american revolution

Equality

The ideal situation in which all people are treated the same way and valued equally

Rights

Powers or privileges granted to people either by an agreement among themselves or by law

Liberty

Freedom

Opportunity

The chance for people to pursue their hopes and dreams

Democracy

A system of government founded on the simple principle that the power to rule comes from the consent of the governed (people)

French and Indian War

French and Indians fought together against the British; war was about land and trade (fur trade empire); ended with the Treaty of Paris; British won, gaining lots of land like Florida, Canada, and everything west till the Mississippi River

Proclamation Line of 1763

1st series of British violations; Passed by Britain creating a border that the colonies cannot settle past; put on colonies to “punish” them for causing the war and British what’s to keep their trade and make amends with opps to avoid further conflict; colonists believed it affected their rights and self-gov

Tea Act

Law passed by the British to help the struggling British East India Company; it allowed the company to sell directly to Britain in the colonies, lowering the cost; but the colonists were upset about the tax (“Taxation without Representation”)

Stamp Act

1st internal tax levied on colonists; created by British because they were in debt; tax on paper documents; colonists benefited and started the war so British believed they should pay; colonists became violent to intimidate stamp collectors; eventually repealed in 1766

Sugar Act

British in debt so trying to replenish money; tax on sugary items in demand like, sugar, molasses, wine, coffee, etc.; lowered previous taxes on these goods but made it harder to smuggle; British had warrants to search ships and send smugglers to unfair trials; again, violation of colonial rights

Boston Massacre

Colonists throw snowballs at British soldiers and entice them; one shot goes off and all soldiers fire; 5 colonists killed; John represents the Brits (rights of the accused; right given to a criminal to have a fair trial)

Boston Tea Party

The British passed the tea act and the colonists saw it as a trick to get them to accept Parliament’s right to tax them; the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves and Indians, boarded three British ships and threw tea overboard.

Intolerable Acts

Boston Port Act-Boston Harbor was closed down after Boston Tea Party, causing jobs to be lost; Quartering Act-allowed British soldiers to house in vacant homes and buildings within the colonies; Administration of Justice Act-colonists can’t hold trials; Massachusetts Government Act-Britain has complete control of colony

Navigation Acts

A series of trade laws passed by Britain to control colonial trade and benefit England; colonies could only trade with England; certain goods could only be exported to England; imported goods had to pass through England first; British or colonial ships had to be used for exporting goods

Townshed Duties

Placed an import tax on every day colonial goods like glass, paper, paint, led tea, etc.; British officials had warrants to search ships making it harder to smuggle; money used to pay debt and governors and officials

First Continental Congress

55 delegates from 12 colonies meet to discuss how to respond to “punishments”—> intolerable acts; Fairfax Resolves (demanded rights and rejected tax); Suffolk Resolves (urged defiance of intolerable acts, rejection of British imports, raising local militias); continental association; they write up the declaration of colonial rights

Second Continental Congress

The Olive Branch Petition-colonists last attempt to make peace w/ king (asks to stop unfair laws and gets rejected); George Washington is appointed leader, congress prints $ to pay soldiers, committee is set up to deal with foreign nations and make alliances; patriots joined the movement

Committee of Correspondence

Networks of communication by American colonists; circulate letters and pamphlets, inform colonists, coordinate resistance

Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson and uses John Locke’s theories (natural rights to life, liberty, property, unalienable rights - pursuit of happiness, government by the people); 4 PARTS - Preamble (intro), Declaration of Natural Rights (rights all people have), Grievances (ways the king wronged them), Resolution of Independence (declaring their independence)

Join or Die Cartoon

Written by Ben Franklin; made at the beginning of French and Indian war; shows snake cut up into 13 pieces to represent the colonies (shows they aren’t unified) and it says that the need to unite against the French

Albany Plan

Made by Ben Franklin; he creates a counsel consisting of 1 representative from each colony; gets rejected because the colonies don’t want to lose their independence

Lexington and Concord

British sent 700 troops to suppress colonial rebellion

LEXINGTON: 70 minutemen; lasted 15 minutes; 10 men and 1 British soldier killed

CONCORD: British march to Boston who were slaughtered by minutemen; 3 men and 2 British soldiers killed

Colonies had advantages: familiar with land, didn’t fight in regular style, closer to their bases

Treaty of Paris

End of French and Indian War; recognition of independence; new boundaries (size of England doubled); Loyalist get their property back; both sides agreed to pay their debt back