APUSH 4-7 Key Terms

Namba

Treaty of Paris (1763)

-concluded the Seven Years’ War known as the French and Indian War in North America.

-this treaty dramatically altered the map of the continent. France ceded all of its North American mainland territories to Britain, including Canada and all land east of the Mississippi River

-effectively removed France as a major colonial rival.

-Spain lost Florida

Treaty of Paris (1783)

-this treaty formally ended the American Revolutionary War.

-the newly formed United States faced Great Britain's recognition of its independence

-granted US vast territories extending its western boundary to the Mississippi River, north to the Great Lakes, and south to the 31st parallel

-Spain regained Florida

George Grenville

-Prime Minister of Great Britain who initiated policies leading to colonial unrest, including the Stamp Act.

-principle of “paying your share” as result of protection from British military to contribute for the cost of their own defense

Articles of Confederation

-served as the first frame of government for the United States during the latter part of the Revolutionary War

-created in desire to unify the colonies in the scrutiny of war

-The Second Continental Congress operated under principles formed under this

Stamp Act (1765)

-This act imposed a direct tax on all printed materials in the colonies, including newspapers, legal documents, and even playing cards

-It was the first direct tax levied on the colonies by Parliament and was met with widespread and violent protest

Declaratory Act (1766)

-Passed on the same day the Stamp Act was repealed, this act asserted Parliament's full authority to make laws binding on the American colonies "in all cases whatsoever." It was a clear statement that Britain was not relinquishing its control

Townshend Acts (1767)

-These acts imposed taxes on imported goods such as glass, lead, paint, and tea. The revenue was intended to pay the salaries of colonial governors and judges, making them independent of the colonial assemblies.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

-Also known as the Coercive Acts, this series of punitive measures was passed in response to the Boston Tea Party. They included the Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston, and the Massachusetts Government Act, which restricted town meetings and gave the royal governor more power.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (1776)

-This pamphlet, written in clear and persuasive language, argued for the radical idea of American independence. Paine attacked the concept of monarchy and hereditary succession, and he presented a compelling case for a self-governing republic

-was immensely popular and played a crucial role in shifting public opinion towards independence.

John Dickinson’s Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (1767-1768)

-In this series of essays, Dickinson argued that Parliament had the right to regulate trade but not to raise revenue through taxes on the colonies without their consent. His eloquent defense of colonial rights was widely read and influential in shaping colonial resistance to the Townshend Acts.

Adam Smith Wealth of Nation (1776)

-While not a direct call for revolution, Smith's work on free-market capitalism and criticism of mercantilism resonated with colonial merchants and thinkers who felt constrained by British economic policies. It provided an intellectual framework for economic independence.

Pequot War (1636-1638)

-colonists and their Native American allies defeated the Pequot tribe, highlighted the need for common defense.

-This led to the formation of the New England Confederation (1643)

New England Confederation (1643)

a military alliance of the New England colonies, which was an early, albeit limited, step towards colonial cooperation

King Philip’s War (1675-1678)

-was another devastating conflict with Native Americans led by Metacom that underscored the need for unified action.

-In response, the British government established the Dominion of New England, a royally controlled administrative union of the New England colonies.

Dominion of New England (1686-1689)

a royally controlled administrative union of the New England colonies. This was an attempt at centralized control from London, which the colonists resented and ultimately overthrew

Albany Plan of the Union (1754)

-Proposed by Benjamin Franklin at the outset of the French and Indian War, this plan called for a unified colonial government to manage relations with Native Americans and provide for a common defense.

-It was rejected by both the colonial assemblies, who feared a loss of autonomy, and the British Crown, which was wary of a strong, unified colonial entity.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

-In response to the Stamp Act, delegates from nine colonies met in New York City to coordinate their opposition

-This was a significant step towards unified action, as they issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances asserting that only their own elected representatives could tax them

First Continental Congress (1774)

This Congress met in response to the Intolerable Acts and called for a boycott of British goods.

Establishment of The Association to boycott

Second Continental Congress (1775)

This Congress convened after the battles of Lexington and Concord and would go on to manage the war effort, declare independence, and create the Articles of Confederation.

Paul Revere’s Engraving of the Boston Massacre (1770)

-Revere's widely circulated engraving depicted the Boston Massacre as a brutal and deliberate attack by British soldiers on unarmed colonists. While not entirely accurate, it was a powerful piece of propaganda that fueled anti-British sentiment.

Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware (1851)

This iconic painting, though created decades after the event, captures the drama and heroism of a pivotal moment in the Revolution. It portrays Washington's determined leadership and the perseverance of the Continental Army, becoming a powerful symbol of American resilience.

The Battle of Quebec (1759)

This was the decisive battle of the French and Indian War. British forces under General James Wolfe scaled the cliffs to the Plains of Abraham and defeated the French under the Marquis de Montcalm, leading to the capture of Quebec City.

