boycott
A popular method of protest, or refusal to buy certain goods.
Patriots
Those who chose to fight for independence.
First Continental Congress
A group of 56 colonial delegates met in Philadelphia and debated the best way to respond to the crisis in Massachusetts and what they felt were abuses by British authorities. The colonists wrote and sent the king the Document of Resolves. Instead of the k
Committees of Correspondence
They met to help unite protesters against the unfair taxation of the colonies by Britain, the Massachusetts House of Representatives created this to share ideas and information with other towns and colonies.
Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, which argued for breaking away from Great Britain, spread throughout the thirteen colonies.
Sugar Act
This law set duties or taxes on molasses and sugar imported by colonists. It was the first law passed by Parliament that was designed specifically to raise money in the colonies
minutemen
They called themselves this because they were ready to fight in a moment's notice.
Second Continental Congress
The leaders of this group gathered to decide how
to act now that open hostilities had taken place between the colonists and British soldiers. They made plans to organize and fund an army.
repeal
To abolish or get rid of
siege
A military blockade of a city or fort.
Redcoats
This is one name the colonists called the British soldiers.
Continental Army
This was organized to defend the colonies. George Washington was chosen as commander.
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Indians and crept into three British ships in the Boston Harbor in 1773, and dumped the contents of these ships into the Harbor.
Olive Branch Petition
Congress tried one final time to restore peace. This was a peace request by the colonists to King George III. The king rejected it.
Boston Massacre
A long British sentry got into an argument with a civilian and struck him. A crowd gathered around
the soldier, throwing snowballs and shouting insults. This led to 5 people being killed.
Stamp Act
This affected most colonists. It required them to pay for an official stamp, or seal, whenever they bought paper items such as newspapers, pamphlets, licenses, legal documents, and playing
cards.
Loyalists
These were colonists who considered it their duty to remain loyal to the British.
writs of assistance
These were used to enforce the Townshend Acts; British customs agents used these special search warrants that allowed tax collectors
to search for smuggled goods.
Townshend Acts
Placed duties on imported glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. The king used these duties to pay military expenses and the salaries of colonial governors.
Sons of Liberty
Colonists formed these secret societies and sometimes used violence to frighten tax collectors.
propaganda
Stories and images designed to support a particular point of view.
Battle of Bunker Hill
This was a moral victory for the colonists. It demonstrated that despite British firepower, they could withstand a frontal assault from the British army.
Tea Act
Parliament passed this law. Many colonial merchants and smugglers opposed this act, however, out of fear that the British East India Company's cheap tea would put them out of business.
Intolerable Acts
As punishment for the Boston Tea Party Parliament passed these, which are also known as the Coercive Acts.
Declaratory Act
This act basically declared the right of Parliament to tax the colonists if and when they wished.
Declaration of Independence
Influenced by the suggestion of Richard Henry Lee, the Continental Congress appointed a five-person committee to write a document declaring the colonies independent of England.