Unit 2: Revolution and Building of America Flashcards
Life under British rule, American Revolution, Revolutionary War's effects
mercantilism
political/economic policies instituted in colonies to benefit the mother country
includes regulation/taxation, restricting migration of specialized workers
salutary neglect
British practice of leaving the colonies alone (not actively enforcing Navigation Acts, etc.) in exchange for obedience to the monarchy (no rebellion)
Navigation Laws / Acts
a series of acts in 1650s-1660s to expand British economic control over the colonies. included imports/exports in British ships only, exports to colonies had to go through British taxation, etc. increased British power and colonial resentment
Seven Years’ War / French and Indian War
happened from 1756-1763. unique in that it began in America and ended in a clear British victory.
British vs French+Indians vying for control over Ohio Country (Ohio+Mississippi rivers).
started because Washington was sent to stop French from building forts but got ⅓ of his army killed and had to retreat.
Treaty of Paris (1763)
French officially ceded all territory to the British (claims to Spanish Florida, West Indies sugar colonies, and swaths of Midwestern land)
With this, GB became biggest empire, but to manage new responsibilities, clutched its colonies with too tight a grip
Pontiac’s Rebellion
1763 result of settler encroachment on land - native american violence across several British settlements
led to Proclamation of 1763
Proclamation of 1763
to combat increased native violence b/c of settler encroachment, drew a “dividing line” between western native territory and eastern settler territory. angered colonists who felt constricted, but only really stopped them from purchasing west land, not creeping onto it.
Sugar Act
To curb smuggling incentives and pay off war debts, cut taxes on British molasses and increased taxes on imports like sugar in 1764
mission failed, enforcement cost 4x the revenue brought in
Stamp Act
the first time parli policy raised revenue through direct tax - the 1765 act mandated buying stamped (British) paper for basically all uses of paper
Stamp Act Congress
October 1765 uniting of colonial assembles around “No Taxation without Representation!”
precipitated by the Virginia Resolves (House of Burgesses resolutions)
Whig
a late 1700s opponent of British policies in American colonies
non-importation acts
American pledges not to buy/consume British goods in the 1760s-1770s
Virtual vs. Actual Representation [“taxation without representation”]
virtual rep (British): parli represents all British subjects, so America can be taxed
actual rep (Americans): no taxation without representation, parli doesn’t rep b/c not elected by us!
Sons and Daughters of Liberty
1770s protestors against British military/governmental control. Daughters stopped buying clothes and made fabric themselves. Sons pledged to non-importation agreements.
Townshend Acts
To raise more revenue to fund governor salaries, taxed a variety of imports in 1767 (glass, tea, etc.)
unpopular because they undermined previous colonial assembly powers to regulate royal governors’ salaries
Boston Massacre
March 1770 brawl between taunting Boston colonists and harassing British soldiers
contributed to April 1770 repealment of Townshend Acts (American tensions rising)
Tea Act
In 1773, removed tax on East India Company tea imports to bail them out and undermine American smuggling (lower prices)
caused Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
Because of the Tea Act (1773), Boston rebels dumped 300+ tea crates into the sea - contributed to highly violent British response
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
a series of 1774 acts to punish the Boston Tea Party: closure of Boston harbor until tea debts were paid, new Quartering Act, Massachusetts governor assumed total election power over legislature. caused Patriots to stop paying taxes and stockpile weapons.
Continental Congress
When the Virginia Assembly was dissolved (coercive acts backlash), gathered in September-October 1774 to have colonial policy coordination. Instituted Continental Association of 1774, where thousands organized boycotts of British imports and American exports to the British (brought war to a point of inevitability).
Lexington and Concord
The April 1775 British venture west from Boston to Concord to arrest rebels + seize resources
stopped by Lexington silent protestors (battle site)
came to Concord but ultimately forced to retreat to Boston after suffering 3x losses that Americans did
turned the resistance movement into a proper rebellious war
Battle of Bunker Hill
June 1775 battle between British and Americans in Massachusetts
British attempted to gain more power in Boston - they won but lost 2x the soldiers of the Americans
afterwards, king george III rejected future negotiations with Americans, increasing Patriots’ war fever
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
January 1776 pamphlets that led Loyalists to convert to Patriotism by criticizing the British via the king rather than attacking parliament
emphasized that war between britain and america was inevitable
inspired by John Locke’s theory of natural rights
Declaration of Independence
the founding document of the USA - declared on July 2nd 1776 but formally adopted on July 4th
emphasized that people had intrinsic rights and should create their own governments in protest of tyrannous ones
Treaty of Paris (1783)
recognized the independence and borders of America
designated western border as the Mississippi River, extending settler land way past what was deemed native land by the proclamation of 1763 (trans-appalachia)
Effects of the Revolution on Slavery
after the revolution, the British offered slaves freedom in exchange for becoming Loyalists
this ended up backfiring, as though the American elite were concerned abt their slaves being liberated, Southern Patriots were especially outraged - they became strongly allied with the Patriots
in later years, North would link strongly to liberty + freedom (no slavery), while South rejected those ideals
Effects of the Revolution on Women
patriarchy was rampant, but revolution provided limited opportunities (though women took what they could get)
became army medics, fund-raisers, disguised soldiers
push for gender equality continually ignored and belittled (Abigail Adams’ “Remember the Ladies” was mocked by her husband)
Effects of the Revolution on Native Americans
most sought to remain neutral but were forced to pick sides
once the war ended, Americans were back to pilfering native land
Critical Period
1783-1787 vital point in American political history - advent of political parties and rise of
anti big government Patriots (states rights fights, fought often by working poor)
higher state taxes for states in debt
AOC Weaknesses
the AOC had a unicameral legislature (one house of Congress) that lacked the authority to enforce its own laws - it had to get voluntary donations because it could not enforce taxes, and it could not combat the disproportionate tariffs imposed by different states due to unenforceable commerce regulations. this meant the government was essentially broke.
