The loss of the American colonies 1770-83 Flashcards
What was the effect of the French-Indian Wars on American men?
Many men trained as soldiers who would fight in the Revolution
What was the effect of the 7 Years War on British debt?
It doubled, so taxes needed to be raised. The interest took £4.4 million out of an £8 million income
What percentage of American men had suffrage in 1770 and where did their votes go?
50%-80% which elected legislative assemblies which passed financial bills on local matters
What did American legislative assemblies start doing after 1763?
Overstepping their constitutional duty by voicing complaints about taxation, sending messages to London
What did New England focus on industrially?
Farming and fishing
What did the Middle colonies focus on industrially?
Wheat and flour production
What did the Southern colonies focus on industrially?
Tobacco, labour intensive with slaves aplenty
Why did money have to be raised in the American colonies?
Defense force against French and Native Indians, to govern new Frenchies, to pay off debt, and for colonial administration which had increased fivefold since 1748
Which 2 laws was passed in 1765?
The Stamp Act, which meant that certain printed goods had to use paper stamped in London. Also the Quartering Act meaning people had to house and feed soldiers
What was passed in 1767?
The Townsend Duties, which put duties on luxury items including tea
What caused the ‘years of peace’ 1770-73?
Repeal Townshend Duties except for tea, loyalist strength and colonist disunity
What percentage of Americans were loyalists or patriots?
20% Loyalists, 40%-45% Patriots
Who supported loyalists?
Slave owners in South who disliked instability in fear of slave uprising, Anglicans, non-English minorities
Who supported patriots?
Richer families like farmers in Virginia, enlightened town-dwellers, radicals, middle classes
What was set up in 1771?
Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence, a colonial grievances channel of communication which the British couldn’t control
What was passed in 1773?
The Tea Act which allowed the EIC to directly trade with America
Why was the Tea Act unpopular?
It was seen as another form of taxation, of British trying to squeeze money out of Americans
What was passed in 1774?
The Coercive or Intolerable Acts which closed Boston, allowed transfer of murder trials to England due to Patriot juries, and furthered Quartering Act
What was created in September 1774?
Continental Congress, as most of the legislative assemblies had been dissolved
What was the state of British rule in early 1775?
Committee of Safety ran America, apart from Boston
What occurred at the Battle of Lexington?
75 Patriots fired on General Gage’s loyalists who were destroying their stockpiles, 73 Brits dead
What happened on 26 May 1775?
Battle of Bunker Hill
What was the result of the Battle of Bunker Hill?
Pyric victory for British, the death rate set them back for the rest of the war, 1,054 vrs 450 casualties
What role did the Continental Congress play for the Patriots?
Gave patriots a sense of purpose, allowed to organise troops and turned the Boston revolts into a formal war
What did the CC do in July 1775?
Print money to pay for war
What did the CC help with in January 1776?
Printing and distribution of Tom Paine’s Common Sense
What does the Articles of Confederation show about the Patriot thought pattern?
Since it took so long, it can be shown that Patriots feared any power takeover by a central force