Chapter 11 : The American Revolution Flashcards
First British colony
Virginia
Where did people immigrate
Ireland, Germany, Britain, population in 1760 was 2.5 million
Why wealthy in the south
Cotton and tobacco
Africans in the south
Forced to work on the plantations in Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia
Ulster Scots
200,000 migrated and brought religion with them, became wealthy landowners in the south.
Constitutional monarchy
England was one, King had to share power with Westminster parliament
George III
king of England, King of North American countries, had to rule 3000 miles away
Kings representatives and elected assembly
Governor, ruled a colony, elected assembly like the English Parliament who advised the governor
Colony
Country or region controlled by another country.
The enlightenment
Educated people questioned traditional ideas like ‘the divine right of Kings’ which was the belief that God picked a King to rule on his behalf, but people then thought it was ridiculous
French and Indian war
Britain and French at war around the world in places like America. The French fought with the ‘Indians’ and the British fought with the colonists, who got experience with fighting. 7 years later Britain won and took rule over Canada. George Washington fought with Britain.
Identification
People referred to themselves as American not British, and they got angry that they were being ruled by someone very far away.
Representation at Westminster
The colonies had no representation at Westminster, so the colonists had no say in matters that affected them
Leaders of the American revolution and war of independence
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Addams thought America could be ruled by Americans not British
Navigation acts
Unfair trade restrictions, could only sell tobacco to Britain at britains price, could only buy sugar from the plantations in the West Indies which were owned by British nobles and the Westminster parliament
The quartering act
Colonies payed the tax to keep the British army in the north to keep away from ‘Indian’ attack.
The stamp act
Put tax on legal documents which increased cost of claiming legal title to new lands. New slogan of the American Revolution became ‘no taxation without representation’
American democracy
Men would have the right to vote
Townsend acts
New tax on everyday items like tea and glass, Britain took them away except for tea to show that they still ruled them.
Boston massacre
Five men shot dead after protesting against the Townshend acts
Boston tea party
16 December 1773 colonists dressed as American Indians got on British ships in Boston harbour and dumped the tea into the water
Intolerable acts
British saw Boston tea party as an act of open rebellion so they closed down the port and city of Boston with new laws, hence the name I. A.
First continental congress
1774 the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss the events. Each colony formed a militia or army in preparation of war.
First war
1775 near Boston. General Gage, British governor, tried to seize militia weapons in Concord. Attacked in Lexington but fought their way to Concord, and were then forced to Boston. 300 redcoats were killed during the battles of Lexington and Concord.