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Period: to
French and Indian War
War between American colonists/British and French/American Indians. Was a decisive war between the mother countries and a worldwide battle of empires.
CAUSE: French built forts along the Ohio River Valley
EFFECT: End of salutary neglect from Britain to America -
Proclamation Line of 1763
An effort to stabilise the western frontier and reduce conflict with Native Americans - British couldn't afford to spend any more money on the colonies. Threatened the liberties of the colonists.
CAUSE: French and Indian War and settlement tensions between colonists and Native Americans
EFFECT: One of the causes of the American Revolution -
Period: to
Pontiac's Rebellion
Chief Pontiac led a major attack against colonial settlements on the Western frontier
CAUSE: growing westward movements on land and loss of French allies in the Americas
EFFECT: Destroyed settlements and forts from VA to NY and British sent British troops due to lack of trust on colonial troops -
Stamp Act
British effort to raise funds to support British military in the colonies. Required that revenue stamps be placed on most most printed paper in the colonies - first direct tax in colonies. Argued that it went against the British constitution and ended it up getting repealed
CAUSE: Use colonies to fund British troops
EFFECT: Violent protests in the colonies - no taxation without representation - -
Declaratory Act
Stamp Act was repealed with change in prime ministers and replaced with Declaratory Act. Gave the crown the absolute right to tax and pass laws that were not beneficial to the colonies.
CAUSE: To assert authority of British government to tax the colonists
EFFECT: Allowed the crown to tax the colonies without any representation -
Tea Act
Granted the East India Company a monopoly on all tea in the colonies, an exemption on export tax, and a refund on duties owned
CAUSE: To help the East India Company financially
EFFECT: Catalyst of the Boston Tea Party -
Boston Tea Party
Organised by the Sons of Liberty. Was the first major act of defiance against the British government. Colonists threw British tea into the harbour, contributed to American Revolution
CAUSE: Boston Massacre which was at the cause of the Stamp and Townshend Acts
EFFECT: Fuelled the American Revolution -
First Continental Congress
Joint congress of all the colonies minus Georgia. Representatives from each colony spoke on pressing issues and created acts to move forward
CAUSE: To organise the colonies and respond to British threats to their liberties (Coercive Acts and Intolerable Acts)
EFFECT: Boycott of British goods and unification of colonies -
Second Continental Congress
Delegates met after fighting broke out in Massachusetts. Congress was divided (independence vs negotiation). Military actions and peace efforts were taken out. Appointed George Washington as commander of the Continental Army
CAUSE: Violence broke out between Colonists and Britain, needed place to plot course of war
EFFECT: Declaration of Independence -
Declaration of Independence
Congress gradually moved from reconciliation to independence after a year of meeting. Jefferson drafted the Declaration. Listed grievances against George III's government.
CAUSE: More and more colonists were convinced Parliament was taking away their freedom
EFFECT: America gained its independence and could forge its own government -
Articles of Confederation
Drafted by John Dickinson, was modified by Congress to protect each state. Established a central government in the new country. Allowed Congress to wage war, make treaties, send diplomatic representatives, and borrow money. Had many faults - no seperate executive or judiciary, financial, foreign and domestic affairs. Created the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
CAUSE: To unify the country under a set of principles after winning the war
EFFECT: The Constitution -
Treaty of Paris
Peace treaty that provided Britain would recognise the USA as an independent country. Established the Mississippi River as the western most border.
CAUSE: US victory at Yorktown, British negotiators were willing to consider US independence
EFFECT: France gave up all its territories in North America, doubled size of nation -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Set rules for creating states within the area between the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley. Granted limited self-government and prohibited slavery. Encouraged free education and granted religious freedom and trial by jury. Guaranteed that newly created states would be equal to the original thirteen states.
