America Flashcards
What states were in the southern part of the American colonies?
Georgia
South Carolina
North Carolina
Virginia
Maryland
What states were in the middle part of the American colonies?
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York
Delaware
What states were in new England?
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
What were the 5 significant towns of the colonies?
Boston, Newport, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston
What percentage of colonists lived in the cities and why?
3.5% because most of them were farmers.
How many slaves were there in the colonies by 1763? what proportion of the population was this?
350,000 and a sixth of the population
67% population of south carolina and 40% pop of Virginia, Maryland and Georgia
What were the four aspects of the colonial governments?
British Crown with Parliament
Royal Governor
Council
Colonial assembily
Outline the british crown with parliament in terms of colonial government?
has the power to pass laws in order to tax colonists
Outline the governor in terms of colonial government
Appointed by the crown
oversees colonial trade
has final approval of colony’s laws
can dismiss colonial assembly
stayed in government for 5 years and could be dismissed by british government
Outline the council in terms of colonial government
Appointed by governor
Advisory board to governor
Acts as highest court in each colony
Outline the colonial assembly in terms of colonial government
elected by elidgable colonists
makes laws
Has authority to tax locally
pays governor’s salary
Outline the governor in terms of colonial government
Appointed by the crown
oversees colonial trade
has final approval of colony’s laws
can dismiss colonial assembly
what percentage of the population could vote in the colonies and in Britain?
between 50% and 80% in different areas in the colonies and 15% in Britain
How many colonial measures submitted between 1691 and 1775 were disallowed by Britain?
5% of the 8500
What was salutatory neglect?
the British method of governing the colonies - they left them alone for their own benefit
When were the navigation acts passed?
1651
What were the navigation acts?
They required trade to be conducted through English Ships and establish control of fishing rights by Britain.
They closed off admittance of foreign ships into ports
What was the mercantile system?
Wealth = power
Governments attempted to export export more than they imported, making their balance of trade more favourable
Why were colonies important to the mother country?
They were an outlet for exports, which increased jobs and industrial development at home, and produced raw materials for the mother country
What was the stamp act and when was it passed?
1765
It imposed stamps (requiring taxes to be paid) on almost all written or printed materials
What were the results of the stamp act?
boycotts of British goods, street protests, attacks on officers and buildings
In March 1766 it was repealed
When did the 7 years war end?
1763 with the peace of Paris
What were the financial results of the seven years war which led to the American revolution?
National debt increased to £75 million to £133 million
Soldiers returning from America reported that the colonists enjoyed a high standard of living
british tax payers were already feeling hard pressed - a cider tax in 1763 led to violence in apple growing areas
What were the political results of the seven years war which led to the American revolution?
Colonists argued British actions represented an exercise in tyranny and must be opposed
New negotiation of political settlement
What were the security related results of the seven years war which led to the American revolution?
With removal of the French army, the immediate foreign threat was gone new territories thinly populated with English colonists but many hostile French and Native Americans inhabitants. An estimated 10,000 troops were needed to provide security
What was Enlightenment?
A period in the late 17th and 18th century which challenged traditional ideas about science, religion, political rights and human relations, including the divine right of kings.
What were the Townshend duties?
1767 - new duties imposed on glass, wine, china, lead, paint, paper and tea - passed 180 to 98
What were the results of the Townshend duties?
After successive attempts by British to introduce new taxes during the 60s, colonists reacted very badly to these and turned further against the British
Colonial assemblies denounced the new duties
Economic boycott 1768-9
What was the significance of the colonial assemblies denouncing the new duties?
was the furthest the assemblies had ever gone in presenting formal protests - argued strongly for no taxation without representation - led to violent protests in Boston
Why did the British suspend the New York assembly in 1767?
They refused to pay for the chartering of British troops.
Outline the 1768-9 economic boycott
Every colony except new Hampshire had organisations pledged to boycott British goods
Ordinary colonists joined in
Home manufacturing developed to provide alternatives to British goods
Committees of inspection were set up to enforce the boycott
British luxury goods regarded as morally dubious
What was the significance of the 1768-9 economic boycott?
Increased unity and resolve of colonists and confirmed their independent identity
Outline the Boston Massacre
1770 - 5 bostonians shot dead in a protest outside a customs house
Outline the committees of correspondence
1771 - set up to collect and communicate grievances
What was the significance of the committees of correspondence?
By setting up a system of news dissemination which the British could not control, the patriots had a powerful tool ready to use to coerce neutrals into patriots
In what ways had tensions between the colonists and British become very serious by 1770?
