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.

Who was Jonathan Edwards?

Preacher who wrote “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. Frequently preached about hell to scare sinners into salvation. Paved the way for revivals in Massachusetts.

Who was George Whitefield?

London preacher who made many trips to American to preach and convert the inhabitants. Popularized revivals and lots of the ideas Jonathan Edwards brought up. Given credit for the beginning of the Great Awakening.

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 is mercantilism?

The economic relationship between the colonies and its mother country. Mother country will buy raw materials from colonies and sell finished products back to them for a higher price.

What are the navigation acts and what did they say?

Series of laws established to control colonial trade. Stated:

• Trade to and from the colonies could only be operated by English or colonial crews

• All goods, except perishables, had to pass through ports in England

• Some goods could only be exported to England such as tobacco.

What is salutary neglect?

Idea that if the colonists are making money for Britain, Britain will let the colonies do whatever they want in terms of government. The end of salutary neglect leads to the start of the American Revolution

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

Who fought in The Seven Years War and what was the source of the conflict?

France and England over control of the Ohio River Valley. Natives were also involved. Fighting did not occur entirely in America, it bled over from Europe.

Who did the Natives side with in The Seven Years War?

They took bribes from both sides to make sure the fighting between them continued. The Natives knew that if one side won completely, they would be wiped out.

What happened when the English went to the Ohio River Valley during The Seven Years War?

The French had already built a fort there called Fort Duquesne so the English could not claim it. Virginia Governor Dinwiddie send George Washington to attack and defeat the fort.

What is the name of the Fort the English build?

Fort Necessity

What is the Albany Plan?

Plan to unite over the threat of the French expressed with the “Join or Die” symbol

Who’s wins The Seven Years War and how?

The British because of their superior navy. They cut off French shipping to America.

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 sugar tax?

• Already existed but was not being enforced

• Tax was not supported, but it was not a direct tax (meaning it only affected the sellers)

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 were the Quartering Acts?

• British troops require colonists to supply British soldiers with anything they needed including food, housing, etc.

• These become directly referenced in the Declaration of Independence

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

Who were the Sons and Daughters of Liberty?

Underground rebel agencies formed to protect the rights of colonists and intimidate tax collectors. Their forms of intimidation work, and the British take back the taxes.

What was the Declaratory Act?

Act that removed taxes from the colonies, but declared that Britain still has authority to govern the colonies

What are the Townshend Acts?

Many laws clustered together creating taxes. Included the tea tax. These taxes were not malicious, they were made to raise money for Britain to pay for colonial governors

What percentage of Boston inhabitants were British Soldiers?

25%

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 catalyst for the non-conformation of colonists in Boston?

An 11 year old boy dying due to protests in Boston

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 exmaple out of Boston, as well as close their port including the following:

• The Massachusetts government fell under control of the British (forbidding the colonial government).

• Writs of Assistance implemented which allowed British officials to search for smugglers without probable cause. They were permanent and transferable.

• Allowed the governor to move trials out of the colonies so they could be fair

• Reassertion of British troops being housed by colonists

These acts do not work, and the colonists side with Boston

What were the Committees of Correspondence?

A system of communication between patriot leaders in New England, and eventually throughout the colonies in opposition to parliament. This is important because it marks the first time people work together to fight against Britain.

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 are minutemen?

Trained citizens who serve as soldiers during an emergency

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)

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 is Deism?

Belief that god created the world, and then left (does not interfere with human affairs). It is the people’s responsibility to improve life and government (colonists liked this idea)

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.

What was the Olive Branch petition?

A letter written to King George III asking for some kind of settlement so they do not have to go to war. The colonists want to return to salutary neglect. They ask the King to remove parliament and protect their colonial rights. It does not work.

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 the course of the Revolutionary War.

American suffer many early defeats and the British take many major cities because Washington continues to retreat. Washington abandons the idea of not fighting during winter, and he and his men cross the Delaware River on Christmas eve and surprise the enemy and defeats them. This is significant because it boosts the morale of the troops, and shows he have a shot at winning the war.

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 what happened in Valley Forge.

3000 people in the Colonial army die due to starvation, cold, and lack of supplies. Washington stayed with the army during this time, and Fredrich Wilhelm is hired to get the Colonial army into shape

Describe the Treaty of Parris 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.

What is the order of events? (starting with the 7 years war and ending with Declaration of Independence)

1. The 7 Years War

2. Pontiac’s Rebellion

3. Sugar act

4. Stamp act

5. Declaratory act

6. Townshend act

7. Boston Massacre

8. Boston Tea Party

9. Intolerable/Coercive acts

10. The 1st Continental Congress

11. Lexington and Concord

12. The 2nd Continental Congress

13. Battle of Bunker Hill

14. Olive Branch Petition

15. Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation

16. Common Sense

17. Declaration of Independence