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
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
Connecticut compromise
Congress would have 2 houses, one with equal representation and one with population based representation.
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.
Declaratory act
British impressment
The British continued to kidnap american sailors. Washington sent John Jay to london to negotiate
Meeting between leaders of 7 colonies to create a plan for joint defense and administration of the colonies. "Join or die"
Olive branch petition
Congress wanted king George to intervene on their behalf and end the violence. He didn’t read it.
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.
pinckney's treaty
between US and spain, defined border US and spanish florida, guranteed US navigation rights in mississippi river
Federalists
Strong national government
Thomas Gage
The new appointed governor of Massachusetts who began to strictly enforce parliaments laws
Virtual representation
The idea that each representative in parliament represented the empire as a whole, and therefore, the colonies were represented.
Secret meeting between delegates of 6 states to discuss how to fix the articles of confederation
Democratic Republicans
Weak national government
The plan for representation favored by large states. It called for 2 houses with population based representation and a strong national government.
Declaration of Independence
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.
the Compromise of 1790
Ethan Allen and the Green mountain boys surround fort Ticonderoga, steal it's cannons, and bring them back to Boston
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.
Britain didn't want to spend more money defending the colonies from the natives, so they banned settling beyond the Appalachian mountains
Election of 1797
First contested election in American history, won by John Adams (Washington's vice president)
First political parties
Divisions over neutrality in the French revolution, the Jay treaty, the financial plan, and existing sectionalism created the first political parties.
Colonial attitude towards independence
They didn’t want it. Initially the revolution was a petition to get the same rights as other British citizens
How would the colonists win? George Washington would lead an army
How would they pay for it? New currency
republican motherhood
the idea that women needed to become educated so that they could educate the new generation
The New Jersey plan
The plan for representation favored by small states. It called for 1 house of Congress with each state getting equal representation.
Federalism
The division of powers between different levels of government.
Delegates met in New York to send the "declaration of rights & grievances" to the king. They also organized a boycott of British goods.
