History Test Ch. 5-8 Flashcards
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine’s popular pamphlet that encouraged independence from England by arguing that colonist could never be truly free under the English constitution.
Commander of the Continental Army
George Washington became the commander after congress recognized the need for a centralized leader. He took command in June 1775.
American advantages over the British in the Revolutionary War
The Americans were fighting on their own land and are more motivated because they are fighting for their freedom. England didn’t have the same motivation and were only fighting to maintain the colonies.
France’s role in our independence
Between 1778 and 1782 the French provided supplies, arms and ammunition, uniforms, and, most importantly, troops and naval support to the beleaguered Continental Army. The French navy transported reinforcements, fought off a British fleet, and protected Washington’s forces in Virginia
Loyalists/Tories – 1/3 of the colonies
Supporters of England and the king, they may have represented a third of the white colonial population; many left America after the revolution.
Northwest Ordinance 1787
Outlawed slavery in the Northwest territory and the states that developed in that area were always “free states”
Shay’s Rebellion
A 1786 uprising of poor Massachusetts farmers demanding relief from their debt; exposed the weakness of the articles of confederation.
“The Great Compromise” – Constitutional Convention 1787 and what did the convention do
2 house legislature. House of representatives based on population, the senate has two representatives no matter the population.
The Antifederalist position
They thought it would increase taxes, weaken the states, grant the central government dictatorial power, favor the “well born” over the common people, and abolish individual liberty.
Alexander Hamilton
One of the countries founders, influential in Washington’s cabinet. Started the first national bank.
Pinckney’s Treaty
Agreement between the US and Spain that guaranteed access to the Mississippi river for American trade and protection from Native Americans in Spain’s territories.
Alien and Sedition Acts
A group of laws passed under President John Adams that limited new immigrants’ access to citizenship and gave the federal government broad powers to limit criticism of the government
Jay’s Treaty
Crafted in response to continued British seizure of American ships in 1794 by the chief justice of the supreme court’ John Jay; resolved the dispute by acknowledging American supremacy over the northwest territory and producing a commercial relationship with Britain.
(The Northwest Territories were American not British and stopping the British interfering with American trade and shipping)
Eli Whitney’s inventions – understand the unintended consequence of the cotton gin (Essay Question)
The cotton gin made cotton production more efficient but expanded slavery due to this.
Thomas Jefferson
A founder of the United States and wrote the declaration of independence