American Revolution Flashcards
study study study
Summary of Sugar Act
taxes sugar and molasses imported to the colonies (1st tax on colonists by Parliament)
- Why did the British government abandon salutary neglect AND tax the colonies after the French and Indian War?
They were in major war debt after the war and expected the colonists to help pay it off.
Colonial reaction to sugar act
Anger over “no taxation without representation”
felt rights were violated
Samuel Adams founded the Comtees of Correspondence to spread new of British Actions
Colonists began boycotting Brit good
What did the colonists mean when they said “no taxation without representation”?
Colonists had no representation in Parliament and felt it was unfair they had to pay taxes in a government in which they had no vote.
summary of stamp act
taxed all paper products
had to put a “stamp” indicating that the tax was paid
colonial reactions to stamp act
samuel Adams created the Sons of Liberty
Sons of liberty did both
nonviolent (organized parades, rallies, burned paper, publish opposing tax papers)
and violent protests (tar and feather tax collectors)
British response to the stamp act
Parliament repealed act in 1766 because British Merchants were losing money due to boycotts
summary of the quartering act
1764, required colonists to provide Redocats stationed in colonies with food and shelter
summary of Townshend’s acts
placed tax on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea imported to colonies
writs of assistance
allowed tax collecters to search for smuggled goods (unlimited search warrants) to enforce Townshend acts
colonial reaction to writs of assistance and Townshend acts
hated it
boycott British goods
sons of Liberty attacked house of Customs officials (tax collectors)
British response to writs of assistance and Townshend acts
Due to the violence, more British troops were sent to restore order in Boston
- Describe the events in Boston that became known as the Boston Massacre and its results. (include DETAILS)
March 5, 1770
Brit. soldier and colonist go into an argument in front of the Boston Customs House
it escalated into an angry mob and the colonists started using snowballs, rocks, and clubs to hurt the soldiers
this led to a soldier shooting into the mob, and 5 colonists died.
This led to John Adams going to trial and winning because it was act of self defense
Explain the role in the Boston Massacre
Crispus Attucks
half Indian/half Negro
best remember Casulity (shot and killed by Brit. soldiers)
Explain the role in the Boston Massacre
Samuel Adams
leader of the Sons of Liberty
promoted even as a “massacre” and encouraged protests
Explain the role in the Boston Massacre
Paul Revere
created a “bloody massacre” showing the exaggerations of Brit. soldiers (ex of propaganda)
Explain the role in the Boston Massacre
John Adams
defended soldiers in court for self defense/won
he believed in law and believed all men deserved a fair trial
. What happened to the Townshend Acts? Why?
Repealed to calm down colonists
summary of tea acts
the Boston East India Compay could sell tea directly to colonists (gave BEIC a monopoly on tea)
to prove their power, the British left tax on tea
made it cheaper but still showed “no taxation without representation” as colonial smugglers and merchants lost money
Explain the Boston Tea Party:
Colonial merchants and smugglers dressed as Natives, went to three tea-filled ships, and dumped 342 tea chests into the ocean
Coercive (Intolerable) Acts - Purpose
Passed in response to the Boston Tea Party to punish Massachusetts
4 main laws of coercive acts
- Boston Harbor closed until ruined tea was paid
- Massachusetts charter was canceled. Legislature was dismissed + Committees of correspondence were banned
- Royal officials accused of crime were sent to Britain for trial
- Quartering Act was stronger
act def.
law made by British Parliament to enforce in colonies
boycott def.
people refusing to buy goods as a form of protest
committee def.
group of people coming together for a purpose
correspondence def.
communicating via letters
propaganda def.
a story giving one side of an argument as a form a persuasion
repeal def.
to cancel
civil disobedience def.
break the law as non-violent protests
coerce def.
force
intimidate
bully
intolerable def.
unbearable; unable to tolerate
. What actions were taken by the First Continental Congress in response to the Intolerable Acts?
- Ban all trade with Britain unitl Intolerable Acts were repealed
- begin training militias (through volunteers)
- send “Declaration of Rights” to King George III arguing the rights of life, liberty, and property
Describe the Battle of Lexington
Lexington: The British goal was to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Sons of Liberty and Pual Revere warned minutemen of approaching redcoats. 8 militiamen died but, but Samuel Adams and Paul Revere escaped
- What actions were taken by the Second Continental Congress after Lexington and Concord?
