Unit 1 Flashcards
Stamp Act- 1765
The act that required every document of paper to be stamped and the stamps were very expensive , costing gold or silver coins.
Designed to raise revenue to pay for the soldiers stationed in the colonies
British courts enforce this by taking away any land or property involved in sales conducted without the stamps
example of taxation without representation
repealed in 1766 thanks to protestors - first step for colonists to create a new American identity
Intolerable Acts
Aka the Coercive acts , which put taxes on basic resources such as paper and paint which angered the colonists.
Prevented Massachusetts from governing itself
Closed the port of Boston until residents could pay for the tea they destroyed
Townshend Acts
taxed paper, tea, glass and other goods imported from Britain
These acts were put on the colonists to stop trade with other countries so the British could get all the resources and have a complete advantage over other countries.
John Rolfe
lands in Jamestown in 1610, “hell on earth journey” - 500 started the journey, only 60 remain due to inadequate supplies.
he planned to make money from Tobacoo, crop does well, and he makes money
Marries Pocahontas (daughter of king of the Pokanoket empire) made her a celebrity for advertising life in the new world
Pocahontas
Daughter of king of the Pokanoket empire, married John Rolfe
Tobacco
Crops planted by John Rolfe in Jamestown, crops did well, consequence was slaves were brought in for labor
King George III
ruled Britain for 59 years, became ill in 1788 during war with America - he appointed George Grenville as prime minister who agreed that the colonies should be strictly controlled by Britain, Grenville wanted to tax the colonies directly
Sugar Act of 1764
designed to raise revenue and reinforce British control over the colonies
lowered the tax on imported molasses used to produce rum in the colonies - goal was to encourage merchants to pay the lower tax instead of smuggling it in to avoid tax (this would increase British revenue)
Currency Act - 1764
declared that only British currency could be used in the colonies
Colonists had to discard the now useless colonial paper money
resulted in shortage of British currency which created economic difficulties
Mercantilism
trade designed to bring wealth primarily to the mother country
Patrick Henry
elected to Virginia’s House of Burgesses
persuaded the assembly to pass a resolutions that defended the colonists’ right to tax themselves rather than to be taxed by parliament.
Resolutions declared “General assembly of this colony have the sole right to lay taxes on its inhabitants”
News spread, other colonies responded - colonists realized they had more in common with each other than with Britain and began to organize
Sons of Liberty
men who led the angry crowd to protest British government (mostly merchants, shopkeepers and craftsmen)
organized a boycott and got merchants in NYC, Boston and Philly to stop importing goods from Britain
Led by Samuel Adams and John Hancock
French and Indian war -1754
War between the British and the French
triggered by the construction of Fort Duquesne
Because of the forts location the French were able to stop British expansion into the Ohio Country
George washington led an expedition of 300 Virginians toward Fort Duquesne to force the French to abandon the site. They ambushed the French and and the battle ended with one Virginian and 14 Frenchmen dead
Then the French attacked Washington and his men at Fort Necessity
Tea Act - 1773
law that guaranteed colonists would buy tea from the East India Company, no new taxes and lowered the price so colonists would buy from them causing an unfair monopoly and putting American tea sellers out of business
This was done by the British government to get the East India Company back on its feet and out of debt
Americans viewed this as another example of taxation without representation
Boston Tea Party- Dec 16, 1773
Sam Adams dared a crowd to take action at a rally at the Old South Church in Boston, a group of sons of liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians stormed 3 British shups and dumped 342 crates of tea overboard
Daughters of Liberty
During the American Revolution women were not allowed to vote or fight in the army. They used their power - the power to choose what not to buy
They agreed to boycott British goods to protest the Stamp Act
THey protested the tea act by making their own “liberty tea”
Boston Massacre
Late in the afternoon of March 5, 1770, British sentries guarding the Boston Customs House shot into a crowd of civilians, killing 5 people and wounding 6.
TO colonists this proved that the kings army would kill the king’s own people.
THis was sparked by a young wigmaker who thought a captain hadn’t paid for a shave
Sam Adams called it the Boston Massacre and had Paul Revere engrave a picture of the scene
John Adams
cousin of Samuel Adams, represented the British soldiers involved in Boston Massacre in court as he believed there should be a fair trial. Him and his cousin believed not only in America’s independence but that they should elect their own leaders and form an American republic.
