writs of assistance
allowed customs officers to enter any location to search for smuggled goods
Stamp Act
law that placed a tax on almost all printed material, including newspapers, wills, and playing cards.
Patrick Henry
a member of Virginia's House of Burgesses who persuaded the burgesses to take action against the Stamp Act.
Samuel Adams
started an organization called the Sons of Liberty to protest the Stamp Act.
Declaratory Act
law which stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the British colonies in all cases
Townshend Acts
a set of laws that taxed good imported to the colonies, such as glass, tea, and paper, with the tax being paid at the port of entry.
Daughters of Liberty
group formed by women in the colonies, urging Americans to wear homemade fabric and produce other goods rather than buy British goods.
The Sugar Act
act that lowered the tax on sugar and molasses and let officers seize goods from smugglers without going to court
Benefits of preventing colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains
1) allowed British government to control westward movement and avoid conflict with Native Americans; 2) ensured a market for British goods in coastal cities; 3) allowed Britain to control the fur trade in the frontier
Reasons why colonists were against the Stamp Act
1) Parliament had interfered in colonial affairs by taxing colonies directly; 2) colonists were taxed without their consent
Crispus Attucks
part-African, part-Native American man killed during the Boston Massacre. First person killed in the massacre.
Boston Massacre
March 5, 1770 - five colonists were killed by British Redcoats while protesting
propaganda
information made to influence public opinion
Boston committee of correspondence
an organization used to protest and make complaints to Great Britain; spread political ideas through the colonies
Tea Act
a law that gave the British East India Company total control over the trade of tea to America and allowed them to sell tea directly to shopkeepers and bypass colonial merchants.
Boston Tea Party
December 16, 1773 - a group of men disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded three tea ships and threw 342 chests of tea overboard to protest the Tea Act.
King George III
King of England who wanted to control the colonists
Coercive Acts (aka Intolerable Acts)
harsh laws that punished the people of Massachusetts. Closed Boston Harbor until colonists paid for the ruined tea and banned most town meetings in New England. Also forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers in their homes.
Events leading up to the Boston Massacre
1) Britain passed laws that violated colonials rights; 2) soldiers in Boston acted rudely and violently towards colonists; 3) British redcoats stole goods from shops; 4) colonists didn't want redcoats in Boston
Effects of Boston Massacre
1) colonial leaders such as Samuel Adams and Paul Revere used propaganda to get people against the British; 2) many colonists called for stronger boycotts on British goods; 3) all Townshend acts were repealed except for the one on tea
Proclamation of 1763
brought a halt to western expansion; Appalachian Mountains were set as boundary for the colonies. This ended Pontiac's war and also made the colonists angry.
Sons of Liberty
protest group started by Samuel Adams who burned effigies of tax collectors and destroyed houses belonging to royal officials
British East India Company
British company that was going bankrupt; the Tea Act was passed to try to save the company
Quebec Act
set up a government for Quebec; gave Quebec the area west of the Appalachians and north of the Ohio river. Ignored colonial claims on the area.
Intolerable Act
another name for the Coercive Acts
First Continental Congress
In September 1774, 55 delegates from all colonies but Georgia met in Philadelphia to draft a statement of grievances to Parliament. Delegates voted to boycott British trade and no colonial goods could be sold to Britain. Also endorsed resolutions to call
Suffolk Resolve
called on people to arm themselves against the British. Let to formation of militias.
Militia
group of civilians trained to fight in emergencies
Minutemen
companies of civilian soldiers who bragged that they were ready to fight on a minute's notice
Lexington and Concord
places where the first shots of the American Revolution were shot
Paul Revere
a silversmith and member of the Sons of Liberty who rode to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming.
Benedict Arnold
captain of the Connecticut militia who joined forces with the Green Mountain Boys to launch a surprise attack on the British at Fort Ticonderoga, where the British surrendered. Later became a traitor for selling military info to the British.
Ethan Allen
leader of the Green Mountain boys, a militia in Vermont.
Battle of Bunker Hill
June 6, 1775. 1200 militiamen commanded by William Prescott fought the British. The Americans ran out of gunpowder and eventually withdrew. British lost 1000 men showing that the Americans wouldn't be easy to beat.
Loyalists
people loyal to England who did not consider taxes and regulations good enough reasons for rebellion
Patriots
colonists who supported war for independence.
Second Continental Congress
Met on May 10, 1775. Attended by John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and more. Began to govern the colonies. Authorized the printing on money, set up a post office run by Benjamin Fra
Thomas Paine
published a pamphlet entitled Common Sense that called for complete independence from Britain. Greatly influenced opinions throughout the colonies
Thomas Jefferson
member of Virginia legislature who wrote the Declaration of Independence
John Locke
17th century British philosopher who wrote that people are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that people should form governments to protect these rights. Also said that a government interfering with these rights might be overthr
Declaration of Independence
said that the colonies intended to break away from Great Britain. Used some of John Locke's ideas to develop it. Was signed by 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress and approve on July 4, 1776.
The preamble
the first section of the Declaration of Independence that explained why the colonists wanted a new country.
Declaration of Natural Rights
second section of the Declaration of Independence that described traditional English rights and then listed rights the colonies believe they should have. Said that the government exists to protect these rights, and if it does not, people have the right to
List of Grievances
third section of the Declaration of Independence that listed complaints against Britain. Included cutting off trade with all parts of the world, imposing taxes without colonists' consent
Announcement of a New Nation
fourth section of the Declaration of Independence the proclaimed the existence of a new nation.
Olive Branch Petition
sent to King George telling him of the colonists' desire for peace and asking him to protect their rights. King George refused to receive it and prepared for war.
Benjamin Franklin
led movement to repeal the Stamp Act and was on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence
Purpose of the First Continental Congress
Establish a political body to represent American interests and challenge British laws and control
Decisions made by First Continental Congress
1) Draft a statement of grievances calling for a repeal of 13 acts of Parliament; 2) Declared that these laws violated the colonists' rights under the English Bill of Rights and several colonial charters; 3) voted to boycott all British goods and trade; 4
Ways that the Second Continental Congress governed the colonies
1) established first government under the Articles of Confederation which authorized printing of money and set up a post office; 2) established committees to communicate with Native Americans and other countries; 3) created the Continental Army under lead