APUSH Module 2 Study Guide - French and Indian War thru Federalist Era
1. Explain how the Seven Years' War led to the American Revolution.
2. What was the Albany Plan of Union?
3. What was the significance of Pontiac's Rebellion?
4. What was the reaction to the Proclamation of 1763?
5. How did the Enlightenment influence the American Revolution?
6. Why did the Stamp Act make the colonists so angry?
7. What economic tactic did the colonists use to protest?
8. Who were the Sons of Liberty?
9. How can the Boston Massacre be viewed as propaganda victory for the colonies?
10. What was the purpose of the Committees of Correspondence?
11. Why can the Boston Tea Party be seen as a turning point?
12. What was the significance of Lexington and Concord?
13. Why did the 2 Continental Congress choose Washington?
14. What was the Olive Branch Petition?
15. What effect did Paine's work have?
16. What advantages did Britain have? What advantages did the colonists have?
17. What role did Loyalists play in the war? African Americans?
18. What was the significance of Saratoga? Yorktown?
19. What were the successes of the Articles of Confederation? Weaknesses?
20. How can Shay's Rebellion be viewed as a turning point?
21. What types of foreign policy problems did the Articles gov't face?
22. What types of economic problems did the Articles gov't face?
23. What was the significance of the Annapolis Convention?
24. Generally speaking, who were the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philly?
(What kind of guys are we talking about?)
25. What were the key issues that had to compromised on at the convention?
26. Who were the Federalists? Who were the Anti-federalists? What kinds of people were they
respectively?
27. What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers? Who wrote them?
28. Why was the Bill of Rights added?
29. Who were the members of Washington's Cabinet?
30. What was the significance of the Judiciary Act of 1789?
31. KNOW the basics of Hamilton's financial plan, how he justified it, and why Jefferson
opposed it.
32. Why did Washington want neutrality? How was it threatened by Citizen Genet?
33. Why did the Jay Treaty anger many Americans?
34. What was the significance of Pinckney's Treaty?
35. Who was Little Turtle? Was he successful?
36. Compare the Whiskey Rebellion to Shays Rebellion. What did the Whiskey Rebellion show?
37. Know the original political parties and the differences between them.
38. What were Washington's "farewell warnings"?
39. Who was the 2 President?
40. How did the XYZ Affair almost start a war?
41. What were the Alien and Sedition Acts? How did Jefferson and Madison respond?
Here are answers to all your questions from the French and Indian War through the Federalist
Era:
French and Indian War to American Revolution
1. How the Seven Years' War led to the American Revolution: The war left Britain in
massive debt, prompting them to tax the colonies through measures like the Stamp Act
and Townshend Acts. The war also eliminated the French threat, making British
protection less essential, which fueled colonial independence movements.
2. Albany Plan of Union: Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754, it aimed to unify the
colonies for defense against French and Native American threats. It was rejected by both
the colonies and the British Crown.
3. Significance of Pontiac's Rebellion: This 1763 uprising by Native Americans against
British policies highlighted tensions on the frontier and led to the Proclamation of 1763,
restricting westward colonial expansion.
4. Reaction to the Proclamation of 1763: Colonists were angered as it prevented them
from settling land they fought for during the war. Many ignored it and expanded
westward illegally.
Enlightenment and Revolutionary Sentiments
5. Enlightenment Influence: Philosophers like John Locke emphasized natural rights,
social contracts, and government by consent, which inspired colonial leaders to
challenge British authority.
6. Why the Stamp Act angered colonists: It was a direct tax imposed without colonial
representation in Parliament, violating the principle of "no taxation without
representation."
7. Economic tactics used in protest: Colonists boycotted British goods through
non-importation agreements, putting economic pressure on Britain.
8. Sons of Liberty: A radical group of patriots, led by Samuel Adams, who organized
protests and acts of resistance like the Boston Tea Party.
9. Boston Massacre as propaganda: Patriot leaders like Paul Revere depicted it as a
brutal British attack on unarmed colonists, fueling anti-British sentiment.
10.Purpose of Committees of Correspondence: These networks coordinated resistance
to British policies by sharing information and uniting colonies.
From Boston Tea Party to Revolution
11.Boston Tea Party as a turning point: The 1773 event escalated tensions, prompting
Britain to pass the Coercive Acts, which unified colonies against British rule.
