2nd Continental Congress
First political parties
Divisions over neutrality in the French revolution, the Jay treaty, the financial plan, and existing sectionalism created the first political parties.
XYZ affair
the Compromise of 1790
Jefferson and Hamilton agreed to pass Hamilton's financial plan in exchange for making Washington D.C. the Capital of the country
Checks and balances
Reduced the tax on molasses, but strengthened the court system to end smuggling, making many wealthy smugglers angry.
Britain 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.
Congress wanted king George to intervene on their behalf and end the violence. He didn’t read it.
Annapolis convention
Secret meeting between delegates of 6 states to discuss how to fix the articles of confederation
British impressment
The British continued to kidnap american sailors. Washington sent John Jay to london to negotiate
virginia and kentucky resolutions
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
applied restrictions to immigration and speech in US made it a crime for americans to print, utter, or publish any false, scandalous, malicious writing about the government
7 years war
Election of 1797
First contested election in American history, won by John Adams (Washington's vice president)
The middle ground
The areas where both colonists and native people would trade and coexist
The division of powers between different levels of government.
French revolution
Ambassador 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.
7 years war
A dispute over a French fort spiraled into a global conflict. Indigenous tribes tried to play Britain and France off of each other.
Virtual representation
Common sense
Attacked the obstacles to independence. It was the best selling work in American history because it presented his ideas in a vernacular way.
Written 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
British beliefs after 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.
Philadelphia convention
12/13 states met to amend the articles of confederation. They eventually decided to draft a new constitution
Stamp act
All paper products sold in the colonies had to be stamped and pay a small tax. It spurred on revolutionary ideals.
Boston massacre
Connecticut compromise
Congress would have 2 houses, one with equal representation and one with population based representation.
They didn’t want it. Initially the revolution was a petition to get the same rights as other British citizens
Lexington and Concorde
British troops marched to take a militia's weapons. They we're beaten back and chased back to boston by militia minutemen
Thomas Gage
The new appointed governor of Massachusetts who began to strictly enforce parliaments laws
Battle of Bunker hill
British won, but had many casualties. They eventually abandoned Boston
