Studied by 10 people
Why did the Ohio Valley Conflict Emerge?
England and France are in a struggle for european supremacy
conflict spilled over to all of over the world, especially in the America’s
rivalry last tough 85 years, doesn’t end until the battle of waterloo
Spain is in the background but not as important
extends into the ohio valley, but is present across the whole frontier
frontier keeps moving westward as both the british and the canadians expand
natives were heavily encouraged to pick sides, some were on the french some were on the british and some stayed neutral to protect their business interests
entire frontier was in a state of war
What did the Seven Years War look like?
French army was fewer in number but better organiZes
British army was bigger and well trained but had poor leadership
British style of fighting wasn’t suited to the american terrain- redcoats stood out too much making for easy targets
British army enlisted the help of colonial milton but they weren’t a part of the army
unique fighting style: guerilla warfare
were much more effective than the army due to their adaption to the american terrain
Militia fighters were able to go home to protect the fronteir whenever - causing friction between the guerilla fighters and the army who couldn’t go home
both believe tjat they’re better than the other: truth is the british need the guerilla fighters to win and the guerilla fighters need the british weapons
France is winning up until 1759
How did the french and indian war change after 1759
William Pitt becomes british prime minister
reorganizes government finances (ie how to collect taxes, who gets taxed, and where the money goes) and the army (better generals)
French-Americans experience a famine weakening their forces
British become more agressive with their strategy- plan to confront the french head on at Montreal (very northeast)
British wanted to march undetected to Montreal
Go around the cliff and scale the rocky side, which the french left unguarded because they thought no one would ever climb the cliff
British were able to launch a successfully sneak attack and win the battle
Why were the British called the redcoats?
when the european musket is fired a lot of smoke is generated
especially when the muskets are fire at the same time all in a line
to avoid british forces shooting other british forces, the bright red stands out in the cloud of smoke
hides blood and keeps morale up
also gives a sense of unity through uniform
What was the Treaty of Paris?
The negotiations that ensued from the British Victory in the 7 years war
The British dictate:
France give up all their land in the America save for some small portions in northern Canada
French will remove all military personnel from ~98% of America
French citizens are free to stay as long as they respect british sovereignty by abiding my british laws
The British took New Orleans from france and gave it to spain
What was the colonial attitude towards the war?
Eastern colonies weren’t affected by the war because the frontier was to the west
Less greatful to the British government because to them the war wasn’t that bad
British government had lost so much money in the war, and couldn’t afford the expenses associated with running an empire
At the same time the british empire was expanding into india, the americas, and the carrabisn, and south america
The british wanted no further trouble with the natives
What were the New Navigation Acts?
more serious punishments if caught
more restrictive about trade routes
had a heavier emphasis on anti-smuggling
What was the Proclamation of 1763?
No further westward expansion until further notice
Not a popular policy for those who wanted to achieve the American Dream
a large demographic was made up of young people who wanted to work for theme selves, which was only possible through westward expansion
What was the Sugar Tax?
A luxury tax that was implemented in 1764 → caused the rich to complain
Rich paid for editorials advocating their objections- urged the colonists to protest
majority of colonists couldn’t care less because it only impacted the rich
objections based on the notions of: why us, and why do we have to abide if we didn’t vote?
Tax didn’t generate enough money for the empire
What were the Stamp Acts?
A tax on all paper goods
covers: birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, sales receipts, news papers, etc. (Everything is paper)
illegitimates any purchases without a receipts ( making it punishable by prison or sum idk yall)
Parliament considered it a good idea because a tax that affect everyone would generate more money because it affects everyone, but it’s a low tax so it shouldn’t anger the colonists
the money technically went back into protecting the colonists from outside forces
colonists loved to drink and gamble, naturally collecting in taverns
taverns became a breeding ground for people to find communality in their hatred for this tax (across all social classes)
What were the consequences of the Stamp Act?
Stamp Act Congress: Each colony gets a representative, was the first all purpose meeting across 13 colonies
claim to want their rights as Englishmen, to be taxed after they vote on it
Restate their loyalty (like the mayflower compact)
Done without british authorization
Parliament doesn’t respond to the congress’ demands → colonists boycott all british goods, and encourage other to make goods in america
boycott was incredibly effective, the crown repealed the stamp acts after local british business complained their businesses were being harmed (Stamp act Boycott)
first example of collective feinsbce and successful colonial action
beginning of rivalty between the colonists and the crown
How to Britain Try to Extend their Influence in the Americas?
