The American Revolution and Confederation, 1774–1787

A study set of flashcards covering key events, people, documents, and concepts from the American Revolution and the Confederation period (1774–1787).

What was the purpose of the First Continental Congress (1774)?

To respond to Britain's Intolerable Acts and protest parliamentary infringements on colonial rights, with the aim of restoring the prewar relationship rather than seeking independence.

What were the Intolerable Acts and how did they influence colonial attitudes?

A set of punitive laws passed in 1774 that escalated conflict with Britain and pushed many colonists toward unity and consideration of independence.

What were the Suffolk Resolves?

Massachusetts resolves calling for the immediate repeal of the Intolerable Acts and for colonial resistance through military preparations and boycotts.

What was the Declaration and Resolves (1774)?

A petition urging the king to redress colonial grievances while recognizing Parliament's authority to regulate commerce; a conciliatory statement by moderates.

What was the Continental Association (the Association)?

A network of committees formed by the Continental Congress to enforce the Suffolk Resolves through economic sanctions.

What was the Galloway Plan and its fate?

A plan to reorder relations with Parliament and form a union of colonies within the British empire; it failed by one vote.

What happened at Lexington and Concord (April 1775)?

The opening clashes of the American Revolution; British forces engaged colonial militiamen, who resisted and inflicted casualties on the British.

What occurred at the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 1775)?

British forces captured the hill near Boston after heavy losses; Americans claimed a victory by demonstrating resilience and organizational capability.

What was the purpose of the Second Continental Congress (1775)?

To organize the war effort, appoint George Washington as commander-in-chief, authorize troops, raid Quebec, and create naval forces.

What was the Olive Branch Petition (1775)?

A final attempt to avert war by pledging loyalty to the crown and seeking intercession; King George III rejected it and Parliament issued the Prohibitory Act.

What role did Thomas Paine's Common Sense (1776) play?

A radical pamphlet arguing for independence and the creation of a republican government, helping sway public opinion toward breaking from Britain.

What did Richard Henry Lee’s resolution (1776) propose?

A formal call for independence of the colonies from Great Britain.

Who drafted the Declaration of Independence and when was it adopted?

Thomas Jefferson; adopted July 4, 1776, listing grievances and declaring the colonies independent.

What is the significance of the Battle of Saratoga (1777)?

A turning point that secured French (and later Spanish and Dutch) support for the American cause, widening the war.

What was the effect of the Franco-American alliance after Saratoga?

France openly allied with the Americans in 1778, providing crucial military and financial aid; Spain and the Netherlands joined later.

What happened at Yorktown (1781)?

Cornwallis surrendered to Washington, aided by French forces and navy, effectively ending major fighting in America.

What were the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1783)?

Britain recognized U.S. independence; the Mississippi River became the western boundary; fishing rights off Canada; debts and Loyalist claims to property honored.

What were the major provisions of the Land Ordinance of 1785?

A policy for surveying and selling western lands, with one section per township set aside for public education.

What did the Northwest Ordinance (1787) establish?

Rules for creating new states in the Northwest Territory, providing a path to statehood and prohibiting slavery in the region.

What were the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

No power to tax or regulate commerce; no executive or national judiciary; a unicameral Congress with one vote per state; amendments required unanimous consent.

What powers did the Confederation Congress actually have under the Articles?

To wage war, make treaties, send diplomatic representatives, and borrow money; but it could not tax or regulate commerce and had no independent enforcement.

What were the three broad problems the United States faced under the Articles?

Financial (war debts and lack of national revenue), foreign (respect and leverage from Britain/Spain), and domestic (issues like Shays's Rebellion revealing weakness in civil order).

What was the significance of Shays's Rebellion (1786–87)?

A Massachusetts uprising that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles and pushed the push for a stronger central government.

What is the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) primarily known for asserting?

That power derives from the people and that fundamental rights, including liberty and due process, should be protected; it influenced later state constitutions and the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Approximately what portion of the population supported the Patriots and Loyalists during the Revolution?

Patriots about 40%; Loyalists about 20–30%; the remainder were neutral or undecided.

What was the role of African Americans in the Revolution?

About 5,000 fought as Patriots; some free in the North, some in integrated or all-African-American units; several were recognized for bravery.

Who were the Loyalists (Tories) and what was their fate after the war?

Supporters of the Crown, often wealthier and more conservative; roughly 60,000 fought with British; many emigrated or faced social/political penalties after the war.

What roles did women play during the Revolution?

Supporters who ran farms and businesses, cooked and nursed in camps, and in some cases fought or disguised as men; figures include Molly Pitcher and Deborah Sampson.

How did the Revolution affect slavery and abolition efforts?

The Continental Congress abolished the importation of enslaved people; some Northern states ended slavery, but the South persisted; abolition efforts faced long-term social and economic resistance.