The Rule of 1756

This British policy stated that a neutral country could not trade with an enemy in wartime if that trade was prohibited during peacetime. It was primarily aimed at preventing the French from using neutral ships to supply their colonies and was a source of tension with neutral nations.

Battle of Lexington & Concord (April 19, 1775)

These were the first battles of the Revolutionary War, often referred to as "the shot heard 'round the world." The British attempt to seize colonial military supplies in ____ was met with armed resistance from colonial minutemen, demonstrating the colonists' resolve to fight for their rights.

Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775)

Although a tactical victory for the British, who took the high ground outside of Boston, they suffered heavy casualties. The battle showed that the inexperienced colonial militia could stand up to the professional British army, boosting colonial confidence.

Battle of Saratoga (September-October 1777)

This was the turning point of the war. The American victory, which resulted in the surrender of an entire British army, convinced France to formally enter the war as an ally of the United States, providing much-needed military and financial support.

Battle of Yorktown (September-October 1781)

The final major battle of the war. A combined force of American and French troops, with the support of the French navy, trapped a large British army under General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, forcing his surrender. This decisive victory effectively ended the war and secured American independence.

Benjamin Franklin

A leading figure of the Enlightenment, a diplomat, scientist, and writer. He was a key advocate for colonial unity and played a crucial role in securing the French alliance.

James Otis

A lawyer from Massachusetts who famously argued against the Writs of Assistance and is credited with popularizing the phrase "taxation without representation is tyranny."

John Dickinson

A Pennsylvania politician and writer known as the "Penman of the Revolution." He authored the influential Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania but was initially a moderate who hoped for reconciliation with Britain.

Samuel Adams

A radical leader from Massachusetts and a key organizer of the Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence. He was a fervent advocate for independence.

Paul Revere

A Boston silversmith, engraver, and member of the Sons of Liberty. He is most famous for his "midnight ride" to warn the colonial militia of the approaching British troops before the battles of Lexington and Concord.

Patrick Henry

A fiery orator from Virginia best known for his "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech, which inspired revolutionary fervor.

Phillis Wheatley

An enslaved African American woman in Boston who became a celebrated poet. Her works, which often touched on themes of freedom and the American struggle for independence, challenged prevailing views on race and intelligence.

Nathan Hale

A Continental Army officer who was captured by the British and executed as a spy. His purported last words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," made him a martyr for the American cause.

Sons of Liberty

A secret organization of American colonists that was created to protect the rights of the colonists and to fight taxation by the British government. They were responsible for organizing protests and acts of resistance, such as the Boston Tea Party.

Minutemen

Members of the colonial militia who were trained to be ready to fight at a minute's notice. They played a key role in the early battles of the Revolution.

Patriots

Colonists who supported independence from Britain.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown.

Also known as Tories

Colonial population growth (1700 to 1775)

250,000 in 1700 to over 2.5 million by 1775

Colonial Diversity

While the majority of the white population had English roots, there was increasing diversity with the arrival of Germans, Scots-Irish, and other European groups.

Common professions

Farmers, blacksmiths, coopers, and shoemakers

90% of colonists engaged in agriculture

Salutary Neglect

-a period of lax enforcement of parliamentary laws, particularly those related to trade.
-allowed the colonies to develop a sense of autonomy and self-government

New England

Characterized by a rocky coastline, long winters, and a strong Puritan heritage. The economy was based on small-scale farming, fishing, shipbuilding, and trade. Society was centered around towns and the church.

Middle Colonies

This region had more fertile soil and a more temperate climate than New England. The economy was a mix of agriculture (especially grain), trade, and some manufacturing. The population was the most ethnically and religiously diverse of the three regions.

Southern Colonies

With a warm climate and fertile land, the Southern economy was dominated by large-scale plantation agriculture, producing cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo. This system was heavily reliant on the labor of enslaved Africans. Society was more stratified, with a wealthy planter elite at the top.

Tactics colonies employed against the British taxes

-Boycotts

-Protests and Demonstrations

-Political Organizing

-Propaganda

Mercantilism

-the dominant economic theory of the time, which held that a nation's wealth and power were best served by increasing exports and collecting precious metals.

-Colonies were seen as existing for the benefit of the mother country, providing raw materials and serving as a market for finished goods.

Navigation Acts

a series of laws designed to enforce this system by restricting colonial trade to English ships and channeling it through England.

Triangular trade

-a complex system of transatlantic trade that linked Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

-It involved the exchange of goods like manufactured products from Europe, enslaved Africans from Africa, and raw materials like sugar, tobacco, and cotton from the Americas

-perpetuated slave trade

British Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

A well-trained and professional army, the world's most powerful navy, a strong central government with the ability to raise funds, and the support of Loyalists and some Native American tribes.

