American Revolution: Key Events, Causes, and Outcomes for Students

Solitary neglect

The policy allowing the colonies to develop and govern themselves with little to no direct British influence or interference.

French Indian War

A conflict marked by the English surrender at a French Fort, leading to British victory and control over large territories in North America.

Colonel George Washington

The English leader who attacked a French Fort, marking the beginning of the French Indian War.

Seven Years War

Another name for the French Indian War, where the British emerged victorious.

Actual representation

A system where elected representatives form local districts.

Virtual representation

The concept that British people represent people from all over the British Empire.

Grievances

The large complaints that most Americans had against Great Britain, leading to the desire for revolution.

Taverns

Important places where revolutionary ideas were exchanged and pamphlets like Common Sense were distributed.

First Continental Congress

A gathering that unified the states into a body capable of making country-wide decisions.

Declaration of Independence

A document that declared all men are created equal and was issued due to grievances against British taxes and quartering acts.

George Washington

Selected to lead the Continental Army due to his previous military experience and appearance in military uniform at the Continental Congress.

Loyalists

Americans who remained loyal to Britain during the Revolution and faced consequences during and after the conflict.

Treaty of Paris

The agreement that ended the Revolutionary War and provided America with generous terms from the British.

Impact of the American Revolution

The effects of the Revolution on African Americans, American Indians, and women.

British military strengths

The advantages held by the British military during the American Revolution.

Colonial military strengths

The advantages held by the colonial military during the American Revolution.

Revolutionary pamphlets

Literature like Common Sense that spread revolutionary ideas among the colonists.

Economic stimulants

Factors that made both France and Britain heavily reliant on the American colonies.

Independence

The state of being free from British rule, which was not decided upon by most Americans until later.

Strained relations

The deteriorating relationship between the British and the colonists following the French Indian War.

British control

The increased enforcement of direct control over the colonies by the British after the French Indian War.

Quartering Acts

British laws that required colonists to provide housing for British soldiers, contributing to grievances.

Navigation Acts (1660s)

Goods only transported on British ships to British Ports; effects colonial economy.

Theory of mercantilism

Governments want favorable balance of trade.

French and Indian War (Seven Year War)

French and English fighting over land in the Americas specifically Ohio River Valley.

Cause of French and Indian War

French encroachment on English territory; English raided a French fort kicking off the war.

Outcome of French and Indian War

England won and France had to give large amounts of land to England.

Significance for colonists of French and Indian War

The British had large debts from the war and tried taxing them to make up for it, sowing the seeds of rebellion.

Albany Plan

Ben Franklin's 1754 idea to unite under one government in the colonies to face issues like the French and the Natives.

King George III

Ruled Great Britain from the time of the American Revolution; kind of unstable.

Proclamation of 1763

Established a boundary line west of the Appalachian Mountains forbidding colonists from crossing.

Paxton Boys

Group of vigilantes formed in 1763 to protect themselves from Native attacks.

Sugar Act (1764)

British law that taxed sugar and molasses as well as other imported goods; wanted to raise revenue post 7-year war.

Stamp Act (1765)

British tax on all paper products; met with huge colonial resistance.

Townshend Acts (1767)

A series of British taxes on many goods including glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea.

Boston Massacre

Deadly conflict between American and British soldiers outside of a Boston courthouse.

Samuel Adams & Committee of Correspondence

Founded the first Committee of Correspondence in Boston in 1772 to protest British policies.

Tea Act (1773)

Gave the struggling British East India Company a monopoly in tea, lowering tea prices.

Boston Tea Party

Sons of Liberty dressed up as natives and destroyed large amounts of tea, causing British outrage.

Intolerable (Coercive) Acts (1774)

Closed Boston Harbor and restricted self-governance as a result of the Boston Tea Party.

Battle of Lexington and Concord

First shots fired in the American Revolution; British troops attacked along the entire way back.

Second Continental Congress

George Washington appointed commander in chief; Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Paine - 'Common Sense'

Called for independence in the mainstream, bringing the idea of independence to common people.

John Locke - 'social contract theory'

Humans have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Battle of Bunker Hill

Turning point with large amounts of British casualties; technically a British victory.

Olive Branch Petition

Final effort of the Second Continental Congress to establish peace; King George rejected.

Battle of Trenton

Pivotal victory for Americans; Washington won against Germans when he crossed Delaware River.

Battle of Saratoga

Major victory that convinced French to ally with Americans, sending troops and supplies.

Battle of Yorktown

Surrender of British forces.

Hessians

German mercenaries hired by the British during the American Revolution.