The trigger/struggle for independence Flashcards
When was the Tea Act passed?
What led the East India Company to near bankruptcy?
What did the Act aim to do?
How could it boost revenues?
What would it prevent?
How was it viewed by colonists?
What did the committees of correspondence do in response?
What happened to Tea which landed in NY & Philadelphia?
-Tea Act 1773
-Britain had been attempting to squeeze money out of the East India Company but this led the company to near-bankruptcy.
-The Tea Act 1773 aimed to help the Company by allowing it to trade directly with the Americas rather than shipping through British ports.
-Since more tea was coming through official channels, it was hoped that customs revenues would rise.
-This would undercut American smuggler’s tea.
-The Act was seen as another attempt to tax colonists illegally.
-The Committees of Correspondence began to organise boycotts and civil disobedience.
-Tea landing in New York and Philadelphia was sent back.
Which Governor was a loyalist that was determined for the shipments of tea to land in Boston 1773?
What plans did the patriots have for this?
Who boarded the ships and threw the tea into Boston harbour?
How much was the tea worth?
How did Britain respond?
-Governor Hutchinson, a loyalist, was determined that the tea should land.
-The patriots wanted to set an example to the rest of the colonies.
-After two weeks of discussion, 60 Sons of Liberty boarded the ships and threw tea into Boston Harbour.
-£10,000 worth of tea.
-The British response was to try to isolate Boston under military control and punish the colony.
When were the Coercive Acts passed?
When could Bostons’ port be reopened?
What was the colony’s charter charged to give? Who was governorship passed to?
Why were murder trials moved to England?
Why were more powers given to military commanders?
What was the Quebec Act? (Canada)
-1774.
-Boston Port was closed until the tea had been paid for.
-The colony’s charter was charged to give the governor the power to appoint most officials.
-The governorship passed to General Gage.
-Murder trials were to be held in England to stop patriots from literally getting away with murder.
-More powers were given to military commanders to quarter their troops.
-These were followed by the Quebec Act which set up governorships in Canada without assemblies.
Did the coercive acts succeed in isolating Boston?
Although the colonial Assemblies were suspended what still happened?
When was the first Continental Congress?
What did the Committees of Congress become?
When did Britain declare the state of Massachusetts to be in rebellion?
-The Coercive Acts did not succeed in isolating Boston.
-The colonial assemblies were suspended but met anyway.
-Delegates met in September 1774 at the first Continental Congress.
-The Committees of Correspondence became Committees of Safety and these effectively became the government.
-Britain declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion in February 1775.
Where did inital fighting take place?
Where were enemy weapons stock piled? What did General Gage do in response?
What were British troops met with?
Where did British troops press onto after?
Where did they besiege?
-The initial fighting was in and around Boston. There were only around 4,000 troops.
-Gage knew that enemy weapons were stockpiled in Salem and sent a force to take or destroy them in April 1775.
-British troops were met by 75 militiamen at Lexington and the first shots of the war were fired.
-The British pressed on to Concord, destroyed the stores and were fired on back to Boston.
- Boston was besieged shortly afterwards.
When did British reinforcements arrive for the war?
Where did they attempt an assault on in June 1775?
How many British casualties? Colonists?
Were the British successful?
What did King George declare the Thirteen colonies to be in August 1775 ?
-Reinforcements arrived in May 1775
-With more troops the British attempted an assault on Bunker Hill in June.
-There were over 1,000 British casualties and fewer than half that number for colonists.
-Britain took the position but lost so many men it is seen as a victory for the colonists.
-1775 King George declared the Thirteen colonies to be in a state of rebellion.
When was the second Continental Congress?
What had most people involved become?
What had the actions of King George and battles show those involved?
What did the Congress issue to meet the costs of war?
Who became head of the Continental army?
Was the Declaration of Independence a radical idea?
Why did it take long to produce?
-May 1775
-Many were going from being dissatisfied with British colonists to American patriots.
-George’s actions and the battles had shown that agreement was impossible and that it was possible to defeat the British.
-In June 1775, the Continental Congress issued paper money to meet some of the costs of the war
-They made George Washington the commander of the continental army.
-NO.The Declaration of Independence was not pushed through by radicals, it was agreed upon collectively.
-It took longer as the delegates were on their own personal journeys from Britishness to independence, communication was slow and Congress had to reach consensus before moving forward.
When did Congress issue the Olive branch petition? What did it ask for?
How did King George III respond?
What did Congress realise was their only option?
When was Thomas Paine’s Common Sense published? How many copies did it sell?
What did it advocate for?
When was the Declaration for independence passed? Adopted?
-July 1775
-It wanted reconciliation with the Crown.
-George refused all approaches and declared all colonies to be in rebellion by August.
-Congress began to realise that war was their only option.
-Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was published in January 1776.
-It sold 12,000 copies.
-Advocated for a new system of government.
-1776 the Declaration was passed on 2nd July and adopted on 4th july.
What did the Articles of Confederation create?
Where did the powers not given to Congress lie with?
What could Congress not do regarding tax?
Who was involved in deciding the amendments?
What else could Congress not do?
When were the Articles approved?
Ratified?
-The Articles of Confederation created a form of national government that was very different from the Westminster model.
-All powers not given to Congress lay with the states.
-Congress could not tax or regulate trade.
-All states had to agree on amendments.
-Congress could not declare war, borrow and issue money, draw up treaties and alliances, request men and money, and set up post offices.
-The Articles weren’t approved until November 1777 and not ratified by all states until 1781. Congress did function until then.
