Causes of the American Revolution

French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years War)

, this was a war fought between France and England around the world, but in the colonies, too.

Proclamation of 1763

A law issued by the British government, banning American Colonists from crossing the Appalachian Mountains into the Ohio Territory.

Mercantilism

A colonial economic policy based on the idea that colonies exist for the benefit of the the Mother Country

Smuggling

Trading without paying a tax on imported goods

Revenue

tax income, government income from taxes.

Boycott

the most effective form of protest. An organized decision not to purchase something

Tariff

A duty (or tax) on goods transported on imported products.

Writs of Assistance

Documents allowing British Soldiers to search the homes of possible smugglers without a warrant.

Rebellion

a refusal to accept authority, civil disobedience, a violent organized attempt to destroy established authority.

Revolution

a change in ways of thinking and behaving; the overthrow of a government by the people governed, causing sudden and dramatic change

Propaganda

any technique that attempts to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior of a group in order to benefit the sponsor.

Intolerable

unbearable, incapable of being put up with

Coercive

Coercion is the forcing someone to behave in a certain way by use of threats, intimidation or some other form of pressure or force, bullying, to compel

Quarter

to give living accommodations (especially those assigned to military personnel)

Representation

having a say in something, standing in for someone or some group and speaking with authority on their behalf; the state of serving as delegate or agent

Parliament

the national assembly of elected representatives in England, the legislative lawmaking body

Impose

to enforce, inflict, impose something unpleasant; levy

Repeal

the removal or reversal of a law, done when a law is no longer effective, or it is having far more negative consequences than planned.

Massacre

slaughter

Tory/loyalist

Someone loyal to the crown of England.

Rebel/patriot

Those colonists who resisted and eventually fought against England were rebels, while the Americans referred to those same people as patriots.

Sons of Liberty

Group started by Sam Adams. The secret society was formed to protect the rights of the colonists and to fight taxation by the British government. They often used violence and intimidation.

Daughters of Liberty

Group of patriot women who protested the taxes by boycotting British Goods and making their own tea and other products instead.

Effigy

A crude figure or dummy representing a hated person or group, used to intimidate

Boston Massacre-1770

Redcoats fired upon a crowd in Boston after snowballs were thrown at soldiers. 5 colonists were killed

Sugar Act-1764

A tax on imported sugar. Designed to help pay debt from the French and Indian War.

Stamp Act - 1765

The 1st direct tax on the colonists. Stamps had to be put on all legal documents, newspapers, playing cards, etc. This made the colonists furious!

Quartering Act

law required American colonists to house and feed soldiers in their home. This was resented by the colonists

Declaratory Act

1766 Law passed by Britain saying that they have the power to tax the colonists whenever they want to.

Townshend Acts

1767. Placed a tax on imports - namely tea, lead, glass, paint

Tea Act

1773 Gave British East India Company total control over the American tea trade. Kept a small tax on tea. Caused the Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party-Dec. 16th, 1773

Men dressed as Indians boarded 3 ships in Boston harbor and threw 342 chests of tea into the harbor in protest of the tea tax.worth more than $1,000,000

“No Taxation without Representation”

Phrase used to show colonial discontent at not being represented in Parliament. The colonists had no say in their taxation.

Intolerable Acts 5 Parts

Punishment for Boston Tea Party,

Port of Boston closed,

Restricted representative government,

Allowed British soldiers to stay in private homes (quartering),

British officials accused of crimes could stand trial in England,

Quebec Act giving freedom of religion to Catholics in the area

First Continental Congress 1774

met to discuss colonial reaction to the Intolerable acts.

Common Sense

written by Thomas Paine in January 1776. Argued very effectively for separation of the colonies from England. Was excellent propaganda.