APUSH Chapters 4-7
Stamp Act
1765: Tax on all paper goods - affected everyone in the colonies, not just sugar sellers or farmers. Significant because it united the colonists against Britain, because they thought GB was taxing them without their consent, for Britain's own personal profit. Could potentially open the door to bigger taxes. It was the meaning behind the act, not the act itself, that riled the colonists.
Townshend Acts
1767: England didn't like when the Stamp Act was repealed, so created a tax on other goods like lead, glass, paint, and TEA. Led to the Nonimportation Agreements.
Boston Massacre
1770: Townshend duties repealed, but that didn't help. Bostonian violence towards customs officials increases. Redcoats arrive, are attacked with rocks. Crowd members killed, not a huge deal. Definitely not a massacre.
Regulator Movement
1771: NC movement that caused a small civil war between farmers and colonial sheriffs who collected colonial taxes.
Boston Tea Party
1773: Bostonians gathered around ships and threw tea into the harbor spurring on similar acts of resistance. Parliament created the Policy of Coercion in 1774 to force colonists to pay back the tea lost.
Tea Act
1773: Lifted a tax on tea for BEIC ship. No extra tax on colonists, just a lack of tax. Unfair to colonial merchants. So - colonists boycott tea.
First Continental Congress
1774: Delegates from almost all colonies came together in Massachusetts for the first time. Agree to: reject union under Britain, create a list of grievances, series of resolutions, stop all trade with Britain, agree to meet again. Creates a government of the Americas before the gain Independence.
Lexington and Concord
1775: British soldiers travel by Lexington and arrive in Concord, greeted by farmers and minutemen (warned by Paul Revere and William Dawes). THESE ARE THE FIRST SHOTS FIRED of the Revolutionary War. Rallies colonists with a graphic, and inaccurate description of the battle.
The Declaration of Independence
1776: Made by the continental congress. Moving towards a break with England. Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson. B4 Declaration: Congress opened American ports to every nation except Britain, it increased communication with foreign powers, and appointed a committee to draft Declaration.
Common Sense
1776: Pamphlet by Thomas Paine. Helped change the American outlook on war. Less focus on Parliament, more on bigger issues with the King.
Articles of Confederation: Strengths and Weaknesses.
1777, ratified 1781: Had little actual power, and even less respect from the states. But did kind of establish America as a nation open to foreign relations. Problem with representation based on population vs. equal representation.
Daniel Shays
1780s: Country in a LOT of war debt. The states also had debt, so they heavily taxed their population. Many farmers in New England especially thought they were being taxed unfairly. Shay, former Captain of the Continental Army, issued a set of demands (paper money, tax relief, relocation of capital, etc). Shay and his followers were labeled rebels and traitors, and dispersed. OVERALL: a Failure, but added to the growing urgency for a new national constitution.
Washington Irving
1783: New York Author. Wrote satirical histories on early American life. Folktales of the New World. Made him the literary leader of American Life (Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle).
Noah Webster
1783: Published American Spelling Book. Significance: Standardized American spellings. Represented the patriotism, nationalism, unique, and united culture that Jefferson wanted.
Northwest Ordinances
1784 and 1785: Resolved the disputes about the new western land. Divided the west into territories, that would eventually be able to become states once they reached a certain population size.
Bill of Rights
1791: 10 amendments to the constitution. These are what make what we know as the Bill of Rights. The first 9 placed restrictions on Congress, in terms of interfering with personal rights (Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion, etc.) The last one gave states all power except that which was specifically reserved to federal government.
Cotton gin
1793: Invented by Eli Whitney (Massachusetts). Revolutionized cotton production, fed growing textile industry in New England. Slavery revived after decline of Tobacco economy.
Citizen Genet
1793: Significance: It's the first challenge to America's desire to remain Neutral. French diplomat Edmond Genet made plans to use American ports to outfit French warships. THIS IS RUDE. Blatantly goes against Washington's policies and the Neutrality Act. French government refuses to recall him. Eventually Washington has to allow him to stay.
