MEP5 The British Lose Their American Colonies

Question 1

When was it considered that Britain had an overseas empire in North America?

Answer 1

1760

Question 2

What were some long term tensions between the American colonists and the British?

Answer 2

• many successful colonists were self made and thought the British class system was outdated
• America didn’t rely on trade with Britain - they traded in people and other commodities and believed they could exist separately from Britain
• the Navigation Acts 1651-73 meant that only British goods could be imported to America. The colonists could no longer trade with other countries
• this monopoly mean competition was rare and so prices were high

Question 3

What were some medium term tensions between the American colonists and the British?

Answer 3

• the Americans were ruled by the British and paid taxes but had no representative in parliament
• the Stamp Act - a tax on the paper used for all official documents
• the colonists also had to pay taxes to fund the British wars with the French which they had no part in

Question 4

What were some of the short term tensions between the American colonists and the British?

Answer 4

• the Boston Tea Party - 16 December 1773 - colonists threw 342 boxes of tea into the harbour to protest tax on tea by the British. The British closed the port which created even more anger
• 1774 - 56 representatives from the colonists came together for the ‘first congress’ in Philadelphia. A decision was made to fight the British - the war of independence began!

Question 5

When was George Washington appointed leader of the American army?

Answer 5

July 1775

Question 6

When did Congress formally declare themselves independent from Britain?

Answer 6

July 1776

Question 7

When did Britain concede independence?

Answer 7

1783

Question 8

How many soldiers died in the war of independence?

Answer 8

10,000 soldiers and 20,000 sailors

Question 9

How much did the War of independence cost Britain?

Answer 9

£80 million increasing its debts
Rapid industrialisation meant it was still very wealthy

Question 10

What happened to trade with America after the war?

Answer 10

Britain began trading with American again eventually becoming allies

Question 11

Where did Britain focus its wealth and resources after the war?

Answer 11

Expanding and developing into places like Canada, Caribbean, Africa and India

Question 12

Where did Britain send its criminals during this time?

Answer 12

Australia and New Zealand