Thomas Gage
Age of passion
Politics was very negative with the rise of political parties, political violence, and deep political divisions
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.
pinckney's treaty
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
Election of 1797
British troops marched to take a militia's weapons. They we're beaten back and chased back to boston by militia minutemen
Parliament repealed the stamp act, but enacted the declaratory act, saying they could pass any law they wanted.
Philadelphia convention
12/13 states met to amend the articles of confederation. They eventually decided to draft a new constitution
Federalism
The division of powers between different levels of government.
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
2nd Continental Congress
How would the colonists win? George Washington would lead an army
How would they pay for it? New currency
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.
British won, but had many casualties. They eventually abandoned Boston
Whiskey rebellion
violent tax protest from 1791-1794.
the whiskey was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by president Washington to pay for the war. It unfairly burdened poor farmers west of the Appalachian mountains because they couldn't do business anymore
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.
Federalists
Strong national government
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.
Checks and balances
The plan for representation favored by small states. It called for 1 house of Congress with each state getting equal representation.
The British continued to kidnap american sailors. Washington sent John Jay to london to negotiate
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
A dispute over a French fort spiraled into a global conflict. Indigenous tribes tried to play Britain and France off of each other.
Colonial attitude towards independence
They didn’t want it. Initially the revolution was a petition to get the same rights as other British citizens
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.
First political parties
Divisions over neutrality in the French revolution, the Jay treaty, the financial plan, and existing sectionalism created the first political parties.
Democratic Republicans
Weak national government
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.
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.
Olive branch petition
Congress wanted king George to intervene on their behalf and end the violence. He didn’t read it.
