AMSCO Chapter Three Review

James Madison

"father of the Constitution"

Sugar Act

(1764) British deeply in debt partly to French & Indian War. English Parliament placed a tariff on sugar, coffee, wines, and molasses. Colonists avoided the tax by smuggling and by bribing tax collectors.

Stamp Act

(1765) Part of Grenville's plan to defray the cost of maintaining the British army along the American frontier. Revenue stamps were attached to printed matter and legal documents, newspapers, and insurance papers etc. For the colonists the main issue was "no taxation without representation." Public protests increased until it was repealed in 1766.

Coercive Acts (1774)

1) Port Act: closed the port of Boston until the destroyed tea was paid for 2) Mass. Government Act: reduced the power of Mass. legislature while increasing the power of the royal governor 3) Administration of Justice Act: allowed royal officials accused of crimes to be tried in Great Britain instead of the colonies 4) expanded the Quartering Act

Pontiac's Rebellion

1763 Chief Pontiac led a major attack against settlers moving into the West. British sent troops to put down the uprising

Currency Act

1764 British act forbidding the American colonies to issue paper money as legal tender; act was repealed in 1773 by the British as an effort to ease tensions between themselves and the colonies. This act applied only to Massachusetts. It was an attempt to ban the production of paper money in Massachusetts, but it was defeated in Parliament.

Samuel Adams

1768 Mass Circular letter w/James Otis - denounced the Boston "massacre" and used it to inflame anti-British feelings + led the Committees of Correspondence + radical delegate from Mass.

Committees of Correspondence

1772 - principal device for spreading anti-British sentiments: they would regularly exchange letters about suspicious or potentially threatening British activities

Articles of Confederation

1776 - John Dickinson wrote first draft in order to protect the individual states rights - adopted in 1777 Congress was given the power to wage war, make treaties, borrow money (if the states allowed), and send diplomats however they did not have the power to regulate commerce or collect taxes (very weak overall)

Declaration of Independence

1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain.

Shay's Rebellion

1786 - Captain Daniel Shays led other farmers in an uprising against high state taxes, imprisonment for debt and lack of paper money - they succeeded in stopping the collection of taxes and forced the closing of debtors' court, however the Mass. state militia later broke the rebellion

John Locke

17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property. English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property. - major work : "Essay Concerning Human Understanding" : argued that everyone is born with a tabula rasa (blank slate

Battle at Bunker Hill

A Battle taking place on BREED's Hill. Militia Minutemen under Cornel Prescott, were defending another Hill. The British charged the hill 3 times. The first two times, the Colonists did not fire until the saw the "White's of the men's eyes." They also fired at Officers first. On the third attempt to take Breed's Hill, the British succeed. They succeed because the Colonists had little supplies to continue fighting and were cut-off from any help. Although the American's lost this this battle, it led to a belief in American's military. They learned about new tactics and strategies during war. The British won this battle, but lost many soldiers. The colonists were forced to retreat because they ran out of gunpowder. Colonists gain confidence, although they retreated. General Gage sent 2,400 redcoats against colonists. deadliest battle of the war. colonists held ground. Was actually launched at Breeds Hill. Patriots lost, however they proved they could take on the Redcoats.

Salem Poor

A free black man who was honored for his bravery during the American Revolution and fought in the war. Symbolizes the hope the Revolution had for black peopl

Crispus Attucks

A free black man who was the first person killed in the Revolution at the Boston Massacre.

Stamp Act Congress

A meeting of delegations from many of the colonies, the congress was formed to protest the newly passed Stamp Act It adopted a declaration of rights as well as sent letters of complaints to the king and parliament, and it showed signs of colonial unity and organized resistance. The Stamp Act Congress, or First Congress of the American Colonies, was a meeting held between October 7 and 25, 1765 in New York City, consisting of representatives from some of the British colonies in North America; it was the first gathering of elected representatives from several of the American colonies to devise a unified protest against new British taxation.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 that criticized monarchies and convinced many American colonists of the need to break away from Britain

The Enlightenment

A philosophical movement which started in Europe in the 1700's and spread to the colonies. It emphasized reason and the scientific method. Writers of the enlightenment tended to focus on government, ethics, and science, rather than on imagination, emotions, or religion. Many members of the Enlightenment rejected traditional religious beliefs in favor of Deism, which holds that the world is run by natural laws without the direct intervention of God.

Proclamation of 1763

A proclamation from the British government which forbade British colonists from settling west of the Appalacian Mountains, and which required any settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued October 7, 1763, by King George III following Great Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War, which forbade all settlement past a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains.

