The Loss Of The American Colonies (1770 - 83) Flashcards
After the 7 years war what financial issue did Britain face?
Financing the expansion of the colonies
What did Britain believe they needed to defend the new and existing colonies?
A whole new army based in North America
How did Britain fund their expanded empire after 1763?
By attempting to tax the American colonies
What was the name of the duties introduced to tax the American colonies?
Townshend duties
When were the Townshend duties introduced?
1767
What was the American response to the Townshend duties?
They felt as if they were being illegally taxed and protests and boycotts around the phrase “no taxation without representation” began.
Which group led Bostonian resistance to the Townshend duties?
The sons of Liberty
Which group sparked British anger causing the Boston massacre?
The sons of Liberty
What happened at the Boston massacre?
Civilians were shot dead by British soldiers
What year was the Boston massacre?
1770
What did the British do in 1770 to calm American anger and desire to revolt due to the Boston massacre and Townshend duties?
Repeal the Townshend duties
Which duty of the Townshend duties was not repealed?
Tea
Why didn’t the Boston massacre directly lead to the American war of independence?
20% of Americans were loyalists and 1/3 neutral
When was the committee of correspondence set up? Why and by who?
Set up in Sept 1771, by Sam Adams and was a system of reporting that the British could not control.
Why did he committee of correspondence benefit the patriots?
They could use it to convert neutrals into patriots.
When and why was the tea act introduced?
1773, to save the east India company from bankruptcy
What did the 1773 tea acts allow the east India company to do?
Trade directly with America, and compete with smuggled tea.
What was wrong with the tea act of 1773?
It ignored mercantilism and the navigation acts that everything should be traded through British ports.
When was the Boston tea party?
28th November 1773
Who threw cargoes of tea overboard?
The sons of Liberty
What was the worth of the tea that the sons of Liberty three overboard?
£10,000
When were the coercive acts introduced?
1774
What were the coercive acts intended to do?
Isolate Boston and force patriots into submission
Which act shortly followed he coercive acts?
The Quebec act
Why did a shift in power in America by the 1770’s cause the American war of independence?
The elite were loyalists who cooperated with the British and radicals wanted to rebel.
Name 4 British policies that caused or contributed to anger later causing the American war of independence?
- excessive taxation
- Britain requiring more of an army
- outcome of seven years war (long term)
- ideological differences between the British and Americans over political issues.
