Studied by 34 people
Why is the Ohio River Valley the middle ground (native american)?
Native American - historical hunting lands, traded with both French and British
Why is the Ohio River Valley the middle ground (french)?
claim to the land as a part of Louisiana, wanted to control the Native American trade and keep the Pennsylvania traders out, did not plan to settle
Why is the Ohio River Valley the middle ground (british)?
dreamed of establishing a new empire west of the British colonies, could easily acquire fertile land and freedom
Specifically, what events were responsible for the British increase in public debt?
the fact that the 7 years war was global dramatically increased the British’s public debt
Who was William Pitt and why significant?
changed the British fighting style, secretary of state, took office in 1757, raised huge sums of money and poured men and naval forces into the war
Battle of Quebec Significance
MONUMENTAL turning point, British vs. french
British win
Led to British control of Canada
French pushed out of North America
Results of the Seven Years War/French and Indian War
1754 to 1763.
The English won the war and the Peace of Paris was negotiated in 1763
French expulsion from North America, and increased British power
Massive British debt
What issue did the Native Americans face at the conclusion of the 7 Years War (CHANGE OVER TIME)
Indians fought on both sides. but ultimately wanted to keep their independence from both.
Colonial expansion from British and French lost and ceding territory posed a threat to the Indians
Later led to a pan-Indian identity, rallying up everyone against colonists
FRENCH GONE, TRADING PARTNER GONE, UNSAFE
Pontiac’s Rebellion
Led by several war leaders inspired by Neolin’s teachings
Reject European technology
Free themselves from commercial ties with whites and alcohol dependence
Clothe themselves in the garb of their ancestors
Drive colonists from their territory
Why was Pontiac’s Rebellion significant for the colonies?
Eventually led to the Proclamation of 1763 after the killing of white settlers by the Native Americans
Proclamation Line of 1763 (Define)
prohibits further colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains
lands acknowledged as belonging to the Indians
Banned the sale of Native American ands to private individuals
Proclamation Line of 1763 (British rationale)
Less to protect the Indians, more to avoid having conflict on the frontier that would increase war debts
Don’t want to agitate the Indians and can’t protect their colonists
Proclamation Line of 1763 (Colonists rationale)
RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM
Wanted to take advantage of the expulsion of the French to consolidate their claims to western lands
Most ignored the line, because they fought for the British and now can’t reap the rewards
Pacifist?
a person who rejects war/conflict and believes there are no moral grounds which can justify resorting to war: QUAKERS
Paxton Boys
mostly Scots-Irish farmers. destroyed the Susquehannock town of Conestoga and then marched onwards to Philadelphia, intending to attack Moravian Indians
Albany Plan of Union of 1754
Drafted by Ben Frank
Creation of a grand council composed of delegates from each colony
Power to levy taxes and deal with Indian relations and the common defense
Never sent to London for approval
What was the British response to the Colonists claim that because the colonies were unrepresented in the British Parliament, Britain had no right to tax the colonies.
Virtual Representation
Virtual Representation Definition
Each member represented the empire, not just his own district - the interests of all who lived under the British crown were supposedly taken into account
Define Writes of Assistance
enforce Navigation Acts
General search warrants that allowed custom officials to search anywhere they chose for smuggled goods
Colonists saw this as destructive to English liberty and the fundamental principles of the British Constitution
How did the British debt from the Seven Years War impact the relationship between Britain and the North American Colonies?
British saw colonies as subordinates and continued to use them to raise money to pay off their debt, furthering colonist’s discontent with the now-active British government
Admiralty Courts
Courts where accused smugglers could be judged without benefit of a jury trial
Tried to stop the widespread smuggling by colonial merchants
Sugar Act
tax MUST be paid in GOLD
Introduced by George Greenville, reduced the existing tax on molasses imported into North America from 6 pence to 3 pence
Established new machinery to end widespread smuggling by colonial merchants
Stamp Act
The FIRST time Parliament tried to directly raise money via taxes
Required all printed material produced in the colonies to carry a stamp purchased from authorities
Purpose - to help finance the operations of the British Empire
Why is the Stamp Act significant
Colonists didn’t want a standing British army in the colonies
Imposition of the tax without colonial consent challenged local elite authority
Led to No Taxation without Representation
Significant of the Stamp Act Congress
Second Unity of Colonies (first was First Great Awakening)
October 1765 - met in New York, affirmed allegiance of all colonists to the British Crown
Right to consent to taxation was essential to the freedom of a people
Boycott British goods until repealed
How many colonies attended the Stamp Act Congress
9
Explain the two major resolutions from the Stamp Act Congress
Right to consent to taxation was “essential to the freedom of a people”
Plan to boycott British goods until Parliament repealed the Stamp Act
How did the Stamp Act Congress plant the seeds of unification of the colonies?
