Untitled Flashcard Set
Chapter 5: The American Revolution, 1763–1783
Term: Age of Revolution
Definition: Called this because colonies around the world fought for liberty and independence.
The Crisis Begins – Consolidating the Empire
Term: Britain’s view of colonists after Seven Years’ War
Definition: Saw colonists as needing to help pay war debts through taxes.
Term: Virtual representation
Definition: Parliament claimed all British subjects were represented, even without colonial representatives.
Term: Other issues angering colonists
Definition: Standing armies in colonies, limits on westward expansion, and new taxes.
Taxing the Colonies
Term: Sugar Act resentment
Definition: Colonists upset it lowered duty but enforced stricter trade regulations.
Term: Stamp Act change in policy
Definition: First direct internal tax placed on colonists.
Term: Items taxed by Stamp Act
Definition: Legal documents, newspapers, playing cards, and other paper goods.
Term: Why Stamp Act angered colonists
Definition: Taxed them without representation.
Term: Colonists’ self-view vs British view
Definition: Colonists saw themselves as loyal Englishmen; Britain saw them as subordinates.
Term: Patrick Henry and Virginia Resolves
Definition: Declared only colonial assemblies could tax colonists.
Term: Stamp Act Congress actions
Definition: Merchants agreed to boycott British goods.
Term: Why no revolution yet
Definition: Colonists still hoped for compromise and loyalty to Britain.
Liberty and Resistance
Term: Liberty as a rallying cry
Definition: Used in protests, speeches, and resistance against Britain.
Term: Sam Adams’ Committee of Correspondence
Definition: Coordinated communication and resistance among colonies.
Term: Sons of Liberty actions
Definition: Organized protests and intimidated tax collectors.
Term: Outcome of Stamp Act
Definition: Repealed; Parliament issued Declaratory Act asserting authority.
The Regulators
Term: South Carolina Regulators
Definition: Wanted more courts and local government; were backcountry farmers.
Term: North Carolina Regulators
Definition: Opposed corrupt officials; defeated at Battle of Alamance; were small farmers.
Term: Elite reluctance to challenge Britain
Definition: Feared chaos and loss of their own power.
Road to Revolution – The Townshend Crisis
Term: Purpose of Townshend Acts
Definition: Taxed imports like glass, lead, paint, and tea.
Term: Colonial reaction
Definition: Boycotts and protests.
Term: Daughters of Liberty
Definition: Women who made homespun goods to resist British imports.
The Boston Massacre
Term: Events of Boston Massacre
Definition: British soldiers fired into a crowd, killing five colonists.
Term: Crispus Attucks
Definition: First casualty, a man of African and Native descent.
Term: Paul Revere’s engraving
Definition: Propaganda showing British as aggressors.
Term: Collapse of boycott
Definition: Merchants wanted trade to resume.
Term: Agreement reached
Definition: Britain repealed most duties but kept tea tax.
The Tea Act and Boston Tea Party
Term: East India Company tea
Definition: Allowed to sell cheap tea, undercutting colonial merchants.
Term: Boston Tea Party events
Definition: Colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor in protest.
The Intolerable Acts
Term: Why passed and what they did
Definition: Punished Massachusetts; closed Boston Harbor, restricted town meetings, quartered troops.
Term: Quebec Act complaints
Definition: Extended Canada into Ohio Valley; recognized Catholicism.
The Coming of Independence – Continental Congress
Term: Suffolk Resolves
Definition: Called for boycotts and resistance.
Term: Reason for Continental Congress
Definition: To coordinate colonial response to British acts.
Term: Patrick Henry’s famous words
Definition: “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
The Continental Association
Term: Continental Association
Definition: Called for complete boycott of British goods.
Term: Committees of Safety
Definition: Enforced boycotts and organized local resistance.
The Sweets of Liberty
Term: John Locke’s natural rights
Definition: Life, liberty, and property; government by consent.
The Outbreak of War
Term: Start of Revolutionary War
Definition: Lexington and Concord, April 1775.
Term: Battle of Bunker Hill
Definition: Proved colonists could stand against British regulars.
