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The French and Indian War
-The French and Indian War was fought between the British and French (sided with the Indians). Battles started in 1754, but war started later on for the control of North America.
-The British won the war, but the British still had problems with peace with the Indians. -
Sugar Act & Colonists Response
A.k.a. the American Revenue Act, was a revenue- raising act passed by the parliament of Great Britain. Colonial merchants complained that it would reduce their profits. -
Treaty of Paris
-The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War or the Seven Years' War. Ultimately ending with France giving up its territory of North America to the British. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 established a line along the Appalachians, which the colonists weren't allowed to cross. -
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Stamp Act and Colonists' Response
-This act imposed a tax on documents and printed items such as wills, newspapers, and playing cards.
-Boston shopkeepers, artisans, and laborers organized a secret resistance group called The Sons of Liberty that protested the law. -
Sons of Liberty is Formed & Samuel Adams
-Sons of Liberty was formed because of people that protested the stamp act law.
-Samuel Adams was one of the founders of the Sons of Liberty. -
Declaratory Act
-Asserted Parliament's full right "to bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever" -
Townshend Acts & Colonists' Response
-The act taxed goods such as lead, glass, paint, and paper. -
Boston Massacre
-A mob gathered in front of the Boston Customs House and taunted the British.
-The British soldiers then shot and killed five people. -
Tea Act
-THe Lord North devised the Tea Act in order to save the nearly bankrupt British East India Company. -
Boston Tea Party
-A large group of colonists dressed up as "Indians" and dumped 18,000 pounds of the East India Company's tea into Boston Harbor -
Intolerable Acts
-One of the three laws shut down Boston Harbor.
-The other law (Quartering act) authorized British commanders to house soldiers in vacant private homes and other buildings.
-In response to Britain's actions, the committee of correspondence assembled the First Continental Congress. -
First Continental Congress Meets
-56 Delegates met in Philadelphia and drew up a declaration of colonial rights. -
Battle of Lexington
-"redcoats" reached Lexington, Massachusetts
-British commander ordered 70 minutemen to lay down weapons and leave
-Colonists move out without laying down weapons
-No one knows who shot first, but British troops shot at militia
-While 8 minutemen died and 10 got injured, only one British soldier died. The first revolutionary battle lasted 15 minutes. -
Continental Army
-Also known as the colonial militiamen
-These colonists protested "taxation without representation" and organized a new boycott for imported goods
-Costed more to enforce the army than the money coming in -
Minutemen
-Civilian soldiers who pledged to be ready to fight against the British on a minute's notice-quietly stockpiled firearms and gun powder. -
Second Continental Congress Meeting
-Colonial leaders met in Philadelphia to discuss their next attack
-loyalties that divided colonists sparked endless debates
-Some people called for independence, others called for reconciliation with Britain
-They appointed to have George Washington as their Commander and decided to call themselves the Continental Army -
Olive Branch Petition
-An urging return to the "former harmony" (with Britain and the colonies)
-The Second Continental Congress readying the colonists for war, but hoping for peace.
-King George rejected the petition
-issued proclamation stating that the colonies were in rebellion and urged Parliament to order a naval blockade to isolate a line of ships to the American coast -
Battle of Concord
-The British started their march back to Boston, but the 3,000-4,000 minutemen shot at them. From there, the British and colonists became enemies. -
John Locke's Social Contract
-An agreement in which the people's consent to choose and obey a government so long as it safeguards their natural rights
-If the government violates that social contract by taking away or interfering with those rights, the people have the right to resist and even overthrow the government -
Publication of Common Sense
-A 50 page book
-Paine attacked King George and the monarchy
-Argued that the responsibility for British tyranny lay with "the royal brute of Britain"
-The Battle of Lexington and Concord started his revolt with the king
-Independence from Britain would allow America to trade out more freely
-Also give the American colonists the opportunity to make a better society, free from tyranny, with equal social and economic opportunities for all
-sold more than 500,000 copies, widely applauded -
Midnight riders: Revere, Dawes, Prescott
Paul Rivere, Wiliam Dawes, ad Prescott spread the word that 700 British troops were headed toward Concord. -
The Declaration of Independence
-Written mainly by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin
-Freedom of the people -
Redcoats push Washington's Army across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania
-During the summer of 1776, British sailed into NY harbor with 32,000 soldiers (German mercenaries(Hessians))
-Untrained and poorly equipped colonial troops retreated
-By fall of that year, they pushed the army across the Delaware River and into Pennsylvania -
Loyalists and Patriots
-Loyalists are those who opposed independence, and remained loyal to Britain
-Thought that the British were going to win and wanted to avoid punishment as rebels, and other thought their rights would be more protected than the new colonial government
-Patriots are supporters of independence (numbers come from people who saw political and economic opportunity with an Independent America) -
Battle of Bunker Hill
-The British General Thomas Gage decided to attack the militiamen at Breed's Hill
-He sent 2,400 soldiers to that hill
-While the colonists lost 450 men, the British suffered over 1,000 casualties
-Proven to be the deadliest battle -
Washington's Christmas Night Surprise Attack
-Risking everything, Washington led 2,400 men in small rowboats across the icy Delaware River
-Marched into Trenton, New Jersey, and defeated the Hessians in a surprise attack
-British regrouped and captured American Capital at Philadelphia in September of 1777 -
Saratoga
-Led by General Burgoyne
-American troops surrounded Burgoyne at Saratoga, where he surrendered on October 17th, 1777
-Strengthened France's belief that Americans could and would wi the war -
French-American Alliance
-The French joined America in their fight after the Saratoga victory
-Believed that Americans were capable to win
-in Paris, France -
Valley Forge
-Washington and his Army were low on food and supplies
-Fought to stay alive at the winter camp in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania -More than 2,000 soldiers died, but the survivors didn't desert them -
British victories in the South
British took over Savannah, Georgia. They were under Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis captured Charles Town, South Carolina. Clinton left of New York while Cornwallis continued to conquer land throughout the South. -
Friedrich von Steuben and Marquis de Lafayette
-Von Steuben was the Prussian captain, a talented drillmaster; helped to train COntinental Army
- Marquis de Lafayette, other foreign military leader; offered help
- Lafayette lobbied France for French reinforcements in 1779; ed command in Virginia the last yrs of the war
- raw Continental Army became effective fighting force -
British surrender at Yorktown
French naval force defeated British fleet and blocked entrance to Chesapeake Bay, obstructing British sea routes to the bay. By late September, 17000 French and American troops surrounded British on Yorktown peninsula and bombarded them day and night. Cornwallis finally surrendered. -
Treaty of Paris
American's negotiating team were John Adams, John Jay of NY, and Benjamin Franklin. It confirmed the U.S. independence and set boundaries of the new nation. The U.S. now stretched from Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi River and from Canada to the Florida border. -
Writ of Assistance
A written order issued by a court instructing a law enforcement official, such as a sheriff or tax collector, to perform a certain task.