What you'll learn
Period 3 (1754–1800) is one of the most heavily tested APUSH periods (~10–17%). It runs from the French and Indian War through the Revolution to the early Republic and Washington's presidency.
The road to revolution
- French and Indian War (1754–63): Britain wins, gains French territory east of the Mississippi, but is left in debt — leading to colonial taxation.
- Proclamation of 1763 barred settlement west of the Appalachians, angering colonists.
- Taxes without representation (Stamp Act 1765, Townshend Acts, Tea Act) fueled protest: "No taxation without representation."
Revolution and independence
- Enlightenment ideas — especially John Locke's natural rights — shaped the Declaration of Independence (1776), drafted by Jefferson.
- The colonies won independence (Treaty of Paris, 1783) with French help.
Governing the new nation
- The Articles of Confederation (1781) created a weak central government that could not tax or regulate trade effectively. Shays' Rebellion (1786–87) exposed this weakness.
- The Constitutional Convention (1787) produced compromises: the Great Compromise (bicameral Congress) and the Three-Fifths Compromise (counting enslaved people for representation/taxation).
- Federalist Papers argued for ratification; Anti-Federalists secured the Bill of Rights (1791).
The early Republic
- The first party system: Federalists (Hamilton) vs Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson).
- Washington's Farewell Address (1796) warned against permanent foreign alliances and political factions.
- The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) restricted speech and immigration, sparking the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.
Key themes (for DBQ/LEQ)
- Causes of the Revolution (ideological, economic, political).
- Debates over the balance of federal vs state power.
- Continuity and change in republican ideals (including limits — slavery, women's roles).
Exam tips
- Tie events to causation and change over time — the skills APUSH rewards.
- Memorise the compromises and the Federalist/Anti-Federalist divide.
- Use specific evidence (acts, documents, events) in essays.