The War for Independence and the Articles of Confederation

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the War for Independence, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of Confederation.

What time period did the War for Independence occur?

1775 to 1783

What was Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet that urged for independence?

Common Sense

What were the major principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence?

Natural Rights, Equality, Government by Consent, Right to Alter or Abolish Government, Grievances Against the King.

What major turning point in the American Revolution persuaded the French to join the American cause?

The Battle of Saratoga (Sept-Oct 1777)

What was the main outcome of the Treaty of Paris, 1783?

Britain recognized American independence and established the Mississippi River as the western boundary.

What was one major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

The central government lacked the power to tax or raise armies.

What event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation in 1786-1787?

Shays' Rebellion.

Who were the Loyalists in the context of the American Revolution?

Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown, fearing chaos without British rule.

What strategy did the Americans utilize against the British in the Revolutionary War?

Guerilla tactics and attrition.

How did the Articles of Confederation attempt to address the concerns about state sovereignty?

By recognizing the sovereignty and independence of each state and requiring unanimous consent for amendments.

What time period did the War for Independence occur?

1775 to 1783

What was Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet that urged for independence?

Common Sense

What were the major principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence?

Natural Rights, Equality, Government by Consent, Right to Alter or Abolish Government, Grievances Against the King.

What major turning point in the American Revolution persuaded the French to join the American cause?

The Battle of Saratoga (Sept-Oct 1777)

What was the main outcome of the Treaty of Paris, 1783?

Britain recognized American independence and established the Mississippi River as the western boundary.

What was one major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

The central government lacked the power to tax or raise armies.

What event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation in 1786-1787?

Shays' Rebellion.

Who were the Loyalists in the context of the American Revolution?

Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown, fearing chaos without British rule.

What strategy did the Americans utilize against the British in the Revolutionary War?

Guerilla tactics and attrition.

How did the Articles of Confederation attempt to address the concerns about state sovereignty?

By recognizing the sovereignty and independence of each state and requiring unanimous consent for amendments.

Who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army?

George Washington

Which decisive battle in 1781 led to the British surrender and effectively ended the Revolutionary War?

The Battle of Yorktown

What significant financial problem plagued the Continental Congress during the war?

Severe inflation and difficulty in funding the war effort.

What intellectual movement provided the philosophical basis for the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution?

The Enlightenment

Besides France, which European countries provided aid to the American revolutionaries?

Spain and the Netherlands