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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
Boycotts
- ^^Non-importation + non-consumption agreements (created by the Committees of Correspondence)^^
- Separated Loyalists + Patriots
- After boycotting British textiles, colonists homespun their own clothing
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
Sons (and Daughters) of Liberty
- ^^Used to create + bolster patriotism^^
- Engaged in protests + boycotts
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
Coercive Acts
- ^^1774 - Intolerable Acts to shut down colonist actions in Boston^^
- Thomas Gage enforced the Quartering Act + Coercive Acts
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
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
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
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
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
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
Valley Forge
- 1777-1778 - Washington’s army spent a grueling winter in Pennsylvania
- Because of bad conditions, many soldiers died or left
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
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
European Assistance
- Spain + France provided money + commerce
- ^^Marquis de Lafayette + Baron von Steuben offered military advice^^
- France sent armies + navy
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
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)
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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