Stages of the American Revolution
Stages of the American Revolution
Incubation Stage
Mayflower Compact
An agreement written and signed by male passengers and pilgrims aboard the Mayflower ship on November 11, 1620.
Established laws for the "general good," ensuring unity between religious and non-religious pilgrims.
Virginia House of Burgesses
The first elected legislative assembly in British North America, established on July 30, 1619, in Jamestown.
Set precedents for self-government and representative democracy within the colonies.
Allowed white male landowners to elect representatives to create local laws.
Roger Williams
Advocated for the separation of church and state and religious freedom.
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Considered by some as the first written constitution in America, established a framework for government in the Connecticut Colony.
Bacon’s Rebellion
Led by Nathaniel Bacon, a farmer from a wealthy family who emigrated to Virginia.
Owned many estates and had his own governance ideas.
In 1667, Bacon raised an army of volunteers, conducting raids and massacres against American Indian villages, rebelling against Governor Berkeley’s administration.
The conflict involved attacks on nearby tribes and culminated in the capture and burning of Jamestown in September 1676.
Navigation Acts
Laws passed by Britain to regulate trade in the American colonies.
Required that certain goods from the colonies be shipped only to Britain or British colonies.
All imported goods to the colonies had to stop at an English port first, with exceptions for certain perishable goods.
Colonists expressed dissatisfaction with these laws as they restricted trade and harmed businesses, contributing to revolutionary sentiments.
Salutary Neglect
An unofficial policy that began in the 18th century, allowing the colonies to self-govern due to factors such as distance from Great Britain and the cost of governance.
Colonists became self-reliant and flourished as an independent society.
This period of neglect ended in 1763 after the French and Indian War, causing resentment among colonists when Britain imposed taxes and regulations after about 70 years of autonomy.
The Great Awakening
A religious revival movement in the colonies beginning in the late 1720s, peaking during the 1730s and 40s.
Preachers promoted Calvinism, focusing on the importance of scripture and personal relationships with God.
Unified colonists under new ideas of individual rights and a burgeoning sense of nationalism.
The Enlightenment
An intellectual movement of the 18th century emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of tradition.
Advocated for social improvement through science, logic, and education, promoting liberty, rights, and tolerance.
Introduced the notion that knowledge should be based on reason rather than blind faith, positing that the government must protect life, liberty, and property, thereby questioning traditional religious authorities and prompting the idea of separation of church and state.
Symptomatic Stage
Writs of Assistance
General search warrants allowing British customs officials to search any location for smuggled goods without specific cause.
The Sugar Act
Enacted in 1764 to reduce the previous tax on molasses, aimed at curtailing smuggling.
The Stamp Act
Introduced in 1765, required colonists to purchase special stamped paper for legal documents and other papers.
The Sons of Liberty
A secret organization formed to oppose British policies and defend colonists' rights through protests.
The Declaratory Act
Passed in 1766, asserted that Parliament had the right to legislate for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”
This was enacted to reaffirm British authority after the Stamp Act being repealed.
The Townshend Acts
Enacted in 1767, imposed duties on imported goods such as tea, paper, and glass.
Sparked widespread colonial protest and resentment towards Britain.
Boston Massacre
Occurred on March 5, 1770; British soldiers shot and killed five colonists during a confrontation, escalating tensions.
Committees of Correspondence
Created in 1772 for communication among colonies regarding British activities and organizing responses.
The Tea Act
Passed in 1773, aimed to support the struggling British East India Company by allowing it to sell tea directly to colonists without middlemen, leading to further resistance.
Boston Tea Party
A protest on December 16, 1773, where colonists dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor as a response to the Tea Act.
The Intolerable Acts
Also known as the Coercive Acts, these laws were punitive measures passed in 1774 following the Boston Tea Party:
Closed Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for.
Altered the Massachusetts charter, allowing more British control.
Expanded the Quartering Act, requiring colonists to house British soldiers.
