topic 3 study guide Flashcards
Why was the Ohio River important to the French?
it linked their Great Lakes claims with their settlements along the Mississippi River
Why did the French establish forts in North America?
To protect their land claims and block British colonies from expanding west
Why did the British want to expand their control into the Ohio Valley in the mid-1700s?
Because of natural resources in the Ohio Valley
Why did American Indians choose to participate in the French and Indian War?
To protect their land from further settlement and it was the only way to protect their way of life.
What were the results of the French and Indian War?
marked an end to French power in North America and it caused the Treaty of Paris to be composed.
Why was the Treaty of Paris of 1763 significant to the British?
Because they gained control of most of the French land east of the Mississippi.
What was the purpose of the Proclamation of 1763?
to stop colonists from going across western border and to protect British settlers from the American Indians
What was the essential idea behind the British mercantilist system?
To serve the colonial power and pay taxes
What was the colonists’ main argument against the Stamp Act?
They could not tax the colonists without representation
Why did colonists still object to the Townshend Acts even though taxes were low?
Parliament did not have the right to tax them without their consent
Why did the colonists object so strongly to the writs of assistance?
They violated search of property rights under British law.
Explain what happened at the Boston Massacre.
Angry Bostonians harassed the British soldiers and the soldiers ended up firing and killing five people
How was the Boston Tea Party an act of civil disobedience?
It did not hurt anybody but it did make a statement by throwing the tea into the harbor against government wishes
What restrictions did King George place on the colonists after the Boston Tea Party (what rules were included in the Intolerable Acts)?
- Parliament shut down the port of Boston
- Parliament forbade town meetings to happen more than once a year without the governor’s permission
- Parliament allowed customs officials and other officials who might be charged with a serious crime to be tried in Britain or Canada instead of Massachusetts
- Colonist would have to house British soldiers in their homes when no other housing was available
What event led to the first shots being fired at the battle of Lexington and Concord?
The attempt by the British to seize colonial military stores
What was significant about the battle of Lexington?
It marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War
Which action taken by the Second Continental Congress shows that they were hoping to avoid war?
They sent out the olive Branch petition to King George.
What effect did the capture of Fort Ticonderoga have on the fighting in Boston between the American colonists and the British?
The British left Boston when they saw the forts cannon positioned on Dorchester heights.
What advantages/disadvantages did the British have when entering the war?
Advantages: Best navy, highly trained soldiers, support of Loyalists
Disadvantages: armies were far from home, news and supplies took a long time to travel, vulnerable to attacks in the countryside
What advantages/disadvantages did the Patriots have when entering the war?
Advantages: Many owned rifles and were good shots, determined to defend their property, George Washington was a strong leader and brilliant commander
Disadvantages: Poorly organized and untrained forces, few cannons, little gunpowder, no navy, few were willing to enlist for a while
Which groups tended to be Loyalists?
Wealthy merchants and former officials of the royal government. Sometimes farmers and crafts workers
What was the first MAJOR battle of the Revolution?
Bunker Hill
What arguments did Thomas Paine make in Common Sense?
He argued that colonists did not owe anything including loyalty to George 3 or any other monarch, it was time to separate because British rule was bad for the colonists
What were the potential consequences for the delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence?
They would be hanged as traitors
What were the responsibilities of the government (according to the Declaration of Independence)?
To protect the people’s natural rights and liberties
What grievances did the colonists list in the Declaration of Independence?
limits on trade and about taxes imposed without the consent of the people
Why was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point in the war?
brought foreign allies into the war like the french.
How did Bernando de Galvez help the Patriots cause?
By giving them weapons and other supplies.
What important roles did American women take during the revolution? List multiple…
planting and harvesting crops, they made shoes and wove cloth for blankets and uniforms, some repaired cannons and guns for Patriot soldiers, some cared for the wounded, washed clothes, cooked, carried water, and even fired cannons
What did African American Patriots hope would result from American victory in the war?
Freedom, end to slavery
In the end, why were the British more successful at creating alliances with the American Indians?
They convinced them that a Patriot victory would mean more white setters crossing the Appalachians and taking their lands
What actions by the British and southern Loyalists caused many southern colonists to side with the Patriots?
Carrying out brutal attacks during the campaign in the Carolinas.
Which factors helped the Patriots win the war? List multiple reasons…
Alliances with European countries, familiarity with the land, and more desire to fight
Describe the conditions listed in the Treaty of Paris (what did each side agree to do)?
The British recognized the United States as an independent nation, and the U.S had to request that Loyalists had to be repaid for damages.
Describe the advantages of the Patriots at the beginning of the war compared to the British.
put yours
mine: In the beginning of the war the Patriots had many people who owned rifles and were good shots. These people were also determined to defend their property. George Washington was a strong leader and brilliant commander who led the Patriots. The British countered these Patriot advantages with their highly trained soldiers and best navy in the world as well as support from Loyalists.
MINE: Both the Patriots and the British had equal advantages and disadvantages coming into the war. But some advantages of the Patriots were that they owned rifles and were good shots. They also had a great leader, George Washington, and were far more determined to fight because they wanted to save their homes. The British, however, had more trained and organized advantages. They had the best navy in the world and many Loyalists supported them.
Describe the three parts of the Declaration of Independence.
The three main parts of the Declaration of Independence were all vital to the United States eventually becoming its own country. The first section stressed people’s natural rights that they are born with and that people had the right to choose how they live, which can not be taken away by any governments, including Britain. The second section listed the grievances that led the Americans to break away from Britain, like when they limited them to be able to trade and how harshly they taxed them without their consent. The third section announced the colonies becoming an independent United States and that they had free power in their nation now that all political ties with Britain were cut.
Summarize the events that led to the Boston Tea Party and describe how King George punished the colonists after the Boston Tea Party.
put yours
mine: Parliament kept the tax on tea when repealing the Townshend Acts. This caused colonists to boycott English tea. Some colonists even decided to dump chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. This is what was called the Boston Tea Party. After hearing of this news, the king punished the colonists of Massachusetts with the Intolerable Acts. Made up of four major acts. The first was Parliament shut down the port of Boston. The second part was Parliament forbade town meetings to happen more than once a year without the governor’s permission. The third part was Parliament allowed customs officials and other officials who might be charged with a serious crime to be tried in Britain or Canada instead of Massachusetts. The fourth act was colonists would have to house British soldiers in their homes when no other housing was available.
MINE MINE MINE: The Boston Tea Party started because of the colonists’ anger toward Britain. They were mad because Britain kept taxing their goods, especially tea. The colonists stopped buying tea and kept protesting which caused the British East India Company to lose money. Britain tried to help by passing the tea Act, but the colonists still refused and protested which led up to them starting the Boston Tea Party. King George was not happy with the colonists once they did this so he responded by creating the Intolerable Acts, which forced harsh rules on Massachusetts like shutting off trade and shortening town meetings to once a year.
the shutting of a port to keep people or supplies from moving in or out
blockade
a solider who fights for pay, often for a foreign country
mercenary
a person who betrays his or her country
traitor
an introduction to a declaration, constitution, or other official document
preamble
rights that belong to all people from birth
natural rights
rights that cannot be taken away
unalienable rights
obvious; apparent
evident
to make certain; to secure
ensure
troops on horseback
cavalry
a fighter who uses hit-and-run attacks
guerrilla
to surround and blockade and enemy town or position with troops in order to force it to surrender
siege
to approve
ratify
to stop; to end
cease
to undergo
sustain
