Unit 2: Colonies and Revolution

Native Americans

This group had changed and adapted to the colonial era in the 18th century, secured commercial alliances with the French, and feared British westward expansion.

Spain

In the 18th century, this European power controlled the Southwest, which included forts and missions, and Florida, in which they offered refuge to runaway slaves from the British colonies.

France

In the 18th century, this European power had a "crescent" of colonies in the interior of North America, one goal of which was to cutoff the British from expanding westward. It was also a more "inclusive" frontier with Native Americans.

New York

More ethnically (different European groups) and religiously diverse than most other British colonies in the 18th century.

Philadelphia

This city grew more rapidly than any other area in North America

Great Awakening (1730s-1740s)

Religious revival movement in which evangelical preachers spread the word of God, started new churches in the colonies. It was a response to religious decline in the colonies in the early 18th century.

Enlightenment

Philosophical, scientific, and intellectual movement to gain knowledge; focus on natural laws, natural rights, government economics, social class, etc. Challenged old ways of thinking.

Jonathan Edwards

Preacher during the Great Awakening; "Sinners in the Hands of Angry God."

John Locke

A prominent figure of the Enlightenment who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.

Legacy of Great Awakening and the Enlightenment

More participation in public debate/public action; printing press distributed religious and political tracts; increased literacy rates and a more active citizenry.

Albany Congress (1754)

Intercolonial congress to foster greater colonial unity to discuss ongoing conflicts with France and Native Americans. Although it passed Ben Franklin's "Plan of Union," the plan was ultimately rejected by colonial assemblies.

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

Fought between the colonies of British America and New France, supported by military units from their parent countries. Hostilities intensified between the two as they both wanted land in the interior of the continent. Ended with a British victory.

William Pitt

The Prime Minister of Britain during the French and Indian War. He increased the British troops and military supplies in the colonies, facilitating a British victory.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended French and Indian War: France lost its mainland possessions; Spain ceded Florida to Britain and received French territory west of the Mississippi River; Britain received land east of the Mississippi River.

Pontiac's War (1763-1766)

A war led by an Ottawa Chief who argued that Native Americans should unify, abandon European ways of life, and remove Europeans from North America by force.

Proclamation of 1763

A proclamation from the British government which forbade British colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains (Proclamation Line).

Sugar Act of 1764

An act that raised tax revenue in the colonies for the crown. It increased the duty on sugar imported from the West Indies.

Stamp Act of 1765

This act required colonists to pay an additional tax on official papers (licenses, legal documents, etc.).

Townshend Revenue Acts

Acts of Parliament, passed in 1767, imposing duties on colonial tea, lead, paint, paper, and glass.

"No Taxation Without Representation"

This saying reflected the colonists' belief that they should not be taxed because they had no direct representatives in Parliament

Restricted access to western lands; British troops in colonies; taxes on imported goods.

Each of these represents what some colonists argued were the violation of their rights as Englishmen.

Boston Massacre (1770)

On March 5, 1770, a group of colonials started throwing rocks and snowballs at some British soldiers; the soldiers panicked and fired their muskets, killing five. This outraged the colonies and increased anti-British sentiment.

Tea Act of 1773

Law passed by parliament allowing the British East India Company to sell its low-cost tea directly to the colonies - undermining colonial tea merchants (smugglers) while a tax remained in effect on tea.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

American colonists calling themselves the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Native Americans, boarded three British ships and dumped British tea into the Boston harbor in an economic protest of the tax on tea and the Tea Act of 1773.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

Series of punitive measures passed in retaliation for the Boston Tea Party, closing the Port of Boston, revoking a number of rights in the Massachusetts colonial charter and restricting town meetings, expanding the Quartering Act to allow for the lodging of soldiers in private homes, and allowing British officials to be sent to England for trial. In response, colonists convened the First Continental Congress and called for a complete boycott of British goods.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Convention of delegates from the colonies called in Philadelphia to discuss their response to the passage of the Intolerable Acts and their colonial relationship to the British government.

Declaration and Resolves

Declared 13 acts of Parliament since 1763 to be a violation of the colonists' rights as Englishmen. Until these acts were repealed, it called on the colonies to engage in nonimportation/nonexportation with Britain and created Committees of Observation and Safety throughout the colonies.

Lexington and Concord (April 1775)

First battles of the Revolutionary War, fought outside of Boston. The colonial militia successfully defended their stores of munitions, forcing the British to retreat to Boston.

Continental Army

Army formed in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress and led by General George Washington

Olive Branch Petition (July 1775)

Conciliatory measure adopted by the Continental Congress, seeking an end to the hostilities between the colonies and Britain. King George rejected the petition and proclaimed the colonies in rebellion.

Siege of Boston (1775-1776)

An opening phase of Revolutionary War, in which Massachusetts militia/Continental Army surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within and cutoff supply routes. Americans will succeed and take Boston by the spring of 1776.

Invasion of Quebec (1775)

American invasion in the opening phase of the American Revolution. The Americans took Montreal but failed to take Quebec city. By the spring of 1776, the British had successfully defended Canada.

Proclamation of Rebellion (1775)

Issued by King George III; declaring that the Americans were in "open and avowed rebellion."

Thomas Paine

American Revolutionary leader and pamphleteer who supported the American colonists' fight for independence and wrote "Common Sense."

"Common Sense"

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine in which the author argued against hereditary succession/monarchy and that the Americans should separate from Britain.

Committee of Five

Men chosen by the Second Continental Congress to create a document that gave reasons for separation from England (Declaration of Independence); Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence

Document approved by the Second Continental Congress to separate from Britain. It included grievances against the King, justification for the revolution, purpose of a government, and the universal rights of all men.

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams. During the Revolutionary War, she wrote letters to her husband describing life on the homefront. She urged her husband to remember America's women in the new government he was helping to create.

Patriots

American colonists who supported American independence.

Loyalists/Tories

American colonists who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the war for independence.

Benedict Arnold

American General who was labeled a traitor when he defected from the American cause to the British Army.

Battle of Long Island (1776)

First major engagement of the new Continental Army, defending against 32,000 British troops outside of New York City. Resulted in a British victory and the Americans retreating to Manhattan and then New Jersey.

Battle of Trenton (1776)

An important American victory after Washington and his men crossed the Delaware and engaged British troops in New Jersey.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Decisive American victory in New York; considered to be the turning point of the American Revolution. Further encouraged France to support the American cause.

France

This European country offered military assistance to the Americans during the Revolutionary war.

George Rogers Clark

Leader of Patriot force that captured British-controlled positions in the Ohio Valley in 1779.; secured the "Northwest Territory" for America.

Oneida

This Native group declared neutrality during the American Revolution and would ultimately fight alongside Americans against the British.

Charles Cornwallis

Commanding general of the British forces that were defeated at Yorktown in 1781, ending the American Revolution.

Battle of the Chesapeake (1781)

Decisive French naval victory over the British that paved the way for the victory at Yorktown, 1781.

Siege of Yorktown (1781)

The "final" battle of the Revolutionary War in which American forces led by George Washington and French forces led by Rochambeau sieged British troops at Yorktown, Virginia. Result: American victory.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

This treaty ended the Revolutionary War and recognized the independence of the American colonies.

Alexander Hamilton

An important Founding Father who served as George Washington's aide-de-camp during the Revolution (and would later serve as Treasury Secretary during Washington's Presidency).