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A war between the British and French with Native American alliances over control of North America, leading to British victory. It set the stage for future tensions and laid the groundwork for colonial discontent with British rule.
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Native American uprising against British rule in the Great Lakes region following the French and Indian War. It prompted the Proclamation Line of 1763, which limited westward expansion and strained colonial relations with Britain.
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A British order that prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. It angered colonists who desired westward expansion and contributed to growing colonial unrest.
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A British tax on printed materials in the American colonies. It led to widespread protests and was a catalyst for the revolutionary movement against British taxation without representation.
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A British law asserting parliamentary authority over the American colonies. It reinforced British power but also stoked colonial opposition to perceived overreach.
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A British law granting the British East India Company a tea monopoly in the colonies. It triggered the Boston Tea Party as colonists protested both taxation and corporate privileges.
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A protest in which American colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor. It demonstrated colonial resistance to British taxation and led to harsh British responses.
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A gathering of colonial delegates to address grievances against the British Crown. It marked an early attempt at unified colonial action and opposition to British policies.
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A meeting of colonial representatives that assumed the responsibilities of a national government during the Revolutionary War. It played a critical role in organizing the war effort and ultimately led to the Declaration of Independence.
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The document in which the American colonies declared their independence from Britain. It formalized the break from British rule and the birth of the United States.
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The first written constitution of the United States. It served as the nation's first governing framework but was ultimately replaced due to its weaknesses.
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The agreement that ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing American independence. It established the United States as a sovereign nation and defined its territorial boundaries.
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Legislation that established a process for creating new states in the Northwest Territory. It provided a blueprint for territorial expansion and a framework for the admission of new states.
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The meeting that produced the United States Constitution. It created the framework for the federal government and addressed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
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The process by which the states approved the newly proposed Constitution. It established the federal system of government that the U.S. still follows today.
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A declaration by President Washington to remain impartial in conflicts between France and Britain. It kept the United States out of European conflicts and preserved its fragile neutrality.
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A violent protest by farmers in Pennsylvania against a federal excise tax on whiskey. It demonstrated the power of the federal government to enforce laws and maintain order.
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A treaty between the U.S. and Britain that resolved outstanding issues from the Revolutionary War. It averted a potential war with Britain but was criticized for perceived concessions to the British.
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A treaty between the U.S. and Spain that resolved boundary and trade issues. It secured American access to the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans.
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A letter by President Washington advising against political factions and foreign entanglements. It emphasized the importance of unity and non-interference in foreign affairs.
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A diplomatic incident between the U.S. and France, involving bribery demands by French agents. It led to increased anti-French sentiment and an undeclared naval war known as the Quasi-War.
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A series of laws aimed at curbing political opposition to the Federalist Party. Significance: They generated controversy over civil liberties and fueled opposition to the Federalist government.
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Statements asserting states' rights to challenge federal laws. They laid the foundation for the states' rights doctrine and highlighted tensions over federal power.
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A contentious presidential election in which Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams. It marked the first peaceful transfer of power between political parties and solidified the two-party system in American politics.