The Road to Independence Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, legislative acts, and major historical events leading up to the American Revolutionary War.

Generation

A span of $20\text{--}30\text{ years}$.

The French and Indian War

A conflict fought between the French and the English over border disputes, the Ohio River Valley, and the fur trade, which England won.

The Treaty of Paris

An agreement over land following the French and Indian War where England received everything east of the Mississippi, Canada, and Florida, while Spain received everything west of the Mississippi.

Tax

A mandatory charge from the government.

The Proclamation Act

A law stating that colonists could not go past the Appalachian Mountains, enforced by British troops to avoid conflict with Native Americans and to control colonists.

The Sugar Act

A law that put a large tax on sugar, coffee, and wine.

The Stamp Act

A law that placed a special stamp on documents to help pay off war debt.

Parliament

The British law-making body in which the colonists lacked representation.

The Quartering Act

A law passed by England that required colonists to pay for housing for British soldiers remaining from the war.

Self Sufficient

To do without or make your own.

Boycott

The refusal to buy certain goods or products with the goal of putting economic pressure on a company.

Repeal

To cancel.

British Customs House

A building where taxes went, outside of which colonists protested prior to the Boston Massacre.

Join the Cause

To go to war with or break away from England.

Propaganda

Information that can be misleading in order to promote a cause, which can also be completely truthful as long as it promotes the cause.

Merchant

A business person.

The Tea Act of 1773

A law stating colonists could only purchase tea from the British East India Company or go to jail, offering cheaper tea while cutting out colonial merchants.

The Tea Act of 1773 Price Comparison Diagram

A diagram showing that colonial merchants bought illegal tea from other countries for $\$15$ and sold it to colonists for $\$20$, while the British East India Company offered tea directly for $\$10$.

The Boston Tea Party

An event where the Sons of Liberty threw $\$1\text{ million}$ worth of British East India Company tea into Boston Harbor.

The Boston Port Act

A Coercive Act that closed the Boston Port, forcing colonists to stop trade and lose money.

The Massachusetts Act

A Coercive Act that replaced the prior governor with Thomas Gage and limited towns to only one meeting a year to prevent organizing.

The Administration of Justice Act

A Coercive Act that allowed a guilty British person in the colonies to return to Britain.

The Quartering Act (Coercive Acts)

A Coercive Act that allowed British soldiers to stay in unoccupied buildings.

Militia

An army of ordinary citizens.

Shot Heard 'Round the World

The first shot fired at Lexington that killed $8$ people and marked official day one of the Revolutionary War, named because countries worldwide were watching.

Guerrilla (Gureillia)

A hit-and-run combat strategy used by colonists during the British retreat to Boston.