under the AOC, America also had no sense of unity (most identified with their state as a nationality rather than America itself) - because states could do as they please, the people did not see themselves as part of a whole
AOC Strengths - Land Ordinances
Land Ordinance of 1785 divided Northwest Territory into township and range grid, NW Ordinance (1787) banned new slaves north of the Ohio River and made territories eligible for statehood once they reached a certain population
AOC Strengths - States’ Rights
States could essentially operate by themselves, creating their own guaranteed freedoms (MA Constitution guaranteed freedom to religion, trial by jury, etc.)
AOC Strengths - Equal Representation
In the true spirit of republicanism and anti-Parliament (no taxation without representation), each state was given an equal seat at the table. Colonial action often needed to be unanimous to pass a measure, so every vote counted.
Shay’s Rebellion
demand for more paper money + > property requirements for voting + “unjust taxes” = 1786 disorganized revolt in western Massachusetts
winter 1787 - Daniel Shay, war vet, led rag-tag army to Springfield in protest, but one cannon blast scattered them
led to the American elite’s growing sense that a strong national government was needed to prevent anarchy
Virginia Plan
a radical James Madison proposal that established a strong national government with 3 branches and bicameral legislature with the elected-by-citizens House of Reps and elected-by-state-legislatures Senate, both of which were based on population
New Jersey Plan
a William Paterson proposal that upheld the unicameral legislature that repped all states equally
The Great Compromise
the July 1787 compromise made between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans - established 3 branches of government and bicameral legislature with population-based House of Reps and equal representation Senate
The 3/5 Compromise
The South wanted slaves to be counted as a full person in census counts so that they would have more political power in the House of Representatives, but the North called it hypocritical b/c slaves were treated as property
the ⅗ Compromise in June 1787 counted slaves as ⅗ of a person for census counts, which still gave the South unbelievable political advantages (12 out of the first 16 presidents were southern slaveowners).
The Slave Trade Compromise
1808 agreement that cut America off from the trans-atlantic slave trade
Electoral College
compromise between a president elected by Congress OR citizens
has electors cast votes on behalf of the people, amount depends on population of each state
criticized bc smaller pops = individual matters > (each elector reps < amt of ppl)
Separation of Powers + Checks and Balances
Separation of powers is the strict division of power among balanced, separate branches of government
For example, the president can veto bills passed by Congress, but if both houses reject the veto in a ⅔ majority, they override it.
The Supreme Court has the final say of interstate squabbles and can interpret the Constitution in new ways
federalism
the sharing of power among local, state, and national governments
MUST FINISH
Elastic Clause
Elastic Clause gave power to Congress to make “necessary and proper laws” even after its ratification; lauded by the Federalists (Hamilton) because it supported the strengthening of national government
clashed against 10th amendment
10th Amendment
10th Amendment guaranteed states the powers not explicitly delegated to the national government; lauded by the Anti-Federalists (Jefferson) because it supported states’ rights
clashed against elastic clause
Federalists
young, energetic, and unified, were strong advocates for the Constitution and a strong national government - Hamilton + James Madison led
Anti-Federalists
led by Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams, had diverse opinions on the Constitution (revise/reject/reconvene), advocated for the Bill of Rights, and worried about a strong central government becoming tyrannical
Federalist Papers
1787-1788 collection of 87 essays defending the US Constitution and its principles
one of the most famous, the tenth (Madison), defends the concept of a large republic by emphasizing many diverse political groups as a strength, as they’d cancel each other out (preventing political monopoly)
Bill of Rights
approved in 1791 after Anti-Federalist perspective considered
protected freedoms + guaranteed powers not given to the federal government to apply to states or “the people”
didn’t protect non white non property owners OR against state violations of rights
The Enlightenment’s influence on the Revolution
Enlightenment ideas led many American political thinkers (such as John Locke) to emphasize individual hard work over birthright privilege, while religion strengthened Americans’ self-view as people entitled to liberty
Republican Motherhood
called on women to teach republican values within the family and granted women a new importance in American political culture
