American Revolution Flashcards
Causes
Tax laws passed by British parliament due to economic burden after 7 Years War + Mercantilism
What are the Acts that British parliament passed to the colonists?
Sugar Act; Stamp Act; Townshend Act; Tea Act; Quartering Act
Why didn’t the colonists agree to the tax laws?
Parliament did not get consent of the colonists before making policies for them; They were British citizens so they are protected by British laws
What influenced the response of the colonists?
Right that English monarchy cannot govern without Parliament’s consent (making taxes)
What is the popular slogan of the colonists?
“no taxation without representation”
How did the colonists respond to the taxes?
Boycotted British products; Physical attacks to officials; Protests (Boston tea party); Organized Continental Congress
Continental Congress
Governing body where colonists coordinated their resistance to British policies across 13 colonies
Declaration of Independence
Claimed colonies an independent state; States that “all men are created equal” + have “unalienable rights” which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
What Enlightenment ideas did the DoI use?
John Locke’s contractual theory of government = Individuals create government to ensure their rights + government derived their power from the “consent of the governed”
What happens to the government if it take away the natural rights of its citizens?
Alter / abolish it - Crease a new government
Participants
Colonists (Loyalists + Quakers + Native Americans) + French vs British Parliament / government
What group of people started this revolution and why?
Educated European males because they wanted independence for political + economic reasons
Loyalists
White colonists who remained loyal to the British monarchy
Quakers
Religious movement that tried to stay neutral in the revolution
Outcomes
British lost due to geographical factors
George Washington
Strong military leadership; Only slave-owning president who freed his slaves; Could’ve been an absolute monarch but chose not to
Guerilla tactics
Employed by local militias; Tactics that avoiding head-on confrontations - engage in limited skirmishes with goal of exhausting and forcing enemies to withdraw
Why did the French help the colonists?
Revenge against British for 7 Years war
How did the French help the colonists?
Provide them with sums of money + naval and army support
Constitution
Emphasized rights of individuals; Government based on popular sovereignty
What did the constitution guarantee individuals?
Liberties (freedom of speech, press, religion)
What Enlightenment ideas did the Constitution use?
Voltaire’s ideals on freedoms (Bill of Rights)
JJR’s idea of power derived from the governed: “We the people” - Authority should designate with the citizens
Who was able to have all these rights?
White men of property
Who didn’t get political + legal equality?
Landless men, women, enslaved people, and enslaved people
Bill of Rights + Enlightenment impact
Amendment I: Freedom of speech… (Voltaire)
Amendment 11: Certain rights shall not be denied to people (Locke)
Extent of change
Sought independence from British rule but kept British law + social / cultural heritage
Thomas Jefferson
Wrote Declaration of Independence - Copied John Locke
Mercantilism influence
Colonists wanted free market for cod instead of mercantilism from England bc they couldn’t support the massive amount of production
What did this revolution lead to?
Political independence + Individual freedoms + Legal equality of adult white men
