US History Vocabulary Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?

To explain the importance of a strong central government and to convince New York to ratify the Constitution.

What did the Report on Public Credit analyze?

The financial standing of the United States.

What was the National Bank part of?

The Articles of Confederation

Hamilton's economic plan (correct)

Jefferson's economic plan

The Constitution

What event did the Whiskey Rebellion involve?

Farmers in Pennsylvania rebelling against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Neutrality Proclamation state?

The United States would not support or aid either France or Britain in their conflict. Signup and view all the answers

Who was John Adams?

The second president of the United States and a Federalist. Signup and view all the answers

What was the XYZ Affair?

A diplomatic incident involving a demand for a bribe from American delegates by French agents. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Quasi War?

An undeclared war fought entirely at sea between the United States and France from 1798 to 1800. Signup and view all the answers

What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?

Laws that included new powers to deport foreigners and made it harder for immigrants to vote. Signup and view all the answers

What does nullification mean?

The doctrine that a state can declare a federal law null and void. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Aaron Burr?

A leading Democratic-Republican and opponent of Alexander Hamilton. Signup and view all the answers

What did the 12th Amendment change?

It stated that presidential and vice-presidential nominees would run on the same party ticket. Signup and view all the answers

What was Jefferson's view of the Revolution of 1800?

A return to the original spirit of the Revolution. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the 2nd First Lady of the United States?

Abigail Adams Signup and view all the answers

Who were the opponents of the 1787 Constitution?

Anti-Federalists Signup and view all the answers

What was the first American constitution?

Articles of Confederation Signup and view all the answers

What term is used for the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution?

Bill of Rights Signup and view all the answers

What was the formal pronouncement of independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson?

Declaration of Independence Signup and view all the answers

Which political party favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution?

Democratic-Republicans Signup and view all the answers

Washington's Farewell Address warned against permanent alliances with other nations.

True Signup and view all the answers

What constitutional arrangement involves power divided between national and subnational governments?

Federalism Signup and view all the answers

Federalists opposed the 1787 Constitution.

False Signup and view all the answers

What was the Nine-year war between the British and the French in North America called?

French and Indian War Signup and view all the answers

What event was a response to the Boston Tea Party?

Intolerable Acts Signup and view all the answers

What treaty negotiated in 1794 aimed to avoid war with Britain?

Jay's Treaty Signup and view all the answers

What were the statements drafted by Jefferson and Madison that argued states could nullify federal laws?

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions Signup and view all the answers

Who were American colonists that remained loyal to the British crown?

Loyalists Signup and view all the answers

What ordinance created a policy for administering the Northwest Territories?

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Signup and view all the answers

What rebellion was waged by Ottawa chief Pontiac to drive the British out of Ohio Country?

Pontiac's Rebellion Signup and view all the answers

What decree issued by Parliament prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachians?

Proclamation of 1763 Signup and view all the answers

What political theory emphasizes representative government and civic virtue?

Republicanism Signup and view all the answers

What was the ideal of family organization and female behavior after the American Revolution?

Republican wife and mother Signup and view all the answers

What Constitutional feature requires each branch of government to be independent?

Separation of powers Signup and view all the answers

What uprising involved Massachusetts debtors seeking lower taxes in 1786?

Shay's Rebellion Signup and view all the answers

What patriotic group was instrumental in opposing the Stamp Act?

Sons of Liberty Signup and view all the answers

What was the widely unpopular tax on paper goods enacted in 1765?

Stamp Act Signup and view all the answers

What document established the structure of the U.S. government in 1787?

U.S. Constitution Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the British policy of avoiding strict enforcement of colonial taxes?

Salutary Neglect Signup and view all the answers

What did Benjamin Franklin propose in 1754 to unite the colonies?

Albany Plan of the Union Signup and view all the answers

Who was the respected American politician that contributed to the revolution and promoted the idea of independence?

Benjamin Franklin Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Prime Minister of England during the French and Indian War?

William Pitt Signup and view all the answers

Who was the King of England that disbanded colonial legislatures?

King George III Signup and view all the answers

What act placed a tariff on sugar and molasses in 1764?

Sugar Act Signup and view all the answers

Who was a prominent leader of the American Revolution and a famous orator?

Patrick Henry Signup and view all the answers

What resolutions did Patrick Henry persuade the Virginia legislature to adopt in response to the Stamp Act?

