Period 3 Test Flashcards
Describe the literature of 1700s America.
Literature in America was very little, did not have authors like Europe did
Why did America not have many authors?
People were too busy doing other things
What would happen if authors tried to succeed in America?
They would struggle because they were away from printing press and would not be published.
Who was the main author of 1700s America?
Ben Franklin
What was Franklin’s main work?
Poor Richard’s Almanac
Describe Franklin’s personality.
The elder of founding fathers, very elegant, flirtatious despite elderly role in founding America.
How was Franklin flirtatious?
He had affairs with the French court.
How was John Adams’ personality with respect to founding?
He was uptight to get things done.
How did Franklin compare to John Adams in personality in the founding process?
John Adams was uptight to get things done, Franklin was soft and wanted to massage the French court.
Who was the second prominent writer of the 1700s?
John Peter Zenger
What is Zenger famous for?
The Zenger Trial
What was the Zenger trial?
He wrote against the king
When Zenger had the trial, what states were the colonies in?
The colonies were totally royal now, no more freedom, King chose governors, not elected anymore by people.
How was Zenger charged with writing against the king?
It was illegal and the royal government arrested him.
What was the good outcome of the Zenger trial?
It was really where we get first big stand in freedom of speech or press.
What was the outcome for Zenger?
His lawyer in court expresses the opinions and unfair punishment, and he does not get held accountable for slander or libel.
What was the main purpose of New France?
As a financial gain for the mother country.
Was New France’s goal to create colonies?
No
Why was France mainly in the colonies?
Here to collect fur and lumber and get it back to France.
Before the 7 years war, how far had France gone in the New World?
They have come through Canada, down St. Lawrence River, to Great Lakes, and down Mississippi River to Louisiana area
Who was the father of New France?
Samuel de Champlain
How were the English on the seas before the 7 years war?
English turned into pirates on high seas, raided Spanish vessels.
What eventually happened with the sea conflict with England and Spain?
A small war broke out with them.
How did the small England-Spain war start?
Spain lops off the ear of Captain Jenkin of England, the ear is sent to parliament, which causes retaliation and a war breaks out.
What are the names for the French and Indian War?
- French and Indian War
- Seven Years War
Where does the fighting start for the 7 years war?
In America
Where does most fighting take place in the 7 years war?
Mainly in Europe and America, but in many different fronts.
What was the French and Indian war all about?
who will secede to the Spanish throne, as Spain made inroads to western part of the colonies, such as PA.
How did the English colonists respond to the Spanish colony settlements in western colonies?
The English governor of Virginia says to George Washington to set up a fort to defend their territory from the French
What Indian groups supported the English and French?
Algonquin-French
Iroquois-English
What was George Washington’s job when he went to build the fort?
He was in the royal army, and a surveyor of land
Where is Washington sent to for building the fort?
It is where rivers come together in the Ohio Valley, the Ohio River and Allegheny River and Monongahela River, near Pittsburgh.
What happens when Washington gets to the Ohio Valley rivers?
There is already a fort built by France there.
How must Washington respond to the French fort already being there?
They must fall back and built a small fort to keep an eye on things.
What is the small English fort called near Pittsburgh?
Fort Necessity
What eventually happens with the English and the French fort near Pittsburgh?
English would be able to fire enough on French fort to force them to give up and leave and create a new fort.
What new fort do the English make after beating the French in the Ohio Valley?
Fort Duquesne
What did Fort Duquesne mean for the English?
The English established a foothold near Pittsburgh.
Who is Pittsburgh named after?
William Pitt, the governor of England at that time.
What part of the colonies is the French and Indian War mainly fought?
The western frontier
What were the effects of the war being fought in the western frontier?
Life was hard on frontier, had to deal with no markets, fighting with French and Indians, no water nearby either.
What was the main purpose of the colonial theater of the 7 Years War?
They tried to figure out who owned what land, fighting for land and trade routes.
What was unique about the fighting tactics of the 7 years war?
Guerrilla warfare was introduced, as in Europe people were used to marching straight and firing. The new fighting concept of guerrilla warfare was unheard of in Europe.
Where are some of the big battles from the colonial theater?
Lewisburg, Quebec, Montreal, epicenter of the colonial theater.
What was the turning point of the war?
When Pitt takes over as Prime minister.
How does Pitt coming to power affect the 7 Years War?
He ramps it up, war was important, previous prime minister was worried about European front, sends best generals to America to fight to beat the French.
What big event happened after the 7 Years War?
The setup of the Albany Congress
What was the Albany Congress?
A collection of 7 colonies, getting together
What was the definition of Congress in the Albany Congress?
This was a group of people getting together with similar ideas.
Who leads the Congress?
Franklin
What was Franklin remembered most for in the Congress?
He draws flag with join or die on it.
What were the goals of the Albany Congress?
they can unify the front against French and Natives, defensive friendship
What battle near Pittsburgh lost a big English general?
Monongahela battle
What general was killed in the Monongahela battle? What was his death?
General Braddock, mortally wounded, big loss for England.
Who was James Wolfe?
The British hero in the Seven Years’ War
What did James Wolfe do?
He is killed at the battle of Quebec, and the turning point of this war was when Wolfe came over, Americans felt committed to join with England to win the war.
What document ended the Seven Years War?
Treaty of Paris
Who won the Seven Years’ War?
The English
What happened with the Treaty of Paris?
- The French give Canada to the British
- Spain lost Florida to the British
When was the Treaty of Paris passed?
1763
Who gave England Florida?
France
Why did Spain lose Florida to the British?
Spain did not pay attention, and Florida had zero leadership, just a big peninsula.
How did the French respond to giving England Florida and taking it from Spain?
They felt bad for Spain, so they gave Louisiana to Spain.
What was the other motive for France giving Louisiana to Spain?
They know practicality of controlling Louisiana is hard, they do not have the forces to do it.
What did Britain establish after the 7 Years War?
Proclamation of 1763
How did the colonists feel about the 1763 Proclamation?
They were angry about it.
What did the 1763 Proclamation entail?
Parliament says they will start up a line and colonists must stay east of that line.
Where did the line of the 1763 Proclamation run through?
Near the Allegheny Mountains
What would happen if colonists went west of the line of the proclamation?
They will not be protected.
Did the Natives like the Proclamation? Why or why not?
The natives liked the move because they feel it pins the colonies to the ocean and natives have everything else.
After the Proclamation of 1763, how did the Natives feel the land would be figured out?
They felt the colonists would leave at some point, as the natives moved west.
After the 7 Years War, what happened to the British economy?
They were in massive debt.
What mainly caused the British debt?
They dropped a ton of money to defend the colonies, they are broke.
What was the issue with the British debt?
The crown was confused on creating money, and the colonists are not paying taxes at this point.
What did Britain need to do to get back economically?
They needed ways to gain money.
What was one motive of England passing these tax acts?
England questioned why we did not pay taxes, despite them defending the colonists in the war, which is why they are in debt.
What did England eventually do in response to the debt and motives of tax collection?
They created a policy of mercantilism.
What was their mercantilistic policy?
All the trade and taxes go through the mother country, all materials that were produced needed to be given to England.
Who was the new Prime Minister during the debt?
Grenville
What did Grenville do in an effort to get taxes from the colonies?
He passed 3 major acts that called for more taxes from colonists.
What acts did Grenville pass for taxes?
- Sugar Act
- Quartering Act
- Stamp Act
When was the Sugar Act passed?
1764
What was the Sugar Act?
First attempt by England to directly raise money for the Crown.
What were the other motives of creating these tax acts?
- our strong crops
- the colonial population was rivaling the population of England, much to their disbelief
What was the Molasses Act?
Not an act for taxes, but demanding a share for the molasses crops in the colonies.
What did the Sugar Act do?
The colonists did not directly pay taxes, but the colonists had to pay taxes on trading sugar to England.
How did the colonists respond to the Sugar Act?
- they bribed them to get out of the area
- had some protests, especially in New England
- some English tax collectors were tarred and feathered
- some were hung in effigy
How was the Sugar Act carried out?
Tax collectors were stationed there, seen as agents of the king, colonists took offense to it.
When was the Quartering Act passed?
1965
What was the Quartering Act really about?
It was not about raising money, about saving money for England.
How was the Quartering Act carried out?
