Conflict w/ France (impact on American colonies)
Conflict between Britain and France for control of territory in North America resulted in the French and Indian war which lasted from 1755 to 1763. this was provided enormous territorial gains in North America, but disputes over subsequent frontier policy
Development of American nationalism(when did colonists start seeing themselves as Americans and not British colonies?)
The colonists were losing their English identity by the eve of the American Revolution.Decades of domestic conflict and neglect by the British government forced the colonists to develop strategies for self government. The long distances and lack of commun
Reaction to British taxes (colonists response)
Many colonists felt thet should not pay these taxes becsyse they were passed in England by parilament instead of their own colonial governlent. the colonists protested and sayinf these taxes were a violation of their rights and resited by boycotting briti
Attempts at unity prior to revolution and lack of full unity throughout/after revolution
ATTEMPTS PRIOR TO:
Early Attempts at Unity: -1643 the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, New Haven, and Connecticut settlements formed the New England Confederation. -These settlements formed a "league of friendship" in which each settlement would come to the o
Colonists response to revolution (Patriots v loyalists v neutrals)
Neutrals were those who did not pick a side however, Most American colonists did choose sides.T
During the American Revolutionary War, British Loyalists made up approximately 15-20 percent of the population of the 13 colonies.
Loyalists: American colonist
Explain advantages and disadvantages of colonists and British at the beginning of revolution
advantages of British at the beginning-
�best military in the world
�soldiers well equipped, well disciplined and well paid
�British navy dominated the seas
�funds were much more easily raised
advantages for colonists:
�patriotism
�most colonists willingl
How did the revolution change America? (view of equality freedom and democracy)
The American revolution produced equality and freedom but in terms most favorable to elite groups.Political and social life changed drastically after independence. political participation grew as more people gained the right to vote. more common citizens
Success and failures of Articles of confederation
The major downfall of the AOC was simply weakness. under the articles the federal government was too weak to enforce their laws and therefore had no power.
the successes were how it was involved in negotiating peace between Britain and the colonies, ultim
Salutary Neglect
An English policy of not strictly enforcing laws in its colonies
colonial wars between French & British in America
Between 1689 & 1763, there were no less than 4 colonial wars between France Britain and Spain and their respective colonial possessions. rightfully called the "Wars For Empire" these conflicts erupted over expansionism, mercantilism and balance of power.
French and Indian War
(1754-1763) War fought in the colonies between the English and the French for possession of the Ohio Valley area. The English won.
Albany plan of union
plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown
William Pitt
The Prime Minister of England during the French and Indian War. He increased the British troops and military supplies in the colonies, and this is why England won the war.
Treaty of Paris
agreement signed by British and American leaders that stated the United States of America was a free and independent contry
British Debt
After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, the British government was 133 million pounds in debt. The government believed the colonists needed to become a bigger source of revenue.
Pontiac's uprising
Pontiac's uprising demonstrated the viability of pantribal cooperation in the struggle against European-American territorial expansionism and contributed to the deterioration of relations between Great Britain and its North American colonies.
-He led a re
Writs of Assistance
legal document that enabled officers to search homes and warehouses for goods that might be smuggled
Sugar act
(1764) British deeply in debt partl to French & Indian War. English Parliament placed a tariff on sugar, coffee, wines, and molasses. colonists avoided the tax by smuggling and by bribing tax collectors.
Stamp Act & colonists reaction
an act passed by the British parliment in 1756 that raised revenue from the American colonies by a duty in the form of a stamp required on all newspapers and legal or commercial documents-Colonists boycott British goods and riots and attacks on tax collec
Internal vs. External tax
internal taxes within the colony, external outside of colony
Virtual Representation
British governmental theory that Parliament spoke for all British subjects, including Americans, even if they did not vote for its members
Sons of Liberty and Daughters of Liberty
Patriotic groups that played a central role in agitating against the Stamp Act and enforcing non-importation agreements.
Smuggling and privateers
-A Privateer Commission was issued to vessels, called privateers or cruisers, whose primary objective was to disrupt enemy shipping.
