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
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.
2nd Continental Congress
How would the colonists win? George Washington would lead an army
How would they pay for it? New currency
The British continued to kidnap american sailors. Washington sent John Jay to london to negotiate
republican motherhood
the idea that women needed to become educated so that they could educate the new generation
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.
Shay’s rebellion
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.
Colonial attitude towards independence
They didn’t want it. Initially the revolution was a petition to get the same rights as other British citizens
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
Reduced the tax on molasses, but strengthened the court system to end smuggling, making many wealthy smugglers angry.
Checks and balances
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 areas where both colonists and native people would trade and coexist
Meeting between leaders of 7 colonies to create a plan for joint defense and administration of the colonies. "Join or die"
A dispute over a french fort spiraled into a global conflict. Indigenous tribes tried to play Britain and France off of each other.
civic virtue
British won, but had many casualties. They eventually abandoned Boston
Parliament repealed the stamp act, but enacted the declaratory act, saying they could pass any law they wanted.
Federalism
virginia and kentucky resolutions
First contested election in American history, won by John Adams (Washington's vice president)
Federalists
Strong national government
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
Virtual representation
The idea that each representative in parliament represented the empire as a whole, and therefore, the colonies were represented.
Annapolis convention
British troops marched to take a militia's weapons. They we're beaten back and chased back to boston by militia minutemen
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.
Age of passion
Politics was very negative with the rise of political parties, political violence, and deep political divisions
Connecticut compromise
Congress would have 2 houses, one with equal representation and one with population based representation.
Ethan Allen and the Green mountain boys surround fort Ticonderoga, steal it's cannons, and bring them back to Boston