Disadvantages:

Fighting a war far from home, which created logistical challenges and made it difficult to supply and reinforce their troops. The vastness of the American continent made it difficult to conquer and control. They also faced a lack of clear strategic goals and waning public support at home.

American Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

Fighting on their own familiar territory, a strong motivation for fighting to defend their homes and liberties, the leadership of George Washington, and the crucial assistance of foreign allies, most notably France.

Disadvantages:

A lack of a professional army and navy, a weak central government with limited ability to raise money and supplies, and a significant portion of the population remaining loyal to Britain or neutral.

Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)

An armed uprising in colonial Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley.

Its failure led to a turning point from indentured servant labor to enslaved Africans

Royal African Company

an English trading company, chartered in 1672, that held a monopoly on the English slave trade period

pivotal in establishing England’s dominance in the transatlantic slave trade and in the expansion of slavery in its American colonies

Congregational Church

The Congregational Church was the dominant religious institution in the New England colonies, founded by the Puritans. A key feature of Congregationalism is the autonomy of each local congregation in its governance.

Jeremiad

-a type of sermon that lamented the spiritual and moral decline of the community.

-these sermons warned of divine punishment for the perceived backsliding from the colony's original religious purpose and called for a return to piety and righteousness.

Half-Way Covenant (1662)

-a religious and political solution adopted by Puritan congregations in New England to address the issue of declining church membership.

-allowed the children of baptized but unconverted church members to be baptized and thus become "half-way" members of the church.

Salem Witch Trials (1692)

a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials resulted in the executions of twenty people, most of them women

Leisler’s Rebellion (1689-1691)

-an uprising in late-17th century colonial New York led by Jacob Leisler, a German-American merchant and militia captain

-the rebellion reflected colonial resentment against the policies of the deposed King James II and was fueled by tensions between the elite ruling class and the common people

William Berkeley

-the colonial governor of Virginia and a key figure in Bacon's Rebellion

-His policies, which included a more moderate approach to dealing with Native American tribes and a perceived favoritism towards the wealthy elite, angered many frontier settlers

Nathaniel Bacon

a wealthy planter and the leader of Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia

-issued a "Declaration of the People" that accused Berkeley of corruption and neglect

-he died suddenly of disease, which led to the collapse of the rebellion.

Paxton Boys

a group of Scots-Irish frontiersmen in central Pennsylvania who formed a vigilante group in 1763. Enraged by what they saw as the government's failure to protect them from Native American attacks after the French and Indian War, they massacred a group of peaceful, Christian Conestoga Indians.

Regulator Movement (1768-1771)

an uprising in the backcountry of North and South Carolina. In North Carolina, small farmers (known as Regulators) protested the corruption and excessive fees charged by colonial officials appointed by the wealthy coastal elite

New York Slave Revolt of 1712

an uprising in which about two dozen enslaved Africans and Native Americans armed themselves and set fire to a building, killing nine white colonists and injuring others

-The revolt was brutally suppressed by the colonial militia.

Stono Rebellion (1739)

-the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies. A group of about 20 enslaved people in South Carolina, led by a man named Jemmy

-The rebellion led to the passage of a new, more restrictive slave code in South Carolina in 1740, known as the Negro Act, which severely limited the privileges of enslaved people

Molasses Act of 1733

-a British law that imposed a high tax on molasses, sugar, and rum imported into the North American colonies from non-British sources, particularly the French West Indies which was largely ingnored

Arminianism

-a theological movement that challenged the Calvinist doctrine of predestination.

-God’s salvation is open to all who accept it through freewill rather than “elected”

Great Awakening (c. 1730s-1740s)

-a period of intense religious revivalism that swept through the American colonies

-traveling preachers like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards delivered powerful sermons that emphasized sinfulness and the need for personal salvation.

Royal Colonies

colonies under the direct authority and rule of the British Crown

Proprietary Colonies

colonies that had the authority to govern the colony, appoint officials, and grant land

Michel-Guillaume Jean de Crèvecoeur (1735–1813)

best known for his Letters from an American Farmer, published in 1782. In this work, he offered a vivid portrayal of life in the American colonies and was one of the first to explore the idea of the "American" as a new identity, a product of the melting pot of different European nationalities and the unique opportunities of the New World.

Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609)

A Dutch theologian whose teachings gave rise to Arminianism. His departure from the strict Calvinist doctrine of predestination, emphasizing instead that salvation is attainable for all through free will, had a profound impact on Protestant theology in Europe and later in the American colonies during the Great Awakening.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

A Congregationalist minister, theologian, and one of the most important figures of the Great Awakening. Edwards's sermons, such as the famous "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," were intellectually rigorous yet emotionally powerful, calling for a return to Calvinist principles while emphasizing the personal experience of conversion.

