American Revolution Flashcards
What is a Revolution?
A revolution is a sudden and dramatic change in political power and organisation. A revolution is usually violent removal of a government or leader in a country
Causes of the American Revolution
The Enlightenment
Thomas Pain wrote Common sense
This pamphlet inspired people in the thirteen colonies to declare and fight for independence from Great Britain#
Restrictions on Trade
Navigation act- forced the colonies to sell some goods to britain only restricting the price
The Seven Years War
Gave Americans military experience
Taxation increased to force colonists to pay for the war
Taxes
The british passed the Stamp act which placed a tax in the colonies on all documents such as wills, licences and college degrees
Rejection of the stamp act
Rejected
Riots broke out
Slogan = “No taxation without representation”
They believed that they should not have to pay taxes when they were not represented in parliament in london
The Boston massacre
1770: A group of locals protest against taxes. They jeered at British troops
The british then opened fire and killed 5 people
Colonist Reaction: anger
Cancelation of the Stamp Act and other taxes
Townshend acts introduced which taxed tea and glass
The Boston Tea Party
November 1773: English ships arrived with tea that was taxed but cheaper than smuggled tea
Angered colonists
16th December 1773: Colonists dressed up as ‘indians’ went on the ships and dumped the 342
tea into the harbour
Punishment: Boston port closed to imports and exports
The First Continental Congress
1774: Delegates from 13 Colonies met for the First Continental Congress
Called an end for british taxation
Called on each colony to train a militia (army) to fight for the british
Timeline of events (Battles)
1775: The Battle of Bunker Hill: Britain won but suffered heavy casualties
The Battle of Boston: Continental army won an important Victory
1777: British captured the cities of New York and Philadelphia.
Britain was winning the war
1777: Saratoga – The Americans beat the British
1777-78: Washington and his army camped at Valley forge, 20 miles from Philadelphia
His men suffered badly from the Cold ( 3.000 died)
Frederick von Stueben Trained the remaining Troops
1778: France got involved in the war on the side of the colonists
French involvement was important because:
The French sent an army of 6.000 experienced and well- trained troops
The French navy attacked the British Navy.
October 1781 : The Americans and French surrounded the British army at Yorktown
The British Surrendered after this decisive battle
The treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 ending the war
Why did the colonists win the war?
Resistance
Undying loyalty to washington
Knowing the land
Foreign support
Winning deciding battles
The continental congresses
Impact of the War
Usa became independent
Washington became president
Britain lost land and power
Death
Inspired other revolutionary ideas
Growth of the United States led by Democracy
France suffered debt due to the cost of the war
Inspired the French revolution
Inspired the 1798 rebellion in Ireland
Native Americans and their culture was destroyed
The spread of liberal ideas- abolition of slavery