Declaratory Act

Act passed in 1766 after the repeal of the stamp act; stated that Parliament had authority over the the colonies and the right to tax and pass legislation "in all cases whatsoever." Passed in 1766 just after the repeal of the Stamp Act, the Declaratory Act stated that Parliament could legislate for the colonies in all cases. Most colonists interpreted the act as a face-saving mechanism and nothing more. Parliament, however, continually interpreted the act in its broadest sense in order to legislate in and control the colonies.

Peace of Paris (1763)

After Britain won the seven years war Great Britain acquired French Canada and Spanish Florida. Louisiana was given to Spain British extend control of North America and French lose all heir power on the continent

Second Continental Congress 1775 (SCC)

After fighting broke out delegates reassembled - divided between those who thought the colonies should declare their independence (mostly New England) while others hoped for reconciliation (middle colonies)

Patriots

American colonists who fought for independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War opposed british rule, insisted that only colonial assemblies had authority to tax colonists location, treatment, social

Loyalists

American colonists who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the war for independence those who chose to stay with Britain because they did not consider unfair taxes good reason for rebellion location, treatment, social

Siege of Boston

American militia surrounded Boston to limit the British ability to resupply their troops. It lasted 11 months and ended with the British with drawl from the city. Ticonderoga; Washington and men were about to be attacked; the obtained gunpowder from colonists and cannons from and abandoned fort called Ticonderoga; British abandon Boston, Washington places it under siege This was the opening phase of the Battle of Bunker Hill (1775-1776)

John Locke

Americans political philosophy derived from Locke

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Americans political philosophy was further developed by Rousseau's ideas

Alien and Sedition Acts

Anger against France strengthened the Federalist party - Alien Act: the president could deport "aliens" or people they deemed dangerous in times of war Sedition Act: made it illegal for newspapers to criticize either the president or Congress and imposed fines/jail time on those who opposed

George Washington

Appointed leader of new colonial army and was sent to Boston to leader militia and other volunteer units from other colonies - army was always short of supplies and under paid

Lexington and Concord

April 18th 1775 - Gen Gage (British) sent a large force to seize colonial military supplies in Concord. Warned of the British march, the minutemen of Lexington assembled to fight the British. Americans were forced to retreat however when the British returned through Lexington they were surprised attacked and defeated (humiliated as well) ** first battles of the American Revolution **

Lexington and Concord

April 8, 1775: Gage leads 700 soldiers to confiscate colonial weapons and arrest Adam, and Hancock; April 19, 1775: 70 armed militia face British at Lexington (shot heard around the world); British retreat to Boston, suffer nearly 300 casualties along the way (concord) "The Shot Heard Round the World"- The first battle of the Revolution in which British general Thomas Gage went after the stockpiled weapons of the colonists in Concord, Massachusetts.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Asserted that parliament had the right to tax and make laws for the colonies in all cases whatsoever ** renewed conflict between the colonists and the British

Deborah Sampson

At the age of 21, she dressed up as a man in order to fight in the American Revolution; is the first documented woman to impersonate a man to get into the army; was awarded an honorable discharge and pension; and proved that women could be of some use in the war. Patriot who disguised herself as a man and served in the Continental Army. After reading a copy of Thomas Paine's Common Sense, she decided to fight in the Revolutionary War. She disguised herself as a man and signed up to fight in the war. Her true identity was discovered by a doctor when she got sick with yellow fever. The doctor helped keep her secret until the war was over.

Intolerable Acts

Boston Tea Party angered Britain so they retaliated with the "Intolerable" Acts (Coercive Acts and the Quebec Act)

Boston Tea Party

Boston patriots organized the Boston Tea Party to protest the 1773 Tea Act. In December 1773, Samuel Adams warned Boston residents of the consequences of the Tea Act. Boston was boycotting the tea in protest of the Tea Act and would not let the ships bring the tea ashore. Finally, on the night of December 16, 1773, colonials disguised as Indians boarded the ships and threw the tea overboard. They did so because they were afraid that Governor Hutchinson would secretly unload the tea because he owned a share in the cargo. An act of defiance toward the British government by American colonists; it took place in 1773, before the Revolutionary War. The government in London had given a British company the right to sell tea directly to the colonies, thereby undercutting American merchants.

salutary neglect

Britain's unofficial policy to relax the enforcement of strict regulations particularly trade laws