The British Declarative Act- Parliament makes the rules, everyone else needs to fall in line
With a new prime minister (Townsend) new taxes were introduced on:
Glass
Tea
Paper
Also introduced
Writs of Assistance- in anglo saxon tradition, if authority wanted to search your property they would have to obtain a warrant
writs of assistance was the lowest warrant there is, given for every and any reason
Quartering Acts - colonists have to accommodate any soldiers who knocked on their door and asked for shelter
Both of these actions led to Comittes of Correspondence - colonies each picked a representative whose job it was to keep track of what the british are doing and spread the word across the colonies
Ex: The sons of liberty who believed the situation required physical force against British Authroiries, used two main methods to rebel
Arson: would burn down peoples houses and property, sometimes with them in it
Tar & Feathering: someone would get covered in hot tar and then feathered → very painful very humiliating
Demonstrated people’s itch to fight even before the declaration of independence
Townsend Acts Gets repealed (1770) and PM Townsend gets replaced
Another successful colonial boycott (lasting a year)
repeal caused a wave of American prosperity and american munfacturing
Followed by ~2.5 years of calm which is disrupted by the GASPEE incedent
What was the Boston Massacre?
Boston massacre 1770:
Colony mob insult 8 brit soldiers on street → soldier fired killing 5 colonists → propaganda & anger
Ben franklin (colonial) testify before parliament about the act
What was the GASPEE incedent?
one of the British Coast Guard ships who caught smugglers
was fairly successful but on one of its trips it got stuck on shore and Americans dressed as Natives swarmed the boat and burned it down
Demonstrated the growing colonial resentment towards aggressive british customs enforcement also one of the first significant acts of violence against the crown. Also showed colonial unity
What was the Boston Tea Party (1773)?
British East India Company was in trouble financially (BEIC)
Parliaments economy was heavily reliant on the BEIC so they order a reduction in the price of tea and imposed a tax on americans (artificially creating a monopoly)
the thinking was the price is so low the colonists will be fine with being forced to drink this tea
Parliament forgot to account for the offence americans feel when being told to do something without their input
Results in the Boston Tea Party
In the middle of the night a shop with 42 chests of tea docks in the boston harbor. Under the cover of night a bunch of people (most likely the sons of liberty) dressed as native americans dump all 42 chests into the harbor
The rebellion was purely idealogical, not to rob the ship of any riches
Resulted in the crown and parliament and BEIC losing a fortune
What were the Coercive / Intolerable Acts?
Coercive in UK, Intolerable in the US
Britains response to the Boston Tea Party:
closed boston harbor (big financial loss)
switched the power from the massachusetts assembly to a royal governor
expanded the authority of the Quartering Acts
Demonstrated the British Empires refusal to comply with the colonists demands anymore, and their willingness to hurt themselves to punish the colonists
How did the Quartering Acts get Expanded?
Basically Martial Law, the british had troops all over all the colonies and especially massachusetts
Added the Quebec Act:
expanded quebec into the ohio river (to end native land troubles)
Establish Roman Catholicism as Canadas official religion to appease the majority of french people who lived there
No representive assembly in candada → assemblies only lead to headaches
Colonists were divided on what to do: 30% were loyalists, 30-40% wanted to split/ have freedom and 20% would do whatever protected and was in favor of their business interests
Demonstrated proof to the colonists that this was the first step of the British plan to dismantle colonial power
What were the final steps towards war?
Pushing and isolating massachusetts caused the colonists to have an increased sense of rebellion
The crown thought if they make an example out of massechustes then the other twelve will fall in line
thousands of redcoats were in massechusts, esp. in boston with properly organized patrols→ a full use of the quartering acts
cancellation of the massechustes assembly led to the creation of the first continental congress (a need for all 13 colonies to be in touch)
Crown is upset because it was unauthorized
What was the conflict at Lexington and Concord?
