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Period 3 (1754-1800) AP US History Flashcards

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8663793952Benjamin FranklinPostmaster of the colonies; Author of the Albany Plan; A significant Enlightenment figure and one of the most important scientists of the 18th century; Editor of the Declaration of Independence and ambassador to France during the Revolution.0
8663793953George WashingtonAs a land surveyor and wealthy Virginia planter he sparked the French and Indian war; As Commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War he helped the colonies win independence; As first President of the US he was the de facto head of the federalists.1
8663793954French and Indian WarAmerican theater of the Seven Years war; Began in 1754 when territorial claims between the French and British in North America sparked violence; Sometimes called the first global war.2
8663793955Albany Plan of Union (1754)Plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin that sought to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies & the Crown.3
8663793956Treaty of Paris (1763)Ended French and Indian War; France lost Canada and all land east of the Mississippi to the British.4
8663793957Proclamation Line of 1763British limit for colonial American settlements; Nothing west of the Appalachian mountains allowed.5
8663793958Pontiac's Rebellion (1763)An Indian uprising after the French and Indian War, led by an Ottowa chief; They opposed British expansion into the western Ohio Valley and began destroying British forts in the area.6
8663793959loyalistscolonists who remained loyal to the British Empire in the years leading up to and during the Revolutionary War7
8663793960patriotscolonists who rebelled against the British Empire, seeking reprieve for unfair British treatment of the colonies or independence from the British Empire8
8663793961Sugar Act (1764)The first act that Parliament passed that raised taxes on the colonies. Indirect tax on imported goods from the West Indies.9
8663793962Stamp Act (1765)Parliaments put a tax on all printed material. ex. newspapers, legal documents, playing cards.10
8663793963Stamp Act Congress (1765)A 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.11
8663793964Quartering Act (1765)Required the colonials to provide food, lodging, and supplies for the British troops in the colonies.12
8663793965Boston Massacre (1770)The first bloodshed of American resistance, as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans.13
8663793966Tea Act (1773)Granted the British East India Company Tea a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies. A catalyst of the Boston Tea Party.14
8663793967Boston Tea Party (1773)A protest against British taxes in which Boston patriots disguised as Indians dumped valuable tea into Boston Harbor.15
8663793968Intolerable Acts (1774)In response to Boston's resistence to British Customs; Declared (1) The port of Boston closed, (2) the suspension of town meetings, (3) British officials accused of crimes will stand trial in Britain rather than America, and (4) a new Quartering Act.16
8663793969Olive Branch Petitionpetition adopted by the 2nd Continental Congress on July 5, 1775 to prevent an armed conflict between the Thirteen Congress and Great Britain; Ignored by the king.17
8663793970Lexington and Concord (1775)The first military engagements of the revolutionary war; Took place in two Massachusetts towns where weapons were stockpiled.18
8663793971Common Sense (1775)A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that claimed the colonies had a right to be independent. He claimed that monarchy was bad government, no island should rule a continent, and that economic self-interest of Britain was not in economic interest of the colonists.19
8663793972Thomas PaineAuthor of Common Sense20
8663793973Continental Congressa convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies which met from 1775 to 178121
8663793974Declaration of Independence (1776)Statement issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain.22
8663793975Thomas JeffersonDelegate from Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and author of the Declaration of Independence. He later orchestrated the antifederalist "Revolution of 1800", becoming the third President of the United States.23
8663793976Articles of ConfederationFirst constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788; Unified the newly independent states, creating a central government with limited power. After the Revolution, difficulties over international trade, finances, interstate commerce, foreign relations, and internal unrest led to calls for a stronger central government.24
8663793977Battle of Saratoga (1777)A battle that took place in New York where the Continental Army defeated the British. It proved to be the turning point of the war. Convinced France to openly support the colonies with military forces in addition to the supplies and money already being sent.25
8663793978Valley ForgePlace where Washington's army spent the winter of 1777-1778; 1/4 of troops died here from disease and malnutrition, Baron von Steuben along with Marquis de Lafayette comes and train troops and turn the army into a professionally trained army.26
8663793979Battle of Yorktown (1781)Final battle of the revolution, resulting in British surrender.27
8663793980Treaty of Paris (1783)Ended the Revolutionary War; Recognized the independence of the American colonies; Granted the colonies the territory from the southern border of Canada to the northern border of Florida, and from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River28
8663793981Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786)Authored by Thomas Jefferson and passed by the Virginia General Assembly; A statement about both freedom of conscience and the principle of separation of church and state; The forerunner of the first amendment (Constitution) protections for religious freedom.29
8663793982Shays' Rebellion (1786)Led by farmers and revolutionary war veterans in western Massachusetts who protested perceived economic and civil rights injustices; Highlighted the need for a strong national government and a reform of the Articles of Confederation.30