Later elected president
First Continental Congress- sept 5 1774
meeting of the colonies in Philadelphia on Sept 5, 1774. Every colony except Georgia sent delegates.
56 representatives included Patrick Henry, Samuel and John Adams, George washington
Purpose was to discuss ways to have the intolerable acts repealed.
Voted to end all trade with Britain and Ireland
Decided that everyone qualified to fight should learn the art of war asap
2nd Continental Congress- May 1775
Goals- Finance and manage war, Unite governments of the 13 colonies without “uniting them” (allowed individual state constitutions), plan for independence
56 delegates
John Hancock, Sam Adams, John Adams - represented Masachusetts
Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, George Washington, John Jay(more conservative)
Georgia does end up sending delegates
Outcomes: 1)Continental Army (led by George Washington)- replaced state militias
2) Olive Branch Petition
3) Declaration of Independence
4) Committe of Correspondence - led by Sam Adams
5) articles of Conferderation (first attempt at constitution)
6) Continental Dollars
Ben Franklin
viewed himself as peacekeeper at 2nd continental congress
he was clear the British were not going to compromise and he was the one who said that the colonists needed to declare independence
Olive Branch Petition
John Dickinson wanted to offer peace to the king if he would repeal some of the intolerable acts
The king laughs at this - the other delegates tell John Dickinson we told you so
Declaration of Independence
Commitee of 5- Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman
explains grievances to the king
explains what they will do with their independence
Thomas Jefferson is the author
Sextant
Made my Portugal, used to measure distance
Astrolabe
Made my Portugal , used to measure Langitude and Longitude
Caravel
Made by Portugal, A new type of boat that was smaller and faster.
Humanism
The idea that humans were good and not so bad
Individulism
The idea that you can do stuff by yourslef and you do not need other people as much
Reformation
The idea that you should have a relationship with god instead of a relationship with the church
Olive Branch Petition
Written by John Dickinson as a way to ask for peace from King George. This was an outcome of the second contenential congress
Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle was not fought on Bunker hill but was actually fought on Breeds hill. The Boston miltia eventually lost to the British but the British had way more casulaties and lost a lot more supplies and men.
Tar and Feathering
A form of punishment used by the patriots on the loyalists and tax collecters.
Hessians
German soldiers that were used by the British because they signed a contract with Germany.
Guerilla Warfare
A new type of warfare, used by the americans against the British to gain an element of suprise. This tactic consited of a small militia hiding, usually in trees to ambush the incoming army.
Friedrich von Steuben
A former army commander from Prussia who helped Washington run Valley Forge. He helped the soldiers have a more hygenic camp and he also trained the army in various different ways for battle. He also taught european battle tactics into an elite core of men and introuced the army to bayonets.
Daniel Morgan
A rebel sharpshooter who led 500 rifleman that ambushed the British that were traveling through forests and frontiers.
Bayonets
A new type of gun brought to the army by Baron von Steuben. It was introduced at Valley Forge. This weapon doubles as a spear and a gun.
The Crisis
A document wrriten by Thomas Paine. This document stated that if you stayed by the army when they were losing, you would be recognized and that if you just joined when the army was winning, you were a sunshine soldier or a summer patriot
Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that stated common sense reasons and logical reasons why the colonies should be independent from Britan
Battle of Lexington\Concord
The first battle in the American revolution. Paul Revere and the other night riders lead the British to show up in Concord, they ambush the British, they panic and run. This is famously known as the shot heard around the world because it started the revolution.
Battle of Trenton
An attack lead by Washington on 14000 Hessians. Washington struck on Christmas night and crossed the Deleware. Washington easily won because the Hessians were very suprised and very drunk because it was christmas. Then withdrew because he knew he did not have enough troops
Battle of Princeton
George Washington took his troops back across the Deleware. Cornwallis was tricked into thinking he knew were the army was but actually, the army was hiking up to Princeton in the middle of the night and suprised attacked the British. The British flee and Washington takes prisoners.
Benedict Arnold
A very beloved colonial general that switched to the British side after General Horacio Gates was overlooking him and taking credit for things he did.
Battle of Saratoga
A turning point in the Revoluation , General Howe had a plan with General Burgoyne to meet up and fight together but Howe got distraced and took Penslyvania . This caused General Burgoynes arm y to be exposed which lead to General Gates defeating Burgoyne.