Whiskey Rebellion
1794: Farmers in Pennsylvania refuse to pay the Whiskey Tax, and began terrorizing tax collectors. (Similar to Stamp Act.) Washington sends an army of 15,000 men (HUGE force), and personally led troops into Penn. The rebellion quickly collapsed when they saw the militia Significance: Federal government intimidated rebels into submission.
Jay's Treaty
1794: Royal Navy seizing American ships. The treaty demands that GB withdrawal its forces from frontier posts and it also asks for the negotiation of a new commercial treaty. IT FAILED: It was a long and complex treaty, and didn't complete above goals.
Pinckney's Treaty
1795: Allowed America to settle conflict with the Spanish. People in Spain fear the Americans and GB would join forces and try to kick Spain out of America. Treaty said that Spain would recognize the American right to navigate the Mississippi (to sail and deposit goods to New Orleans), and fixed boundary of Florida where Americans always wanted it (31st Parallel). It also required Spanish authorities to prevent Indians in Florida from launching a raid across the border onto US ground. Significance: Improves America's relationship with Spain and GB, but their relationship with France is deteriorating. Leads to Quasi War.
Quasi War
1798 - 1800: An undeclared naval war between France and America. Congress cuts off all trade with France and authorizes American vessels to capture French armed ships. France chooses to conciliate with the US before the conflict grows. New diplomat goes to France, works out a peace treaty with new commercial agreements, relatively nonviolent end to the war.
Alien & Sedition Acts
1798: Alien Act: Creates obstacles for foreigner who wanted to become American citizens. Sedition Act: Allowed government to prosecute those who engaged in sedition against government (crush any opposition.) Significance: Republicans interpreted this as a Federalist campaign to crush them, so they fought back.
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
1798: Resolutions passed by Republicans that accused the Alien and Sedition Acts as being unconstitutional.
Louisiana Purchase
1803: Jefferson decides to arrange for the purchase of the Louisiana territories. Treaty proposed by Livingstone, Napoleon accepts because his plans for America were already ruined and he was tied up in a brewing war with Europe. US payed French $15 mil and would give special trading rights to French in New Orleans ports. US was pleased, yet embarrassed by this Treaty.
Marbury VS. Madison & Judicial Review
1803: Supreme Court case. Marbury was one of Adam's midnight appointments, and was supposed to be made a Justice of the Peace. But the commission wasn't ever delivered (that was Madison's job). Chief of Justice Marshall says the he doesn't have the constitutional power to make Madison deliver the commission. So they denied a small authority they had, in favor of a bigger and more important authority: the power to void an act of Congress if it was deemed unconstitutional. That idea is called Judicial Review.
Lewis & Clark
1805 - 1806: Leader of an expedition planned by Jefferson. Lewis and colleague William Clarke traveled, with the help of Shoshone woman: Sacajawea, to the Pacific Coast. Brought back geographic records, diary entries, and observations of Indian civilizations.
Battle of Tippecanoe
1811: Tecumseh leaves the Tippecanoe Creek area, while he's gone, Harrison provokes a battle, burns down the city. The Prophet loses the faith of his followers, Tecumseh returns to find his union in pieces. Few wanted to continue fighting.
Hartford Convention
1814: Delegates from New England meet to talk about secession. (Mainly Federalists, feeling lots of anger towards Republicans). Most didn't want to secede, and proposed some changes to the constitution in exchange for their remaining in the Union. At this point, America was losing the war. Then the Battle of New Orleans happened, and the Hartford convention lost its leverage. Now viewed as irrelevant and treasonous. MARKS THE FINAL BLOW AND EVENTUAL END OF THE FEDERALIST PARTY.
Treaty of Ghent
1814: Signed on Christmas. Americans have to stop asking GB to cease impressment, and have to stop trying to invade Canada. GB give up their desire for an Indian buffer state in the northwest.