8663793983Debate over ratifying the ConstitutionAnti-Federalists opposing ratification battled with Federalists, whose principals were articulated in the Federalist Papers (primarily written by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison). Federalists ensured the ratification of the Constitution by promising the addition of a Bill of Rights that enumerated individual rights and explicitly restricted the powers of the federal government.31
8663793984Constitutional Convention (1787)Delegates from the states participated, and through negotiation, collaboration, and compromise proposed a constitution that created a limited but dynamic central government embodying federalism and providing for a separation of powers between its three branches.32
8663793985slavery compromisesConcessions given to slave states during the Constitutional Convention: (1) Three-fifths compromise, (2) slave trade compromise, (3) fugitive slave clause.33
8663793986U.S. Constitution (1787)Replaced the Articles of Confederation and established a functioning government. Established (1) federalist system, (2) separation of powers, (3) checks and balances, (4) Bill of Rights.34
8663793987ratificationthe action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid; E.g. U.S. Constitution. Verb form: ratify.35
8663793988checks and balancesPrinciple established in the Constitution and US government in which each of the three branches of government is given certain powers to compete and override other branches in an attempt to prevent one branch from becoming too powerful.36
8663793989Northwest OrdinancesBills passed in 1784, 1785, and 1787 that authorized the sale of lands in the Northwest Territory to raise money for the federal government; these bills also carefully laid out the procedures for eventual statehood for Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.37
8663793990Federalist PapersA collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.38
8663793991Bill of RightsFirst ten amendments to the Constitution; Enumerated individual rights and explicitly restricted the powers of the federal government.39
8663793992John AdamsA Boston lawyer and patriot; Edited the Declaration of Independence; First US ambassador to Britain; Federalist and 2nd president of the United States.40
8663793993Hamilton's financial planDuring Washington's administration; The government would take the debt of the nations and the states debt, make a national bank, and tax higher (which was the only one that did not pass thru congress)41
8663793994EnlightenmentA 18th century European intellectual movement that introduced the idea of republicanism (among other ideas); Influenced many of the founders, e.g. Franklin, Jefferson, and Madison, and had a major impact on the founding documents, e.g. Declaration of Independence, Constitution.42
8663793995Abigail AdamsWife of John Adams (2nd president) and mother of John Quincy Adams (6th president); Advocate of married women's property rights and more economic opportunities for women.43
8663793996Electoral CollegeThe institution that elects the President and Vice President of the United States every four years.44
8663793997first party systemPolitical leaders in the 1790s took a variety of positions on issues such as the relationship between the national government and the states, economic policy, foreign policy, and the balance between liberty and order. This led to the formation of political parties — most significantly the Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, and the Democratic-Republican Party, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.45
8663793998FederalistsFaction that supported ideas straight from the Constitution; Called for a strong national government that promoted economic growth and fostered friendly relationships with Great Britain, as well as opposition to revolutionary France; Notable figures: Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton.46
8663793999Democratic-Republican PartyFaction that advocated limited federal power in exchange for stronger states power; Opposed Hamilton's financial plan and National Bank; Opposed relations with Great Britain and advocated supporting revolutionary France. Notable figures: Jefferson, Madison.47
8663794000Washington administration (1789-1797)Formation of the first parties; Hamilton's financial plan enacted; Whisky rebellion; Farewell Address.48
8663794001Washington's Farewell Addressa letter written by Washington towards the end of his presidency; a classic statement of republicanism, warning Americans of the political dangers they can and must avoid if they are to remain true to their values.49
8663794002Whiskey Rebellion (1794)Farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey; Washington puts down rebellion; 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.50
8663794003national bankChartered 1791; Part of Hamilton's financial plan; Opposed by Democrat-Republicans.51
8663794004Adams administration (1797-1801)Alien and Sedition Acts; Move of federal capital to Washington, D.C.; XYZ Affair; Quasi War with France (but avoided!); "midnight appointments" of federalists.52
8663794005Washington, D.C.Established as the federal capital 1790. Formed from land donated by the states of Maryland and Virginia.53
8663794006Alien & Sedition ActsActs passed by federalists giving the government power to imprison or deport foreign citizens and prosecute critics of the government passed by Adams in response to Democratic-Republican criticism of his policies, who were led by Thomas Jefferson.54
8663794007Kentucky and Virginia ResolutionsPolitical declarations in favor of states' rights, written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, in opposition to the Alien and Sedition acts. Introduced the controversial theory of nullification wherein individual states could nullify federal legislation they regarded as unconstitutional.55
8663794008XYZ Affair (1798)French officials demanded a bribe from U.S. diplomats56
8663794009"Revolution of 1800"Electoral defeat of Adams; Orchestrated by Jefferson and the Democrat-Republicans; Established the principle of peaceful transition of power from one party to another.57

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