CAUSE: To terminate claims of individual states and organise territory into new states
EFFECT: Chartered Northwest states and provided a method for admitting new states to the Union -
Constitutional Convention
Occurred in Philadelphia, to address the problems of the weak central government under the Articles of Confederation. Made to amend the Articles and form a stronger central government
CAUSE: Weak central government under the Articles of Confederation
EFFECT: The Constitution -
Ratification of the US
Each state was given 6 months to meet and vote on the Constitution. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government. The federalists prevailed in the government
CAUSE: The proposal of the Constitution
EFFECT: Set up the federal system of government, and balanced federal and state power -
The Constitution
Established the three chief branches of the US Federal Government - Executive, Judiciary, and Legislative. Drafted by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. The Bill of Rights would address the Federalist anti-Federalist tensions that arose from the document
CAUSE: To address problems that came up under the Articles of Confederation
EFFECT: Set up a federal system and established policies still used today -
Proclamation of Neutrality
During the French Revolution, politicians were divided on whether to support or not. Washington believed the new nation was not strong enough to engage in a war between major European powers. Jefferson resigned in disagreement
CAUSE: Response to spreading war in Europe
EFFECT: Kept US out of war that it wasn't ready to fight, set a precedent for future foreign policies -
Whiskey Rebellion
Part of Hamilton's Financial Plan, make up for lost revenue due to lower tariffs to pay back war debts. Persuaded Congress to pass sale taxes - whiskey. Washington responded by sending out 15,000 militiamen, show of force had intended effect, shut down rebellion effectively
CAUSE: A group of farmers refused to pay new taxes on whiskey, justifying it by protecting their liberties
EFFECT: Enforced idea that the new government had the right to levy taxes that impacted all states and their citizens -
Jay's Treaty
Chief Justice John Jay is sent to Britain to negotiate. Britain agreed to evacuate posts on US Western frontier but said nothing about seizing of American ships. Narrowly ratified by the senate and was largely unpopular. Maintained Washington's policy of neutrality
CAUSE: Britain's offensive procedures of searching and seizing British ships and impressing Americans seamen into the British navy
EFFECT: Kept America neutral and allowed them to build and develop for future wars against Britain -
Pinckney's Treaty
Jay's Treaty led to unprecedented events on Spanish policy of colonies in the Americas. Thomas Pinckney met with Spain and negotiated for Spain to open the lower Mississippi River and New Orleans to American trade and Spain agreed to make Florida's northern border at the 31st parallel
CAUSE: Spain saw Jay's Treaty that the US was drawing closer to Britain
EFFECT: Important diplomatic success and allowed Americans to transfer cargo in New Orleans w/o paying the Spanish government -
Washington's Farewell Address
At the end of 2 terms, Washington decided to leave office. His farewell address had major influence and spoke on policies and practises he thought unwise. Included - stay out of European affairs, no permanent alliances, no political parties, and not to fall to sectionalism. Future presidents would respect many of these ideals
CAUSE: Decision to leave office and give wisdoms
EFFECT: Presidents only took 2 terms from then on and affected future foreign policy -
XYZ Affair
First major challenge during Adams' presidency. Three French ministers only known as X, Y, and Z requested bribes as a basis for negotiation. Infuriated Americans. Adams recognised the US military couldn't afford to go to war against France and kept a policy of neutrality and sent new ministers over
CAUSE: US merchant ships were being seized by French warships and privateers
EFFECT: Negative effect on trade between the countries and continuation of neutrality -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition acts were set to maintain federalist power by allowing deportation of foreigners and made defamation of the gov's officials an offense
CAUSE: Federalists took advantage of majority house win and enacted laws to restrict political opponents (D-R's).
EFFECT: Alien Acts allowed the President to deport aliens considered dangerous and imprison enemy aliens during war. Sedition Acts made it illegal for newspaper editors to criticise Congress or the President -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
D-R's challenged the Alien and Sedition Acts, enacted nullifying laws in state legislature. Thomas Jefferson (KT) and James Madison (VA)
CAUSE: Alien and Sedition Acts
EFFECT: Helped establish the practise of being able to declare federal laws as unconstitutional -
Election of 1800
Federalists rapidly lost popularity during Adams' presidency - taxes to pay cost of preparation for war against France and Alien and Sedition Acts. D-R's won in executive and legislative branches. Passing of power was accomplished w/o violence. Jefferson vs Burr
CAUSE: Federalists lose due to Adams' unpopularity
EFFECT: Change from Federalist to D-R control
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