-A vital segment of colonial trade, smuggling developed in response to the strict mercantilist policies of England in the
Declatory Act
1766: , after parliament repealed the Stamp Act, the prime minister passed this act that confirmed parliamentary authority over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever", but the Americans paid little attention to this.
Influence of John Locke on Britain and British American Colonies
Rejection of divine right of kings,
Belief in the legislative body = consent to be governed,
Belief in the Natural Rights of Man- life, liberty and property
The Quartering Acts required:
colonial assemblies to provide barracks for British troops
Charles Townshend
government official, close to the king, likeable, sponsored taxes, "Champagne Charlie", sponsored taxes for: lead, glass, paper, paint & tea,
Townshend Duties
Popularly referred to as the Townshend Duties, the Revenue Act of 1767 taxed glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea entering the colonies. The colonists objected to the fact that the act was clearly designed to raise revenue exclusively for England rather tha
Non-consumption and non-importation
boycotting british goods to protest the townshend acts
Samuel Adams
American Revolutionary leader and patriot, Founder of the Sons of Liberty and one of the most vocal patriots for independence; signed the Declaration of Independence
Boston Massacre
incident in 1770 in which British troops fired on and killed American colonists
British and colonial response to Boston massacre
Had a major impact on relations between Britain and the American colonists. It further incensed colonists already weary of British rule and unfair taxation and roused them to fight for independence
Committees of Correspondence
Committees of Correspondence, organized by patriot leader Samuel Adams, was a system of communication between patriot leaders in New England and throughout the colonies. They provided the organization necessary to unite the colonies in opposition to Parli
Tea Act and Boston Tea Party
Concessions allowed the British East India Company to ship tea directly to America and sell it at a bargain; cheap tea undercut the local merchants
Colonist opposed these shipments; they turned back ships, left shipments to rot, and held ships in port
Led
Intolerable Acts
in response to Boston Tea Party, 4 acts passed in 1774, Port of Boston closed, reduced power of assemblies in colonies, permitted royal officers to be tried elsewhere, provided for quartering of troop's in barns and empty houses
The Early Battles (Lexington & Concord/ Battle of Bunker Hill)
Lextington- A group of British army marches to lextungton to seize weapons from militias where fighting soon broke out
concord- British leave Lexington and head to concord to take weapons. British were burning the town when the colonists began firing on s
Fort Ticonderoga
American revolutionary troops captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British in May 1775. Benedict Arnold and ethan Allen demanded the British surrender, (which they did) and then took the cannons all the way back to Boston and forced the British to leave
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress convened on September 5, 1774, to protest the Intolerable Acts. The congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, voted for a boycott of British imports, and sent a petition to King George III, conceding to Parliament the power of
Second Continental Congress
They organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and appointed the comittee to draft the Declaration of Independence
Olive Branch Petition
An offer of peace sent by the Second Continental Congress to King George lll
Thomas Paine and Common Sense
A British citizen, he wrote Common Sense, published on January 1, 1776, to encourage the colonies to seek independence. It spoke out against the unfair treatment of the colonies by the British government and was instrumental in turning public opinion in f
Declaration of Independence
Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state.
Loyalists (Tories) vs Patriots (Whigs)
Both parties during the Revolution thought they were upholding the law of the land. One rejected the declaration of independence while the other saw it as law. This conflict caused conflicts even when no armies were near. neutralists were uncommitted. loy
British vs colonial strengths and weakness
BRITISH ADVANTAGES:
-Best military in the world
-soldiers well disicplined and well fed
-british navy dominated the seas
-funds were easily raised
BRITISH DISADVANTAGES:
-fighting in unfamiliar land
shipping soldiers and supplies across the atlantic was c
British Strategies(fighting styles at beginning of war)
The initial British goal was to contain revolutionary sentiment to Massachusetts. But the British redcoats suffered horrendous casualties at the Battle of Bunker Hill outside of Boston in July 1775, where 47 percent of the British redcoats were killed or
George Washington & continental army
Charismatic leader, volunteer, ragtag army, poorly trained and supplied, but fighting for their land.
