America

Question 1

Navigation Acts 1751

Answer 1

TIghten control over trade- had to be done through English Ships
Gave British manufacturing/ merchants advantage

Question 2

Mercantile System

Answer 2

Economic system of wanting to increase empire whilst minimising others
- don’t sell to other empires, colonies grow raw materials for England to sell back to colonies
Gave mother country outlet for exports: increased jobs/ industrial development , maximised profits
However weakened due to smuggling/ bribery

Question 3

Impact of 7 year war ? + US response

Answer 3

Due to debt etc, felt colonists must contribute to costs of own defence- eg through Navigation acts to raise revenue

Felt Britain was overstepping, money raised should be spent locally, not just benefit empire

Question 4

Stamp Act: When/ what + significance

Answer 4

1765
Imposed duties on almost all written/ printed material
-ENd of Statutory neglect
-Led to boycotts of British goofs, protests, attacks on officers
-‘No taxation without rep!’

Repealed 1766

Question 5

Townshend’s duties 1767

Answer 5

Imports on eg glass, wine, china
-Assemblies presented formal protests- Massachusetts published denounciation which was endorsed by 7 other colonies
-Boycotts, violent protests (led by Sons of Liberty)
Increased military presence
NY assembly suspended until it agreed to support of troops based there

Repealed d1770 when on brink of revolution

Question 6

Boston Massacre 1770

Answer 6

Troops fired into protest at Boston
5 killed
Increased hatred for Britain, more action from SoL

Question 7

Committees of Correspondence

Answer 7

Communicated written colonial greviences
Britain couldn’t control it- powerful tool, could convert neutrals into patriots

Question 8

Tea Act 1773

Answer 8

Committees of Correspondence condemned act + Encouraged boycotts + civil disobedience
Tea agents forced to resign
Tea sent back/ rejected
attacked in US newspapers/ pamphlets

Question 9

Boston TEa Party 16th December 1773

Answer 9

60 SoL boarded ships and threw tea worth £10,000 overboard
-UK then tried to isolate Boston/ Massachusetts- locked city down under military control

Realised cant keep repealing acts when US get violent

Question 10

Coercive Acts 1774

Answer 10

Indented to Isolate Boston: Closed port until tea paid for
Quartering Acts- more power to military- angered colonists
Colonial assemblies dissolved but still met in defiancepo

Question 11

First Continental Congress 1774

Answer 11

Supported views of radicals
Called upon Massachusetts to arm for defence
Basically controlled day-to-day running old US
HoL rejected proposal to remove all duties/ recognise congress as American parliament to try reduce Dangerous situation
UK began to prepare for war
Massachusetts declared to be in state of rebellion 1775

Question 12

Lexington and COncord April 1775

Answer 12

Political argument not become blood feud
Initiated a revolution that couldn’t be stopped

Question 13

2nd COntinental COngress May-June 1775

Answer 13

-Organised national army + made Washington commander
-Olive Branch petition as last appeal to cease hostilities with hopes of reconciliation plan being drawn up
-George refused, declared colonies in open revelluion and called upon British/ loyalists to help suppress rebellion
-Justified Patriots view of having no other alt but new gov

Declaration of Independence passed 2nd July 1776, adopted 4th

Question 14

Defeat at Saratoga 1777

Answer 14

-Plan didn’t coordinated effectively w/ Howe or Clinton so no orders given for their troops to meet Burgoyne
+ Clinton/ Howe persuing own objective
-Burgoyne overconfident- bet to be back by XMAS
-US loyalists didn’t flock to join army w/ natives
- Found themselves overstretched/ surrounded —> surrendered

First real British defeat
Helped France join war- showed they could acc defeat British

Question 15

Other British weaknesses

Answer 15

-Lord nOrth inadequate war leader but King wouldn’t let him resign
Lack of direction from London on Strategy
-COuld never consolidate land- colonists would just take it back
-Generals 2nd rate: lacked spirit to peruse enemy ruthlessly, own campaigns etc

Question 16

British Strengths

Answer 16

Significant military power
COuld get German mercenaries wen needed
- but not experiences, only about 8000
340 Navy Sips, could reinforce troops/ attack ports

Question 17

American STrength/ leadership

Answer 17

-Ideological dream that drew neutrals to be patriots leaving loyalists isolated
High levels of participation helped cement support for new nation
-Continental army had strength of a nation fighting for its survival

Washington- kept regrouping/ retraining, realised UK couldn’t be beate in Guerrilla fighting
-Avoiuded knockout battles and retreated - help army together
STopped revolution collapsing

-Size of wilderness- UK couldn’t hold down such vast land
War instructions took 2/3 months

Question 18

Foreign intervention

Answer 18

Britain had to redraw priorities
1778-8- % of UK army in US dropped 68%-20% as required at home in case invasion
41% of UK Navy in US waters dropped to 13%
Spanish forces cleared British troops from Mississippi valley
French/ Spanish fleets combined were more than a match to Royal Navy

Britain had to fight many fronts- realised wasn’t worth it

YORKTOWN
French controlled Chesapeake Bay which prevented UK from escaping north
With French support, Washington seized opportunity and marched
-UK surrendered as surrounded and would run out of resources if kept trying7