American Revolution

Question 1

What were the 4 wars fought between Britain and France between 1689 and 1763?

Answer 1

• The war of the League of Ausburg (1689-7)
• The war of Spanish Succession (1702-13)
• The war of Austrian Succession (1740-48)
• The Seven Years’ War (1756-63)

Question 2

What happened in the war of Austrian succession?

Answer 2

• Britain too absorbed in Europe to send hep to the colonists
• Royal Navy stronger than French and Spanish- hard for them to also send assistance
• Fighting done by colonial militia- outnumbered French 15:1.Inter-colonial; disputes and alliances with Native American tribes offset British advantage- capture of Louisbourg

Question 3

What was the Albany Congress?

Answer 3

June 1754- 7 of the American colonies met- joint defence pact against French aggression in 7 years’ war- failed to form an alliance with Irquois
Albany Plan of Union- plan to place colonies under a more centralised, unified government- 11 colonies

Question 4

What was the importance of William Pitt in the Seven Year’ War?

Answer 4

• strong control over policy and administration- established a global strategy- sent 25,000 troops under Amherst and Wolfe
• war seen as shared endeavour between Britain and colonists- half of 45,000 troops in 1758 were colonists- series of aggressive military appointments - promoted junior officers and united the country

Question 5

What was the importance of finance in the Seven Year’ War?

Answer 5

Pitt paid his ally Frederick the Great of Prussia to attack French forces in Europe- French unable to send reinforcements to North America - Pitt willing to secure whatever finances were needed to secure a strategy to succeed- easy to secure loans and raise taxes

Question 6

What was the importance of the navy in the Seven Year’ War?

Answer 6

naval superiority crucial- led to strategy of preventing French squadrons from resupplying New France- victory at Quiberon Bay - Lord Anson- 18,000 sailors, 100 ships

Question 7

What was the political imperial authority Britain placed on the colonies?

Answer 7

• salutary neglect- strong colonies appreciate semi-independence
• only 5% of colonial laws disallowed by privy council
• 50,000 Americans had fought for GB

Question 8

What was the economic imperial authority Britain placed on the colonies?

Answer 8

• mercantilism- benefits American trade- guaranteed market for raw materials but not allowed to build up industry

Question 9

What was the social imperial authority Britain placed on the colonies?

Answer 9

• society largely based on British culture- by 1760, only 1/2 are from GB or descendants - no “American” identity tied to the colonies

Question 10

What was Pontiac’s rebellion?

Answer 10

• Ohio valley tries led by Pontiac rose in revolt over fear of further encroachments of their land by white settlers- destroyed every British post west of Niagara
  British used bribes to detach more most Iroquis from Pontiac

Question 11

What was the 1763 Proclamation Act?

Answer 11

• declared that the boundary of white settlement was to be a line running along the crest of the Appalachians-
  30,000 ignored it
  1768- Britain accepted its breakdown

Question 12

What was the Sugar Act?

Answer 12

• 1764 Sugar Act reduced duty on foreign molasses of 6d a gallon- largely ignored

Question 13

What was the currency act?

Answer 13

• 1764- ban on colonial paper money
  British wanted colonial debts paid in British sterling or Spanish dollars

Question 14

What was the Stamp Act?

Answer 14

-1765- required stamps to be affixed to almost anything formally written or printed in the colonies
1 year notice - fierce opposition

Question 15

What was the American reaction to the Stamp Act?
What were he different ways in which this took place?

Answer 15

• intense reaction- applied universally, antagonising some of the most influential groups of colonists
• The Virginia Resolves- 1765- Patrick Henry- seven resolutions attacking the Stamp Act and threatening resistance
• Popular Protest- turned into a movement- originated in Boston among group of artisans and shopkeepers - LOYAL NINE- Samuel Adams
• Mob Action- 14 August effigies of Oliver and Bute hung from the Liberty Tree- tore down Oliver’s office, forcing him to resign.
  26 August- crowd damaged houses of two British officials. Then attacked Hutchinson’s mansion
  -The Son’s of Liberty- urban movement- semi-secret society, far from united- limited influence in the South - boycotted British goods

Question 16

What happened in the repeal of the Stamp Act?

Answer 16

• Grenville replaced by Marquess of Rockingham
• British merchants and manufacturers alarmed by colonial boycott- act could not be enforced- Stamp Act repealed in March 1766 by 275 voted to 167

Question 17

What was the Declaratory Act?

Answer 17

• asserted that the colonies were subordinate to the ‘crown and parliament of Great Britain’ and that parliament had full authority to make laws ‘to bind the colonies and people of America.. in all cases whatsoever.’

Question 18

What was the Townshend Crisis?

Answer 18

• Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Townshend, was concerned that royal officials in America were dependent on colonial opinion- determined they should be paid directly to GB not by colonial assemblies
• May 1767- Townshend introduced new duties on colonial imports of glass, wine, china, paper, tea… - to tighten trade enforcement, Townshend established an American Board of Customs commissioners

Question 19

What was the New York Restraining Act?

