A dispute over a French fort spiraled into a global conflict. Indigenous tribes tried to play Britain and France off of each other.
XYZ affair
French and british continued to kidnap american sailors, so Adams sent ministers to negotiate. When they arrived, 3 agents demanded a bribe just to speak to the foreign minister. John Adams almost declared war.
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
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
Ethan Allen and the Green mountain boys surround fort Ticonderoga, steal it's cannons, and bring them back to Boston
The division of powers between different levels of government.
George Washington's Presidency
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
alien laws
Thomas Gage
The new appointed governor of Massachusetts who began to strictly enforce parliaments laws
Age of passion
Politics was very negative with the rise of political parties, political violence, and deep political divisions
Olive branch petition
Britain didn't want to spend more money defending the colonies from the natives, so they banned settling beyond the Appalachian mountains
Delegates met in New York to send the "declaration of rights & grievances" to the king. They also organized a boycott of British goods.
Divisions over neutrality in the French revolution, the Jay treaty, the financial plan, and existing sectionalism created the first political parties.
Stamp act
All paper products sold in the colonies had to be stamped and pay a small tax. It spurred on revolutionary ideals.
In opposing the stamp act, the colonists said trade should be regulated instead. Parliament passed the townshend acts and began taxing imports and exports.
The Albany conference
Meeting between leaders of 7 colonies to create a plan for joint defense and administration of the colonies. "Join or die"
the Compromise of 1790
British won, but had many casualties. They eventually abandoned Boston
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
Declaratory act
Parliament repealed the stamp act, but enacted the declaratory act, saying they could pass any law they wanted.
Boston massacre
Colonial attitude towards independence
They didn’t want it. Initially the revolution was a petition to get the same rights as other British citizens
They viewed the colonies as subordinates. They had spent billions on defending them, and thought they'd want to help pay the debt.
Different branches of government could check each other to prevent abuse of power.
British impressment
The British continued to kidnap american sailors. Washington sent John Jay to london to negotiate
The middle ground
The areas where both colonists and native people would trade and coexist
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.
Fries rebellion
