Clashes between British forces and rebels, 1775-76; the Declaration of independence and Articles of Confederation. Flashcards
What where the articles of confederation?
A way of creating a national government that was as different to the British parliamentary system as possible. In 1776, one man was appointed from each state to create a constitution for government and to fight the war. It allowed the Americans to work together without giving too much power to a central body, which is what the American’s thought the main problem of the BR’s system was.
- Congress had no power to enforce taxes or regulate trade
- All states had to agree on any amendment to the constitution
- There as no one senior figure, just 13 votes from each state regardless on size
- Congress had some power, but the most important issues needed a 9+ majority to be passed.
Why was 1775 almost the point of no return?
Marked a peak in the tensions between the two colonies.
Moved neutrals towards the Patriot/Whig side, the loyalists where a firm minority.
Britain had arguably crossed a line and there was no going back, instead of backing off after the Boston Tea party, they doubled down with the coercion acts.
What where the main causes of tension in this period?
Opposition to taxation was the main cause of American Unrest.
The actions of the SoL turned tensions into violence Eg; the SoL where the Catalysts and drivers of the War.
Give a brief timeline of the clashes between Rebel forces and the British from 1775-76.
February 1775 - Britain declares a state of rebellion in Massachusetts followed by the first military action/violence of the war.
April 1775 - Full scale assaults begin, 273 British were killed at the battle of Lexington.
June 1775 - The first major military action, fall scale assault at the battle of bunker hill, over 1/8th of the officers killed in the war where at the sight of this battle.
What was the declaration of independence and how significant was it?
Signed on the 4th of July 1776.
It was addressed to King George the 3rd of England, who in the declaration, is accused of over 27 separate incidents against him, throughout the founding fathers refer to him as an evil tyrant.
The declaration formalised the new nation of America, and the war that was essentially a civil war, became a full blown conflict as George III issued an order to every soilder, offcial and general to crush the rebellion.
