UNIT 2 FLASHCARDS FROM QUIZLET
salutary neglect
not enforcing statutes/acts because too hard or not in debt
indirect tax
tax on colonies but cost of tax already in price: positive reaction
direct tax
tax that is added to the product: negative reaction
specie
gold and silver coins; crown wants debt paid in it, not paper money
enumerated commodity
specific list of goods that could only be sold to Great Britain
writs of assistance
search warrants or illegal trade - broad
Mercantile Laws
said colonists could not export goods the British also export and skilled workers could not immigrate to the colonies
Navigation Acts
said everything on British ships had to be British with a 3/4 British crew, ships could only stop in British ports, and created a list of enumerated commodities (cash crops); trying to created a monopoly by controlling all trade - ended with Glorious Revolution
Molasses Act
tax on molasses (sugar) from any country but Britain; rum distillers in the North would get hurt and complain but not really enforced
Proclamation of 1763
says English settlers cannot cross the Appalachian mountains because Britain cannot protect them from Indians; result = Pontiac’s Rebellion
Sugar/Revenue Act
cut Molasses Act in half, but enforced; created writs of assistance; colonists got upset, especially rum distillers
Currency Act
cannot print paper money and all debts had to be paid in specie; drains gold and silver reserves
Quartering/Mutiny Act
Britain sent soldiers to enforce laws; colonists had to pay for provisions or build barracks for soldiers; colonists see soldiers as intruders, not protectors
Stamp Act
first DIRECT tax; on all written documents; everyone had to pay it, so big uproar; colonists created a congress
Stamp Act Congress
asked for repeal of stamp act and wrote petitions to Parliament; wrote Declaration of the Rights of Grievances of Congress; Parliament repealed Stamp Act because not making money
Declaratory Act
Parliament could tax colonies anytime; more no taxation without representation
Townshend Act
external duties on paint, lead, tea, and glass; John Dickinson wrote response; Parliament repealed tax on everything but tea
John Dickinson
wrote “Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer”
Tea Act
said colonists could only import tea from British East India Company because company about to go bankrupt; result = Boston Tea Party
Intolerable/Coercive Acts
In Massachusetts: closed Boston harbor until tea paid for; Great Britain officials’ trials in England; quartering act - house soldiers; took away from legislature - now ruled by British and shut down taverns; result = Continental Congress
Quebec Act
Canada: reward for people there being good; allowed Catholicism, can follow French laws, extend boundary into Ohio River Valley; result = 1st Continental Congress
Philadelphia
site of first Continental Congress
12
number of colonies at first Continental Congress
Declaration of American Rights
Declaration by first continental congress that said Parliament has the right to regulate trade but shouldn’t tax. It also said that each colony has the right to determine need for British troops.
boycott
First Continental Congress agreed to ________ British goods
Non Importation Agreements
Agreements not to import goods from Great Britain. They were designed to put pressure on the British economy and force the repeal of unpopular parliamentary acts.
The Association
a group to enforce boycotts and Non-Importation agreements; agree to stockpile weapons; agree to meet one year later
Intolerable Acts
The First Continental Congress asks for repeal of the _______________________
Boston Massacre
The first bloodshed of the Amercan Revolution, as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans; Paul Revere painted propaganda picture
Crispus Atticks
1st man killed in American Revolution - runaway slave
Sons of Liberty
A radical political organization formed after the passage of the Stamp Act to protest various British acts; organization used both peaceful and violent means of protest
Daughters of Liberty
This organization supported the boycott of British goods. They urged Americans to wear homemade fabrics and produce other goods that were previously available only from Britain. They believed that way, the American colonies would become economically independent.
effigy
dummy hung by people and set on fire
John Adams
defended British soldiers in Boston Massacre - said it was self-defense
Thomas Gage
The British general who was in command of Boston and went after the stockpiled weapons at Concord
Paul Revere, William Dawes, Samuel Prescott
3 famous men from warning people of British attack on Concord
John Parker
Captain of the Lexington minutemen; leader at the Battle of Lexington in April 1775, where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired
Fort Ticonderoga
on Lake Champlain (NY) - full of weapons; Ethan Allen leads group of militiamen - Green Mountain Boys (VT) and Benedict Arnold; transfer weapons to Boston
Henry Knox
In 1775 George Washington ordered him, the nation’s first secretary of war, to bring the British artillery back to the siege of Boston (Dorchester Heights) that was captured at Fort Ticonderoga.