Two towns nearby the main boston area
The british authority in boston hears that the continental congress is sending thousands of men to the lex and concord because that’s where weapons were being stored
in retaliation the british send troops there to shut it down
Paul Revier makes his famous ride here: “the british r coming!!”
there were two other riders that night
When the british arrive they use every warrant and every ounce of their power but find no evidence of anything
People of boston viewed this as as grounds for war
Americans and British get into a face to face confrontation, the american shoot first and use guerilla fighting
british lose 1/3 of their men (over 200 causalities)
prompts King george to authorize full scale conflict: “let blows decide the issue“
In response Patrick Henry states “give me liberty or give me death”
Empire is repeated to make a big emaple (still a lack of funds)
Virginia now fully phvucaly announces they fully stated with Massechustes → “Blood Brothers”
What was the Second Continental Congress For?
First one was dissolved because they ran out of time but they created another because they wanted a continuity of unity (eventually leads to congress)
Authorizes the storage of weapons everywhere → leads to a collective effort towards liberation
They need a leader and John Adam’s makes a nomination speech, John Hancock thinks it’s about him but it was actually about George Washington (lowk becomes the face of revolution)
GW was a good candidate because he was well known from his time in the 7 years war, was the third richest man, and very competent, and creates a solid proof of the alliance between Virginia and Massachusetts so the crown can’t put states against each other
demonstrates how people were willing to put their egos away for the greater cause
What is the difference between the first and second continental congresses?
First Congress primarily focused on coordinating colonial resistance to British policies through boycotts and petitions, the Second Continental Congress took a more active role in governing the colonies during the Revolutionary War, ultimately declaring independence from Britain and drafting the Declaration of Independence
What was the Battle of Bunker Hill?
800 redcoats versus 70 minute men (colonial militia men who always had guns on hand so they were ready in a minute), Americans want to keep the high ground
Americans deal serious damage to the british, but lose because of a lack of ammo
Demonstrated that the american could successfully fight against the british troops
What was the olive branch petition?
the colonists final attempt to avoid war
The petition emphasized the colonists' loyalty to the crown and their rights as British citizens
King George III refused to hear the petition and instead issued the Proclamation of Rebellion, which declared the colonies to be in rebellion.
He also sent the Royal Navy to blockade the colonies and hired German mercenaries to fight
In response Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense
demonstrated the colonists' loyalty to the British crown and their desire to avoid war
What was happening by the summer of 1776
British govt. holds all 13 colonies responsible
don’t tolerate any colony trying to get out of it by blaming massachusetts
willing to use any and all force to bring back order
wiling to take an economic hit to regain control
colonies were divided on how to proceede- less than 50% truely wanted independence
both british and americans promise emancipation to slaves if they join their respective armies → unsuccessful
What were the comparative advantages of the two sides?
British:
had a disciplined, large, and well led army
Better acsess to weapons
Huge navy- good for blockades
Fully functioning government
Americans:
Home court advantage → shooter knowlge of terrain
better use of guerilla warfare
What were the major battles in the revolutionary war?
The Battle of Long Island - George Washington learns to train his army before anther confrontation with the british
Achieves this by constantly running and staying two steps ahead of the british army
Largest battle in the war (in terms of troop numbers)
The crossing of the delaware- through the freezing winter washington holds the army together and crosses the Delaware river alllowing for a small decisive victory over the Hessians
The battle of Saratoga- the first great american victory and the battle that convinced the french that their american s could win, thus printing them to give aid.
The battle of Yorktown - Final battle of the war, was won through french support and aid, elevated washington’s status
What was the treaty of paris 1783?
The treaty that officially ended the war, included the following terms:
England recognizes the US as a sovereign state (wildly u popular in the UK)
Established the borders of the US
from the atlantic to the current day midwest, southern most part is georgia and the northernmost part is the great lakes
Exchanges of prisoners
British troops are to vacate the northwest territory
Governments promise to make american merchants pay their debts to british merchants
loyalists willl be treated fairly
equal figsub grightsvoff the coast of canada
What was the government like under the Articles?
Each state had its own constitution and /or bill of rights, state courts, and state banks that issued currency
caused issues in conversions, inetersate trade and interstate conflicts
Congress needed a leader so they decide on the president of congress who has a max sentance of one year
in six years they had 14 presidents
Congress was made up of:
unicameral legislature, 1 chamber
each state collectively has 1 vote and things are decided by a simple majority
What was Annapolis Conventions
Delegates from 5 states met in Annapolis Virginia and discussed the issues with the articles of confederation
Wasn’t well attended but lead to the constitutional convention
constitutional convention - delegates from all states met and began to revise the articles of confederation eventually leading to the constitution
Note 
Flashcard (137)