3.1 Contextualizing Period 3
This period witnesses the most dramatic transformation in American history: from loyal British subjects to independent citizens of a new republic.
3.2 The Seven Years' War (1754-1763)
Also known as the "French and Indian War," this was a global conflict that started in the Ohio River Valley (sparked inadvertently by young George Washington).
Key Events & Outcomes
- Albany Plan of Union (1754): Proposed by Ben Franklin ("Join or Die"). It was a failed attempt to unite the colonies for defense, but it set a precedent for future unity.
- Treaty of Paris (1763): France was completely kicked out of North America. Britain gained Canada and Florida.
- Pontiac's Rebellion (1763): Native Americans, fearing British expansion, attacked frontier forts.
- Proclamation of 1763: To prevent costly wars with Natives, Britain forbade colonists from settling west of the Appalachians. Colonists were furious—they had just fought a war to win that land!
3.3 Taxation Without Representation
Britain needed money to pay for the war and the troops stationed in America. The era of "benign neglect" was over.
| Act | Details | Colonial Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp Act (1765) | First Direct Tax on paper goods (wills, newspapers). Affected everyone, not just merchants. | Stamp Act Congress formed. "Sons of Liberty" used violence/intimidation. Result: Britain repealed the act (Victory for colonists!). |
| Townshend Acts (1767) | Tax on imports (tea, glass, paint). | Boycotts (Non-importation). Led to the Boston Massacre (1770) where 5 colonists died. |
| Tea Act (1773) | Gave British East India Co. a monopoly. Tea was cheaper, but the tax remained on principle. | Boston Tea Party. |
| Coercive Acts (1774) | Punishment for Boston. Closed the port. Martial Law. (Called "Intolerable Acts"). | First Continental Congress met to organize unified resistance. |
Core Argument: Britain claimed "Virtual Representation" (Parliament represents all subjects). Colonists demanded "Actual Representation" (voting for their own reps).
3.4 Philosophical Foundations
The Revolution wasn't just about money; it was about ideas derived from the Enlightenment.
Argued for "Natural Rights" (Life, Liberty, Property) and the "Social Contract"—if a gov't fails to protect rights, people can overthrow it.
A radical pamphlet written in plain language. Argued that a tiny island (Britain) should not rule a continent. It shifted public opinion from "redress of grievances" to Independence.
3.5 The American Revolution (1775-1783)
How did a ragtag group of farmers defeat the world's most powerful military?
- British Strengths: Professional army, world's best navy, funding.
- Patriot Strengths: Home field advantage, passionate cause, Washington's leadership, foreign aid.
The shocking American victory convinced France that the US could actually win. France signed a formal alliance, providing money, troops, and a navy. Without France, the US likely loses.
Yorktown (1781): The final major battle. French navy blockaded the British, forcing General Cornwallis to surrender.
3.6 Revolutionary Ideals & Social Change
The Revolution changed society, though not for everyone.
- Republican Motherhood: Women were given a new role: raising "virtuous citizens" for the republic. It improved women's education but kept them in the domestic sphere.
- Slavery: Northern states began Gradual Emancipation. However, slavery expanded in the South due to the invention of the Cotton Gin (1793).
- Global Impact: The American Revolution inspired the French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, and Latin American independence movements.
3.7 The Articles of Confederation
The first US government (1781-1789). It was intentionally weak because Americans feared tyranny more than anarchy.
- Weaknesses: No power to tax, no executive branch, no national court system, no standing army. Unanimous vote needed to amend.
- One Major Success: Northwest Ordinance (1787) - Created a process for admitting new states and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.
Poor farmers in MA, led by Daniel Shays, rebelled against debt and high taxes. The federal government was too weak to stop them (no army). This convinced elites that a stronger central government was needed.
3.8 Constitutional Convention (1787)
55 delegates met in Philadelphia to "revise" the Articles, but ended up writing a new Constitution. It was a "Bundle of Compromises."
| The Great Compromise | Solved the representation issue between Big States (VA Plan) and Small States (NJ Plan).
Result: Bicameral Legislature. House based on Population; Senate has equal rep (2 per state). |
| 3/5 Compromise | South wanted slaves to count for representation. North said no.
Result: Slaves count as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation. |
| Slave Trade Compromise | Congress could not ban the international slave trade for 20 years (until 1808). |
3.9 Ratification: Feds vs. Anti-Feds
The country split over whether to accept the new Constitution.
| Group | Key Beliefs | Documents/Leaders |
|---|---|---|
| Federalists | Supported Constitution. Wanted strong central gov to maintain order and trade. | The Federalist Papers (Hamilton, Madison, Jay). |
| Anti-Federalists | Feared the President would become a King. Demanded protection of individual rights. | George Mason, Patrick Henry. Demanded a Bill of Rights. |
Outcome: Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights (First 10 Amendments) to ensure ratification.
3.10 Shaping a New Republic (Washington)
George Washington set the "precedents" (Cabinet, 2 terms). Alexander Hamilton set the economic foundation.
- Bank of the US (Create a National Bank)
- Excise Tax (Tax on Whiskey)
- Funding at Par (Pay off war bonds at face value)
- Assumption (Federal gov takes over State debts)
- Tariff (Tax on imports to protect industry)
Whiskey Rebellion (1794): Farmers rebelled against the Excise Tax. Washington crushed it with 13,000 troops. Significance: Showed the new Constitution was strong (unlike the Articles during Shays').
3.11 Rise of Political Parties
Despite Washington's warnings, the first party system emerged from the conflict between Hamilton and Jefferson.
| Issue | Federalists (Hamilton) | Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson) |
|---|---|---|
| Constitution | Loose Construction (Elastic Clause). "If it doesn't say I can't, I can." | Strict Construction. "If it doesn't say you can, you can't." |
| Economy | Manufacturing, Trade, National Bank. | Agriculture (Yeoman Farmers). Hated the Bank. |
| Foreign Policy | Pro-British (Order & Trade). | Pro-French (Liberty & Revolution). |
3.12 Adams & The Revolution of 1800
- Entangling Alliances (Stay Neutral in Europe's wars).
- Political Parties (They divide the nation).
John Adams Presidency (1797-1801)
- XYZ Affair: French diplomats demanded a bribe. Led to the "Quasi-War" (undeclared naval war).
- Alien & Sedition Acts (1798): Federalists passed laws to silence Democratic-Republicans. Made it illegal to criticize the government (violating 1st Amendment).
- VA & KY Resolutions: Jefferson & Madison argued states could "Nullify" (void) unconstitutional federal laws.