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American Revolution Review Flashcards
Where did the delegates meet in the First Continental Congress?
Philadelphia
What was the current situation with the British?
The Intolerable Acts
Who was the first President of the First Congress?
Peyton Randolph
What would the colonists do if the King did not stop the Intolerable Acts?
They would boycott British goods.
When would they meet again if the British did not meet their demands?
They would meet again in May 1775
Which colony was the only colony that didn’t sent delegates?
Georgia
What did the minutemen boast about?
They would be ready to fight at a minutes notice
What was the most famous minutemen battle?
The most famous was at Lexington and Concord
What were redcoats?
British soldiers, especially during the American Revolutionary War, who were so-called because of their red coats and uniforms that were worn by the majority of regiments. The common soldiers who made up the majority of British Redcoats had a hard life in the British army.
When did the Second Continental Congress meet?
They met on May 10, 1775
When did the delegates continue to meet until? What happened after that?
They continued to meet until March of 1781, when the Articles of Confederation were ratified.
What did the Second Continental Congress do first?
They created an army immediately to fight the British.
Who was the Second Continental Congress led by?
John Hancock
What else did the Second Continental Congress do?
The Second Continental Congress acted like a government. It sent ambassadors to foreign countries, printed its own money, got loans, and raised an army.
Who was part of the committee that Congress chose to create a Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin
How many colonies voted for independence?
12 colonies voted, but New York later announced its support
What were the major accomplishments of the Second Continental Congress?
On June 14, 1775 they established the Continental Army. They made George Washington General of the Army.
On July 8, 1775 they tried again for peace by sending the Olive Branch Petition to the King of Britain.
On July 4, 1776 they issued the Declaration of Independence declaring the United States as an independent country from Britain.
On June 14, 1777 they passed the Flag Resolution for an official United States Flag.
On March 1, 1781 the Articles of the Confederation were signed creating a real government. After this, the congress was called the Congress of the Confederation.
Who established the Continental Army?
2nd Continental Congress
Who won the Battle of Bunker Hill?
The American militia had 20,000 people.
The British were still in control of the city, and the American militia camped nearby.
On June 16 1775, the army commanded by William Prescott set up posts on Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill, across the harbor from Boston.
Next day, the redcoats assembled at Breed’s Hill and charged, but low on ammunition. Americans opened fire, forced the British to retreat, but the redcoats charged 2 more times, received furious fire from above, but soon Americans ran out of gunpowder and had to withdraw.
Battle of Bunker Hill was a British victory, but they suffered heavy losses of 1000+ dead/wounded.
The British learned defeating the Americans on battlefield wouldn’t be quick or easy.
Who wrote Common Sense and what was it about?
Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense. Go from wanting peace to wanting independence. The key point was thomas paine’s common sense was to persuade colonists to be independent and no longer part of Britain.
In 1776 he published pamphlet called Common sense which called for complete break with British rule.
Who was Thomas Paine?
Thomas Paine was an England-born political philosopher and writer who supported revolutionary causes in America and Europe.
“Common Sense” and other writings (“Crisis” at Valley Forge) influenced the American Revolution, and helped pave the way for the Declaration of Independence.
He arrived in the colonies from England in 1774 and caught the revolutionary spirit; his writings persuaded people to join the patriot cause.
Who was Thomas Jefferson?
He was a delegate in the Continental Congress, he served in the Virginia legislature, he was the governor of Virginia, and he was chosen to draft the Declaration of Independence. He drew on Locke’s ideas. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.
What was the Declaration of Independence?
A few weeks after the British left boston, container NALC Congress appointed a committee to write declaration of independence. Thomas Jefferson’s
job was to explain to the world why the colonies were choosing to separate from Britain.
It stated their natural rights. It said all people are born equal in God’s sight, and governments are formed to secure natural rights. If a government fails to protect these rights, the people can create a new government.
It also argued that King George had no concern for the rights of the colonists, and wanted to establish an absolute tyranny. As proof, Jefferson listed long list of king’s abuses, or grievances, justifying the reason they declared independence.
Then the delegates discussed Jefferson’s draft of Independence and after some changes, it was approved on July 4, 1776.
Committing treason under British law, if unsuccessful would be led to death.
