8th grade: The Road to Revolution

Boycott

Refusing to buy specific goods to protest a policy or action

Parliament

Th law-making body of the British Government (similar to U.S. Congress)

Repeal

To cancel or take back a law

Militia

A group of civilians trained to fight in emergencies

Tyranny

The cruel and oppressive use of government power

Propaganda

Information (Often biased/misleading) used to promote a political cause (e.g., Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre)

Writs of Assistance

Search warrants that allowed British officials to search colonial homes/ships for smuggled goods without a specific reason

Sons of Liberty

A secret society formed to protect the rights if the colonists and fight taxation (often through protests)

French and Indian war- what happened

Britian fought France for control of North America (Ohio River Valley) Britain won.

French and Indian War Result

Britian went deep into debt. They decided to tax the colonies to pay for the war and the troops kept in America

Proclamation of 1763- The law

King George III drew a line down the Appalachian Mountains. Colonist were forbidden to settle west of the line to avoid conflict with Native Americans

Proclamation of 1763- Reaction

Colonist were angry; they felt they fought for that land and had a right to live there. Most ignored the law.

The Stamp Act (1765)- The Law

A direct tax on all printed materials

The Stamp Act (1765)- Reaction

Massive protest. The Sons of Liberty formed. Colonist shouted “No Taxation Without representation”

The Stamp Act (1765)- Outcome

Britain repealed the act but passed the Declaratory Act (Saying they could tax colonist if they wanted)

The Townshend Acts (1767)- The Law

Taxed imported goods like glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea

The Townshend Acts (1767)- Reaction

Colonist boycotted British goods. Daughters of Liberty made “homespun” cloth to replace British fabrics

The Boston Massacre (March 5, 1770)- Event

A confrontation between angry colonist and British soldiers. Soldiers fired into the crowd, killing 5 colonist

The Boston Massacre (March 5, 1770)- Impact

Paul Revere used it as it as propaganda to make the British look like bloodthirsty murders, increasing anti-British sentiment

The Tea Act & Boston Tea Party (1773)-Law

gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales,actually lowering the price but keeping the tax

The Tea Act & Boston Tea Party (1773)-Event

The Sons of Liberty, dressed as Native Americans, dumped 342 chest of tea in to the Boston Harbor

The Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) (1774)- Law

Punishment for the Tea Party

The Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) (1774)-Reaction

It united the colonies. they formed the First Continental Congress

First Continental Congress (1774)- Event

Delegates form 12 colonies met in Philadelphia

First Continental Congress (1774)- Action

They sent a petition to the King to restore rights and agreed to boycott all British goods. They also advised colonies to start colonies to start training militias

Lexington and Concord (April 1775)- Event

British troops marched to Concord to seize weapons. They met Minutemen at Lexington

Lexington and Concord (April 1775)- Significance

“The shot Heard ‘Round the World.” the first battles of the Revolutionary War

King George III

The king of England during the revolution; viewed as a tyrant by Patriots

George Washington

Gained fame in the French & Indian War; chosen to lead the Continental Army

Samuel Adams

Leader of the Sons of Liberty in Boston; master of creating anti-British propaganda

Patrick Henry

Famous Virginia orator who said “Give me Liberty, or give me Death”

Thomas Paine

Wrote the pamphlet Common Sense, which convinced many average colonist to support independence

John Adams

A lawyer who defended the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre, but later became a lading voice for independence

Benjamin Franklin

Diplomat who went to London (and after France) to argue for colonial rights