seven years war
1754-1763 conflict between european nations but mainly britain and france. france gave a lot of its territories to england and spain, but the british economy suffered
albany plan of union
franklins plan that established an organized colonial council to debate and solve problems like frontier defense and trade. this plan never followed through
peace of paris
peace treaty signed to end the seven years war. some terms included britain getting land east of the mississippi and some in canada, and also spain getting louisianna and lands west of the mississippi
proclamation line of 1763
prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian mountains. sparked many protests
george washington
colonial officer who led troops in the seven years war, he was appointed lieutenant of the virginia militia and launched suprise attack on fort duquesne in 1754
king george iii
king of england during this time. he gave up several territories so he could finalize the peace of paris
pontiac
ottawa leader who convened a council and continued to fight the british. he had the support of 18 american indian nations. attacked fort pitt and british outposts, as well as white settlements along the frontier
political sovereignty
dominant power
salutary neglect
policy in british colonies that made supervision of internal colonial affairs less intense (as long as the colonies produced materials and revenue for britain)
committee of correspondence
committee in MA to circulate concerns, protests, and important events to leaders in the other colonies
virtual representation
parliament gave voice to the views of the colonists and represented their interests
sons of liberty
a group formed by merchants, traders, and artisans who were dedicated to the repeal of the Stamp Act. organized the boston tea party. leader was samuel adams.
currency act
prohibited colonies from printing paper money or bills of credit
sugar act
import tax of sugar products and other luxury items (molasses, wine, coffee, etc.)
quartering act
ensured that british troops would remained stationed in the colonies until the war was over
stamp act
taxed any transaction involving paper products
declaratory act
announced parliaments power to pass any law they want to connect the colonies closer to britain
townshend acts
instituted an import tax on items like glass, lead, paper, and tea
boston massacre
clash between colonial protesters and british soldiers leading to the death of five colonists. took place in massachusetts
tea act
aimed to lessen debts of britain and british eat india company by providing the company with a tea monopoly
boston tea party
rally against the new tax act. organized by the sons of liberty. they dressed up as american indians, boarded british ships, and poured five tons of tea into the boston harbor
coercive acts
harsh laws that punished the people for the boston tea party. closed the boston port until residents paid for damaged property. also known as intolerable acts
quebec act
extended boundaries of quebec into areas of the ohio river valley that colonists wanted to settle
when did the revolutionary war begin
april 19 1775. year after coercive and quebec acts were passed
samuel adams
leader of the sons of liberty. john adams cousin.
patrick henry
passed the virginia resolves denouncing taxation without representation
john dickinson
wrote letters that attacked the townshend acts. member of the quakers and PA attorney.
cripus attucks
african american killed in the boston massacre.
paul revere
silversmith. warned minutemen of the british attack. suggested that the soldiers shot at a peaceful and respectable looking crowd with fewer low class participants
patriots
american colonists who favored the movement for american independence
continental congress
congress convened in philidelphia in 1774 in response to the coercive acts. hoped to reestablish freedom
continental army
army created by the second continental congress after the battles of lexington and concord began the revolutionary war in 1775. got an alliance with france
minutemen
militia groups trained to prepare quickly for local defense in case of british attack
second continental congress
assembly of colonial representatives that served as a national government during the revolution
dunmores proclamation
issued by lord dunmore that offered freedom to any enslaved african american who joined the british army
declaration of independence
document declaring american independence from britain. july 4, 1776. risked getting arrested of treason
loyalists
colonial supporters of the british during the revolution
thomas paine
gov employee who wrote common sense, providing a rationale for independence and liberty to all americans
thomas jefferson
on the committee to draft a formal statement justifying independence. took the lead in preparing the declaration
john adams
americas number 2. worked to draft the declaration
george mason
drafted the virginia declaration of rights in may of 1776. opposed the constitution
richard henry lee
introduced a motion to the congress in early june 1776 saying that "these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states"
betsy ross
sewed flags for continental troops
battle of saratoga
key battle at saratoga new york. patriots won in oct 1777 and colonists were hopeful that they could triumph. also increased the chances that france would ally with them
valley forge
place where washingtons army of patriots stayed for a long winter
battle of yorktown
battle where british forces surrendered on oct 19, 1781 at yorktown virginia. effectively sealed patriot victory in the revolution. (cornwallis led this loss for the loyalists)
treaty of paris
1783 treaty that ended the revolutionary war
baron friedrich von steuben
a prussian military officer who trained the continental army
marquis de lafayette
french soldier who served with the continental army
charles cornwallis
british general who surrendered at yorktown. reclaimed charleston south carolina. evicted the patriots from there and gained more control before his surrender
comte de rochambeau
french commander of 5,000 french troops south from rhode island to virginia. helped washington
john jay
patriot representative in paris who negotiated peace terms at the end of the revolution