First World War, Colonial Conflicts, and American Revolution: Key Events and Causes

What was the First World War also known as?

The French and Indian War

What was a key weapon used by armies during the First World War?

The bayonet

Which army was the biggest in Europe during the First World War?

The Prussian army

What were the earlier wars that set the stage for the French and Indian War?

Queen Anne's War and King George's War

What was the outcome of Queen Anne's War?

It was a war of Spanish Succession that pitted the British against the French in America.

What did the British aim to achieve in King George's War?

To take land in Canada from the French.

What significant event did George Washington discover in Pennsylvania?

Fort Duquesne

What happened to General Braddock during his campaign?

He was defeated due to lack of native support and surprise attacks from the French and Indians.

Who was the British Prime Minister that viewed the war as a world war?

William Pitt

What was the significance of the fall of Fort William Henry?

It was a massive victory for the French and a shock to the British.

What was the British goal in the Caribbean during the war?

To gain control of the French Sugar Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

What did the Treaty of Paris (1763) achieve for the British?

They gained Canada and land all the way to the Appalachians.

What was the 'One Darn Thing After Another' theory of causation?

A view that history is a chronological sequence of events without deeper causation.

What does the Action Theory of Causation emphasize?

It emphasizes human actions, decisions, and choices as driving forces in history.

Who was George Grenville and what did he propose?

He was the Prime Minister who proposed enforcing the Navigation Acts to refill the treasury.

What was the Molasses Act of 1764?

An act that restricted colonies to trade only with British molasses.

What was the Stamp Act of 1765?

An act that taxed all printed papers, leading to protests and its eventual repeal.

What were the Townshend Duties and why did colonists object?

They were indirect taxes on imports, seen as taxation without representation.

What was the colonial response to the Townshend Duties?

Colonists organized non-importation agreements and boycotts of British goods.

What was the outcome of the Townshend Duties by 1770?

Most duties were repealed except for the tax on tea, which remained as a symbol of British authority.

What was the purpose of the Tea Act?

To force colonists to buy tea only from the British East India Company, eliminating competition from the Dutch.

What was the Boston Tea Party?

A protest by the Sons of Liberty where they dressed as Mohawk Indians and dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.

What were the Coercive Acts also known as?

The Intolerable Acts.

What did the Boston Port Act do?

Closed Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for.

What was the effect of the Coercive Acts on the colonies?

They united the colonies in opposition instead of isolating Massachusetts.

What was the main goal of the First Continental Congress?

To respond to the Coercive Acts and restore political relations with Britain without complete separation.

What did the Declaration and Resolves affirm?

Loyalty to the Crown while denying Parliament's right to tax or legislate for the colonies without consent.

What was the Continental Association?

An organized boycott of British goods and a refusal to export American goods to Britain.

What triggered the Powder Raids?

British efforts to seize colonial gunpowder and arms to prevent rebellion.

What was the significance of the Battles of Lexington and Concord?

They marked the official outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

What did the Second Continental Congress accomplish?

Created the Continental Army with George Washington as commander and began organizing for war.

What was the Olive Branch Petition?

A last attempt at peace sent to King George III, which was ultimately rejected.

What was the outcome of the Powder Alarm in September 1774?

It mobilized tens of thousands of New England militia in response to British troops removing gunpowder.

What was the role of Paul Revere during the raids?

He rode to warn the colonists about the British troops' movements.

How did the British soldiers fare on their march back to Boston after Lexington?

They were shot at by colonists the entire way back.

What was the connection between the Powder Raids and the Second Continental Congress?

The raids escalated tensions into armed conflict, leading to the need for unified leadership and the formation of the Congress.

What were the long-term causes of the American Revolutionary War?

Growth of colonial identity, British mercantilist policies, Enlightenment ideas, and tension over taxation without representation.

What were the short-term causes of the American Revolutionary War?

The Coercive Acts, the Powder Raids, and King George III's rejection of the Olive Branch Petition.

What significant event marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War?

The Powder Raids and the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775.

What role did foreign alliances play in the Revolutionary War?

The US relied on foreign alliances, particularly from the Dutch and French, to support their war efforts.

Who was appointed Commander in Chief by the Second Continental Congress?

George Washington.

What are the three parts of the Declaration of Independence?

1) Statement of natural rights, 2) List of grievances against the king, 3) Declaration of independence from Britain.

What was the significance of the battle of Saratoga?

It was a turning point that led to French intervention in the Revolutionary War.

What characterized the first theater of war during the Revolutionary War?

It involved traditional line warfare and was fought primarily in New England.

What type of warfare did the colonists employ in the Southern theater?

Guerrilla warfare, including ambushes and hit-and-run tactics.

What was the outcome of the siege at Yorktown?

Cornwallis surrendered, leading to the end of the Revolutionary War.

What were the main weaknesses of the Continental Congress?

Lacked power to tax, regulate commerce, enforce laws, and was dependent on states for resources.

What was the Articles of Confederation?

America's first national framework, ratified in 1781, which had significant weaknesses.

What were the strengths of the Articles of Confederation?

Preserved state independence, allowed for diplomacy, and included the Northwest Ordinance.

What was Shays' Rebellion?

An uprising in 1786-87 by farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic injustices, highlighting weaknesses in the Confederation government.

What was the purpose of the 1787 Constitutional Convention?

Originally to revise the Articles of Confederation, but resulted in drafting a new Constitution.

What does 'contagion of liberty' refer to?

