American Revolution 1754-1789 Flashcards
What was the French and Indian War?
The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was fought by the British against France and Indian tribes that were allied to the French. The war was fought mainly for control of the colonial frontier. Victory in the war gave the English control of Canada and the entire Mississippi River valley.
The _____ __ _____ resolved the French and Indian War in 1763.
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty gave control of North America up to the Mississippi River and the entirety of Canada to the British. [This is what gave the British control over the colonies.]
What were Writs of Assistance?
Writs of Assistance were general search warrants, designed to stop smuggling. They allowed British customs agents to search wherever they pleased, and without having to pay for any damages.
James Otis argued that the Writs violated natural law, and many Americans felt that Writs of Assistance infringed upon their rights as British subjects. [This eventually led to not being searched without justifiable cause and the requirement of a court ordered search warrant.]
What was the Stamp Act?
The Stamp Act required the purchase of a revenue stamp for newspapers, advertisements, and legal documents.
The first direct tax on the American colonies, the Stamp Act stirred colonial anger because Americans felt they were being taxed without any say.
What was the Quartering Act?
The Quartering Act required that Americans house and feed British troops.
Who were the Sons and Daughters of Liberty?
The Sons and Daughters of Liberty were a secret society opposed to the Stamp Act.
The Sons regularly intimidated and tarred and feathered British tax agents, and as the Revolutionary War approached, served as a shadow government dedicated to independence.
How did most Americans respond to the Stamp Act?
American outrage at the Stamp Act proved a unifying force throughout the colonies. Some examples include:
- In Virginia, Patrick Henry demanded that the King recognize the rights of citizens not to be taxed without their consent (“no taxation without representation”)
- James Otis in Massachusetts organized the Stamp Act Congress
- In Massachusetts, the Sons and Daughters of Liberty regularly tarred and feathered British tax collectors
- An organized group boycott in the colonies provoked a sharp drop off in trade
What led up to the Boston Massacre in 1770?
In response to the Massachusetts Circular Letter and the activities of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty, the British increased the number of troops stationed in Boston.
In March, 1770, a number of Bostonians harassed the British troops with snowballs and taunts. British troops fired into the crowd, killing five Americans. The British troops were tried for murder. Defended by John Adams, the troops were acquitted.
Why did the Boston Tea Party take place?
The Tea Act lowered the price of British tea, but purchasing the tea would have required the American colonists to recognize the British government’s power to tax the colonies.
To protest the British government’s actions, Americans disguised as Indians boarded the ship carrying the tea on December 16, 1773, and threw the cargo overboard.
How did the British government react to the actions of the First Continental Congress?
The British basically ignored the First Continental Congress. Massachusetts was declared to be in an open state of rebellion, and troops under British General Gage were dispatched to Boston.
What was the background of Paul Revere’s ride?
After the British Army was detected moving out of Boston, Paul Revere and another rider, William Dawes, rode through the Massachusetts countryside warning that “the British are coming.”
A small force of Minutemen assembled at Lexington to oppose the British advance.
In 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord started the Revolutionary War. Why were the British marching through Lexington to Concord?
British General Gage believed that there were guns and ammunition stored in Concord.
The battle of _____ was the first battle of the Revolutionary War.
Lexington
At Lexington, some seventy Minutemen were waiting for the British Army that was marching to Concord. When the British Army ordered the troops to disperse, the Americans did so, only to be shot at by the British. Eight Americans were killed, and many were wounded, and the British continued towards Concord.
What happened when the British Army arrived in Concord?
When the British arrived in Concord, the arms and ammunition stored there were already gone. As the British Army marched back to Boston, they were attacked by the Minutemen from natural cover.
Unlike the British soldiers, the Minutemen were well trained to fight from cover from hunting experience.
What were the results of the Battles of Lexington and Concord?
After the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the British Army retreated to Boston. As a result of the battles, American militiamen swarmed to join the ragtag forces besieging General Gage’s army.
The defeat of British regulars by informal militia provided a morale boost to the Americans.
