2.1-2.2: Colonial Society and Colonial Crisis

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; 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.