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9340170852Midnight JudgesThe 16 judges that were added by the Judiciary Act of 1801 that were called this because Adams signed their appointments late on the last day of his administration.0
9340170853Jay TreatyA treaty which offered little concessions from Britain to the U.S Jay was able to get Britain to say they would evacuate the chain of posts on U.S. soil and pay damages for recent seizures of American ships. This resulted in a vitalization of the Democratic-Republicans and Pinckney's Treaty with the Spanish.1
9340170854Pinckney Treaty1795 - Treaty between the U.S. and Spain which gave the U.S. the right to transport goods on the Mississippi river and to store goods in the Spanish port of New Orleans2
9340170855XYZ AffairAn insult to the American delegation when they were supposed to be meeting French foreign minister, Talleyrand, but instead they were sent 3 officials Adams called "X,Y, and Z" that demanded $250,000 as a bribe to see Talleyrand.3
9340170856Quasi-French WarAmerican response to XYZ Affair. Declared war on France by ordering seizure of French vessels and suspension of French trade.4
9340170857Edmond GenetFrench diplomat sent to U.S. to recruit Ameridan aid in attacking British shipping.5
9340170858Judiciary Act of 1789In 1789 Congress passed this Act which created the federal-court system. Allowed president to create federal courts and to appoint judges.6
9340170859Judiciary Act of 1801One of the last important laws passed by the expiring Federalist Congress. It created 16 new federal judgeships and other judicial offices. This was Adams's last attempt to keep Federalists power in the new Republican Congress. His goal was for federalists to dominate the judicial branch of government.7
9340170860Aaron BurrUnited States politician who served as Vice President under Jefferson, he mortally wounded his political rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel and fled south (1756-1836)8
9340170861Virginia and Kentucky ResolutionsWritten anonymously by Jefferson and Madison in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, they declared that states could nullify federal laws that the states considered unconstitutional.9
9340170862Elastic ClauseThe final paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the constitution, which authorizes congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the enumerated powers.10
9340170863Whiskey RebellionIn 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey, and several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the offenders. In October, 1794, the army, led by Washington, put down the rebellion. The incident showed that the new government under the Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem, in contrast to the inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to deal with Shay's Rebellion.11
9340170864Alien and Sedition ActsCitizenship extended from 5 to 14 years. Laws passed by congress in 1798 that enabled the government to imprison or deport aliens and to prosecute critics of the government12
9340170865Bill of RightsThe first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, containing a list of individual rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.13
9340170866nullificationThe doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution.14
93401708673/5 CompromiseSlaves were to be 3/5 of a person in concerns with representation and taxation.15
9340170868Great CompromiseThe agreement by which Congress would have two houses, the Senate (where each state gets equal representation-two senators) and the House of Representatives (where representation is based on population).16
9340170869The Federalist PapersSeries of newspaper articles written by John Hay, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton which enumerated arguments in favor of the Constitution and refuted the arguments of the anti-federalists. Wanted to build support for ratification.17
9340170870Report on Public CreditThe federal government would pay off its debs at face value, plus accumulated interest which at the time had a total of $54 million. This included the federal government taking on the debts by the states and paying for it as a country. Hamilton's establishment of this act gave the country much needed unity because it brought the states together under the centralized government.18
9340170871Report on ManufacturesRejecting the common assumption that America could prosper with an agricultural base. Hamilton argued that the new Republic should concentrate on developing industry. To nurture American industry in its formative years, he proposed the imposition of protective tariffs and the excise tax to raise revenue.19
9340170872National BankProposed by Hamilton. Brought about strict vs loose constructionist interperations of the Constitution.20
9340170873Olive Branch PetitionOn July 8, 1775, the colonies made a final offer of peace to Britain, agreeing to be loyal to the British government if it addressed their grievances (repealed the Coercive Acts, ended the taxation without representation policies). It was rejected by Parliament, which in December 1775 passed the American Prohibitory Act forbidding all further trade with the colonies.21
9340170874Prohibitory ActDeclared all of the colonies in open rebellion and suspended trade between Britain and the American colonies.22
9340170875Common SenseA pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that criticized monarchies and convinced many American colonists of the need to break away from Britain.23
9340170876Articles of ConfederationThe nations first constitution was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781 during the revolution. The document was limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or raise an army.24
9340170877Declaration of IndependenceDocument was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It established the 13 colonies as independent startes, free frome rule by Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson wrote the majority of this docuent.25
