Vocab 5 Flashcards
Olive Branch Petition
Who- Delegates from the Second Continental Congress, British Gov.
What- It was a petition to King George the Third as a final formal request for the British gov. to stop what it was doing. It was sent in an attempt to prevent war.
Where- Philadelphia State House, PA
When- 1775
Why- Some colonists were still against separating from Britain because they didn’t think they could make it as their own country or win a war against Britain. This petition was sent as the last chance for Britain to change what they were doing to the colonies.
Second Continental Congress
Who- Delegates from each colony (except Georgia)
What- Delegates decided they should support a war between the colonies and Great Britain but were unsure of the purpose of the war (did they want full separation from England or reforms in the relationship between the colonies and Britain).
Where- Philadelphia State House, PA
When- May, 1775
Why - The battle of Lexington and Concord had three weeks before and that was kind of the turning point in deciding they needed to fight for their rights.
Common Sense (Thomas Paine)
Who- Thomas Paine (author), English Immigrant to the colonies
What- Common Sense was a pamphlet published in the colonies about how the problem with Britain was not specific to politicians but in fact in the English Constitution and the system the king promoted and permitted to rule.
Where- American Colonies
When- January, 1776
Why- Common Sense changed the American outlook on the war and made them realize they should be angry at the king. It also helped unite the colonies.
Prohibitory Act
Who- British gov., colonists
What- Made it so colonists were not under the crown’s protection, banned trade between Great Britain and the colonies, and allowed the seizing of American ships at sea.
Where- American Colonies
When- December, 1775
Why- This act would hurt the colonies because now they had to protect themselves from outside forces, and they lost a huge trade partner because they used to only be able to trade with Britain.
American Patriots
Who- Colonists who disapproved of Great Britain’s control of the colonies
What- They openly fought against Great Britain and helped start and fight in the American Revolution
Where- American Colonies
When- 18th century
Why- American Patriots felt unrepresented in the British Government and abused by them, so they felt separating from them as a country would be the best option.
Articles of Confederation
Who- Delegates in the Continental Congress
What- It certified the Continental Congress as the central operation office for the war effort and gave them limited power over the individual colonies, which they needed more control over for funding the war.
Where- American Colonies
When- 1777, (ratified 1781)
Why- This was supposed to be a more form of centralized government, but the articles didn’t really do anything.
John Locke
Who- English Philosopher
What- Came up with the theory that governments were made to protect the rights of life, liberty, and property. This idea was used by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence.
Where- American Colonies
When- August 29, 1632 - October 28, 1704; idea used in 1776
Why- The delegates liked the idea that the government was made to protect the people’s rights because Great Britain wasn’t doing that for them so they used John Locke’s idea.
Geroge Washington
Who- General of the Continental Army, First President of USA, planter-aristocrat
What- Led the Continental Army in many important battles, raised morale among troops in dire times, and was the most experienced person to lead their army.
Where- American Colonies
When- February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799
Why- He had the most experience on the battle field compared to everyone else after he was a fought in the French and Indian War. Congress unanimously voted him the general.
Valley Forge
Who- George Washington, Continental Amry
What- Place where the Continental Army stayed for 6 months during the winter of the Revolutionary War.
Where- Pennsylvania
When- Dec 19, 1777 – Jun 19, 1778
Why- Valley Forge had a high terrain so the British Attacks would have been hard to do especially in the harsh winter.
Benedict Arnold
Who- Commander of a small American Force
What- Kept a siege on Quebec for a while that ended up going nowhere. Major traitor in the American Revolution. Gave tons of information to the British because the Continental Congress didn’t recognize the work he had done for them.
Where- British American Colonies
When- January 14, 1741- June 14, 1801
Why- He betrayed the colonies because of greed and feeling disrespected. He tried to capture Quebec because they colonists were hoping that the Canadians would join their cause (this didn’t happen).
