AP US APUSH UNIT 3 REVIEW

Key Question: Why did the American Revolution happen?
- Major causes include various forms of government and colonial discontent.

The French and Indian War acts as a pivotal event leading to the American Revolution.
- Great Britain wins the war, expelling the French from North America.
- After the war, tensions rise due to British territorial policies and colonial expansion desires.
- The British government issues a proclamation to limit westward expansion, which colonists often ignore, leading to conflicts like Pontiac's Rebellion.

Salutary Neglect: A period when British taxes were minimal, allowing colonies some self-governance.
- Post-war Britain, burdened with debt, starts heavily taxing the colonies, which they previously governed independently.
- This taxation leads to significant colonial resentment and early signs of resistance, including:
- First Continental Congress: Political assembly that unites colonial elites to discuss grievances.
- Committee of Correspondence: A network for communication between colonies to coordinate resistance.

Written as a response to British oppressive policies, influenced by Enlightenment ideas of individual rights and governance.
- Represents a formal statement of separation from Britain, outlining grievances against the king.
- Although based on principles of equality, these rights initially exclude many groups, highlighting a gap between ideals and practice.

The United States wins the Revolutionary War, facing numerous challenges including a lack of resources and internal disagreement.
- The victory influences revolutions globally, encouraging movements in France, Haiti, and Latin America.

Post-war, America forms a government under the Articles of Confederation:
- Features a weak central government unable to levy taxes or regulate trade effectively.
- Each state operates almost independently, leading to potential conflicts and economic issues.

Paxton Boys and Shay's Rebellion: Demonstrate the unrest among lower classes and demand for government reform.
- Shay's Rebellion is particularly significant as it showcases the inability of the government under the Articles to maintain order and protect citizens.

Realizing the inadequacies of the Articles, leaders convene to draft the Constitution, establishing a stronger federal government.
- The Constitution introduces compromises over representation, particularly with regard to slave populations contributing to state representations.
- The emergence of political parties, Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists, reflects ongoing debates about the power and role of the federal government.

To assuage fears about centralized power, the Bill of Rights is proposed and ratified, securing individual liberties and state rights.

Women, while lacking political rights, take on roles as moral educators in the household, known as Republican Mothers.
- They instill values in children to help produce responsible citizens in the new republic.

Early challenges include managing relationships with Native Americans and navigating foreign policies.
- Washington’s farewell address later cautions against political entanglements and party divisions, highlighting the ongoing political struggles in the young nation.