African Americans and women were not included in this but did important things.
Who were Patriots?
They were Americans who believed that the colonies had a right to govern themselves.
The long list of tensions led to the division of Patriots and Loyalists.
Who were Loyalists?
They argued the colonists had a duty to obey the king, whose authority came from God.
They felt deep loyalty to king of Britain, and was horrified by the idea of taking arms against British troops. They were faithful subjects.
Who were the mercenaries?
British relied on mercenaries- Americans called them “Hessians” after the region in Germany where most of them came from. They had less of a purpose when fighting. Some Patriots bribed the mercenaries/hessians.
Hessians were approximately 30,000 German troops hired by the British.
It was quicker and cheaper to hire Hessian units than to recruit and train new regiments of British troops; They were very well trained and helped win battles.
What was the Battle of Trenton?
It happened on December 25-26, 1776.
While the Patriots were struggling through winter, the main British force settled in New York. The British also left some troops in Princeton and Trenton, NJ. Washington saw a chance to surprise them. Washington camped in Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River from the British camp. On Christmas 1776, he led 2,400 troops across the river to surprise the enemy at Trenton.
Hessians surrender.
Washington then escaped and marched to Princeton, and his army scattered the British force there.
After the Battle of Trenton, the British in 1777 sent general John Burgoyne to defeat the americans.
What was the Battle of Saratoga?
In early 1777, the British began their 3-pronged battle plan.
Their goal was to seize Albany, New York and gain control of the Hudson River.
With the Hudson, they would cut off New England from the Middle Colonies
First , General John Burgoyne led troops south from Canada and Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger moved east from Lake Ontario and a 3rd group under General Howe moved north up the Hudson.
The 3 british forces would then attack the Patriot troops in Albany.
The British capture Philadelphia.
Before the attack on Albany, Howe sought to capture Philadelphia- home of the Continental Congress.
Howe won battles in September 1777 at Brandywine and Paoli near Philadelphia, then his troops captured Philadelphia, forcing the Continental Congress to flee. Howe decided to stay in Philadelphia instead of going to Albany because of winter.
The Battle of Saratoga
Meanwhile, British plan to take Albany was in trouble.
In August, American soldiers led by Benedict Arnold stopped St. Leger in Fort Stanwix, New York
General Burgoyne’s army hasn’t reached Albany either
In July, they captured Fort Ticonderoga, but needed supplies.
They sent forces to the American supply base at Bennington, Vermont. The local militia group, the Green Mountain Boys, defeated them.
Burgoyne retreated to Saratoga, New York
There, Burgoyne found himself in trouble and alone.
Patriots stopped St. Leger at Fort Stanwix. Howe was still in Philadelphia, and American troops under general Horatio Gates blocked and surrounded Burgoyne’s army.
Burgoyne made a desperate attack on october 7, but the Patriots were firm.
On October 7, 1777- General Burgoyne surrendered and the British plan failed.
The Continental Congress won an enormous victory that changed the course of the war.
Who was Marquis de Lafayette
One leader at Valley Forge was Marquis de Lafayette. He came to the US in 1777 as a volunteer.
Excited about the Declaration of Independence’s ideas, he wanted to join the battle for freedom.
He believed the American cause represented future of mankind.
When he reached the US, Lafayette offered services to General Washington, and agreed to serve without pay and became a trusted aid. He volunteered time and money, and secured vital resources from France.
His first major combat duty came during the September 1777 Battle of Brandywine; Valley Forge, Battle at Monmouth; Siege at Yorktown
Who was Bernando de Galvez?
He was a Spanish Leader during the American Revolution. Bernardo de Gálvez was the governor of the Spanish colony of Louisiana when the Revolutionary War began in 1776.
Gálvez helped the Patriots by keeping British armies and supplies out of the Mississippi River. He also gave the United States army ammunition and food.
This was a patriot advantage. When Spain joined the war, Gálvez prepared a series of military attacks against British forts in West Florida. (Pensacola, FL)
Who was John Paul Jones?
He was an American naval officer. John Paul Jones raided British ports, in his battle, the British ship surrendered.
Naval victory made John Paul Jones a hero to the patriots.
He joined the Continental Navy, with his greatest victory coming from his against-all-odds defeat of the British warship Serapis in 1779.