9340170878Baron von SteubenA stern, Prussian drillmaster that taught American soldiers during the Revolutionary War how to successfully fight the British.26
9340170879Battle of TrentonDecember 25th. Washington crosses Deleware River and takes advantage of he Hessains. Becuase they were celebrating Christmas. He takes the Hessains by suprise and its a victory for the Continental Army.27
9340170880Battle of SaratogaTurning 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.28
9340170881Battle of YorktownLast major battle of the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis and his troops were trapped in the Chesapeake Bay by the French fleet. He was sandwiched between the French navy and the American army. He surrendered October 19, 1781.29
9340170882General William HoweStationed in New York who's purpose was to aid Burgoyne's troops in capturing the Hudson River valley if need be; rashly, he took the main British army to attack Philadelphia and abandoned Burgoyne, which led to the British loss in the important battle at Saratoga.30
9340170883Valley ForgePlace where Washington's army spent the winter of 1777-1778 after Battle of Trentson, a 4th of troops died here from disease and malnutriton.31
9340170884John BurgoyneMilitary leader in Revolutionary War, abandoned by William Howe. Seized Fort Ticonderoga easily, then experienced serious downfalls at Oriskany and Saratoga.32
9340170885Fort TiconderogaBuroyne initially captured this fort. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold joined forces to capture the fort from British.33
9340170886Benedict ArnoldFoiled British plan to capture the Hudson. Then known as traitor because he offered to surrender West Point to the British.34
9340170887General CornwallisThe British general who defied and order and was trapped at Yorktown forcing his surrender.35
9340170888Treaty of ParisUnder this agreement, the British recognized the United States as an independent nation, the borders of the new nation extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, and the southern border stopped at Florida, which was returned to Spain. The west of the Mississippi River also went to Spain.36
9340170889Ordinance of 1784Based on proposal by Thomas Jefferson, divided western territory into 10 self-governing districts which could petition Congress for statehood when its population equaled the number of free inhabitants of the smallest existing state.37
9340170890Ordinance of 1787Prohibited slavery in Northwest territory - north of Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River.38
9340170891Northwest Ordinance of 1787Created the Northwest Territory (area north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania), established conditions for self-government and statehood, included a Bill of Rights, and permanently prohibited slavery.39
9340170892Battle of Fallen TimbersPost-revolution war, British instogate Native American attacks, but "Mad" Anthony Wayne defeats them in Ohio Valley and gets the Greenville treaty, which cedes Native American land in Ohio Valley to U.S.40
9340170893Shay's RebellionThis conflict in Massachusetts caused many to criticize the Articles of Confederation and admit the weak central government was not working; uprising led by Daniel Shays in an effort to prevent courts from foreclosing on the farms of those who could not pay the taxes.41
9340170894Newburgh ConspiracyThe officers of the Continental Army had long gone without pay, and they met in Newburgh, New York to address Congress about their pay. Unfortunately, the American government had little money after the Revolutionary War. They also considered staging a coup and seizing control of the new government, but the plotting ceased when George Washington refused to support the plan.42
9340170895Annapolis ConventionOriginally planning to discuss the promotion of interstate commerce, delegates from five states met at Annapolis in September 1786 and ended up suggesting a convention to amend the Articles of Confederation.43
9340170896ManumissionThe freeing of individual enslaved persons.44
9340170897Cadastral SystemSurvey system that determines the value, extent, and ownership of land for purposes of taxation.45
9340170898Critical PeriodTerm used by historians to describe the United States under the Articles of Confederation.46
9340170899Admiral de GrasseThe French admiral who drove off the British navy and set Cornwallis up at Yorktown.47
9340170900Judith Sargent MurrayWrote "On Equality of the Sexes". She argued men and woman had an equal capacity for memory and women had a superior imagination. She concluded that most women were inferior to men in judgement and reasoning, but only bc they had not been trained.48
9340170901Count de RochambeauFrench general sent to America with a 6,000- soldier army to help the Americans against the British.49
9340170902Samuel de ChamplainA leading figure, intrepid soldier and explorer whose energy and leadership earned him the title "Father of New France". He sailed up St Lawrence River, and founded the city of Quebec in 1608.50
9340170903Robert de la SalleRobert de La Salle was responsible for naming Louisiana. He was the first European to float down the Mississippi river to the tip from Canada and upon seeing the river valley named Louisiana after his king Louis XIV in 1682.51
9340170904Albany Plan of UnionPlan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown.52
9340170905Fort NecessityA hastily built British fort where Washington attempted to defeat the French. However, the French took the fort and forced Washington to surrender.53
9340170906Treaty of Utrecht1713, ended War of Spanish Succession between Louis XIV's France and the rest of Europe; vastly expanded British Empire.54
9340170907Fort DuquesneFrench fort that was site of first major battle of French and Indian War; General Washington led unsuccessful attack on French troops and was then defeated at Fort Necessity, marking beginning of conflict.55
