All Flashcards
Who was Benjamin Franklin?
A Founding Father, inventor, and diplomat who proposed the Albany Plan and helped secure French support during the Revolution.
Who was George Washington?
Commander of the Continental Army and first President of the United States, providing crucial leadership during the Revolution and early republic.
Who was Thomas Paine?
Author of 'Common Sense,' which advocated for American independence and swayed public opinion.
Who was John Adams?
A Founding Father, second President, and leading advocate for independence, though his presidency was marked by controversy (Alien and Sedition Acts).
Who was Thomas Jefferson?
Author of the Declaration of Independence, third President, and advocate for states' rights and strict interpretation of the Constitution.
Who was Alexander Hamilton?
First Secretary of the Treasury, proponent of a strong central government, and architect of the national financial system.
Who was James Madison?
The 'Father of the Constitution,' a key figure in drafting the document and the Bill of Rights, and fourth President of the United States.
Who was Samuel Adams?
A Founding Father, organizer of the Boston Tea Party, and leader of the Sons of Liberty.
Who was William Pitt?
British Secretary of State during the French and Indian War, he shifted the war effort and secured British victory.
Who was William Howe?
British commander during the American Revolutionary War.
Who was Baron Von Steuben?
Prussian military officer who trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge, improving its discipline and effectiveness.
Who was John Locke?
English philosopher whose ideas on natural rights and government influenced the Declaration of Independence.
Compare the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
Articles: Weak central government, states retained sovereignty. Constitution: Stronger federal government, divided powers, checks and balances.
Compare the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Federalists: Supported the Constitution, strong central government. Anti-Federalists: Opposed the Constitution, favored states' rights, demanded a Bill of Rights.
Compare Jay's Treaty and Pinckney's Treaty.
Jay's Treaty: Controversial treaty with Britain, addressed some issues but seen as weak. Pinckney's Treaty: Successful treaty with Spain, granted US navigation rights on the Mississippi River.
Compare strict and loose interpretation of the Constitution.
Strict: Literal interpretation, limited federal power. Loose: Broad interpretation, expanded federal power (Hamilton).
Compare the First and Second Continental Congresses.
First: Sought to address grievances with Britain. Second: Declared independence and formed a new government.
Compare the views of Hamilton and Jefferson.
Hamilton: Federalist, strong central government, industrial economy. Jefferson: Anti-Federalist, states' rights, agrarian economy.
Compare the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act.
Sugar Act: Indirect tax on trade. Stamp Act: Direct tax on printed materials, sparking greater colonial outrage.
Compare Loyalists and Patriots.
Loyalists: Supported the British crown. Patriots: Supported American independence.
Compare the causes of the American and French Revolutions.
American: Taxation without representation, British policies. French: Social inequality, economic hardship, Enlightenment ideals.
Compare the views of Federalists and Anti-Federalists on the role of government.
Federalists: Believed in a strong central government to maintain order and promote economic growth. Anti-Federalists: Feared a strong central government and advocated for states' rights to protect individual liberties.
Compare the impact of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' and the Declaration of Independence.
'Common Sense': Swayed public opinion towards independence. Declaration: Officially declared independence and articulated the principles of self-government.
Compare the Albany Plan and the Articles of Confederation.
Albany Plan: Proposed colonial union before the Revolution, ultimately rejected. Articles of Confederation: First government of the US, characterized by a weak central authority.
What was the significance of the Stamp Act (1765)?
First direct tax on colonists, sparking widespread protests and the cry of 'no taxation without representation'.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
A protest in 1773 against the Tea Act where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor.
What was the Intolerable Acts?
A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea Party. They were meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for their defiance.
What was the significance of Lexington and Concord?
First battles of the Revolutionary War, signaling the start of armed conflict between Britain and the colonies.
What was the Battle of Saratoga?
A decisive American victory in 1777 that convinced France to openly support the American cause.
What happened at Valley Forge?
The Continental Army's winter encampment (1777-1778), marked by harsh conditions and significant loss of life, but also crucial training.
What was the Battle of Yorktown?
The final major battle of the Revolutionary War, leading to British surrender in 1781.
What was Shay's Rebellion?
An uprising of farmers in Massachusetts (1786-1787) protesting economic hardship, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
What was the XYZ Affair?
A diplomatic incident between French and U.S. diplomats that resulted in a limited, undeclared naval war known as the Quasi-War. It increased tensions with France.
What was the Whiskey Rebellion?
A tax rebellion in the United States beginning in 1791 during the presidency of George Washington. The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government.
What was the Boston Massacre?
A confrontation on March 5, 1770, in which British soldiers shot and killed several people while being harassed by a mob in Boston.
What was the French Revolution?
A period of social and political upheaval in late 1700s France, ultimately toppling the monarchy. It influenced American foreign policy debates.