Chapter 9: The American Revolution. Flashcards
What was the American War of Independence
1.It was a war between Great Britain and 13 British colonies in North America and it became a global war between several European great powers.
2.It is also known as the American Revolutionary War.
What were the causes of the American War of Independence? (2)
No Taxation without Representation: This was the slogan of the Sons of Liberty, who said Britain should not tax America when Americans were not represented in Parliament in London.
Boston Massacre: In Boston, British troops killed five people who were protesting about taxes on tea.
Stamp acts?
Newspapers & legal documents had to be stamped by government officials, who made them pay for this.
What were the results of the American War of Independence (2)
The American Revolution inspired the French to overthrow their king in the French Revolution.
The ideas of the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution were followed in other countries, such as Ireland. This led to the Rising of 1798 and the Volunteer movement in Ireland.
What is a constitution (American revolution)
A Constitution is a set of laws which outlines how a country is to be run
Why was French help of such importance to the Americans
The French provided new well-trained troops and weapons. They also sent over army generals such as Lafayette who were good leaders and worked well with the Americans. They also sent navy boats which prevented supplies from Britain being sent to their army.
Briefly account for the Boston Massacre.
British sentries guarding the Boston Customs House shot into a crowd of civilians, killing three men and injuring eight, two of them mortally.
Give one strength and one weakness of newspapers as historical sources.
It is a primary source, we cannot be sure that the information given to us is true or whether it is written to create opposition or bias towards a certain individual/event
Key battles in the War of Independence
Washington lost his first battle, at Bunker Hill, but inflicted heavy casualties on the British.
• The Continental Army won the Battle of Boston and captured cannons and rifles that were needed for the war.
• After Washington was defeated at New York in 1776, he gained two small victories, at Princeton and Trenton.
• In 1777, the British General Howe’s army of 18,000 men captured Philadelphia, America’s largest city and the home of the Continental Congress. This was a huge blow: many people began to doubt that America could win and they questioned Washington’s leadership.
Yorktown?.
Over the next few years, the balance of the war turned in favour of the Americans. They won more battles, and Washington kept the British largely confined to New York. In the decisive battle at Yorktown in October 1781,
The Treaty of Paris was signed between the former colonies and the British in 1783.