Boston Massacre

British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists who were teasing and taunting them. Five colonists were killed. The colonists blamed the British and the Sons of Liberty and used this incident as an excuse to promote the Revolution. The first bloodshed of the American Revolution (1770), as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans. COLONISTS VS BRITISH (newspaper depiction)

Committees of Correspondence

Committees of Correspondence, organized by patriot leader Samuel Adams, was a system of communication between patriot leaders in New England and throughout the colonies. They provided the organization necessary to unite the colonies in opposition to Parliament. The committees sent delegates to the First Continental Congress. Samuel Adams started the first committee in Boston in 1772 to spread propaganda and secret information by way of letters. They were used to sustain opposition to British policy. The committees were extremely effective and a few years later almost every colony had one. This is another example of the colonies breaking away from Europe to become Americans.

Second Continental Congress

Convened in May 1775, the Congress opposed the drastic move toward complete independence from Britain. In an effort to reach a reconciliation, the Congress offered peace under the conditions that there be a cease-fire in Boston, that the Coercive Acts be repealed, and that negotiations begin immediately. King George III rejected the petition. The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting in the summer of 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. They organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and appointed the comittee to draft the Declaration of Independence.

Olive Branch Petition

Delegates sent to king - pledged their loyalty and asked king to intercede in Parliament in favor of colonial rights (dismissed)

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Democratic-Republicans argued that the Alien and Sedation Acts violated the Constitution. Kentucky (Jefferson) and Virginia (Madison) wrote resolutions declaring that the states had entered into a compact and that the state could nullify any laws they did not see fit

Abigail Adams

During the war women kept the economy going however they remained second-class, Abigail plead with her husband John to reconsider their status

Townshend Acts (1767)

Duties collected on tea, glass, and paper - provided for the search of homes for smuggled goods, official only needed a writ of assistance to conduct a search

Seven Years War (French and Indian War)

Fighting in the colonies was a secondary thought to the British in the first three wars, in this war the fighting began in the colonies and spread to Europe- France and Britain both shipped large numbers of their troops to their colonies realizing their importance. France tried to prevent English from spreading West w/forts on the Ohio river and the support of American Indians

Molly Pitcher

Heroine of the American Revolution who carried water to soldiers and took over her husband's gun when he was wounded, real name was Mary Ludwig Hays.

Townshend Act

In 1767 "Champagne Charley" Townshend persuaded Parliament to pass the Townshend Acts. These acts put a light import duty on such things as glass, lead, paper, and tea. The acts met slight protest from the colonists, who found ways around the taxes such as buying smuggled tea. Due to its minute profits, the Townshend Acts were repealed in 1770, except for the tax on tea. The tax on tea was kept to keep alive the principle of Parliamentary taxation.

James Otis

In Mass, initiated a call for cooperative action among the colonies to protest the stamp act

Intolerable Acts

In response to Boston Tea Party, 4 acts passed in 1774, Port of Boston closed, reduced power of assemblies in colonies, permitted royal officers to be tried elsewhere, provided for quartering of troop's in barns and empty houses. Passed by Parliament in 1774 in reaction to the Boston Tea Party. Passed series of measures including shutting down Boston Harbor and the Quartering Act, which allowed British commanders to house soldiers in vacant private homes and other buildings. This resulted in the colonists forming the First Continental Congress and drawing up a declaration of colonial rights. - Tom says this was a combination of the Coercive Acts and the Quebec Act.

Writs of Assistance

It was part of the Townshend Acts. It said that the customs officers could inspect a ship's cargo without giving a reason. Colonists protested that the Writs violated their rights as British citizens. Search warrants issued by the British government. They allowed officials to search houses and ships for smuggled goods, and to enlist colonials to help them search. The writs could be used anywhere, anytime, as often as desired. The officials did not need to prove that there was reasonable cause to believe that the person subject to the search had committed a crime or might have possession of contraband before getting a writ or searching a house. The writs were protested by the colonies. Legalized by Parliament during the French and Indian War writs of assistance were general search warrants that allowed British customs officers to search any colonial building or ship that they believed might contain smuggled goods, even without probable cause for suspicion. The colonists considered the writs to be a grave infringement upon their personal liberties

Thomas Paine; Common Sense

Jan 1776 - pamphlet argued for independence of colonies ***profound effect***

Battle of Bunker Hill

June 17th 1775 - outskirts of Boston - colonists took Breed's Hill next to Bunkers Hill where they were attacked and lost the hill. However the Americans claimed victory because they inflicted heavy damage to the British troops

George III

King of England after 7 years war, wanted colonies to maintain more cost of British empire (for costly British wars)

Battle of Yorktown

Last major battle - General Cornwallis of the British cornered between French navy and American troops = forced to surrender

Quartering Act

March 24, 1765 - Required the colonials to provide food, lodging, and supplies for the British troops in the colonies.

