American War for Independence Flashcards
Describe the statistics of Europeans and Africans settled in British colonies along the east coast of North America in the 18th century
- 1700- 250,000
* 1775- 2,500,000
Describe the people who lived in the British colonies on the east coast of north coast
- the majority were indentured servants- given free passage in return for 4 or more years service. They were then set free, sometimes with land, and became independent
- 1619- enslaved Africans were imported to farm tobacco and rice to feed those in the West Indies, and to sell to Europe
- 50,000 migrants were convicts, transported to the colonies (often for life)
- people in search of political or religious freedom
Describe the early American colonies
- business venture
* developed by the Virginia Company
Describe the Pilgrim Fathers
- 1620
* sought a new life and religious tolerance in the colonies
Describe Maryland
- named after Charles I’s Queen
- set up by Lord Baltimore (Catholic)
- to provide a society where Catholics could be free to practise their religion in peace
Describe Pennsylvania
- 1680
- set up by William Penn
- as a place for Quakers to escape persecution
Describe the colonies
- 13 colonies- people with economic and emotional ties to Britain, but who desired freedom and the ability to run their own local affairs
- focussed on local issues, not united, independent spirit, did not act together
How did tax and war lead to the American war for independence on Britain’s part
- Seven Year’s War with France
- colonists had a part-time militia
- extra British troops were sent to protect the colonies from the French and the Native Americans
- the British government suggested that the colonies should pay toward these troops
- colonies already paid for customs duties and the mercantile system
- series of Acts passed (1763- Stamp Act)
Describe the colonists reaction to the Stamp Acts
- 1773- Stamp Act Congress- no taxation without representation
- Boston Tea Party
- 1776- Declaratory Act
Describe the Boston Tea Party
- December 1773
- Boston Harbour
- group of colonists dressed as Native Americans
- boarded East India Company tea clipper
- tipped all of the tea into the sea
- British closed Boston Harbour until restitution was paid
Describe the sectors of colonists in terms of their loyalty to the ‘Mother Country’
- Loyalists - believed the colonies could not survive independently amongst the imperial powers
- Radicals- self-made men (lawyers, newspaper proprietors), fiercely independent- believed in no taxation or legislation without representation
- Pamphleteers
Describe Thomas Paine
- 1776- Common Sense
- argued for American Independence
- sold over 500,000 copies in a couple of months
- moved to France, deeply involved in revolution
- 1791- The Rights of Man
Describe John Adams
- 1735-1826
- delegate at the Continental Congress, persuaded them to declare their independence
- committed republican- vehemently opposed the rule of George III
- helped draft the American constitution
- strongly anti-slavery; had never owned a slave
- Vice to Washington
- elected second President
Describe the divisions of opinion in Britain
- Tories- asserted government’s right to make decisions over colonies
- Whigs- heavy-handed government dealings were making independence more likely (sizeable minority)
- growth of radical political thought and demands for reform
Describe John Wilkes
in and out of prison for criticising the King and demanding reform
Describe Adam Smith
- 1776- the Wealth of Nations
* argued in favour of free trade
Declaration of Independence
- 1776
* published by leaders of all 13 colonies
French join in
1781
Describe the surrender at Yorktown
- 1781
- Cornwallis trapped- could not bring reinforcements or evacuate
- surrendered because of heavy bombardment
- lone drummer appeared on parapet for negotiations
- British armed marched out of York town between American and French troops
- flags furled
- regimental band played ‘World Turned Up-Side-Down’
- Lord North- prime minister- ‘Oh God, it is all over!’
Describe the statistics of the surrender at Yorktown
8,000 troops, 214 artillery pieces, thousands of muskets, 24 transport ships, wagons and horses surrendered
Describe the short term significance of the American war for independence
- 1782- Bill- no further attempt will he made to subdue the Americans by force
- first colony to reject rulership- watershed
- re-affirmed belief in democracy, freedom and rights
- French Revolution
- trade with Canada and India grew rapidly
- catalysed radical change- franchise and power distribution
