Election of 1797
First contested election in American history, won by John Adams (Washington's vice president)
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.
Colonial attitude towards independence
Reduced the tax on molasses, but strengthened the court system to end smuggling, making many wealthy smugglers angry.
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
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 troops marched to take a militia's weapons. They we're beaten back and chased back to boston by militia minutemen
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.
The middle ground
Attacked the obstacles to independence. It was the best selling work in American history because it presented his ideas in a vernacular way.
French revolution
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
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.
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.
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.
the character of a good participant in a system of gov
republican motherhood
British won, but had many casualties. They eventually abandoned Boston
alien laws
Britain didn't want to spend more money defending the colonies from the natives, so they banned settling beyond the Appalachian mountains
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
Stamp act
pinckney's treaty
Olive branch petition
First political parties
Divisions over neutrality in the French revolution, the Jay treaty, the financial plan, and existing sectionalism created the first political parties.
Declaratory act
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
Connecticut compromise
Congress would have 2 houses, one with equal representation and one with population based representation.
France and others wanted their debt paid back, yet the national government didn’t have money. States had individual economies that didn’t collaborate.
