US History - Period 3

Question 1

The Proclamation of 1763

Answer 1

• An order by the British government that prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains in an effort to stabilize the western frontier
• Colonists who had bought land out west were upset and blamed the British government

Question 2

Stamp Act of 1765

Answer 2

• An act enacted by Parliament that required revenue stamps be placed on most printed paper in the colonies, such as newspapers, books, and documents
• This law was enacted in an effort to raise funds to support the British military in the colonies and support the debt left from the French and Indian War

Question 3

Declaratory Act of 1766

Answer 3

An act that asserted that Parliament had the right to create taxes and make laws for the colonies in all cases whatsoever

Question 4

Actions/demands of the Sons of Liberty

Answer 4

• Stamp Act enacted: Sons of Liberty organize to fight the new tax by protesting, boycotting, and becoming violent
• The Boston Tea Party: Sons of Liberty dump English tea into the harbor in protest of the taxes on tea

Question 5

Intolerable Acts of 1774

Answer 5

• Port Act: Closed the Boston Harbor
• Massachusetts Government Act: Cancelled Massachusetts Bay Colony charter
• Quebec Act: Offered toleration to French Catholics
• Quartering Act: Forced colonists to house British soldiers

Question 6

Boston Massacre (1770)

Answer 6

• British soldiers fire into the crowd
• Sam Adams and Paul Revere used the event to ignite hatred against the British
• John Adams defended the soldiers in court
• Revenue duties lifted

Question 7

First Continental Congress (1774)

Answer 7

• Delegates from all colonies (minus Georgia) meet to discuss tensions
• Write “Declaration of Rights” to King George III expressing colonial grievances
• Colonial militias were told to prepare

Question 8

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Answer 8

• Written in January 1776
• Argued for the colonies to become independent states, and to end all political ties with Britain
• Was against common sense for a large continent of colonies to be governed by small, distant island
• Was against common sense for colonists to pledge allegiance to a king whose government was corrupt and whose laws were unreasonable

Question 9

Declaration of Independence

Answer 9

• An official act taken by all 13 American colonies in declaring independence from British rule
• Main writer: Thomas Jefferson
• Listed the grievances of the colonists and the things Great Britain has done to them

Question 10

John Locke’s influence on the Declaration of Independence

Answer 10

• Inalienable rights -> “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
• Consent of the governed
• Right to redress/protest

Question 11

Battle of Bunker Hill

Answer 11

• The first major battle of the American Revolution
• The Americans claimed victory, citing that they had caused heavy losses to the British side

Question 12

Battle of Saratoga

Answer 12

• A turning point for the Americans during the American Revolution
• They defeated the British during Saratoga and convinced France to provide open aid to their fight

Question 13

Battle of Trenton

Answer 13

• Washington surprised and captured a garrison of sleeping German Hessians
• Raised the morale of his army
• Set the stage for the victory at Princeton a week later

Question 14

Battle of Yorktown

Answer 14

• Washington, with the aid of French troops, besieged Cornwallis
• The French Naval fleet prevented British reinforcements from coming ashore
• Cornwallis surrendered

Question 15

Strengths of the Articles of Confederation

Answer 15

• Northwest Land Ordinance of 1787
• Land Ordinance of 1785
• Won the American Revolution

Question 16

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Answer 16

• No power to collect taxes
• No power to raise and maintain an army
• Unanimous vote needed for amendments
• 9/13 states majority needed to pass legislation

Question 17

The Constitutional Convention (1787)

Answer 17

• Convened in Philadelphia
• Original goal: To revise the Articles
• Soon decided to write a new Constitution

Question 18

Compromises for the Constitution (6)

Answer 18

• The 3/5s Compromise: Slaves count as 3/5 of a person in a state’s population
• The Great Compromise: Bicameral legislature, the Senate and the House of Representatives
• Tariffs: Allowed on imports and not exports
• Interstate commerce would be regulated by the federal government (Commerce Clause)
• Slavery: Allow slave trade for the next 20 years
• President: A chief executive elected indirectly through the electoral college

Question 19

Federalism (who + ideals)

Answer 19

• Favored strong, central government and the US Constitution and were against the Bill of Rights
• Alexander Hamilton
• James Madison
• John Jay

Question 20

Anti-Federalism (who + ideals)

Answer 20

• Wanted power in the states, not the central government, favored the Articles of Confederation and wanted a Bill of Rights
• Patrick Henry
• George Mason
• Richard Henry Lee

Question 21

The Bill of Rights

Answer 21

• The first 10 amendments to the Constitution
• A list of protections of individual and state rights
• A compromise between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists

Question 22

Checks on the legislative branch

Answer 22

• Executive veto
• Judicial review

Question 23

Checks on the executive branch

Answer 23

• Impeachment
• Override of a presidential veto
• Judicial review

Question 24

Checks on the judicial branch

Answer 24

• Impeachment
• Power to appoint/approve judges

Question 25

Hamilton's financial plan

Answer 25

- Congress should assume states' debt to build national credit; plan favored wealthy - 1791: Whiskey Tax and Tariff 1789 to raise federal revenue - Establishment of a National Bank - federal funds would stimulate business and print strong, stable national currency

Question 26

Washington's policies (3)

Answer 26

- Proclamation of Neutrality (1793): Formal neutrality to the escalating conflict between England and France - Jay's Treaty (1794): Unpopular, pro-British treaty that granted "most favored nation" status, but restricted US commercial access to the British West Indies - Pinckney's Treaty (1795): With Spain - established southern boundary of the US and secured free navigation of the Mississippi River and trade in New Orleans

Question 27

Adams' policies (4)

Answer 27

- XYZ Affair (1797): Diplomatic conflict when US envoy was asked to pay a hefty bribe for the "privilege" of meeting with the French foreign minister -> "Quasi War" with France - Alien Act (1798): Deport "dangerous foreigners" even in times of peace - Sedition Act (1798): Silence and punish critics of the Federalists by fining or imprisoning anyone "defaming government officials" or "interfering with government politics" - Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions: States could nullify national legislation they deemed unconstitutional - no judicial review