Stage of the American Revolution Notes:

Mayflower Compact

A document made up by colonists in the PLymouth colony, supposed to be heading for virginia but bc of weather they had to anchor in mass, some puritans threatened, gave equal rights and authority to all colonists while staying loyal to the king gave early signs of their want of revolution bc they wanted to live freely rather than being controlled by the king, first constitution, ruled by majority

Virginia House of Burgesses

first assembly of elected reps, first meeting was in 1619, 1619-1643 they would meet in the presence of British officials, after which they would have some separate/without them, levy taxes, pass laws, and represent the interests of colonists to the crown

Roger Williams

1603-1683, his ideas were important, he was a puritan minister banned from Massachusetts Bay, he established Providence, Rhode Island, argued that church and state were to be separate, power comes from the people, thought puritans were wrong for being against religious freedom, pretty much

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

advanced rev ideas by modeling a political, spelled out that freedom to elect their own governor,

Bacon’s Rebellion

- 1676-77, Berkeley wanted to change farmer laws, gathered farmers to create a rebellion, destroyed a Jamestown settlement, nate bacon died of dysentery and Berkeley slaughtered the rest of his crew, berkeley they took land around jamestown and make laws/taxes, they didn’t wanna tax themselves so they taxed the people that came over as former indentured servants, these servants moved to the outskirts of the town, the natives attack the servants, bacon is mad bc hes asking berkeley for help in defense of the natives from indentured servants, bacon organized rebellion fights natives and turns the rebellion onto Berkeley, taxation without representation, first time in american history we have a complaint of no taxation without representation

Navigation Acts -

• 1600 - 1700s

• The British passed laws to control all colonial trade and keep profits for themselves

• All goods going to or from the colonies had to pass through England first, where all taxes were added

• Limited colonial trade freedom affected the colonies economically

• Economic issues raised - Colonists lost money

• Resentment towards British control - Colonists feel that the English are limiting their freedom.

• Smuggling increased

• Could trade to France but still pay a tax, which was the most unfair (from their perspective)

Navigation benefits the settlers (in some ways)  

Salutary Neglect

- brit policy where they enforced laws on trade and parliamentary rules on American colonies. Britain did this because after the French and indian war, they needed money, so they taxed the colonies. Not a formal law, was a policy of lax enforcement

The Great Awakening

- in the 1730s and 40s the great awakening spread religious beliefs among masses of ppl, jonathan edwards argued that god was angry and humans should feel shamed for their sins new england, george whitefield delivered sermons of how god would save ones who believed in jesus christ, people confessed their sins and believed they were being saved, this was positive for commoners but ministers became less powerful, the dividing the church happened bc new brances were created as ppl began to do their own thing, the movement changed the way ppl viewed authority

The Enlightenment

leaders of this believed that darkness could be solved by facing problems head-on. Locke had ideas like government supremacy and human rights.

The Seven Years War -

• Also known as the French and Indian War

• Began May 28th, 1754

• George Washington’s militia had surrendered

• The British campaign faced challenges

• The French successfully defended 

• The Peace of Paris treaty

• Colonists were not impressed with the British (How they were led & their troops)

• Enlightenment added questions, and this war added even more (Equality).

• Proud of the military considering size comparison

• Believed the French provoked the war

• Convinced that the colonial army was terrible and unmatched in its hierarchy

Writs of Assistance

• Started in the American colonies in 1761.

• Had effectively been banned from the Fourth Amendment

• They were perceived by the colonists as a profound violation of their fundamental rights as British subjects, particularly the right to privacy and property.

• Had multiple names - Writ of Restitution and Writ of Possession

• Generally restricted to execution within the state where the district court is located.

The Sugar Act

• On April 5, 1764

• British law to raise revenue from American colonies by taxing molasses and sugar, aiming to end smuggling and fund the Indian and French War

• The act made enforcement more alert. 

• Affected central to colonial businesses, particularly in New England, as it affected merchants and distillers by making illegal trading more difficult.

• An indirect tax

The Stamp Act

• Direct tax on the American colonies

• Possessed taxes on newspapers, pamphlets, playing cards, dice, and legal documents

• Stamps issued by Britain were attached to documents or packages as proof that the    

The Sons of Liberty

• New York and Connecticut

• They acknowledged the troubling and unstable situation between Great Britain and its North American colonies

• Believed this unrest was a scheme by Britain’s enemies to alienate American subjects from the government

• Believed that this partnership could help prevent the enforcement of the Stamp Act.

• Used intimidation and directed action to successfully coordinate a widespread colonial resistance to British policies, which pushed moderate leaders toward independence.  

The Declaratory Act

• On March 18, 1766, George III approved Parliament's repeal of the Stamp Act and its passage of the Declaratory Act.

• Once the Stamp Act repeal overshadowed the Declaratory Act….

The Townshend Acts

• Taxes on a variety of goods such as glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.

• Served as a tariff

• Was an indirect tax

• Several courts for smuggling trials viewed it as unfair.

Boston Massacre

• Between the British soldiers and the Boston Colonists

• It was a street fight that escalated quickly into a deadly incident

• British soldiers fired into a crowd of angry colonists, no command, killing three and two later on from injuries. 

• Wanted to create the perception that the British Military was a cruel and brutal force.     

Committees of Correspondence

• 1772 - 1776

• A key communication system made by the American Colonists

• Connected towns, colonies, and countries

• Led to the first Continental Congress

• Shared political ideas, organized resistance, unified colonial opinion, and formed revolutionary governments

The Tea Act

• The Tea Act was passed by Britain in 1773

• Allowed the British East India Company to monopolize the sale of tea in America.

