AP US History
Unit 3 Terms
Seven Years' War (French and Indian War)- between Britain, France, and Spain over the Ohio
River Valley and Canada. Britain wins, France loses nearly all its North American holdings in
1763. Treaty of Paris, 1763- ended the Seven Years' War; allowed France to keep land in the
West Indies; British got Canada and Ohio River Valley
Pontiac's Uprising (rebellion)- Ottawa Chief and Indians attack villages in the Ohio Valley
following French and Indian War.
Proclamation of 1763- British wouldn't allow settlement beyond Appalachian Mts because of
Indian problem evidenced by Pontiac’s Rebellion.
Mercantilism- wealth=power; the idea that a country's wealth could be measured in gold or
silver; it had to export more than it imported; the colonies were expected to furnish England
with tobacco, sugar, and ship masts, but to refrain from exporting woolen cloth or beaver hats
and buy manufactured goods exclusively from England.
Navigation Laws- 1650, were aimed at rival Dutch shippers; all commerce to and from England
could only be transported in British vessels; European goods destined for America first had to
land in Britain where they would take a profit slice; American merchants had to ship
“enumerated” products (ex. tobacco) exclusively to Britain.
Virtual Representation vs. Actual Representation- virtual representation is what the colonists
had in Parliament, no physical participation but members considered their interests when
voting. Actual representation was what they wanted, to have colonists sit in Parliament.
Quartering Act, 1765- required certain colonies to provide food and quarters (housing) for
British troops. Originally intended to aid in collection of Townshend duties.
Sugar Act, 1765- the first law ever passed by Parliament to raise tax revenue in the colonies for
the Crown; increased the duty on foreign sugar imported from the West Indies; the colonists'
protests led to the substantial lowering of the duties.
Stamp Act- 1765, was imposed by PM Grenville to raise revenues to support the new military
force; mandated the use of stamped paper or the affixing of stamps to certify payment of the
tax; stamps were required on bills of sale for 50 trade items such as certain commercial and
legal documents, playing cards, pamphlets, newspapers, diplomas, bills of landing, and
marriage licenses.
Stamp Act Congress, 1765- brought together 27 delegates from 9 colonies to New York City;
drew up a statement of rights and grievances and beseeched both the King and Parliament to
repeal the Stamp Act; was ignored in England and made little splash in America.
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Sons/Daughters of Liberty- groups of patriotic individuals who took the law into their own
hands; cried “Liberty, Property, and NO Stamps;” enforced the non-importation agreements
against violators, often with a generous coat of tar and feathers; ransacked the houses of
unpopular officials and confiscated their money; hanged effigies of stamp agents on liberty
poles. Leaders?
Sam Adams- was a master propagandist and engineer of rebellion; from Boston and the 2nd
cousin of John Adams; organized local committees of correspondence in Massachusetts;
formally formed the 1st Committee of Correspondence in Boston in 1772 → 80 towns in their
colony speedily set up similar organizations; kept British opposition alive → led to inter-colonial
committees of correspondence.
Boston Massacre- evening of March 5, 1770, ~60 townspeople set upon a squad of ~10
redcoats; one was hit with a club and one was knocked down; troops opened fire and killed or
wounded 11 “innocent” citizens; Crispus Attucks was the first to die; later John Adams was the
defense attorney for the soldiers and only 2 redcoats were found guilty of manslaughter; the
soldiers were released after being branded on the hand, Inflames anti-British sentiment.
John Adams- served as the defense attorney for soldiers at Boston Massacre; played a large role
in the Continental Congress; helped sway colleagues to a revolutionary course.
Boston Tea Party- Dec. 16, 1733, a band of Bostonians disguised themselves as Indians, boarded
docked tea ships at the Boston Harbor, and smashed open 342 chests before dumping their
contents into the harbor; they were angry for having to buy tea with a tax from England to save
the British East India Company from bankruptcy.
Intolerable (Coercive) Acts- 1774, a series of acts passed by Parliament in response to the
Boston Tea Party to chastise Boston in particular, but also Massachusetts in general; included
the Boston Port Act which closed the harbor until damages were paid for; swept away many
chartered rights of Massachusetts; allowed officials who killed colonists to be sent to Britain for
trail.
Quebec Act- 1774, was passed at the same time as the Intolerable Acts; resolved to administer
60,000 French subjects in Canada; guaranteed the French their Catholic religion; allowed them
to retain their old customs (which did not include representative assembly or trial by jury in civil
cases); extended the old boundaries of Quebec south, all the way to the Ohio River. Seen as
omen for the future by suspicious colonists.
