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French and Indian War
North American phase of Seven Years War, focused more on conflicts in colonies compared to other years of war.
Cause: French tied to stop westward expansion w/ chain of Forts in Ohio River Valley
Effects:
-Unchallenged supremacy for British in North America
-British distrust in colonists, put more troops in colonies but didn't have money for it so taxed colonies as well
-Colonist nationalism, colonists don't need supreme ruler -
Pontiac's Rebellion
Chief Pontiac led a major rebellion in an attempt to halt westward expansion by British with destruction of forts from NY to VA
Cause: British didn't give gifts to natives like French did
Effect: deteriorated British-colonial relations, Proclamation of 1763 -
Proclamation Line of 1763
British govt issued a proclamation stating colonists could not settle west of Appalachians
Cause: Pontiac's rebellion, destruction of a great amount of British land, Britain wanted to protect their assets
Effect: Angry colonists, wanted to reap benefits of participation of Seven Years war. Colonists disobeyed Britain, caused inflamed tension between the two. Immigration soars -
Period: to
Stamp Act
Revenue stamps had to be placed on most printed paper in colonies like legal documents and newspapers. First tax on people of colonies and not on goods/merchants.
Cause: Needed money to pay off debt from French and Indian War, financed the British troops in America to protect colonists from native attacks
Effect: Patrick Henry and James Otis condemned, Sons and Daughters of Liberty feathered tax collectors and destroyed stamps, boycott of British goods caused London merchants to urge repeal -
Declaratory Act
Parliament had the right to tax and make laws for colonies in all cases. Colonies rejoiced because Stamp Act repealed, did not notice Declaratory Act
Cause: London complained to British parliament because of colonists' boycott, caused repeal. Hid their use of power with positive change
Effect: Future laws that would lead the colonists to declare war -
Tea Act
Gave monopoly of tea to British East India Company and assert power over American colonies given to themselves from Declaratory Act
Cause: struggling British East India Company, key factor in British economy
Effect: Lowered tea cost because Company no longer had to go through Britain to ship, undercut colonial merchants, Boston Tea Party, boycotts -
Second Continental Congress
Second meeting of colonies with divided opinions, NE=independence, Middle=negotiate Cause: rights asserted in First not acknowledged
Effect: On side of war: Declaration of the Causes and Necessities for Taking up Arms: colonies provide troops, elected generals. On the side of peace: Olive Branch petition dismissed, all colonies considered rebels, trade and shipping halted between the two. Convinced many more colonists that war was the only option -
Boston Tea Party
Act of defiance against Tea Act where colonists impersonated natives and threw tea into the Boston Harbor Cause: Tea Act
Effect: British outrage, Coercive Acts, eventually became a catalyst for American Revolution -
First Continental Congress
Meeting of 56 colonies from 12 states to protest Coercive Acts imposed by Parliament Causes: Coercive Acts included closing Boston port until tea thrown into harbor was paid for, decreased Massachusetts legislature power in Boston while increasing British representation
Effects: creation of Declaratioin of Rights and Grievances formed boycotting association. Petition sent to King George for peaceful resolution, no acknowledgement. Army creation, if nothing=delegates meet again in 1775 -
Declaration of Independence
Resolution introduced that declared colonies independent. Thomas Jefferson wrote the break up letter from Britain.
Cause: tyranny from freedom-infringing acts, restricting population growth by halting land grants and other immigration incentives
Effect: United colonies with voice of peace, reasons for American Revolution, caused many other countries to embrace liberty and pursue their own changes. -
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Articles of Confederation
Congress' first Constitution, made to protect individual states. Unicameral.
Positives: Beneficial terms in Treaty of Paris, Land Ordinance of 1785, NW Ordinance 1787
Negatives: Unpaid debt from war, no power to tax, no respect by foreign powers, revolts against crumbling economy, no military -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Ended Revolutionary War and acknowledged 13 colonies as independent nation Causes: British losses in the Rev War
Effects: Britain recognized independence, US got fishing rights, improved US nationalism -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Set rules for creating new states in Great Lakes + Ohio River region, no slavery in states.
Cause: Newly acquired land and motivation to expand new country
Effect: created precedent for creating new states in the future, inspired westward expansion and also expanded US economy -
Constitutional Convention
55 delegates from 12 states met in Philly to revise or replace Articles
Cause: Shay's rebellion, other events that exposed weaknesses of Articles
Effect: established federal system of checks and balances, ratified by states after fierce campaign by Federalists and anti-federalists -
Ratification of Constitution
Essential questions: revise or completely new doc? Large or small representation? Slaves part of population?
Effects: System of checks and balances, new doc, Great compromise, 3/5 compromise -
Whiskey Rebellion
Hamilton needed more revenue because he could not make tariffs as high as he wanted in his Financial Program, taxed whiskey.
Cause: farmers refused to pay, attacked revenue collectors
Effect: rebellion stopped, showed effectiveness of new Constitution and not helpless anymore like Shay's rebellion -
Proclamation of Neutrality
Young nation not strong enough to handle war according to George Washington, stayed out of French Revolution Causes: still recovering from American Revolution, the nation was not unified or developed enough to enter into a war as an ally of the French people
Effects: Jefferson resigned, anti-Federalists very unhappy with decision because they loved France. Established tradition of neutrality for years to come. -
Pinckney's Treaty
US minister of Spain made treaty where Spain opened Mississippi River to American trade w/ no taxes. Spain didn't want to be USA enemy.
Cause: weak Spain didn't want to be on bad side of US, wanted allies
Effect: encouraged westward expansion, especially along Mississippi which made trade much easier -
Washington's Farewell Address
1: don;t get involved in European affairs
2: don't make permanent alliances
3: don't form political parties
4: no sectionalism Causes: Washington set precedent of leaving after two terms, gave speech for what he wanted to continue doing
Effects: isolationism for years to come. future govt. didn't listen to much of it. Appreciation for Washington and his years of service. -
XYZ Affair
Americans angered that American ships were being seized by French, democratic-republicans decide not to because they are french lovers and not enough military power yet. Decreases power of democratic-republicans because public wants to go to war. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
XYZ Affair-> More federalist votes Enacted laws that restricted opposition -Naturalization Act: 5->14 years for immigrants to qualify for citizenship -Alien Acts: authorized president to deport aliens considered dangerous + detain enemy aliens during war Sedition Act: ILLEGAL FOR NEWSPAPERS TO CRITICIZE GOVT, FINE IMPOSED Effects: thought of as unconstitutional, federalists would go on to lose all power in government. Their attempts to gain votes and block opposition backfired. -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Dem-Rep believed Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional CHALLENGED LAW USING STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE CAN NULLIFY LAW CREATED BY NATL. GOVT IF IT BREAKS COMPACT Set precedent for nullification of laws in Civil War Acts faded quickly, feds lost power in Congress and acts repealed/expired -
Election of 1800
Federalists on the decline after higher taxes for possible war + unconstitutional acts
FEDS GONE IN EXECUTIVE + LEGISLATIVE
Thomas Jefferson vs. Aaron Burr in 1800 elections
Tie: resulted in special election in House
JEFFERSON WINS (Hamilton's supporters vote for Jefferson)
REVOLUTION OF 1800: switch from federalist govt. To democratic-republican
Peaceful passing of power, PROVED CONSTITUTION COULD UPHOLD WHEN STRAINED -
Jay's Treaty
John Jay set to Britain to stop them from stealing American ships and converting sailors to British navy Cause: British impressment, British navy domination
Effect: Britain agreed to evacuate US frontier but didn't stop seizing ship. Resolved past turmoil between Britain and US. Continued their precedent of neutrality in foreign affairs