Revolutionary War Flashcards

Flashcards based on lecture notes for exam preparation.

What document limited the power of the English King?

Magna Carta

What is the divine right of kings or absolutism?

Aristocratic rule by birthright as opposed to consent by ruled

Who commanded Parliament's New Model Army during the English Civil War?

Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell

What happened to King Charles I after the English Civil War?

He was tried for treason and beheaded in 1649

Who ruled as lord Protector for a decade after Charles 1?

Oliver Cromwell

What restrictions were implemented during Cromwell's rule?

Restrictions on dance, drinking theater, and fancy clothes

What was the Glorious Revolution of 1658'?

James I fled after the institutions of state turned against him and Mary and William ruled as co-monarchs

What was the significance of the 1688 Bill of Rights?

It established Parliamentary Supremacy.

What does it mean for the United Kingdom to be a constitutional monarchy?

The monarch is head of state but not the leader of the government

What did James 11 represent that threatened the politics of consent in England?

Royal consolidation and Catholic domination.

What event provided precedent for the American Revolution of 1776?

The Glorious Revolution of 1688

Who attempted to regain the throne after James 11, and what was the result?

Prince Charles Edward Stuart; he was crushed by the Government Army of King George Il at the Battle of Culloden

What movement swept the colonies during the 1730's that led to a national consciousness?

Revivalism (First Great Awakening)

Who was Minister George Whitefield?

He was a minister who preached "new birth" and sudden religious conversion.

How did Great Awakening preaching split churches?

Between "Old Lights" that demanded conformity and New Lights" that encouraged the search for truth for oneself.

What was the ultimate impact of evangelical individualism on the American colonies?

Prepared Americans to challenge the authority of the British Empire

Who discovered the laws of motions?

Sir Isaac Newton

Who embodied the quintessential scientific American?

Benjamin Franklin

What were the causes of the global wars of the 18th century?

Dynastic rivalry (political) and Competition for markets abroad(economic)

Who called the Albany Congress to convene in 1754?

Benjamin Franklin

What might have happened if the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion had succeeded?

The colonies would have never have independence out of fear that a Franco-Jacobite Catholic coalition would crush them.

Who ordered two British redcoat regiments to expel the French from the Forks of the Ohio River?

Prime Minister Thomas Newcastle

What policy shift did William Pitt make to stimulate colonial enthusiasm for the war effort?

Shifted from forcing colonies to cooperate to using voluntary principles

List Pitt's strategy points for 1788:

North America would be the principal field of conflict; committed 1/3 of Royal Navy to North America; developed thousands of regulars; subsidized Frederick of Prussia in Europe

What induced the Iroquois to join the British in 1758?

Treaty of Easton: offered trade agreements, military support, land protection (more appealing than French offer)

What battle secured the British victory in the ward by he

Battle of Quebec 1759

Why is General James Wolfe called the "Grandfather of America"

His victory assured that the political culture of North America would be Anglicized with emphasis on individual liberty & Constitutional government

List the terms of the 1763 Treaty of Paris between Great Britain & France:

France expelled from Canada; France lost Louisiana & Orleans to Spanish; Spain handed Florida to Great Britain; France ceded Ohio Valley and claims in Mississippi River Valley

What advantages did England have over France?

Superior financial administration enabled Britain to finance one-third of the war with loans.

What was the British government's realization after the war debt?

The colonies could no longer "contribute neither revenue nor military force toward the support of the empire."

What set off Pontyox Rebellion in 1763?

Westward expansion

What was the Proclamation Line of 1763?

A decree by the British government to divide Indians from colonists, prevent frontier war, and regulate trade with tribes.

What are writs of assistance?

General search warrants issued to crack down on smuggling

What was the Stamp Act of 1765?

Parliament's first direct tax on the colonies, leading to the cry of "no taxation without representation."

Who were the Sons of Liberty?

Organized to promote inter-colonial unity & to terrorize stamp act collectors

What was the Declaratory Act?

Replaced the stamp Act; reserved Parliament's right to pass any act regarding the colonies.

What were the Townshend Taxes of 1767?

Taxed enumerated items like paper, glass, lead, paint, and tea

How did the colonies protest the Townshend Revenue Acts?

Colonies responded with boycotts to hurt British exports and pro-British import houses

Who was John Wilkes?

British Journalist imprisoned for attacking King George III; the colonies sympathized with him.

What did John Dickinson argue in "Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer"?

Denied Parliament's right to tax but affirmed its right to regulate trade.

What were the Intolerable Acts?

Closed Boston harbor, devolved Massachusetts into a Royal colony, permitted force to suppress insurrection, & threatened to quarter troops.

What was the Quebec Act?

Extended Canadian jurisdiction south to the Ohio River, threatening Catholic influence

What did the First Continental Congress do?

Refuted the Intolerable Acts, imposed boycotts, considered violence, and recognized Parliament's right to regulate trade.

What famous quote is Patrick Henry known for?

"Give me Liberty or Give Me Death"

Who was Paul Revere?

Warned towns west of Boston that redcoats were marching to capture John Hancock & Samuel Adams & seize military supplies.

What analogy did Thomas Paine make in Common Sense to justify and dependance?

"In no instance hath nature made the satellite larger than its primary planet."

What was the core declaration made in July 1776?

Declared that the United Colonies are free and independent states, absolved from allegiance to the British Crown.

Where was the world's first anti-slavery society formed?

Formed in Philadelphia in 1775 by Anthony Benezt & Benjamin Franklin.