It was the first major cooperative action among Britain’s mainland colonies
Why was the Stamp Act repealed?
American resistance + pressure from London merchants and manufacturers who did not wish to lose their American markets
What was the purpose of the Committee of Correspondence?
In Boston, communicated with the other colonies to encourage opposition to the Sugar and Currency Acts
Sons of Liberty
1765, New York
Led protest processions
Posted notices reading: “Liberty, Prosperity, and No Stamps”
Enforces the boycott of British imports
Boston Massacre
March 5, 1770 - fight between snowball throwing, drunk colonists and British soldiers, five colonists killed
Crispus Attucks as 1st person to die
What led to the repeal of the Townshend Acts?
British merchants - pushed for the repeal as they wanted to lose a possible source of future interruption of trade
British left a tax on tea and removed British soldiers
What happened to the value of stock of the East India Company?
The price of stock in the company sharply rose and then collapsed, leaving its value pretty low with now-broke investors
What special privilege did the British government give the British India Company?
Helped market its Chinese tea to North America
Offered the company a series of rebates and tax exemptions
Enabled them to dump cheap tea on America, pushing out established merchants and smugglers
What would the tax on tea pay for?
The tax on the tea would pay for the British East India Company, who was facing a lot of economic losses
Why did colonists refuse to pay the tax on tea?
If the colonists paid the tax on tea, they would be acknowledging Britain’s right to tax the colonies
Define the terms of the Intolerable/Coercive Acts
Curtailed town meetings (no right to assembly)
Authorized the governor to appoint members to the council
No more elected assembly
Empowered military commanders to lodge soldiers in private homes (quartering)
What impact did the Intolerable Acts have on the colonists?
Unified the colonies in opposition to what was widely seen as a direct threat to their politcal freedom
Define the Quebec Act
ENRAGED THE COLONISTS
Extended the Southern boundary of the Canadian Province to the Ohio River and granted legal toleration to the Roman Catholic Church in Canada
Why did a Continental Congress Convene?
To coordinate resistance to the Intolerable Acts
12/13 colonies attended (no one knows why Georgia didn’t come)
What did the Continental Association call for?
Endorsed the Suffolk Resolves
Adopted the Continental Association
Authorized Committees of Safety
Implemented mandates and took action against enemies of American Liberty
Suffolk Resolves
urged fellow citizens to cease paying taxes or trading with Britain and to undertake militia drill each week
Lexington and Concord on April 19th
1775, British advance onto Concord in order to seize arms being stockpiled
49 Americans dead
73 British dead
American Victory - “Shot heard around the world”
Why was Ticonderoga important to the war effort?
First American Victory
Secured the strategic passageway north to Canada and gave Americans artillery that would later be used in other battles
Significance of Breed’s/Bunker Hill
First MAJOR battle of the Revolutionary War
Americans used Ticonderogan artillery
British flee (under Sir William Howe) and cut down the liberty tree
British victory, but they sustained double the casualties of Americans (Americans ran out of ammo)
List the actions of the Second Continental Congress
Authorized the raising of a Continental Army
Printed money
Appointed George Washington as commander
Why was George Washington’s appointment significant?
He was from the South, and that unified the colonies. He was also just really capable in battle.
Brought over Virginia (Biggest colony) to the Patriot side
How did the Olive Branch Petition show how the colonists were reluctant revolutionaries?
Happened around the same time as Declaration of Independence and Common Sense, so it showed the colonies as unwillingly to cling to one specific side
Who was Thomas Paine?
An emigrant from England that moved to Philadelphia late in 1774
Became associated with a group of advocates of the American cause
Why was Paine’s Common Sense unique?
New Style of Political Writing
Designed to expand dramatically the public sphere of political discussion
Avoided complex language and Latin phrases
What did the Declaration of Independence consist of?
Mostly a long list of grievances directed against King George III
Thomas Jefferson’s Preamble
What ideas did Thomas Jefferson use from John Locke?
Government
Derives its powers from “the consent of the governed”
Citizens have the authority to alter or to abolish governments when they threaten their subject’s natural rights
Define American Exceptionalism
the belief that the U.S. has a special mission to be a refuge from tyranny, a symbol of freedom, and a model for the rest of the world
What was the most important factor for the colonists in the struggle for independence?
Americans were more concerned with gaining international recognition in their struggle for independence than anything else
British Advantages
Well trained army
Plus hired German missionaries
World’s most powerful navy + money
Experienced military commanders
British Disadvantages
Uncertain public support due to prospective taxes
European rivals pressured Britain
3,000 miles away
No central authority in the States
American Advantages
Fighting on their own turf
Massive Morale
Americans Disadvantages
Local militias and an inadequately equipped Continental Army
Why was the alliance with France so important?
