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Minutemen
These were self-trained militiamen of the colonies, who fought in the colonies for the American cause against the British. -
The Intolerable Acts
A series of acts, or statutes, published by the British Parliament, imposing unjust and overbearing taxes on the colonists in order to raise money to put toward their tremendous amount of debt from the Seven Years' war. The Quartering Act forced the colonists to house British troops against their will, the tea act put a tax on tea, the stamp act required all goods to be stamped... The list goes on, and these acts were arguably the main factor that drove the founding fathers to write the DOI. -
Lexington & Concord
This battle "kicked off" the Revolutionary War, and broke the huge tensions that had been rising for months between the colonies and the redcoats. The British were marching to Concord to invade an arms supply for the colonies, but Paul Revere had warned the Minutemen and they ambushed the British and sent them retreating with heavy fire. -
"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine
Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 that used persuasive language to inspire the American Colonies to want to break free from Britain. This was easily one of the most influential and significant documents of this time period. -
Declaration of Independence
The DOI was the document that separated the colonies from their parent country, Great Britain. The purpose of the Revolution was initially to merely gain back their rights and to not break completely free, however after the Intolerable acts and many bloody battles, the Colonists decided that independence was the only viable option. -
Prohibitory Act
Prohibited all trade between England and America, and cut the colonies out of the King's protection. Designed to attack the colonists' economical success to weaken them. -
Battle of Saratoga
This battle was a crucial turning point for the Continental Army and was fought in 2 primary fights: Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights. The redcoats technically won the Farm, however, they suffered twice as many casualties and were unable to continue their journey. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Adopted by Congress to create a standardized system in which citizens could purchase title to land in the uncharted West Americas. Helped to organize the trade, purchase, and division of all the land that was claimed from Great Britain. -
Checks & Balances
The concept was invented to create an accountability system between the 3 branches of government: judicial, legislative, and executive. The system prevented one branch from having too much power over the other. It keeps our democracy safe from corruption. -
The 3/5's Compromise
This was a compromise made between the South and the North when deciding if a slave should be counted as a person when necessary, such as population and tax purposes. They decided that a slave would be worth 3/5 of a person. Messed up. -
The Virginia Plan
This plan was created to establish a bicameral government system, that included the three branches we know today as well as state representation dependent on state size. -
New Jersey Plan
The NJ plan would give all federal power to the states, not through the representatives, as well as an equal representation of every state in terms of the number of representatives it is allowed to have. -
Judiciary Act
The act that established the Supreme Court and left Congress the ability to create lower federal courts if they desired. -
Bill of Rights
A document published after the Constitution was founded, which gives the Americans their inalienable rights, such as freedom of religion, press, gun ownership, etc. -
Jay Treaty 1794
Agreed that the disputes between Britain and the US would cease, so America could have the chance to build their country and economy in peace. -
Alien & Sedition Act
The act produced 4 laws in response to an almost guaranteed war with France. They limited immigration policies and the freedom of speech and were highly controversial among the public. -
XYZ Affair
The diplomacy-related incident that led to a "war" between the US and France, known as the Quasi-War. The Convention of 1800 settled this dispute. -
Revolution of 1800
Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams in the presidential race of 1800 and this was a huge shift, from the Federalist Party to the Democratic-Republican Party, that led to riots and other uproars of violence. -
National Bank
Inspired by Hamilton's First Bank, this Second Bank presented by James Madison began its operations in Philadelphia. This bank turned the tide of the nation's economy and set the standard for currency management nationwide. -
Whigs
The Whig Party was a political party founded in 1833 by Henry Clay. It was one of the two major parties (along with the Democrats) in this era. Sought the supremacy of Parliament over the American Democracy.