If they showed up in the house colonists had to quarter them, and they got access to a bed, and kids or adults had to be displaced from their beds, the colonists were also obligated to feed them
What was the Quartering Act?
British troops could request quarter for anyone in the colonies
How did colonists feel about the Quartering Act? Why?
They were frustrated that they had to be controlled for the houses
How was the Quartering Act viewed by the colonists?
A form of taxation
Where did the Quartering mainly take place? Why?
In New England because it was more densely populated and had most structure to their society.
When was the Stamp Act passed?
1765
What was the Stamp Act?
It deals with paper goods and having merchants stamp them to show you paid a tax, could be greeting cards, newspapers, books, cards, got a stamp on them to show you legally paid a tax
What was the significance of the Stamp Act?
It was the first direct taxation on colonists.
How did the colonists respond to the Stamp Act?
Everyone was angry because everyone was subject to it, so they write to the Parliament.
What did the colonists write to the Parliament about?
They ask for the Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, and Quartering Act.
Did the Parliament repeal based on the colonial letter?
No
How do the colonists respond after the Parliament does not reply to the letter?
They rebel against them
Do the first level of taxes get removed after the rebellion by the colonists?
Yes
What was the significance of the repealing of the first taxes by the colonists?
It set the precedent of no taxation without representation and if the colonists protested well, they could get their way.
What also came up in the colonies after the repealing of the first taxes?
There was a slight sway against us by the English and writers such as John Dickinson came up with big writings to the British.
What was the Salutary Neglect?
The neglect the colonists had as the British started controlling them after the 7 Years War.
After the repealing of the first taxes, what did England implement?
The Virtual Representation
What was the Virtual Representation?
England represents for the colonists in Parliament, but they do not get a physical representative there.
What are the issues of the Virtual Representation?
The ideas presented and voted on are in England’s best interest.
What arises in the colonies from the Virtual Representation?
Sons and Daughters of Liberty.
What were the Sons of Liberty?
They were rabble-rousers, group that Sam Adams is connected with, founding sons, domestic terrorist activities, not hesitant to do whatever it takes to get their way.
What were the Daughters of Liberty?
They protested, but in a much more reserved way, wrote letters, sang music, very subdued.
Who was the New Prime Minister after the Sons and Daughters of Liberty came about?
Charles Townshend
How many Prime Ministers did England have from the French and Indian War start to the Boston Massacre?
4
How did Townshend become the next Prime Minister?
He emerged from Parliament from the majority party, and he was voted in by his party’s members.
What did Townshend pass to help the English debt?
Townshend Acts
What was the first Townshend Act?
Declaratory Act
What was the Declaratory Act?
It said that anything else they pass is serious, even though the Stamp Act was repealed.
What did the Declaratory Act mean for the colonists?
All forceful bills directed at them are now serious business in response to the repealing of previous tax acts.
What items were taxed under the Townshend Acts?
- Paper
- Lead
- Glass
- Tea
How did colonists respond to the Townshend Acts?
They protested, including the Boston Tea Party
Which Townshend taxes were eventually repealed because of these protests?
All except tea
What other Townshend act was passed deemed over-controlling?
Salaries of governors of colonists would be controlled by the Crown, not by Parliaments and the colonies anymore.
How did the Colonists respond to the governor salary control act?
They were irritated and kept protesting.
When and where did the Boston Massacre happen?
Around Christmastime in Boston
Describe the situation in Boston before the Massacre.
There was a regiment of British troops in Boston, marching through the streets. Some young colonists, teens and 20s followed them and heckling them and threw “snowballs” at them, ice and gravel stones, they hurt.
After the young adult colonists were throwing snowballs, how did the British respond?
They get into formation, into a defensive line.
After the British line up, what does the general do?
He tells his army not to shoot and tells colonists to stop.
Do the colonists stop after the British general’s orders?
No, they keep taunting them.
How do the British respond to the nonstop taunting?
They lose temper, and a shot is fired.
What happens after the first shot is fired?
More shots are fired and several colonists are killed.
Who was the first one killed in the Massacre?
Crispus Attucks
Why was Attucks’ death so ironic?
He was a black man, and he was the first one to die in the American Revolution.
Who made a silver engraving depicting the Massacre?
Paul Revere
What were the effects of the Boston Massacre?
This was a rally point in terms of testing the British, as these soldiers are locked up in prison and they needed representation.
Who was chosen to be the representative for the crown?
John Adams
What was Adams’ position on the revolution at the time?
He was not revolutionary, he helped with the crown.
Who was John Adams’ cousin?
Sam Adams
How does Adams change sides to being pro-revolution?
He comes to realization with cousin Sam Adams to help the colonists.
What was Adams asked to do when he supported the revolutionaries?
To be royal governor of Massachusetts.
What would be the issue if he would be the royal governor of Massachusetts?
- Money would be lost
- had to be accountable for Boston Massacre killers
- would be not loyal to the king
What did Adams do to be on the side of the revolutionaries with respect to the Massacre shooters?
He saw the general who saw the massacre, and the accusation of the people was that he ordered the fire.
What happens to the prisoners of the Massacre?
Adams says the accusations of general were wrong and released the prisoners, he sends them back to Britain for safety.
What Parliament rule was created after the soldiers were sent back from Boston after their release?
Parliament ruled there will be no trials of British soldiers in the colonies.
Who was the monarch during the revolution?
King George III
What was King George III’s nickname?
Mad King George
Describe King George III.
crazy personality, somewhat young, not old
Describe how George III’s monarch powers related to his religion.
He believed he was a monarchist from God’s Divine Right
What was God’s Divine Right?
It is that when a person is born, God determines they are going to be king. Their right to rule comes directly from God.
How did George III feel about the American colonies?
America had to fall in line with his rules and follow the orders of England.
Who was the rabble rouser of the colonists?
Sam Adams
Describe Sam Adams’ background.
From Massachusetts, he inherits the brewery, bad at business bankrupt a couple of times.
What were some of Sam Adams’ big roles in the colonies?
- founded the Sons of Liberty
- helped with tarring and feathering
- wore red every day
- very anti-Britain
When was the Boston Tea Party?
Early 1775
Who coordinated the Boston Tea Party?
Sam Adams
What did the colonists do first at the Boston tea party?
They dressed like Indian mohawks, and boarded ships in Boston Harbor
What did the colonists do after they boarded the ship in Boston Harbor?
They dump tons of British tea into the harbor.
Why did the colonists have the Tea Party?
It was their way to boycott British tea because it was the only remaining Townshend tax not repealed.
How did the British respond to the Tea Party?
British locked down Boston harbor, and said if the colonists do not pay for the tea, they will deadlock Boston Harbor.
How many chests of tea were dumped over?
342
How did Parliament respond to the Tea Party?
They pass the Coercive Acts
What did the colonists call the Coercive Acts?
Intolerable Acts
What did the Coercive Acts do?
- They closed Boston Harbor until damages are paid for tea
- institute quartering acts to all colonies, not just MA
- reinstated taxes with bigger British presence in the colonies
Did these Coercive Acts get repealed after colonial protest?
No
What do the British pass after our protest of the Coercive Acts?
Quebec Act
What was the Quebec Act?
British-owned Quebec was extended and everything west of the Appalachians are now belonging to Quebec.
Why was the Quebec Act passed?
So colonists could not escape from the British control if they fled the colonial area.
When and where was the First Continental Congress?
1774 in Philadelphia
Why was Philadelphia chosen for continental congresses?
It is like a midpoint of the colonies, easy to get to for most colonies.
What colony did not attend the first Continental Congress?
Georgia
Why did Georgia not go to the first Continental Congress?
Georgia was far, so they do not send delegates to Congress.
How is the Continental Congress setup?
Each colony has a delegation there.
What happens at the first Continental Congress?
Many people want to secede from England, but Dickinson says he wants to be nicer to England.
Where was Dickinson from?
Pennsylvania
Who were the major players at the First Continental Congress?
Dickinson-PA Franklin-PA Adams-MA Washington-VA Jefferson-VA Rutledge-SC
What did Dickinson realize when he decided to be nicer to Britain, but why did he say that?
He knew it would make Massachusetts mad, but he knows if they secede it would be treason and they are not quite ready yet.
What does Dickinson send at the First Continental Congress?
The Olive Branch Petition
What was the Olive Branch Petition?
