American Revolution Key Events and Figures Study Guide

Salutary neglect

A British policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws meant to keep the American colonies obedient to England.

Provisions of the Treaty of Paris, 1763

The treaty ended the Seven Years' War, ceded Canada to Britain, and granted Florida to Britain from Spain, while France lost its territories in North America.

Consequences of the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War)

The war increased British debt, leading to higher taxes on American colonies and heightened tensions between Britain and the colonies.

Proclamation of 1763

An order by the British Crown that prohibited American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent conflicts with Native Americans.

Sugar Act

A law passed in 1764 that imposed a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies, aimed at reducing smuggling and increasing revenue.

Lord Grenville

The British Prime Minister who implemented several acts that increased colonial taxation, including the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act.

Stamp Act

A 1765 law that required colonists to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used, leading to widespread protests and eventual repeal.

Samuel Adams

A founding father and leader of the American Revolution, known for his role in organizing protests against British taxation and for his involvement in the Boston Tea Party.

Committees of Correspondence

A network of communication among the colonies that coordinated responses to British policies and fostered unity against British rule.

Sons of Liberty

A secret society formed to oppose British policies and taxes, known for organizing protests and acts of civil disobedience.

Patrick Henry

An influential orator and politician known for his declaration 'Give me liberty, or give me death!' and his role in advocating for independence.

John Dickinson

A colonial leader who wrote 'Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania,' arguing against British taxation and advocating for colonial rights.

Stamp Act Congress

A meeting of delegates from nine colonies in 1765 to organize opposition to the Stamp Act, leading to a unified colonial response.

Internal taxes

Taxes imposed on goods and services within the colonies, such as the Stamp Act, which were particularly resented by colonists.

External taxes

Taxes on goods imported into the colonies, which were generally accepted by colonists as they were seen as regulating trade.

Declaratory Act

A 1766 act passed by Parliament that asserted its authority to legislate for the colonies 'in all cases whatsoever,' following the repeal of the Stamp Act.

Townshend Acts

A series of laws passed in 1767 that imposed duties on imported goods, leading to increased tensions and boycotts in the colonies.

Lord North

The British Prime Minister during the American Revolution, known for his attempts to quell colonial unrest and manage British interests.

Boston Massacre

A deadly confrontation in 1770 between British soldiers and Boston colonists, resulting in the deaths of five colonists and fueling anti-British sentiments.

Tea Act

A 1773 act that granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, leading to the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest by the Sons of Liberty where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to oppose the Tea Act and British taxation.

Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)

A series of punitive laws passed in 1774 aimed at punishing Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party and tightening British control over the colonies.

First Continental Congress

A 1774 gathering of delegates from twelve colonies to organize resistance against British policies and to address colonial grievances.

Declaration of Independence

The document adopted on July 4, 1776, declaring the thirteen American colonies independent from British rule and outlining the principles of individual rights.

Lexington and Concord

The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775, marking the start of armed conflict between Britain and the colonies.

Minutemen

Colonial militia members who were trained to be ready to fight at a moment's notice during the American Revolution.

Second Continental Congress

A convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies that met in 1775, managing the colonial war effort and moving incrementally towards independence.

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 that advocated for independence from Britain and criticized monarchy, influencing public opinion.

Patriots vs. Loyalists

Patriots were colonists who supported independence from Britain, while Loyalists remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution.

Key Revolutionary battles

Significant battles during the American Revolution include Bunker Hill, Trenton and Princeton, Saratoga, and Yorktown, which were pivotal in determining the war's outcome.

Treaty of Alliance of 1778 (Franco-American Alliance)

An agreement between France and the United States during the American Revolution, where France agreed to support the American cause against Britain.

Treaty of Paris, 1783

The treaty that officially ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing American independence and establishing borders for the new nation.

Barbara Tuchman

Britain made poor decisions and its leaders handled the colonies badly, helping create the Revolution.

David McCullough

Focuses on the experiences and struggles of the Americans, especially during 1776.

John Dickinson

Colonists had the rights of Englishmen and believed Britain was violating those rights. He wasn't immediately calling for independence.

Thomas Paine

Argued that Americans should break away from Britain and create an independent country.

Howard Zinn

Looks at the Revolution from the perspective of ordinary people and different social classes, not just wealthy Founding Fathers.

Gordon Wood

Emphasizes how the Revolution created major political and social changes in American society.

John Ferling

Gives a more complicated view of the Revolution and challenges the idea that it was simply a straightforward fight for freedom.