The Quartering Act
Required colonial assemblies to provide housing and supplies for British troops stationed in America.
Crisis Stage
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Occurred on April 19, 1775.
British troops marched to Lexington, encountering 70 colonial militia members.
A gunshot (known as “the shot heard 'round the world”) ignited the confrontation, resulting in the deaths of both British and colonial soldiers.
Marked the beginning of armed conflict in the American Revolution.
Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress convened on September 5, 1774, in Philadelphia, petitioning King George III for redress of grievances and calling for a boycott of British goods.
Adjourned in October 1774.
Battle of Bunker Hill
Fought on June 17, 1775; British forces suffered heavy casualties trying to dislodge American militia from nearby hills.
Although the British captured Breed’s Hill, American forces gained confidence from their resistance.
Olive Branch Petition
Adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 5, 1775, as a final attempt to avoid war with Britain.
King George III refused to read the petition, signaling the collapse of negotiations.
Common Sense
A pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in January 1776 advocating for American independence from Great Britain.
Was widely read and influential, fueling revolutionary sentiment and the push for a republican government.
The Declaration of Independence
Approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776; formally declared the colonies as independent states.
The resolution for independence was voted on and endorsed on July 2, 1776, marking a significant turning point in American history.
The Battle of New York
Fought in the summer of 1776; British forces aimed to capture New York City for its strategic location on the Hudson River.
Resulted in a massive victory for the British, nearly destroying the Continental Army.
The Battle of Charleston
General Sir Henry Clinton led a large British force to trap American revolutionaries in Charleston in 1780, resulting in a significant American defeat.
The Battle of Saratoga
Fought in 1777; a decisive American victory that convinced France to form a crucial military alliance with the U.S., impacting the war's international dimensions.
Valley Forge
The winter encampment of Washington's army in 1777-1778; approximately 12,000 soldiers endured terrible conditions with around 2,000 dying from disease.
This event embodied resilience and determination among the Continental forces, fostering unity and discipline.
The Battle of Yorktown
In 1781, marked the last major battle of the Revolutionary War where American and French forces defeated the British.
Led to the surrender of General Cornwallis, effectively securing American victory and prompting negotiations toward peace.
Treaty of Paris
A collection of treaties signed in 1783 concluding the Revolutionary War; recognized American independence from Britain and redefined relations between Great Britain and the United States.
Convalescence Stage
The Articles of Confederation
First proposed on July 21, 1777, these established a government framework where states retained most powers except for war, diplomacy, coinage, and Indian affairs, which were delegated to Congress.
Congress lacked the power to tax, resulting in economic weaknesses and poor state relations.
Shay’s Rebellion
An uprising led by Daniel Shays in 1786 by farmers protesting debt and economic hardship post-Revolution.
Demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger federal government.
Virginia Plan
Proposed on May 29, 1787, it called for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature based on the population of states.
Served as a significant foundation for the future U.S. Constitution.
New Jersey Plan
A response to the Virginia Plan favoring smaller states by proposing a unicameral legislature with equal representation for states.
Great Compromise
Introduced on July 16, 1787; established a bicameral legislature with one chamber based on population (House of Representatives) and the other with equal state representation (Senate).
Three-Fifths Compromise
Proposed during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, this plan counted three out of every five slaves for determining representation and taxation, significantly impacting legislative power dynamics.
Federalism
A government system in which power is divided between national and state governments, as established by the new Constitution.
Checks and Balances
A system designed during the Constitutional Convention to ensure that no one branch of government can dominate the others; initially proposed by James Madison.
Anti-Federalists
Individuals opposed to the ratification of the Constitution, favoring stronger state governments and fearing the potential loss of individual liberties.
Bill of Rights
A series of amendments proposed to Congress, with amendments 3-12 ratified on December 15, 1791, providing explicit protections for individual rights and freedoms, thus marking the completion of the constitutional framework.