It was submitted to King George in, 1775. It was an attempt to assert the rights of the colonists while maintaining their loyalty to the British crown.
What happens with the Olive Branch Petition?
Nothing really happens with it, even though it was ratified.
What have the colonials done to defend themselves while the First Congress is going on?
They have stockpiled weapons and supplies in old barns outside of Boston so British do not see it, but is still accessible
In addition to amassing weapons, what also is taking place as the war builds up?
There are also many rabble-rousers who are vocal for independence.
Do the British know that there are rabble rousers in Boston?
Yes
What do the British want to do for these rabble rousers?
They want to arrest any dangerous people.
How do the colonials create a system of defense if British are coming?
They create system of signals to tell if troops were coming by land or sea with ship canons or guns.
Who was riding the horse that first told that the British are coming?
Paul Revere
What did Paul Revere do on his horse?
He gets on the horse in the middle of the night at Old North Church alerting the minutemen.
What were the minutemen?
They could commit to fighting in a minute at any time of day
Where were the minutemen from?
Massachusetts
Where do the British march first in the war?
Lexington and Concord, MA
What happens in Lexington and Concord?
British do some damage to colonials, but colonials have really mounted forces and rout the British.
How many British casualties were at Lexington and Concord?
300
What did the British do after losing at Lexington and Concord?
They limped back to Boston as they did not expect to lose.
What was Imperial Britain’s military advantage?
A regulation standing army with drill.
How was Britain’s regulation army so advantaged?
- money behind them
- used guns well in formation
- more troops than colonists
- bigger population
- trained military officers
What was the continental army like in terms of structure?
We did not have standing army just many rebels to win, they did not follow orders, not used to battle no officers with training.
What was Britain’s biggest disadvantage in the war?
They fought on American soil.
Why was fighting on American soil a big advantage for the continentals?
They had to send everything back to Britain, took weeks to send by hand on a boats.
Who were the Patriots?
The American fighters who had low resources.
What was one operation of patriots that was key for the war?
They had to steal British cannons, put them on barges and floated them to Lake Ticonderoga to other Patriot forces so they can aim them at British.
Who was Marquis de Lafayette?
A young Frenchman who came to the US for the revolution.
Why did Lafayette come for the revolution?
He wants to learn how revolutions are carried out.
Why is revolution so important to France and Lafayette at this time?
France who is angry with their king Louis XVI wants to see if America can overthrow England’s monarch, they feel they can do the same.
Who did Lafayette mainly work with during the war?
Washington
Describe the relationship between Lafayette and Washington.
He gets field action with Washington, they become good friends, maintained friendship for their lives.
Describe Lafayette’s life fate.
He died years after Washington dies in 1799, he lives through French revolution.
After the revolution in America, how did Lafayette play a part in the French Revolution?
He is part of Congress to free the Bastille and works toward Freedom in France.
Who did Lafayette work with on what document to secure freedom in France? What document does this resemble?
He worked with Jefferson on the Declaration of Rights of Man, which was similar to the Declaration of Independence.
What was the Bastille?
French prison, where they kept all their debtors, and did not hold high profile criminals.
What were the tasks of the French Revolution?
- Free the Bastille
- Write the Declaration of Rights of Man
What did Lafayette do when the Bastille broke?
He stole the key
What did Lafayette stealing the Bastille key symbolize?
a symbol of revolution and freedom
What did Lafayette do with the key? Why did he do this?
He sends it to George Washington because of the inspiration he gave him for ending the French monarchy with our revolutionary win.
Describe the situation before Breed’s Hill.
The hill was occupied by colonials, and we had advantage of upper ground.
Where is Breed’s Hill?
Just above Boston, MA
What is the other hill near Breed’s Hill?
Bunker Hill
Do we also occupy Bunker Hill?
Yes
Who was the continental colonel for Bunker Hill?
Prescott
What was the initial issue with the continental army at Bunker Hill?
They ran out of ammo quickly
How did Prescott respond to the lack of ammo at Bunker Hill?
He said to the army to not shoot until you see the whites of their eyes, only if you can hit them.
Who won the battle of Bunker Hill?
British
What was the issue for Britain leaving Bunker Hill?
1/8 of the British officers are killed here, so it hurts British, and a very bloody battle for both sides.
When did the Second Continental Congress start?
May 1775
What was the big decision in the Second Continental Congress?
The decision on who would command the continental army
Who was chosen to be the general for the war?
George Washington
Why did John Adams lead the Congress to choose Washington?
Adams was from New England, while Washington was from Virginia, so this way it extended to all colonies in agreement.
What other big ruling was made at the Second Continental Congress?
Congress has the authority to make agreements with foreign powers (make alliances.)
Who was the first ally the Continental Congress decided to pick?
France
What ultimately happened after the Second Continental Congress?
The Declaration of Independence was passed.
How was the Declaration of Independence really signed by each colony?
They passed it around to hide from British to sign the declaration from colony to colony, but did the vote at Independence Hall.
In response to the Declaration of Independence, what did England realize?
They needed more troops in the colonies.
How did England put more troops in the colonies after the Declaration of Independence was Passed?
They hired the Hessians.
Who were the Hessians?
German mercenary killer troops
How do the continentals feel about the Hessians coming in?
The colonies are mad about it and feel it is unnecessary.
Who was Thomas Paine?
A political activist, and philosopher for the revolution.
What was Paine’s main argument for independence?
common sense
Describe Paine’s argument of common sense.
How can a small island across the sea, wrote pamphlet about it, how can they govern us, much superior in size and soon to be population, how is this happening, only common sense to break away from Britain.
Describe George Washington as the general.
The most dignified general in America, great unifier, very calm, not upset with things.
Which five people were on the committee for the Declaration of Independence?
Jefferson, Sherman, Adams, Franklin, Livingston
Who mainly wrote the whole Declaration?
Jefferson
What is so ironic with the Washington’s and Lees?
They had no kids because they married later in life, but her daughter has kids she cannot raise and Washington family takes them in, one great-granddaughter marries Robert E. Lee.
Once everyone was on board with Independence, who talked to the House of Burgesses about confirming independence? What did the house respond with?
Richard Henry Lee asks about it, the House of Burgesses says we needed a proclamation.
How many parts does the Declaration of Independence have to it?
3
Where and when was the Declaration of Independence signed?
Philadelphia in 1776
What was the motive of the Declaration of Independence?
That united colonies should be free and independent states and these words should appear.
Who formed the committee to write the declaration?
John Adams
What is the first part of the Declaration of Independence?
It declares independence and it is what they deserve, inalienable rights are guaranteed, if state denies us them, we have right to overthrow them
What is the second part of the Declaration of Independence?
It discusses all the wrongs the king has committed.
What is the second part of the Declaration of Independence?
It shows how bad England is and why they are done with Britain and why they should be Independent.
How was the Declaration of Independence’s word spread?
It was announced to the world, read in major cities to show that we are trying to be independent.
What held us up however in order to move forward as a nation?
We needed a governing document.
What was our first governing document?
Articles of Confederation
Why were the Articles of Confederation adopted?
The continentals wanted no big government and were fervent in no government at all,
What did the Articles of Confederation do?
These articles set up a confederation, a firm league of friendship, but no President, too much like a king, only a Congress.
What was the issue with Congressional power in the Articles of Confederation?
They were not really allowed to make trade rules for colonies, as each colony makes own trading rules.
What were some of the bad effects of each colony making their own trading rules?
- different states had different currencies
- different marriage acceptation laws
- no power to tax each state
- state borders were not liquid enough
What was the other issue of state money differences?
We were trying to run an expensive war, no power to have taxes for states to help pay, so we had to ask but not demand money.
What would have to happen to change the Articles of Confederation?
The Congress must have a unanimous vote to change the articles (13/13 votes), nobody really could unanimously vote on anything.
After the British have retreated to Boston, what is happening to them?
They are out of Boston harbor, and the British are laying siege to Boston.
What is the issue after a year of fighting for Washington?
He is desperate, as people are leaving from their contracts for 1 year/6 months.
What would need to be done to extend these war contracts?
They had to be paid to extent war contracts
What was the issue with paying extent of war contracts?
The government had no money, so could not pay them, people had to pay for things.
How did Washington respond to the lack of money for soldiers?
Washington really pounded on Congress for getting war money for the troops.
What was Britain’s second point of attack in the Northeast?