Who was George Rogers Clark?
He was a Virginia militia leader. George Rogers Clark set out to end attacks in the west.
In July 1778, he led a force down the Ohio River. The patriots captured the British post at Kaskaskia and the British Town of Vincennes.
The British troops under Henry Hamilton recaptured Vincennes, and Clark vowed to get it back.
On Feb 1779, Clark and his troops surprised the British and forced their surrender. This victory strengthened the American position in the west to regain Vincennes
What was the Battle of Yorktown?
Some new tactics were hit and run and guerilla tactics. Leaders were Nathaniel Greene and Daniel Morgan.
In April 1781, Cornwallis marched to Virginia and carried out raids.
Washington sent Lafayette and General Anthony Wayne to push Cornwallis back, who took shelter at Yorktown.
Battle for the south was entering its final phase.
While the British was carrying out southern campaign, in the north, French warships carried French aid and supplies. The soldiers were commanded by Comte de Rochambeau
Rochambeau joined Washington waiting for the second fleet from French to attack the British Army Base at New York (under General Clinton)
The second French fleet never arrived in the north, so Washington and Rochambeau never attacked Clinton.
Instead both ships and troops found a better opportunity to strike the British in Yorktown.
Washington leaves for Virginia
as he waited outside New York, Washington followed reports of fighting in the south.
In 1781 he sent Lafayette and Anthony Wayne to Virginia to stop Cornwallis which was a success
Lafayette had Cornwallis surrounded on the peninsula of Yorktown.
Washington also got important news about the French fleet: The ships were headed to Chesapeake Bay instead of New York. They were going to help defeat Cornwallis; so Washington quickly changed plans and decided he and Rochambeau would advance on the British at Yorktown and not New York.
Washington kept his new strategy a secret. He wanted Clinton to think the Patriots were still going to attack New York, so Clinton would not send aid to Cornwallis.
Washington and Rochambeau then rushed south with their confused armies.
General Clinton did not learn about the patriot armies until it was too late.
He could not stop the three forces: Lafayette’s troops, Washington and Rochambeau’s army, and the French fleet from meeting at Yorktown.
It was a trap at Yorktown.
Washington’s plan worked perfectly.
Meanwhile, the French fleet kept guard at Chesapeake Bay. The British ships could not help Cornwallis escape by sea.
Clinton and the rest of the British army sat helplessly in New York. The British were trapped.
American and French forces began a siege and blocked off the British supply and escape routes. They hoped to make the British surrender.
Victory over Cornwallis
Siege began to affect them- low supplies, wounded soldiers
With Washington’s aid, Hamilton led an attack that captured key British defenses.
Cornwallis realized his situation was hopeless and he surrendered.
Patriots won the Battle of Yorktown
Independence achieved.
The Yorktown victory was a terrible blow to British war effort, but fighting continued after Cornwallis surrendered.
British still held Savannah Georgia, Charles Town South Carolina, and New York.
There would be a few more land and sea clashes, but Yorktown convinced the British citizens that the war was too costly to pursue.
What was the Treaty of Paris?
The Americans and the British sent delegates to Paris to work out a treaty.
American Congress ratified the first draft of a treaty in April 1783.
The final Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783. British also made peace with France and Spain.
Under the Treaty of Paris, Great Britain recognized the US as an independent nation
British promised to withdraw all troops and gave Americans fishing rights in Canada.
In turn, the US promised that Americans would pay British merchants what they owed and Congress would advise new states to return property stolen from Loyalists.
3 main parts
Great Britain agreed to recognize the United States as an independent nation
Britain gave up its claim to all lands between the Atlantic coast and the Mississippi River, from Canada south to Florida
The united states agreed to return all rights and property taken from Loyalists during the war
What did the First Continental Congress achieve?
From 1774 to 1789, the Continental Congress served as the government of the 13 American colonies and later the United States. The First Continental Congress, which was composed of delegates from the colonies, met in 1774 in reaction to the Coercive Acts, a series of measures imposed by the British government on the colonies in response to their resistance to new taxes.
