Philadelphia convention
12/13 states met to amend the articles of confederation. They eventually decided to draft a new constitution
British impressment
The British continued to kidnap american sailors. Washington sent John Jay to london to negotiate
Virtual representation
The idea that each representative in parliament represented the empire as a whole, and therefore, the colonies were represented.
Election of 1797
First contested election in American history, won by John Adams (Washington's vice president)
How would the colonists win? George Washington would lead an army
How would they pay for it? New currency
Reduced the tax on molasses, but strengthened the court system to end smuggling, making many wealthy smugglers angry.
George Washington's Presidency
Colonial attitude towards independence
They didn’t want it. Initially the revolution was a petition to get the same rights as other British citizens
Battle of Bunker hill
XYZ affair
Townshend Acts
In opposing the stamp act, the colonists said trade should be regulated instead. Parliament passed the townshend acts and began taxing imports and exports.
A dispute over a French fort spiraled into a global conflict. Indigenous tribes tried to play Britain and France off of each other.
The Albany conference
Meeting between leaders of 7 colonies to create a plan for joint defense and administration of the colonies. "Join or die"
Ethan Allen and the Green mountain boys surround fort Ticonderoga, steal it's cannons, and bring them back to Boston
Connecticut compromise
Congress would have 2 houses, one with equal representation and one with population based representation.
Articles of confederation
Looked 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
Federalism
The division of powers between different levels of government.
Declaratory act
Annapolis convention
Secret meeting between delegates of 6 states to discuss how to fix the articles of confederation
Congress wanted king George to intervene on their behalf and end the violence. He didn’t read it.
Stamp act
All paper products sold in the colonies had to be stamped and pay a small tax. It spurred on revolutionary ideals.
sedition act
civic virtue
the character of a good participant in a system of gov
Checks and balances
Different branches of government could check each other to prevent abuse of power.
Fries rebellion
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.
between US and spain, defined border US and spanish florida, guranteed US navigation rights in mississippi river
Jay treaty
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.
The Virginia plan
The plan for representation favored by large states. It called for 2 houses with population based representation and a strong national government.
Proclamation of 1763
Britain didn't want to spend more money defending the colonies from the natives, so they banned settling beyond the Appalachian mountains
virginia and kentucky resolutions