- form a continental army
- make George Washington commanding general
- Authorize printing of paper money to pay troops
- send Olive Branch Petition as final attempt at peace/rejected by King
significance of battle of bunker hill
proved Patriots could take on Redcoats
significance of Dorchester Heights- Boston
meant that birthplace of rebellion was in Patriots hands
Who wrote Common Sense
Why did he write it
Thomas Paine
To state that it was common sense to declare independence from Britain
this convinced people to become patriots
Arguments made in common sense
- Kings don’t rule by the will of god
- monarchies are corrupt
- U.S. products can sustain the economy
- America should follow own destiny
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
He based the ideas on which philosopher
Thomas Jefferson
John Locke
rights listed in D of I
life
liberty
pursuit of happiness
unalienable def.
garaunteed
Date Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress?
July 4th, 1776
According to the Declaration, governments must _________________________________________________________________,
and if they don’t ______________________________________________________________________________________________
protect unalienable rights
people should change govt.
Most of the Declaration are grievances against the British king. What is a grievance?
wrong doing/complaint
What difficulties did America face when trying to build the Continental Army?
- army had short enlistment (1 year)= small army
- lack of supplies
- lack of public support
40% patriots 20% loyalist 40% neutral
. What were the advantages, of the Continental Army?
- better leadership (GW)
- foreign aid (France sent supplies, money, and troops to the U.S. +Spain)
3.Knowledge of the land (hit and run tactics called guerilla warfare)
4 motivation (life, liberty, and property)
What were the disadvantages of the Cont. Army
lack of training/experience
shortage of supplies and weapons
What was the strategy of the Cont. Army
avoid major battles that would deplete army
keep war going long enough until Great Britain decides “America is not worth it anymore”
What were the advantages of the British Army
best trained troops in the world
very experienced
well supplied
had help from thousands of Hessian mercenaries from Germany
What were the disadvantages of the British Army
less motivation
fighting on foreign soil
Early strategy of British Army
original strategy was to cut of England from other states
What battles are considered the turning point of the American Revolution?
Why did these battles cause the war to turn in favor of the Americans?
Battle of Saratoga
Showed European nations that America could win
Describe the difficulties American soldiers faced at Valley Forge.
winter of 1777-1778, soldiers were in winter camp at Valley Forge, PA
men didn’t have basic protections
(blankets, clothing, shoes, and food)
2,000 men died of disease, malnutrition and exposure
What did surviving Valley Forge prove about the Continental Army? (you have to THINK for this one – not in notes)
It proved that America would not give up and showed their loyalty towards the US
- How did the British strategy change after Saratoga?
Why did they think this new strategy would be successful?
They decided to take war to South
because they would have support from loyalists and they promised runaway slaves freedom if they enlisted
- Name and describe the last major battle of the American Revolution.
Yorktown
General Cornwallis camped at Yorktown. Washington and French army commanded by Comte de Rochambeau trapped General Cornwallis by land and French navy blocked him from sea.
After several weeks, Cornwallis surrended.
- List the three major terms of the Treaty of Paris 1783.
Great Britain recognized independence of US
US set borders
(Mississippi river=west)
(Canada=north)
(Spanish Florida=south)
Gave U.S. the right to trade and settle west of the 13 colonies (no more porclamation)
patriot def.
American Colonists who support independence of U.S.
loyalist def.
American Colonists who stayed loyal to Great Britain and didn’t support independence of US.
King George III def.
King on England
George Washington def.
Commanding general of Continental Army
Paul Revere def.
Warned minutemen that British were coming to Lexington and Concord (midnight ride)
Thomas Paine def.
made Common Sense
and American Crisis (to inspire colonists to keep fighting)
Know all people of revolution
YESSSS!!!!!!!
duties def.
taxes on goods
describe the battle of concord
British goal was to destroy militia supplies in concord. Being warned in Advance, militiamen hid supplies before Britsh came. They forced British to retreat, killing Redcoats as they “shadowed” their march back to boston
what was the significance of the Battle of Lexington and Concord
1st shots of the Revolutionary War
“Shots heard around the world”
began revolution that would change the world
