McDougal Littell- The Americans

Chapter 4 and 5- The War for Independence

McDougal Littell- The Americans

Chapter 4 and 5- The War for Independence

Section 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4

• Stamp Act- Required colonists to purchase special stamped paper to every legal document, license, newspaper, pamphlet, and almanac, and imposed special “duties” on playing cards and dice.  
• Samuel Adams- Boston Patriot and one of the leaders of the Sons of Liberty.
• Townshend Acts- 1767 law passed by parliament which taxed imports into the colonies.
• Intolerable Acts- a series of laws passed by Parliament punishing Massachusetts for its protest against the British policies.
• Boston Massacre- This was portrayed by Samuel Adams and others as a British attack on defenseless citizens. The event in Boston in 1770 in which five colonists were killed by British soldiers.  
• Committee of correspondence- Communication network set up in the colonies to discuss mistreatment by the British government.
• Minutemen- civilian soldiers who fought on the patriot side during the American Revolution.
• Martial Law- rule by the military instead of civilian authority.
• Boston Tea Party- Protest against increased tea prices in which colonists dumped 18,000 pounds of the East India Company’s tea into the Boston Harbor. 
• Second Continental Congress- the meeting of colonial delegates in Philadelphia that approved the declaration of Independence  
• Common Sense- Anonymous 50-page pamphlet in which Thomas Paine attacked King George 3.
• Declaration of Independence- written by Jefferson and inspired by Locke’s “natural rights”
• Patriots- Supporters of Independence from Britain.
• Loyalists- those who opposed independence and remained loyal to the British Crown.
• King Geroge III- King of England from 1760-1820 including during the American Revolution.
• Olive Branch Petition- an offer of peace sent by the Second Continental Congress to King George III.
• Thomas Jefferson- main author of the Declaration of Independence
• Declaration of Independence- The document that explained the basic ideas of the American colonists and explained what they were breaking away from Britain.
• Valley Forge- Site where George Washington and the Continental Army set up camp during the winter of 1777-1778. There were severe conditions with a shortage of food and necessities but the loyalty of Americans is what gets through them to those conditions. 

• Trenton- Washington surprised the British at this town on Christmas night of 1776. This battle turned out to be an easy win for the Americans as they say the Britishers were drunk celebrating Christmas. This battle gave the Americans morale which was needed at that time. 
• Saratoga- 1777 battle in New York state won by the Americans which convinced France involved in the American Revolution.
• Inflation- a loss in the value of money resulting in a rise in the price of goods.
• Marquis de Lafayette- French who assisted the Americans in the Revolution.
• Profiteering- Selling scarce goods for a profit
• Yorktown- 1781 battle in Virginia that gave Americans victory in the Revolutionary War.
• Friedrich von Steuben- European military leader who helped turn the Continental Army into an effective fighting force
• Charles Cornwallis- Ambitious British general who captured Charles Town, South Carolina
• Treaty  of Paris- Confirmed U.S independence and set the boundaries of the new nation
• Egalitarianism- 1783 treaty that officially ended the American Revolution. 

Chapter 5- Shaping a New Nation

Section 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3- Key Terms

• Republic- Government in which the citizens rule through their elected representatives.
• Republicanism- the idea that government should be based on the consent of the people
• Articles of Confederation- a set of laws that gave the new national government power to declare war, make peace, and sign treaties.
• Confederation- a loose alliance of the states.
• Land Ordinance of 1785- a law that set up a plan for surveying land west of the Appalachian Mountains.
• North Ordinance of 1787- Provided a procedure for dividing lang west of the Appalachians into territories.
• Shays’s Rebellion- Protest of farmers that caused panic and dismay throughout the nation
• James Madison- leader at the Constitutional Convention.
• Roger Sherman- Constitutional Convention member who developed the Great Compromise.
• Great Compromise- Constitutional Convention agreement which stated that states would have 2 house legislature- House of Representatives based on population and the Senate would have equal representation
• Three-Fifths Compromise- Settled the dispute over whether or not slaves should be included in the state’s population count
• Federalism- System of government that divides power between the national government and state governments.
• Legislative Branch- Congress whose job it is to make laws.
• Executive Branch- President, VP, and Cabinet; job to enforce laws of the nation.
• Judicial Branch- Supreme Court and other lower federal courts- job to interpret the laws.
• Check 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.
• Electoral college- Group of electors chosen by the states who could cast ballots for the presidential candidates. 
• Ratification- Official approval of the Constitution.
• Rhode Island- State which was last to ratify. Violent riots broke out over the debate.
• Federalists- People in support of ratifying the constitution. 
• Anti-federalists- People against ratification. They favored a weak federal government.
• Federalist paper- Series of essays published in support of Federalism.
• Bill Of Rights- First 10 Amendments to the Constitution. Originally 12 were proposed. 
• First Amendment- freedom of speech, the press and religion.
• Second Amendement- In order to maintain a well-reulated milita, the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.
• Third Amendment- Outlaws the quartering of soldiers in civilans’ homes. 
• Fourth Amendment- Prohibits unreasonablesearches and seziures of property.
• Fifth Amendment- Charges must be maade known to the accused. No double jeopardy. Accused do not have to testify against themselves. Allows for the use fo eminent domain.
• Sixth Amendment- righ tot fair, speedy, and public trial.
• Seventh Amendment- Right to a trial by jury in civil trials when the monetary danages.
• Eighth Amendement- Prohibits cruel and unusual punishments and excessive bail.
• Ninth Amendment- any rights left out of the Constitution or law are given to the people
• Tenth Amendment- Any law no tmade by the federal government can be made by states.
• Double jeopardy- to be charged with the same crime twice.
• Eminent Domain- the government is allowed to take people’s property so long as fair compensation is provided.
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