Battle of Saratoga

October 1777 - American victory and turning point of the war - diplomatic outcome led France to join America in fighting the British (later Holland and Spain also fought against the British)

Olive Branch Petition

On July 8, 1775, the colonies made a final offer of peace to Britain, agreeing to be loyal to the British government if it addressed their grievances (repealed the Coercive Acts, ended the taxation without representation policies). It was rejected by Parliament, which in December 1775 passed the American Prohibitory Act forbidding all further trade with the colonies.

Proclamation of 1763

Prohibited colonist from settling west of the Appalachian mountains, hoped to prevent hostility between Natives vs English settlers- colonists were angered and defied the proclamation, they continued to move west

Albany Plan of Union (1754)

Proposed by Benjamin Franklin, attempted to create an intercolonial government, system for creating troops, and collecting taxes from the various colonies for their common defense- never took effect but became a precedent for later and revolutionary congresses

Prince Whipple

Rowed Washington across the deleware on december 25, 1776. He was a black slave that was forced to serve by his owner in New Hampshire. -helped Washington cross the Delaware Christmas night 1776 African American soldier named _____________ who crossed the Delaware River with Washington (correctly shown in famous painting.) t

Quebec Act

Signed in 1774, intended to reorganize the way these British territories were governed, Extended boundaries of Quebec and granted equal rights to Catholics and recognized legality Catholic Church in the territory; colonists feared this meant that a pope would soon oversee the colonies. Extended boundaries of Quebec and granted equal rights to Catholics and recognized legality Catholic Church in the territory; colonists feared this meant that a pope would soon oversee the colonies. An act that changed many rules on how Quebec was ran; did not provide for an elected assembly for Quebec; stationed troops in Quebec; came on the heels of the Coercive Acts; extended Quebec's border into the Ohio River Valley; made Catholicism the official religion of Quebec

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution and of a strong federal government - people in cities and along the coast (eventually won)

Declaration of Independence

The Congress on June 1776 - expressed why the colonies deserved to be independent and the grievances that they had with the English government; adopted on July 4th 1776

First Continental Congress

The First Continental Congress convened on September 5, 1774, to protest the Intolerable Acts. The congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, voted for a boycott of British imports, and sent a petition to King George III, conceding to Parliament the power of regulation of commerce but stringently objecting to its arbitrary taxation and unfair judicial system. Convened on September 5, 1774, to protest the Intolerable Acts. The congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, voted for a boycott of British imports, and sent a petition to King George III, conceding to Parliament the power of regulation of commerce but stringently objecting to its arbitrary taxation and unfair judicial system. Georgia was the only colony not present.

Social Contract Theory

The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed; espoused by John Locke and influential in the writing of the declaration of independence.

Framers of the Constitution

The term Founding Fathers of the United States of America refers broadly to those individuals of the Thirteen British Colonies in North America who led the American Revolution against the authority of the British Crown and established the United States of America.

Paxton Boys

They were a group of Scots-Irish men living in the Appalachian hills that wanted protection from Indian attacks. They made an armed march on Philadelphia in 1764. They protested the lenient way that the Quakers treated the Indians. Their ideas started the Regulator Movement in North Carolina. Frontiersmen who killed 21 Susquehannock in the Conestoga Massacre had a march on Philadelphia in 1764, protesting Quaker tolerance of Indians; the Scots-Irish had a large role in this group This outbreak of anti-Indian violence in western Pennsylvania moved East as these settlers sought to avenge themselves against peaceful Indians who lived amidst the white population. Only the timely intercession of Benjamin Franklin stopped further bloodshed when this mob approached Philadelphia.

Massachusetts Government Act

This was another of the Coercive Acts, which said that members of the Massachusetts assembly would no longer be elected, but instead would be appointed by the king. In response, the colonists elected a their own legislature which met in the interior of the colony. Limited MA citizens right to organize freely and replaced the election of Massachusetts judiciary and council members with crown appointees

Boston Port Act

This was one of the Coercive Acts, which shut down Boston Harbor until Boston repaid the East India Company for the lost tea.

