American Yawp, Chapter 5: The American Revolution

John Locke

Political philosopher who wrote treatises on rationalism and education. Was a notable proponent of social contract theory that challenged traditional ideas of government and authority.

Stamp Act

Passed by Parliament in 1765, this act required a duty (tax) be paid on printed documents such as newspapers, pamphlets, and legal documents. Was different from previous types of taxes because directly ("internally") taxed colonists and thus resulted in massive protests in the colonies.

Townshend Acts

Series of revenue-raising acts passed in 1767 that created new duties (taxes) on goods such as lead, glass, paint, and tea. These taxes would pay the salaries of royal officials who had previously been paid by the colonial assemblies. Created sweeping resistance measures in the colonies.

Homespun

Refers to the homespun clothing that women began producing and wearing during the period of protest against British taxation leading up to the American Revolution. Illustrates the involvement of women in resistance movements like nonimportation and nonconsumption.

Coercive Acts

Collection of laws (aka the "Intolerable Acts") that closed Boston's harbor, put the government of Massachusetts under British control, dismantled the power of Massachusetts' courts to try royal officials, and allowed British soldiers' to be quartered in colonists' homes. Were issued in response to colonial unrest in Massachusetts and elsewhere in 1774.

Continental Congress

Organization of delegates from across the colonies designed to coordinate a response to the increasing hostility between colonists and British officials. Helped establish a system of coercive Committees of Inspection to enforce colonial boycotts of British goods.

Common Sense

Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine denouncing monarchy and encouraging colonial independence from the British empire. Helped open dialogues about political philosophy across all classes.

Lord Dunmore's Proclamation

Issued by the royal governor of Virginia in 1775, this proclamation declared martial law to be in effect and offered freedom to "all indentured servants, Negros, and others" if they escaped their masters and joined the British. Led to widespread emancipation (at least temporarily) as enslaved peoples self-liberated to join the British in the fight against the colonial rebellion. Note: many folks promised their freedom did not receive it in the long-term.

Articles of Confederation

Drafted in 1777 (ratified in 1781), these articles formally organized the form of government among the states after they declared independence from Britain. Each state was allocated one vote in Congress, but failed to give the Continental Congress the power to tax, establish a federal judiciary, or regulate commerce (meaning it created a federal government that was so weak that it could not effectively operate).

Loyalist

Term referring to a person who remained committed to the British Empire during the Revolution. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 20% of the white population (and a substantially larger population of enslaved African Americans) maintained loyalty to Great Britain for a variety of political, economic, security, or personal reasons. Tens of thousands of these people would be forced from their homes following the conclusion of the War.