American Revolution Flashcards

Seven Years' War (French and Indian War)

  • North American theater of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763): A global conflict between Britain and France.
  • Fought over control of North American territory, especially the Ohio River Valley.
  • British victory resulted in France ceding much of its North American land, including Canada.
  • Global conflict: Fought across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
  • Significant war debts: Left Britain with significant war debts but solidified its dominance in North America.
  • New taxes on American colonies: Britain imposed new taxes on the American colonies to pay off war debts.
  • Key taxes:
    • Stamp Act (1765)
    • Townshend Acts (1767)
  • No taxation without representation: Colonists resented these taxes because they had no representation in the British Parliament.
  • Proclamation of 1763:
    • Issued to prevent colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflicts with Native Americans.
    • Angered colonists who wanted to expand westward.
  • British control:
    • Before the war, Britain had loosely enforced its laws in the colonies, allowing them a degree of self-governance.
    • After the war, Britain tightened control by enforcing trade laws and cracking down on smuggling, which increased colonial frustration.
  • Growing resentment: The combination of taxation, restricted land access, and stricter British control led to growing resentment in the colonies.
  • American Revolution: These tensions contributed directly to the colonies' desire for independence, setting the stage for the American Revolution.
  • Grenville: Initially in charge of the colonies.
  • Sugar Act: First revenue act passed by the British government.
  • Currency Act: Prohibited colonies from printing their own money, hindering their economic growth.
  • Resistance Groups: Artisans, merchants, and traders in major cities formed groups such as the Sons of Liberty, Daughters of Liberty, and Vox Populi to protest against the Stamp Act.
  • Colonial violence: Colonists turned violent against those who supported the Stamp Act, resulting in no stamp agents being at their posts when the act was implemented.
  • Repeal: The acts were eventually repealed due to colonial resistance.

Key Events Leading to the American Revolution

  • End of French and Indian War (1763):
    • Marked the start of British efforts to assert more control over the colonies.
    • The Treaty of Paris (1763) ended the war but left Britain deeply in debt.
  • Proclamation of 1763:
    • Restricted colonial expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains to ease tensions with Native Americans.
    • Angered colonists seeking land.
  • Sugar Act (1764):
    • Imposed duties on foreign sugar and molasses.
    • Aimed to crack down on smuggling, but colonists viewed it as unfair taxation.
  • Stamp Act (1765):
    • Required stamped paper for documents, newspapers, etc., sparking widespread protest.
    • Patrick Henry's declaration: Patrick Henry, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, famously declared, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
  • Declaratory Act (1766): Asserted Parliament's authority over the colonies, even after the Stamp Act was repealed.
  • Townshend Acts (1767):
    • Taxed goods like glass, paper, and tea.
    • Spurred boycotts and increased tensions.
  • Boston Massacre (1770):
    • British troops fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five.
    • Propaganda: Samuel Adams and Paul Revere used the incident as propaganda.
  • Tea Act (1773):
    • Allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, bypassing colonial merchants.
    • Colonists saw this as another attempt to force British control.
  • Boston Tea Party (December 16, 1773):
    • Colonists, led by the Sons of Liberty, dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act.
    • Samuel Adams was a key figure in organizing the event.
  • Coercive (Intolerable) Acts (1774):
    • In response to the Tea Party, Britain passed punitive laws, closing Boston Harbor and revoking Massachusetts' self-government.
    • These acts united the colonies against Britain.
  • First Continental Congress (1774):
    • Met in Philadelphia to address colonial grievances.
    • Key figures: George Washington, John Adams, and Patrick Henry attended.
    • Called for boycotts of British goods.
  • Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775):
    • The first armed conflict of the Revolution.
    • British troops, sent to seize colonial weapons, were met by colonial militia (