Unit 2 Us History Study guide

French and Indian War (1754–1763)

• Conflict between Britain and France

• Fought in Ohio River Valley

• “Seven Years’ war”

• Fought over control of Ohio River Valley

• George Washington gains early military experience at Fort Necessity

Treaty of Paris (1763)

• Ended the war

• France ceded Canada and lands east of the Mississippi to Britain

• Spain cedes Florida and Britain gain eastern North America

• Britain in debt — look to colonists for tax revenue

Salutary Neglect

Loose enforcement of trade laws before 1763; ended after the war.

War Debt

Massive British financial burden after 1763 that drove new taxes.

Proclamation of 1763

Royal decree restricting settlement west of the Appalachians.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

Native uprising that helped prompt the Proclamation Line.

Vice-Admiralty Courts

Courts without juries for smuggling cases.

George Grenville

Prime Minister who pushed new revenue policies after 1763.

How did the war’s outcome change British policy toward the colonies?

Britain’s new debt and expanded empire ended salutary neglect. Colonists faced tighter trade enforcement, vice-admiralty courts, troops in peacetime, and new taxes.

Why did the Proclamation of 1763 anger colonists?

Veterans and speculators expected access to new lands, but Britain blocked settlement beyond the Appalachians, fueling resentment.

Identify three ways the war and treaty set conditions for revolution.

Debt led to new taxation; a standing army implied mistrust; and land restrictions blocked
expansion—together straining loyalty

Sugar Act (1764)

Tax on molasses with stronger enforcement

Stamp Act (1765)

Direct tax on printed goods.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Asserted Parliament’s full authority over the colonies.

Townshend Acts (1767)

Duties on imports like glass and tea.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

• Punitive acts closing Boston and altering Massachusetts’ government

• put the city under martial law, reissued the quartering act

• Put in due to response to Boston Tea
  Party

Sons of Liberty

Protest network against British policies.

Daughters of Liberty

Women who promoted boycotts and homespun cloth.

Committees of Correspondence

• Colonial communication network

• Colonial unity

• Ground work for the First Continental Congress

Why were boycotts effective?

They hurt British merchants, who pressured Parliament to repeal laws.

Why did the Intolerable Acts unify colonists?

Colonies feared Britain could impose similar punishments on them, leading to unity and the First Continental Congress.

Which colonial response was most effective?

Boycotts, because they directly pressured Britain’s economy and achieved results like repeal of the Stamp Act.

Common Sense (1776)

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine urging independence.

Republicanism

Government based on consent of the governed.

King George III:

Blamed directly by Paine for colonial problems.

How did Common Sense persuade colonists?

Paine used simple language and analogies to explain Enlightenment ideas, making independence appear logical and necessary

Was Common Sense more influential than earlier protests?

Yes, because it reframed the debate from taxation to full independence and reached a wideaudience.

Committee of Five

Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Sherman, Livingston

Natural Rights

Unalienable rights like life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Social Contract

Government’s legitimacy comes from consent of the governed

Grievances

List of abuses by King George III.

How did Enlightenment ideas appear in the Declaration?

It drew on Locke’s natural rights, government by consent, and right to alter or abolish unjust governments.

How did the structure strengthen the argument?

It moved from principles to grievances to the conclusion of independence, creating a logical case.

How did politics shape the final Declaration?

Congress edited Jefferson’s draft, removing divisive passages to maintain unity while preserving Enlightenment ideals.

Saratoga (1777)

Turning point that secured French alliance.

Treaty of Alliance (1778)

Formal alliance between U.S. and France.

Benjamin Franklin

Diplomat who secured French support.

John Adams

Secured Dutch recognition and loans.

Why was foreign assistance necessary?

The U.S. lacked money, troops, and a navy. France provided funds and ships, while Dutch loans stabilized finances

Could the U.S. have won without foreign aid?

No, French naval and financial aid and Dutch loans were decisive in defeating Britain.

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army.

Valley Forge (1777–78)

Winter encampment where von Steuben drilled troops.

Baron von Steuben

Prussian officer who professionalized the army.

Marquis de Lafayette

French noble who aided the American cause.

How did Washington and European aides transform the army?

Washington kept the army together, and von Steuben trained it into a professional force, while Lafayette provided tactical skill and support.

Was Washington’s strategy or leadership more important?

Leadership, because his perseverance and ability to inspire soldiers ensured the army’s survival until French aid arrived.

Trenton (1776)

Washington’s crossing of the Delaware led to surprise victory.

Saratoga (1777)

American high ground forced British surrender.

Yorktown (1781)

French fleet trapped British on Chesapeake Bay.

How did geography affect these battles?

The Delaware River enabled surprise at Trenton, high ground helped at Saratoga, and Chesapeake Bay blockade trapped Cornwallis at Yorktown.

Which battle best shows geography’s importance?

Yorktown, because naval control and the peninsula ensured the British surrender.

Martha Washington

Supported troops at Valley Forge, brought supplies to the winter camp, acted as a nurse and a mother

Abigail Adams

Encouraged her husband, John, to support rights for women and African Americans, unofficial advisor to John Adams, managed a farm business

Iroquois Confederacy

Divided alliances during the war

How did these groups contribute?

Women maintained camps, Native Americans chose sides to defend land, and Black Americans fought in both armies seeking liberty.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Peace agreement that ended the Revolution.

Boundaries

U.S. territory extended to the Mississippi River.

Loyalists

Property recommended for restitution.

Why were the terms favorable to the U.S.?

Britain wanted peace and granted generous boundaries and rights, while U.S. negotiators secured independence and western lands

How did the treaty shape the new nation?

It expanded territory, secured recognition, and created opportunities for westward expansion, while highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.