Causes and Prelude to the American Revolution

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to the causes, events, and outcomes of the American Revolution, aiding students in understanding essential concepts.

Stamp Act

A 1765 law that imposed a tax on all printed materials in the colonies, viewed as an insult by colonists.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to oppose British taxation.

Sons of Liberty

A group of colonial patriots, led by Samuel Adams, who organized protests against British rule.

Declaratory Act

1766 British law stating that Parliament had the right to tax and make laws for the colonies 'in all cases whatsoever'.

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 after the Boston Tea Party.

Common Sense

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for independence and denouncing monarchy, published in 1776.

George Washington

Commander of the Continental Army and a key leader during the American Revolution.

Battle of Saratoga

A critical 1777 victory for the Americans that convinced France to aid their cause.

Boston Massacre

A confrontation in 1770 where British soldiers killed five colonists, fueling anti-British sentiments.

French Alliance

The military alliance established between France and the American colonies in support of their revolution.

Republican Motherhood

The idea that women played an important role in shaping the values of future citizens.

Crispus Attucks

An African American man regarded as the first martyr of the American Revolution during the Boston Massacre.

Declaration of Independence

The document, adopted on July 4, 1776, declaring the colonies' freedom from British rule.

Minutemen

Colonial militia members who were ready to fight at a minute's notice during the American Revolution.