New York City
Why did Britain want to attack in New York?
It was a big port of trade
How does the Battle of NY go?
British have big presence in NYC, Washington loses Battle of NY to British general William Howe, continentals are pushed back.
After losing New York, where are the continentals pushed back to?
Valley Forge
How many times and during what season did Washington camp in Valley Forge?
twice, both in very cold winters
What were the issues for the continental army at Valley Forge?
They lost men to smallpox and frost bite and they struggled to keep the army together.
Where else in southeastern PA do we fight in? What are those results?
We fight in Brandywine and Germantown, and Washington loses both, the army is wearing down.
What helps the colonials get out of Boston after the siege?
We get giant cannons from Henry Knox and steal them from Britain.
What did Washington decide to do after losing Germantown and Brandywine?
He decides to get the Hessians who were camped out in Trenton and Princeton.
How did Washington get the Hessians in Trenton and Princeton?
They crossed the Delaware River, which was very dangerous ice for wooden rowboats, creep in on Hessians in camp and beat them good.
When did Washington cross the Delaware?
Christmas Eve
Why did the continentals cross the Delaware on Christmas Eve?
Hessians on Christmas would drink a lot and Washington could catch the off guard.
What was the significance of getting the Hessians in Trenton?
It was our first moral victory of the war and we returned to Valley Forge on a positive note.
What could have happened if the continentals lost on Christmas Eve?
The war could be lost sooner.
What was the third big town the British are going for?
Philadelphia
Have the British occupied Philadelphia after Valley Forge?
Yes
While in Philadelphia, where are the other British forces?
Canada
What did the British Army devise while in Philadelphia and Canada?
A three-pronged attack
Who was the British General who led this three-pronged attack?
General Burgoyne
What is one of Britain’s most famous war tactics?
The two-pronged and three-pronged attack.
What is the idea behind the multi-pronged attack at Saratoga?
Two forces in Canada will go south, will split near Albany and meet up at Saratoga, third force will leave from NYC and meet them.
Where in the revolutionary war does Britain want to carry out a three-prong attack?
Saratoga
Who is the British general occupying Philadelphia during Saratoga?
General Howe
Does General Howe show up at Saratoga? Why or why not?
He does not come because he wants to control Philadelphia more and goes to Philadelphia.
What did Howe do in Philadelphia during Saratoga?
He met up with Washington’s army and beat the continental army.
What is the main effect of Howe staying in Philadelphia?
It allowed Saratoga to be won by the continentals, this is the turning point of the war.
How was Saratoga the turning point of the war?
Up to this point, Britain has beaten us, our morale was low, we were low on troops, and it showed to France we would win something.
Why did Britain want to attack at Saratoga?
British wanted Saratoga, on Hudson river, they could have cut off New England colonies in would have split off in half, felt southern colonies would follow suit, but this did not work as the continentals won.
During Saratoga, what is going on with France?
Jefferson and Adams are trying to get French help and Saratoga happens once they arrive there, so French helps send troops and guns.
Who was one of the major key fighters at Saratoga? What side did he fight on?
Benedict Arnold, continentals
What eventually happened to Benedict Arnold?
He became a traitor.
Why caused Benedict Arnold to start to switch sides in the war?
- he does not get the credit he deserved in Saratoga
- another continental general writes in saying he was responsible for the win
How did Arnold’s wife play a part in him switching sides?
- she said he needed money and credit from the war
- she has a friendship with a British general
- she pushed him to make a deal with Britain
How do we find out Arnold was a traitor?
Through a spy network.
What do we find out about what Arnold was trying to do against us?
They figure out that Arnold and others will settle out at West Point. Also, he was willing to accept money to get the keys.
What was West Point?
a fort
How do we respond to Arnold’s threat at West Point?
We try to arrest him.
Do we arrest Arnold? What happens after that with Arnold?
No, but we get the British general and Arnold goes back to Britain on a boat and he gets money in Britain.
What did the French treaty mean?
Both American and French forces will agree to be in the war until it is over.
Why was the French treaty so tricky?
It was our first alliance.
How did some people in the colonies feel about the French treaty?
Some people in colonies that feel alliances are bad, as we just broke off from England where we could be committed to something beyond our revolution.
What did Thomas Paine say after we beat the Hessians? (One of his most famous quotes ever.)
“There are the times that try men’s souls.”
After losing Saratoga, what did the British need?
A new strategy
Who is the new general for Britain after Saratoga?
General Cornwallis
What is the new strategy for Cornwallis?
He wants to go south, wants warmer area with British Navy, as they have essentially lost New England.
What is the big southern trade city Britain wants to control?
Charleston
How does Charleston begin with the British attack?
British get there first, initially do some damage, but we must respond.
Where do the British go after attacking Charleston?
They head north and do some damage in some parts of North Carolina.
As the British head north, what happens to their army?
They run into opposition halfway up in central NC and the VA backwoods
Who was the American general in the battle of Charleston?
Nathanael Greene
Who was Nathanael Greene? Describe his personality.
A woodsman, soldier, not worried of using unethical tactics from the British perspective.
What was Nathanael Greene’s nickname?
Fighting Quaker
Why was Greene’s nickname so ironic?
Because Quakers are supposed to be pacifists and not fight, but Greene led a huge fight.
After many war contracts terminating, what did the continentals turn to?
A military draft
What practice was adopted relating to the military draft for the revolutionary war? When in history was this practice disallowed?
If you were drafted, you could pay money to other people to take your spot in the war, the practice was disallowed in 20th Century.
As British are heading north, what is Greene doing to them?
He is befuddling their army and is chasing them from behind, heading north.
What is Washington’s army doing while Greene is chasing them from behind?
He eventually is freed from Philadelphia and is coming from the north with New England army after the British and going south, who has essentially won the New England area.
Where are the British locked into when both sides trap them?
Yorktown, VA
Where is Yorktown located?
Off the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia
What happens at Yorktown?
The British are locked into Yorktown for over a year and are under a siege.
Who was John Paul Jones?
He was the United States’ first well-known naval commander
What tole did Jones play in the Yorktown siege?
While Britain was sending boats over to try to escape, he cranks up the fighting and terrorizes the British ships and preventing them from getting to the coast.
What did Jones say before he started terrorizing the British ships?
“I have not yet begun to fight.”
Also, what else happens as Jones is terrorizing the ships during the Yorktown siege?
The French fleet have arrived and they lock up the Chesapeake Bay and Britain cannot go anywhere. Also, France showed no mercy towards Britain.
How long does the siege at Yorktown last?
Many months.
What eventually happens after a long siege at Yorktown?
Cornwallis surrenders and we won the war.
Who was the losing officer of the revolutionary war?
General Cornwallis
Describe Cornwallis.
He was very pristine in appearance, traveled with ton of personal stuff, and a couple of his own dogs.
Who was Joseph Brandt?
One of many Natives who supported the continentals in the war and greatly helped them.
What was so significant about our victory at Yorktown (and the war)?
It was the first time in this period of history that a colonial power has overthrown a power as strong as the British.
What document ended the revolutionary war?
Treaty of Paris
When was the second Treaty of Paris passed?
1783
Who helped settle the treaty in which countries?
John Adams, formerly in Netherlands,
Franklin and Jefferson would settle it.
What did the Treaty of Paris (1783) concern?
Land property
What were the land distributions of the Treaty of Paris?
Everything east of the Mississippi except Florida (or any points along southern coastline) goes to US, we do not get Louisiana or Canada, we get half of the Great Lakes.
Was the Treaty of Paris easy to resolve? Why?
Yes because Britain knew they lost and we owed them lots of money, as we were indebted to them even if they owed us money to lose.
What else pertaining to land was resolved in the 1783 Treaty of Paris?
They would vacate our western forts.
Did the British really vacate the Western forts?
No
What was our biggest situation after the war?
We were so indebted after the war.
Because we were so indebted after the war, what did the Federal government do?
Federal government could sell land to pay our debt, turned over land to other people who would pay for it.
How did the states feel about the land turnovers?
They disliked the idea, but knew it would be good for the national government.
When do we start to realize the Articles of Confederation are bad?
Once we start functioning peacefully again.
Why were so many people unhappy with the articles of Confederation?
We had no power to do anything, if we wanted to trade interstate goods, we would need permission from each state you go through to run trade, and they could tax you.
