UNIT 3 Pt.1: American Independence

Flashcards covering vocabulary, important people, and causes related to the American Revolution.

King William's War

Failed British attempts to capture Quebec.

Queen Anne's War

British gained Nova Scotia & Spanish trade rights.

King George's War

New Englanders captured key French fortress Louisberg, but Britain gave it back.

Seven Years' War (1754-1763)

Initially bad for Britain, Washington & Braddock faced defeat, but Britain ultimately won, dominating North America

Albany Plan of Union

Intercolonial government for common defense (not passed) but set precedent for revolutionary congresses.

Pontiac's Rebellion

United Native attack led by Chief Pontiac.

Sugar Act

Tax on sugar imports + smuggling enforcement.

Quartering Act

Forced quartering of British troops.

Stamp Act

A direct tax on paper for buyers, not merchants importing.

Patrick Henry

Demanded rights be recognized in response to the Stamp Act

Stamp Act Congress

Representatives resolved that only elected representatives would approve taxes.

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

Often violent secret society meant to intimidate tax agents.

Townshend Acts

Placed tax on tea, glass, paper, etc. and allowed search of homes for smuggled goods.

James Otis, John Dickinson, Sam Adams

Regulation of unrepresented tax & repeal of Townshend Acts.

Committees of Correspondence

Spread ideas of liberty & exchanged letters of suspected British activities.

Gaspee

British ship that caught smugglers, burned down by colonists.

Coercive (Intolerable) Acts

Closed Boston port, increased royal power, expanded Quartering Act, royal officials tried in Britain.

Quebec Act

Gave land to French Canadians and made Catholicism official religion there.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Supported independence and spread like wildfire.

First Continental Congress Measures

Appeal Intolerable Acts, boycott & militarize, King redress grievances & restores rights, committees to enforce econ. sanctions - If colonial rights not met, delegates would meet again.

Lexington and Concord (Apr. 1775)

Shots exchanged @ Lexington b4 Brt. marched into Concord and Minutemen attacked. Brt, suffered humiliating casualty

Bunker Hill (June 1775)

Brt. took hill, @ high casualty, but Americans claimed victory.

Second Continental Congress (May 1773)

After fighting in MA, second cont. Congress gathered, Washington appointed commander, and called on colonies to provide troops.

Olive Branch Petition

Last effort, asked K. George to secure peace & their rights for their loyalty- He dismissed it & responded w/ Prohibatory Act, banning trace and declaring them in open rebellion.

Declaration of Independence

Passed July 4th, 1776.

Battle of Saratoga (oct. 1777)

American victory that led to France openly allied with United States, then Spain & Netherlands.

Battle of Yorktown (Sep. 1781)

Cornwallis surrendered to Washington.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Britain would recognize US as independent country, Mississippi River would be US west border, Americans would have fishing rights, US would honor debts

Patriots

Americans reluctant to leave home region, short of supplies

British

British had best navy, amazing army, and still LOST

Loyalists

Fought WITH British, Divided families, Strongest in ports, Wealthier & conservative

Daughters of Liberty

Organized boycotts, supplying, fighting force.

Women

Maintained economy while men were at war.

Republican Motherhood

Change in women's status, that they should be educated to shape values of the new nation.

Slavery

With the Constitutions emphasis on equality, abolitionism grew but after cutton gin, slavery surged again.

Voting

Extended to all white men landowners.

Congress Powers

Declare War, Send diplomatic reps, Borrow money.

Articles of Confederation Weaknesses

Too weak to stop Brt. from military posts & restricting trade, force ppl. to return Loyalist property, taxing power to repay donts, and couldn't settle state disputes.

Shay's Rebellion

Uprising against taxes, debt imprisonment, and lack of paper money.

Annapolis & Philadelphia Convention

Held to revise the Articles.

Federalism

System of Strong but limited central government