount of guerrilla warfare, which the British could not keep up with, as they often used open field battle tactics.

• Pennsylvania gradual emancipation laws (1780) put slavery on the road to extinction. 

• Battle of Trenton occurred (1776) as Washington made the decision to cross the Delaware river, British had paid German missionaries to win, but colonists had captured the Germans. 

• Battle of Saratoga (1777) was a turning point in the war, fought in upstate New York, it convinced the French that they could invest in the colonists Lafayette sent to help. 

• Battle of Yorktown (1781) was the final battle of the war, the colonists had won thanks to French assistance, they were able to trap the British, and Spanish sent support. 

• The British were facing hardship back home with rebellions and high taxation, triggering the Treaty of Paris to end the war. 

Post-War American Religious, Idealogical, Political, and Societal Development (1783-1800)

• Land ordinance of 1785 followed the revolution directly, as the AOC banned direct taxation. This ordinance allowed land selling in unmapped territory in order to make money for the government. 

• Northwest ordinance divides territory into an organized fashion, townships/states created. Also outlawed slavery in these areas. Section 16 had to be reserved for public school. 

• The Great Awakening ideals led Americans to believe that they could reject God’s leadership for other forms of government, and still be faithful. Enlightened ideas overall brought Americans to foster change, as it made them believe individual talent was what mattered.

• ‘Common Sense’ was published by Thomas Paine in 1776, serving as an assault against traditional monarchy and aristocracy. Written for commoners, reached many, worked as an emotional appeal to why they should rebel. 

• Declaration of Independence was released by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, very formal, directed mainly towards parliament and King George. 

• Declaration ideas sparked many revolutions in Latin America, as well as the Haitian Revolution, and the French Revolution.

• Both of the above pieces heavily appealed to ideas of republicanism, that people hold the power, and should elect representatives.

• Pennsylvania reduced the state property requirements to vote, which was a huge step towards getting even more Americans to vote for representatives.

• Thomas Jefferson also wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786, guaranteeing free religious freedom to all faiths. 

• Ideal of Republican motherhood was raised, that mothers should raise children to be loyal citizens, and understand liberty. Also the belief that educating children, especially sons, on how to advanced democratic values and natural rights was crucial. Believed women should be educated enough to teach these ideals, but should not be able to sit on the jury or vote.

Post-War Documents/Developements Regarding Federal and State Powers (1783-1800)

• New Jersey granted Women the right to vote on a temporary status, only lasting until 1807.

• Articles of Confederation were drafted by the first continental congress during the revolutionary war, and they outlined that there was to be no executive or judicial branchges, solely a legislative branch (unicameral legislature).

• National government had no power to tax, draft soldiers, or regulate trade. These were powers needed to ratify the amendments in the Articles of Confederation.

• States began to impose tariffs on eachother, and there was no national currency 

• Massachutsess farmers were being crushed by debt, wanted the states to print money, but this would cause major inflation. Shay led 4,000 to seize the army in Springfield, MA (Shay’s Rebellion). This was wake up call, that a stronger central government was needed.

• Annapolis convention was held, with delegates from the states to discuss better trade. They realized that they can’t trade, but decided to write report requesting a broader constitution and reexamination of the Articles of Confederation. 

• The Great Compromise was created, combining:

1. New Jersey Plan: Similar to the AOC, 1 house unicameral legislature, every state      given equal representation in congress. 

2. Virginia Plan: 2 different houses, bicameral legislature, representation based on population. 

• The compromise consisted of two houses, a bicameral legislature, senate had equal representation, two reps per state (upper house), house of representatives was proportional to population (lower house).

• Separation of powers was created (branches), and checks and balances were imposed to make sure no one individual was given too much power. 

• Idea of Federalism arose, stating powers given in the US Constitution were given to the National government, but powers not stated belonged to the state governments. 

• Three-fifths Compromise was reached, as northern states wanted slaves counted for taxation purposes, and southern states wanted slave counted for representation in congress. It was reached that slaves would count as three-fifths of a person for both taxation and representation. 

• Federalists papers published by Madison and Hamilton, about why colonists should support ratification of the constitution. The Bill of Rights was the conclusion that if the constitution were to be ratified, a bill of rights would be ensured.

• Divide was created between the Federalists and anti-Federalists: 

• Federalists- wanted stronger central government, liked the ideals in the constitution, wanted to ratify it, pro-British for their strong central government model. 

• Anti-Federalists- believed that US would become Britain 2.0, smaller farmers who wanted change in the constitution, lived in the backcountry and were pro-French. 

Washington Administration (1789-1796)

• 1789 Washington elected, Alexander Hamilton (Federalist) serves as Secretary of Treasury, Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) named Secretary of State.

• Washington enforces a cabinet to avoid the president gaining too much power, and congress passes the Judiciary Act to outline the federal court system, establishing a federal trial court. 

• Hamilton wanted to raise money for the federal government, he began to tax whiskey, Pennsylvania farmers targeted, whiskey rebellion begins put out quickly by the national army. 

• Hamilton establishes a financial plan to pay back major wartime debt. He called for paying back in full of govt. Debts. (Report on Public Credit), National Bank and moderate tariffs (Report on Manufactures) were his plan. 

• After the ratification of the constitution, Jefferson and Madison established the Democratic-Republican party, as people who did not believe in ideas represented in the constitution. This party was small farmers, workers, and plantation owners. They took strict interpretation of the constitution (Pro-French).

• The Federalist Party was led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, advocating for a stronger central government, financial stability, and close relations with Britain. Loose constitution interpretation.

• 1793 Eli Whitney made cotton gin which made slavery profitable, rise in anti-slavery societies as people who challenged slavery and the institution. 

• John Trumbull (Artist), and Mercy Otis Warren (“History of American Revolution”) emerged as artists of the Revolution.

• Benjamin Banneker was first notable African-American scholar, worked with Jefferson.

• Battle of Fallen Timbers took place in 1794, as Chief Little Turtle was taken down by Gen. Mad Anthony Wayne, forcing the signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, granting the US Native Land in the Ohio River Valley.

• French Revolution occurs, GB Vs. France, the US is stuck in the middle, Proclamation of Neutrality by Washington, stating US could not afford more war.

• British were still occupying some US forts from the fur trade, Jay’s Treaty (1794) attempted to resolve this, British agreed to remove some troops from US territory. 

• Washington shares his farewell address, stating:

1. Steer clear of permanent alliances

2. Avoid creation of political parties

3. Cherish public credit 

John Adams’ Administration (1797-1800)

• Spanish controlled the Mississippi river, Pickney’s Treaty (1795) got Spain to open up the New Orleans port, opening up the trade route.  

• XYZ Affair occurred when Adams sent 3 US reps to France to talk to 3 French diplomats.

• Convention of 1800 ended the Quasi-War, and alliance with France.

• The Alien + Sedation Acts increased the requirements to be a US citizen, as well as made it easier to deport non-US citizens.

• The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions allowed states to nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.