Virginia Resolves Signup and view all the answers

What meeting formed to protest the Stamp Act in 1765?

Stamp Act Congress Signup and view all the answers

What Act, passed after the repeal of the Stamp Act, asserted Parliament's authority to tax the colonies?

Declaratory Act Signup and view all the answers

What act taxed glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea entering the colonies in 1767?

Townshend Duties Signup and view all the answers

What incident marked the first bloodshed of the American Revolution in 1770?

Boston Massacre Signup and view all the answers

Who was a leader of the American Revolution and a founding member of the Sons of Liberty?

Samuel Adams Signup and view all the answers

What theory stated that Parliament represented all British subjects, even without elections in the colonies?

Virtual Representation Signup and view all the answers

What did the Americans demand in regards to representation in Parliament?

Actual Representation Signup and view all the answers

What incident involved the burning of a British customs ship in 1772?

Gaspée Incident Signup and view all the answers

What act in 1773 led to protests and the Boston Tea Party?

Tea Act Signup and view all the answers

What group supported the boycott of British goods by urging the use of homemade fabrics?

Daughters of Liberty Signup and view all the answers

What was the protest against British taxes where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor?

Boston Tea Party Signup and view all the answers

When did the First Continental Congress convene to protest the Intolerable Acts?

September 5, 1774 Signup and view all the answers

What event on April 19, 1775, marked the start of armed conflict between the colonies and Britain?

Lexington and Concord Signup and view all the answers

What congress convened in May 1775, opposing independence from Britain?

Second Continental Congress Signup and view all the answers

Who drafted a declaration of colonial rights and grievances in 1767?

John Dickinson Signup and view all the answers

What was the final offer of peace made by the colonies to Britain in 1775 called?

Olive Branch Petition Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote the influential pamphlet 'Common Sense' advocating for independence?

Thomas Paine Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson Signup and view all the answers

What was the first major battle of the Revolutionary War?

Battle of Bunker Hill Signup and view all the answers

What battle was a turning point in the American Revolution, leading to French support?

Battle of Saratoga Signup and view all the answers

What term refers to American colonists who fought for independence from Great Britain?

Patriots Signup and view all the answers

What battle was the last major conflict of the Revolutionary War?

Battle of Yorktown Signup and view all the answers

What treaty recognized American independence and ended the Revolutionary War?

Treaty of Paris 1783 Signup and view all the answers

What type of cloth was produced at home as part of the boycott of British goods?

Homespun Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the United States during the Articles of Confederation?

Critical Period Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first Secretary of the Treasury?

Alexander Hamilton Signup and view all the answers

What convention held in 1787 led to the drafting of the present Constitution?

Philadelphia Convention Signup and view all the answers

Who is known as the 'Father of the Constitution'?

James Madison Signup and view all the answers

What plan proposed proportional representation in a bicameral Congress?

Virginia Plan Signup and view all the answers

What plan suggested equal representation for states in Congress?

New Jersey Plan Signup and view all the answers

What compromise resolved representation disputes between large and small states?

Great Compromise Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Important Historical Figures and Concepts

Abigail Adams: 2nd First Lady (1744-1818), advocated for women's rights and influenced by her letters to John Adams during the fight for American independence.
Anti-Federalists: Opposed the 1787 Constitution, arguing it was antidemocratic, diminished state power, and lacked protections for individual liberties without a bill of rights.
Federalists: Supported the 1787 Constitution, advocating for a strong national government and believing in the Constitution's checks and balances to protect liberties.
George Washington: Warned against "permanent alliances" in his 1796 Farewell Address, emphasizing temporary alliances only in extraordinary circumstances.

Key Documents and Agreements

Articles of Confederation: The first constitution for the U.S. (1781), provided a weak national government with no power to tax or regulate commerce, replaced by the Constitution in 1789.
Bill of Rights: Ratified in 1791, it comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ensuring individual rights and reserving undelegated powers to the states.
Declaration of Independence: Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and approved on July 4, 1776, it declared independence from Britain and encouraged foreign support for the American cause.
U.S. Constitution: Established the structure of the U.S. government (1787) and replaced the Articles of Confederation, reflecting a balance between national and state powers.