Shooting of civilians in Boston caused outcry
Sons of liberty gained members and became better organised
officials did not have the powers or resources to suppress colonial opposition
Loyalists were divided and often the margins of society
radical activists won more publicity and support e.g. Sam adams in Boston
In what ways were tensions between the colonists and the British not serious by 1770?
townshend duties repealed
1770-3 years of relative calm
many deplored the violence of the sons of liberty
Internal conflicts were much more important to many colonists than fighting Britain
Lack of unity within the colonists
What was the estimated percentage split of loyalists, neturals and patriots in 1770?
20% loyalists
40% neutrals
40% patriots
Outline the tea act
1773 - to save the EIC it was granted the right to export tea directly to the colonies - Americans would pay duties on this tea
When were the townshend duties repealed?
April 1770 - all except that on tea
What was the colonial reaction to the tea act 1773?
Seen as another attempt by the british to illegally tax the colonists
Committees of correspondence condemned the act and encouraged boycotts and civil disobedience
Tea sent to new York and Philadelphia was sent back
In Charleston tea landed but was not sold.
Boston tea party
Outline the Boston tea party
On December 16th 1773, a group of patriots disguised as Indians dumped about £10000 worth of tea into Boston Harbour
What were the results of the Boston tea party?
The coercive acts
Was the ultimate outrage for the British - felt the need to punish the colonists and isolate Boston/Mass from the other colonies
Outline the coercive acts
Port of Boston closed
massachusetts Government act revised to allow to royal governor to appoint and remove officials - permission had to be sought for town meetings
Quartering act gave broader authority to military commanders seeking lodgings for their troop
An act allowed transfer of murder trials to England
what was the colonial response to the coercive acts?
Used it to highlight the intent of the British to erode the liberties of Americans and establish tyrannical rule
Assemblies ignored the acts and continued to meet
September 1774 met together for the first time as continental congress
Outline the first continental congress
September 1774 - Supported the radicals and called upon Mass. to arm for defence and proclaimed the right for each colony to determine their own need for troops
What was the significance of the battles of Lexington and Concord?
First shot fired of the war and therefore first real battle
269 British soldiers killed
Showed the british didn’t really understand how to fight a rebellious people rather than a standing army - although they won they suffered huge losses
Outline the battles of Lexington and Concord
April 1775 - 500 british troops marched to try and take colonists’ supplies, but were met with colonists and shot at all the way back to Boston
What happened at the second continental congress in May-July 1775?
Created their own continental army, appointing George Washington d the leader and was a large step towards declaration of independence
What was the significance of George washington being appointed patriot leader in June 1775?
he was a strong military figure who brought the army together as a cohesive force rather than a hodgepodge of civilians
He Acted as general, colonial and lieutenant, dealing with day to day running as well as military strategy
Outline the introduction of black soldiers to the colonist wars
Washington introduced black soldiers by offering slaves their freedom for fighting with them - 25,000 black soldiers ended up fighting
Outline the battle of Bunker hill
June 1775 - British troops mowed down as they attempted to climb the hill - took three attempts to take it and only because the colonists ran out of ammunition
Who was the general in charge of Bunker hill (british)?
General Howe
What were the American and British casualties of the battle of Bunker hill
Around 450 Colonists were killed, wounded or captured
1054 british soldiers were killed, including 89 officers, making this a pyrrhic victory
Who published ‘common sense’, when and what was the significance?
Thomas paine - January 1776
It explained the revolution in a more inclusive way and turned many of the common people to the cause. It also helped form the declaration of independence.
What was the olive branch petition?
written up at the second continental congress - request for an end to conflict
What is significant about the olive branch petition?
It shows that at least some of the revolutionists weren’t quite prepared at this point for a full break with Britain
What was the british response to the olive branch petition?
As it was received at the same time as the news of the creation of a standing colonist army and the battle of bunker hill, so the king declared the colonists enemies and they burned down the town of Maine
When did the British evacuate Boston and attack new York?
August 22nd 1776
What happened when the british attacked new york in 1776?
32,000 troops attacked manhattan island and drove Washington’s forces out of New York, then occupied it for seven years.
Outline the declaration of indepence
written mainly by Thomas jefferson in June and July 1776 - passed on 4th July 1776
Listed all of the sins of the King and was a renunciation of the hierarchical world
What was the significance of the declaration of independence?
