Early U.S. History: Key Terms and People

• Study notes on key terms, people, events, dates, theories, and facts from the early years of the United States.

Key Terms/Concepts

• Federalists were led by John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, favoring a strong central government and a loose interpretation of the Constitution.
• Republicans were led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, advocating for states' rights, a strict interpretation of the Constitution, and a focus on agriculture.
• The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic incident involving French officials requesting bribes from American diplomats, sparking public anger in the U.S.
• The Alien Act allowed the deportation of immigrants deemed dangerous and increased the citizenship residency requirement from 5 to 14 years.
• The Sedition Act criminalized speech or actions against the government, resulting in arrests of critics.

Key People

• John Adams, the second President, was a Federalist who dealt with the XYZ Affair and the Alien and Sedition Acts.
• Thomas Jefferson, the third President, was a Republican who opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts and championed states' rights.
• George Washington, the first President, cautioned against political factions in his Farewell Address.

Key Events

• The Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794 saw American forces under Anthony Wayne defeat Native American tribes, leading to the Treaty of Greenville.
• The Treaty of Greenville in 1795 involved Native Americans ceding disputed lands in the Northwest Territory to the U.S.
• Washington's Farewell Address in 1796 advised against entangling alliances and warned of the dangers of political factions.

Key Dates

• 1793: Thomas Jefferson resigned as Secretary of State.
• 1796: Washington announced he would not seek a third term; John Adams was then elected President.
• 1800: The Sedition Act expired, and the residency requirement for citizenship was reduced back to 5 years.

Fundamental Theories

• States' Rights is the idea that states can nullify federal laws they believe are unconstitutional, as argued by Jefferson and Madison against the Alien and Sedition Acts.
• Political Factions are organized political groups that can cause division and conflict, as noted by Washington and Madison.

Facts to Memorize

• John Adams was a Federalist.
• Thomas Jefferson was a Republican.
• The Alien Act increased the time required for citizenship from 5 to 14 years.
• The Sedition Act criminalized speech critical of the government.
• The XYZ Affair entailed France demanding a ransom to restore diplomatic relations.
• The Treaty of Greenville (1795) involved the US acquiring disputed lands from Native Americans.

Cause and Effect

• The Alien and Sedition Acts, passed by John Adams and Congress, prompted Jefferson and Madison to challenge federal authority, promoting states' rights.
• The XYZ Affair caused Americans to become nervous about foreign relations which then heightened tensions between the U.S. and France, leading to the Quasi-War (1798-1800).
• Washington's Farewell Address cautioned against entangling alliances which set a precedent for American foreign policy to avoid European conflicts.

Concept Comparisons

• Federalists supported a strong central government, while Republicans advocated for strong state governments.
• Federalists favored manufacturing and shipping, while Republicans favored agriculture and rural interests.
• Federalists had a Pro-British foreign policy, while Republicans had a Pro-French foreign policy.
• Federalists had a loose interpretation of the Constitution, while Republicans had a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
• Federalists supported the national bank and protective tariffs, while Republicans opposed them.