What uprises from anger over the Articles of Confederation?
Shays’ Rebellion
Where did Shays’ Rebellion take place?
Massachusetts
Who led Shays’ Rebellion? What is his backstory?
Daniel Shays, who was a volunteer officer in continental army.
What mainly caused Shays to have this protest?
Government owed him lots of money for the war, left his Massachusetts farm and bank asks for farm taxes when he comes back, and owes a mortgage.
What was Shays’ argument for not being in debt after the war?
Shays questions why he was not paid for the war, he made no money as farm was in bad shape since he could not run it.
How did the bank respond to Shays’ complaints?
They did not care and told him to figure his own situation out.
What else caused Shays’ rebellion?
Many other people, along with Shays were tired of losing their money and livelihoods.
How does Shays’ Rebellion start?
They show up at a door in Springfield, Massachusetts with weapons and violently protest property tax on their farms.
How does the government respond to Shays’ Rebellion?
They call Henry Knox into service and ordered to put the rebellion down.
What happens to Shays and his supporters?
They are arrested.
What were the effects of Shays’ rebellion?
- broke the back of our government
- made Congress know they needed to back off the banks
- showed that we were a disaster financially
What was the military effect of Shays’ Rebellion?
It showed that we were bad militarily because Shays really shows up Knox and the federal army that was not standing.
What did Shays’ Rebellion reveal to our government about the Articles of Confederation?
It shows us that these articles are good in theory, but bad in practice.
When we were buying lands to the west and the government made money off them, what did this require?
a law
What law helped with us buying western lands to make money?
The Northwest Ordinance of 1785
What present day land made up the Northwest Ordinance?
Area of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan.
Are the NW Ordinance boundaries still in effect today?
Yes
Describe how the townships were setup in the NW Ordinance states.
They were gridded into 6x6 mile block counties, broken into 36 squares, one is for education, and the rest were for farm plots.
What was the big social piece of the NW Ordinance?
There would be no slavery in this area. This would be enforced by political leaders.
Which colonies had the population advantage?
the southern colonies
Why did the southern colonies actually have the larger population?
They had the advantage with the slave population
Why was the north angry with the south having the big slave population counting?
North was angry with them taking away their humanity and counting them as population.
What did the north want the south to do about their unfair population advantage?
The North wanted them to get rid of slavery, or not count them for population.
What did the constitutional convention come up with with the slave population argument?
The 3/5 Compromise
What did the 3/5 Compromise mean?
Each slave was counted as 3/5 of a person in population count.
How was there 3/5 Compromise seen in the states?
The supreme law of the land
What is the US government’s law system compared to?
a ladder
What are the rungs of the governmental law system from highest to lowest?
- Constitution
- Federal Law
- State Constitution
- State Law
- Local Law
Describe the Constitution’s legal authority in the US.
There cannot be a law that violates the Constitution on any other rung.
What are the rules of federal laws?
They must follow the Constitution, but gives authoritative law throughout all the states.
What are the rules of each rung on the legal system ladder?
Each rung must abide by the laws listed in the rungs above it.
What are some examples of local law?
Can be township, or minor school rules and policies.
What was the vote of ratification of the Constitution?
9/13 affirmative
Because only 9/13 voted for the Constitution, what did the delegates decide would be the new winning vote ruling?
2/3 must vote yes to get approval, and 9/13 was 2/3 of the states.
What were the first three states to ratify the Constitution?
1st-Delaware
2nd-Pennsylvania
3rd-New Jersey
What states were not present for the vote?
- New York left the convention and pulled out
- Rhode Island did not send delegates.
When did the other 10 states ratify the Constitution? Why did they do it at this particular time?
It took a while for the other states to ratify it because their biggest contention was protection of individual liberties.
What was created after many states did not ratify the Constitution?
Bill of Rights
Why were the Bill of Rights created?
They were created in response to people feeling they would lose individual rights.
Why did the Bill of Rights have to be in the Constitution?
Because they could not be violated/changed by any other law system.
What are the Bill of Rights?
The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. They gave rights for individuals in different situations.
What are the age requirements for the House of Representatives?
25 years old or older
What are the citizenship requirements for the House of Representatives?
- 7 year citizenship
- must live in the state you want to be elected in
When are house elections held?
every 2 years
Is there a term limit for house members?
No
What are the current numbers of House Members?
435
What is the number of Representatives based on?
population per state
What were the representative rules for population proportion back then?
It may not exceed one person per 30,000 citizens.
What is the House’s role for Presidential scandals?
They get to make the Impeachment charges for the President.
What kind of bills are brought up in the house?
Ones about money, economics, and taxation.
What must every bill do to become a law?
It is proposed, must get approved by both houses and must be the same version, before getting to the President.
What are the age and citizenship requirements for Senators?
- 30 years old
- 9 year citizenship
- must live in the state you represent
How many Senators are there per state? In the whole country?
2 per each state, 100 for the whole nation.
How many years are in one Senate term?
6 years
How many votes does each Senator get in committee?
Only one
Can Senators serve unlimited terms?
Yes
Who is the President of the Senate? Leader of the House?
Vice President-Senate
Speaker of the House-House
Does the VP have a vote in Senate committee?
No
Under what circumstances does the VP get to vote with the Senate?
If there is a tie and Senate is equally divided.
Who chooses Senate officers?
The Senate, in absence of the VP.
What is the Senate’s role for Presidential scandals?
The Senate has sole power for trying Impeachments.
Before the Senate does an impeachment trial, what must be done first?
There is an oath that must be taken for sitting this purpose.
Who is the leader of the executive branch of government?
President
How many years per term does the President get?
4 year terms
What is the President’s annual address?
State of the Union
What must the President do while under oath?
They must follow all laws of the US.
Was the Presidency intended to be a ruler-type?
No, not an absolute monarchy.
Under what circumstances can a President be removed from office?
President, VP, or civil officers can be impeached if found guilty of high crimes.
What are some of the President’s roles with the military?
- commander in chief of army, navy, state militia
- grants commissions to all military officers
What are some of the President’s roles with law and politics?
- can pardon or postpone punishment
- can agree to treaties
- can appoint judges
- can fill Senate vacancies
What must the President receive before agreeing to a treaty?
2/3 of the Senate’s approval.
In the Constitution, is there a term limit for Presidents?
No
What did Washington do after he left with the term limits?
He set a precedent that f he only served 2 terms, anyone else should serve no more than 2 terms.
Did everyone abide the two-term precedent set by Washington?
Yes
Who was the first President to serve more than two terms?
Franklin Roosevelt
After Roosevelt’s Presidency of 12 years, what was amended to the Constitution?
- There is a term limit of 2 terms.
- The most years anyone can serve as President is 10 years.
Why did Washington set this two-term precedent?
He did not want to make the Presidency like an long-term English monarch, because we wanted to avoid all aspects of monarchy.
Where is the judicial branch of government invested in?
The Supreme Court
What is the second tier of Courts? Can they overrule the Supreme Court?
Some federal courts and inferior courts can establish or ordain without going against the Constitution or overruling a Supreme Court ruling.
What is the Judicial Branch’s role with laws and treaties?
- They must be made under Judicial power
- must be blessed by the high court
What are some of the trial rules the court must follow?
- Trials of all kinds except impeachment are judged by jury.
- Trials are held in the states that the crimes were committed.
What is the definition of committing treason?
- supporting US enemies in war or conflicts
- causing a conflict against the US with an enemy.
What must happen for someone to be convicted of treason?
There must be two witnesses or confession by the committer of the crime.
How many members were on the original Supreme Court?
6
How many do we have on the Supreme Court now? Why this number?
9 justices because for voting there is an odd number and no ties would happen.
What is the Preamble of the US Constitution?
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
What is our country’s thesis statement for setting our new country up?
The Constitution’s Preamble
Compare the theses of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
Articles of Confederation was about We the States, while Constitution was about We the People.
What was the Constitutional Convention?
A group gets together and decides to have a meeting in Annapolis
Why was the Constitutional convention held in Annapolis?
It was the middle point of states.
How many states were invited, how many agreed to come, how many showed up?
- 13 invited
- 9 agreed to come
- only 5 showed up
Which 5 states came to Annapolis?
NY, PA, VA, MA, MD
What is the problem with only the 5 states showing up?
They cannot get a unanimous vote or get anywhere with agreements.
