Albany Plan: Benjamin Franklin’s plan to create a centralized government for the Thirteen Colonies. It failed when only 7 colonies sent representatives. However, it did mark the first effort at achieving colonial unity. Alien Acts (1798): Act that increased residency requirements in the United States and allowed the president to arrest and deport aliens. Anti-Federalists: People who opposed the ratification of the Constitution and rejected the idea of a strong central government. They were generally in favor of states’ rights and thought a bill of rights was necessary to protect individual freedoms. Articles of Confederation: The original constitution of the United States created by the Second Continental Congress. The articles served as a weak but basic outline for how the government would function and reserved most of the power for individual states. They limited the powers of Congress politically and economically, but were a step towards the creation of the country’s modern day constitution. Bill of Rights: A list of 10 amendments to the Constitution that placed limits on governmental power and protected specific individual freedoms. Boston Massacre: An event that occurred on March 5, 1970 when British soldiers opened fire on a group of colonists who were protesting the taxes imposed by the British. Five men were killed, but this event did help the colonists become more supportive of a revolution. Boston Tea Party: An event led by Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty in which colonists boarded ships harbored in Boston and dumped all tea aboard into the harbor. They did this in protest to the high import taxes imposed by the British. As a result of this event, the British imposed the Intolerable Acts and British-American relations were further strained. Committees of Correspondence: Local committees established throughout the U.S. to promote resistance to the British and strengthen communication between the colonies. These committees helped unite colonists under one cause and allowed for the formation of the First Continental Congress. Constitutional Convention: Convention of representatives from each state who met in Philadelphia in 1787 to amend the Articles of Confederation. They ended up drafting what is our modern day Constitution that expanded the powers of the government. Declaration of Independence: A formal statement that expressed the colonies’ desire to separate from the British and form their own government. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776. Declaratory Acts: Acts passed by Parliament in March 1766 that stated that the British government had complete legislative power over the colonies. Democratic-Republicans: The political party that arose from the Anti-Federalists, who believed in a limited federal government but greater rights for individual states. Thomas Jefferson was one notable Democratic-Republican. Federalists: People who supported the ratification of the Constitution and believed in a strong national government. Notable Federalists include Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. First Continental Congress: Group of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies who met in Philadelphia in 1774 to determine a course of action in response to the Intolerable Acts. They demanded that the Acts be repealed and that the crown recognize the rights of the colonists (Declaration of Rights and Grievances). French and Indian War (1754-1763): Conflict between the English colonists and the French with their Native American allies. It resulted from the expansion of the French into the Ohio River valley, which conflicted with the land claims of the English. The English eventually won, solidifying their dominance in North America. (Referred to as the Seven Year’s War in Europe). Great Compromise: Compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established proportional representation of the states in the House of Representatives but equal representation in the Senate. Solved the dispute over the adoption of the Virginia Plan or the New Jersey Plan. Intolerable Acts: These laws were enacted by the Parliament as a way to punish the colonists for their participation in the Boston Tea Party. They restricted the rights of the colonists and strengthened the power of the British over the colonies. They also closed the port of Boston until the colonists had paid for the damage they caused. Jay’s Treaty (1795): Treaty negotiated by Chief Justice John Jay that sought to settle the issues that arose between the United States and Great Britain following American independence. While it proved to be unpopular among Americans, it did help prevent further altercations between the two countries. Judiciary Act of 1789: Act that created the Judiciary Branch of the U.S. government. It established a Supreme Court, with five justices and a chief judge, and additional district and circuit courts. Loyalists/Tories: American colonists who remained loyal to the British crown during the American Revolution. Neutrality Proclamation (1793): Declaration of America’s intent to remain neutral in the French Revolution to keep trade relationships with the British intact. This upset the French who felt the American’s had betrayed them by not upholding the alliance they had forged during the American Revolution. Olive Branch Petition: Last ditch effort by the colonists to prevent conflict with the British. The Continental Congress pledged loyalty to the crown while still trying to address the rights of the colonists. It was REJECTED by the British king. Patriots: American colonists who rebelled against the British and actively fought in the Revolutionary War. Pinckney's Treaty (1796): Treaty with Spain that gave the U.S the right to transport goods on the Mississippi River and store the goods in the New Orleans territory. Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763): Native American uprising against the British,who were expanding into the Ohio Territory. They began attacking colonial settlements but were later suppressed by British troops. Strengthened the British view that they needed to maintain strong control over the colonies. Proclamation of 1763: Order that prohibited American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. This was an attempt to reduce conflicts between the colonists and Native Americans. Quartering Act: Act imposed by the British that required American colonists to provide housing and food to British troops. Sedition Act: Act that made it illegal to speak negatively of the government or the president. Those who did could be imprisoned or fined under this law. It was mainly targeted towards Democratic-Republicans. Shays' Rebellion: Massachusetts rebellion led by Daniel Shays. The participants, mostly farmers, organized a protest to demand tax and debt relief. While the farmers did not reach their goal, their protest helped encourage the need for a stronger government. Sons and Daughters of Liberty: Group led by Samuel Adams that launched violent attacks against those who supported the British or their tax policies. Stamp Act (1765): Act imposed by the British, requiring all paper products in the colonies to have a tax stamp. The British felt that it was only fair that the colonists help pay for the war that was fought for them, but the colonists despised the act. Sugar Acts (1764): Indirect tax imposed on sweetener products in the colonies. Sought to bring money to the crown and help pay off war debts. Tea Act (1773): Act that gave the East India company permission to sell it’s tea to the colonists, duty-free. While it actually lowered the price of tea, colonists were angry with British interference and reacted with the Boston Tea Party. Three-Fifths Compromise (1787): Agreement reached upon at the Constitutional Convention that declared that slaves in the south would count as three-fifths of a person for voting purposes. Treaty of Paris (1783): Peace settlement in which the British formally recognized American independence and granted them the land west to the Mississippi and fishing rights in Newfoundland. The Americans agreed to repay their debts and leave Loyalists alone. Whiskey Rebellion: Uprising of back-country farmers in protest of the excise tax on whiskey. Washington quickly suppressed the uprisings, demonstrating the new power of the government. XYZ Affair: Event involving American delegates who were sent to France to negotiate an agreement following hostilities in the Atlantic. As the delegates neared France they approached by agents X, Y, and Z who demanded money in order for the Americans to speak to officials. When the Americans refused, and undeclared naval war broke out between the two countries in the Atlantic. |