Rush-Bagot Agreement
1817: A mutual disarmament of the Great Lakes. The Canadian-American boundary becomes one of the longest unguarded frontier of the New World.
XYZ Affair
Adams hears about France not recognizing the American diplomats when trying to arrange the end of naval hostilities on America. He urges Congress to prepare for war. Publishes paper denoting 3 diplomats that went to France and were turned down as "x,y,z". Significance: Creates widespread popular outrage at France, and causes the US to engage in war with France.
William Henry Harrison
After the Chesapeake-Leopard Incident, conflicts rise between whites and Native Americans. Harrison emerges as an advocate for westward expansion. Appointed governor of Indian Territory, played tribes against each other to get them to bend to his will.
Nonimportation Agreements
Agreements not to import goods from Great Britain. They were designed to put pressure on the British economy and force the repeal of unpopular parliamentary acts.
Impact of the war on the economy
Before war: America depended on the British imperial system. After war: American trade is on its own, no more protection from British navy. Actually the opposite, British wanted to drive Americans from the waters. Forced to now domestically manufactured goods, or look to other countries. NOT an economical revolution, but released new entrepreneurial energy.
Albany Plan
Ben Franklin's plan to unite against the threat of France and its Indian allies. Colonies feared this would limit their autonomy.
Burr Conspiracy
Burr flees a murder charge, meets Wilkinson (Governor of the new Louisiana Territories). They want to take Mexico from Spain. Rumors spread: Burr wants to secede the southwest, then rule over a new western empire. Jefferson believes these rumors, Wilkinson betrays Burr, Burr is brought to trial - but a lack of actual evidence allows him to be acquitted. The Burr Conspiracy is a symbol of the perils of a new nation, with a weak central government, vast lands, and political ambitious leaders, hungry for power. Made it hard for the US to unite and find its own legitimacy.
Controversies at the Constitutional Convention
Called to revise the Articles of Confederation. Their goal was to just tweak the government, but ended up completely changing it. Closed the doors of the convention house from press. Most were hesitant to create a strong central government, but they recognized that their country couldn't survive economically if a stronger system wasn't put in place.
French & Indian War: Causes and Consequences
Causes: - Religious and commercial tensions. - Expanding French presence in fur trade and interior of the continent - Series of wars (Queen Anne's War, King George's War) lead to the breaking of tension: F&I War. Consequences: - England: more land, more debt, more anger from Americans - America: colonies united under common enemy, Britain - Indians: Hated by both French and Americans - French: Completely booted out of North America.
John Marshall
Chief of Justice during the Madison vs. Marbury trial. Marshall made the Judicial Branch equal to the Legislative and Executive Branches. Also ruled the Burr couldn't be tried for treason in the Richmond trial.
Second Great Awakening
Conservatives fighting the spread of religious skepticism. Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists. Active piety, God is active in the world, but you can attain salvation through good works (not predestination). Camp Meetings.
Impact of the war on slavery & African Americans
Desire for Freedom. The Revolution led to increased exposure to concept of freedom; none could avoid the ideas circulating around. Prompted some attempted, but ultimately unsuccessful rebellions. Nation's commitment to liberty and their commitment to slavery. Wolf by the ears.
Articles of Confederation
Drafted in 1777, Ratified 1781. Made the Continental Congress the main coordinator of the war, but didn't have actual power over states (because states wanted to remain as sovereign societies, and wanted to avoid another tyrannical government). Ineffective: America is now fighting a war with a government unsure of its own legitimacy. Could: conduct wars and foreign affairs. Could NOT: regulate trade, draft troops, levy taxes (war debt).
War Hawks
During the congressional elections of 1810, many were elected who wanted war with Britain. Known as the War Hawks. Two primary: Henry Clay & John Calhoun. Passionate nationalists eager to see an Anglo-American war.
