3.5 - The American Revolution

When did the Second Continental Congress meet?

May 1775

Where did the Second Continental Congress meet?

Philadelphia

What was the initial divide within the Congress?

Some delegates wanted independence, while others wanted negotiation with Britain.

What contradictory strategy did the Second Continental Congress adopt?

They prepared for war while still seeking peace with Britain.

Why didn’t many colonists initially want independence?

They valued British heritage and protection, wanting reforms instead of separation.

What army did Congress create?

A new colonial (Continental) army.

Who was appointed commander-in-chief of the colonial army?

George Washington.

Why was Washington sent to Boston?

To lead the Massachusetts militia and volunteer units.

What did Congress authorize Benedict Arnold to do?

Raid Quebec to draw Canada away from Britain.

What naval forces did Congress create?

An American navy and marine corps.

What was the Olive Branch Petition?

A July 1775 pledge of loyalty asking the king to secure peace and protect colonial rights.

How did King George III respond to the Olive Branch Petition?

He dismissed it angrily.

What act did he support instead?

The Prohibitory Act.

What did the Prohibitory Act declare?

The colonies were in rebellion.

What did Parliament forbid after the Prohibitory Act?

All trade and shipping between Britain and the colonies.

Why was the Prohibitory Act significant?

It ended any chance of reconciliation and pushed colonists toward independence.

Who introduced the resolution for independence?

Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.

Who drafted the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson.

What two main ideas did the Declaration contain?

A list of grievances against George III and principles justifying revolution.

When was independence voted on?

July 2, 1776

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

What happened at Concord?

British destroyed military supplies but were attacked on their march back to Boston.

How many British casualties occurred at Concord?

About 250.

What happened at the Battle of Bunker Hill?

British took the hill but suffered over 1,000 casualties.

Why was Bunker Hill a moral victory for Americans?

They inflicted heavy losses on the British.

Which foreign nation secretly aided Americans early in the war?

France.

Why was the Battle of Saratoga important?

It convinced France to openly ally with the United States.

Why was the French alliance crucial?

It widened the war and forced Britain to divert military resources.

Which nations joined the war against Britain after France?

Spain and Holland.

Who led the western campaign capturing British forts?

George Rogers Clark.

What territory did Clark’s victories help secure?

Parts of the Ohio Territory.

Why did Britain withdraw troops from Philadelphia?

To consolidate forces.

Which city became the center of British operations after 1778?

New York City.

What was Britain’s southern strategy?

Concentrating campaigns in Virginia and the Carolinas where Loyalists were strong.

Where was the Battle of Yorktown fought?

On the shores of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.

When was the Battle of Yorktown?

1781

Who surrendered at Yorktown?

General Charles Cornwallis.

Which forces supported Washington at Yorktown?

French naval and military forces.

Why was Yorktown the last major battle?

Cornwallis’s defeat caused the Tory government to collapse.

Which British political party fell after Yorktown?

The Tory Party led by Lord North.

Which group replaced them and wanted to end the war?

Whig leaders.

When was the Treaty of Paris signed?

1783

What did Britain recognize in the Treaty of Paris?

The independence of the United States.

What became the western boundary of the United States?

The Mississippi River.

What fishing rights were granted to Americans?

Fishing rights off the coast of Canada.

What debts were Americans required to pay?

Debts owed to British merchants.

What property claims had to be honored?

Loyalist claims for confiscated property.

Who were the Patriots?

Colonists who supported independence and served in militias or the Continental Army.

Who were the Loyalists?

Colonists loyal to Britain; many lived in the South.

What were “continentals”?

Paper currency issued by Congress that became nearly worthless.

What hardships did American troops face at Valley Forge?

Winter suffering, food shortages, and inadequate supplies.

What were the key factors in American victory?

French alliance, Washington’s leadership, Patriot resilience, and British economic strain.

Why did the war become unpopular in Britain?

It heavily strained the British economy and government finances.