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Battle of Lexington and Concord
Was a huge reason for the american revolutionary war.The British commander in Boston had heard of supplies of powder and weapons being kept by patriots.The British went to greet Boston as a shot went off from one side.As Americans waited more and more militia men arrived making forces stronger and stronger.15,000 men surrounded Boston causing the British to win the war. -
Battle of Saratoga
The saratoga campaign , giving a decisive victory to the Americans over the British in the american revolutionary war. Burgoyne found himself trapped by american troops with no relief so he retreated to saratoga. Burgoyne surrender was instrumental formally bringing France into the war as an Allie.Spain also ended up joining France in war against Britain. Burgoynes strategy had started to divide new England from southern colonies had started well but slowed due to logical problems. -
Battle of Yorktown
A decisive victory by a combined force of american lead by George Washington and french army troops.Proved to be the last major battle of the american revolutionary war.The British wanted to build a defensive deep water port. American artillery got closer and its bombardment was more intense than ever.After two days of talking things out between the united states and great Britain it resulted in the treaty of Paris. -
Northwest Ordinance
Listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory.Provided a method for admitting new states to the union from the territory.Allowed the US to divide territory into a handful of self-governing districts.It provided the first national limitation upon the expansion of slavery.Made it possible to protect civil liberties and outlawed slavery. -
Alien and Sedition Act
A law passed by federalist congress signed into law by president Adams.These laws included new powers to deport foreigners as well as making it challenging for new immigrants to vote.To be eligible to vote a new immigrant would have to reside in the united states for five years but a new law raised it to 14.Was one of the most debatable laws permitting strong government control over individual actions.This act caused newspaper editors to be imprisoned or arrested for criticizing president Adams. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Political statements that was drafted, in which Kentucky and Virginia legislatures took the position that the federal alien and sedition act were constitutional.The resolution argued that the states had the rights to declare as unconstitutional.The resolution was written secretly by president Thomas Jefferson & James Madison.Expressed that the states had the rights to prevent harm caused by unconstitutional laws.Added that unconstitutional laws can be nullified by the state as proper treatment. -
Marbury v. Madison
Established the principle of judicial review.Allowed the american courts to strike down laws.Helped explain the boundary between the constitutionally separate executive and judicial branches of the american form of government.Announced that american courts have the right to invalidate laws that it found to violate the constitution.Because this meant the court had no jurisdiction over the case, it could not issue the writ that Marbury had requested. -
Louisiana Purchase
Land deal between the US and France.The US gained approximately 827,000 sqm of land west of the Mississippi river for 15 million dollars.Thomas struggled with the purchase because Spain and France signed a secret treaty ceding Louisiana to France therefore Jefferson sent envoys to France to try and secure the purchase.It gave the US control of the Mississippi river and the port city of new Orleans both of which were used by farmer to ship their crops and get paid.Added 15 states. -
Monroe Doctrine
The U.S. policy opposed European colonialism in America.Noted that the US would recognize and not interfere with existing European colonies or intrude in the internal concerns of there countries.Stated that efforts by European nations to take control of any independent state in north or south would be viewed as the manifestation of an unfriendly deposition.A defining moment in the foreign policy of the US and longest tenet.Objective was to free the newly independent colonies of Latin america. -
Nullification Crisis
A sectional political crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson.Made Jackson a hero to nationalist.Involved confrontation between south Carolina and the federal government.It passed after south Carolina declared that the federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional.The state initiated military preparations to resist anticipated federal enforcement.Received support from most northerners and half the southerners. -
Texas Annexation
The annexation of the republic of Texas into the US of america.Was given to the union as the 28th state.The US wanted Texas so that they can spread from the Atlantic to the pacific ocean.The republic of Texas declared independence from the republic of mexico.The people did not want government to control their lives (individualism). -
Oregon Treaty
An agreement that set the boundary between the US and Canada at the 49th parallel west of the rocky mountains.They claims often caused conflicts between the European colonists and the US.This was the era of the famous Oregon Trail. These settlers were motivated by a desire for land, not by a desire for furs.Some Americans went to Oregon in the very early 1800's because they wanted to participate in the fur trade. -
Mexican Cession
The region in the southwestern US that mexico ceded to the US in the treaty of Guadalupe hidalgo. This was the 3rd largest acquisition of territory in US history (529,000 sqm). The US paid mexico 15 million dollars for the land.This land was significant because the question of extending slavery into newly acquired territories had become a political issue.The US acquired California,Nevada,Utah,and Arizona.