Difference between Federalists and Republicans
Feds: - Believed America needed a strong national government. - Centralized Authority - Complex commercial economy - Standing in world affairs - Wealthy, enlightened class Key Leader: - Alexander Hamilton - Had lowkey support from George Washington, but he remained mostly neutral Reps: - Believed America needed a weaker central government - Rural and agrarian - Modest central government - States retain power Key Leaders: - James Madison - Thomas Jefferson Both: - Thought they were representing the only legitimate concerns of the Nation - Neither would admit to acting as a party - Neither would acknowledge the existence of the other
Reasons for American Victory
Fighting harder, the commitments of the Americans. Fighting on their land, knew the land. Their eventual alliance with France, and British blunders & underestimations. Shaky rulers in Britain, unsure if they're actually fighting in a war.
Three phases of the war
First Phase (1775-76): the North, GB still confused as to whether they're truly in a war and Americans are still split between Loyalist and Patriot. American persistence surprises GB, and they are eventually forced out of Boston and begin to prepare for a longer and larger conflict than they initially believed it would be. Second phase (1776-78): the Mid-Atlantic, the most traditional war-like phase in the war. GB sends in huge amounts of troops. GB is at the prime time to win the war, but a series of blunders and misjudgments turn the tide in America's favor. 1777 Campaigns attempted to split the US, weakening, but they failed. During this phase was the deciding battle of the war: The Battle of Saratoga, where the British surrender to America leads directly to America's allegiance to France, which was the factor that contributed most to America's overall victory of the Revolutionary War. Third phase (1778-81): the South. British now want to take down American from the inside, targeting Loyalists in the South. But they overestimated Loyalist sentiment, and when they kind of accidentally threatened the slave labor system, most all Loyalists left turned Patriot. Heated political tensions, increasing Independence, and the mobilization of large groups of the population that were previously uninvolved.
Turnpikes
First made of crushed rock, but couldn't cost a lot. Initially ran short distances, by highways eventually funded by state and federal government.
Paxton Boys
From Philly. Outliers. Wanted to lessen colonial taxes (as opposed to GB taxes). Tensions rising between coastal and backcountry societies, as the more rural areas felt underrepresented in colonial governments.
Impact of the war on Native Americans
GB wanted the colonists to stay off Native American land, to prevent conflict, so now nothing was stopping Americans from westward expansion. Growing divisions among Native Tribes made it hard to unite against whites. Revolution didn't change much.
Sons of Liberty
Groups that rioted along the coast of Boston challenging stamp officials. Stamp Act fails because officials are too scared to enforce of distribute stamps.
Hamilton and Burr
Hamilton refused to allow NY to join the Essex Junto, so the Federalists looked to Burr, his rival. Burr tries for governor of NY, loses, and blame's Hamilton for the loss (Hamilton had trash talked him, and accused him of treason). Burr challenges him to a duel, Hamilton agrees, and is killed
Washington's Farewell Address
In his farewell address, a letter composed in part by Hamilton, Washington said that the Republicans were threatening national stability, especially those conspiring with the French to knock down Federalists. Not only did Washington raise suspicions about Republicans, he warned against partisan disputes, and against getting pulled into conflict in Europe OVERALL: Washington is warning against getting entangled into alliances anywhere. Had a goal of neutrality.
Education in the early 1800s
Increased, because of Republican Jefferson. Needed for a virtuous citizenry. Jefferson wanted to established a nationwide school system, but that was difficult to actually enforce. Public schools for all voters, Private Schools for mainly white wealthy males. Native Americans: Some, education would equal assimilation. Women: Mostly none, some increase because they were educating the next generation. African Americans: None, that was a threat to slavery.
Internal VS. External Taxation
Internal: colonial taxation - all under English. eg: Trade between England and England's colonies (Americans) External: Global...
Election of 1796:
It's an awkward situation where a Federalist (John Adams) is elected as president, and a Republican (Thomas Jefferson) is elected as vice president. Tense political scene. Only increases during the Quasi War.
