AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP US History Period 3, 1754-1800 Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
5332776611Enlightenmenta philosophical movement which dominated the world of ideas in Europe in the 18th century. The Enlightenment included a range of ideas centered on reason as the primary source of authority andlegitimacy, and came to advance ideals such as liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional governmentand ending the perceived abuses of the church and state0
5332776612Benjamin FranklinOne of the founding fathers, famous for presence in the American Enlightenment. earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity, initially as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies.1
5332776613The Patriot MovementMovement or push toward independence in the colonies. Those that supported colonial independence were referred to as "Patriots" while those that were loyal to the British crown were called "Loyalists."2
5332776614The Declaration of Independencethe statement adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies,[2] then at war with the Kingdom of Great Britain, regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and no longer under British rule.3
5332776615Republican MotherhoodPredominant conception of women's roles before, during and after the American Revolution: the "Republican Mother" was considered a custodian of civic virtue responsible for upholding the morality of her husband and children. Though this idea emphasized the separation of women's and men's roles, it did weight heavily the influence of the mother on the family and advocated for this influence to be taken seriously.4
5332776616Legislative BranchThe branch of government tasked with writing laws.5
5332776617Judicial BranchThe branch of government tasked with interpreting laws.6
5332776618Executive BranchThe branch of government tasked with enforcing laws.7
5332776619The Articles of ConfederationAn agreement among all thirteen original states in the United States of America that served as its first constitution. Drafted by a committee appointed by the Second Continental Congress, ratified in late 1777. Later replaced by the Constitution of the United States of America.8
5332776620Constitutional Conventiontook place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although this was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, the intention from the outset of many of its proponents, chief among them James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, was to create a new government rather than fix the existing one. The delegates elected George Washington to preside over the Convention. The result of the Convention was the creation of the United States Constitution, placing the Convention among the most significant events in the history of the United States.9
5332776621Federalisma system of government in which entities such as states or provinces share power with a national government.10
5332776622Separation of PowersInspired by Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws, the idea of a constitutional government with three separate branches of government. Each of the three branches would have defined abilities to check the powers of the other branches.11
5332776623The Federalist Papersa collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution.12
5332776624Alexander HamiltonFounder of the Federalist Party, Co-author of The Federalist Papers, First Secretary of the Treasury13
5332776625James MadisonCo-Author of the Federalist Papers, hailed as "the Father of the Constitution," Fourth President of the United States14
5332776626Bill of Rightsthe collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments add to the Constitution specific guarantees of personal freedoms and rights, clear limitations on the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and explicit declarations that all powers not specifically delegated to Congress by the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people.15
5332776627Democratic-Republican Partyformed by Thomas Jefferson and others who believed in an agrarian-based, decentralized,democratic government. The party was established to oppose the Federalists who had supported and pushed through the ratification of the US Constitution.16
5332776628The Northwest Ordinancecreated the Northwest Territory, the first organized territory of the United States, from lands beyond the Appalachian Mountains, between British North America and the Great Lakes to the north and the Ohio River to the south.established the precedent by which the Federal government would be sovereign and expand westward with the admission of new states, rather than with the expansion of existing states and their established sovereignty under the Articles of Confederation.17
5332776629French Revolutiona period of far-reaching social and political upheaval in France that lasted from 1789 until 1799, and was partially carried forward by Napoleon during the later expansion of the French Empire. The Revolution overthrew the monarchy, established a republic, experienced violent periods of political turmoil, and finally culminated in a dictatorship under Napoleon that rapidly brought many of its principles to Western Europe and beyond.18
5332776630Popular Sovereigntythe principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives (Rule by the People), who are the source of all political power.19
5332776631protective tariffsTaxes places on imported goods, often to raise prices and thus protect domestic producers.20
5332776632virtual representationThe political theory that a class of persons is represented in a lawmaking body without direct vote.21
5332776633boycottAn organized refusal to deal with some person, organization, or product.22
5332776634isolationistConcerning the belief that a country should take little or no part in foreign affairs, especially through alliances or wars.23
5332776635ratificationThe confirmation or validation of an act (such as the constitution) by authoritative approval.24
5332776636aliensForeigners; also, persons resident in but not citizens of a country.25
5332776637territoryIn America, government an organized political entity not yet enjoying full equal terms of a state.26
5332776638bicameralReferring to a legislative body with two houses27
5332776639cabinetThe body of official advisers to the head of a government; in the United States, it consists of the heads of the major executive departments.28
5332776640fiscalConcerning public finances-expenditures and revenues.29
5332776641exciseA tax on the manufacture, sale, or consumption of certain products.30
5332776642impressmentTo force people or property into public service without choice.31
5332776643nullificationIn American politics, the assertion that a state may legally invalidate a federal act deemed inconsistent with its rights or sovereignty.32
5332776644Alien Sedition Actsdeport foreigners deemed dangerous and arrest anyone speaking against government33
5332776645GW Farewell AddressWarns of political parties and europe/permanent alliances34
5332776646Whiskey RebellionDisplayed power of new constitution with putting down disorder.35
5332776647XYZ AffairFrance hold meetings hostage for tribute, angers Adams36
5332776648John Jay TreatyBritain said they'd leave interior but didnt promise impressment would stop or that theyd stop trading with Native Americans.37
5332776649Hamilton Debt PlanGov Assumes all state debt and taxes all imports and states to pay it off. Debt shared by all to get America on sound financial footing38
5332776650National Bank of USHamilton aimed to create a standard reliable predictable currency and fix problem of inflation39

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!