After only 5 states show up, what do the states want?
Another meeting
Where is the second constitutional convention?
Philadelphia in Independence Hall
When was the second Constitutional Convention?
1787
Who led the Philadelphia constitutional convention? Which states show up?
Washington led the convention, all states but Rhode Island showed up.
What was the initial goal of the Constitutional convention?
It was only supposed to modify the Articles of Confederation and improve them.
Who talked for so long which helped change plans at the convention?
Hamilton
After Hamilton’s talk, what happened to the plans at the convention?
They realized they would change the whole thing and make a new document.
Describe the environment of the Philadelphia convention.
- very hot
- middle of summer
- had to make it private, could not let the word out
What did the new Constitution really mean for America?
It would be a complete revolution in a change of government, but without a war.
Who were some of the biggest opposers to the Constitution? What were they doing at this time? Why were they frustrated?
- Jefferson-French ambassador, hated the constitution
- Adams-British ambassador, had no say, angry he was not involved
- Franklin-liked it a bit more, but was in France and had no say
Who were the heads of the convention?
- Washington (President)
- Hamilton
- James Madison
Who took copious notes and essentially wrote the whole Constitution?
James Madison
Was it a surprise that Jefferson opposed the Constitution? Why or why not?
No because he never trusted people to vote, he wanted appointments.
What was the only group of people who could vote under the constitution? Why?
Voting class was only white, land-owning men because they were the only trustable people in the country, according to the committee.
What did the convention people fear about state Congresses?
They feared that state Congresses would call delegates back to prevent them from tweaking the whole thing, or the public as well.
Who was the main writer of the Constitution, second to Washington?
James Madison
Describe James Madison’s background.
He was a small, wealthy man from Virginia, who was too young to be signee of DOI.
How does James Madison emerge from the Constitution?
He writes down everything that happens in Convention, his notes show what happened.
What major plan did Madison come up with at the convention?
Virginia plan
What was significant about the Virginia plan?
It was the first plan to be put on the floor for discussion.
What did the Virginia plan call for?
It calls for a bicameral Congress.
What is a bicameral Congress?
two houses of Congress
What were the Congressional Plans for the Virginia Plan?
There would be upper and lower houses of Congress, and representation will be entirely determined by population.
What is the problem with the Virginia plan?
Small states would not like it, because it is based on population.
What would be the rules for selecting members of the bicameral Congress under the Virginia plan?
Everyone would be appointed, not elected.
Which states disliked the Virginia plan? How did they respond to this?
New Jersey did not like the plan, felt representation must be determined differently, and they called for unicameral house.
What did New Jersey think a unicameral house would do?
It would give equal representation for each state.
How did the larger states feel about New Jersey’s claim?
It would not work out for them.
As a result of the debate on the Virginia Plan, what plan came up?
The Connecticut Plan
What was significant about the Connecticut Plan?
The first compromise of the convention.
Who came forward to bring about the Connecticut Plan?
Roger Sherman
What committee was Sherman formerly part of?
Declaration of Independence committee
What did Sherman discuss is the Connecticut Plan?
He discusses big states vs. small states.
What is decided from the Connecticut Plan?
- there will be a bicameral Congress
- 2 Senators per states
- House of Reps. determined by population
How would each house of Congress be elected?
- Senate appointed by state legislators
- House members voted by the people
What are the 3 branches of government?
- executive
- legislative
- judicial
What was the most important branch to the founding fathers?
Legislative
Today, how does each branch of government control the power?
They are all able to balance out each other.
What was important about the creation of the house of representatives?
They were what the people wanted, it was truly a people’s body.
How did the constitutional convention have to create the executive branch of government?
- very carefully
- person cannot emerge with a crown
- had to be careful with leadership titles
- they were very picky with titles for leader
What did the founders come up with for the chief executive’s title?
Mr. President
What happens when states question to approve the Constitution or not?
Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay decide to write a series of essays.
How many essays were Hamilton, Madison, and Jay supposed to write? How many did the really write? Who wrote most of them?
Supposed to write only 25 essays, end up writing over 80 essays, Hamilton wrote majority of them.
Where were these Hamilton, Jay, and Madison essays published?
Mainly in newspapers of states where Constitution had not been ratified yet.
Why were the essays in states that had not ratified the Constitution?
They had to get people on their side to pressure states to ratify the constitution.
What was the biggest publishing state for these Constitutional essays? Why?
New York because they were a big American presence and were so reluctant to sign.
What was the 13th state to ratify the Constitution? Why?
Rhode Island, they were not a the convention.
What were two big political issues discussed in these Constitutional essays? Why?
Term limits because they were part of Articles of Confederation, and were a big topic, also political parties were discussed.
What did the Bill of Rights do?
- told us what government could do
- told us what states could do without federal government overruling them
- a list of protections of personal rights
What were the two big political parties at the time?
Federalists, and Democratic-Republican
What was the platform of the federalists?
- bigger government
- Hamiltonians
- power must be in government’s hands
- necessary and proper control
- support Britain a bit more
- loose Constitutional interpretation
- consolidate National debt
What was the
- do not let federals take away from the states
- more agricultural-farming people
- Jeffersonians
- make each state have a part in the national debt
- strong Constitutional interpretation
- support France a bit more
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
Those who felt the federal government got in their way of living.
What was the biggest objection by anti-Federalists about the Constitution?
About not having term limits on politicians.
What was the city vs. agriculture pattern of ratifying the Constitution?
The Constitution was ratified by coastline states like DE, but reluctantly ratified by states with backcountry areas.
Why did the coastline states ratify the Constitution more quickly?
The Constitution protected them with taxes, trade, and commerce.
Which states had the backcountry area and were reluctant to sign the Constitution?
VA, NC, NY
Why were the states with a backcountry so reluctant to sign?
The farmers were more concerned because they felt it built up government too much.
Does the Constitution get approved by the number it needs?
Yes, it eventually gets 9/13 approval
Does the Constitution eventually get 13/13 approval?
Yes
Who was the first President?
George Washington
How did Washington’s election go?
He beat John Adams soundly in popular vote and won unanimously the electoral college.
Who was runner-up for the first election?
John Adams
Before the first election, what did many people feel Adams would be? How did he respond to all this?
Many felt he would be a Congressman or Governor of Massachusetts, but he would only settle to have high executive power.
Who was Washington’s VP?
Adams
When selected as VP, what does Adams think? What really is the reality of the situation?
He thinks he is second in command and has some power, but the VP did not really have much.
How many people were in Washington’s cabinet?
3
Which jobs were part of Washington’s cabinet?
- Secretary of War
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Secretary of State
Who were the people on Washington’s cabinet? What jobs did they do?
Henry Knox-War
Alexander Hamilton-Treasury
Thomas Jefferson-State
Where was each cabinet member from?
- Knox from New England
- Hamilton from NY
- Jefferson from VA
Was each cabinet member suited well for their jobs?
Yes
Describe the Washington cabinet members.
- had big egos
- knew they made history and wanted to make a legacy.
After the Constitution was passed, what happened to Jefferson?
Jefferson came back from France and was angry with the Constitution.
When Jefferson came back, was the Bill of Rights passed?
No
When Jefferson was mad about the Constitution, what did the convention promise to him?
They promised to ratify the Bill of Rights
What did Jefferson like about the Constitution?
He liked how states could not recall delegates and how government could do things from states.
What did Jefferson worry about the Constitution?
He was worried about city influence and farmers.
Why was Jefferson so worried about city influence of the economy?
He was an agriculturalist.
When did Jefferson and Hamilton first meet?
After Jefferson got back from France
When Jefferson and Hamilton met for the first time, what did Jefferson know about Hamilton?
He knew Hamilton made his way through the ranks quickly, never would leave Washington’s nest.
What was Hamilton’s big conundrum being Secretary of the Treasury?
He needed a way to get money in without forcefully taxing someone.
What is Hamilton’s idea of getting taxes?
The Assumption Plan
Did Jefferson like the Assumption Plan?
No
What was the assumption plan?
All debts of individual states will be rolled into one debt assumed by all the states’ debts.
Which states was the Assumption Plan good for?
States with massive debt such as NY, NJ, MA coming off the war.
What main state was the Assumption Plan not good for?
Virginia
Why did Thomas Jefferson dislike the Assumption Plan?