Answer 19

• 1767-Townshend- Quartering Act- designed to remedy the shortage of military accommodation- required colonial assemblies to make provision for quartering and supplying British troops
  New York refused- burden disproportionate- Restraining Act introduced- New York assembly was prohibited from taking any legislative action until compiled with quartering act

Question 20

Who was Samuel Adams?

Answer 20

both a radical and idealist- key figure of rebellion
Developed mass protest in Massachusetts
Loyal Nine- united various gang-opposition to Stamp Act
Sons of Liberty- ensured levels of political consciousness were maintained after repeal
Crucial role in sending out circular letter- denounced Townshend Duties

Question 21

Who was John Dickenson?

Answer 21

Pennsylvanian lawyer and politician- published his ‘Letters to a Pennsylvania Farmer’- attack on Townshend Duties- claim to not tax without consent and by suspending new York assembly, Britain was attacking the liberties of the colonies-most colonial newspapers appeared - gave theoretical justifications

Question 22

Who was Thomas Jefferson?

Answer 22

principle author of Declaration of Independence
1774- publishes ‘A Summary View of the Rights of British America’- idea of independence
British parliament has no right to exercise authority over the colonies
critical of the fact that the electorate England (160,000 at best) should legislate for America

Question 23

Who was John Adams?

Answer 23

Boston lawyer- acted as a successful legal defence for the British solders involved

Question 24

Who was Thomas Paine?

Answer 24

English radical- ‘Common Sense’- 1776- sold over 100,000 copies very quickly. Attacked the English constitution and the idea of hereditary monarchy and privilege
convinced many Americans to want liberty and independence

Question 25

What was the Boston Massacre and what happened ?

Answer 25

• On 22 February 1770 a suspected customs informed killed an eleven year old boy during aa riot. The Sons of Liberty turned the funeral into a political demonstration: 5000 Bostonians attended
• On 2 March workers at a rope factory attacked some soldiers seeking jobs: a pitched battle ensued
• 5 March- a detachment of British soldiers guarding the customs house was attacked by a mob hurling hard packed snowballs. The troops, under extreme provocation, opened fire, killing 5 Bostonians.
• Americans now had martyrs

Question 26

What caused the Boston Massacre to take place?

Answer 26

• growing unrest in Boston

Question 27

What happened int he repeal of the Townshend Duties?

Question 28

What was the Boston Town meeting?

Question 29

What was the Tea Act?

Question 30

What was the Boston Tea Party?

Question 31

What was the British reaction to the tea party and what was the American reaction to this?

Question 32

What happened at Lexington and Concord?

Answer 32

• on the evening of 18 April 1775, Gage sent 700 men from Boston to Concord to seize rebel arms and arrest leaders of provincial congress
• Massachusetts militia informed of this by PAUL REVERE
• 19 April British troops found path barred by 70 minutemen at Lexington
• 8 colonists killed
• pushed onto Concord and heavy exchange of fire
• Smith’s troops would have had to surrender had it not been for the arrival of relief force
• British 273 casualties, Americans 92 men

Question 33

What were the results of Lexington and Concord?

Answer 33

transformed the political dispute between colonists and Britain into a military struggle
galvanised military preparations throughout the colonies

Question 34

What was the second continental congress?

Answer 34

• 10 May 1775 Philadelphia- 65 delegates representing ALL 13 COLONIES
• congress took charge in the conduct of war
• continental army- 20,000 men and issue $2m to finance force
• appointment of George Washington

Question 35

Were there any efforts of reconciliation with Britain in 1775?

Answer 35

• Olive Branch Petition- professing attachment to George III
• it begged him to prevent further hostile measures so that plan of reconciliation may be worked out- independence as a last resort

Question 36

What happened at the Battle of Bunker Hill?

Answer 36

• bloodiest engagement of the war
• American forces set to occupy Bunker Hill
• when a rebel force of 1500 men occupied the neighbouring Breed’s Hill- General Howe launched a frontal attack
• he dislodged Americans but lost over 1000 of his 2500 men in the process- Americans less than half the number

Question 37

What happened with Boston 1775-6?

Answer 37

• Washington was eager to take Boston but was restrained by politicians who feared destruction and fortifications of British army- mid-winter- Washington’s army suffered typhoid
• Howe did NOTHING- Americans benefitted fro, having the main British army - 9000 men- bottled up in Boston
• gave rebels time to consolidate their hold elsewhere

Question 38

What happened in the invasion of Canada?

Answer 38

• In 1775 congress decided to invade Canada, hoping the French population would join the rebellion
• Richard Montgomery (1200 men) marched up the Champlain water way, second force under Benedict Arnold marched through Maine - intending to combine with Montgomery in an attack on Quebec
• Montgomery captured Montreal and reached Quebec - Arnold 700 hungry and sickly men. General Carleton (British) 1800 men
• American assault made in a snowstorm- Montgomery killed- lack of supplies revealed and Montreal abandoned

Question 39

What was the war in the South?

Question 40

What was the evacuation of Boston?

Question 41

Why did congress not declare independence until July 1776?

Question 42

What were the British strengths by 1776?

Question 43

What were the American problems by 1776?

Question 44

What were the American strengths/advantages?

Question 45

What were the British strategic problems?