Unit 3 Notes: 1754-1800

The French and Indian War (part of the Seven Years' War) was caused by conflict between the French and British over land in the Ohio River Valley.
British victory led to France being ousted from North America, with the Louisiana Territory transferred to Spain, and Britain doubled its land holdings.
The Proclamation Line of 1763 was established and colonists couldn't settle past the line.
British debt doubled and cost of running the colonies increased fivefold, leading to taxes on colonies.

British colonial policies, mainly taxation without colonial representation, led to the revolutionary war.
Colonists were angered by stricter enforcement of the Navigation Act, the Quartering Act, and the Stamp Act.
Parliament argued for virtual representation, which was rejected by colonists.
The Stamp Act Congress petitioned parliament, but new taxes like the Townsend Acts led to boycotts.
Tension increased, leading to events like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.
The British responded with the Coercive Acts, increasing support for the Patriot movement.

Enlightenment ideals, like natural rights, social contract, and separation of powers, influenced the American independence movement.
Thomas Paine's Common Sense combined biblical imagery with enlightenment thought, advocating for independence.
The Declaration of Independence reflects enlightenment ideas like natural rights and the social contract.

Despite Britain's advantages, American patriots won the revolutionary war due to the leadership of George Washington.
The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point, convincing France to ally with the Americans.
The war ended with the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.

The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution but failed due to a weak federal government.
All federal power was in a legislative body, with no executive or judicial branches.
There was no national military and no power to tax the states.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a positive aspect, providing a plan for territories to apply for statehood and abolishing slavery in the Northwestern Territories.
Shay's Rebellion exposed the weaknesses of the Articles. It showed that weaknesses and there was no military to call on.

The Constitutional Convention was called to draft a new constitution.
Federalists favored a strong central government, while Anti-Federalists favored more state power.
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) established a bicameral legislature with representation by population in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
The Three-Fifths Compromise counted three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation.
The Federalist Papers were written to defend the constitution.
The Federalists won the ratification debate by agreeing to add a Bill of Rights.

The Constitution created a new central government defined by federalism and the separation of powers.
Federalism is the sharing of power between the federal and state governments.
The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not explicitly given to the federal government for the states.
Separation of powers divides the government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches with checks and balances.

The ideals of the American Revolution affected society, leading to debates about slavery and the concept of republican motherhood.
Northern states began emancipation, while Southern states became more entrenched in slavery.
The American Revolution inspired revolutions in France and Haiti.

George Washington and John Adams set precedents for the relationship between the federal and state governments, economic policy, and foreign policy.
The Whiskey Rebellion demonstrated federal authority.
Hamilton's National Bank consolidated state debts, increasing the credit of The US.
The XYZ Affair and Alien and Sedition Acts led to debates over states' rights, as seen in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.

Ideas about American national identity found expression in art, literature, and architecture, with both national and regional representations.