USVA History Unit 2: American Revolution

Great Awakening

Religous revivals in the 1730s-40s, colonists focused on wealth and aimed at spiritual renewal and personal faith. This encouraged new growth of new religious denominations and movements, shaping American religious life and inspiring social change.

Enlightenment period

An intellectual movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. It influenced various aspects of society, including politics, science, and the religious landscape. Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were key figures who promoted Enlightenment ideas in America, advocating for liberty, justice, and rational thought.

Thomas Paine’s Common sense

A pamphlet published in 1776 that advocated for American independence from Britain.

Blank slate theory

people live in a “state of nature” where they are free and equal

Inailenable rights

Fundamental rights often cited as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

governments two main laws

To protect the rights of citizens and ensure the common good, and to ensure the peaceful resolution of disputes within society

Social contract

agreement among individuals to create a government that protects their rights and promotes the welfare of the community.

Popular sovereignty

'‘popular vote’’ to overthrow the government

Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia statue fro religious freedom

A law drafted by Thomas Jefferson that established the principle of separation of church and state, ensuring freedom of religion in Virginia.

Albany plan

A proposal developed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 for the unification of the American colonies, aimed at coordinating defense against French expansion and ensuring mutual cooperation. British parliament rejected it as they believed the colonists were becoming too independent

Merchantilism

An economic policy that emphasizes maximizing trade by forming colonies and controlling resources.

salutary neglect

A British policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws to keep the American colonies obedient to England, allowing them to develop their own economies and governance.

French and Indian War

Known as 7 year war, british colonies were fighting against French forces and their Native American allies for control of North America.

Treaty of Paris 1763

Ends french and Indian war, french gave over lands east of Miss. river to the App mtns., french and Spanish take control of the land west of App. mtns, Spanish gave Florida to british

proclamation line of 1763

An imaginary boundary established by Britain, prohibiting American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to reduce conflicts with Native Americans.

pontiac rebelllion

A Native American uprising against British rule in 1763, led by Chief Pontiac. It aimed to resist colonial expansion into their territory following the French and Indian War.

boston massacre

A confrontation on March 5, 1770, where British soldiers killed five colonists during a protest against British taxation and military presence.

tea act

A 1773 law passed by the British Parliament allowing the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, undermining local merchants and increasing colonial discontent.

boston tea party

A political protest by the Sons of Liberty on December 16, 1773, where they dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor to oppose the Tea Act.

intolerable acts

A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, aimed at consolidating British control over the American colonies.

first contental congress

The First Continental Congress was a gathering of delegates from twelve of the thirteen American colonies that convened in Philadelphia in September 1774 to respond to the Intolerable Acts and to organize colonial resistance against British rule.

lexington and concord

The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, occurring on April 19, 1775, where colonial militia faced British troops, marking the start of open conflict between the colonies and Britain.

second continental congress

A convention of delegates from the thirteen American colonies that met in Philadelphia in May 1775, sent an olive branch petition to king George, gave George washington continental army command, approved Dec. of independence and managed the colonial war effort during the American Revolution.

declaration of independence

The Declaration of Independence is a historic document adopted on July 4, 1776, which formally declared the thirteen American colonies' separation from British rule, outlining the principles of individual rights and government by consent.

advantages and disadvantages of patriots

The advantages of the Patriots included strong motivation, knowledge of the land, and guerrilla tactics, while their disadvantages encompassed a lack of training, limited resources, and insufficient support from foreign powers.

advantages and disadvantages of loyalists

The advantages of the Loyalists included strong ties to the British government, access to military support, and resources, while their disadvantages involved being viewed as traitors by many colonists, lack of popular support, and reliance on a distant government.

phase one: New England region of war

british were unsuccessful at lex. and con.

battle of bunker hill:a significant early battle in which British forces suffered heavy casualties despite winning the engagement, demonstrating the Patriots' determination and capability. “dont shoot till you see the whites of their eyes”

Phase two middles colonies region

saw major battles such as the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, where Washington's forces achieved significant victories, boosting morale and support for the Patriot cause. This phase highlighted the shifting dynamics as the Patriots gained momentum against the British.

battle of saratoga

A crucial turning point in the American Revolution, the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 resulted in a decisive victory for the American forces, convincing France to formally ally with the Patriots and provide military support against Britain.

phase three: south region

The final phase of the American Revolution, focusing on the Southern colonies, where key battles occurred including the Siege of Yorktown. This phase saw the British adopt a strategy to gain support from loyalists and enslaved people, ultimately culminating in American victory.

treaty of Paris 1783

The treaty that formally ended the American Revolutionary War in 1783, recognizing American independence and establishing borders for the new nation. It granted the United States significant territory and marked the conclusion of British colonial rule.