The Loss Of The American Colonies 1770-83 Flashcards
Background info on the 7 years war
Ended in 1763 with British victory
Alarming for colonial settlers in 13 colonies
What was the proclamation line
Why did anger colonists
1763
Boundary line to the west of the 13 colonies.
Limited to land and expansion by the British
What was the sugar act
Why did anger colonists
1764
Designed to increase the amount of tax paid by colonists for sugar so the British could pay off their war debt
Already had been a tax on imported sugar of 6d, but not enforced properly
Tax lowered to 3d and enforced it so raised 78k a year
Colonist being taxed when they’re not used to it.
They were used to salutary neglect, now mercantilism.
What was the quartering act
Why did anger colonists
1765
Each colony had to provide barracks for British troops stationed there and pay for their supplies.
Troops could be housed in inns and empty buildings without owners consent.
Anger:
Loss of independence forced to give housing and supplies for free
The stamp act
Why did anger colonists
50 formal documents now held an additional tax. The act required a stamp on these formal documents to show it had been paid.
Estimated to raise 60k in first year.
Anger:
Not receiving any benefit from the new additional taxes
What were the Virginia resolves
1765, a response from the colonists
Henry introduced a resolution attacking the stamp act when speaking at the Virginia assembly
Colonists possessed the rights of Englishmen
Could only be taxed if they had proper representation
Colonists had to give their right to be taxed
Only the assembly had the right to tax Virginian residents.
By end of 1765, 8 other colonial assemblies had passed their own resolutions condemning the stamp act and denying the British parliament’s right to tax the colonies
The stamp act congress ‘declaration of rights and grievances
1765
The Massachusetts assembly suggested an intercolonial meeting to draft a set of common resolutions.
9 colonies met in NYC and drafted a ‘declaration of rights and grievances
The sons of liberty
Boycotts and protests that began in Boston, the organisers were called the sons of liberty.
Called for a boycott of British goods, October 31st, 200 leading merchants in NYC signed an agreement not to import British goods until the stamp act was repealed
Repeal of the stamp act
Why did anger colonists
1766
New PM Rockingham removed the stamp act
Anger: going straight back on what they did
The declaratory act
1766
Government belief in par.sov. And fearful of colonist power to inflict economic damage.
Therefore, at same time as repeal, passed the declaratory act asserting that colonies were subordinate to British parliament.
In essence, an act that meant they could pass any
Townsend duties
Why did anger colonists
1767
Pitt new PM
Chancellor townshend imposed duties on glass, wine, china, lead, paints, paper and tea imported into the colonies.
Some MPs criticised townshend as the duties would only raise 40k a year.
Anger: proved point of having more power
Circular letter
1768
Sam Adam’s put together a letter to be sent to the colonies denouncing the townshend acts as they violated ‘no taxation without representation’.
What was tarring and feathering
Merchants who did not comply were threatened with violence and sometimes subject to tarring and feathering by the colostomy’s
Stripped naked, covered in hot tar, rolled in goose feathers
Background info on enlightenment thinking
Intellectual movement from 17th century using reason and logic as the basis of their ideas.
Encouraged people in 13 colonies to question the church and governing by the British.
American and French Revolution inspired by it
Enlightenment thinkers
John Locke
Thomas Laine
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas jefferson
Background context of the Boston massacre
In an attempt to recoup expenditure from the French and India war, British government introduced provisions of duties into the colonies
The Townsend duties
Events of Boston massacre
Night of the 5th of march 1770 a crowd of Bostonians roamed around the streets in anger at soldiers being there
As the crowds increased, snowballs, ice etc were thrown at the soldiers
One soldier, trapped near the patriot mob, discharged his musket out of fear.
Other soldiers thinking they heard the call to fire, shot
5 dead
Next morning 7 soldiers arrested
Two convicted of manslaughter
Evidence to support the ‘years of calm’
Boycott of British goods in the colonies coming to an end
Townsend duties repealed in 1770
Lord north supported the repeal of Townsend duties.
Evidence to support that there was no years of calm
High tensions following Boston massacre, John Adam’s getting 6/8 defendants off.
retained tea clause of Townsend duties
Boston tea party
No representation in parliament
Time lag of 3 months for communications
What were the 4 acts in the intolerable acts
Administration of justice - may 20th 1774
Massachusetts government act - may 20 1774
Boston port act - June 1 1774
Quartering act - June 2 1774
What was the administration of justice act
The act meant that British officials accused of capital crimes whist suppressing riots in the Boston masacre could avoid local juries by having their cases heard in England.