He was from VA, and they paid off their debt, so they felt like they were not rewarded for paying off debt.
How did VA pay off their war debt?
They sold their massive land to the west.
Why did MA and NY not get to pay off their debts like VA did?
They did not have the vast land Virginia did.
What happens when the Assumption Plan was discussed?
Hamilton and many founding fathers have a dinner.
What is Hamilton’s goal of having the dinner?
He wants to get the Assumption Plan through with negotiations.
Who was at Hamilton’s dinner?
Madison and Jefferson
What does Hamilton do to get his plan passed at the dinner?
They negotiate a deal and reach the agreement.
What was the deal Hamilton, Madison, and Jefferson discussed?
Compromise of 1790
What did the compromise of 1790 consist of?
- The federal government will assume the debt
- the capital will be on the Potomac River and called Washington.
Why was it a benefit for Jefferson that the new capital was in Washington?
The south was happy and they felt they were part of things now, finally south has a place where important people will be.
How long did it take to build the political side of Washington?
Nearly 10 years
What was the Judiciary Act?
It was passed to setup the Supreme Court
Who was the first Chief Justice of Supreme Court?
John Jay
Why was Jay chosen as chief justice?
He knew the Constitution best, best choice.
What was the job for the Supreme Court?
They were supposed to decide if laws are constitutional were not.
Was the Supreme Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional known at that time? When were they known?
It was not known at that time, and figured out when they first declared a law unconstitutional years later.
How were the first Supreme Court justices chosen to serve?
Washington appointed all 6 of them.
How was Thomas Jefferson a strict constitutionalist?
- did not want government to get too big
- felt government should have no extra powers
- government should follow the limits of Constitution
What big issue did Jefferson not want the government to take power of?
Creating a National Bank.
What did Hamilton do as Secretary of Treasury?
He created the first bank
How many banks did Hamilton have?
2
What were the terms and conditions of the first bank?
- first bank had 20 year charter/contract
- 10M in capital
- will be owned publicly and privately
- 4/5 owned by private individuals
- 1/5 owned by government
- setup a board of directors
Describe the board of directors for the first bank.
- 25 regions
- all throughout the country
- everyone had a voice
When was the bank charter needing to be re-ratified?
In 20 years it must be re-negotiated
Why does Hamilton setup the first bank?
He is a loose Constitutionalist
Describe loose Constitutionalists.
When he reads the Constitution, he reads between the lines a bit, he thinks some things are extras for government or implied powers
What is the other name for reading the Constitution loosely?
elastic clause
Why is it called elastic clause?
They call it elastic clause because you give these clauses a stretch
What is the other kind of Constitutional interpretation?
necessary and proper clause
What is necessary and proper clause?
Necessary and proper cause lists out things you can do as Congress, but if you have to do something else to get stuff done, it is okay as long as it does not violate human rights.
What are some examples of proper clause?
- Congress can declare war, but needs necessary equipment to go to war
- They can coin/print money, but must have the means to do it.
What are the necessary precautions for Congress to declare war?
- they need an army
- have power to build naval ships, war budget, army, weapons, navy, etc.
Why can Congress make all these precautions for declaring war?
The Constitution is not very explicit on army setup.
What were the main causes of the Whiskey Rebellion?
- whiskey was taxed
- nobody was happy about it because Whiskey price went up
- corn farmers
How did corn farmers struggle economically before the Whiskey Rebellion?
They had it worse because corn grown in western states could not be transported to east for distribution and commercialization and it could keep quality before rotting and getting to the market.
After the corn transport issue, what did corn farmers do?
They found they could make whiskey with it, so they took the corn and made a malt out of it, they bottled it and took it away and could sell Whiskey.
How did corn farmers feel about selling Whiskey during the transporting issue?
They felt Whiskey was their way and it had no tariff because it was made in America.
How did the government feel about the corn farmers making whiskey?
The government felt they should tax whiskey to make extra money.
How did the corn farmers respond to the Whiskey tax?
The corn farmers went into open rebellion
How did Washington feel about the Whiskey Rebellion? What is his response?
Washington saw what happened with Shays’ rebellion, immediately calls militia with Henry Knox and tell them to stop.
How did the corn farmers respond to the militia telling them to stop?
They stopped and would not fight anymore, a few rounded up and arrested.
What eventually happens after the rebellion is essentially shot down?
- Washington pardons the farmers
- told them to pay taxes as taxes were not so bad
- years later tax disappears
What court case related to the proper and supremacy clauses?
McCulloch v. Maryland
Describe McCulloch’s background before the case.
McCulloch was MD state rep, he felt to make state money, and he would tax federal banks.
How did the government respond to McCulloch’s taxing actions?
They said that the states cannot tax the federal government.
When McCulloch’s plan was shot down, what did he do?
He took the claim to court that he could tax the federal government for state purposes.
When was McCulloch v. Maryland?
1819
What was ruled in McCulloch v. Maryland?
Court ruled that states could not tax the federal government.
What did McCulloch v. Maryland clarify?
necessary and proper clauses and supremacy clause
What became the problem for the US with the French Revolution?
Initially it was about France themselves, but it became a France vs. Britain problem
Why was Britain vs. France an issue for the new country?
Both sides tried to pull us to their sides.
Why did each side try to get American support in the French Revolution conflict?
Britain-we owed them reparations from revolutionary war
France-they helped us with treaty and fought the British
What is the other big issue with political conflicts in Britain vs. France?
Two big politicians took sides, causing political division. Jefferson sided with France, while Hamilton took sides with Britain.
Why did Jefferson side with France?
He was an ambassador for them for years and was a DR so he was pro-France.
Why did Hamilton side with Britain?
He liked their banking system and decent economy, and was a Federalist who was pro-Britain
What was Washington’s stance on the France vs. Britain conflict?
He is neutral and does not know what to do about it.
What is Washington’s solution for the France vs. Britain conflict?
He orders Hamilton to draw orders of neutrality
What were the neutrality orders Washington called on named?
The Proclamation of Neutrality
When was the Proclamation of Neutrality signed?
1793
What did the Proclamation of Neutrality say about the conflict?
America will not take a side in the conflict, and if anyone from either side tries to rally for American support, they will be guilty for treason.
What instance tried to break our policy of neutrality?
Edmund Genet’s mission
Where was Edmund Genet from and what did he do in America?
He was French and was on a mission and tries to get people at seaports and get people to rally against Britain. He had American sea captains fight British vessels.
Does Washington find out about the Genet affair?
Yes
What does Washington do about the Genet mission?
He calls him to his office and tells him to stop, gets a warning to Genet.
Did Genet follow Washington’s orders? What happened to him after that?
He ignored the warning and kept rallying for American support, Washington calls him in again and deports him back to France.
What was the main effect of the Genet mission?
It was a challenge to our reputation and neutrality policy, and overall we succeeded.
What was the Order in Council?
Britain impressed this upon us which gave permission to British vessels to impress British navy in American ships.
Why did Britain impress the Order in Council?
They were desperate to bring anyone on their side and needed Americans to fight.
What was Britain’s excuse for the Order in Council?
Britain said once a Brit, always a Brit.
What was the big revelation to the Americans about the Brits recruiting their people?
The Western outposts not being taken away after the 7 Years and Revolutionary Wars.
What battle showed us where these forts wound up?
Battles of Fallen Timbers
What other issue was caused by the British not deserting their western forts?
It gave them access to natives and fired them up and brewed trouble among natives toward US.
What three factors with Britain led to the War of 1812?
- Order in Council
- Not deserting western outposts
- native American propaganda
What two people tried to make treaties during the French Revolution conflict?
Jay and Pickney
What was Jay’s Treaty?
He would go to England and develop a treaty with England.
What was the reaction to Jay’s Treaty?
Mixed with the pro-France and pro-Britain people.
How did the pro-French Americans feel about Jay’s Treaty?
They were angry because he essentially made an alliance.
How did Washington feel about Jay’s Treaty?
He dislikes it, but signs it anyway.
Which major political figure supported Jay’s Treaty?
Hamilton
Did Jay’s Treaty get approved? How was it approved? Who had the deciding vote?
It gets Senate approval, as it must be approved by the Senate, deciding vote was Senator Frederick Muhlenberg.
What was Pickney’s Treaty and what did it do?
It was with Spain, it solidified areas of Louisiana and other borders.