Continental Congress, 1774- in response to the Intolerable Acts; met in Philadelphia to consider
ways of addressing colonial grievances; 12 of 13 colonies represented (not Georgia); consisted
of 65 distinguished men, including Samuel Adams, John Adams, George Washington, and
Patrick Henry; deliberated for 7 weeks; not a legislative, but a consultative body; created The
Association, which called for a complete trade boycott with Britain.
Declaration of Rights- statement/list of grievances drawn up by the first Continental Congress; a
solemn appeal to British American colonies, the King, and the British people.
2nd Continental Congress- May 1775, Served as colonial government through much of the war;
hardly developed into more than a debating society and grew feebler as time went on; adopted
the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776; passed the Articles of Confederation, which
were ratified in 1781.
Common Sense- published in 1776, was one of the most influential pamphlets ever; written by
the radical Thomas Paine; a bestseller that sold 120,000 copies within just a few months;
believed that using common sense, it was obvious that “little” Britain shouldn't have control
over “large” America. Made many adopt the revolutionary cause.
Salutary Neglect- Britain didn't follow through with the enforcement of the Navigation Laws;
not enforcing rules. Policy begun in 1688 after the Glorious Revolution.
Loyalists/Patriots- Loyalists, aka “Tories,” were colonists loyal to the King; comprised 16% of
Americans; were often Anglicans and educated or wealthy; least numerous in New England;
Patriots were American rebels; were prosperous in New England. Other attributes?
Thomas Jefferson- drafted the Declaration of Independence, a Virginian lawyer; was recognized
as a brilliant writer; credited John Locke with many ideas in the Dec. of Ind. Declaration of
Independence- July 4, 1776, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, contains a theory of gov’t ala John
Locke (equality and unalienable rights, role of gov’t., duty of the people, etc.) and a list of
crimes committed by George III.
Treaty of Paris- 1783, a peace treaty in which the British formally recognized the independence
of the United States; added generous boundaries including Ohio Valley; kept priceless fishery
share in Newfoundland; restored Loyalist property.
George Washington- Magnificent leader, called the “Indispensible Man,” American General;
crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Day in 1776 before moving on to Trenton on
December 26; surprised and captured 1,000 Hessians. Lost some critical battles but held the
Army together.
Articles of Confederation- adopted in 1777, ratified in 1781; linked States to joint action in
dealing with common problems such as foreign affairs; made Congress the chief agency of the
government; included no executive branch; each state was given 1 vote; subjects of importance
required the support of 9 states; unanimity was required to amend; provided Congress no
power to regulate commerce or collect taxes.
Land Ordinance 1785 - stated that the acreage of the Old Northwest would be sold to pay off
the national debt; townships were to be divided into 36 sq. mi with the 16th section to benefit
public schools.
Northwest Ordinance 1787 was related to the governing of the Old Northwest; allowed first a
territory which could become a state when it had 60,000 inhabitants; forbade slavery in the Old
Northwest.
Shays' Rebellion- 1786, in Western Massachusetts; impoverished backcountry farmers, many
Revolutionary War veterans, were losing their farms through mortgage foreclosures and tax
delinquencies; led by Captain Daniel Shays; the men demanded cheap paper money, lighter
taxes, and the suspension of property takeovers; collapsed, but sent fear of anarchy through
colonies and pointed to inadequacy of Articles of Confed.
Alexander Hamilton- New Yorker who kept hope alive at the Annapolis Convention by
summoning a convention to meet in Philadelphia the next year to bolster the entire fabric of
the Articles of Confederation; a “demigod” and advocate of a powerful central government; the
1st Secretary of the Treasury (under Washington); known for his Financial Program, and leader
of the Federalist Party.
Constitutional Convention
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James Madison, Father of the Constitution- a student of the government and considered
Father of the Constitution, wrote the Bill of Rights; from Virginia. Later President.
Virginia Plan- “the large state plan;” stated that representation in both houses of a
bicameral congress should be based on population, which would naturally give large
states an advantage.
New Jersey Plan- “the small state plan;” called for equal representation of States in a
unicameral congress, regardless of size and population, as under the existing Articles of
Confederation.
Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)- by Roger Sherman, larger states were
conceded representation by population in the House of Representatives and smaller
states were appeased by equal representation in the Senate; each state would have 2
senators; every tax bill or revenue bill had to originate in the House.
3/5ths Compromise- slaves were to count as 3/5ths of a person in determining
representation in the House of Representatives, where population mattered and when
determining how much taxes a State would be assessed.
