Significant Terms
Stamp Act Congress: Representatives of most of the colonies
who met to discuss their frustrations with Parliament. This lead
to them creating a Declaration of Rights and Grievances but
instead of responding positively, King George III, issued the
Declaratory act.
Committees of Correspondence: Lead by Samuel Adams,
patriot leaders talked to each other through the colonies through
this group. They discussed their grievances against Parliament
and got the colonies together to go against Britain.
Salutary neglect: This was the British government not
enforcing the trade laws in the colonies. They loosened their
laws in the colonies and did not take part in many of the colonies
affairs. This was during most of the 17th century but ended when
the French and Indian war was over.
Proclamation of 1763: This was issued at the end of the
French and Indian war and kept the Native Americans happy by
protecting them from colonists moving into their land.
Enlightenment: New ideas arose during this time of
enlightenment such as Deist ideals that believed that God created
natural laws when he created the universe. Rationalism also rose
up and they relied heavier on reason, science and respect for
humanity. Philosophers such as Locke also changed the ideas of
society during this time.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787: This led to the formation of
states and also forbid slavery in Northwestern Territories. It
created set rules for creating states and how they were to be
governed.
Articles of Confederation: John Dickinson wrote the first
draft of the articles of confederation and it listed the plan to
protect individual states. It was not ratified until March 1781. It
stated that there would be one congress in the central
government, each state would have one vote and gave congress
the power to wage war, make treaties, send diplomatic
representatives and
borrow money. Congress was not allowed to regulate commerce
or collect taxes.
Patriots: Also known as Whigs, Patriots were people who were
going against Britain during the war.
Loyalists: Also known as Tories, Loyalists were people who
remained loyal to Britain during the war.
Separation of Powers: State governments were split into
three branches. The first was the legislative powers, then the
executive powers, and lastly the judicial powers.