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
Shay’s rebellion
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
Thomas Gage
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
Attacked the obstacles to independence. It was the best selling work in American history because it presented his ideas in a vernacular way.
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.
Boston massacre
Federalists
Strong national government
Hamilton's financial plan
1) Establish the U.S. credit worthiness 2) Unify the states' debt 3) Create a national bank 4) Whiskey tax to pay for the revolution 5) Establish tariffs to protect american businesses
12/13 states met to amend the articles of confederation. They eventually decided to draft a new constitution
Meeting between leaders of 7 colonies to create a plan for joint defense and administration of the colonies. "Join or die"
7 years war
The Virginia plan
Annapolis convention
Different branches of government could check each other to prevent abuse of power.
Townshend Acts
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.
British impressment
The British continued to kidnap american sailors. Washington sent John Jay to london to negotiate
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
the idea that women needed to become educated so that they could educate the new generation
Age of passion
between US and spain, defined border US and spanish florida, guranteed US navigation rights in mississippi river
Declaratory act
Parliament repealed the stamp act, but enacted the declaratory act, saying they could pass any law they wanted.
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.
Sugar act
Reduced the tax on molasses, but strengthened the court system to end smuggling, making many wealthy smugglers angry.
Federalism
Election of 1797
First contested election in American history, won by John Adams (Washington's vice president)
Virtual representation
The idea that each representative in parliament represented the empire as a whole, and therefore, the colonies were represented.