Election of 1800
Jefferson wins presidential election (he refers to it as the "revolution of 1800"). House of Representatives (mostly made of Federalists at this time) couldn't decide between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr (Both Republicans). Hamilton had to persuade the House to choose Jefferson, as he was the lesser of two evils. Adams becomes the vice president.
Impact of the war on the Anglican Church
Mostly made up of Loyalists. By end of war: few clergymen in the Anglican church, and church was permanently weakened. Roman Catholic churches strengthened.
Impact of the war on Women
Patriot men left to fight war, women in charge of farms and businesses. But some didn't have a farm or shop to rely on for money, leading to a significant population of impoverished women. There was no real change in women's roles, but did begin a discussion "rights of men" and what that meant for women. Increase respect in their roles as mothers.
Robert Fulton
Perfected the steamboat. Clermont ship. Sailed the Hudson in 1807, created a career between New Orleans and Natchez.
Republicanism
Power came from people, rather than a monarch. Unanimously agreed upon. Population made up of a virtuous citizenry. Independent land owner. Equality of Opportunity over Equality of Condition.
Benign Neglect
Pre-1763 British were relatively uninvolved in colonial life.
Essex Junto
Radical Federalists in Massachusetts that wanted to secede from the Union and form a "Northern Confederacy." Tried to get NY (Hamilton) and NJ to join in, but they refuse.
Tecumseh and the Prophet
Revived religious fervor. Tecumseh: Chief of Shawnees. Wanted to unite all Indians of the Mississippi Valley and halt white expansion. Prophet: Religious leader, demonstrated the power of a religious leader to unify and mobilize indians towards political and military objectives. Advocates for the power of tribal tradition and resisting white culture.
Jefferson's actions as president
Shrewd and practical political figure. Eliminated majesty of the presidency, but still exerted large power as the nation's leader. Favored Republicans in Congress, and by the end of his second term almost all government jobs were filled with Republicans. Tried to abolish nation's debt, lifted taxes, reduced armed forces.
Jefferson's presidencial style
Sought democratic simplicity, walking to his own inauguration, no courtly etiquette, didn't dress up. Relaxed. But incredibly intelligent and gifted in many fields.
The Federalist Papers
Supporters of the new Constitution drafted above. Had support of Franklin, Washington, Hamilton, Madison, Jay. Last three (H, M, J) published a series of essays under "Publius." They were published around the nation, spreading the meaning of the constitution to counter anti-federalist sentiments.
Impact of the war on social classes.
The Loyalists that fled opened up new government positions for Patriots?
Basic arguments of antifederalists
Thought the Constitution would bring a tyrannical national government, just like Britain's. Had a basic mistrust of human nature and didn't believe in their ability to wield power. Thought they would increase taxes, get rid of states, end individual rights, and favor the aristocracy.
Toussaint L'Ouverture & Haitian Revolution (significance)
Toussaint was the leader of the new Republic of Santo Domingo after the Africans revolted. Napoleon eventually crushes rebellion, but this is an example of the early problems with Napoleon's ambitions for creating an American Empire.
Stamp Act Resistance
Unifies all colonists. Financial burden = Light, implied meaning and betrayal of liberty = heavy.
Religious Skepticism
Weakening traditional forms of religious practice due to the increase in modernity, science, and a lessening role of God in the world. Increase in Deism. Universalism, Unitarianism. Religion prevailed, but people stopped going to organized churches (too formal.)
Proclamation of 1763
With the French gone, English start to encroach on Indian territory. Proclamation of 1763 places boundaries in the Ohio Valley area to limit native interactions and conflicts. Didn't work - colonists didn't pay attention to it and it just angered them further. Led to Mutiny Act.
Impact of the war on Loyalists
intolerable conditions (hounded by local patriots, harassed by government, forced over 100,000 to flee country or be exiled), but most who had started wealthy remained wealthy, and most in powerful positions remained in powerful positions. NOT a social revolution.