It turned the war into one of ideology and has been used for centuries in arguments and wars - outlines the equality of all men
What were the articles of confederation?
Set up as a preliminary form of the constitution by one man from each state in June 1776.
What were some of the articles of confederation?
All states had to agree to any amendment of the constitution
All powers not specifically granted to Congress were reserved by the states - congress had no right to enforce tax or regulate trade
There was no president, prime minister or cabinet, but one congressman from each state who was elected annually
What was the significance of the British defeat at Saratoga?
It was the first key turning point of the war and the first rebel defeat of the British
it triggered the intervention of the French and therefore the downfall of Britain
Outline what happened at Saratoga?
In October 1777, General Burgoyne had penetrated 200 miles into America from Canada but he was overstretched and surrounded, so began negotiations and surrendered.
Why was Burgoyne defeated at Saratoga?
he assumed loyalists in the American countryside would join his forces, but hardly any did
he assumed Clinton and Howe would come and assist him, but sent no orders or communication of this
he underestimated General Gates’ forces and ended up surrounded by double the number of American troops
What happened after Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga?
His 5,895 troops were taken prisoner and remained that way until 1783
Why did the French get involved in the war?
They were motivated by their long term rivalry with Britain and the possibility of regaining territory lost after the seven years war
When did France and Spain join the war?
France - treaty signed February 1778, declared war on Britain June 1778
Spain - June 1779
How did the entry of France and Spain in the war change the distribution of British military?
Until 1778, 65% of the British army was in North America. By 1780 this was 20%
1778 41% navy was in American waters - 1980 this was 13%
why did the entry of France and Spain in the war change the distribution of British military?
Britain was more afraid of an invasion by France or Spain than losing the colonies
What was the main assistance provided by Spain in the American war of Revolution?
By 1781 they had cleared british troops from the mississippi valley
provided weapons, money and supplies to the colonists
What were the British Strengths going into the American war of revolution?
significant strength as a military power
Armed forces had 48,647 soldiers in 1775 and could hire hessian troops
royal navy had 340 ships
british economy was well established and diverse - was able to absorb debts
What were the british Weaknesses in the American war of revolution?
Had to meet military obligations elsewhere so only had 8,000 soldiers in the colonies
Navy had limited investment in the 1760s
logistically, they had to hold the ports and dispatch the armies from there, meaning supply lines had to be stretched and forces divided
It was difficult to get orders, supplies and men across the atlantic
What were the American weaknesses?
Limited economic development
very short of weapons as no manufacturing base
lacked experience and organisation
What were the American Strengths?
They were familiar with the terrain and climate
Were an army fighting for survival - soldiers committed ideologically
Washington - responsible for formation of the army and managed to maintain it - even if it meant strategic defeats and retraining
Outline what happened at the battle of Yorktown
Washington led an army of 16,000 American and French troops in Yorktown peninsula to lay siege to the british for three weeks, while the French fleet held chesapeake bay, leading to General Cornwallis’ surrender on 19th October 1781
Why did the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781?
the british forces were split and there was a lack of communication
The French navy was able to defeat, or at least put off the British navy for the first time since 1690
How did geography benefit the Americans?
The sheer size of America made it virtually impossible for the british to hold more than a few territories at a time
Why did Yorktown lead to the end of the war?
There was no longer political will and it was seen as bad for trade in Britain, despite having 30,000 troops remaining in America
Outline the peace of Paris
Signed by Britain, the USA, France, Spain and Holland on 3rd september 1783
What were the two key terms of the peace of Paris?
recognition of American independence and its new boundaries
Division of imperial possessions between britain, France and Spain - britain regained the bahamas
What were the economic impacts of the American war for independence on Britain?
In 1783, the national debt was £232 million and trade was disrupted, but by 1985 trade with the former colonies had reached pre-war levels and value of British exports to Europe doubled between 1783 and 1792
What were the political impacts of the American war for independence on Britain?
Lord North resigned in 1782
William Pitt became PM and remained until 1801
Some demands for constitutional reform and an ‘association reform’ group was formed, but they had limited impact
What were the Imperial impacts of the American war for independence on Britain?
Britain learned her lesson - retained Canada and Ireland where there had been protests
Expanded in India, Africa, the Caribbean and canada, creating the ‘second British empire’
What happened in Ireland which showed that Britain had learned her lesson?
In 1780 altered the mercantilist system in Ireland to allow direct trade with British colonies
In 1782, irish granted effective legislative independence as the british repealed declaratory act 1719