Slave Trade Compromise- while most of the states wanted to shut off the African slave
trade, South Carolina and Georgia required labor in their rice fields, etc.; the convention
stipulated that the slave trade might continue until the end of 1807, when Congress
could (and did) shut it down; all new state constitutions except for Georgia's, forbade
overseas slave trade.
Federalists/Anti-Federalists- Federalists wanted a stronger federal government; included
leaders like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton; were typically wealthier, more
educated, and better organized. Anti-Federalists opposed a strong federal government;
included leaders like Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry; were usually of
poorer class and one-horse farmers.
The Federalist- a series of articles anonymously written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and
James Madison for New York newspapers; a biased commentary on the Constitution to
encourage ratification; sold in book form as The Federalist; the most famous article was
Madison's No. 10, which refuted conventional wisdom that it was impossible to extend a
republican form of government over a large territory.
George Washington- General, war hero, and 1st President; was unanimously drafted by the
Electoral College in 1789; left Mount Vernon for New York City (the temporary capital); took the
oath of office on April 30, 1789; established the Cabinet. Set the precedent for future
Presidents.
Cabinet (Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox)- established by President Washington; though not
specifically mentioned in the Constitution, it evolved in Washington's administration; Secretary
of the Treasury- Alexander Hamilton; Secretary of State- Thomas Jefferson; Secretary of WarHenry Knox. How many members in the current cabinet? Be the first to tell Mr. Gillard and win
a prize.
Bill o' Rights- adopted as a group in 1791, written by James Madison; the first 10 amendments
to the Constitution. You should know them!
Hamilton's Financial Program- wanted to bolster the national credit; 1790. Plan included
Assumption of all state and national debt; tariffs; an excise tax on a few domestic items such as
Whiskey; and a Bank of the United States.
Bank of the US- proposed by Hamilton; was reluctantly approved by Washington after receiving
much opposition from Jefferson; was modeled by the Bank of England; proposed a powerful
private institution with the government as the major stockholder; said that federal treasury
deposits and federal funds would stimulate business; proposed to print urgently needed paper
money; led to a debate over Constitutional justification.
Whiskey Rebellion- 1794, in SW Pennsylvania; challenged the new national government; people
affected by Hamilton's excise tax on Whiskey were upset because they had used it as a means
of exchange; they boldly tarred and feathered revenue officers; Washington led ~13,000 troops
with the encouragement of Hamilton to crush the rebellion. Showed the power of the new
government, as opposed to the Shays’ Rebellion debacle under the Articles.
Republican Motherhood- elevated women to a new prestigious role as special keepers of the
national conscience; women were expected to teach their families the ideas and duties of the
Republic.
Neutrality Proclamation of 1793- issued by President Washington shortly after the outbreak of
war between Britain and France; proclaimed the American government's official neutrality,
ending alliance with France.
Jay's Treaty, 1794- the British promised (again) to evacuate their forts; consented to pay for
damages of recent seizures of American ships; did not mention anything regarding the future
seizures or supplying Indians with weapons; the US was to pay debts still owed to British
merchants on pre-Revolutionary accounts. Treaty regarded as a failure!
Pickney's Treaty, 1795- with Spain; included free navigation of the Mississippi and territory of
North Florida. Regarded as a success!
Strict vs. Liberal construction of the Constitution- Jefferson: strict → the Constitution forbids
what it does not allow; Hamilton: liberal → the Constitution allows what it does not forbid.
National Bank was one issue.
Democratic-Republicans- Jeffersonians; relaxed and weak-voiced; mostly of middle-lower class;
believed in a weak central government; had a strict interpretation of the Constitution; wanted
to pay off national debt; favored agriculture and was supported in the South; pro-French.
Federalists- Hamiltonians; typically wealthy; believed in a strong central government;
supported private enterprise; had a liberal interpretation of the Constitution; favored industry
over agriculture; pro-British.
Alien, Sedition Acts- 1798, laws by Federalists. Federalist congress raised the resident
requirements for aliens who wanted to become citizens, from 5 yrs to 14 yrs; the President was
empowered to deport dangerous foreigners in time of peace or to imprison them in times of
hostility; the “lockjaw” Sedition Act was a direct slap at freedom of speech and press, saying
that anyone who impeded the policies of the government or defamed its officials, would be
heavily fined or imprisoned. Aimed at Democratic Republicans.
Virginia, Kentucky Resolves- Virginia (Madison), Kentucky (Jefferson); Jefferson was afraid of
Federalists taking away more rights, so he secretly wrote a series of resolutions; both stressed
the compact theory that individual states could judge if the federal government had
overstepped its originally granted authority and could “nullify” laws they felt were
unconstitutional