The American Revolution and Confederation

Benign Neglect

Britain’s long-standing policy of minimal interference in colonial affairs, which allowed colonies to develop self-government until the mid-1700s; the only act of control were the Navigation Acts of 1651, ensuring goods shipped to and from the colonies were transported on English ships.

Albany Congress (1754)

A meeting of seven colonies to negotiate with the Iroquois and discuss cooperation, leading to the proposed Albany Plan of Union.

Albany Plan of Union

Franklin’s proposal for a unified colonial “Grand Council,” rejected because colonies feared losing sovereignty.

Cause of the French and Indian/Seven Years’ War (1754-1763)

Washington’s militia and Iroquois forces ambushed a French party near Fort Duquesne, escalating tensions into full-scale war between Britain and France.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended the French and Indian War; Britain gained Canada and lands east of the Mississippi, reshaping colonial expectations.

Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763)

A widespread Native American uprising around the Great Lakes in which tribes captured nearly all British forts except Detroit, Niagara, and Pitt; violent frontier attacks prompted Britain to issue the Proclamation of 1763, restricting westward settlement and angering colonists who defied it.

Proclamation of 1763

Banned settlement west of the Appalachians to prevent Native conflict, angering colonists; resulted in widespread defiance as settlers moved west anyway, worsening friction with Britain.

Sugar Act (1764)

Increased tariffs on sugar and restricted rum imports to raise funds, angering colonists and showing Britain’s intent to tighten control; resulted in widespread resentment among merchants who saw it as economic restriction and centralization of power.

Currency Act (1764)

Prohibited colonial paper money as legal tender, hurting local economies and increasing resentment; resulted in intensified colonial frustration toward Parliament and fears of economic dependence on Britain.

Stamp Act (1765)

Required taxed stamps on printed materials and triggered widespread protests, massive boycotts, mob actions, and eventual repeal, strengthening intercolonial unity.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

A meeting of delegates from nine colonies in New York who united to oppose the Stamp Act, declaring it a violation of their rights under the British Constitution; they coordinated a boycott of British goods, pressuring Parliament into repealing the law (actually repealed it bc of simultaneous events in Britain).

Patriots

American colonists who opposed British policies, mobilizing both elites and common people to resist acts like the Stamp Act through protests, intimidation, boycotts, and intercolonial cooperation; they organized groups such as the Sons (and later Daughters) of Liberty to rally mass support for defending colonial rights and resisting tyranny.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Passed by Parliament on the same day the Stamp Act was repealed, stated that Parliament could make laws binding the American colonies "in all cases whatsoever."

Townshend Acts (1767)

Imposed very high taxes on imported British goods like tea, glass, paper, and paint to fund Crown officials; resulted in renewed boycotts, heightened resistance, and greater political tension; most (except on tea) were eventually repealed.

Boston Massacre (1770)

British soldiers killed five colonists in Boston, fueling Patriot propaganda and anger.

Tea Act (1773)

Lowered the price of British tea to be below that of the smuggled tea but preserved a tax and monopoly, angering merchants; resulting directly in the Boston Tea Party (a protest about the tax on tea and against the monopoly of the East India Company)

Coercive/Intolerable Acts (1774)

Punished Massachusetts after the Tea Party and were seen as threats to liberty; resulted in unifying colonists, convincing many that Britain intended tyranny, and leading to the First Continental Congress.

Quebec Act (1774)

Expanded Quebec’s territory and strengthened Catholic rights; angered colonists fearing loss of land and Protestant dominance, unified colonies in opposition.

Powder Alarm (1774)

Militia mobilized after rumors of British violence when Gage seized gunpowder; a rehearsal for the Revolution.

Suffolk Resolves (1774)

Declared the Coercive Acts void and called for military preparation to resist British tyranny.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Delegates from 12 colonies coordinated resistance and adopted a colony-wide boycott.

Continental Association

A unified boycott of British imports and exports enforced by committees of inspection that became local governments.

Elite Planters & Merchants Motivation to Revolt

Feared loss of political power and economic autonomy as Britain tightened taxes, trade restrictions, and governance. They opposed imperial control that jeopardized wealth, land claims, and influence in colonial legislatures.

Middle-Class Artisans & Small Farmers Motivation to Revolt

Resented British taxes, debt burdens, and economic decline after the war. Supported boycotts and protests because British policies harmed their livelihoods and threatened their economic independence.

Urban Laborers & the Poor Motivation to Revolt

Motivated by rising prices, unemployment, and anger toward British troops competing for jobs. They joined protests—sometimes violently—believing British policies worsened economic hardship and limited opportunity.

Frontier Settlers Motivation to Revolt

Angry at the Proclamation of 1763 and later British restrictions limiting western settlement. Wanted independence to secure land access, protect families, and remove British constraints on expansion.

Enslaved People Motivation to Revolt

Some hoped the Revolution’s language of liberty would lead to freedom; others fled to the British after promises of emancipation. Many viewed the conflict through the lens of whichever side offered the best chance at liberation.

Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775)

Massachusetts colonists defied British authority, outnumbered and outfought the Redcoats, marking the start of the American War of Independence

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Convened in May 1775 after the Revolutionary War began; acted as the de facto national government of the colonies, organized the Continental Army with George Washington as commander, issued the Olive Branch Petition, and eventually moved toward declaring independence.

Common Sense (1776)

Paine’s influential pamphlet calling for independence, republican government, and unity across social classes.

Common Sense – Excerpt 3

Paine argues that monarchy is unnatural and corrupt, insisting that hereditary rule violates reason and equality. He urges Americans to break from Britain because remaining tied to a tyrannical king contradicts common sense and endangers liberty.

Common Sense – Excerpt 4

Paine explains that America’s vast resources, distance from Britain, and growing population make independence not only possible but necessary. He warns that delay will bring greater suffering and claims that forming a republic is both practical and morally right.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Explained natural rights, listed grievances against the king, and declared the colonies independent.

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Washington and Rochambeau’s siege forced Cornwallis to surrender (lossing Britain ⅓ of its forces), ending major fighting and leading to peace talks.

Battles of Trenton and Princeton (1776)

Washington led daring strikes during the Winter, restored American morale, and kept the Continental Army in the war.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

American victory over Burgoyne’s army convinced France to openly ally with the U.S., marking the turning point of the war.

Battle of Cowpens (1781)

Daniel Morgan’s forces decisively defeated Tarleton in South Carolina, crippling British troops in the southern campaign.

Battle of Guilford Courthouse (1781)

Greene’s forces inflicted heavy casualties on Cornwallis, weakening his army and pushing him toward Yorktown.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Ended the Revolutionary War; Britain recognized U.S. independence and established national boundaries.

Articles of Confederation (1781)

America’s first government, intentionally weak—no power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.

Weaknesses of the Confederation

The central government lacked authority to enforce laws, regulate trade, tax, or manage western settlement.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Created the process for admitting new states, banned slavery in the Northwest Territory, and established land survey rules.

Annapolis Convention (1786)

A small meeting of five states calling for a larger convention to revise the failing Articles of Confederation.

Shays’ Rebellion (1787)

Armed uprising in Massachusetts by farmers protesting high taxes, debt, and economic injustices; led by Daniel Shays. Highlighted weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and influenced calls for a stronger central government, leading to the U.S. Constitution.

On the Equality of the Sexes (1790)

Judith Sargent Murray contends that women are intellectually equal to men and limited only by unequal education. She calls for expanded learning opportunities for women and argues that mental abilities, not gender, determine capability.