What was Washington doing in his last 8 years of service?
He was President
What were the big components of Washington’s Presidency?
- Proclamation of Neutrality
- Exit Address
What was Washington’s Exit Address?
A speech of advice of how he leaves and gives advice to Americans on how to improve the country.
What did Washington intend to do with his Farewell Address?
- Laid the groundwork for what he wants government to do
- Set precedent for terms
- Wanted to retire and sit back and watch what happens, as he was not a king.
How long did Washington’s term precedent last for?
About 150 years
Why did Washington set the term precedent?
He did not want a leader to be in charge for so long, idea we are different from Europe, no idea of President staying forever.
How did the British king respond to Washington’s retirement?
He had no idea he could do that, the king nearly feels jealous that Washington could retire.
What big advice besides term precedents did Washington give the American people?
He hoped for 8 years of neutrality and all partisan fighting should stop. We should be civil
Who was in the Election of 1796?
- John Adams (Federalist)
- Thomas Jefferson (DR)
Who won the election of 1796? What happened to the loser?
Adams beat Jefferson, and Jefferson was VP because he finished in 2nd place.
How did Britain feel when Adams was elected President?
They were surprised and felt Adams was too soft for the job.
How did the Adams-Jefferson administration go with policy?
It was a very conflicting executive leadership with opposing political views.
How many terms did Adams serve?
One term
What things made Adams’ Presidency significant?
- first President to live in the White House
- First one-term President
What about living in the White House made Adams uncomfortable?
It was built by slaves and Adams, a New Englander was very opposed to slavery and was angry his home was built by slaves.
What essentially happens to Adams with the American people?
They thought he was so bad, he was laughed out of the White House.
What did Adams inherit when he became President?
He inherits mess from revolution and France vs. England issues.
How does Adams respond to the France vs. England conflict?
He sends 3 delegates to France to discuss with the French leader.
Who was the French leader when Adams sent over the delegates?
Talleyrand
What happens when Adams’ French delegates get to France?
They are met by government representatives, and the representatives say the leader will meet with them if they pay $250K.
How did the delegates feel about having to pay so much to see Talleyrand?
$250K was a lot of money back then and felt they do not have authorization to do this.
What did the American French delegates do after feeling $250K was too much money to pay?
They left and reported to Adams what happened.
What were the names the French delegates reported to Adams?
X, Y, and Z
What was the name of this French delegate conflict?
The XYZ affair
What else was happening as France vs. Britain intensified with Adams’ administration?
A War Cry in Congress
What quote explained how Congress wanted a war cry?
“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.”
What was the Quasi War?
The term used of the Congressional War Cry, as we are on war verge, but not in a real war.
What did the war cry quote mean for America?
We will not pay for a meeting, but will for a war cry, we are on war verge.
What did the war cry lead to?
The Quasi War
How did Adams respond to the XYZ Affair and the Quasi War?
Adams sends the delegates back to France.
When the French delegates go back to France, what has happened?
Talleyrand is out as leader, and Napoleon is in.
What horrible and biased laws related to Adams’ immigration policy?
The Alien and Sedition Acts
How many acts made up the Alien and Sedition Acts?
3
What 3 acts made up the Alien and Sedition Acts?
- Naturalization Act
- Alien Act
- Sedition Act
What was the Naturalization Act?
American immigrants’ process to be citizens will take 14 years, instead of 3.
Why did Adams pass the Naturalization Act?
Because immigrants were farmers and moving to the west, only land available for them, and would never vote for Adams, he eliminated voting rights for them to get more votes.
What was the Alien Act?
If you are caught to be an illegal alien, you will be deported, with no trial or hearing.
What was the Sedition Act?
If you wrote anything at or against government, you could be put in jail.
Why was the Sedition Act so ironic?
The English monarchs had these laws with trials like the Zenger trial, and it essentially removed some Freedom of Speech the new country tried to promote.
How long did the Alien and Sedition Acts last for?
Until Jefferson became President.
What two states had big immigration populations?
Virginia and Kentucky
What was passed as a result of big immigration into VA and KY?
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.
What did VA and KY want to ensure with their immigration resolutions?
They wanted naturalized citizens in their states and emphasized naturalizations.
How are the VA and KY resolutions ruled? Why?
Both are ruled unconstitutional by the law ladder of the Constitution because it was a nullification bill of a federal policy.
What was the significance of the VA and KY resolutions?
It was a prelude to the Civi War when SC tried to nullify things about the country.
Who ran in the 1800 election?
- Adams
- Jefferson
- Aaron Burr
How did Jefferson and Adams deal with the election?
Adams wants second term, Jefferson wants to beat Adams.
What was Burr’s political party?
DR
How was Burr’s position during the election?
He was an outsider who came out of nowhere.
What are the 1800 election’s results?
- Adams a distant 3rd
- When votes come in on 30 ballots, Burr and Jefferson are tied.
What did the final decision of the 1800 election come down to?
It went to the House of Representatives to decide between Jefferson and Burr.
Who was chosen by the House to be President? Who was VP?
Jefferson was President, Burr was VP
How did Jefferson and Burr each feel about the 2nd place vote getter going to the VP office?
- Burr liked it
- Jefferson felt system needs to change.
How did Hamilton respond to Burr becoming VP?
Hamilton gets vocal.
After Hamilton lashes out against VP Burr, what happens to the two of them?
They start insulting each other in a big letter writing campaign.
What eventually happens with the Hamilton-Burr conflict?
Burr and Hamilton get into a duel, in which Burr kills Hamilton and wins.
Where was the Burr-Hamilton duel held?
Weehawken, NJ
What was the main cause of the French Revolution?
The French estate system and bad, unfit rulers.
What were the three French estates?
- nobility
- clergy
- proletariat
What separated the French estates?
Nobility and clergy paid no taxes, and proletariat made up 95% of people and had to pay all taxes.
What sequence happened before the French Revolution that led to more speech ability?
The Scientific Revolution
Which invention led to more ability for revolution during the French Revolution?
Printing Press led to more reading and knowledge and comes with more people pushing the monarchy back.
How did the French pushback start?
With John Locke and others wanting a Democracy, when ideas are in general population, people start thinking new ideas and thinking king has to go.
What were the two phases of the French Revolution?
- Napoleon’s power and overthrowing the king
- French people revolting
Which French civilian helped with the revolution against the royalists?
Robes Pierre
What did Robes Pierre do in the revolution?
He would send over 2000 people on a list a day to the guillotine for treason to keep his supporters safe.
What eventually happens to Robes Pierre? Why?
His name was on the list to be beheaded because people were sick of his exaggerated leadership and mass call for executions.
What happens to the Queen of France?
She is accused of being guilty of unfair treatment and is executed.
What happens to the Queen’s children?
The daughter is killed, son lives in North Africa and dies eventually.
What happened to the rest of the royal French family?
They tried to escape to Austria, and were caught 7 miles from the border and were going to be beheaded.
Who was John Paul Marat and what was his special condition?
A voice of revolution with a skin disease with irritations, spent 6 hours in a bath each day, and he wrote propaganda for revolution in newspapers.
What eventually happened to Marat?
He was killed in the bathtub because he was on the over-revolutionary execution list.
Once the revolutionaries died off, what took charge of France?
Napoleon
What was Napoleon’s goal?
To rule France and the whole world.
How far does Napoleon get in control of other countries?
He gets Austria and most of Europe.
What country does Napoleon’s success stop at?
Russia
Why did Napoleon not win Russia?
His men were unprepared for the Russian winter and the Russians used scorched earth tactics.
Where did Napoleon attack from? Why did this not work?
The west, but it did not leave them with anything, as everyone moved to the spacious eastern Russia.
What eventually happened to Napoleon and his men in Russia?
They lost so many men to freezing to death, so they left.
When Napoleon leaves Russia, what eventually happens to him?
He is is captured and exiled.
Where is Napoleon exiled to? What happens to him on this island?
An island called Corsica, in an island prison.
Does Napoleon get released from his exile? Where does he go after that?
Yes, he returns back to France.
When Napoleon returns from exile, what does he try to do?
He tried to rule the world again and fights Britain.
What battle was Napoleon vs. the British called?
Battle of Waterloo
Does Napoleon win the battle of Waterloo? What happens to him after the battle?
No, he loses and gets imprisoned for the rest of his life.
