-
Intolerable Acts (Political + economic + social)
These were laws passed by the British Parliament after the Boston Tea Party. This was used to punish Massachusetts colonists who partook in the defiance of the Boston Tea Party in order to protest the changes in taxation on colonial goods. These acts included the Boston port act, the Massachusetts government act, the administration of justice act, the quartering act and the Quebec act. Many colonists saw this as a violation of their Constitutional rights and viewed it as a threat to liberties -
Seven Years War (social + economic + political)
Changed social, economic, and political relations between Britain and the Colonies. This war caused Britains national debt to double. This war led to the Treaty of Paris. The war was caused by Britain's need for expansion, the humiliation of the French, and caused damage to the British and its colonies which ended in the need for the American Revolution. -
Sugar Acts (economic)
Also known as the American Revenue Act which attempted to curb the smuggling of sugar and molasses. They wanted to achieve this by reducing the previous tax rate. They also enforced a collection of duties. The smuggling was originally happening to avoid British import tariffs. Through this act, British import taxes on sugar and molasses were lowered, however, The enforcement of anti-smuggling laws was increased. -
Stamp Act Congress (political + economic)
A meeting between representatives from British colonies in North America. They drew up the "Declaration of Rights and Grievances of the Colonists" which declared that as subjects of the British king, they have the same rights as the subjects living in Britain. This was important because it was the first time that representatives from several American colonies gathered to devise a unified protest against British unfair taxation of imports. -
Lexington & Concord (social + political)
The first battle of the Revolutionary War when British troops moved from Boston toward Lexington and Concord to seize military supplies and arrest revolutionaries. This was considered a major victory and stated to King George that unjust behavior would not be tolerated in America thus causing a shift in the treatment of the colonies as they pushed toward their independence. -
Common Sense (Social + Political)
Written by Thomas Paine with two main points: Independence from England and the creation of the democratic republic. This helped to push America towards the American Revolution. This was written during the events leading up to the American Revolutionary war. It helped to sway the people to support individuals who favored declaring independence from Great Britain moving America closer to becoming an independent nation. -
Dec of Independence (social + political)
This allowed the Revolutionary War to be seen as a war between two separate countries which had a huge impact on the outcome of the war. The war was no longer seen as a civil war within Britain. This was caused by unfair treatment and taxation without representation of the colonies and they sought independence from the king. This created a shift as colonists fought Britain in the Revolutionary War in order to gain independence. -
Articles of Confederation (social + political)
This was a social and political change because it gave equal power to large and small states. This was created by the Second Continental Congress. This was one of the shifts in the American government as they tried to create the new structure and function of the new government. This allowed for the independence of each state in the union to remain. This also allowed the states to send ambassadors overseas and handle territory issues. -
Treaty of Paris 1783 (social + political)
This is when the American Revolutionary war was formally ended. Here the British acknowledged United States independence. Through this treaty, the colonial empire of Great Britain was also destroyed in North America. this treaty was said to end the Seven Years war also know as the French and Indian war. France gave up territories in mainland North America which ended the foreign military threats to British colonies there. -
Shays's Rebellion (economic)
This was an uprising in Western Massachusetts when the government increased efforts to collect taxes on individuals and their trades. This rebellion was led by Revolutionary war veteran Daniel Shays. The main goal was to prevent the trial and imprisonment of debt-ridden citizens. This led to a stronger national government and influenced the drafting of the U.S Constitution in 1787. -
Anti-Federalists (political)
people who opposed the ratification of the constitution. They believed that the constitution granted too much power to federal courts instead of state and local courts. They wanted the average citizen to have a fair shot in a local court. They wanted a weaker central government and demanded a bill of rights. They felt that the new national government would be too powerful. After the war of 1812, they began to call themselves Republicans. They feared being dominated by the wealthy. -
3/5's Compromise (Political + Economic)
They would count three out of every five slaves as people. This was done to give Southern states third more seats in Congress leading to a third more representation in electoral voting. It was still fewer than if slaves and free people were counted equally but it was an advantage for the South. This compromise was reached after a debate between the North and South over whether or not slaves should be counted in the total number of state residents for legislative tax purposes. -
NJ Plan (Political)
This was one option of how the United States would be governed. This was a shift in political America as it allowed each state to have one vote in Congress, thus leading to equal representation of the states. This was introduced to the Constitutional Convention by a New Jersey delegate, William Paterson. The plan was in favor of the states having control instead of the Federal government. This led America to equal representation giving each state equal numbers of votes. -
Great Compromise (Political)
Each state would split congressional delegates. This was so that they could have representatives elected to serve in the lower house and senators who would represent the states in the upper house. This compromise ensured the continuance of the Constitutional Convention. This compromise also established the Senate and House of Representatives. -
Federalist papers (political)
These were used to explain the newly proposed constitution to hopefully encourage the people of New York to ratify the new constitution in the upcoming ratifying convention. They wanted to set up a strong government and preserve freedoms by creating a federal form of government. It listed powers of the national government and reserved all other powers to states. -
Whisky Rebellion (social + political)
This was George Washington's use of soldiers to make farmers stop rebelling. Through this, the government was able to demonstrate its level of power and caused the federalist party to lose the support of the people. This rebellion was a response to a tax imposed on liquor. This bothered farmers because it was usually easier for them to distill their grains into alcohol for shipping purposes. -
Bill of Rights (political)
Include freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. This bill limited the actions of the Federal government against people. This was an addition to the constitution that anti-federalists strongly pushed for to avoid the government holding too much power over the people. This was a national shift as it affected the national view. This was a list of the most important rights of Americans and protected them from infringement from public officials. -
Democratic Republican era (Political)
An American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison which led to republicanism, political equality, and expansionism. This led to change as it inspired the ideology of the Republican Party. They believed that the Constitution was too strict and limited the powers of the Federal government. They disagreed with the Federalist party which said the government had the right to adopt additional powers to fulfill its duties under the Constitution. -
Proclamation of Neutrality (political)
Declared the United States would remain neutral during the conflict. They would also prosecute any American citizens who offered help to any of the other nations at war. It simply kept the United States out of the war it wasn't prepared to fight. This did however set a precedent for future foreign policy as well as debates about neutrality and constitutional authority. -
Jay Treaty 1794 (Social + political + economic)
This led to national prosperity as America was able to build a sound national economy and assured its commercial success. This was an agreement between the United States and Great Britain. This treaty gained many American goals. This also led to the withdraw of British Amry units from forts in the Northeast that originally refused to relinquish. This was only partially successful as the opposition was high, they also demanded that the House of Reps fund their implementation. -
XYZ Affair (political)
A diplomatic issue that happened between the French and United States diplomats resulting in the Quasi-war. This affair involved an American peace delegation in France by three agents of the French foreign minister. This caused outrage and political rebellion among Americans. -
Alien & Sedition Acts (political)
Passed by Federal Congress and signed by President Adams. These gave new powers for the deportation of foreigners as well as making it harder for new immigrants to America to vote. This also imposed harsh punishment on anyone guilty of making false or inaccurate statements that interfere with the prosecution of the war or insulted the government, constitution, national flag, or military.
