Chapter 7 - The American Revolution and the War for Independence

Quebec Act

• 1774
• ^^Because it benefitted the Roman Catholic French in Canada, it angered American Protestants^^
• Toleration to Catholics was given IF they gave up their own self-rule + right to trial by jury
• By enlarging Canada, Americans could not settle the Ohio River Valley

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Sugar Act

• 1764
• A mercantilist + indirect tax that raised revenue for Britain
• Britain hoped that lower duties would encourage colonists to pay the tax rather than smuggle
• Economy controlled by British gov’t

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Stamp Act

• 1765
• Non-mercantilist + direct tax
• ^^Colonists forced to buy stamps for paper goods^^
• “No taxation without representation!”
• Resulted in violent protests + Stamp Act Congress
• After Parliament backed down, the colonists saw a chance for freedom

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Sons of Liberty

• 1766
• A revolutionary organization that rallied colonists against Britain
• Arson + vandalism
• Meetings + protests to plan revenue against Britain (ex. Boston Tea Party)

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Committees of Correspondence

• 1772
• Created by Samuel Adams
• Collected + circulated evidence of British abuses against colonists
• ^^Newspapers + editorials frequently used the word “independence,” foreshadowing the later pushes for independence^^
• Established across 13 colonies during Revolution

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Declaratory Act

• 1766
• Created after repeal of Stamp Act
• Stated that Parliament has right to tax “in all cases whatsoever”
• Conflict between actual vs. virtual representation
• Colonists lost all respect for Britain

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Townshend Duties

• 1767
• Taxed commodities colonists HAVE to buy from Britain (glass, lead, paper, paint, tea)
• ^^Non-importation agreements^^ ^^(boycotts) shut down the consumption of goods, rendering the tax useless^^
• However, Parliament kept the tea tax to reinforce British authority

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Quartering Act

• 1765
• Used to raise money for Britain + exert colonial control
• Colonists expected to house + feed soldiers
• Also used to spy on revolutionary leaders

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Boycotts

• ^^Non-importation + non-consumption agreements (created by the Committees of Correspondence)^^
• Separated Loyalists + Patriots
• After boycotting British textiles, colonists homespun their own clothing

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Boston Massacre

• 1770
• British soldiers fired into a crowd hurling snowballs at them, killing several
• John Adams tried to acquit soldiers using a fair trial
• Sam Adams + Paul Revere used this event for independence propaganda

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Sons (and Daughters) of Liberty

• ^^Used to create + bolster patriotism^^
• Engaged in protests + boycotts

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Boston Tea Party

• 1773
• The Tea Act gave the East India Company a monopoly on tea trade
• Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians + dumped tea into Boston Harbor
• Eventually led to Coercive Acts

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Coercive Acts

• ^^1774 - Intolerable Acts to shut down colonist actions in Boston^^
• Thomas Gage enforced the Quartering Act + Coercive Acts

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Lexington and Concord

• 1775 - The British wanted to stop American militiamen from stockpiling weapons
• Skirmishes in Concord
• Minutemen (American soldiers) attacking British troops marching to Lexington
• With higher British deaths than American ones, it was very encouraging

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Olive Branch Petition

• Professed loyalty to British Crown
• ^^Begged King George III to end his corrupt rule over the colonies^^
• King refused + declared colonies in open rebellion

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Continental Congress

• 1774 - 1st Continental Congress
• 1775 - 2nd Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia
• Founding Fathers were John Hancock (president) + George Washington (commander of army)
• Achievements included Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, dollar

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Common Sense

• 1776
• ^^Propaganda pamphlet by Thomas Paine^^
• Appealed to common people + quoted Bible as source
• Stated that British kings are evil + Britain (island) shouldn’t rule over America (continent)
• Increased support for independence

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Declaration of Independence

• Reflected negative colonial experience + Enlightenment
• Written by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin
• 1776 - Adopted by Continental Congress
• Supported war + equality + freedom

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Saratoga

• 1777 - Most significant battle in North
• General Burgoyne tried to converge 3 armies in New York
• ^^They were surprised by a large army commanded by Horatio Gates + were forced to surrender^^
• 1778 - French forged formal alliance with the colonies + supplied money, soldiers, and their navy

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Valley Forge

• 1777-1778 - Washington’s army spent a grueling winter in Pennsylvania
• Because of bad conditions, many soldiers died or left

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The Battle of King’s Mountain

• 1780 - Most significant battle on frontier
• ^^British army under Cornwallis attacked by American militia sharpshooters^^
• Caused Cornwallis to abandon southern campaign

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Yorktown

• 1781 - Washington’s army besieged Cornwallis’ army
• Admiral De Grasse’s French fleet drove away British ships
• Cornwallis surrendered, leading to peace negotiations + the end of the war

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European Assistance

• Spain + France provided money + commerce
• ^^Marquis de Lafayette + Baron von Steuben offered military advice^^
• France sent armies + navy

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Treaty of Paris

• 1783 - Ended war + recognized American independence
• American would be comprised of the land from the Atlantic Ocean, Mississippi River + Canada, to Florida
• Westward expansion into Ohio River Valley

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BIG PICTURE

• Britain’s administrative policies → Unfair + no representation in Parliament
• Taxes + restrictions → American resistance organized by Revolutionary leaders
• Armed conflict - Mob violence + military clashes
• Societal change → Revolution based off justice + political philosophy
• War for Independence - Fought by many countries (mercantilist competition + revenge)

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• Albany Plan of Union

  • Benjamin Franklin
  • Unified colonial gov’t
  • Deal with colonial issues that England cannot solve (Native Americans, threat of France + Spain, etc.)
  • Rejected by colonies + England

• Election of 1844

  • Whig Party picked Clay as candidate → Liberty Party formed
  • Clay refused to take position on annexation of Texas → Doomed
  • Conscience Whigs angry at Clay → Formed Liberty Party
  • Liberty Party pulled votes away from Clay → Polk won election

• Stamp Act

  • Put in place after F + I War by George Grenville
  • Revenue stamp must be bought + put on anything printed on paper
  • Raise money to keep large British army stationed in America
  • “Taxation without representation”
  • Repealed in 1766

• French and Indian War

  • Battle of Quebec (1759)
  • British General Wolfe overcame natural defenses + besieged Quebec for 3 months
  • Battled + defeated France under Marquis de Montcalm
  • English controlled St. Lawrence Seaway

• Josephine White Griffing

  • 1840’s-Civil War - Active in anti-slavery + women’s rights movements
  • 1864 - Lobbied Radical Republicans to help freedmen
  • Influenced Lincoln to create Freedmen’s Bureau

• Causes of Texan Independence

  • Lack of strong Mexican gov’t + needed more land to settle & grow cotton
  • More Americans + slaves than Mexicans → Mexican gov’t barred immigration, raised taxes, created property taxes

• Townshend Duties vs. Stamp Act

  • Stamp Act - Direct tax (paid at time of purchase → know price is higher + why)
  • Townshend Duties - Indirect tax (added costs + no reason why)

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