American Revolution Flashcards

Flashcards about the American Revolution

Seven Years' War

North American theater of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), a global conflict between Britain and France.

Stamp Act and Townshend Acts

Key taxes imposed by Britain on the American colonies to pay off war debts included the Stamp Act (1765) and Townshend Acts (1767).

No taxation without representation

Colonists Resented these taxes because they had no representation in the British Parliament.

Proclamation of 1763

Issued to prevent colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflicts with Native Americans, angering colonists who wanted to expand westward.

British control after Seven Years' War

After the war, Britain tightened control by enforcing trade laws and cracking down on smuggling, which increased colonial frustration.

Proclamation of 1763

Restricted colonial expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains to ease tensions with Native Americans, angering colonists seeking land.

Sugar Act (1764)

Imposed duties on foreign sugar and molasses and aimed to crack down on smuggling, but colonists viewed it as unfair taxation.

Stamp Act (1765)

Required stamped paper for documents, newspapers, etc., sparking widespread protest. Patrick Henry, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, famously declared, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Asserted Parliament's authority over the colonies, even after the Stamp Act was repealed.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Taxed goods like glass, paper, and tea. The acts spurred boycotts and increased tensions.

Boston Massacre (1770)

British troops fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five. Samuel Adams and Paul Revere used the incident as propaganda.

Tea Act (1773)

Allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, bypassing colonial merchants. Colonists saw this as another attempt to force British control.

Boston Tea Party (December 16, 1773)

Colonists, led by the Sons of Liberty, dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act. Samuel Adams was a key figure in organizing the event.

Coercive (Intolerable) Acts (1774)

In response to the Tea Party, Britain passed punitive laws, closing Boston Harbor and revoking Massachusetts' self-government. These acts united the colonies against Britain.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Met in Philadelphia to address colonial grievances. Key figures like George Washington, John Adams, and Patrick Henry attended, and they called for boycotts of British goods.

Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775)

The first armed conflict of the Revolution. British troops, sent to seize colonial weapons, were met by colonial militia ("Minutemen"). The "shot heard 'round the world" sparked open warfare.

Second Continental Congress (May 1775)

Convened to organize the colonial war effort. The Congress appointed George Washington as commander of the Continental Army.

Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775)

Although technically a British victory, the colonists inflicted heavy casualties, proving they could stand up to British forces.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (January 1776)

This influential pamphlet argued for complete independence from Britain and swayed public opinion toward revolution.

Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)

Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it outlined the colonies' reasons for breaking away, emphasizing natural rights and grievances against King George III. Signers included John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams.

Battle of Trenton (December 26, 1776)

Washington crossed the Delaware River and surprised Hessian forces. This victory boosted American morale.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

A major turning point in the war. American forces, led by General Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold, defeated the British. This victory convinced France to openly support the colonies.

Valley Forge (Winter 1777-1778)

Washington’s army endured a brutal winter but emerged more disciplined thanks to the training of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian military officer.

Abigail Adams

Advocate for women's rights, famously wrote to her husband, John Adams, urging him to "remember the ladies" in the new laws.

Molly Pitcher (Mary Ludwig Hays)

Took her husband’s place at a cannon during the Battle of Monmouth (1778) and brought water to soldiers on the battlefield.

Deborah Sampson

Disguised herself as a man to fight in the Continental Army.

French alliance after Saratoga

After the American victory at Saratoga, France formally allied with the colonies by signing the Treaty of Alliance (1778). French military and financial support was crucial to the war effort. Marquis de Lafayette became a close aide to Washington, and French forces under General Rochambeau helped secure victory.

Battle of Yorktown (October 1781)

The final major battle of the war. Washington, with French assistance (naval forces led by Admiral de Grasse), trapped British General Cornwallis at Yorktown, forcing his surrender. This effectively ended the war.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Officially ended the war. The United States was recognized as an independent nation, with territory extending to the Mississippi River.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained loyal to Britain, often facing persecution and property seizures. After the war, many Loyalists fled to Canada or Britain.

Patriots

Colonists who supported independence. Many served in the Continental Army or local militias.

Neutral/Indifferent Colonists

Some colonists, particularly in rural areas, tried to avoid taking sides.