Society of Cincinnati

A society formed by Continental Army Officers. It was exclusively

hereditary. It preserved the ideals and fellowship of the officers of
the continental army.
Republican Motherhood
A 20th century term that describes the attitudes toward American
woman during, before and after the Revolutionary war. It was a part
of civic duty of the time period. It was centered on the idea that
women should be further educated so their children would uphold
ideals of Republicanism. It had effects on womans rights and
feminism since it gave woman more education but reinforced ideal
of women raising children.
Civic virtue
The cultivation of habits of personal living that are claimed to be
important for the success of the community. It is the embodiment of
what a citizen should do to help his/her community. In America this
ideal was seen as supremely important as the government relied on
its people. This reliance is exemplified in Hamiltons idea that bank
debt should be there so that the citizens are more active in their
government.
Articles of Confederation
Constitution written by the 2nd continental congress. It was majorly
flawed and gave very little central power to the central govt. It
convinced France that America had a genuine government that it
would rely on (helped make America more official as a country as it
proved that there was a stable plan in the making).
Land Ordinance 1785
Stated that the acreage of the Old Northwest should be sold. The
proceeds should then be used to help pay off the national debt. The
plan was the first attempt to pay off the national debt and helped
strengthen the valueless continental dollar.
Ordinance of 1787
a uniform national land policy; created the Northwest Territories
and gave the land to the government, the land could then be
purchased by individuals; when a territory had 60,000 people, it
might be admitted by Congress as a state, with all the privileges of
the 13 other states. First of all, it helped create a uniform way for
America to expand westward and it proved that the American govt
was fair (unlike the British that did not give the same rights to the
colony (America) it had founded).
Shays Rebellion
Happened @ western Massachusetts in 1786 by impoverished backcountry farmers, who were losing their farms through mortgage
foreclosures and tax. They attempted to enforce their demands of
cheap paper money, lighter taxes, and a suspension of property

takeovers; led by Captain Daniel Shays. Uprising was stopped by the

Continental army. The uprising was crushed but it left fear in the
propertied class of mobs and showed class tensions between rich
and poor.
Annapolis Convention
Formally known as the Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy
Defects of the Federal Government was a national
political convention that was supposed to help sort out the defects
of the constitution. When only 5 states reps came, Hamilton called
for the complete revision of the Articles of Confederation (it led to
creation of the present constitution). Also helped to show the
Articles defect (that the articles gave too much power to the
states).
Virginia Plan
The "large-state plan" was proposed by Virginia. First pushed
forward as the framework of the Constitution. It said that the
arrangement in Congress should be based upon a state's
population. The plan would have/does represented the hierarchy
between states and would create an unjust constitution.
New Jersey Plan
New Jersey presented the "small-state plan." It centered on equal
representation in Congress without regards to a state's size or
population. It represented the American ideal of equality.
Great Compromise
The "Great Compromise" of the convention was made to resolve
small-state and big state conflicting ideals. It called for
representation by population in the House of Representatives, and
equal representation in the Senate. Each state would have 2
senators. It created the modern government. This compromise fixed
the greatest debate of the meeting.
Three-fifths Compromise
Southern States felt slaves should be represented as part of the
population but North did not. The South had a large slave
population. Because of this argument over if the slaves would count
towards the general population of the state, the "three-fifths
compromise" was created that said 3 in 5 slaves were counted as
part of the population.
"The Federalist Number 10"
An essay by James Madison that argued ratification of the US
Constitution. It addressed how to guard against groups of citizens
(states), with interests contrary to the rights of others or the
interests of the whole community. Madison argued that a strong, big
republic would be a better guard against those dangers than
smaller republicsthe individual states. Made more people support
a strong centralized government.
Electoral College

Electoral College is the institution that officially elects the President

and Vice President of the United States. It allows for indirect voting
of the president. It was created as a safeguard against democracy
because the founding fathers were at first afraid of democracy as it
could have become anarchical.
Newburgh Conspiracy
The Newburgh Conspiracy was a threatening uprising in
the Continental Army in 1783. An anonymous letter was circulated
in the army camp at Newburgh, NY. The letter suggested that the
army, whose soldiers were discontented over pay and a lack of
funding for promised pensions, should take unspecified action
against Congress to resolve the issue. This could have made the
American nation collapse and become a military dictatorship; a
failed revolution. Rompted Congress to fund pay and give 5 year full
pay pension to its soldiers.
Bill of Rights

James Madison wrote the Bill of Rights. They were passed by Congress
in 1791. These served to protect the government from issuing laws that
restricted liberty. It showed American belief in basic human rights.

