Road to Revolution Flashcards
Patrick Henry
A Virginian politician that was for independence, famous for the quote, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
He was also a lawyer that reacted harshly to the Stamp Act. He had a lot of influence over TJ as he was older. Patrick Henry stood up in the House of Burgesses and demanded for the king to recognize the colonists’ rights, such as taxation with representation.
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was a group of American citizens that used “terrorist” methods to fight for their rights. The group formed because of the Stamp Act and destroyed revenue stamps. They used methods such as tar and feathering, destroying property, terrorizing, threats, and beatings.
Daughters of Liberty
The Daughters of Liberty were colonial women that boycotted British goods. Boycotts did not work without their help replacing the products, like homespun clothes.
Non Importation Agreements
Colonial attempt to boycott British goods to force political rights/recognition
Writs of Assitance
British could unreasonably search and seize colonial goods and property
John Dickinson
John Dickinson was a founding father that was involved in several key documents.
Though considered a “Penman of the Revolution,” he is a forgotten Founding Father even though he was a key writer and editor in many important documents. He wrote, “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania,” where he agreed that Parliament can regulate commerce but since duties were in the form of taxation, shouldn’t tax the colonies without representation, which was an essential principle of English law.
John Hancock
John Hancock was a famous and wealthy smuggler who used his money for the Sons of Liberty. He was arguably the richest man in the colonies.
Sam Adams
Sam Adams was a failed businessman that turned into a leader of the Sons of Liberty.
Boston Massacre
The first bloodshed of the revolution. The Boston Massacre occurred on March 1770 and it was Sam Adams that called it a massacre. Five people in total were killed, the first being Crispus Attucks, who was half Native American and half Black. John Adams ended up defending the soldiers in court.
Lord North
Lord North was the British Prime Minister that lost the colonies. He repealed the Townshend Acts but kept a small tax on tea as a symbol of Parliament’s right to tax the colonies.
He was first the Minister of Finance and then became the Prime Minister.
Committees of Correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence was a shadow government set up by Massachusettes for colonial communication and to react to the British. It was initiated in 1772 by Sam Adams and the Virginia House of Burgesses took it a step further and started organizing intercolonial committees in 1773.
The Gaspee
The Gaspee was an event that happened when a British customs ship was looted and burned in Rhode Island in 1772. Smugglers dressed up as Native Americans captured the crew and then burned the Gaspee as an act of revolution and war. They were meant to be brought to trial in Britain.
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an event where the Sons of Liberty threw British tea overboard in the Boston Harbor, a direct result of the Tea Act in 1773. The British tea was just sitting in the harbor because nobody would purchase it, so the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Mohawk Native Americans and overthrew 342 chests of tea that would be worth one million today. The colonists’ reactions were mixed, some were impressed while others thought destroying private property was too radical.
Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, were a series of laws passed by Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party. It included the Port Bill Act, Massachusettes Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and expanded the Quartering Act.
Thomas Gage
Massachusettes royal governor and the main British general at the start of the Revolutionary War. He was the one who ordered a large force to seize colonial military supplies in Concord.
1st Continental Congress
In September of 1774, a group of colonial delegates petitioned King George III about grievances they had. It was held in Philidelphia, and all colonies except for Georgia attended.
Minute Men
Colonial military men ready to fight in a short notice.
Militia
Local town men who are prepared to defend their territory. They were untrained citizen-soldiers that would only defend their town.
Lexington and Concord
The first military engagements of the Revolutionary War.
Second Continental Congress
This occurred from May 1775 to March 1781 and it was an attempt by the colonists to form a government. They established the Post Office, a Continental Army, and a Continental currency
Breed’s Hill
Breed’s Hill was the first battle of the war in Boston and it happened on June 17, 1775. The British were able to take a mass amount of colonial militia after three attempts and they ended up suffering over a thousand casualties. American claimed moral victory. The battle is often misnamed to Bunker Hill, which was nearby and would’ve been a better place to fight since it was higher ground.
Olive Branch Petition
This was the last colonial attempt to stop war with Britain in July of 1775, which they were rejected. It was a catalyst to the war, and the king declares the colonies in a state of rebellion in the Prohibitory Act in the next month.
Benedict Arnold
A colonial general that turns sides after being rejected for a promotion. He was originally commanded to invade Canada.
Thomas Paine
The author of the pro-independence pamphlet, Common Sense and The Crisis, which was published after a first bad year of war.