Hessians
Who- German troops for hire (mercenaries)
What- Fought for Great Britain in the American Revolution
Where- American Colonies
When- 18th century
Why- Hessians were good soldiers and fought well
Saratoga
Who- General Burgoyne, General Washington, Colonel Barry St. Leger, Horatio Gates,
What- Saratoga was where the British surrendered in a huge turning point of the American Revolution. The British had devised a three-stage plan that would split the colonies in half. It involved General Burgoyne coming down from Canada and cutting New York and therefore the rest of New England off from the other colonies. This plan failed
Where- Saratoga, New York
When- August, 1777 - October, 1777
Why- This was important because this British surrender led to an alliance with the French.
Nathanael Greene
Who- Quaker and former Blacksmith
What- General of Southern force. He strategically attacked Cornwallis while he was on his Carolina campaign, so much so that he ditched it. An amazing military General
Where- American Colonies
When- August 7, 1742, - June 19, 1786
Why- He was a brilliant military commander who did well in the Siege of Boston so they appointed him the Commander of the South.
Yorktown
Who- George Washington, Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau, Francois Paul de Grasse, Cornwallis, Lafayette
What- Washinton and his French allies were trying to capture Cornwallis at Yorktown. Washington and Rochambeau by land met with Lafayette, while Grasse went by sea to capture Cornwallis by land and sea. Their plan worked and Cornwallis surrendered.
Where- Yorktown, Virginia
When- Sep 28, 1781 – Oct 19, 1781
Why- Cornwallis was in Yorktown for much-needed supplies so the Continental Army knew this would be a perfect time to capture him and make the British Army surrender.
Loyalist (Tories)
Who- People who supported the British during the Revolutionary War
What- Loyalists were often wealthy people who supported the king. During the Revolutionary War, they were often attacked. Many moved to Canada or back to England if they could.
Where- American Colonies
When- 18th century
Why- They felt that the King had the right to levy the previous taxes on them because he had fought the Seven Year War to protect the colonies.
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Who- Philosopher
What- Came up with the idea that all people no matter what social class should be considered equal. Influenced the founding fathers in their writing and this idea helped inspire the colonists to revolt against the British.
Where- USA
When-June 28, 1712 - July 2, 1778
Why- The founding fathers felt they should be treated equally to their British counterparts living in England so they liked this idea.
Abigal Adams
Who- Women’s rights fighter, married to John Adams
What- She told her husband to not forget about women’s rights when making laws. She fought to protect women from abusive and tyrannical men.
Where- USA
When- 18th century
Why- Abigal Adams knew that women were just as good as men and thought they should have more equal if not equal treatment.
Molly Pitcher
Who- Women involved in American Rev.
What- Carried Pitchers of water to soldiers on the battlefield who were working on cannons. When her husband fell in battle she took over his position.
Where- American Colonies
When- 18th century
Why- Women wanted to help in the War against Britain because they felt their rights were being attacked, because they couldn’t fight in the army they decided to help in any way they could, like carrying pitchers.
Republicanism
Who- Americans
What- A political system created in which the power came from the people. It relies heavily on civic virtue and participation from the people.
Where- USA
When- 18th century
Why- The American people didn’t like being ruled by a king or a small group of aristocrats, rather they wanted to give everyone a partial say in the government in a way.
Northwest Ordinance
Who- Congress, settlers
What- The Northwest Ordinance was laws for the land in the Northwest of the original colonies. It said no slavery, freedom of religion, right to trial by jury from other northwesterners, and if a territory wanted to qualify for statehood there was a minimum population.
Where- USA
When- 1787
Why- There were two Ordinances before this one that people didn’t like because they didn’t favor settlers, so they made this one to help settlers.
Daniel Shay
Who- Farmer, fought in American Rev.
What- Started a rebellion because he had fought in the Revolutionary War and was being heavily taxed. he couldn’t pay the taxes because he had fought in the war which meant his farm hadn’t been running as much.
Where- Springfield, Massachusetts
When- Rebellion 1780’s; Aug 1747 – Sept 29, 1825
Why- He thought it was wrong that he be heavily taxed after fighting for his country so he rebelled.
