Unit 4: The American Revolution Flashcards

1
Q

Moving Toward Independence

A

A. 2nd Continental Congress, May 1775
B. British Actions Hardened Colonial Opinion
C. Thomas Paine and “Common Sense”
D. The Declaration of Independence
E. Results of the Declaration of Independence
F. America’s Initial Problems
G. The Loyalists
H. Mobilizing for War

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2
Q

A. 2nd Continental Congress: May 1775

A
  1. Continental army under Washington
  2. Two Schools of Thought
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3
Q

Two Schools of Thought

A

a. Complete Independence
b. Reform imperial relationship, reconcile with England

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4
Q

B. British Actions Hardened Colonial Opinion

A
  1. Rejected Olive Branch, closed trade
  2. Naval blockade of colonial ports
  3. Recruited Native American tribes against colonists
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5
Q

C. Thomas Paine known as

A

Common Sense

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6
Q

D. The Declaration of Independence

A
  1. Continental Congress becomes “de facto” government
  2. Two Major Sections
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7
Q

Two Major Sections

A

a. List of grievances against king
b. Justafied people’s right to rebel

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8
Q

E. Results of the Declaration of Independence

A
  1. Language inspired the Revolution as well as other reform movements
  2. Led to foreign aid, largely French
  3. Encouraged independence as eventual goal
  4. Created deep divisions in the colonies
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9
Q

F. America’s Initial Problems

A
  1. Congress no authority to pass laws or impose taxes
  2. Facing internal divisions
  3. Difficulty of attracting volunteer army
  4. Severe financial problems
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10
Q

G. The Loyalists

A
  1. Back-country people
  2. Ethnic, religious minorities
  3. Urban Business & Money Interest
  4. The Middle Colonies
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11
Q

H. Mobilizing for War

A
  1. Arms: relied on Frances, captured material
  2. Finances: Paper currency & borrowing
  3. Conscription (Draft): Bounties offered
  4. Creation of Continental Army
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12
Q

The War for Independence

A

A. British Disadvantages
B. The First Phase (1775): New England
C. The Second Phase (1776-1778): The Mid-Atlantic Region
D. British Blunders During the Second Phase
E. Securing Aid from Abroad
F. Consequences of French Intervention
G. The Final Phase: The South
H. Surrender at Yorktown: October 19, 1781
I. The Treaty of Paris, September 1783
J. Revolutionary Impact on Slavery & Native Americans
K. Women’s Rights and Women’s Roles

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13
Q

A. British Disadvantages

A
  1. Fighting for from home in vast wilderness
  2. Wide-spread nature of colonial population
  3. Britain involved in European wars
  4. British commanders incompetent
  5. Jealousy between army & navy
  6. Opposition to the war in England
  7. England underestimated the colonies
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14
Q

B. The First Phase (1775): New England

A
  1. British Dilemma: Full-scale war or localized rebellion?
  2. Battle of Bunker (Breed’s) Hill
  3. Boston Indefensible: British Evacuate
  4. Colonial Invasion of Canada
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15
Q

C. The Second Phase (1776-1778): The Mid-Atlantic Region

A
  1. Britain primed to win the war
  2. Arrival of Gen. William Howe: “Shock” and “Awe”
  3. Colonial weakness led to series of defeats
  4. British dig in for the winter
  5. Delaware Crossing & Battle of Trenton
  6. Campaign of 1777: Britain’s Multi-Pronged Attack
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16
Q

D. British Blunders During the Second Phase

A
  1. Howe abandoned strategy, leaving Burgoyne alone
  2. Failed to press advantage
  3. Allowed Washington to retreat, regroup
  4. Howe’s personal weaknesses
  5. Underestimated colonist’s committment
17
Q

E. Securing Aid from Abroad

A
  1. Selling Point: Victory at Saratoga
  2. France eager to weaken England
  3. Franklin achieve U.S recognition as a sovereign nation
18
Q

F. Consequences of French Intervention

A
  1. Led to an expanded European war with England
  2. France furnished most colonial supplies
  3. Provided colonists with a navy and expeditionary forces
19
Q

G. The Final Phase: The South

A
  1. New British Strategy: Enlist Loyalists to undermine Revolution
  2. Encouraged slaves to dessert masters
  3. Uncommitted colonials converted to the cave
  4. Patriots adopted guerrilla warfare
  5. Benedict Arnold defects
  6. Clinton replaces Howe, moves North
  7. Washington Appoints Nathanael Greene
20
Q

