US History Flashcards
Seven Year’s War
AKA French and Indian War
1754 - 1763 (actually 9 years!), UK declared war in 1756
First global war (150 years before WWI)
English and NA allies fought against the French and their NA allies (and Spain was involved)
Fought predominantly over power: territory (Britain priority) and trade (France priority)
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The formal end of the Seven Year War
Big victory for England: won New France (Canada), Spanish Floria, Sugar Islands, etc. `
Boston Massacre
March 5, 1770
Confrontation between British sentry (military occupied Boston) and angry Bostonians
Killed 5 Bostonians
Crispus Attackus was the first death of the American Revolution
- Free sailor of NA and African descent
Boston Tea Party
1773
342 crates of tea destroyed in response to the British taxation policies (dropped taxes on almost everything but not tea)
“Coercive acts” were retaliation tactics published by the UK
- Shut down Boston’s port
- Shut down the colony’s legislature
- Occupied Boston with British troops
AKA “Intolerable Acts” (as known in America)
British parliament passed more punitive laws in response in 1774
First Continental Congress
Autumn 1774
Delegates from all colonies (except Georgia) gathered in Philly
Showed support for Boston and worked towards a unified approach to the British
“Declaration of Colonial Rights and Grievances” resulted
Lexington and Concord
Battles on April 19, 1775
First battles of the American Revolution War
April 8: Paul Revere rode to Concord first and notified local militias to be on alert
April 18: Revere road to Lexington
“Minutemen” were the independent militia
Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
Unalienable rights: life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness
All men are created equal
Grievances with the King of England
Authored by Thomas Jefferson, also written in Philadelphia
Articles of Confederation
1777
How to run a government as different as possible from a monarchy
United all 13 colonies (each as an independent state)
1 representative per state, 9 of 13 representatives needed to vote yes in order to pass a law
Pre-constitution, governed through the American Revolution
- Changed to the Constitution because of Shay’s Rebellion (no $ of government to fight local rebellions!)
- The federal government was too weak to enforce laws and collect taxes / repay debts
Shay’s Rebellion
1787
Daniel Shay (MA)
Revolutionary fighters were not paid
Congress had no way to raise money with the Articles of Confederation
A stronger central government was required (hence, the Constitution!)
Constitution
1787
Replaced the Articles of Confederation
Connecticut Compromise: bicameral legislature (vs. VA plan - House only / NJ plan - Senate only)
President elected by the electoral college
Three-fifths compromise
The Federalist Papers
1788
85 essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton
Urged ratification of the constitution
Often used by modern-day politicians and courts to define original intent
Key contribution to political philosophy
Articles of US Constitution
Written in 1787, took effect in 1789
- Legislative branch (most power) - enumerated powers
- Executive branch (enforce the laws)
- Judicial branch (interpret the laws)
- States, citizenship, new states
- Amendment process
- Debts, supremacy, oaths
- Ratification process
Principles are designed to be flexible!
Bill of Rights
1791 (4 years after Constitution)
First 10 amendments guarantee rights and protections - added clarity on express rights and priveledges
1. Free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, peaceful assembly
2. Right to bear arms
3. Restricts quartering of soldiers in private homes
4. Protects against unreasonable search and seizure
5. Protects against holding for a crime without indictment (Habeas Corpus)
6. Guarantee of a speedy trial, impartial jury, attorney
7. Guarantee of a jury trial for civil cases in Federal courts
8. Protects against cruel and unusual punishment / exorbitantly high bail
9. Other rights exist besides the aforementioned
10. States rights
US Census
1790
Outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution
Occurs every 10 years
Takes data on US population and economy - decides:
- Representatives
- Taxation
Alien and Sedition Acts
1798
John Adam’s presidency
Alien: Feds can deport non-citizens deemed a threat to national security
Sedition: Limited speaking out against government during the war (violated the first amendment)