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French and Indian War (1754-1763)
War between the French and the English in North America over English expansion Westward, with Native Americans allied to the French.
Cause: Native Americans and French wanted to maintain control in the Ohio river valley, but English expansion was threatening them.
Effect: The English won and took a lot of land from the French and Native Americans, but also the Proclamation line of 1763. -
Pontiac's Rebellion (1763-1765)
Native American groups in North America came together to resist and rebel against threatening colonial expansion.
Causes: British victory on French and Indian War that led to further Westward encroachment on Native Americas.
Effects: British declared the Proclamation line of 1763 in fear on prolonged conflict. -
Proclamation Line of 1763
A Royal proclamation for American colonist to not cross the western boarder past the Appalachian mountains.
Causes: Pontiac's Rebellion, British wanting to avoid prolonged conflict with Native Americans.
Effects: Angered the colonists and did not work for long -
Stamp Act
British Parliament required revenue stamps to be on almost all paper products/documents as a direct tax on colonists.
Cause: Britain needed to bring in more money after fighting in the French and Indian War (or Seven Years War)
Effect: Colonists were intensely against taxation without representation and boycotted British productions. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament declared that they had absolute power to tax the colonies however they would like.
Cause: Britain wanted to tighten its grip on the colonies after it repealed the Stamp Act.
Effect: Growing tension between colonist and Britain. -
Tea Act
A British policy that allowed only the Dutch East India Company to sell to the Americas so colonist couldn't buy cheaper tea anywhere else.
Causes: Colonists were boycotting British goods and smuggling other goods due to taxes.
Effects: The Boston Tea Party and Intolerable Acts. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonist throwing a few hundred crates of British tea into the Boston Harbor as an act of protest,
Cause: The Tea Act didn't let colonist buy cheaper tea from anywhere else and they were very angry.
Effects: The Intolerable Acts, which isolated and punished the anti-British, as well as many other controlling policies. -
First Continental Congress
A group of delegates from the colonies met in a convention in Philadelphia to discuss the British infringing on the rights of colonists.
Cause: The Intolerable Acts taking away any control and freedom the colonies had.
Effect: The Suffolk Resolve that had colonist economically boycotting the British in hopes of the repeal of the Intolerable Acts. -
Second Continental Congress
A second meeting of the delegates after fighting broke out in Massachusetts and they debated declaring independence from Britain, with New England delegates wanted independence while Middle colony delegates wanted to keep trying to resolve relationship with Britain.
Cause: British policies not changing and causing conflict in North America with colonists
Effects: The Declaration of Causes and Necessities for Taking Up Arms and Olive Branch Petition. -
Declaration of Independence
A document written by Thomas Jefferson that states grievances and reasons for revolution after delegates agreed that reconciliation was not an option.
Cause: End of Salutary Neglect, too much British control over colonists in North America.
Effect: Revolutionary War -
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution written by John Dickenson that established a unicameral government and focused on strong state governments over a central government.
Cause: Colonist declared independence from Britain and were fighting in Revolutionary War and needed a set of rules to build on after the war.
Effect: Sectionalism and revising into Constitution -
Treaty of Paris
The peace treaty signed by the British to end the Revolutionary War and acknowledge the existence of the United States as an independent nation.
Cause: British lost the Battle of Yorktown against the colonist, who were helped by the French
Effect: United States becomes independent nation -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Laws setting the rules for the creation of new states in the Northwest, it granted limited self government and prohibited slavery.
Cause: Growing population caused expansion and large settlements.
Effect: Prohibited slavery in Northwest. -
Constitutional Convention
A meeting of delegates in Philidelphia to amend the Articles of Confederation, but delegates were determined to write a new document instead, the Constitution.
Cause: Articles were weak and didn't give country enough unity or central government.
Effect: Strong central government with 3 branches of power. -
Ratification of U.S Constitution
To use the Constitution instead of the Articles of Confederation, 9/13 states had to ratify it.
Cause: The Constitutional Convention and didn't want to make it impossuble to change like how the Articles needed unanimous votes.
Effects: It was ratified and George Washington was elected president. -
Proclamation of Neutrality
A foreign policy issued by George Washington in response to conflict between France and Britain that declared that the U.S. would be neutral and not other assistance to either side.
Cause: The country was too young and unstable to be involved in war.
Effect: Set precedent for future foreign policies and response to war. -
Whiskey Rebellion
A large tax was put on whiskey to help resolve the countries debt, but a group of western Pennsylvania farmers did not want to pay, however there rebellion was met with a army that was federalized by George Washington.
Cause: Farmers did not like taxes or federal government
Effect: Federalist liked the use of power but Democratic republicans disagreed saw overstep of power and critized. -
Jay's Treaty
Chief Justice John Jay met with British to attempt to stop the seizing of American merchant ships, but British only agreed to evacuate posts in the West.
Cause: British seizing and searching American ships
Effect: Keep neutrality and trade with Britain, but angered Democratic Republicans. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Treaty with Spanish to allow American access to lower Mississippi river and port in New Orleans for trade.
Cause: Need to establish boundaries
Effect: Better trade within U.S. along Mississippi river. -
Washington's Farewell Address
George Washington voluntarily retired after two 4 year terms and left a few points of advice for the country. He warned Americans not to get involved in European affairs, not to form "permanent alliances", not to form political parties, and to not fall into sectionalism.
Cause: He had somewhat stabilized the country and stepped down when he was ahead.
Effects: He set many precedents like only serving two terms also political parties had already begun to form. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Passed by Federalist congress the Alien Acts tightened regulations of immigration and Sedition Act limited speech and media that was critical of the government.
Cause: Federalist wanted to limit Democratic Republicans power in congress.
Effect: Kentucky and Virginia resolutions. -
XYZ Affair
During the Presidency of John Adams the French were seizing American merchant ships, and when delegates were sent to France, the French ministers wanted bribes.
Cause: Federalist were anti French, but country needed to stay neutral.
Effect: An undeclared war -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison condemed the Alien and Sedition Acts and said that states could nullify laws that were unconstitutional or were the federal government overstepped their power.
Cause: The Alien and Sedition Acts took away DR and state powers.
Cause: Set precedent that states could nullify laws seen as unconstitutional. -
Election of 1800
Federalist were defeated as Thomas Jefferson was elected as president.
Cause: Democratic Republicans did not like the federalist use of federal power.
Effect: DRs took control of the House and Senate.