Heimler's History - AP U.S. History Unit 3 Overview

Key Theme

• Transformation of American colonies from British subjects to an independent nation.
• Development of a distinct national identity (1754-1800).

The French and Indian War (1754-1763)

• Conflict between British colonists and French over Ohio River Valley.
• British initially performed poorly; eventually won.
• Albany Plan of Union: Proposed by Benjamin Franklin for centralized colonial government, rejected due to taxation concerns.
• Peace of Paris (1763): Ended the war, French ousted from North America, land east of Mississippi to Britain.
• Consequences: Increased conflict with Native Americans; Royal Proclamation of 1763 restricted westward expansion.

Taxation Without Representation

• War debts led to increased British taxation on colonies.
• Salutary Neglect ended; stricter enforcement of Navigation Acts.
• Quartering Act of 1765: Colonists required to house British soldiers.
• Sugar Act and Stamp Act of 1765: Taxation on everyday items, leading to colonial protest.
• Stamp Act Congress: Petitioned against taxation without representation.
• Declaratory Act: Asserted British right to legislate for colonies.
• Townshend Acts (1767): Taxes on imports, response was organized boycotts.

Road to Revolution

• Boston Massacre (1770): Increased anti-British sentiment.
• Boston Tea Party (1773): Protest against Tea Act, led to Coercive (Intolerable) Acts.
• Continental Congress (1774): Organized colonial resistance; began to form armed groups.
• Influences of Enlightenment: Natural rights, social contract, republican government.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

• Common Sense by Thomas Paine: Advocated for independence.
• Declaration drafted by Thomas Jefferson, adopted July 2, 1776.

The American Revolution

• Continental Army: Led by George Washington, initially struggled.
• Battle of Saratoga (1777): Turning point, French alliance secured.
• British defeated at Yorktown (1781), leading to American independence.
• Inspired revolutions in France and Haiti.

Articles of Confederation

• Weak central government; no executive or national military.
• Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Organized western territories, banned slavery there.
• Shays' Rebellion: Highlighted weaknesses of Articles.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

• Debate over strong central government (Federalists) vs. state power (Anti-Federalists).
• Great Compromise: Bicameral Congress; House by population, Senate equal.
• Three-Fifths Compromise: Counted enslaved individuals for representation.
• Federalist Papers advocated for Constitution; Anti-Federalists pushed for Bill of Rights.
• Constitution ratified in 1789, Bill of Rights added.

Early American Society and Culture

• Distinct American culture: Public education, historical art.
• Role of women: Republican Motherhood - raising virtuous sons.

Washington's Presidency

• Established executive departments; Alexander Hamilton's financial policies.
• Elastic Clause: Justified National Bank.
• Whiskey Rebellion (1794): Federal response to tax protests.
• Farewell Address: Warned against political parties and foreign alliances.

John Adams' Presidency

• XYZ Affair: Tension with France.
• Alien and Sedition Acts: Targeted immigrants, limited free speech.
• Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions: States' rights response.

Foreign Relations and Domestic Policies

• Indian Trade and Intercourse Act: Regulated settler-Indian relations.
• Pinckney Treaty: U.S.-Spain border defined.

Legacy of Slavery

• Distinct regional attitudes post-Revolution.
• Growth of free black population in North, continued slavery in South.
• Impact on westward expansion and future conflicts.