American Revolution Exam

What was the proclamation of 1783?

• issued by Britain after the French and Indian war

• Prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian mountains

• intended to reduce conflict with native Americans and lower Britains military expenses

• colonist believed they deserved western land after helping defeat France

• significance | increased resentment toward British control

What was the Albany plan of union?

• proposed by Benjamin Franklin during the French and Indian war

• suggested creating unified colonial government for defense and native diplomacy

• rejected by colonial assemblies and the British government

• franklin’s “join or die” cartoon encouraged cooperation.

• significance | introduced the idea of colonial unity before independence

what was virtual representation and why did colonist reject it?

• Britain argued Parliament represented all British subjects, including colonist

• colonists had no elected representatives in parliament

• colonist believed only their elected colonial assemblies should tax them

• led to the slogan of “ No taxation without representation”

• significance | created a major disagreement over political authority

What was the stamp act, and how did colonist respond?

• Direct tax on newspapers, legal documents, playing cards, and other printed materials

• Britain wanted revenue to pay war debts and military expenses

• colonist organized boycotts and the stamp act congress

• sons of liberty protested and pressured tax collectors

• repealed in 1766 but parliament passed the declaratory act

• significance | parliament continued claiming full authority over the colonies

What were the Townshend acts, and what were their effects?

• taxes on imported glass, lead, paint, paper, and especially tea

• Britain increased customs enforcement

• colonist organized boycotts and protested taxation

• British troops were stationed in Boston during rising tenions

• most taxes were repealed in 1770 except the tea tax

• significance | increased distrust and contributed to the Boston massacre

what happened during the Boston massacre and why was it significant?

• march 5, 1770 the British soldiers fired into a crowd of Boston residents

• five colonists were killed, including crispus Attucks

• Samuel Adams and other patriots used the incident to increase opposition to Britain

• Paul revere created a famous engraving portraying British soldiers as aggressors

• John Adams defended the soldiers in court

• significance | increased anti-British feelings and revolutionary tensions

what was the tea act and why did colonists oppose it?

• allowed the British east India company to sell tea directly to the colonist under favorable conditions

• intended to help the financially struggling company

• tea became cheaper, but the existing British tea tax remained

• colonists believed buying tea meant accepting parliament’s right to tax them

• colonial merchants also feared unfair competition

• significance | sparked the Boston tea party

what happened at the Boston tea party what caused it?

• December 16, 1773 in Boston harbor

• colonial protesters, some disguised as Mohawks boarded British ships

• destroyed 342 chests of tea

• led Britain to pass the intolerable acts

what were the intolerable acts?

• punished Massachusetts for the Boston tea party

• closed Boston harbor and restricted self - goverment

• united colonies against British authority

why were Lexington and concord important?

• British troops attempted to seize colonial weapons

• first armed battles of the revoultion

• known for the “shot heard around the world”

why was bunker hull significant?

• Britain won but suffered heavy casualties

• proved colonial forces could challenge British soilders

• increased patriot confidence

what was the olive branch petition?

• colonists’ final attempt to peacefully reconcile with britain

• sent king George the third by the second continental congress

• rejected, increasing the support for independence

what was the declaration of independence?

• written mainly by Thomas Jefferson and adopted July 4, 1776

• declared independence from briatin

• emphasized natural rights and consent of the governed

why was the battle of Trenton important?

• Washington crossed the Delaware river

• launched a surprise attack against hessian troops

• boosted American morale after earlier defeats

why was Saratoga a Turning point?

• Americans defeated British general burgoyne

• convinced france to formally ally with america

• secured important military and financial support

why was Yorktown important?

• american and French forces surrounded cornwallis

• French navy blocked British escape by sea

• british surrender effectively ended major fighting

what was the treaty of Paris?

• officially ended the revolutionary war

• Britain recognized American independence

• established U.S. territory west to the missisippi river

How did John Locke influence the revolution?

• beloved people had natural rights, life , liberty, and property or the pursuit of happiness

• supported replacing government that violated rights

• influenced the declaration of independence

what were Montesquieu’s beliefs?

• supported separation of government powers

• believed limited government prevented tyranny

• influenced America’s future government structure

why was Thomas Paine important?

• wrote common sense in 1776

• criticized monarchy and British rule

• encouraged ordinary colonist to support independence

what was the difference between patriots and loyalist?

• patriots supported resistance and independence

• loyalist remained loyal to Britain

• different loyalties divided families and communities

what was the significance of “join, or die”?

• political cartoon created by Benjamin Franklin in 1754

• showed a divided snake representing the colonies

• encouraged colonial unity and cooperation

what were the main causes of the American revolution?

• taxation without representation

• british restrictions on colonial rights and government

• enlightenment ideas about liberty and independence

how did the enlightenment influence the revolution?

• promoted natural rights and limited government supported government by consent of the people

• justified resistance against British rule

what contradictions existed in the declaration of independence?

• declared equality and natural rights

• slavery continued, women lacked equal political rights

• native Americans faced displacement and restrictions