Kucklick PART II Flashcards
(18 cards)
Navigation Acts, 1651,1660,1663 and 1673
British Acts regulating American trade. Only English or colonial-built vessels with English or colonial crews could carry merchandise. Merchants must use English ports and traders had to send colonial exports to England. It was used to shut out other countries as much as possible.
Formation “Dominion of New England” 1686
New control in the colonies. Larger administrative units to centralize organization and regulate trade and reduce popular assemblies. Done by imposing new taxes, limiting town meetings and rescinding land titles. The Dominion collapsed after the Glorious Revolution in England.
Fight against Catholicism and Indians
Colonials worried about corrupt domestic English politics and growing power over the colonies. But at the same time valued the global fight against Catholicism, and local fight against Native Americans.
7-Years War 1756-1763
Colonial rivalry between Britain and France competing for control over the colonies, France backed by Native American allies fought over control of the Ohio Valley and other territories. English gained control over Canada and lands East of the Mississippi river. France lost most of NA, Spain received Louisiana from France, led to British Global Dominance
Taxation
After the war, the English enacted three acts. The Sugar Act: tax on sugar and other foreign luxuries 1764, The Quartering Act: Americans were obliged to house and feed English soldiers 1765, and the Stamp Act (most angry) placed a levy on printed paper (like newspapers or legal documents). Anger from colonies. In 1767: Townshend Acts: taxes on various imported items smuggling English lowered the cost of tea in ‘The Tea Act, 1773’ Boston Tea Party. English closed the port of Boston as a reaction in the Coercive Acts of 1774.
American Enlightenment
Movement which fueled concepts of rationalism, inherent human rights, natural law, inspired resistance to oppressive governance. Called for the deism that God created the world but trusted it to men to govern it. Political ideals like the social contract, separation of powers, and government by consent of the governed became central.
Declaration of Grievances 1774
Early 1774 delegates from almost all mainland colonies met at a ‘Continental Congress’ and deliberated on what steps to take, they faulted Parliament but still wished to express allegiances and formed a unified response to King George III: “Declaration of Grievances”
Declaration of Independence 1776
On July 2 1776 congress passed Richard Henry Lee’s resolution to break itself from Britain saying they were “absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown”. Two days later on the 4th of July, the delegates adopted the written “Declaration of Independence” by Thomas Jefferson. The document expressed the American enlightenment. A year later, the Continental Congress adopted the American flag (with 13 stars).
French Aid 1776-1777
During the war, the colonies were aided by France throughout 1776-1777 by supplying the Patriots with war goods and loans. In 1778 the French signed a treaty of Amity and Commerce which recognized America’s independence and future commercial ties, it was also a military pact. Britain and France went to war in 1778, a year later Spain joined France, formation of Armed Neutrality ment to protect neutral shipping from British Navy’s wartime policy.
Treaty of Paris, 1783
Delegation of three, including Benjamin Franklin, went to Paris to sign the Treaty of Paris, which ended the revolution and made Britain recognize the independence of the United States. Spain held claims of the US in the West and Florida.
Confederation 1781
In 1781, the old colonies joined the loose organization of states that would keep sovereignty, but would cooperate. Each state had one vote for a legislature it would require 9 votes and unanimity for amendments. But no distinct executive existed yet to enforce the legislatures.
Constitution
In 1786, 55 politicians worked for four months on a new Constitution for the United States that supposed to preserve the union and avoid chaos. The leaders who wrote it were named ‘the Founders’ afterwards. They agreed on a federal system, one national and many state governments would divide up responsibilities.
First Two-party System
Debating on how the new nation should be governed, two visions occurred and led to the two-party system. It was mostly shaped by Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson
Hamilton/Federalists
Hamilton believed in the federalists and wanted a strong federal/national government to unify and strengthen the country. He was in favor of industry, commerce and finance and was supported by wealthy merchants, urban elites and people in cities especially in the North
Jefferson/Democratic-republicans
Jefferson and James Madison believed in a weaker federal government and stronger states to protect individual freedoms. They favored an agrarian society and were supported by farmers and rural communities in the south and west.
Hamilton’s economical plan
Hamilton wanted to focus on industry, including creating a national bank and using national debt to strengthen the government, he also had closer ties to Britain because it was still the US main trading partner. The national bank which was incorporated in 1791 issued paper money as the nation’s currency, it also created the American national debt.
Alien and Sedition Acts 1798
Acts passed by federalists to suppress dissent, these laws made it harder for immigrants to become citizens, and made it a crime to make criticism on the government was later overruled by the states because it was unconstitutional. Democratic-Republicans fiercely opposed these laws, seeing them as an attack on free speech and individual rights.
Political Culture
The two-party system helped define key principles in American politics. Like debating on different visions for the country, on how to govern and solve problems. And the peaceful transition of power between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson established a tradition of peaceful political rivalry. Even though the early parties faded, it influenced the development of what we now know as Democratic and Republican parties