What was the Massachusetts government act
The act effectively suspended the colonies charter and provided for an unprecedented amount of royal control. Severe limits placed on the powers of town meetings.
Furthermore, most elective offices in the colony were to be filled with royal appointees, not with popularly elected officials
What was the Boston port act
Closed the port facilities in Boston until they reimbusred the EIC for all the tea lost in the Boston tea party and paid for the damage caused to the customs offices during the unrest.
What was the Quartering act
Amended the quartering acts of 1765&1766. The revised law authorised soldiers to be accommodated in occupied facilities, including private homes.
What was the Quebec act
1774
French civil law reinstated and authority placed in hands of the governor rather than the colonial assembly
Quebec doubled in size
Became legal for the Canadians to practice Roman Catholicism
Colonist reaction to the Quebec act
Saw as a penalty imposed on them for their resistance to British taxes
Believed that a catholic stronghold had been created to threaten them
Another concern was the military threat of British troops based on the rear of the 13 colonies
Boston tea party brief notes
Tea very popular
1773 tea tax, Americans boycotted
“Tipping point in revolution”
Boarded ships and threw tea overboard
Sam Adam’s info
Helped set up committees of correspondence
Founding father of sons of livery
Boston massacre 1770
Boston tea party 1773
How many colonies represented at the first continental congress
12/13
Moderate leaders at the first continental congress
John Dickinson
Joseph galloway
Radical leaders at the first continental congress
John Adam’s
Sam Adam’s
Patrick Harvey.
What did the first continental congress declare (radicals)
The Suffolk resolves
Congress supported radical view of coercive acts null and void and Massachusetts to arm for defence.
Called for non importation of British goods until the repeal of the coercive acts
Called for a total ban on 10th December
Called for a united continental association.
Agreed on a declaration of rights and greivances.
The second continental congress
May 1775
65 delegates from all colonies met for second meeting of the continental congress. 50 present first meeting
Newcomers Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.
Quickly decided for colonies to be immediately put in state of defence
Took responsibility for army around Boston
Set quota of each colony to create continental army of 20k
Issued 2m paper money
Appointed Washington as head of army.
What were the two key documents written to king George III
Declaration of the causes and necessities for taking up arms July 6, 1775
Olive branch petition July 8 1775
What was the Declaration of the causes and necessities for taking up arms
Asserted that Americans would rather die than be enslaved, but also that they had no intention of separating from Great Britain
What was tue olive branch petition
July 8 1775
Written by Dickinson (moderate)
Professed attachment to George III and begged him to prevent further hostile from breaking out
It was a final attempt to avoid war.
Congress had authorised the invasion of Canada a week before.
King George response to the olive branch petition
George was not interested in appeals from an illegal body which was waging war against his troops.
He refused to receive or even consider the olive branch petition.
23rd August 1775, declared the colonies to be in a state of open rebellion and called upon everyone to join together in suppressing the rebellion
22nd December, the prohibitory act declared the rebellious colonies to be outside the protection of the crown.
Thomas Paine common sense
January 1776
Sold 120k copies in 3 months.
Savagely attacked the British constitution but most significantly attacked the institution of a hereditary monarch and George the third.
Called for Americans to publish a republic based on a broad franchise with annual elections.
What arguments did Thomas Paine make in common sense
Against the British government. - challenged monarchy
In favour of independence- thought it would bring greater freedom
For a republic - people have more say in government.
The Declaration of Independence
July 4th 1776
Colonist now starting to think about possible independence from Britain.
Had 3 main areas:
Intro
A list of king George’s crimes
Conclusion
Over 60% is greivances against George
12/13 colonies supported, NYC abstained.
56 signature.
What 2 things did the Declaration of Independence set out to do
Advance case for revolution, discussing human rights and national sovereignty
Declare 13 colonies independent
Lexington and concord
April 1775
American win
First shot of American revolution, heard across the world
Bunker hill
June 1775
British win
Britain gained bunker hill but suffered more casualties.
Americans shed good tactics behiend the British back
Long Island
August 1776
British win First shot
Largest battle, first major battle
Decisive British victory. Gained control of NYC
Trenton and Princeton
1176 December
American win
Boosted American morale, shift in momentum
British weak,
Washington led
Saratoga
1777 October
American win
Decisive victory and turning point in war
British surrendered
French supported with military aid
Charleston
April 1780
British win
Major American loss, turning point in southern strategy
Cowpens
January 1781
Americans win
Turning point for southern colonies, British army retreated
Gave Americans confidence they could win
Chesapeake bay
September 1781
American win
Pivotal naval victory, directly led to British surrendered
Yorktown
October 1781
American win
Last great battle, British surrender
Brutus government began to condsider peace treaty
Paragraph evidence for French intervention
Ink barely dry in treaty of Paris when France began to prepare for next war with Britain
Determined for revenge following 7 years war.
