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.
Failures of the articles of confederation
France and others wanted their debt paid back, yet the national government didn’t have money. States had individual economies that didn’t collaborate.
Strong national government
pinckney's treaty
First political parties
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.
Federalism
The division of powers between different levels of government.
Parliament repealed the stamp act, but enacted the declaratory act, saying they could pass any law they wanted.
Annapolis convention
Secret meeting between delegates of 6 states to discuss how to fix the articles of confederation
Battle of Bunker hill
British won, but had many casualties. They eventually abandoned Boston
7 years war
Colonial attitude towards independence
They didn’t want it. Initially the revolution was a petition to get the same rights as other British citizens
George Washington's Presidency
Established 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
Olive branch petition
Congress wanted king George to intervene on their behalf and end the violence. He didn’t read it.
Philadelphia convention
Boston massacre
Parliament 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
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.
Age of passion
Checks and balances
Different branches of government could check each other to prevent abuse of power.
Ethan Allen and the Green mountain boys surround fort Ticonderoga, steal it's cannons, and bring them back to Boston
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
British impressment
alien laws
authorized the president to deport "aliens" and permitted their arrest imprisonment and deportation during war time
Stamp act congress
Delegates met in New York to send the "declaration of rights & grievances" to the king. They also organized a boycott of British goods.
Articles of confederation
The middle ground
the idea that women needed to become educated so that they could educate the new generation
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
Whiskey rebellion
Sugar act
Reduced the tax on molasses, but strengthened the court system to end smuggling, making many wealthy smugglers angry.