Sept. 1775- 55 delegates gathered in Philadelphia to set up a political body that represented Americans and challenged British control- continental congress. It brought together delegates from most of the British colonies in North America, so it was called the first continental congress.
response to coercive acts- colonial resistance to taxes
impacts
suffolk resolves led other colonies to begin organizing militias
suffolk resolves were NOT continental congress ( massachusetts declared) but it impacts the Articles of Association
CREATED TENSION, DOES NOT STOP THE TENSION
discussed complaints against the british and voted
Called to repeal 13 acts of parliament- believed these laws violated the rights of the colonies
Repeal thirteen acts of parliament
Delegates also voted to boycott british trade, wouldn’t import or use british goods, or sell their goods in great britain
Also decided to endorse suffolk resolutions. It declared the coercive acts to be illegal, called on the country’s residents to arm themselves against british. After endorsing resolves, other colonies organized militias
called on militias to prepare for war
Suffolk resolves- asked militias to prepare for war
met to organize colonial resistance to coercive acts, many important leaders attended- patrick henry, sam and john adams, george washington.
Congress was structured with emphasis on the equality of participants, and to promote free debate
delegates’ opinions varied greatly, but they were united under a love for liberty and hatred of tyranny
Congress issued a Declaration of Rights, affirming its loyalty to the British Crown but disputing the British Parliament’s right to tax it- letter/petition to king george
declaration of rights- explain
The Congress also passed the Articles of Association, which called on the colonies to stop importing goods from the British Isles beginning on December 1, 1774, if the Coercive Acts were not repealed.
articles of association- say to stop important goods if demands not met
Should Britain fail to redress the colonists’ grievances in a timely manner, the Congress declared, then it would reconvene on May 10, 1775, and the colonies would cease to export goods to Britain on September 10, 1775.
What did the Second Continental Congress do?
In 1774, the delegates agreed to meet again if Britain failed to address their concerns. The Second Continental Congress met on May 10, 1775 w/some of the greatest leaders of the colonies. The Second Continental Congress assumed the normal function of a government and established itself as the central governing authority under the Articles of Confederation (don’t need to study), which remained in force until 1788. President John Hancock
The Second Continental Congress first met on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after the American Revolutionary War had begun
After that, the delegates continued to meet in different sessions until March of 1781, when the Articles of Confederation were ratified.
in the first continental congress, decided if the British didn’t repeal their acts, they would meet again
Continental congress took many steps to begin governing the colonies
Authorized the printing of money, set up a post office, formed communities to handle relations with native Americans and foreign countries
Most important- created the continental army
created continental army and chose George Washington to command it- he was very capable. some historians argue that without him, patriots wouldn’t have won
Unlike local militias, such a force could form and carry out an overall strategy for fighting the British
Congress chose George Washington to command the army - experienced soldiers and respected southern planters. Left Philadelphia to instruct forced in Boston
Delegates then offered Britain last chance to avoid war
Sent a petition to George III- olive branch petition
send olive branch petition- final chance
Assured the king that colonists wanted peace, asked the king to protect colonists’ rights
King rejected the petition, declared colonists open rebellion- if they resorted to violence it would mean war?; and prepared for war. Hired more than 30,000 german troops called Hessians to help British troops
June 1776- Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee offered a bold resolution: to be free. Congress debated this, some delegates thought colonies should not form separate nations, some said war already started and they should be free. Others feared Britain’s powers to crush their rebellions
declaration of independence
While delegates debated, Congress chose a committee to write a declaration of independence - Jefferson agreed that he would do the writing for the project. Drew on John Locke’s ideas to explain why 13 colonies were proclaiming their freedom (see for details)
July 2, 1776- second continental congress voted on lee’s resolution - 12 colonies voted for independence (new york later announced its support)
Then delegated discussed Jefferson’s draft of independence- after some changes, it was approved on July 4, 1776
What were some advantages of the Patriots?
Strong patriotism; greater motivation/sense of purpose high stakes and stronger motivation
The British relied on mercenaries- Americans called them “Hessians” after the region in Germany where most of them came.
Patriots fought for freedom of their own land- gave them greater stake than soldiers who fought for money
british mercenaries were paid, didn’t have much motivation
americans were able to lure hessians away
Americans also lured hessians away with promises of land
Americans received help from overseas
Marquis de Lafayette and others
George Washington
Fighting on own ground
What were some advantages the British had?
