American Revolution and Colonial Relations Flashcards

Political and Economic Relationships Between the Colonies and Great Britain

  • Economic Relations (Economics = Money):

    • Great Britain exerted strict control over colonial trade.

    • Taxes were imposed on the colonies following the French and Indian War.

    • Trade structure: The colonies provided raw materials (natural resources such as timber and cotton) in exchange for manufactured goods produced in Great Britain.

  • Political Relations (Politics = Government):

    • Colonists were required to obey British laws, which were enforced locally by the colonial governor.

    • Colonial governors were appointed directly by the British King or a proprietor (defined as a property owner).

    • A colonial legislature created local laws for each colony, but its actions were actively monitored and controlled by the colonial governor.

    • The colonists themselves possessed little to no actual power or control over their political and economic governance due to the strict colonial administrative structure.

  • Colonial Governance Structure:

    • The colonial power structure operated in a top-down hierarchy:

    1. King

    2. Colonial Governor

    3. Colonial Legislatures

    4. Colonists

Diagram showing the political power hierarchy from King to Colonial Governor to Colonial Legislatures to Colonists

British Reasons for Control and Colonial Dissatisfaction

  • Great Britain's Perspective & Reasons for Control:

    1. Desire for World Power: Great Britain desired to establish and maintain its position as a dominant world power.

    2. French and Indian War: Great Britain's desire to maintain world power status in North America resulted in a major armed conflict with France known as the French and Indian War.

    3. Revenue Generation: Great Britain imposed taxes, such as the Stamp Act, to raise necessary revenue ($) to offset the financial debts incurred during the French and Indian War.

  • Great Britain's Reasons for Taxation:

    1. To help finance (pay for) the monetary costs of the French and Indian War.

    2. To help finance the maintenance and ongoing deployment of British troops stationed in the colonies.

  • The Colonists' Perspective & Sources of Dissatisfaction (Dissatisfaction = Unhappiness):

    1. Lack of Representation: The colonies had no representation in Parliament (the British legislature).

    2. Power of Colonial Governors: Some colonists deeply resented (hated) the centralized power held by royal colonial governors.

    3. Control over Local Governance: Great Britain demanded and sought strict control over local colonial legislatures.

    4. Opposition to British Taxes: The colonies strongly opposed British taxes, such as those introduced by the Stamp Act.

    5. Proclamation of 1763: Following the French and Indian War, Great Britain issued the Proclamation of 1763, which restricted the westward movement of colonial settlers.

Key Figures of the American Revolution

  • King George III: The British monarch during the Revolutionary era.

Portrait of King George III

  • Lord Cornwallis: The British general who surrendered to colonial and French forces at Yorktown.

Portrait of Lord Cornwallis

  • John Adams: Championed and promoted the cause of American independence.

Portrait of John Adams

  • George Washington: Served as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.

Portrait of George Washington

  • Thomas Jefferson: The major author of the Declaration of Independence.

Portrait of Thomas Jefferson

  • Patrick Henry: An outspoken member of the Virginia House of Burgesses who inspired colonial patriotism with his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech.

Portrait of Patrick Henry

  • Benjamin Franklin: A prominent member of the Continental Congress who helped frame the Declaration of Independence and played a pivotal role in securing French diplomatic and military support for American independence.

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin

  • Phillis Wheatley: A former enslaved African-American author who composed poems and plays supporting American independence, ultimately gaining her freedom.

Portrait of Phillis Wheatley

  • Paul Revere: A Patriot who undertook a daring night ride to alert colonial militia of the incoming British Redcoats' arrival.

Portrait of Paul Revere

  • Thomas Paine: Author of the widely circulated pamphlet Common Sense, which passionately promoted the necessity of American independence.

Portrait of Thomas Paine

  • The Marquis de Lafayette: A French nobleman who volunteered to serve in the Continental Army; worked closely with the King of France to send French troops, naval ships, and monetary funds to assist colonial forces, contributing significantly to victory at Yorktown.

Portrait of Marquis de Lafayette

  • Crispus Attucks: A fugitive enslaved African-American who became the first person killed during the Boston Massacre.

Portrait of Crispus Attucks

  • James Armistead Lafayette: An enslaved African-American from Virginia who operated as an effective intelligence spy for the Continental Army; fought for his civil freedom and won his legal release years after the Revolutionary War ended with support from the Marquis de Lafayette.

Portrait of James Armistead Lafayette

Timeline and Key Events of the American Revolution

  • Lead-Up to War:

    • Boston Massacre (March 1770): Colonial protesters in Boston were shot by British troops after taunting and confronting soldiers.

    • Boston Tea Party (December 1773): Samuel Adams and Paul Revere led Patriots in boarding ships and dumping tea into Boston Harbor to protest unfair British tea taxes.

    • First Continental Congress (September–October 1774): Representatives and delegates from 12 colonies (all except Georgia) convened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address grievances against Great Britain and promote colonial independence.

  • Events During the Armed Conflict:

    • Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 1775): Site of the initial armed conflicts of the Revolutionary War prior to an official declaration of war.

    • Battle of Bunker Hill (June 1775): The first official full-scale battle of the Revolutionary War. While recorded as a British military victory, it assisted British forces in securing control over Boston.

    • Geographic Location Note: The Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Battles of Lexington and Concord, and Battle of Bunker Hill all occurred within the colony of Massachusetts.

    • Approval of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776): Adopted in Philadelphia during the Second Continental Congress.

    • Philosophical Foundations: The key concepts within the Declaration of Independence were based upon ideas pioneered by European philosophers, notably John Locke.

    • Four Key Philosophies of the Declaration of Independence:

      1. All individuals possess "certain unalienable rights" (inherent rights that cannot be stripped away), consisting of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

      2. People establish governments specifically to protect these fundamental rights.

      3. Government derives its legitimate authority directly from the people.

      4. People possess both the inherent right and the duty to alter or replace any government that infringes upon or violates their rights.

    • Battle of Saratoga (October 1777): Major American military victory that served as the turning point of the war, convincing France to openly enter into an alliance and support the American cause.

    • Surrender at Yorktown (October 1781): Colonial and French military victory over British forces commanded by Lord Cornwallis, representing the final major military engagement that concluded the Revolutionary War.

  • Post-Conflict Resolution:

    • Signing of the Treaty of Paris (September 1783): Official peace agreement in which Great Britain formally recognized American independence (treaties end wars).

Colonial Advantages in the War

  • Leadership: Possessed strong, unified political and military leadership.

  • Foreign Assistance: Received vital military, naval, and financial support from France.

  • Motivation: Defended their own home land, principles, and foundational beliefs.