The Road to American Independence and Early Governance

Seven Years' War

Conflict between British and French from 1754 to 1763.

French and Indian War

American theater of the Seven Years' War.

Colonial Expansion

English settlers moved into Ohio Valley.

George Washington

Led colonial forces against French outpost.

Native American Alliances

Most sided with French due to better relations.

William Pitt

British Prime Minister who supported colonists during war.

Treaty of Paris 1763

Ended war, gave England control of Canada.

Mercantilism

Economic policy prioritizing profit from colonies.

Pontiac's Rebellion

Native American uprising against British post-war policies.

Paxton Boys

Scots-Irish frontiersmen who attacked Susquehannock tribe.

Albany Plan of Union

Benjamin Franklin's proposal for colonial unity.

Sugar Act of 1764

Tax aimed at reducing molasses smuggling.

Currency Act

Regulated colonial currency to stabilize British economy.

Stamp Act

Tax on printed materials, sparked colonial outrage.

Vice-Admiralty Courts

Courts without juries for trying violators of trade laws.

Colonial Resistance

Colonists opposed new taxes and regulations imposed by Parliament.

Join or Die

Franklin's cartoon symbolizing need for colonial unity.

Ohio Valley

Region where English settlers clashed with French forces.

Fortified Outposts

French built these to stop English expansion.

Debt from War

British government incurred large debt financing the war.

Colonial Taxation

Colonists believed they had paid their share.

English Expansionism

Disrupted Native American life post-war.

Iroquois Treaty Negotiation

Franklin attempted to secure alliance with Iroquois.

Sugar Act

1764 law taxing sugar and molasses imports.

Currency Act

1764 law restricting colonial currency issuance.

Proclamation of 1763

Royal decree limiting colonial expansion westward.

Salutary Neglect

British policy allowing colonial self-governance.

Economic Depression

Period of reduced economic activity in colonies.

Stamp Act

1765 tax on legal documents and licenses.

Revenue Generation

Purpose of the Stamp Act to raise funds.

Self-Taxation Tradition

Colonial practice of taxing themselves for governance.

Broad-Based Tax

Tax affecting all legal documents and licenses.

James Otis

Colonial leader opposing Stamp Act through pamphlets.

No Taxation Without Representation

Colonial demand for direct representation in Parliament.

Virtual Representation

British claim that colonists were represented indirectly.

Colonial Grievances

Previous complaints leading to stronger protests.

Self-Government

Colonial desire for autonomy in tax decisions.

Stamp Act

1765 tax on printed materials in colonies.

Patrick Henry

Drafted Virginia Stamp Act Resolves for self-government.

Sons of Liberty

Protest group opposing British taxation in colonies.

Repeal of the Stamp Act

Parliament revoked the Stamp Act in 1766.

Lord Rockingham

Prime Minister who opposed the Stamp Act.

Declaratory Act

Asserted British authority to tax colonies.

Townshend Acts

1767 taxes on goods imported from Britain.

Charles Townshend

Minister of Exchequer who drafted Townshend Acts.

Vice-admiralty courts

Courts enforcing British laws in colonies.

Writs of assistance

Licenses allowing searches for smuggled goods.

Massachusetts Circular Letter

Letter urging unified colonial protest.

Boycotts

Colonial refusal to purchase British goods.

Quartering Act of 1765

Colonists housed and fed British troops.

Boston Massacre

1770 incident where soldiers killed five colonists.

Propaganda campaign

Effort to sway public opinion post-Boston Massacre.

John Adams

Defended soldiers in Boston Massacre trial.

Committees of Correspondence

Groups for sharing political ideas among colonies.

Mercy Otis Warren

Writer advocating for revolution against British rule.

Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania

John Dickinson's work uniting colonists against Townshend Acts.

Boston Tea Party

1773 protest against British tea monopoly.

Coercive Acts

British response to Boston Tea Party, tightening control.

Quebec Act

Extended Quebec's boundaries, angering colonists.

First Continental Congress

Convened in 1774 to address colonial grievances.

Continental Association

Organized boycott of British goods by colonies.

Committees of Observation

Local groups enforcing boycotts and replacing British assemblies.

The Shot Heard 'Round the World

First shot of the American Revolution at Lexington.

Minutemen

Colonial militia ready to fight at a minute's notice.

Battle of Concord

Militia forced British troops to retreat in 1775.

Olive Branch Petition

Last attempt for reconciliation with Britain in 1775.

George Washington

Chosen to lead the Continental Army.

Loyalists

Colonists loyal to Britain during the Revolution.

Patriots

Colonists supporting independence from Britain.

Slave Insurrections

Rebellions by enslaved people against their owners.

Quakers

Pacifists in Pennsylvania opposing the Revolutionary War.

Colonial Grievances

List of complaints against British rule.

Continental Army

Established by Congress to fight British forces.

John Adams Quote

Revolution occurred in people's minds before war.

British Troops in Concord

Sent to confiscate weapons, leading to conflict.

Casualties at Lexington

Minutemen suffered 18 casualties, 8 dead.

Revolutionary Movement

Pro-independence sentiment among colonists.

Colonial Position

Defined relationship between royal and colonial governments.

Diverse Perspectives

Variety of views represented in the Continental Congress.

Boycott

Refusal to buy British goods until grievances addressed.

Insubordination Acts

Colonial actions against British authority, including tax collection.

Common Sense

Pamphlet advocating independence, published January 1776.

Thomas Paine

Author of Common Sense, an influential pamphlet.

Colonial Independence

Advocated by Common Sense over monarchy.

Sales Figures

Common Sense sold over 100,000 copies initially.

Literacy Rates

Higher in New England due to Puritan education.

Wider Audience

Common Sense reached even non-readers effectively.

Propaganda Masterpiece

Common Sense rallied support for the patriot cause.

Declaration of Independence

Commissioned in June 1776, authored by Jefferson.

Grievances Against Crown

Document enumerated colonies' complaints against Britain.

Individual Liberty

Principle articulated in the Declaration of Independence.

July 4, 1776

Date when the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Significance of Declaration

Set philosophical foundations for the American Revolution.

Battle of Yorktown

Occurred October 17, 1781, marked revolution's end.

Cornwallis Surrender

Major British general surrendered to American forces.

Franco-American Alliance

Negotiated by Franklin, brought French support in 1778.

Treaty of Paris 1783

Granted U.S. independence and territorial rights.

Articles of Confederation

First national constitution, ratified in 1777.

Central Government Limitations

Designed to prevent tyranny, limited federal power.

Legislative Voting

Each state had one vote, regardless of population.