Loyalists (Tories)

Those who stayed loyal to the king - helped the British troops - tended to wealthier and more conservative than the Patriots

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Treaty of Peace 1) Britain would recognize America as an independent nation 2) Mississippi river would be America's boundary 3) Americans had fishing rights in Canada 4) Americans would pay back debts owed to British merchants

Alexander Hamilton

Wanted to strengthen the nation

Valley Forge

Where Washington's troops spent the harsh winter from 1777 - 1778

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams. During the Revolutionary War, she wrote letters to her husband describing life on the homefront. She urged her husband to remember America's women in the new government he was helping to create. "Remember the ladies" "I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could."

The Federalist Papers

Written by Madison, Hamilton, and John Hay - 85 essays presented practical reasons for the Constitution

Quartering Acts (1765)

act required colonists to provide food and living quarters for British soldiers stationed in the colonies

Colonist Weaknesses going into the war

american strength fighting for their freedom from Great Britain american strength good leadership american strength home court advantage american strength used hit and run tactics--unconventional warfare american strength the war is more personal to them american weakness inexperienced militia american weakness low number of supplies american weakness outnumbered in soldiers american weakness little financing for the war american weakness playing the role of the underdog american weakness not as well-trained american weakness no wartime allies american weakness colonies were not completely allied american weakness high inflation

British's Strengths in Revolutionary War

british strength well-trained army british strength more soldiers british strength more ammunitions british strength more money to fight the war british strength most powerful and well-run navy in the world british weakness unfamiliar with the land british weakness 3,000 miles away from leadership, reinforcements, and supplies british weakness did not send their top military leaders british weakness lacked motivation to crush the opposition from the onset of the war british weakness over-confident british weakness wore redcoats which were easy to identify in wilderness or on the open fields

John Jay

conservative delegate from NY

Whigs

dominant party in Parliament

Quebec Act (1774)

established Roman Catholicism as the official religion of Quebec, set up a Gov. without a representative assembly, and extended Quebec' boundary to the Ohio River

Patriots

fought for the freedom of America (40%) - mainly from New England and Virginia - 5 thousand who fought were African Americans

Administration of Justice Act

in response to Tea Party; royal officials accused of crimes in colonies will be tried in England; can't be tried by person committed against; jury will end up being more lenient towards officials; England doesn't trust America 1774-Allowed a soldier or official accused of a crime to be tried outside the colony in British courts (Intolerable Act)

George Washington (Before American Revolution)

led a small militia to fort Duquesne; after a small victory had to surrender, beginning of French and Indian War

Bill of Rights; amendments

list of rights to prevent tyranny First 10 - drafted mainly by Madison - protected against abuses of the government

unicameral legislature

one house legislature - each state given one vote

Anti-Federalists

opposed the Constitution - small farmers and settlers on the Western frontier (pro bill of rights) (against Hamilton's financial program)

Sugar Act (1764)

or the revenue act, placed duties on foreign sugar and certain luxuries, purpose was to raise money for the crown and place tighter restrictions against smuggling

Thomas Jefferson

part of committee, drafted declaration

Tea Act (1773)

passed in order to help the British East India Company; colonists refused to buy the cheaper tea because it would mean they accepted Parliaments right to tax the colonies - resulted in Boston Tea Party

Enlightenment

profound effect on the colonies - at its peak as America's next leaders were maturing

John Adams

radical delegate from Mass.

Patrick Henry

radical delegate from Virginia

Stamp Act Congress

reps from 9 colonies met in New York in 1765, resolved that only their own elected representatives had the authority to approve taxes

Stamp Act (1765)

required that revenue stamps be placed on most printed paper in the colonies, including all legal documents, newspapers pamphlets, and advertisements- first direct tax, collected from those who used the goods repealed in 1766

First Continental Congress 1774 (FCC)

result of the Intolerable Acts; delegates came together to respond to what the delegates saw as Britain's alarming threats to their liberties

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

secret society organized for the purpose of intimidating tax agents. Members of this society sometimes destroyed revenue stamps and tarred and feathered revenue officials

Parliament

shared views of king Georg the III

Patrick Henry

spoke for many when stood up in the House of Burgesses and demanded that the King's government recognize the rights of all citizens including that of the colony, not to be taxed without representation

Declaration of Rights and Grievances

urged the king to make right the colonial grievances and restore colonial rights, for negotiation they recognized Parliament's authority to regulate commerce

Washington's Farewell Address

warned Americans ~ not to get involved in foreign affairs ~ not to make "permanent alliances" ~ not to form political parties ~ not to fall into sectionalism