Battle of Yorktown
The last battle in the Revolution. General Cornwallis was waiting for supplies at Yorktown when the French and the Contential Army surronded him. He was forced to surrender because he was blocked from land by the armys and from sea by the French navy.
Treaty of Paris
This was the official document that ended the war , 2 years after the fighting stopped because King George refused to admit he had lost. The document containted rules such as , Borders , Indepndence and giving back all property to Loyalists that were stolen
Squanto
A member of a native tribe that helped the Pilgrims trade and talk to the natives. He was bassicaly their connection to the natives. He also showed the Pilgrims basic survival techniques to survive
Quakers
A group that was lead by William Penn. Went to penslyvania due to religous persercution
William Penn
THe founder of penslyvania , leadear of the QUakers, founded Penslyvania due to religious persecution
Minutemen
A special person in a militia, they were called this because they could be ready fo battle in a minute or less
Valley Forge
A camp where the contential army stayed for winter. Many soldiers died to smallpox but they came out a better army due to Baron Von Steuben
Small Pox
A very dangerous disease that called a lot of people during the revolution. It spread during Valley Forge but George Washington used innoculation as a way to build soldiers immunity to it.
Contential Army
An official army that would repersent all of America. It was founded at the second contenential congress and George Washington leads it.
Vaccination
A cure for a sickness , essential for curing smallpox which during the time of the revolution , was very dangerous.
Mayflower Compact
A set of rules aggred upon by the people that sailed on the Mayflower. Nobody was allowed to leave the ship untill they all agreed to a set of rules which were these.
Ferdidnand Magellan
A Portugese explorer that lead the first expedition around the entire world. He did not make it through the whole expedition because he was killed in a skirmish on one of the islands he landed on. His crew finally returned 3 years later.
Jamestown
The first ever working economy in the New World. It was funded by tobbaco brought my John Rolfe and it flourished due to the cash crop.
Contential Dollar
The first attempt of a currency in America. It was used to help fund the war but it lost value because so many were printed and most people were promised some if they won the war.
Vikings
People that left Scandanavia and pillaged any villages they found. After they pillaged, they would return back and drop off their loot and then resume this cycle over and over again.
Hernan Cortes
A Spanish explorer from Spain that went to the Aztecs in Mexico and found gold
Francisco Pizarro
An explorer from Spain who went to the Incas in Chile and finds silver. He uses religion as a motivation for conquering.
Spain
A country that sent many people to the New World and one of the first Europeans to discover it existed. It was a catholic country.
Portugal
A country that invented the Astrolabe , Sextant and the Caravel. This country was also Catholic.
France
A country that targeted northern North America. THey did not want to colonize, they only wanted to trade. Nicest out of all the Europen Counries when it comes to exploring. This country also provided essiential aid to the Americans to win the Revolutionary War
Age of Exploration
This was the time peroid were a lot of countrys were colonizing the New World.
Britain
A country hated by most other Europen Countries because of their power. This country fought against America for independence.
Vasco de Gama
The first European to reach India by sea. He connected the Atlantic and the Indian oceans through the Cape of Good Hope.
Prince Henry the Navigator
A Portugese navigaor that lead a lot of expeditions on the West of Africa , all the way down to Sierra Leone
Boston
The capital of Massachustes , the epi center of all of the pre-revolutionary rebellions. The Sons of Liberty had their headquarters here and a lot of important events such as the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party happened here. Basically the home of all the pre-revolution inncidents
Appalachian Mountains
The border line established after the French and Indian war which prevented the colonists from going into Native American territory.
Proclomation of 1763
Passed by King George in 1763 which gave the Natives the land the Colonists fought for so he did not have to pay for the Colonists defense.
James Oglethrope
A former British soldier, founded the colony of Georgia. He tried to make an area where people would be free of debt. Known as the Champion of the Oppressed.
Renaissance
An era where new ideas such as Humanism , Invidiualism and Reformation were brought to life. After the medevial ages
Christopher Colombus
The first European to land in The New World. He is likley the first person to transport the first Africans. He started the Age of Exploration. He is seen as a very different person depending on the people you ask.
Battle of New York
A battle won by Great Britian. Fought because Britain wanted to isolate New England from the other colonies.
