Apush Chapter 5

Albany Conference of 1754 adopted “Plan of Union”

All colonies rejected the proposal because of fear of losing autonomy.
The first important proposal to conceive of the colonies as a collective whole united under one government.

1756-1763: Seven Years’ War → War between Great Britain and France

1754-1763: French and Indian War
1763: Treaty of Paris, France lost all of North America mainland.
Many colonists began to view themselves as having an identity distinct from the British. Strengthened intercolonial unity.

Proclamation Line of 1763 declared the trans-Appalachian region to be “Indian country” reserved as the homeland for Indian nations.

British settlers expected the removal of French would allow them to move west.
Outraged the British awarded the territory to enemies.
British unable and unwilling to prevent western migration.

Republicanism asserted that state power directly contrasted liberty and needed to be limited.

Argued that best if broad distribution of power to people who could select their own leaders and also could vote them out of office.
Possible only for an “independent” population in control of its own affairs.

1764: Sugar Act placed a tariff on sugar imported into the colonies.

James Otis → “Taxation without representation is tyranny.”

1765: Stamp Act required purchase of specially embossed paper for all newspapers, legal documents, licenses, insurance policies, ships’ papers, even dice and playing cards.

Affected nearly every colonial resident.
British argued Americans had “visual representation” while Americans argued for “actual representation”
Sons of Liberty gained control of the resistance movement and encouraged more moderate forms of protest. Became impossible for British to enforce stamp act.

1767: Townshend Revenue Acts placed tariffs on importations of commodities such as lead, glass, paint, paper, and tea into colonies.

Some started to boycott items taxed.

1768: Massachusetts Circular Letter denounced Townshend Revenue Acts and attacked British plan to make royal officials independent of colonial assemblies.

1770: Boston Massacre

May 1773: Tea Act

The Tea Act 1773 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. The principal objective was to reduce the massive amount of tea held by the financially troubled British East India Company in its London warehouses and to help the financially struggling company survive.
Dec. 1773: Boston Tea Party where some men dressed as Indians, boarded ships, and dumped into harbor 45 tons of tea.

1774: The Intolerable Acts to punish Massachusetts and strengthen British hand.

Boston Port Bill prohibited loading or unloading of ships in Boston harbor until the town fully compensated the East India company and custom services for destroyed tea.
Massachusetts Governor Act annulled colonial charter and delegates now appointed.
With acts, British terminated a long history of self-rule.
Administration of Justice Act protected British officials from colonial courts.
Quartering Act legalized housing of troops at public expense, not only in taverns and abandoned buildings but in occupied dwellings and private homes.

1774: First Continental Congress where most delegates wished to avoid war and favored policy of economic coercion.

Passed a “Declaration and Resolves” declared 13 acts of Parliament in violation of rights and until acts repealed, set sanctions against Britain.

1775: Lexington and Concord

1775: Second Continental Congress agreed military defense was the most important issue.

Olive Branch Petition professed attachment to King George and begged him to prevent further possibilities so there might be accomodation.
Spanish helped supply Americans through Havana and New Orleans.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine (1776): helped persuade many to let go of loyalty to Britain, outlined Republican principles.

1776: Declaration of Independence

Patriots passed treason acts that prohibited speaking or writing against the Revolution.

Bills of Attainder to punish loyalists deprived of civil and property rights.

Thousands of women assumed management of farms and businesses.Tales told of Molly Pitcher who was a woman who carried water to thirsty fighters on the front lines and took her husband’s place at the cannon when he was killed by shrapnel.

Homespun Movement → The movement of American women during the Revolutionary War to boycott British clothing and materials, spinning their own, homemade cloths.

1777: Battle of Saratoga turning point in the war.

French started helping Americans. Financial and military assistance.

1781: Yorktown Surrender

1777: Articles of Confederation adopted by Continental Congress.

Created national assembly, called Congress, delegates selected annually
Couldn’t tax.
Ratified 1781
No executive branch to enforce acts passed by congress
No national court system/judicial branch
No national army, only state militias.
Each state had its own currency.
- It discouraged trade.
- States could impose tariffs on other states.
Very difficult to pass laws
- 9 out of 13 states to pass a law.
- All 13 states must agree to amend Articles.
Accomplished land ordinance act of 1787
1783: Treaty of Paris
- Got western territories extending to Mississippi
- British acknowledged America and removed troops