Great Awakening-Build up of American Revolution

What was the Great Awakening?

A religious movement that challenged the established religions and governmental orders and made people question authority. Swept Europe and the colonies in the mid 1700’s.

What was the effect on the American identity as a result of the Great Awakening?

United colonists throughout many colonies making them feel as if they were part of a greater whole. Gave them a national identity.

What is the 7 Years War?

• France and Europe want to increase their wealth and access to resources to improve their global standings

• Fighting in Europe bleeds over to the Americas

  • The French, Natives, and British all want the Ohio River Valley

  • France and Natives vs. England (Natives take bribes from both sides to put France and England against each other because if one side wins completely, they will die)

• British win the 7 Years War because their superior navy cuts off French shipping to the Americas

What happened to European powers and Natives after the 7 Years War?

The Treaty of Paris is signed and the French are removed from America. Spain takes west of the Mississippi River and Britain takes east. Natives can no longer exploit European fighting and lose the Ohio River Valley

What were some outcomes of the Great Awakening?

• Religion became more widespread

• Questioning the power of the church leads to people realizing they can question authority (government) as well

• Plants the seed for the American revolution and spread to everyone (including slaves)

• Methodist and Baptist became very popular (especially in the south)

• Undermined old clergy and laid groundwork for anti-intellectualism as part of an American character

What rights did Englishmen coming to America expect to have?

• Protection from too many taxes

• Right to a trial (due process of law)

• No army during times of peace

• No excessive bail or fines

• No cruel or unusual punishments

What is the Treaty of Paris and how is American land split up after The Seven Years War?

Treaty that kicks the French out of America. Land west of the Mississippi is given to Spain, and east of it is given to Britain

What is Pontiacs Rebellion?

A Native attack on British Forts led by Pontiac, an Ottawa chief. They take down lots of forts, but the rebellion fails because the natives run out of weapons and ammo.

What is the Proclamation Line of 1763?

Britain draws a line over the Appalachian Mountains saying the colonists cannot cross over since the British don’t want to spend more money on protecting the colonists.

What are the affects of the Proclamation Line of 1763?

• Colonists are angry at the British

• Leads to the end of salutary neglect

• The line does not work. The colonists cross over anyways and Britain still goes into debt

Why does Britain start taxing the colonists?

To pay off the debt created during The Seven Years War

What was the Stamp Act?

• Requires colonists to pay a direct tax on almost all legal documents

• All sorts of papers and products needed to be stamped by a British official

• Consequential because it was a direct tax

• Since this tax only effects the literate, the wealthy who are mostly in New England were angered

What is the Stamp Act Congress?

• Colonial representatives met in New York to create a unified protest against new British taxation

• Sent a letter to the king listing grievances and insisted no taxation without representation

What was the Boston Massacre?

A group of colonists threw snowballs and rocks at soldiers and they open fires into the crowd. 5 people died and “Bloody Massacre” propaganda was spread around Boston. British removed taxes on everything except tea

What was the origin of the Boston Tea Party, and what occurred?

Britain allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to colonies for a cheap, but still taxed, price. This infuriates the colonists, so the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans and dumped thousands of dollars worth of tea into the harbor. This prompted similar acts to happen up and down the east coast. The British saw this as blatant disrespect to the crown.

What were the Intolerable/Coercive acts?

Acts meant to punish and make an example out of Boston. These acts do not work, and the colonists side with Boston

What was the first Continental Congress?

Delegates from every colony (except Georgia) met in Philadelphia to discuss the intolerable acts put into place by Britain/ It announced a boycott of British goods and the colonies began arming. Patrick Henry states “I am not a Virginian, but an American” which marks the important ideological shift in the colonies.

What was Lexington and Concord?

Britain finds out colonists are housing weapons between Lexington and Concord, and they go to get them back. The colonists defeat the British in a sneaky attack, pushing them back from Concord to Boston. The colonists stay on Breed’s Hill to watch them, but the British attack to dislodge them (there attacks are not successful, but the colonists have to retreat because they run out of ammo). This marks the first shots fired in the war.