The British seemed unbeatable. During the previous 100 years, the British had enjoyed triumph after triumph over nations as powerful as France and Spain. At first glance, the odds were clearly against the Americans as Britain enjoyed some of the best advantages.
with a professional army of 50,000 troops, british forces outnumbered the continental army
King george III also hired 30,000 mercenaries known as Hessians 30k mercenaries
british were also able to recruit many loyalists, african americans, and native americans, and quakers remained neutral
british and hessian troops were well trained in european military tactics
excelled in large battles fought by a mass of troops on open ground
had far more experienced than americans at firing artillery
better trained than american soldiers
Patriots only volunteered as soldiers for short periods of time
British were well supplied
strongest navy in the world,
along with thousands of soldiers, best navy
had naval control
well-trained army,
supported by wealth of their empire,
more people : 8 million people lived in britain and there were only 2.5 million americans
support of loyalists in the colonies
not all Americans sided with independence, had the support of loyalists
enlisted african americans to fight first
many native american allies because they saw britain as less of a threat
tried to remain neutral in the early phase of the war but when some of them came under attack by American militia, they decided to join the British. many confederacies ex. wabanaki
Other tribes joined the British in the hopes that if the British won, they would put a stop to colonial expansion in the west, as they had done with the Royal Proclamation of 1763
bribing african americans to work for their cause
one of the best armies in the world
most powerful, experienced well-trained and disciplined army in the world; the army had defeated some of the most powerful nations ex. france and spain
What were some arguments given by the authors of the Declaration of Independence?
they argued that all men possess inalienable rights. The king violated these rights by passing unfair laws. Therefore, the king had broken the social contract with the colonists.
there are 3 main natural rights- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which the government must respect or else it should be overthrown
erasing colonists representation and invading their basic rights
The judge’s decision in trials are dependent on the king of britain’s beliefs
King has taken rights of trial by jury, one of the rights of the citizens
King was sending back to great britain for offenses that are not justified
King taking away land and rights in government, and britain was so far
they had already attempted to peacefully mend relations, only responded with threats, never showed willingness to compromise
in the olive branch petition written by the second continental congress, king george III refused to protect the people’s rights and prepared for war
declaration of rights- first continental congress
in protests such as the boston tea party, britain only responded with more abuses- ex. the coercive acts
After Bostonians were forced to house British troops (quartering act), We were forced to pay for the tea dumped into the Boston Harbor- more tyranny
King passed acts that controlled all aspects of life there - oppressed
King had kept the armies of towns without the consent of legislatures . All rules are decided by the king of britain, making colonists feel unindependent, even during times of peace
King is forcing colonists to house soldiers
the king has increased control over the colonies and has been supporting indians on the colonists frontier, causing merciless wars
controlled westward expansion
Britain enforced a quartering act, forcing them to protect the military. Large army is stationed permanently because of proclamation
Bringing too many soldiers
Cannot trade with other places, they cut off their trade- navigation acts
writs of assistance allowed officers to search almost anywhere for smuggled goods- infiltrated our basic foundation of trust and life- no say in this.
taxes basic goods for their own war that the colonists had no say in (taxation without representation)
Enforced taxes and enabled them to have much money, colonists lost money trying to pay off taxes. Taxation without representation
After the French and Indian War, the colonists were forced to pay taxes to pay off Britain’s debt from the war efforts, it was Britain’s war!
should not have to pay British taxes because they had no representatives in the British Parliament. They are taxing a wide variety of goods and taking advantage and controlling our economic prosperity (ex. Navigation acts).
would not allow colonial representation, especially in parliament’s decisions
King george III refused to pass any laws that helped the colonists
King has formed own government to belittle the colonists and be superior over them
colonial assemblies should only hold the right to tax the colonies, but their representatives did not hold any power
the king of britain resigned from leading a government that protects the people, sacrificing the colonists’ safety by waging war against the colonists
the king has only helped the colonists when it was out of an interest for great britain
britain had sabotaged the lives of the colonists in many ways: killed many people, tore apart the towns, and has taken control and ruined every aspect of life in the colonies
What were the two major battles of the war?
The Battle of Trenton and Saratoga
