Chapter 5 | The spirit of Independence | U.S. History

Redcoats

A name for the British troops who fought against the colonists. They received this name because of the red coats they wore.

Boston Tea Party

British East India Company shipped 3 ships to Boston and demanded they be unloaded. At midnight on December 16, 1773 the Boston Sons of Liberty dressed as Native Americans and boarded the ships. They threw 342 chests of tea overboard.

Battles of Lexington and Concord

The first fighting between the British troops and the colonial militia took place here. Eight minutemen died at Lexington. Another small battle occurred at the North Bridge in Concord.

Revenue

Incoming money from taxes or other sources.

Boston Massacre

A violent and tragic encounter between the Bostonians and soldiers. The angry townspeople started throwing sticks and stones at the soldiers. This caused the soldiers. This caused the soldiers to fight back. They killed 5 colonists.

Boycott

To refuse to buy items in order to protest certain actions or to force acceptance of one's terms.

John Hancock

The first person to sign the declaration of Independence

Sons of Liberty

A group of protestors in Boston. They were responsible for numerous protests, one of which was their participation in the Boston Tea Party. They were responsible for throwing the tea off the ships.

Sugar Act

This act was passed by Parliament in 1764. It lowered the tax on the molasses the colonists imported. It also allowed officers to seize goods from accused smugglers without going to court.

Stamp Act

This act was passed by Parliament in 1765. This law taxed almost all printed materials. Newspapers, wills, and playing cards needed a stamp to show that the tax had been paid.

Proclamation of 1763

This order was issued by King George lll. It prohibited colonists from living west of the Appalachian Mountains, on Native American land.

British East India Company

This company was vital to the British economy. The colonists refused to import their tea. They eventually had total control of the market for tea. They continued shipping tea to Boston despite warnings

Fort Ticonderoga

This was located near Lake Champlain and was stocked with military supplies. The Patriots took the British by surprise and the fort surrendered on May 10, 1775.

Minuteman

a civilian during the Revolutionary era, sworn to be ready to fight with only one minute's notice

loyalist

An American colonist who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the war for independance

Thomas Paine

He wrote a pamphlet called "Common Sense." This had a great influence on public opinion in the colonies

Patriot

American colonist who favored American independence.

Thomas Jefferson

He was asked to write the first draft of the declaration of independence. He used ideas from various philosophers to write this draft.

Declaration of Independence

This was adopted by the Second Continental Congress
on July 4, 1776. This document, drafted
by Thomas Jefferson, announced that
the 13 colonies regarded themselves as
independent states, no longer under
British rule.

Paul Revere

Member of the Sons of Liberty. He galloped to Lexington to spread the word that the British were coming. He was captured by British Patrol.

George Washington

An experienced soldier. He was unanimously chosen to command the Continental Army.

Repeal

To cancel an act or law

Rebellion

Open defiance of authority

Resolution

An official expression of opinion by a group.

Tea Act

The British Parliament passed this act to help save the British East India Company. This act gave the company nearly total control of the market for tea in the colonies. It also removed some, but not all of the taxes on tea.

Committee of Correspondence

An organization that spread political ideas and information though Britain's American colonies

Effigy

A mocking figure representing an unpopular individual

Preamble

The introduction to a formal document that often tells why the document was written.

Second Continental Congress

The delegates met on May 10, 1775. At this meeting they authorized the printing of money and set up a post office. They also formed committees to handle relations with Native Americans and foreign countries. It also created the Continental Army and chose George Washington to command this army.

John Locke

An English philosopher who expressed the idea that people are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property. He stated that people form governments to protect those rights