What was The Enlightenment?

A political movement where people develop new ideas on how to run government

Who was John Locke and why was he important?

A famous enlightenment philosopher who’s ideas influenced the American belief in self-government. His three big ideas were:

• Natural rights: People have certain natural rights (life, liberty, and property) that rulers cannot take away

• The Social Contract: People give up some of their power to protect other rights. Also states that if the government infringes on our natural rights we have an obligation to overthrow them

• Consent of the governed: The government has the power, but receives consent from the people to govern in a certain way (if the people don’t support it, it should not exist)

• Popular Sovereignty: The government gets its power form the people

What was Common Sense and who wrote it?

Thomas Paine wrote it as a response to the intolerable acts and Lexington and Concord. Stated why it should be important to separate from England, but in simple vernacular. He was anti-organized religion

Who was Montesquieu?

Enlightenment thinker who believed in a separation of power (checks an balances)

Who was Voltaire?

Enlightenment thinker whose big idea was separation of church and state as well as free speech

What was Washington’s strategy in the Revolutionary War?

Retreat

What was the Declaration of Independence and what did it state?

• Document that states the colonists are separating from England

• Written in Philadelphia in 1776

• Uses ideas from Locke and Paine

• Has 4 parts

  • Preamble: Introduction that describes why they should part ways

  • Statement of rights: Political ideas of rights (contained many of Locke and Paine’s ideas)

  • List of grievances: Why the colonists are upset with the British

  • Resolution of independence: States that they want to leave

• Signing the Declaration of Independence was an act of treason

• Thomas Jefferson blames the king for slavery in an early draft, but it does not make it in because many southern states say they won’t fight in the revolution if it does

• Many countries become inspired by this document

What was the Second Continental Congress?

Second meeting that began with colonists divided on whether or not a revolution should occur. New England wanted independence, other colonies are less sure. The meeting called for colonies to prepare to shoot, and Washington is appointed commander of the Colonial army.

Who did the British hire to help fight in the war?

18,000 Hessians (brutal fighters) from Germany

What was Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation?

Document sent in response to the Olive Branch Petition that gives the colonists and ultimatum; fight for the British, or be seen as a rebel. Also stated that all indentured servants or slaves of rebels are to be declared as free.

What are the British strengths and weaknesses in the Revolutionary War?

Strengths:

• Well trained army

• Best navy in the world

• Assistance from loyalists, some African Americans, most Native Americans, and 30,000 mercenaries

Weaknesses:

• Unfamiliar with American land

• Had to move across the Atlantic to fight

• War was unpopular in Britain (British citizens did not want to pay taxes for a war they didn’t even believe in)

What are the American strengths and weaknesses in the Revolutionary War?

Strengths:

• Fighting on their own territory

• Officers have experience from the French and Indian war

• Many leaders have experience from being in the British army, and know there tactics

Weaknesses:

• No navy

• No money

• Lacked a full time and well equipped fighting force

Describe the sides Americans chose to be on regarding the Revolutionary War.

Patriots- 30%

• Believed in complete independence from Britain

• Inspired by the ideas of Locke and Paine

• Provided the troops for the American army, led by George Washington

Loyalist/Tories- 20-30%

• Remained loyal to Britain

• Believed taxes were justified

• Didn’t want to be punished if Britain won the war

Neutrals- 50%

• Many colonists wanted to stay uninvolved

Describe what happened in Saratoga, New York.

The British supply line becomes stressed and 6000 soldiers surrender. Benjamin Franklin convinces France to join the Patriots, which serves as a MAJOR turning point in the war.

Describe the Battle of Yorktown.

British want to flee from Yorktown on ships, but the French blockade the ships from coming. This marks the end of the war.

Describe the Treaty of Paris 1783.

The agreement to end the war. States that the U.S. stretched to Mississippi, and the loyalists will be forgiven and get their property back, Also states that Americans will pay off outstanding British debt.