7 years war
alien laws
authorized the president to deport "aliens" and permitted their arrest imprisonment and deportation during war time
First political parties
Divisions over neutrality in the French revolution, the Jay treaty, the financial plan, and existing sectionalism created the first political parties.
Different branches of government could check each other to prevent abuse of power.
Townshend Acts
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
Philadelphia convention
12/13 states met to amend the articles of confederation. They eventually decided to draft a new constitution
Attacked the obstacles to independence. It was the best selling work in American history because it presented his ideas in a vernacular way.
XYZ affair
Annapolis convention
Secret meeting between delegates of 6 states to discuss how to fix the articles of confederation
Olive branch petition
Congress wanted king George to intervene on their behalf and end the violence. He didn’t read it.
Shay’s rebellion
Lexington and Concorde
The new appointed governor of Massachusetts who began to strictly enforce parliaments laws
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
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.
Connecticut compromise
Congress would have 2 houses, one with equal representation and one with population based representation.
Reduced the tax on molasses, but strengthened the court system to end smuggling, making many wealthy smugglers angry.
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
applied restrictions to immigration and speech in US made it a crime for americans to print, utter, or publish any false, scandalous, malicious writing about the government
pinckney's treaty
The division of powers between different levels of government.
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.
Weak national 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
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.
2nd Continental Congress
How would the colonists win? George Washington would lead an army
How would they pay for it? New currency
The Albany conference
Meeting between leaders of 7 colonies to create a plan for joint defense and administration of the colonies. "Join or die"