Campaign of 1777: Britain’s Multi-Pronged Attack

A

a. Howe to move north from NY City up the Hudson
b. Burgoyne to come south from Canada, and join forces with Howe
c. Howe, though, abandoned plan, laughed attack on capital at Philadelphia, and occupied the city with little resistance
d. Washington forced to take winter quarters at Valley Forge
e. Howe’s actions left Burgoyne to carry on northern campaign alone
f. Easily seized Fort Ticonderoga: great stores of powder and supplies
g. Loss of this fort led to the colonial appointment of Hpratio Gates by Congress
h. Americans getting upper hand by October of 1777
i. Burgoyne forced to withdraw to Saratoga where Gates surrounded him

21
Q

H. Surrender at Yorktown

A

October 19th, 1781

22
Q

I. The Treaty of Paris: September 1783

A
  1. Granted U.S recognition of independence
  2. Cession of territory: Atlantic to the Mississppi; Cornwallis retreats
23
Q

J. Revolutionary Impact on Slavery and…

A

Native American

24
Q

K. Women’s Rights and their roles

A
  1. Women left in charge of farms, businesses
  2. Large populations of impoverished women
  3. Camp follower
  4. Women in combat
  5. Abigail Adams: Women’s position in new nations
  6. Judith Sargent Murray: Better female education
  7. “Femme Coverte” remains intact
25
Q

The Creation of American Government

A

A. Characteristics of the State Constitutions
B. Building the New Local Governments
C. Forces Militating Against the New Plan of Confederation
D. The Articles of Confederation
E. Powers of Congress
F. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

26
Q

A. Characteristics of the State Constitutions

A
  1. Popular Sovereignty
  2. Limited Government
  3. Civil Liberties
  4. Separation of Powers; Checks and Balances
27
Q

B. Building the New Local Governments

A
  1. State gov. powers limited, defined by written constitution
  2. Officers elected directly or indirectly
  3. Legislative branch strengthened at the expense of the executive
  4. States practicing “Virtual Representation”
28
Q

C. Forces Militating Against the New Plan of Confederation

A
  1. Strong localism within colonies
  2. Lack of nationalism
  3. Re-emergence of old suspicions of central (federal) governments
  4. Re-emergence of intercolonial jealousies
29
Q

D. The Articles of Confederation

A
  1. Loose plan of union: 10 years
  2. Few powers, mostly negative
  3. States-right philosophy: sovereignty reversed to the states
  4. Congress only national body: no executive or judiciary
30
Q

E. Powers of Congress

A
  1. Power over foreign relations
  2. Mediation of disputes between states
  3. Regulation of the value of the coin
  4. Power over trade with Native American tribes
  5. Authorized to borrow money
31
Q

F. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

A
  1. Congress had no power to tax
  2. No power to regulate trade between states
  3. One vote per state, regardless of size
  4. No executive to enforce legislation
  5. No national court system
  6. Unanimous clause: too strict
  7. No power to enforce compliance
32
Q

Confederation Issues

A

A. The Loyalists
B. Organization of Western Lands: Northwest Ordinances, 1784-1785
C. Post-War Depression
D. Shays’ Rebellion, 1786-1787

33
Q

A. The Loyalists

A
  1. Many fled to Canada
  2. Social outcasts, persecuted
  3. Lands confiscated, denied protection of the court
34
Q

B. Organization of Western Lands: Northwest Ordinances, 1784-1785

A
  1. Land rights ceded to Congress
  2. Western lands to enter as equal states
  3. Land to be surveyed and sold
  4. Low cost land sales to help fund debt
  5. Exempted land for public education
35
Q

C. Post-War Depression

A
  1. Large debt due to Revolution
  2. Problem: No power to tax: new government would be forced to default on loans
  3. Rise of Nationalist: Enlarge power of central government to pay bills, save face
36
Q

Shays’ Rebellion, 1786-1787

A
  1. Indebted states demanded paper money
  2. Late 1780s: Rioting breaks out
  3. Veterans rallied behind Daniel Shays
  4. Long-term Effect of Shay’s Rebellion: New urgency support more effective national government