Midterm Terms Flashcards
Declaration of Independence
A document stating that the colonies are becoming an independent nation, written by Thomas Jefferson
Battle of bunker hill
Battle on breeds hill that was going very well for the Americans but lost because they ran out of ammo
French and Indian war
“the fourth war between GreatBritain and France for control of North America
Proclamation of 1763
“which banned all settlement west of the Appalachians
Siege
A military operation where the military cuts off the opponents supplies
Inflation
A increase in prices due to increase of money supply
Albany plan of union
“which called for a joint colonial council to address defense issues
Treaty of Paris 1783
“confirmed U.S. independence and set the boundaries of the new nation. The UnitedStates now stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from Canada to the Florida border.
Militia
A group of organize citizens doing military duties
Olive branch petition
A document wrote by the 2nd continental congress requesting reconciliation between Britain and the colonies
Mercaneries
Soldiers who fight solely for money
Pontiacs rebellion
“Led by Pontiac, Native Americans captured eight British forts in the Ohio Valley and laid siege to two others. In angry response, British officers presented smallpox-infected blankets to two Delaware chiefs during peace negotiations, and the virus spread rapidly among the Native Americans. Weakened by disease and war, most Native American groups negotiated treaties with the British by the end of 1765
Casualty
A death
Stamp act
Direct tax on colonies that stated all paper products must be stamped and paid the tax for it
Judicial branch
Interpret laws
Battle of Lexington and concord
“The British commander ordered the minutemen to leave, and the colonists began to move out without laying down their muskets. Then someone fired, and the British soldiers sent a volley of shots into the departing militia. Eight minutemen were killed and ten more were wounded, but only one British soldier was injured. The Battle of Lexington lasted only 15 minutes
Boston massacre
Skirmish between British soldiers and citizens. Citizens bothering soldiers and someone screamed fire and 5 citizens were killed
Boycott
To protest
Battle of Saratoga
“where he surrendered his battered army to General Gates on October 17, 1777. The surrender at Saratoga dramatically changed Britain’s war strategy. From that time on, the British generally kept their troops along the coast, close to the big guns and supply bases of the British fleet.
Battle of Trenton
“surprise attack, the Americans killed 30 of the enemy and took 918 captives and six Hessian cannons
Loyalist
Loyal to Britain but lives in the colonies
Battle of Yorktown
“Colonel William Fontaine of the Virginia militia stood with the American and French armies lining a road near Yorktown, Virginia, on the afternoon of October 19, 1781, to witness the formal British surrender
Placate
To make less hostile
Profiteering
make or seek to make an excessive or unfair profit, especially illegally or in a black market
Electoral college
of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.
Cabinet
Group of department heads who serves as presidents chief advisors
Administration
Term in office
Virginia plan
“gave more power to states with large populations
Legislative branch
Makes laws
Checks and balances
Form of provisions in which it restricts one branch to over power the others
3/5 compromise
3/5 of each states slave population will count towards total state population
Constitution
A document that embodies the fundamental laws and principles by which the United States is governed
Great compromise
An agreement to have a senate with 2 reps per state and a house of reps determined by each state population
Articles of confederation
Documents stating how the US gov will be run. Est by the 2nd continental congress
Precident
an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances
Bill of rights
List of people’s rights when they are citizens in the USA
Alien and sedition acts
A series of 4 laws enacted 1798 to reduce the political power of recent immigrants to the US
Nullification
A states refusal to recognize an act of congress that it considers unconstitutional
XYZ affair
French demanded a bribe from US diplomats
