Articles of confederationLooked to balance national coordination and states rights to prevent tyranny. It featured a unicameral legislature, but the federal government had no money and no military
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Failures of the articles of confederationFrance and others wanted their debt paid back, yet the national government didn’t have money. States had individual economies that didn’t collaborate.
French revolutionAmbassador from France came to America to encourage Americans to side with the French. Washington declared neutrality, but the ambassador remained in America to not get beheaded back home.
Election of 1797First contested election in American history, won by John Adams (Washington's vice president)
Declaration of IndependenceWritten by Thomas Jefferson. Declared the colonies an independent country from Britain. Included a statement of intent, list of grievances, and a conclusion that dissolved ties with Britain
Jay treatyBritain agreed to abandon outposts on the western frontier. In return the U.S. would favor trade with Britian. However, the treaty failed to address the british kidnapping, and American hatred of Britian caused riots.
FederalismThe division of powers between different levels of government.
Common senseAttacked the obstacles to independence. It was the best selling work in American history because it presented his ideas in a vernacular way.
Farmers had to take debt because they weren’t getting paid. Their land was being repossessed so they rebelled and closed the courts. They used Republican ideals to justify it.
Olive branch petitionCongress wanted king George to intervene on their behalf and end the violence. He didn’t read it.
Age of passionPolitics was very negative with the rise of political parties, political violence, and deep political divisions
civic virtuethe character of a good participant in a system of gov
Fries rebellionFarmers in southeast Pennsylvania stopped paying taxes for the larger military. John Fries led a peaceful protest, but John Adams ordered federal troops to stop the protest, and they made mass arrests, assaulted newspaper editors, and almost executed John Fries.
2nd Continental CongressHow would the colonists win? George Washington would lead an army
How would they pay for it? New currency
virginia and kentucky resolutionsdrafted by thomas jefferson and james madison, claimed that alien and sedition acts were unconstitutional and overstepped federal authority under the constitition, and could therefore be nullified by the states
Delegates met in New York to send the "declaration of rights & grievances" to the king. They also organized a boycott of British goods.
George Washington's Presidency
Declaratory actParliament repealed the stamp act, but enacted the declaratory act, saying they could pass any law they wanted.
7 years war
They viewed the colonies as subordinates. They had spent billions on defending them, and thought they'd want to help pay the debt.
Ethan Allen and the Green mountain boys surround fort Ticonderoga, steal it's cannons, and bring them back to Boston
7 years warA dispute over a French fort spiraled into a global conflict. Indigenous tribes tried to play Britain and France off of each other.
The Virginia plan
republican motherhoodthe idea that women needed to become educated so that they could educate the new generation
First political partiesDivisions over neutrality in the French revolution, the Jay treaty, the financial plan, and existing sectionalism created the first political parties.
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between US and spain, defined border US and spanish florida, guranteed US navigation rights in mississippi river
Secret meeting between delegates of 6 states to discuss how to fix the articles of confederation
Weak national government
The middle ground
Thomas Gage
Colonial attitude towards independenceThey didn’t want it. Initially the revolution was a petition to get the same rights as other British citizens
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Philadelphia convention12/13 states met to amend the articles of confederation. They eventually decided to draft a new constitution
First contested election in American history, won by John Adams (Washington's vice president)
7 years warA dispute over a french fort spiraled into a global conflict. Indigenous tribes tried to play Britain and France off of each other.
Failures of the articles of confederationFrance and others wanted their debt paid back, yet the national government didn’t have money. States had individual economies that didn’t collaborate.
Farmers in southeast Pennsylvania stopped paying taxes for the larger military. John Fries led a peaceful protest, but John Adams ordered federal troops to stop the protest, and they made mass arrests, assaulted newspaper editors, and almost executed John Fries.
Strong national government
The Virginia planThe plan for representation favored by large states. It called for 2 houses with population based representation and a strong national government.
alien lawsauthorized the president to deport "aliens" and permitted their arrest imprisonment and deportation during war time
Declaration of IndependenceWritten by Thomas Jefferson. Declared the colonies an independent country from Britain. Included a statement of intent, list of grievances, and a conclusion that dissolved ties with Britain
Frozen!
Frozen!
violent tax protest from 1791-1794.
the whiskey was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by president Washington to pay for the war. It unfairly burdened poor farmers west of the Appalachian mountains because they couldn't do business anymore
the idea that women needed to become educated so that they could educate the new generation
Olive branch petitionCongress wanted king George to intervene on their behalf and end the violence. He didn’t read it.
Boston massacreParliament sent 1,000 troops to boston to enforce the townshend acts. Protesters began throwing snowballs, and eventually rocks at a group of soldiers. Someone fired a shot, and the soldiers killed 5 protesters
Thomas Gage
Declaratory act
Virtual representation
The British continued to kidnap american sailors. Washington sent John Jay to london to negotiate
Battle of Bunker hillBritish won, but had many casualties. They eventually abandoned Boston
The middle ground
George Washington's PresidencyEstablished many precedents for the office of the president. Created a cabinet-style government, appointed cabinet officials based on merit, and stepped down after 2 terms
The Albany conference
drafted by thomas jefferson and james madison, claimed that alien and sedition acts were unconstitutional and overstepped federal authority under the constitition, and could therefore be nullified by the states
Secret meeting between delegates of 6 states to discuss how to fix the articles of confederation
FederalismThe division of powers between different levels of government.
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All paper products sold in the colonies had to be stamped and pay a small tax. It spurred on revolutionary ideals.
The New Jersey planThe plan for representation favored by small states. It called for 1 house of Congress with each state getting equal representation.
Lexington and ConcordeBritish troops marched to take a militia's weapons. They we're beaten back and chased back to boston by militia minutemen
Hamilton's financial plan
Proclamation of 1763Britain didn't want to spend more money defending the colonies from the natives, so they banned settling beyond the Appalachian mountains