Unit 2 - Chapters 5 - 8 - Policies/Groups Flashcards
Mission Dolores:
Mission Dolores, also known as Mission San Francisco de Asís, was founded in 1776 as part of a series of Spanish missions in California. It served as a center for the conversion of the Ohlone people to Christianity, introducing them to European agricultural techniques and way of life. Over time, the mission led to significant cultural and demographic changes in the region, with devastating impacts on the native population due to disease, forced labor, and cultural disruption. The Mission Dolores building is the oldest intact structure in San Francisco and serves as a significant historical landmark.
The Whiskey Rebellion:
The Whiskey Rebellion took place from 1791-1794 in response to a federal excise tax on whiskey enacted by the U.S. federal government as part of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton’s financial program. The tax was highly unpopular among farmers in the western frontier regions, who often distilled their grain into whiskey for easier transport and sale. The rebellion involved a series of violent tax protests and resistance against tax collectors. The rebellion was significant as it led to President George Washington demonstrating the will and ability of the new federal government to enforce its laws by sending a militia force to quell the rebellion. The successful suppression of the rebellion helped to establish the authority and legitimacy of the new federal government.
Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom:
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 and enacted in 1786, disestablished the Church of England in Virginia and guaranteed freedom of religion to people of all religious faiths, including Christians of all denominations, Jews, Muslims, and others. The statute represented a significant advance in religious freedom and influenced the drafting of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which also guarantees religious freedom.
Marbury v Madison and Fletcher v Peck:
Marbury v. Madison: This was a U.S. Supreme Court case in 1803 that established the principle of judicial review, the power of the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. This decision, written by Chief Justice John Marshall, greatly expanded the power of the judiciary and has been the basis for a significant portion of U.S. constitutional law.
Fletcher v. Peck: This Supreme Court decision in 1810 extended the principle of judicial review by declaring a state law unconstitutional for the first time. The case helped establish the principle that state laws conflicting with the federal constitution are invalid and further entrenched the doctrine of judicial review.
Shays’s Rebellion:
Shays’s Rebellion was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787. The rebellion was led by Daniel Shays, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, and other local farmers who were in debt as a result of economic instability after the war. The rebels protested against what they perceived as unjust economic policies and corrupt courts seizing their farms. The rebellion was ultimately crushed by a privately funded militia, but it highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and contributed to the call for a stronger federal government, leading to the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
The Battle of Fallen Timbers:
The Battle of Fallen Timbers occurred in 1794 near present-day Toledo, Ohio. It was a decisive conflict in the Northwest Indian War, fought between Native American tribes affiliated with the Western Confederacy, including support from some British, against the United States for control over the Northwest Territory (an area bounded on the south by the Ohio River, on the west by the Mississippi River, and on the northeast by the Great Lakes). American forces led by General Anthony Wayne emerged victorious. The result was the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, in which the Native American tribes ceded large parts of modern-day Ohio and other strategic parcels of land to the U.S.
The Federalist:
“The Federalist” is a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym “Publius” promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution. Its impact on history is immeasurable, as it played a key role in shaping public opinion in favor of ratifying the Constitution. Today, “The Federalist Papers,” as they are often referred, are used as a primary source for interpreting the original intent of the Constitution by scholars, jurists, and courts, most notably the Supreme Court of the United States.
Naturalization Act of 1790:
The Naturalization Act of 1790 established the first rules for acquiring citizenship in the United States. It allowed only “free white person[s]” of “good character” to become citizens, and only after two years of residence. This act left out indentured servants, slaves, and most women. The act was significant because it reflected the policy of favoring European immigrants, thereby shaping the demographic makeup of immigration flow into the U.S. until the immigration reforms of the 20th century.
The attack on the Chesapeake:
The attack on the Chesapeake, also known as the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair, occurred in 1807. The British ship HMS Leopard attacked and boarded the American ship USS Chesapeake off the coast of Virginia, looking for deserters from the Royal Navy. The British seized four sailors, claiming they were deserters (one of them was indeed a deserter, the other three were American citizens). The incident led to public outrage in the United States, straining U.S.-British relations and leading to the imposition of the Embargo Act of 1807 by President Thomas Jefferson.