Split the army, battle of saintes.
French provided financial and military assistance to the colonies
What were the two conditions for the French to openly help the Americans
Declare independence
Had to show they were capable of defending themselves against the British.
William Howe
Favoured conciliar measures, he hoped to lure Washington into a decisive battle and negotiate a peaceful end to the rebellion.
He had a 32k army vs a 20k Washington army.
Had a chance at New York to outflank the americas, but it was foggy so he withdrew his army
Following Saratoga defeat, Howe resigned.
John Burgoyne
Colourful character, MP, playwright and general.
Said in 1776 that he would be back by 1777 Christmas victorious.
30 vehicles needed to carry his belongings.
Howe failed to communicate with Burgoyne.
Henry Clinton
Howes replacement
Struggled with poor supply lines
Tried to resign twice
Did not get on with Cornwallis, his second in command
Charles Cornwallis
Arrived in NYC in July 1779 to he Clinton’s second in command
Led the army in the southern campaign.
In 19th October 1781, after a 3 week siege, Cornwallis surrendered his 8k strong army to Washington at Yorktown ending the war
Evidence for British strengths in the American war of independence.
Britain 8million vs 2.5 American.
British had an army of 48k when the American had to build from scratch
18k hessian German soldiers.
1783, 20k loyalists had joined the British army
Royal Navy biggest in the world, 340 ships
Evidence of British weakness in the American war of independence.
Took two month to cross the Atlantic to send reinforcements, same with communication.
The colonies ran along 1.6km of coastline and covered 1.1 million square km
The continental congress moved from city to city and each continental army fought almost as an independent army. Meant British couldn’t attack a central point
Three top generals divided on strategy
The terrain and problem of supplies made it hard for British forces to go more than 15 miles from a navigable river.
Not prepared for conflict, navy run down.
Evidence of American strengths in the American war of independence
They got off to a good start. There were only 8k troops in the US and they fought valiantly at bunker hill despite defeat.
They called themselves patriots, they had a constant ideological goals and they were playing at home
They were further motivated by the use of hessians hired by the British
They knew the terrains and conditions
They had already organised themselves into local militia groups who served as a kind of political police.
Although they started with no navy, congress commissioned 2000 privateers.
George Washington was an effective leader who had total confidence in the continental congress.
evidence of American weaknesses in the war of independence.
Lacked unity, 13 different and separate colonies who shared more in common with Britain than with eachother.
Continental army had to be built from scratch with just 5k troops.
Washingtons army never exceeded 20k troops
In most cases, inexperienced amateur officers served as the American military leaders.
The army had fewer than 50 cannons, hardly any gunpowder
Lacked effective government.
First impacts on Britain following defeat (political)
Lord north resigned following a vote of no confidence
George III asked William Pitt the younger to become PM - brought stability.
Financial impact of the loss of the colonies on Britain
Trade disrupted during the war - 1775-78 imports fell by 26%
However, textiles and naval building industries benefitted from the war
Recruitment to the navy took men out of unemployment during the war
After war national debt was £232
It took until 1802 for Britain and USA to settle tensions
10 years after tensions, trading relation recorded rapidly
William Pitt economic impact
Imposed new tactics including Britain’s first income tax which reduced both smuggling and fraud
Global impact of the loss on Britain
In 1793, French declared war on Britain.
Ireland pushed and got free trade
William Howe
Favoured conciliatory measures. He hoped to lure Washington into a decisive battle and negotiate a peaceful end to the rebellion
This failed.
Had a 32k army vs 20k Washington
Had a chance at NYC to outflank the Americans but it was foggy so he withdrew
Resigned following defeat at Saratoga
John Burgoyne
Colourful character, Mp, play writer.
Wagered in 1776 that he would be back by 1777 Xmas.
30 vehicles needed to carry belongings.
Howe and Burgoyne failed to communicate.
“Gentleman Johnny”
Saratoga
Henry Clinton
Commander of British forces in America 1778-81
Howes replacement
Struggled with poor supply lines
Tried to resign twice. Did not get on with corneallis
Charles Cornwallis
July 1779, arrived in New York to be Clinton’s second in command.
Led army in southern campaign
19th October 1781, after 3 week siege, surrendered his 8k strong army to Washington at Yorktown ending the war.
