APUSH Unit 2 Chapter 5

First Continental Congress

Convened on September 5, 1774, to protest the Intolerable Acts. (Twelve out of Thirteen colonies were represented.) The congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, voted for a boycott of British imports, and sent a petition to King George III, conceding to Parliament the power of regulation of commerce but stringently objecting to its arbitrary taxation and unfair judicial system.

John Adams

A Massachusetts attorney and politician who was a strong believer in colonial independence. He argued against the Stamp Act and was involved in various patriot groups. As a delegate from Massachusetts, he urged the Second Continental Congress to declare independence. He helped draft and pass the Declaration of Independence. Adams later served as the second President of the United States.

Economic Sanctions

Boycotts, embargoes, and other economic measures that the 1st Continental Congress used to pressure Great Britain into changing its policies and repealing acts.

Declaration of Rights and Grievances

A document written by the First Continental Congress. Adopted in 1789, it emphasizes principles such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, reflecting Enlightenment ideals and influencing democratic movements worldwide.
This petition urged the King to redress (make right) colonial grievances (complaints) and restore colonial rights. It recognized Parliament's authority to regulate commerce in the colonies but not to directly tax colonists without representatives in Parliament.

Second Continental Congress

Convened in May 1775, the Congress opposed the drastic move toward complete independence from Britain. In an effort to reach a reconciliation, the Congress offered peace (Olive Branch Petition) under the conditions that there be a cease-fire in Boston, that the Coercive Acts be repealed, and that negotiations begin immediately. King George III rejected the petition. Ultimately adopting the Declaration of Independence in 1776, shaping the philosophical foundations of American governance and later influencing the Articles of Confederation.

Olive Branch Petition

On July 8, 1775, the colonies made a final offer of peace to Britain to avoid a war with Britain by agreeing to be loyal to the British government if it addressed their grievances (repealed the Coercive Acts, and ended the taxation without representation policies). It was rejected by Parliament, which in December 1775 passed the American Prohibitory Act forbidding all further trade with the colonies.

Thomas Jefferson

He was a delegate from Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and wrote the Declaration of Independence. He later served as the third President of the United States.

Declaration of Independence

A foundational document that announced the American colonies' separation from British rule, asserting their right to self-govern and listing grievances against King George III. Drawn up by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, urged King George III a second time to consider colonial grievances and was made to explain to the British why the American colonies were now getting involved in a battle, now deemed "The American Revolution.” (Text reflected Enlightenment ideas.)

Land Ordinance of 1785

A significant legislative act that established a systematic process for surveying, selling, and settling land in the western territories of the United States. (The land that was gained after the Revolution under the Articles of Confederation because Congress could not directly tax citizens, and needed revenue.) This ordinance was crucial in promoting orderly expansion and development, creating a grid system for land division, and helping to raise funds for the federal government following the Revolutionary War.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Reflected democratic values by ensuring that settlers had essential rights such as freedom of religion and trial by jury. Congress defined the steps for the creation and admission of new states. It forbade slavery while the region remained a territory although citizens could legalize it. First congress would appoint a territorial governor and judges. Second, as soon as 5 thousand male adults lived in a territory, the people could write a temporary constitution and elect a legislature that would pass the territories’ laws. Third, when the total population reached 60,000 the settlers could write a constitution which Congress would have to approve before granting statehood

Lexington & Concord

April 8, 1775: Gage leads 700 soldiers to confiscate colonial weapons and arrest Adam, and Hancock; April 19, 1775: 70 armed militia face the British at Lexington (shot heard around the world); British retreat to Boston, suffer nearly 300 casualties along the way (concord). This confrontation was significant as it symbolized the beginning of armed resistance against British rule, showcasing the colonists' resolve to defend their rights and liberties.

Battle of Bunker Hill

In 1775, the first major battle of the Revolution. It took place near Boston. British won at a great cost. It proved that the Americans could fight bravely. It also showed that the British would not be easy to defeat.

Battle of Saratoga

Fought in 1777, marked a pivotal turning point in the American Revolutionary War, as it resulted in a significant victory for the American forces against the British. This battle not only boosted American morale but also convinced France to enter the war as an ally of the colonies, altering the course of the conflict. The success at Saratoga showcased the determination and tactical skill of the American forces, demonstrating their capability to challenge British supremacy on the battlefield.

Battle of Yorktown

Fought from September 28 to October 19, 1781, was the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. This pivotal conflict saw American and French forces, under General George Washington and French General Rochambeau, lay siege to British General Cornwallis’s troops, leading to the surrender of the British forces. (Cornwallis and troops were sandwiched between the French navy and the American army.) The victory at Yorktown effectively ended major military operations in the colonies and paved the way for peace negotiations.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

An agreement that was signed between the United States and Great Britain, officially ending the American Revolutionary War. This treaty not only recognized American independence but also established borders for the new nation, granting it significant territory. The treaty's significance extends beyond its immediate terms, as it helped solidify the revolutionary ideals that inspired the American colonies to seek freedom and self-governance.

Articles of Confederation

The first written constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a weak central government that lacked the power to tax or regulate trade. This framework aimed to unify the thirteen states but ultimately proved ineffective in addressing economic and political challenges, leading to its replacement by the Constitution.

Thomas Paine — Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 that argued for American independence from British rule, presenting clear and persuasive arguments for why the colonies should break free. It spoke out against the unfair treatment of the colonies by the British government and was instrumental in turning public opinion in favor of the Revolution.

Patriots

Colonists who supported the American Revolution and the establishment of an independent United States. They were committed to the ideals of liberty, self-governance, and resistance against British rule, playing a crucial role in the War for Independence and the formation of the new nation. Most were from New England

Loyalists

American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War. This group, often referred to as Tories, opposed the revolution and fought for the continuation of British rule in the colonies.

Minutemen

Colonial militia members who were ready to fight at a minute’s notice during the American Revolution. They played a crucial role in the early battles of the conflict, particularly in places like Lexington and Concord, where their rapid mobilization helped confront British troops.

Continental Army

The military force established by the Second Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War was composed of soldiers from the thirteen colonies fighting against British rule. The colonies formed an army after the American Revolutionary War outbreak. It was supplemented by local militias. The Commander-in-Chief was General George Washington of the army throughout the war. The Continental Army aided in the victory of America.

Valley Forge

The place where Washington's army spent the winter of 1777-1778, a 4rth of the troops died here from disease and malnutrition, Steuben comes and trains troops.

Shay’s Rebellion

A rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting economic injustices and the inability of the government to enforce laws. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.