Chapter 5

Question 0

Sugar Act of 1764

Answer 0

Def.
The Sugar Act decreased the duty on French molasses and increased the penalty for smuggling molasses.

Sig.
The act enraged New England merchants, who opposed both the tax and the fact that prosecuted merchants would be tried by British appointed judges in a vice-admiralty.

Question 1

French and Indian War

Answer 1

Def.
The French and Indian War was a war between the allied French + Natives and Britain.

Sig.
The French and Indian War altered political, economic, and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies. It indirectly lead to the Revolution because Britain taxed its colonies to pay of the debt from this war.

Question 2

Stamp Act of 1765

Answer 2

Def.
British law slapped a tax onto the use of all paper in the colonies. Expansive resistance to the act led to its repeal in 1766.

Sig.
The absurdity of this tax angered an incredible majority of colonists, and furthered the colonies’ resentment of their mother country.

Question 3

Quartering Act of 1765

Answer 3

Def.
At the request of General Gage, this law, stating that colonial governments had to provide food and barracks to British soldiers, was passed by Parliament.

Sig.
The Quartering Act helped protect colonists from attacks and cut down English expeditures, but standing armys made the colonists weary of their home country and, similarly to the other acts, angered them.

Question 4

Stamp Act Congress

Answer 4

Def.
This conglomeration of 9 assemblies met in New York City in October 1765 to discuss american rights and liberties.

Sig.
The Stamp Act Congress attributed to the repeal of the Sugar and Stamp Acts by challenging their validity constitutionality. It was said that only representatives elected by the colonists could tax them.

Question 5

Sons of Liberty

Answer 5

Def.
Originating in Boston, this group of colonists protested the imperial reforms of the 1960’s.

Sig.
Successfully galvanizing members of ALL the colonies, the Sons of Liberty played an important role in the patriotism among colonists and in the protest of unfair British treatment of colonies.

Question 6

Natural Rights

Answer 6

Def.
The Enlightenment ideals of the rights to life, liberty, and property were “natural rights.”
Sig.
The idea that people could have birth-given rights that no one could repeal was inspiring and hope-giving to patriotic Americans. These British ‘natural’ rights compare to the ‘inalienable’ rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” that reside in the US Constitution today.

Question 7

Declaratory Act of 1766

Answer 7

Def.
The Declaratory Act of 1766 served to reinforce the idea that Britain can legislate its colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”

Sig.
This act effectively let the colonists know that, although the Stamp Act had just been repealed, it changed nothing of the imperial powers of Britain. This frustrated the colonists because it meant that the real problem had not truly been solved.

Question 8

Townshend Act of 1767

Answer 8

Def.
The Townshend Act placed taxes on tea, glass, lead, paper, and painters’ colors. This law was a clear demonstration of the Declaratory Act

Sig.
Boycotted heavily, this act infuriated American colonists, worsening imperial relations and supporting the need for a revolution.

Question 9

Nonimportation Movement

Answer 9

Def.
This movement supported the abscence of importation of British goods. Nonimportation was generally a response to taxes. Nonimportation’s supporter were the First Continental Congress and the Continental Association.

Sig.
Women assisted in the nonimportation movement by home-spinning cloth and by reducing household consumption if goods. As women were a strong part of this movement, it drew them into the political sphere.

Question 10

Tea Act of May 1773

Answer 10

Def.
The Tea Act lowered the existing tax on tea as well as gave the East India Company exemptions.

Sig.
The boycotting American colonists felt that they were trying to be persuaded of their rebellious ways, and were offended. The resistance to these acts led to the implication of the Coercive Acts.

Question 11

Committees of Correspondence

Answer 11

Def.
Committees that declared the rights of colonial citizens and allowed Patriots to communicate with other colonial leaders

Sig.
Unified the colonies through their governing bodies. Defended colonists’ rights

Question 12

Coercive Acts

Answer 12

Def.
The Coercive Acts, or “Intolerable” Acts, were enacted to punish Massachussetts for the Boston Tea Party.

Sig.
These four acts lead to mass resistance and open rebellion.

Question 13

Continental Congress

Answer 13

Def.
In September 1774, colonial delegates came together in Pennsylvania to discuss the Coercive acts and trade with the British.

Sig.
The outcome of the meeting was an official boycott of British goods and the production of a Declaration of Rights.

Question 14

Continental Association

Answer 14

Def.
The Continental Association was an association established by the First Continental Congress in 1774.

Sig.
This association assisted the nonimportation movement by encouraging and enforcing a boycott of British goods.

Question 15

Lord Dunmore - Dunmore’s War

Answer 15

Def.
This was a war between Virginia’s royal governor, Lord Dunmore, and the Shawnee Indians for Kentucky.

Sig.
Lord Dunmore won the war and acquired land for the colonies. Tension still exists among colonists and Indians.

Question 16

Minutemen

Answer 16

Def.
Minutemen were militia men who were ready to fight at short notice during the imperial crisis of the 1770’s.

Sig.
Minutemen were the core of the colonial army. Without them, the colonies would have been much less successful in the American Revolution.

Question 17

Second Continental Congress

Answer 17

Def.
The Second Continental Congress governed the USA from May 1775 throughout the war’s timeline.

Sig.
The Second Continental Congress metaphorically “pulled the trigger” by writing the Declaration of Independence, and asserting control over their own colonies. In this way, they somewhat started the American Revolution.

Question 18

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 18

Def.
The principle that ultimate power lies in the hands of the people.

Sig.
The USA’s government officials are voted into office, therefore this is a concept we still adhere to today.

Question 19

George Grenville

Answer 19

Def.
Grenville was the Prime Minister of England selected by King George III. He said colonies should be more tightly administered and said Britain had the right to levy taxes on colonists.

Sig.
Grenville, despised by colonists, influenced the taxes and restrictions imposed on the colonies. Him and his political ideas somewhat instigiated the American Revolution.

Question 20

Charles Townshend

Answer 20

Def.
Townshend, a member of the Board of Trade and the chancellor of the exchequer, often filled in for the chronicly ill William Pitt. Townshend devised both the Revenue Act and the Townshend Acts.

Sig.
The harsh taxes Townshend implemented led to furthered American resentment of British Law, which led to the American Revolution.

Question 21

Lord North

Answer 21

Def.
Lord North was the prime minister of Britain. He devised the strategy to conquer the colonies, and the stategy to get Britain out of debt.

Sig.
North, economically talented, assisted in the process of eliminating French & Indian War debt.
Had it not been for the difficult winter, North would have most likely successfully taken the colonies with his plans.

Question 22

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

Answer 22

Def.
Thomas Paine is the author of the pamphlet “Common Sense,” which called for independence and a republican form of government.

Sig.
Using biblical quotes, insulting remarks, and patriarchal appeals, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” successfully convinced thousands that it was time to part with Britain.

Question 23

Thomas Jefferson - Declaration of Independence

Answer 23

Def.
Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, which separated the United States of America and Britain.

Sig.
The Declaration of Independence began the Revolutionary War - the official fight for the end of Britain’s imperial claims.

Question 24

John Dickinson’s “Letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania”

Answer 24

Def.
John Dickinson wrote “Letters from a farmer in Pennsylvania” and wanted to negotiate with George III.

Sig.
Dickinson’s “Letters” did a lot to arouse patriotic resitance - however John did not believe in war with Britain. Instead, John convinced Congress to send the Olive Branch Petition to King George III.