Losing the American Colonies

Question 1

Who was the 7 Year War fought between?

Answer 1

Britian and Prussia v Spain and France

Question 2

Issues leading up to the 7 year War?

Answer 2

Rising Tensions between British and French trade

Most notably the British and French East India Trade Companies -

Decline of Mughal Empire sees India split into Constituents and Provinces

Will world be Birtish or French?

Question 3

What allowed for British Victory ?

Answer 3

The navy was strong

However, the national dbt and banking system introduced by William of Orange in 1688 allows Britian to raise tax for war and have more money for fighting

Question 4

Outcome of 7YW?

Answer 4

• Over 20k Loyalists and Brits killed
• France CEDES land to Britian
• Doubles debt to 130m - Higher than Britians annual GDP
• Ppl beleive Americans should pay tax as Britain was ‘protecting’ and ‘upkeeping’ the colonies

Question 5

What was the Stamp Act (1765) and what was the outcome?

Answer 5

• All paper products (newspapers) had to be stamped which meant paper could be taxed
• Major Riots and protests, Grenville sacked and tax scrapped

Question 6

What was the ‘Declaratoy Act’ (1766) and its impact?

Answer 6

The declaratory act was passed by Whigs (a liberal)

• Repealed Stamp Act
• Retains UK Parl Sov (can pass taxes when they want)

Question 7

What were the Townshend Duties (1767) and their Impact?

Answer 7

• Tories in power try to rasie taxes on colonies by taxing paper, lead, glass and tea
• Protests = by 1770, only tax on tea reamained

Question 8

What was the Boston Massacre (1770) and its impacts?

Answer 8

• Frightenes British Soldiers kill 5 men; violence had become common

Impacts:
- ‘Autharitarion’ regime imposed by Britian - event enters as demonology
- Resentment meant smugglers could get away with stealing from Britian as local jugdes would side with smugglers

Question 9

What was the Gaspee incident (1772) and its impacts?

Answer 9

Rhode Islanders burned waterline to Gaspee vessel which would enforce tax and intercept smugglers

Impacts:
- No witnessess would testify, criminals went free
- Political careers built on opp to Britian

Question 10

What was the Boston Tea Party (16th December 1773) and its impacts?

Answer 10

Lord North wants to ease bankruptcy of EIC and reassert Parl sov by introduicng threepenny tax on Tea

Americans anrgy due to years of salutory neglect

Reaction is a questioning of Britian’s purpose in American by colonists

Radical leaders see 90,000 pounds of tea thrown overboard

Question 11

What was the British Reaction to the Boston Tea Party Incident?

Answer 11

The introduction of the four coercive acts in March and May 1774

These acts were desgined to stregnthen British Authority in America

Question 12

What were the Coercive acts known as by the Americans?

Answer 12

The ‘Intolerable Acts’

Question 13

What was the Boston Port Act?

Answer 13

Closed town’s port unitl compensation was paid for the tea

Question 14

What was the ‘Massechusetts Government Act’

Answer 14

Govenro given more control by swapping in a royal appoited member of council

Question 15

What was the Administration of Justice Act?

Answer 15

Allowed trials to be held outside of province if Govenor saw fit in an attempt to prevent jury bias in America

Question 16

What was the ‘Quatering Act’?

Answer 16

Allowed commander to place troops in unoccupied buildings without consent in all 13 states

Question 17

What were American reactions to the acts?

Answer 17

There was violence and Teaship ‘peggy Stuart’ was burnt

Question 18

What was regarded as dangerous the previous year but now as a neccessity?

Answer 18

The First Continental Congress

Question 19

What book both criticised King George III and argued for the right to free trade ?

Answer 19

Thomas Jefferson’s ‘A Summary view of the rights of Britsh America’

Question 20

What was the aim of the first Continental Congess? (3)

Answer 20

1) To show unity

2) To hand over a peaceful declaration to King George and the people of Britian requesting a readress of the situation

3) Promises to meet again

Question 21

What was the British response to the First Contenental Congress?

Answer 21

They ignored it and reasserted Parliamentary Supremecy

Question 22

What Happened on the 19th April 1775?

Answer 22

General gage sends out expedtition to capture military equipment at Concord, faced by 70 minutemen who then retreat and force a confrontation with American militia who inflict 273 causaulties on Britian.

Question 23

“By 1775, American Independence was inevitable, the only question was when it would happen”. How far do you agree?

Give four main reasons for Americans wanting Independence

Answer 23

1) Increased Taxation:
- Britian view = protecting Colonies during 7YW
- Salutory neglect made amricans angry about tax

2) Enlightenment and Liberalism:
- John Lockr and Adam smith promot INDIVDUALISM and freedom
- Ppl believe in minimal govt and change of ideals in how Americans view each other EQUALLY

3) Popultion and Geography
- pop of colonies = 2.4m compared to 6.5 in Britian
- 6-10 weeks travel
- Colonists want more representation - Brits too far to make decisions for them

4) Coercive Acts - 1774

Question 24

Give Three examples of Poor Military Strategy by the British

Answer 24

1) ‘Pyrrhic’ battle at bunker hill (1775)
- Gen Gage leads forces to ‘victory’
- >1000 British casualties gives poorly experienced and under-funded militia confidence

2) Howe and Burgoyne at Saratoga
- Gen Burgoyne leads force from Canada hoping to meet up with Howe and cut off North colonies
- Howe never shows and Burgoyne surrenders 6000 men with 400 casulties

3) Reliance on Foreign Aid
- Britian employ 17,000 German mercenaries
- Mercenaries treat civillians poorly and lose Britian lots of support

Question 25

When did France declare wr on Britian?

Answer 25

June 1778

Question 26

When did Spain enter the War and why?

Answer 26

June 1779, Spain enters as ally of France, hoping they could recover Gibralter (they don’t)

Question 27

What was the most notable French contribution in the War?

Answer 27

France destroyed Gen.Cornwallis’s naval reinforcements at Chesapeake Bay under De Grasse

This forced the surrender of 7000 troops inclduign Cornwallis and is viewed as th decisive battle of the War

Question 28

Who pressured Britian into signing the Treaty of Paris (1783)

Answer 28

The British Parliament

Question 29

When did the British officially end military measures agaisnt America ?

Answer 29

Febuary 1783

Lord North’s resignation on 20th March

Question 30

When was the Treaty of Paris singed?

Answer 30

3rd September 1783

Question 31

What were American soldiers committed to ideologically that gav them an advantage over Britian?

Answer 31

The ideology of the Revolution and freedom

Intense Patriosim runs through the country