Boston Tea Party

• Political protest on December 16, 1773

• Happened at Griffiths Wharf in Boston

• Dumped 342 chests of tea off the ship

The Intolerable Acts

• Strict laws were passed by Britain after the Boston Tea Party

• Hurt the economy

• Shut down the Boston harder and restricted the Massachusetts government

• Prohibited the British Officials from the colonial Courts.

• United the colonies and convinced many that Britain was abusing their power.     

The Quartering Act

• Required settlers to house British soldiers, feed them, take care, etc.

• Colonists felt their rights were being violated.

• Soldiers were placed in public buildings.    

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Took place April 19th, 1775, sunrise to sunset, Thomas Gage, Francis Smith, first armed clash, brit troops led by Thomas Gage and Francis Smith, first shot led shot heard around the world, fight forced the British to retreat to Boston, huge victory for patriots, ignites the war

Continental Congress

the first gathered in 1774 to address complaints against British policies (intolerable acts), the second assembled in 1775, evolved to declare independence, the first one led to colonial unity and a petition to the king.

The Battle of Bunker Hill

June 17th, 1775, the British Army and the Patriots were the armies. Brit attacked the colonists' position; it was a moral victory for the colonists, but the Brits took control of Boston

Olive Branch Petition

The Olive Branch Petition was July 1775, a last-ditch effort to avoid a full-blown war, rejected, and it declared the colonies in rebellion. The king ended all hope for peace

Common Sense

pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, argued for independence of the colonies and completely fractured ties to Britain, arguing that it wasn't common sense for a massive continent to be ruled by such a remote island and for people to pledge to a king and his corrupt government.

The Declaration of Independence

signed August 2nd, 1776, formally announced the 13 colonies' independence from Great Britain, gained national recognition, allowed them to form alliances with other nations, some celebrated, some were concerned, and it made them free

The Battle of New York

occurred in August 1776 first major battle after the declaration, brit forces (William Howe) aimed to seize control of New York. The American troops led by Washington were forced to retreat due to being outnumbered

The Battle of Charleston

took place in 1780, one of the largest and most significant in the south, led by General Sir Henry Clinton, the British laid siege to Charleston, South Carolina for several weeks. The city surrendered on May 12th, 1780, resulting in a major loss for Americans; over 5000 Americans were captured. Britain's victory gave it control of the key southern port

The Battle of Saratoga

took place in 1777, Battle of Freeman's Farm (Sep 19, 1777), Battle of Bemis Heights (Oct 7, 1777). General Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold, British, were commanded by General John Burgoyne. Boosting morale and encouraging foreign support, France entered the war as an ally with America, and the British surrendered on October 17th, 1777

Valley Forge

- 1777-1778, Washington's army was loosely trained and poorly equipped. The British claimed New York and Philadelphia. The army had to suffer through the harsh winter at Valley Forge. General Baron von Steuben delivered intense training, which shaped the army, and the training led to improvements and the Battle of Monmouth

The Battle of Yorktown

a crucial turning point, fought against British forces, September 28th, 1781, and October 1781. British general Charles Cornwallis moved his army to Yorktown to establish a deep-water port, expecting resupply and reinforcements by sea. The world turned upside down

Treaty of Paris

loss of Yorktown left a major impact on the Tory party, war left some tension on their economy, Tory ministers resigned and were substituted by Whig leaders, Treaty of Peace provided for 4 provisions

The Articles of Confederation

- adopted by the Continental Congress, 13 articles, preamble, and first constitution, established the League of Friendship

Shay’s Rebellion -

a time of violence that occurred in 1786-1787, brought up due to a monetary debt crisis at the end of the revolution, militia veterans struggling after the war, led Washington to turn to politics. Daniel Shay led a violent revolt in Massachusetts,

Virginia Plan

happened on may 29 1787, proposed by edmund randolph, made to answer five dif issues, mo security over foreign invasion, did not give power to congress to resolve disputes between states and also make a bill that benefits commercial legislation, did not protect the power of federal govt, skeleton of constitution, helped because it agressed problem such as weak central govt and protected rights

New Jersey Plan

happened on June 15, 1787, in Philadelphia, the purpose was to protect the power of smaller states by having equal representation for every state regarding population. Washington made a copy of the delegation of New Jersey that William Patterson presented to the convention.

Great Compromise

proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, had a bicameral legislature, used ideas from both plans, and was not met with immediate praise

Three-Fifths Compromise

the three-fifths compromise regarded slaves as counting as people; the South wanted them to count North did not, because it wouldn’t be equal, this was because a states population determines the legislative representation and influences taxation for that, dehumanized slaves, set up the idea of slaves counting as people, in the end it became for every five slave three of them would count

Federalism

federal government sharing power with states, therefore allowing the states to unify and run the country together. Even though states have power, they still share the power with the government so that no one power can control the country

Checks and Balances

the idea came from Baron de Montesquieu, presented by James Madison, balanced the national power into three branches, the goal was to prevent absolute power.

Federalists

The Bill of Rights was ratified, and the formation of the legislative branch began, formed by Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in support of a stronger national government received Support for them came from more urban areas and New England

Anti-Federalists

small farmers and settlers on the western frontier, Sam Adams, George Mason, and Patrick Henry strong federal government is bad, and that state rights and individual rights will be threatened, though the Bill of Rights could mitigate this

Bill of Rights

December 15th, 1791, went into effect after it was ratified by 9 states, protecting individual liberties and limiting the power of the new federal government, protecting against abuses of the power of the central or federal got. Anti-Federalists and Federalists argued about the Bill of Rights