Period 3 Key Terms:

Northwest Ordinance
The 1787 Northwest Ordinance defined the process by which new states could be admitted into the
Union from the Northwest Territory. The ordinance forbade slavery in the territory but allowed
citizens to vote on the legality of slavery once statehood had been established. The Northwest
Ordinance was the most lasting measure of the national government under the Articles of
Confederation.
 Washington’s Farewell Address
A document by George Washington in 1796, when he retired from office. It wasn't given orally, but
printed in newspapers. It did not concern foreign affairs; most of it was devoted to domestic
problems. He stressed that we should stay away from permanent alliances with foreign countries;
temporary alliances wouldn't be quite as dangerous, but they should be made only in
"extraordinary emergencies". He also spoke against partisan bitterness. This document was
rejected by the Jeffersonians, who favored the alliance with France.
 Federalism
Organizing a nation so that two or more levels of gov have formal authority over the same land and
people, system of shared power between units of government.
 Republican Motherhood
An idea linked to republicanism that elevated the role of women. It gave them the prestigious role
as the special keepers of the nation's conscience Its roots were from the idea that a citizen should
be to his country as a mother is to her child.
 Proclamation of 1763
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued October 7, 1763, by King George III following Great
Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian
War/Seven Years' War, which forbade all settlement past a line drawn along the Appalachian
Mountains.
 Pontiac’s Rebellion
During the French and Indian War Chief Pontiac gathered up Native American groups and captured
British posts, primitive use of biological warfare on blankets, weakened Indian alliance and British
won, Indians came to a peace agreement and British took control of the land.
 Seven Years’ War/French and Indian War
Lasting from 1754-1763, the war was one fought between the French and Indian allies against the
British and their Indian allies. The war started in America and extended to Europe, where it was
called the Seven Years' War. France diverted many resources to fighting the Prussians. The was
foght on the colonial frontier. After a string of defeats, the British soon were able to break into New
France and capture Quebec and finally Montreal in 1670. This is significant as France soon ceded all
of it's American continental holding to the British and the Spanish, and Britain was the confirmed
dominant empire in eastern America. The British statesman William Pitt helped to bring more
resources to the British army to make the final breakthrough.
 Committees of correspondence
Committees of Correspondence, organized by patriot leader Samuel Adams, was a system of
communication between patriot leaders in New England and throughout the colonies. They
provided the organization necessary to unite the colonies in opposition to Parliament. The
committees sent delegates to the First Continental Congress.
 Sons of Liberty
A radical political organization for colonial independence which formed in 1765 after the passage of
the Stamp Act. They incited riots and burned the customs houses where the stamped British paper
was kept. After the repeal of the Stamp Act, many of the local chapters formed the Committees of
Correspondence which continued to promote opposition to British policies towards the colonies.
The Sons leaders included Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.
 Daughters of Liberty
This organization supported the boycott of British goods. They urged Americans to wear homemade
fabrics and produce other goods that were previously available only from Britain. They believed
that way, the American colonies would become economically independent.
 Stamp Act crisis
Tax on stamps and printed materials in colonies to pay for keeping troops there and paying off war
debts angered many colonists because of taxation without representation and led to protesting and
violence; often by the Sons of Liberty.
 Hamilton’s Financial Plan
It was created by Alexander Hamilton to stabilized the American economy. It consitsted of federal
assumption of all debts, including state and federal debts. Along with this, he proposed the
chartering of the U.S. bank to help restore American credit.
 Pennsylvania gradual emancipation law
Law passed by Pensylvania saying, if born after 1780, a slave becomes a free man upon turning 28.
They would work for 4 years afterwards as an indentured servant.
 Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was the wife of second president John Adams. She attempted to get rights for the
"Ladies" from her husband who at the time was on the committee for designing the Declaration of
Independence.
 Shays’ Rebellion
A rebellion by debtor farmers in western Massachusetts, led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel
Shays, against Boston creditors. it began in 1786 and lasted half a year, threatening the economic
interests of the business elite and contributing to the demise of the Articles of Confederation.
 Common Sense
Thomas Paine published the pamphlet Common Sense in 1776, in which argued that the colonists
should free themselves from British rule and establish an independent government based on
Enlightenment ideals - one that would protect man's natural rights. Common Sense became so
popular that many historians credit it with dissolving the final barriers to the fight for
independence.
 Natural rights
Fundamental rights over which the gov't could exercise no control. An uncompromising belief in
such rights energized the popular demand for a formal bill of rights in 1791. This partially limited
the gov'ts powers, and protected people’s rights when added to the Bill of Rights.