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Declaration of Rights and Grievences
Created under the Stamp Act Congress to what was in the colonist's perspective offenses done by the British Government like the Stamp and Tea Acts. Outlined 14 points in which the colonies stated that by nature they were entitled to the same rights as British citizens, that taxation without representation was unfair to the colonies, that trial by jury is a right, and that Great Britain should not step over colonial government. The ignoring of this document caused increased tension in the U.S. -
Minutemen
A militia force seen within the later 18th century of young men who fought during the American Revolutionary War that were known for their speed and mobility, having to quickly spring into action to fight British troops. While somewhat disorganized at the start of the conflict by the end of the war they were a reliable fighting force, being the first instance of militia groups within the U.S. -
Prohibitory Act
British legislation that served to cut off trade between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies and remove the colonies from the protection of the crown in response to U.S. rebellion, hoping to cripple the U.S. economically and prevent possible aid from other nations through blockade. Served as an unofficial declaration of war for the U.S. and was used as one of the 27 grievances of the U.S. in the Declaration, leading to the rising revolutionary spirit within the soon to be nation. -
Olive Branch Petition
A petition to King George the Third of Great Britain drafted by the Second Continental Congress to appeal to the monarch for the establishment of peace and unity once more, seeking to reconcile after clashes between U.S. and British authority like the Boston Massacre. King George refuses the petition and declares the colonies to be in rebellion and that he will kill all traitors, preventing further attempts of peace between the colonies and Britain and pushing the conflict into war. -
Common Sense
A pamphlet inspired by Enlightenment thought from Europe such as the Social Contract that encouraged for the U.S. to declare independence from Great Britain for the good of the populace, becoming rapidly popular among the colonists for its simple prose and persuasive cause. Worked as propaganda for independence and helped turn the general populace towards revolution and away from seeing themselves as Citizens of the Crown. -
Declaration of Independence
The official document used by the Second Continental Congress to establish the Independence of the United States colonies of Great Britain and the formation of the new nation of America. The document outlines the repeated offenses of Great Britain against the colonial population and how due to the continuation of offenses such as taxation without representation the U.S. must sever ties from Great Britain to form a new government that centers around the will of the people. -
Articles of Confederation
Formed under the Second Continental Congress to serve as the first constitution of the Thirteen colonies to unify the nation. The document had a weak national government and focused instead on giving power to the states in order to prevent the government from becoming another dominating power like Great Britain, reserving authority on matters like foreign policy and war to the Federal gov while lacking taxation power and enforcement of acts. Replaced by the Constitution due to ineffectiveness. -
Checks and Balances
A concept key to the three branch system of the proposed U.S. Constitution as the idea of multiple branches of government with specific tasks in which other branches can attempt to halt or counter other branches with the goal of preventing one branch of government from acting as a dictator over the others, relying on the ability to "check" other branches which overstep their bounds. -
3/5th Compromise
Established over the conflict of how to count slaves towards the general population of states for taxation purposes as the Southern states wished to count slaves as both full people and property for their own benefits like greater representation in government. While the compromise still gave a greater electoral power to the Southern slave states by counting 3/5ths of the slave population, it was less than counting each slave. Also promised that the Federal government would catch runaway slaves. -
NJ Plan
A proposed system of government presented to the Constitutional Convention in contrast to the Virginia plan which proposed a unicameral legislature with one vote per state as under the Articles of Confederation, which would be amended and have increased authority added to the federal government. Not popular among larger states who favored votes based upon population, but aspects of the plan were used in the eventual Connecticut Compromise with the Senate having each state have two votes. -
Federalist Papers
A series of essay written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison that all argued in favor of the proposed U.S. Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation by arguing that a stronger national government would be able to have greater power to defend the liberties of the people, especially when combined with a system of checks and balances to prevent abuses of power by the branches of government. Helped contribute to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. -
Federalist Party
The first political party of the United States led by men such as John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, the party believed in a strong National government over increased power to the states and sought to industrialize the country in part through close trade ties to Great Britain, alongside being the main political party in support of the Constitution over the Articles of Confederation. Lost power in 1800 when Jefferson became President and were further pushed aside for opposing the War of 1812. -
Anti-Federalists
A group formed in response to the Federalist desire for a strong National government the Anti-Federalists feared that a strong national government would instead become a new form of tyranny within the U.S., advocating against the Constitution and putting forward the Bill of Rights in order to ensure the protection of citizen's rights. The part existed mostly as a contrast to the Federalists, wanting to ally with Revolutionary France and be a more agrarian nation without a national bank. -
Bill of Rights
Put forward by anti-federalists in order to ensure the passing of the proposed Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation the bill is outlines within the original ten amendments that establish and protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens such as free speech, right to bear arms, and the prevention of quartering by soldiers by force as the British had done. While other amendments have been made since then these are the original ten that were to prevent tyranny by Federal government. -
"Citizen" Genet
French representative Edmond-Charles Genet sough to contradict the Neutrality Proclamation through organizing forces such as privateers to fight against British and Spanish forces, with his increased aggression with such goals bringing him into conflict with the U.S. government and leading to his removal on Washington's word. Emphasized the strictness of the need for Neutrality in foreign affairs. -
Proclamation of Neutrality
A statement by President Washington in which he establishes the United States as neutral within the current conflicts within Great Britain and France in Europe, stating that U.S. citizens were not participate in any way such as providing weapons to wither side and that they would be punished for doing so. Was a move in favor of Federalist policy over Democratic-Republican desires to aid France in exchange for aid during the Revolution, and was key to Washington's policy of foreign neutrality. -
Jay Treaty 1794
Sought to smooth over existing issues between Great Britain and the United States after the end of the Revolutionary War such as the seizure of American ships by British forces when the U.S. was a neutral party in conflict and the presence of British military forces on the borders of the United States. Prevented possible war with Great Britain with the removal of British forces and the plan to settle financial conflicts between the nations, but was unpopular due to causing tension with France. -
Washington's Farewell Address
A letter written towards the end of Washington's second term in office before he retired to Mount Vernon in which he outlines his belief in the Constitutional government and argues for political neutrality in foreign affairs, stating a trend of U.S. isolationism. He also argued against the growing political divides of the political landscape that had emerged with the two majority parties of Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. -
XYZ Affair
A political scandal between the U.S. and France in which three French diplomats (Whose names were changed to X,Y,and Z) attempted to gain a bribe from U.S. diplomats to end attacks of French privateers on the U.S. Led to the outbreak of an unofficial war between the two nations for a time as Adams refused to let the diplomats pay a bribe. -
Alien & Sedition Acts
Four bills passed by the Federalist controlled government over fears of possible conflicts,all focused on the authority of the U.S. government to remove foreign threats from the nation and to suppress possible enemies of the State. The Alien Friends and enemies Acts both gave the authority to remove foreign citizens without proof of threat to the U.S., while the Naturalization Act hindered becoming a citizen and the Sedition Act prevented the spread of negative statements about the president.
