American rev sac 1 (events/pamphlets) Flashcards
When was the French and Indian war?
Cause?
Effect?
1757-1763
War between France and Britain over North American territory (Native Americans on both sides)
Britain left with war debt of 130mil pounds - taxed colonists and restricted westward expansion (angered them).
When was the Proclamation Act?
What was it
Cause?
Effect on revolution? (ESP) - 2 points
1763
Britain prohibited settlement west of Appalachian Mountains.
Aimed to prevent conflict with Native Americans and control colonies
End of salutary neglect (POL), colonists believed it limited their freedom and economic opportunities (ECO)
What is the British mercantilist policy?
Effect on revolution (ESP) - 2 points
eco system whereby Brit imports raw material from colonies, manufactures products, sells back to colonies.
colonies eco dependent on Brit to buy raw materials (ECO), smuggling rife in colonies (ECO).
When was the Sugar Act?
What was it? - 2 points
Effect on revolution? (ESP) - 2 points
1764
Brit placed duties on imported sugar, molasses, other goods. Increased patrols to prevent smuggling.
Placed eco burden on colonial merchants who relied on untaxed imports (ECO), tax without rep (POL).
When was the Currency Act?
What was it?
Effect on revolution? (ESP)
1764
abolishment of colonial money bills, switch to Brit currency (gold+silver)
Trade was strong element of colonial life+success, act challenged sovereignty and desire to have independent eco (ECO).
When was the Quartering Act?
What was it?
effects on revolution? (ESP) - 2 points
1765
Colonists required to provide housing+supplies for Brit troops, as they were there to protect colonists
Financial burden on colonial gov+citizens (eco), increased resentment towards Brit presence+control (soc)
When was the Stamp Act?
What was it?
Effects on revolution? (ESP) - 3 points
1765
Tax on legal documents, newspapers, playing cards. All revenue raised returned to England.
All classes of society impacted. “No tax without rep” (POL), boycott of goods (ECO), sons of lib+congress (movements).
When was the Declaratory Act?
What was it?
Effects on revolution? (ESP)
1766
Brit repealed stamp act, but stated they could make laws+impose taxes on colonies “in all cases whatsoever”
Increased colonial fears of further restrictions.
Who inspired the Townshed Duties? What did he believe?
What were they?
Charles Townshed (believed colonies should contribute to their own defence)
Brit imposed duties on imported goods (glass, paper, tea). Revenue raised (estimated 40,000 pounds) to pay colonial governors+Brit colonial officials.
2 Letters in response to the Townshed Duties (and by who)
Circular letter - Samuel Adams
Letters from a farmer - John Dickson
What did John Dickson’s ‘Letters from a farmer’ claim?
Britain had authority to regulate external matters (trade), but could not interfere in colonial politics or raise taxes.
What did Samuel Adams’ ‘Circular letter’ claim?
Townshed duties were unconstitutional, called for unified colonial response to return to way it was before duties.
When was the seizure of the HMS Liberty? Who owned it?
What happened?
Effect on revolution?
June 1768, John Hancock
Customs official ordered seizure of Lib due to unwillingness to pay duties. Resulted in violent riot+Brit sending more troops to Boston.
Fueled colonial resentment toward Brit authority
When was the Boston Massacre?
What happened?
What happened on the same day?
Effect on revolution? - 2 points
1770
British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of colonists in Boston, killing five people.
Townshed duties repealed (except Tea Act)
Paul Revere’s “The Bloody Massacre in King Street” starts propaganda war on Brit. Became rallying point for colonial resistance (symbolised Brit cruelty+tyranny)
When was the Boston Tea Party?
What happened?
Effects on Revolution? - 2 points
15th December, 1773
59 Bostonians board British vessel and throw 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, following stand-off with local officals.
Brit sees destruction of property as serious act of rebellion, powerful symbol of ‘spirit of revolution’.
When were the Coercive Acts?
caused?
Effects of the Acts?
Effects on revolution?
1774
Brit seeking to reassert authority after Boston Tea Party.
Boston Port Bill closes port of boston.
Boston declared to be in state of rebellion (1775), acts confirmed patriots fears of arbitrary Brit power
When did the First Continental Congress run?
What did it do? - 2 points
Why was it significant?
5th Sep-26th Oct, 1774
55 men from 12 colonies debate best response to Coercive Acts. Pass ‘Articles of Association’ + list of grievances for Brit parliament.
First opportunity for colonial leaders to express cohesive ideas publicly.