9340170908William PittThe Prime Minister of England during the French and Indian War. He increased the British troops and military supplies in the colonies, and this is why England won the war.56
9340170909Treaty of Paris1763, France lost all of American territory. Spanish lost Florida and Louisiana. Britain gained Canada and control of slave trade.57
9340170910Seven Years WarFrench and Indian War, fought between Great Britain and France, often considered to be the first world war because it involved most of the globe. Began over dispute for Ohio Valley.58
9340170911George GrenvilleHe became the Prime Minister of England in 1763. He was eager to reduce government spending, and he proposed the Sugar and Stamp acts to raise revenue in the colonies to defray the expenses of the French and Indian War and maintain Britain's expanded empire in America.59
9340170912Currency ActRestricted colonists from printing their own currency and use "hard" currency (gold and silver).60
9340170913Pontiac's Rebellion1763 conflict between Native Americans and the British over settlement of Indian lands in the Great Lakes area. Last major Indian rebellion.61
9340170914James WolfeEnglish general, led troops up steep cliff to capture Quebec which marked the beginning on the end of the French/Indian War.62
9340170915Proclamation of 1763A proclamation from the British government which forbade British colonists from settling west of the Appalacian Mountains, and which required any settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east.63
9340170916Stamp Act CongressA meeting of delegations from many of the colonies, the congress was formed to protest the newly passed Stamp Act. It adopted a declaration of rights as well as sent letters of complaints to the king and parliament, and it showed signs of colonial unity and organized resistance.64
9340170917Constitutional ConventionThe meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government, the US Constitution.65
9340170918Declaratory ActPassed in 1766 just after the repeal of the Stamp Act, the Declaratory Act stated that Parliament could legislate for the colonies in all cases.66
9340170919Sons of LibertyA radical political organization for colonial independence which formed in 1765 after the passage of the Stamp Act. They incited riots and burned the customs houses where the stamped British paper was kept. The Sons leaders included Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.67
9340170920Boston MassacreBritish soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists who were teasing and taunting them. Five colonists were killed. First bloodshed of revolution.68
9340170921Massachusetts Circular LetterA letter written in Boston and circulated through the colonies in February, 1768, which urged the colonies not to import goods taxed by the Townshend Acts. Boston, New York, and Philadelphia agreed to non-importation. It was followed by the Virginia Circular Letter in May, 1768. Parliament ordered all colonial legislatures which did not rescind the circular letters dissolved.69
9340170922John DickinsonDrafted a declaration of colonial rights and grievances, and also wrote the series of "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" in 1767 to protest the Townshend Acts. Although an outspoken critic of British policies towards the colonies, Dickinson opposed the Revolution, and, as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776, refused to sign the Declaration of Independence.70
9340170923Writs of AssistanceIt was part of the Townshend Acts. It said that the customs officers could inspect a ship's cargo without giving a reason. Colonists protested that the Writs violated their rights as British citizens.71
9340170924Gaspee IncidentOcurred to protest enforcement of Navigation Acts, residents of Rhode Island boarded Gaspee (British customs ship) and sank it.72
9340170925Daughters of LibertyThis orginization 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.73
9340170926Boston Tea PartyA raid on three British ships in Boston Harbor (December 16, 1773) in which Boston colonists, disguised as Indians, threw the contents of several hundred chests of tea into the harbor as a protest against British taxes on tea and against the monopoly granted the East India Company.74
9340170927Intolerable ActsIn response to Boston Tea Party, 4 acts passed in 1774, Port of Boston closed, reduced power of assemblies in colonies, permitted royal officers to be tried elsewhere, provided for quartering of troop's in barns and empty houses.75
9340170928Quebec ActExtended boundaries of Quebec and granted equal rights to Catholics and recognized legality Catholic Church in the territory.76
9340170929First Continental CongressThe First Continental Congress convened on September 5, 1774, to protest the Intolerable Acts. The congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, voted for a boycott of British imports, and sent a petition to King George III, conceding to Parliament the power of regulation of commerce but stringently objecting to its arbitrary taxation and unfair judicial system.77
9340170930Committees of CorrespondenceCommittees of Correspondence, organized by patriot leader Samuel Adams, was a system of communication between patriot leaders in New England and throughout the colonies. They provided the organization necessary to unite the colonies in opposition to Parliament. The committees sent delegates to the First Continental Congress.78
9340170931Conciliatory PropositionsParliament planned to instruct the colonies to tax themselves. This was an unsuccessful attempt by Lord North to lessen the colonists' anger. Separate majority of moderates from minorty of extremists.79
9340170932General Thomas GageHe was the commander in chief of Britain's military forces in America from 1763 to 1775. In April 1775, he issued the order for British troops to march on to concord and seize American weapons stored up there.80

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