us history chapter 2

Stamp Act

1765 law passed by Parliament that required colonists to buy a stamp to place on many official documents and other items.

Townshend Acts

1767 law passed by Parliament which taxed imports into the colonies

Boston Massacre

Event in Boston in 1770 in which five colonists were killed by British soldiers

Boston Tea Party

protest against increased tea prices in which colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor

Intolerable Acts

a series of laws passed by Parliament punishing Massachusetts for its protests against the British policies

martial law

rule by the military instead of civilian authority

minutemen

civilian soldiers who fought on the Patriot side during the American Revolution

Second Continental Congress

the meeting of colonial delegates (representatives) in Philadelphia that approved the Declaration of Independence

Common Sense

Pamphlet, written by Thomas Paine, arguing for American Independence

Thomas Jefferson

main author of the Declaration of Indpendence

Declaration of Independence

the document that explained the basic ideals of the American colonists and explained why they were breaking away from Britain

Patriots

colonists who wanted independence from Britain

Loyalists

colonists who remained faithful to Britain - also called Tories

Battle of Trenton

Battle on Christmas day, 1776 in which Americans defeated Hessian (German) mercenaries. It boosted American morale greatly.

Battle of Saratoga

1777 battle in New York state won by the Americans which convinced France to get involved in the American Revolution

Yorktown

1781 battle in Virginia that gave Americans victory in the Revolutionary War

Treaty of Paris

1783 treaty that officially ended the American Revolution

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank

Democratic-Republicans

Led by Thomas Jefferson, believed people should have political power, favored strong STATE governments

two-party system

a system of government in which two parties compete for power. Washington warned against this for fear of tyranny

excise tax

Tax imposed on the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of items

neutrality

A refusal to take part in a war between other nations.

Whiskey Rebellion

Uprising of Pennsylvania distillers upset by Hamilton's excise tax.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws passed by Adams's administration which increased the amount of time for immigrants to become citizens and created penalties for people who complain about the government.

nullification

The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution.

Aaron Burr

In the election of 1800, he tied with Jefferson in the Electoral College. The House of Representatives awarded the Presidency to Jefferson and made him Vice- President. Killed Hamilton in a duel

Marbury v. Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review. A midnight appointee of the Adams administration sued that the Supreme Court should force Jefferson's administration to give him his Federal Judge job.

Louisiana Purchase

1803 - The U.S. purchased the land from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains from Napoleon for $15 million. Doubled the size of the US and gave many resources

Sacajawea

A Native American woman who proved an indispensable guide to Lewis and Clark during their 1804-1806 expedition.

impressment

The British practice of taking sailors from American ships and forcing them into the British Navy.

William Henry Harrison

Led US forces in the Battle of Tippecanoe and Northwest Indian Wars.

Tecumseh

A Shawnee chief who worked to unite the Northwestern Indian tribes into a confederacy

War Hawks

Southerners and Westerners who were eager for war with Britain. They wanted to takeover British land in North America and expand into Canada. Included Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina.

Andrew Jackson

A general in the War of 1812 defeated the British at New Orleans

James Madison

Became president in 1808. Pushed for war with Britain. Democratic-Republican

George Washington

He created the Cabinet and the first president of the United States. Did not claim any political affiliation

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Stated that states could refuse to enforce unconstitutional federal laws (nullification) - in this case the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Causes of the War of 1812

Impressment, desire for land in Canada, seizure of ships, supplying Native Americans with weapons

Events in the War of 1812

Battle of New Orleans, Embargo, Battle on Lake Erie

Washington's Farewell Address

Warned the country about the dangers of political parties, debt, and to stay out of foreign affairs

Treaty of Ghent (1814)

Ended the War of 1812
Terms:
Largely restored relations between the U.S. and Great Britain to pre-war normal.

White House (War of 1812)

Burnt down in 1814

Articles of Confederation

America's first form of government following the revolution with
1) very weak central government that did not allow the government to tax,
2) allowed each state only one vote
3) required a unanimous vote to amend.

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

Shays' Rebellion

Was a protest by farmers who faced problems from debts they owed to creditors. It contributed to the belief among political leaders that the nation needed a stronger central government

Legislative Branch

Congress whose job it is to make laws

Executive Branch

President, VP and Cabinet; job to enforce laws of nation

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court and other lower federal courts - job to interpret the lawsChecks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Antifederalists

people who opposed ratification of the Constitution such as Patrick Henry and Sam Adams

The Federalists Papers

a series of letters to the editors written in 1787-88 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay encouraging support for ratification of the Constitution

The U.S. Constitution

"the supreme law of the land" in the US. Broken down into 7 Articles and 27 Amendments

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Established a procedure for new land to be made in to US territories and eventually states.

Virginia Plan

Plan for government proposed by James Madison which favored larger states. Suggested a bicameral legislature and using checks and balances.New Jersey Plan

Plan for government proposed by William Patterson. Favored smaller states by suggesting a unicameral government with one vote per state and supreme federal power.

The 3/5 Compromise

Debate over whether or not enslaved people should be counted toward representation in the House of Representatives.

Ratification

The process of accepting the newly created Constitution. Needed 9 states to vote in favor for the new government to be accepted.

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures. Included James Madison, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton

Daniel Shays

Massachusetts farmer and former member of the Continental Army who led an uprising of about 1,000 Massachusetts farmers in 1786