Thomas Paine
wrote “Common Sense;” inspires war/declares independence because “moral obligation” to split
Bunker Hill
a battle that took place on the strategic point of Breed’s Hill. British victory on account of the depletion of American supplies. yet gave them confidence- It pushed Americans towards a final decision for war
Olive Branch Petition
last attempt to reconcile with Great Britain, Still pledge loyalty to King George III but are still asking Britain to respect the rights and liberties of the colonies, repeal oppressive legislation, and British troops out of the colonies; George III didn’t want anything to do with them and declared all colonies in a state of rebellion
North Carolina
first state to advise independent vote (because Scotch-Irish)
Richard Henry Lee
issued first resolution for independence
Pennsylvania
almost voted against Constitution because it left out slavery
July 2, 1776
date of motion for independence passed
July 4, 1776
date of formal approval of Declaration of indepedence
56
number of signers of the Declaration of Independence
John Hancock
President of the Second Continental Congress
list of grievances
largest section of Declaration of Independence
Jefferson, Adams, Franklin
three authors of the Declaration of Independence
John Locke
wrote “Two Treaties on Government;” Jefferson emulated this work and its call for the rights of life, liberty, and property in the Declaration of Independence
Virginia Declaration of Rights, Two Treaties on Government, Richard Henry Lee’s Resolution
3 sources used by Jefferson when writing the Declaration of Independence
independence, government, revolution
Three purposes of Declaration of Independence: declare _____________ from Great Britain, provide basis for new ______________, and justify _____________
navy, financial, military, population, Indians, slaves
Great Britain has a better _______, __________ and __________ power, much larger _____________, and help from __________ and ________ (because promise freedom)
home, enormous, motivation, generals, leadership, distractions
Great Britain is a long way from ______, dealing with ___________ colonies, had less ___________ (from Hessians and soldiers), kept changing _____________ (and bad choices from Howe), the __________ in England was bad (George III and Lord North), and they had other ___________ (Ireland, etc)
Land Ordinance of 1785
A law that divided much of the United States into a system of townships to facilitate the sale of land to settlers to populate the Ohio River Valley; created subsidized education
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Created the Northwest Territory (area north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania), established conditions for self-government and statehood (applying to Congress), included a Bill of Rights, and permanently prohibited slavery
OH, IL, IN, MI, WI
5 territories/states created by Northwest Ordinance of 1767
Shay’s Rebellion
a rebellion by debtor farmers in western Massachusetts (on Springfield), led by Revolutionary War against Boston creditors. it began in 1786 and lasted half a year, threatening the economic interests of the business elite and contributing to the demise of the Articles of Confederation.
Annapolis Convention
A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation (to revise the Articles of Confederation), attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention
Philadelphia Convention
Beginning on May 25, 1787, the convention recommended by the Annapolis Convention was held in Philadelphia. The convention lasted 16 weeks, and on September 17, 1787, produced the present Constitution of the United States
George Washington
President of the Philadelphia Convention
12
number of states attending Philadelphia Convention
Rhode Island
only state to not attend Philadelphia Convention
James Madison
father of the Constitution - wrote it based on the Virginia Plan
Thomas Jefferson
first ambassador to France; called the Philadelphia Convention an “assembly of demigods”
John Adams
first ambassador to Great Britain
Great Compromise
Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house
International Slave Trade
promised to end in 20 years (1808) by the Philadelphia Convention
imports, exports
The Philadelphia Convention called for a tax on _______ but not _______
William Paterson
author of the New Jersey Plan: keep Articles of Confederation but levy taxes and regulate commerce - plural executive with no power
Edmund Randolph
Because James Madison was soft-spoken, he got this man to introduce the Virginia Plan to the Philadelphia Convention
tariff laws
need 2/3 of Congress to approve these, not the normal 51%
4
how many years were the term lengths of the President?
Electoral College
elect the President; don’t trust public
State legislators
Senate elected by
President
Federal Courts are appointed by the
people
House of Representatives elected by
9
How many states out of 13 need to ratify the Constitution?
RI, VA, NY, NC
4 states to not ratify the Constitution
November 1788
Month and year of election of 1st Federal Government (President, House, and Senate)
April 1789
Month and year of 1st Inauguration
Federalist
supporters of the constitution during the debate over its ratification; favored a strong national government
Hamilton, Madison, Jay
Three men who publicize answers to Anti-Federalists in the New York Newspaper
Anti-Federalists
opponents of a strong central government who campaigned against the ratification of the Constitution in favor of a confederation of independent states; want a Bill of Rights, a mention of God, less aristocracy, and no standing army
Federalism
powers of government split between the federal government and states and shared
Exclusive
federal rights
Reserved
state powers
Concurrent
shared powers
coin, military, postal, courts, interstate
Exclusive Rights: ________ money, _________ (declare war, send troops, and draft), _________ system, _______ (for breaking federal law), and ___________ trade
intrastate, public, elections, licenses
Reserved Powers: __________ trade, ________ education, ___________, and _______________
taxation, trade, money
Shared Powers: ___________, ______ laws, and borrowing _______
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, containing a list of individual rights and liberties (because of demands from Anti-Federalists) - limits determined by courts
First
The constitutional amendment that establishes the five great liberties: freedom of the press, of speech, of religion, of petition, and of assembly.