Marbury v. Madison
It was a landmark United States Supreme Court case. Happened when
Madison willingly did not deliver a commission. It formed the basis for the
exercise of judicial review in the United States. The landmark decision
helped define the boundary between the constitutionally
separate executive and judicial branches of the American form of
government.

Bank of the United States

Alexander Hamilton proposed a Bank of the United States that could print
paper money and thus provide a stable national currency. Thomas Jefferson
strongly opposed the Bank stating it was unconstitutional. He felt that the
states had the right to manage their own money. Most of the opposition
came from the south and most of the support came from the north.
Hamilton prevailed and the 1st Bank of the United States was created
in 1791. IT greatly helped the national economy and centralized banking.
Also led to eventual creation of political parties.
strict/loose interpretation
A strict interpretation of the Constitution states that the
government of the United States holds only those powers
specifically granted to it by the Constitution. A loose interpretation
of the Constitution says that the government of the United States
holds all powers that are not specifically denied to it by the
Constitution. It shows the flexibility of the constitution (this is also
supplemented by the elastic clasue).
Whiskey Rebellion
Pennsylvania, 1794, led by distillers who strongly opposed the 1791
excise tax on whiskey. They marched with a few guns. The rebellion

was ended when President Washington sent in federal troops. A

strong message was sent by the government stating that it would
enforce the law. There was no bloodshed.
Alliance of 1778
A Treaty of Alliance with France. It was the defensive alliance
between France and the United States, formed in the midst of
the American Revolutionary War, which promised military support in
case of attack by British forces indefinitely into the future. It was
supposed to be a safeguard from future British attacks and also
showed the closeness between Americans and French at the time.
Contrast to XYZ affair and Neutrality Proclamation 1793.
Neutrality Proclamation, 1793
Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans wanted to get into the French
and British War to fight for France. The Federalists opposed.
Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 stating the
country's neutrality from the Britain-France war. It shows
Washingtons reluctance in foreign affairs (expressed in his warning
to stay away from permanent foreign alliances later on). It also
annulled the treaty of 1778 (though not really officially).
Citizen Genet
The French ambassador to the United States, during the French
Revolution. His activities violated the American proclamation
of neutrality in the European conflict and greatly embarrassed
Frances supporters in the United States.
Jay's Treaty, 1794

Jay's Treaty, in which the British promised to evacuate the chain of posts
on U.S. soil and pay for damages for the seizures of American ships.
Britain stopped short of pledging anything about future maritime seizures
or about supplying arms to Indians. The treaty also called for the U.S. to
continue to pay the debts owed to British merchants on pre-Revolutionary
War accounts. Jay's Treaty caused Spain to fear an Anglo-American alliance
thus they struck a deal with the U.S. (Pinckney's Treaty of 1795) that
opened up Mississippi trade and conceded large disputed territory North
of Florida.

Pinckney's Treaty, 1795

Jay's Treaty caused Spain, which feared an Anglo-American alliance,
to strike a deal with the U.S. In Pinckney's Treaty of 1795 with
Spain, Spain granted the Americans free navigation of the
Mississippi River and the large disputed territory north of Florida.
Farewell Address, 1796
An address written by George Washington at the end of his 2nd
presidential term. It was published in American Daily Advertiser. It
is a classic statement of republicanism, warning Americans of the
political dangers they can and must avoid if they are to remain true
to their values.
XYZ Affair

France was upset with Jay's Treaty and it started capturing American
merchant ships. President John Adams sent John Marshall to France
to negotiate. While trying to meet the minister, Adams's envoy was
secretly approached by 3 go-betweens. The French spokesmen
demanded a bribe of $250,000 just to talk to Talleyrand. The envoy
was deeply angered by this and returned home to America. America
began preparations for war in retaliation: the Navy Department was
created; the three-ship navy was expanded; the United States
Marine Corps was reestablished. It also shows patriotism. It
expanded the American capability of war.