All units

• French Indian War


  Britain vs. France + American Indians, fighting over land
• Britain uses taxes


  To pay off debt
• Stamp Act


  • Legal docs
  • Mail
  • Newspapers
  • Playing cards
  • Dice
  • Stamps
• Boston Massacre, 5 dead
• Boston Tea Party
• Sons of Liberty


  Led by Sam Adams
• Lexington + Concord (1st Battle)
• Common Sense makes war about Independence
• Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson
• Valley Forge, harsh conditions + training
• Saratoga (turning point), French Allies
• Women during war gained more freedom
• British offer freedom to African Americans, 7000 serve in US military
• Battle of Yorktown (Final battle)
• US advantages


  • Geography, guerrilla tactics, better weapons from France
• British advantages


  • Larger army, better trained, Navy
• Articles of Confederation


  Weaknesses: No leadership, weaker gov., Can't settle disputes, no taxes, 9 states needed for laws. Strengths: States powerful, every state gets only one vote
• Voting: White, male, 21+, property
• Inspirations for US Constitution

  • English: Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights
  • Romans: Civic Republicanism
  • John Locke: Natural Rights
  • Baron de Montesquieu: Separation of Powers
• Great Compromise: 2 houses, population equality
• 3/5ths Compromise: 3/5 of slaves counted for population
• Federalists vs Anti-Federalists


  • Federalists: Support Constitution
  • Anti-Federalists: Against Constitution, support Bill of Rights
• Constitution: 3 Branches


  • Legislative: Congress, House, Senate
  • Executive: President, Cabinet
  • Judicial: Supreme Court
• Bill of Rights: 1st Amendment (Speech, religion, petition, press, assembly), 4th-8th Amendments (Rights of accused)
• 3 Paths to US Citizenship

  • Born in US
  • Naturalization
  • Child of citizen
• Rights of citizens: Jury duty, Vote, Selective service (men only)
• Washington: 2 term precedent, first cabinet, Farewell Address (avoid political parties, foreign entanglements)
• Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson) vs Federalists (Hamilton)
• First national Bank, Washington D.C.
• Whiskey Rebellion
• New culture: Music, architecture (federal style), art/portraits
• Tariff of 1816
• Monroe Doctrine: Protecting newly independent countries in the Americas
• Marbury v. Madison (Judicial Review), Alien & Sedition Acts (Adams)
• Louisiana Purchase, Lewis & Clark (Jefferson)
• Tensions with Britain, Aiding American Indians, Impressment, Blockades (Madison)
• War of 1812, National Anthem (Francis Scott Key)
• National Heroes: Jackson, Henry
• McCulloch v. Maryland, Harrison
• 1824 election, Whigs vs Democrats