The spread of democratic demands and challenges to elite privilege following the Revolutionary War.

Who were the key diplomats for the US in France during the Revolutionary War?

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.

What treaty secured US sovereignty after the Revolutionary War?

The Treaty of Paris, ratified in 1783.

What was the impact of the Revolutionary War on Native Americans?

Natives who allied with the British faced repercussions and loss of land after the war.

What did the Treaty of Paris state regarding slaves?

It stipulated that all slaves would be returned to their masters, though this was not fully enforced.

What did Benjamin Franklin mean by a republic, if you can keep it?

It emphasizes the need for civic virtue and citizen engagement to maintain a republic.

What were the weaknesses of state constitutions post-Revolution?

They often lacked a strong central authority and were unable to effectively manage economic issues.

What was the significance of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

It established a framework for the governance of new territories and set a precedent for statehood.

What was the Great Compromise?

A compromise that established a bicameral legislature in the federal constitution.

What was the purpose of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

To determine how slaves would be counted for representation and taxation purposes.

What is federalism?

The division of powers between national and state governments.

What was the role of the Committee of Style in the Constitution?

To finalize the language and style of the Constitution, leading to the famous preamble 'We the People...'.

What are the three main principles introduced by the Federal Constitution?

'Something new': stronger central power, 'something old': borrowed practices from British/colonial systems, 'something borrowed': ideas from Enlightenment thinkers.

Who were the Federalists?

A political group that favored a strong central government and ties to Britain.

Who were the Democratic-Republicans?

A political group that defended agrarian democracy and states' rights, led by Jefferson and Madison.

What was the significance of the Whiskey Rebellion?

It tested federal authority and the government's ability to enforce laws under the new Constitution.

What was the Proclamation of Neutrality?

A declaration by Washington in 1793 that the United States would remain neutral in conflicts between France and Britain.

What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?

Laws passed by Federalists that extended residency requirements for immigrants and criminalized criticism of the government.

What was the outcome of the Election of 1800?

Jefferson's victory marked a peaceful transfer of power from Federalists to Republicans, seen as a 'revolution' restoring republican principles.

What was the significance of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions?

They asserted states' rights to resist unconstitutional federal laws, responding to the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Who was the Chief Justice during the early Federal Union?

John Jay.

What was Alexander Hamilton's role in the government?

He was the Secretary of Treasury and the architect of the financial systems.

What was the main concern of leaders in the 1790s regarding the republic?

They believed the survival of the republic depended on the people's virtue and selflessness.

What was the significance of the Election of 1796?

It was the first contested presidential election, resulting in John Adams defeating Thomas Jefferson.

What did Jefferson's Agrarian Republicanism emphasize?

The importance of agriculture for happiness, good morals, and good government.

What was the impact of the Alien Acts?

They extended residency requirements and allowed for the deportation of foreigners during wartime.

What was the outcome of the 36th ballot in the House of Representatives during the presidential campaign of 1800?

Jefferson was elected president after a disputed election against Burr.

What was the concept of an 'Empire of Liberty'?

The idea that the United States would expand its territory and influence while promoting republican values.

What was the significance of New Orleans for the United States?

It was a critical port that was vital for trade and commerce.

What was Jefferson's vision for America referred to as?

Jefferson's 'Empire of Liberty'

Who was Sally Hemings in relation to Thomas Jefferson?

An enslaved worker and half-sister of Jefferson's deceased wife, Martha Wayles Skelton.

What significant event occurred in the 1804 election?

Thomas Jefferson was popular and won the presidency.

What was the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair?

An incident in June 1807 that heightened calls for war due to British impressment of American sailors.

What was the purpose of the Embargo Act of 1807?

To prohibit U.S. ships from trading with Europe as a new strategy under Jefferson.

What were the consequences of the Embargo Act of 1807?

Exports plunged, harming farmers and merchants, and enraging Federalists.

Who were the War Hawks?

A group of politicians, including Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, who pushed for war against Great Britain.

What was the outcome of the War of 1812 for the U.S. military?

The military was unprepared, leading to failed attacks and significant losses.

Who became a national hero after the Battle of New Orleans?

Andrew Jackson, known as 'Old Hickory'.

What did the Treaty of Ghent accomplish?

It ended the War of 1812, restoring the status quo ante and evacuating British forces from the Northwest.

What was the significance of the Monroe Doctrine?

It stated that the U.S. would not interfere in European affairs and warned against European colonization in the Americas.

What innovation did Eli Whitney introduce in 1793?

The cotton gin, which revolutionized cotton production.

What was the Missouri Compromise?

A political agreement that allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, establishing a compromise line at 36°30′.

What was the outcome of the election of 1824?

John Quincy Adams was elected president in a contested election decided by the House of Representatives.

What was the 'Corrupt Bargain' in the context of the 1824 election?

The accusation that John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay conspired to secure Adams's presidency over Andrew Jackson.

How was John Quincy Adams viewed by many Americans during his presidency?

As aloof and out of touch, despite his ambitious proposals for national improvement.

What was the impact of the Napoleonic Wars on American trade?

The U.S. initially benefited as a commercial intermediary but faced increasing trade conflicts as European wars intensified.

What was the role of the Federalists during the War of 1812?

They largely opposed the war and were viewed as traitors for their lack of support.

What was the outcome of the Hartford Convention?

Federalists proposed constitutional changes and discussed secession due to their opposition to the war.

What was the significance of the Battle of New Orleans?

It was a decisive victory for the U.S. that occurred after the war had officially ended.