Unit 3: Leading up to the Rev., Nation Building Flashcards
French and Indian War
Conflict between France and Britain as part of the 7 years war, fought in America over colonial territory
Proclamation of 1763
Passed by the British after the 7 years war, limited colonial expansion to maintain good relations with the Native Americans
Virtual Representation
The idea that American colonists could be represented in parliment by British-born representatives
Sugar act
A tax on sugar
Tea act
A tax on tea
Stamp act
A tax on all printed materials (letters, newspapers, stamps)
Quartering acts
Laws that required colonists to feed and house British soldiers in cities
Townshend acts
Taxes on goods like paper, glass, lead, etc.
Coercive acts (Intolerable acts)
Passed in response to the Boston Tea Party Restricted freedoms and liberties in Mass.
Boston Tea Party
Protest where colonists dressed as Natives and threw tea into Boston Harbor
1st Continental Congress
Met in 1774 to discuss colonial responses to British laws and taxes
Boston Massacre
A protest between colonists and “redcoats” that ended with the British firing into a crowd of civilian protesters
Nonimportation/Boycotts
Refusing to buy products from a company or area
Lexington and Concord
when Paul revere said “ the British are coming”, the first main battle of the revolutionary war
2nd continental congress
Met in 1775 to organize an independent government and discuss if/how they would be able to fight the British
The Enllightenment
Philosophical movement that inspired the Founding Fathers and American Revolution
Common sense
Book written by Thomas Paine that argued for independence
The Olive Branch Petition
Written at the 2nd Continental Congress as a way to restate American loyalty to the British, King George rejected the petition
Loyalist
A person who supports the Monarchy
Patriot
A person in favor of revolution
Republican Motherhood
The idea that women should have better education and rights so they can raise more politically literate sons that support the American ideals
The declaration of independence
Document formally absolving the US gov from Britain, included grievances, rationale, and the signatures of 56 representatives
John Locke
Enlightenment thinker who proposed that all humans have “natural rights” given to you at birth by god
Thomas Hobbes
Enlightenment thinker who believed humans are inherently corrupt and need a strong government to unify them
Jean Rousseau
Enlightenment thinker who stated government was a “social contract” that required both the government and the governed to agree
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Document signed between Britain and the US that ended the Rev. War and gave land and independence to America
Sovereignty
Power, authority, of a body to freely govern
Articles of Confederation
1st Constitution of the US 1781-1788 (weaknesses: no executive. no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade, all states had 1 vote)
Shays’ Rebellion
Rebellion in MA by poor farmers and unpaid soldiers, the inability of the US to respond showed the weakness of AoC)
Annapolis Convention
Called to try and fix the AoC, Hamilton suggested just starting over with a new document
Federalism
Government structure where power is split between State and Federal bodies
Virginia plan
Argued proportional representation based on a states size
New Jersey plan
Argued equal representation regardless of population
Great compromise (1787)
Fused the two plans and created a Bicameral (two-house) legislative branch. All laws would have to pass through the House of representatives (proportional rep.) and Senate (equal rep.)
The three-fifths compromise
Determined that each slave would count as 3/5ths of a citizen for population counts, prevented southern states from sweeping the house
Legislative branch
The House and The Senate, makes the laws
Judicial branch
The supreme court, Decides if laws are constitutional or not and settles disputes between lesser courts
Executive branch
The president, enforces laws through federal agencies
Separation of Powers/ Checks and Balances
Power is shared between the Branches and each has the ability to restrict the power of the other
Federalists
Supporters of the constitution who favor a strong central government
Antifederalists
Opponents of the constitution who want power in the hands of the states and citizens (later morph into democratic-republicans)
Federalist papers
A series of essays written by Jay. Hamilton, and Madison to promote ratification(to make official) of the constitution
The Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments of the constitution, secured the rights of citizens and provided more power to state and local government
Necessary and Proper clause
Article 1, sec 8 of the constitution, congress can make any laws they feel are “necessary and proper” to run the government
Strict Constructionist
Literal interpretation of the Constitution, government can do only what is specifically stated in the constitution
Loose Constructionist
Flexible interpretation of the Constitution, the government has implied powers not specifically written
Hamilton’s financial plan
The US government will take on all Rev. War debts, establish a National Bank to issue loans and make a single national currency
Whiskey rebellion
Revolt by poor western farmers who were negatively affected by Hamilton’s tax on whiskey
Jay’s treaty
1794: The US asks Britain nicely to leave their ships alone and remove their troops from American forts, Britain agrees and everyone gets mad at John Jay
Pickney’s Treaty
1795: Spain lets the US use the Mississippi River and New Orleans port for shipping, everyone loves Tom Pickney
Treaty of Greenville
1795: Native Americans in the Northwest territory are forced to cede their land to the US and are forced further west
George Washington
The first president of the US
John Adams
The second president of the US
XYZ affair
Diplomatic incident where Americans were outraged by the French demand for a bribe to negotiate with American diplomats
Alien and Sedition acts
Laws passed to restrict immigrant rights and prevent criticism of the government
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions
Democratic -Republican resolutions advocating for the ability to void any federal law within the states