George Whitefield (1714-1770)

An English Anglican cleric who was a central figure in the Great Awakening. Whitefield was a charismatic and eloquent itinerant preacher who traveled throughout the American colonies, drawing huge crowds. His dramatic preaching style helped to spread the religious revival and furthered the divide between the "New Lights" and "Old Lights."

Committees of Correspondence

These were networks of communication organized by patriot leaders, beginning in 1772 at the initiative of Samuel Adams in Massachusetts. The committees spread information about British actions and coordinated colonial responses. They proved to be a vital tool in creating a unified colonial opposition to British rule.

The Association

A system created by the First Continental Congress for implementing a complete trade boycott with Great Britain. It called for the non-importation, non-exportation, and non-consumption of British goods

Valley Forge (1777-1778)

Site in Pennsylvania where George Washington spent a harsh winter and faced immense hardship

William Pitt

A British statesman who, as Secretary of State during the French and Indian War, devised the military strategy that led to Great Britain's victory. He focused British efforts on conquering Canada, which proved to be a successful turning point in the war. He was generally more sympathetic to the American colonists' grievances than many of his contemporaries.

John Hancock

A wealthy Boston merchant, president of the Second Continental Congress, and the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. He was a prominent patriot leader and used his fortune to help finance the revolution.

George III

The King of Great Britain and Ireland during the American Revolution. He was determined to maintain British authority over the colonies and supported the hardline policies that led to the war. To the American colonists, he became a symbol of tyranny.

Lord North

The Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. Although he personally felt that some of the taxes on the colonies were counterproductive, he supported the policies of King George III

Thomas Hutchinson

The royal governor of Massachusetts in the years leading up to the Revolution. A prominent Loyalist, his staunch defense of British policies made him a hated figure among patriots.

Maquis de Lafayette

A young French aristocrat who was inspired by the American cause and volunteered his services to the Continental Army. He became a trusted aide to George Washington and a skilled military commander. His involvement was crucial in securing French support for the American Revolution.

Baron von Steuben

A Prussian military officer who volunteered his services to the Continental Army. He arrived at Valley Forge during the harsh winter of 1777-1778 and transformed the raw recruits into a disciplined and effective fighting force. His training program is credited with professionalizing the Continental Army.

Lord Dunmore

The last royal governor of Virginia. In 1775, he issued a proclamation that offered freedom to any enslaved person who would fight for the British. This act outraged Virginia's planter class and further pushed the colony towards independence.

Olive Branch Petition (1775)

During the Second Continental Congress, this was a final attempt to avoid a full-scale war with Britain by affirming American loyalty to the crown.

-ultimately rejected

Ethan Allen

A leader of the Green Mountain Boys, a militia from Vermont. In a key early action of the war, Allen and Benedict Arnold led the successful capture of Fort Ticonderoga from the British in May 1775.

Benedict Arnold

An American general who was initially a hero of the Revolution, playing crucial roles at Fort Ticonderoga and the Battle of Saratoga. However, feeling overlooked and resentful, he became the most infamous traitor in American history when he plotted to surrender the fort at West Point to the British in 1780.

Richard Montgomery

A former British officer who became a general in the Continental Army. He is best known for leading the failed American invasion of Canada in 1775, during which he was killed in the assault on Québec City

Abigail Adams

She is famous for her letter urging John to "remember the ladies" when framing the new nation's laws.

Richard Henry Lee

A Virginia statesman and delegate to the Second Continental Congress. On June 7, 1776, he introduced the motion that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States," which led to the drafting and adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Lord Charles Cornwallis

A leading British general during the Revolutionary War. He won a number of victories, particularly in the Southern theater of the war. However, his career ended in defeat when he was trapped and forced to surrender his army to George Washington at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, an event that effectively ended the war.

William Howe

The commander-in-chief of the British forces for the first part of the Revolutionary War. He led the British to victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill and captured New York City and Philadelphia. However, he was criticized for his failure to crush Washington's army and for his decision not to move his forces north to support General Burgoyne, a choice that contributed to the pivotal American victory at Saratoga.

John Burgoyne

A British general best known for his disastrous campaign in 1777. His plan was to march south from Canada to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. He was ultimately surrounded and forced to surrender his entire army to American forces at the Battle of Saratoga, the turning point of the war.

Comte de Rochambeau

The commander of the French expeditionary forces sent to aid the American cause. He worked closely with General Washington and played a crucial role in planning and executing the combined Franco-American victory at the Battle of Yorktown.

Nathanael Greene

One of George Washington's most trusted and capable generals. After a series of American defeats in the South, Greene took command of the Southern Department of the Continental Army and waged a brilliant campaign of attrition that wore down the British forces under Cornwallis, paving the way for the victory at Yorktown.