Second
The constitutional amendment that establishes freedom to bear arms
Third
The constitutional amendment that establishes no forced quartering of troops - in peace
Fourth
The constitutional amendment that establishes no illegal searches and seizures - no Writs of Assistance
Fifth
The constitutional amendment that establishes due process - court
Sixth
The constitutional amendment that establishes a fair and speedy trial
Seventh
The constitutional amendment that establishes that sues for over $20 are ensured a jury trial
Eighth
The constitutional amendment that establishes no cruel and unusual punishments
Ninth
The constitutional amendment that establishes that the Bill of Rights does not contain all rights
Tenth
The constitutional amendment that establishes rights not delegated to federal government belong to the states
ex post facto
(after the deed) - can’t make something illegal after you’ve done it
habeas corpus
can’t be thrown in jail without going before a judge who will tell you why - cannot be denied except by the President in time of war
treason
adhering to enemy or going to war against the US - open confession or 2 witnesses
double jeopardy
can’t be tried twice for the same offense
self-incrimination
can’t be forced to testify against yourself (5th amendment)
eminent domain
government can take property, but only for public good and pay you for fair market value
House, Senate
The _______ impeaches (brings to trial) the President; the _________ holds the trial
Federal, Supreme
Two types of courts in the Judicial Branch
Congress, Congress, 2/3, 3/4, states
Amendments are proposed by __________, approved by __________ (___ of both Houses), and ratified by ____ of ________
Elastic Clause
the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws “necessary and proper” to carrying out its powers
Grenville
became Prime Minister in 1763; decided American colonists should have to pay for their own defense in the form of taxes; helped to reform British enforcement in the colonies in order to end salutary neglect
Regulators
these South Carolina Scotch-Irish Men believed Britain was not protecting them from thieves, rustlers, and Indians; they administered vigilant justice in the region and refused to pay taxes until they gained an effective government
Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer
Series of letters by John Dickinson denouncing the Townshend Duties. Inspired anti-British sentiment throughout the colonies
Gaspee affair
event involving a British custom schooner that had enforced unpopular acts; it ran aground in shallow water and a group of men boarded the ship, looted it, and burned it
Hessians
German mercenaries hired by Britain to fight against the colonies; hired because the king, George III was a German through his Hanovarian Family
American Crisis
a series of pamphlets written in simple language by Thomas Paine; they boosted the morale of the colonists in their fight for liberty
Battle of Saratoga
American general Horatio Gates was victorious over British general Burgoyne: Turning point of the American Revolution. It was very important because it convinced the French to give the U.S. military support. It lifted American spirits, ended the British threat in New England by taking control of the Hudson River, and, most importantly, showed the French that the Americans had the potential to beat their enemy, Great Britain
Valley Forge
Washington’s army camped here over the winter; they suffered from abysmal conditions that improved in the spring; Friedrich Wilhelm, a Prussian soldiers, was brought in to train the troops; they learned how to fight well; Congress promised bonuses and extra pay at the end of the war which raised morale
George Rogers Clark
victorious in the Northwest Territory
Committees of Correspondence
Sam Adams convinced the Boston town meeting to form these groups and convinced others to do the same; they coordinated responses to the King and shared their plans, forming an early government to deal with colonial rights and parliamentary encroachments
Anti-Federalist Papers
collection articles against the ratification of the Constitution; they addressed many concerns about the new constitution, like no explicit individual rights (a Bill of Rights), no mention of God, and selfish economic motives of authors
Judiciary Act of 1789
it was adopted in the First session of the First US Congress establishing the US federal judiciary; it established one Supreme Court with no provision for composition of procedures of any courts; inferior courts could be established as Congress saw fit
Battle of Yorktown
was a decisive victory by the Continental Army led by Washington and the French Army Troops led by de Grasse; They easily won the battle against Cornwallis and Arnolds’ British Troops
Unitarian Church
separated from the Anglican Church by Theophilus Lindsey; He believed in God as 1 person, not 3 as Anglicans and Catholics believed; In King’s Chapel in Boston, James Freeman settled and established the church in America
Methodist Church
was an offshoot of the Anglican church; it can together in a general conference at Baltimore under Bishop Francis Asbury
Virginia Statute of Liberty
Was drafted in 1777 by Thomas Jefferson. In 1786, the Virginia General Assembly enacted the statute into the state’s law. It supported separation of church and state, and freedom of conscience
Pennsylvania
slavery was abolished here in 1780 in an act saying that the children of slave mothers would be born free; abolished here first because Quakers disapproved of slavery on religious grounds and the Scotch-Irish couldn’t afford slaves, so there was no demand
Massachusetts
slavery was abolished here in 1783 in a Supreme Court ruling that it was illegal because of the wording of the 1780 Constitution that said that everyone was “born free and equal”