France would go on to supply military assistance to the U.S. and turn the tides of war
How did Howe’s fighting style help George Washington?
Howe didn’t chase down any remnants of the Continental army after winning battles, leaving the Continental army in pieces, but able to recuperate and learn
How did the failure impact the colonial army?
Successive failures caused the colonial army’s numbers to go down from 28,000 to 3,000
Why did George Washington attack Trenton and Princeton?
To regain the initiative of the war and restore morale
Significance of the Battle of Saratoga
Howe essentially abandoned General Burgoyne
Burgoyne had to surrender at the Battle of Saratoga on October 17, 1777
Significant boost to American morale
What were the French reasons to help the Americans?
Revenge on previous wars
French fought British ships in the Caribbeans, Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean
Why is Saratoga a turning point?
Gained international allies for America
Put the British on the defensive in places ranging from the West Indies to England itself
How did France become involved in the war?
American diplomates travelled to France and created a Treaty of Amity and Commerce
French recognized America as a state
Why did the British shift the war to the South?
Hoped to exploit the social tensions between backcountry farmers and wealthy planters that surfaces in the Regulator movement
Enlist the support of the numerous colonists in the region who were loyal to the crown
Disrupt the economy by encouraging slaves to escape
Why did the British fail?
Wherever they went, the Americans militias harassed them, causing British commanders to be unable to consolidate their hold on the South
Battle of Yorktown
More frenchman than American soldiers
General Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, on Oct 17, 1781
Public support for the at in Britain diminished and peace negotiations began
Negotiators for the Treaty of Paris 1783
American delegation - John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay
List the terms of the Treaty of Paris 1783
British to cede the entire region between Canada and Florida east of the Mississippi River
Gained Americans the right to fish in Atlantic waters off of Canada
Americans agreed that colonists who had remained loyal to Britain would not suffer persecution
Following the American Revolution, why did inflation increase?
The American government had printed much more Continentals (currency) to pay off debts to international and domestic parties, leading to the decrease in Continental purchasing power
As a new independent nation, what challenges with regard to trade did the U.S. face?
Lost its primary trading partner in Britain
Higher prices for British imperial goods
American ships susceptible to piracy
Who became the U.S. major trading partners following the revolution?
France, as well as Spanish America
How did trade with Spanish America change following the American Revolution?
The American trade with Spanish America increased and established commercial relations outside of Spain’s boundaries while also assisting patriot revolutionaries there
List the POSITIVE effects on the U.S. economy following the revolution
Independence on the high seas
Can trade with other countries
Free to industrialize
Free to produce whatever
Both industry + agricultural economies set to expand with a lot of potential
List the NEGATIVE effects on the U.S. economy following the revolution
High inflation
Loss in British trade/goods
Piracy more prevalent
What happened to loyalists following the revolution?
From 1783-1800, about 50,000 people (all loyalists) emigrated to Canada
Did not get compensated for material loss
Lost their spot as the top of the social hierarchy
Following the revolution, who replaced the loyalists at the top of society?
The revolutionary officer corps began to form a new upper class
Decided to place limits on the advancement of groups below them
How was the economic situation with farmers?Why?
Faced new taxes levied by states to eliminate the U.S. debt
Many faced foreclosure
Shay’s Rebellion - fought against this, freed debtors, and changed Massachusetts law, led to the Constitution
How was the economic situation with artisans and tradesmen? Why?
Not rewarded by economic/social advancement even though they fought. Advancement, if any, happened in urban areas but most laws benefitted those with money + property
How was the economic situation with foot soldiers from the revolution? Why?
Not paid pensions they were due, little social mobility, decided to move beyond the frontiers of the U.S.
How was the economic situation with Native Americans? Why?
Seen as savages and not in possession of basic human rights, most had to flee as colonists moved west, some fought and lost and had to cede their territory
The Status of Slaves (war time, British)
promised freedom to all slaves who defended the Empire (12,000 slaves join)
The Status of Slaves (war time, Patriots)
promised freedom to slaves who escaped from loyalists
The Status of Slaves (after war, North)
freed slaves for participation in the Continental Army
7/13 states set slaves free
Slaves not really needed in economy anyways
The Status of Slaves (after war, South)
escaped slaves NOT freed, sold back into slavery even if they were already freed, slavery necessary for plantation agriculture
The Status of Slaves (after war, Britain)
did their best to make their promises come true
Where possible, freed slaves + evacuated them to other parts of the British Empire
Note
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