The Beginnings of the War

Question 1

Coercive Acts (intolerable acts)

• year
• what is it
• significance

Answer 1

Year: 1774

What is it: Caused Boston harbour to become blockaded and the Massachusetts colonial assembly to become suspended.

Significance: It brought Boston under military rule so people didn’t have their colonial freedoms, impacting people negatively.

Question 2

Quebec Act

• year
• what is it
• significance

Answer 2

Year: 1774

What is it: Expanded Quebec (other side of Appalachian Mountains) to become larger than all the colonies combined, and gave rights to the 70k French living there.

Significance: Because the other side of the Appalachian Mountains became British territory, there was no further settlement which angered land speculators. (George Washington)

Question 3

British Rule in Boston

• year
• significance

Answer 3

Year: from 1775

Significance:

• Caused Americans to fear British take over.
• Massachusetts colonial assembly continued to meet illegally as “Massachusetts Provincial Congress.”
• 1st President John Hancock ordered a higher number of “minutemen”, as the 17k militiamen were not considered enough to fight Britain.

Question 4

Powder Alarms

• year
• what is it
• significance

Answer 4

Year: 1774

What is it: movement by Thomas Gage to destroy gunpowder.

Significance: caused “Committee of Safety” to monitor troops.

Question 5

Committees of Correspondence

• year
• what is it
• significance

Answer 5

Year: Beginning 1774

What is it: communication between the 13 colonies through writing and letters to spread dissent. (difference of opinion)

Significance: caused locals to start taking power as government structures collapsed due to weak British military rule in those towns.

Question 6

First Continental Congress

• year
• what is it
• significance

Answer 6

Year: 1774

What is it: 55 representatives for 12 colonies meeting in Philadelphia, Georgia unattended.

Significance: argued it was Boston’s fault that martial law was imposed as they were viewed as “radical.”

Question 7

Battle of Lexington-concord

• year
• outcome
• significance

Answer 7

Year: April 1775

Outcome: Militamen forced British to retreat.

Significance: boosted the confidence of the colonists as it was their first victory against the British.

Question 8

Second Continental Congress

• year
• what happened
• significance

Answer 8

Year: May 1775

What happened: formed the Continental Army after reviewing the battle of Lexington-Concord. Washington nominated to lead the army.

Significance: prevented the South from believing the North was biased, so it brought the colonies together.

Question 9

The battle of Bunker Hill

• year
• what happened

Answer 9

Year: June 1775

What happened: Pyrrhic victory by the British.

Question 10

Olive Branch Petition

• year
• what is it
• significance

Answer 10

Year: July 1775

What is it: a petition sent to the king for one last peace offering, but he rejected it because he believed it was insincere.

Significance: brought the colonies together, gave no choice to the colonies but to have a war against the British.

Question 11

Declaration of Independence

• year
• what is it
• significance

Answer 11

Year: 1776

What is it: drafted by committee consisting of John and Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin. However, it was written by Thomas Jefferson.

Significance: declared the colonies independence from Britain.

Question 12

Events in order (the beginnings of the war)

Answer 12

1. Coercive Acts
2. Quebec Act
3. British rule imposed in Boston
4. Powder Alarms
5. Committees of Correspondence
6. First Continental Congress
7. Battle of Lexington-Concord
8. Second Continental Congress
9. The Battle of Bunker Hill
10. Olive Branch Petition
11. Declaration of Independence