Why did the British government resist full recognition of colonial grievances?

Many believed that legitimating a permanent American congress would add to the power of the king

What did the Second Continental Congress, do in June 1775 ?

Appointed General George Washington to command the New England militia besieging Boston.

Who was a Loyalist (Tory)?

Loyal to the king app. '/3 american pop.

Who was a Patriot?

Supported the Continental Congress and/or independence.

What were the three core regions of patriot activity?

Puritans of New England, Scots-Irish Appalachian of west, planters of Pennsylvania & the Presbyterians back country, & Tobacco Virginia.

What were Washington's biggest concerns in 1776?

Army discipline & procuring gunpowder

Who was General Sir William Howe?

Commanding 32,000 troops routed Washington's 14,000 at the Battle of Long Island, New York, August 1776.

What quote is Thomas Paine known for in American Crisis?

"These are the times that try men's souls."

What was the significance of the Battle of Valcour Island?

Stalled the British advance from Canada, led by General Guy.

What was Washington's strategy at the start of the war?

Washington revived American hopes by overwhelming a sleepy force of Hessians at Trenton on Christmas night 1776 & a British on 3 January 177

What was the situation at the end of 1776?

The year 1776 closed with the British having won a major victory, occupying New York, & restoring royal authority in eastern New Jersey.

What was Washington's situation at the end of 1776?

Washington had avoided disaster, won two small victories, and his army wintered at Morristown in north New Jersey.

What was the British strategy for 1777?

British strategy for 1777 called for a three-prong crusher: Howe to attack north from NYC to Albany, General John Burgoyne to advance from Montreal down the Hudson River to Albany, and Colonel Barry St. Ledger to advance eastward from Oswego to Albany-

Where did Have defeat Washington in 1777 & subsequently occupy?

Howe whipped Washington again at the Battle of Brandywine on September 1777 & occupied Philadelphia for the next 9 months.

What was the significance of the Battle of Saratoga?

At Saratoga, New York, a British army under General John Burgoyne Surrendered to American general Horatio Gates on 17 October 1777. Nearly G000 British troops grounded their arms, marking a turning in America's favor.

Who's death rallied New Yorkers to the patriot cause?

Jane McCrea

What was the result of the Battle of Saratoga?

After Saratoga, France extended diplomatic recognition to the United States (Treaty of Friendship and Commerce February 1778) & sent an army, more farms, a fleet; & money to advance American independence.

Who trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge?

Baron von Steubon trained the Continental Army during the winter ct 1777-78 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Why is John Paul Jones, famous?

In 1774 Captin John Paul Jones won fame when his ship Bonhomme Richard defeated the Royal Navy So-gun Serapis of England off the coast

What percentage of Slaves were evacuated by the British & given freedom?

2% of the 500,000 slaves in North America were evacuated by the British & at war's end. and given freedom

What was Washington's Strategy after 1778?

After 1778, Washington strategy was to avoid major battle & keep the main Continental Army Intact. Washington hoped to wear out British in the war of Attrition-

What was the worst American defeat of the war?

American forces suffered their worst defeat when General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered 5,000 men and the city of Charleston, South Carolina, to the British in May 1780.

Who won the Battle of Camden?

On 16 August 1710, Cornwallis crushed a combined force of Continentals & militia at the Battle of Camden.

What was the significance of the Battle of King's Mountain?

Scots-Irish militia defeated loyalists at the Battle of King's Mountain on 7 Oct. 1780. The battle crushed loyalism in the south & forced Cornwallis to postpone invasion of North Carolina

What happened at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse?

In 1781 Cornwallis went after Greene. Greene retreated north to the Dan River then recrossed it to face Cornwallis. In one of the bloodiest encounters of the Revolution, the outnumbered British force won the Battle of Guilford Courthouse

What was General Greene's strategy in the South?

General Nathanael Greene had used guerrilla war in the South to cause loyalists. He also lured the British into marches of exhaustion that divided their forces. Green never won a battle, but his strategy wore out the British & regained North & South Carolina, for the Patriot cause

Where did the fighting end?

The fighting ended in Port Udowon A French fleet under Admiral De Grasse sealed off the Chesapeake Bay. Sixteen thousand American & Cornwallis troops marched into Virginia under Washington's command & trapped General Cornwallis. After a two week stage, 7,000 British soldiers were surrendered on 19 Oct. 1781.

What happened to the Loyalists after the war?

About 60-70 thousand Loyalists abandoned their property & had moved to England or Canada during & after the war.

What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles of Confederation had power to conclude treaties, but no power to tax, no judicial, & executive power was minimal.

How did Shay's Rebellion influence the government?

A 1716 revolt in Massachusetts by debt-ridden farmers known as Shays Rebellion convinced the Founders that the Confederation had to be transformed into a more powerful national government.

What phrase did Washington feel was necessary to curb the excessive liberty seen in Shay's Rebellion?

Washington mentioned the need for coercive power to curb the excessive liberty seen in Shay's Rebellion.

What was the attitude of the 55 Farmers at the Constitutional convention?

The Framers sought a stronger central government as pragmatic realist, fearing too much democracy.

What Kind of system did the Founders favor?

The Founders favored a federal system that reserved a high degree of autonomy to the states while also assigned power to the national government.

What was the Great Compromise?

The "Great Compromise solved the problem of representation in Congress by giving big states seats in the lower house based on population while all states, big & small, would get 2 senators each.