Saratoga
A battle that took place in New York where the Continental Army defeated the British. It proved to be the turning point of the war. This battle ultimately had France to openly support the colonies with military forces in addition to the supplies and money
Colonists strategies (fighting styles at beginning of war)
The Americans didn't develop a real strategy in the Revolutionary War until George Washington took control of the Continental Army on July 3, 1775, although many historians are divided on exactly how strategic of a military leader Washington actually was.
Foreign fighters ( hessians, Kosciuszko, Von stueben, Pulaski, Lafayette)
The term "Hessians" refers to the approximately 30,000 German troops hired by the British to help fight during the American Revolution.Life in the Hessian Army was harsh. The system aimed to instill iron discipline and the punishments could be brutal. Sti
French support
Benjamin Franklin went to Paris to try to convince the French to help the Americans during the Revolutionary War. They formally allied with the Americans after the Battle of Saratoga, but they had been secretly helping prior to Saratoga. They sent many so
Fighting in the West
Battle of Long Island... Battle of Trenton... Battle of Saratoga... Battle at Valley Forge
Most battles in the West involved conflict between American Indians and civilian settlers.
Most of the action in the West consisted of escalating series of retaliat
Peace of Paris
This ended the Seven Years War/French and Indian war between Britain and her allies and France and her allies. The result was the acquisition of all land east of the Mississippi plus Canada for Britain, and the removal of the French from mainland North Am
Egalitarianism
the belief that all people should have equal political, economic, social, and civil rights
Role of African Americans in revolutionary war
African Americans after the British promised freedom to enslaved people who joined their side
Role of Women in the Revolutionary War
Women took family farms or businesses. Others raised money for the war. Some women went with their husbands from battle to battle to cook food. They took new roles in battle and at home.
Class structure after revolution
--Political and social life changed drastically after independence. Political participation grew as more people gained the right to vote. In addition, more common citizens (or "new men") played increasingly important roles in local and state governance. H
New State Constitutions
The first set of constitutions drafted by the individual states placed most of the government's power in the legislature, and almost none in the executive in order to promote democracy and avoid tyranny. However, without the strong leadership of the execu
Articles of Confederation
A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.
Articles of Confederation weaknesses
Lacked Executive and Judicial branches, lacked power to tax and regulate trade
Articles of confederation strengths
Kept the colonies united during the Revolution
Organized the Northwest Territory
Robert Morris & economy under articles of confederation
As superintendent of finance under the Articles of Confederation, Morris almost single-handedly saved the United States from financial catastrophe in the 1780s.
-Morris believed that the national government would be unable to achieve financial stability w
Shay's Rebellion
Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.
Fear of Mobocracy
Mobocracy refers to the fear that the nation would be ruled by a mob. An example of people who used this method would be American colonists. When England imposed taxes and acts (EX stamp act) the colonists woukd become angered and protested it by forming
Abolition of slavery revolutionary era
The American Revolution had profound effects on the institution of slavery. Several thousand slaves won their freedom by serving on both sides of the War of Independence. As a result of the Revolution, a surprising number of slaves were manumitted, while
Land Ordinance of 1785
A law that divided much of the United States into a system of townships to facilitate the sale of land to settlers.
Northwest Ordinance
Enacted in 1787, it is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Articles of Confederation. It established a system for setting up governments in the western territories so they could eventually join the Union on an equal footing with the
Annapolis Convention
A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation, attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention
A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution
Framers of the Constitution
Group of delegates who drafted the United States Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan (compare and contrast)
Virginia Plan wanted reps based on population and the New Jersey wanted every state to have 1 equal vot
Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)
Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.
3/5 Compromise
-each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes
Federalists vs anti-federalists
Anti-Federalists wanted states' rights, bill of rights, unanimous consent, reference to religion, more power to less-rich and common people; Federalists wanted strong central government, more power to experienced, separation of church and state, stated th
Ratification Battle
feds v anti-feds about ratifying the constitution (main argument= constitution did not have bill of rights). Feds approved
Federalists Papers
Written by Hamilton, Jay, & Madison to support ratification of the U.S. Constituiton
This essay defended the form of republican governlent proposed by the constitution.
no.10- The union as a safeguard against domestic faction and insurrection