Term: Three main actions of Second Continental Congress
Definition: Raised an army, printed money, appointed George Washington.
Term: Britain’s response
Definition: Declared colonies in rebellion.
Independence?
Term: Opposition to independence
Definition: Some feared economic ruin and stronger British retaliation.
Term: Elites favoring independence
Definition: Massachusetts and Virginia elites led the push.
Term: Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation
Definition: Offered freedom to enslaved who fought for Britain, angering Southern leaders.
Term: New York & Pennsylvania opposition
Definition: Many feared disruption to trade and diverse loyalties.
Common Sense
Term: Thomas Paine’s background
Definition: English immigrant and radical writer.
Term: Message of Common Sense
Definition: Called monarchy corrupt and urged independence.
Term: Paine’s style
Definition: Wrote in plain language for common people.
Term: Success of Common Sense
Definition: Widely read and pushed public opinion toward independence.
The Declaration of Independence
Term: July 2 and July 4
Definition: Congress voted for independence July 2; adopted Declaration July 4.
Term: Removed clause
Definition: Criticized slavery, deleted to gain Southern support.
Term: Importance of preamble
Definition: Declared universal rights and principles of freedom.
Term: Jefferson’s justification
Definition: Britain violated natural rights; colonies had right to break away.
Term: Pursuit of happiness
Definition: Tied personal freedom to the democratic process.
An Asylum for Mankind
Term: American exceptionalism
Definition: Belief America was unique in defending liberty.
Term: Workshop of liberty
Definition: America would be an example of freedom for the world.
The Global Declaration of Independence
Term: Jefferson’s hope
Definition: Inspire oppressed peoples worldwide.
Term: Global influence
Definition: Inspired revolutions in Europe, Latin America, and beyond.
Securing Independence – Balance of Power
Term: British advantages
Definition: Large army, navy, and resources.
Term: American advantages
Definition: Fighting at home, motivated cause, foreign allies.
Blacks in the Revolution
Term: Black soldiers in Continental Army
Definition: Thousands fought for hope of freedom.
Term: Enslaved men in British army
Definition: Promised freedom if they served Britain.
First Years of the War
Term: Soldiers going home
Definition: Many left due to short enlistments and poor conditions.
Term: Trenton and Princeton
Definition: Surprise victories boosted morale.
Term: Washington before crossing Delaware
Definition: Inspired men with words and bold leadership.
Battle of Saratoga
Term: Why British lost
Definition: Poor planning and surrounded by Americans.
Term: Impact of victory
Definition: Brought France into war as ally.
Term: Valley Forge
Definition: Harsh winter; training and unity built under Washington.
The Global War
Term: Impact of Saratoga globally
Definition: Led France, Spain, and Netherlands to fight Britain.
Term: Role in defeat of Britain
Definition: Stretched British forces worldwide.
Native Americans and the Revolution
Term: Westward movement of colonists
Definition: Many leaders speculated in western lands.
Term: Native alliances
Definition: Chose sides based on survival and promises.
Term: Native preference for Britain
Definition: Britain limited colonial westward expansion.
Term: Joseph and Mary Brant
Definition: Mohawk leaders who supported the British.
Term: War’s impact on Natives
Definition: Brought destruction regardless of side chosen.
War in the South
Term: Southern social tensions
Definition: Britain hoped to exploit enslaved population and loyalists.
Term: Low point in 1780
Definition: Major defeats, loss of morale, desertions.
Victory at Last
Term: Yorktown victory
Definition: Washington trapped Cornwallis with French help.
Term: Marquis de Lafayette
Definition: French noble who aided American cause.
Term: Battle of Yorktown outcome
Definition: Cornwallis surrendered in October 1781.
Term: Treaty of Paris concluded
Definition: 1783.
Term: American negotiators
Definition: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay.
Term: Treaty agreements
Definition: U.S. independence, land to Mississippi River; loyalists’ rights protected.
Term: British colonies not joining fight
Definition: Canada, Caribbean islands, and some others stayed loyal.