12.Significance of Lexington and Concord: The first battles of the Revolution in 1775
marked the beginning of armed conflict between Britain and the colonies.
13.Why the Second Continental Congress chose Washington: His military experience,
leadership qualities, and ability to unite the colonies made him a natural choice.
14.Olive Branch Petition: A last effort by the Continental Congress in 1775 to seek peace
with Britain, which King George III rejected.
Revolutionary War and Independence
15.Effect of Paine's Common Sense: It persuaded many colonists to support
independence by presenting a compelling argument against monarchy and British rule.
16.British vs. Colonial advantages:
○ Britain: Professional army, navy, and resources.
○ Colonists: Knowledge of the land, strong motivation, and French support.
17.Role of Loyalists and African Americans: Loyalists supported Britain, often
undermining the revolution. African Americans fought on both sides, with Britain
promising freedom to enslaved individuals who joined their cause.
18.Significance of Saratoga and Yorktown:
○ Saratoga (1777): A major colonial victory that secured French military support.
○ Yorktown (1781): Marked the decisive defeat of British forces, leading to their
surrender.
Articles of Confederation and Weaknesses
19.Successes of the Articles: Northwest Ordinance (1787), which established guidelines
for western expansion and statehood.
Weaknesses: Lack of federal power, no ability to tax, and no standing army.
20.Shay's Rebellion as a turning point: The 1786-87 uprising exposed the inability of the
Articles government to maintain order, leading to calls for a stronger federal government.
21.Foreign policy problems under the Articles: Inability to enforce treaties, control
borders, or prevent British and Spanish encroachments.
22.Economic problems under the Articles: States printed their own currency, leading to
inflation, and Congress couldn’t regulate trade or collect taxes.
Constitutional Convention and Federal Government
23.Significance of the Annapolis Convention: The 1786 meeting highlighted the need for
revising the Articles, leading to the Constitutional Convention.
24.Delegates to the Constitutional Convention: Wealthy, educated men, many of whom
were lawyers, landowners, or former revolutionaries.
25.Key issues at the Convention: Representation (Great Compromise), slavery
(Three-Fifths Compromise), and federal vs. state power.
26.Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists:
○ Federalists (Hamilton, Madison): Supported the Constitution, wanted a strong
federal government.
○ Anti-Federalists (Jefferson, Henry): Feared centralized power, demanded a Bill of
Rights.
27.Purpose of the Federalist Papers: Essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay to
promote ratification of the Constitution.
28.Why the Bill of Rights was added: To protect individual liberties and appease
Anti-Federalist concerns.
Early Federal Government
29.Washington’s Cabinet: Included Thomas Jefferson (State), Alexander Hamilton
(Treasury), and Henry Knox (War).
30.Significance of Judiciary Act of 1789: Established the federal judiciary system and
Supreme Court structure.
31.Hamilton’s financial plan: Proposed a national bank, assumption of state debts, and
excise taxes to stabilize the economy. Jefferson opposed it, fearing centralization of
power.
Foreign Policy and Political Parties
32.Washington’s neutrality: He wanted to avoid European conflicts, but Citizen Genêt’s
efforts to recruit Americans for France threatened it.
33.Jay Treaty anger: Seen as too conciliatory to Britain, it failed to address issues like
impressment, angering many Americans.
34.Significance of Pinckney’s Treaty: Secured U.S. navigation rights on the Mississippi
River and access to New Orleans.
Native Relations and Rebellions
35.Little Turtle: A Native American leader who initially defeated U.S. forces but was
eventually defeated at the Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794).
36.Whiskey vs. Shays’ Rebellion: Whiskey Rebellion (1794) showed the new
Constitution’s strength to enforce law, unlike the Articles during Shays’.
Political Developments
37.Original political parties: Federalists (Hamilton) favored strong central government;
Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson) supported states’ rights.
38.Washington’s Farewell Warnings: Avoid political factions, foreign alliances, and
sectionalism.
Adams Administration
39.Second President: John Adams (1797-1801).
40.XYZ Affair: French demands for bribes angered Americans, leading to the Quasi-War
with France.
41.Alien and Sedition Acts: Laws targeting immigrants and restricting speech. Jefferson
and Madison opposed them with the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, asserting states’
rights to nullify federal laws.