Major Historical Events

French and Indian War: (1754-1763) War between Britain and France in North America, leading to French expulsion from the mainland and contributing to British debt and colonial discontent.
Boston Massacre: (1770) Incident where British soldiers killed five colonial protesters, escalating tensions leading to the Revolution.
Battle of Saratoga: Crucial victory (1777) for American forces that convinced France to support the revolution, marking a turning point in the war.
Battle of Yorktown: (1781) Final significant battle of the Revolutionary War, leading to British surrender and marked the end of major conflict.

Conflicts and Rebellions

Shay's Rebellion: (1786) Armed revolt by Massachusetts farmers against tax and economic policies, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Whiskey Rebellion: (1794) Farmers in Pennsylvania protested against an excise tax on whiskey, demonstrating the new government's capacity to maintain order unlike under the Articles.

Policies and Societal Changes

Salutary Neglect: Refers to Britain's informal policy of relaxing enforcement of laws and taxes in the colonies for a long period, contributing to American self-governance.
Daughters of Liberty: Women's organization promoting American-made goods to boycott British products during the revolutionary period.
Republicanism: Political ideology emphasizing representative government, civic virtue, and the principle of popular sovereignty.

Government Frameworks

Federalism: System where power is divided between national and state governments, each with its own governing authority.
Separation of Powers: Constitutional principle establishing three independent branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) to prevent tyranny.
Great Compromise: 1787 agreement creating a bicameral legislature, resolving disputes between large and small states regarding representation.

Notable Acts and Responses

Stamp Act: (1765) Tax imposed on paper goods, sparking protests and the principle of "no taxation without representation."
Intolerable Acts: (1774) Series of punitive laws passed in response to the Boston Tea Party, escalating colonial resistance leading to the First Continental Congress.
Tea Act: (1773) Legislation allowing the British East India Company to monopolize tea sales in the colonies, leading to the Boston Tea Party protest.

Key Individuals in the Revolution

Thomas Jefferson: Principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States, pivotal in the American Revolution.
Alexander Hamilton: First Secretary of the Treasury, championed the creation of a national bank and fiscal policies to stabilize the post-Revolution economy.
Patrick Henry: Prominent revolutionary figure known for his declaration "Give me liberty, or give me death!" and his opposition to British rule.

Homespun: Cloth produced at home as part of the boycott against British goods, symbolizing American self-sufficiency during the Revolutionary War.
Virtual Representation: British theory asserting that Parliament represented all British subjects, including colonists, without necessitating actual elected representatives.

Key Treaties

Treaty of Paris 1783: Concluded the Revolutionary War, recognized American independence, and defined territorial boundaries.### Neutrality Proclamation
Issued by President Washington in 1793.
Declared U.S. non-support for either France or Britain during European conflicts post-French Revolution.

John Adams

Second president of the United States, serving as a Federalist.
Initiated the Alien and Sedition Acts, which limited civil liberties and targeted immigrants.
Successfully prevented full-scale war with France following the XYZ Affair.
His policies and the Alien and Sedition Acts decreased his popularity and that of the Federalist Party.

XYZ Affair

Occurred in 1798, stemming from U.S. refusal to honor the Franco-American Treaty of 1778.
French relations deteriorated after President Adams criticized the French Revolution.
American delegates were approached by Talleyrand's agents who demanded a bribe to meet with him.
The incident was made public by Adams using the pseudonyms "X, Y, Z" for the agents in his report to Congress.

Quasi War

An undeclared naval conflict fought between the United States and France from 1798 to 1800.
Triggered by French seizures of American ships trading with Britain and refusal to accept a U.S. minister.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Enacted in 1798 by the Federalist Congress and signed by President Adams.
Authorized the deportation of foreigners and imposed hurdles for immigrants to vote.

Nullification

A doctrine asserting that states can invalidate federal laws deemed unconstitutional.

Aaron Burr

Prominent Democratic-Republican and U.S. Senator from New York (1791-1797).
Major opponent of Federalist policies led by Alexander Hamilton.
Tied with Thomas Jefferson in the 1800 election; Vice Presidency awarded to him after Jefferson became President.

12th Amendment

Established a new electoral process in response to the 1800 election tie.
Mandated that presidential and vice-presidential candidates run on the same party ticket.

Revolution of 1800

Term used by Jefferson to describe his election as a restoration of the original revolutionary spirit.
Aimed to revive the republican experiment, limit government power, and restore civic virtue after Federalist rule.

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Test your knowledge with this quiz on key terms from US history, including influential figures like Abigail Adams and political groups such as the Anti-Federalists. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of American independence and constitutional debates.