5.1
What is a Writ of Assistance?
Legal document that allowed customs officers to enter any location to search for smuggled goods. Authorized by Parliament in 1767.
(AKA search warrants that allowed British officials to search and seize any goods they suspected were smuggled into the colonies illegally.)
What were the Intolerable Acts?
What did they prevent?
Colonial name for a series of acts passed by King George III to control the colonies.
Prevented supplies from being shipped to Boston, prevented meetings, forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers in their homes, etc. (Coercive Act & Quebec Act)
What was the Shot Heard Around the World?
“The Shot Heard Around the World” - The first shot fired at Lexington that officially started the American Revolution.
Still no one knows who fired the shot but that does not change the enormous impact/consequences of it.
Who was an advocate of women's rights who voiced her opinions in letters to her husband John Adams (Founding Father and 2nd President) urging him to “remember the ladies…be more favorable to them than your ancestors”?
Abigail Adams- Advocate of women's rights who voiced her opinions in letters to her husband John Adams (Founding Father and 2nd President) urging him to “remember the ladies…be more favorable to them than your ancestors.”
What is the difference between the Patriots and the Loyalists?
Patriots - Colonists who wanted to fight the British for American independence. Patriots saw the taxes and regulations put on by the British government, without having any representation in the government, as a violation of their rights as citizens. They decided that those rights were worth fighting for even if that meant trying to take on a world power.
Loyalists - Colonists who remained loyal to the British Empire. Loyalist did not consider unfair taxes and regulations as good enough reason to rebel against one of the most powerful nations in the world at the time. Some loyalist were just people who lived in relative isolation on the edge of the colonies that were barely affected by the taxes and regulations.
What was the Sugar Act?
Passed by Parliament in 1764,
-it lowered tax on molasses imported to the colonies but even after the reduced tax, the molasses was often still more expensive than when smuggled.
-It also allowed officers to confiscate smuggled goods without having to go to court.
-This angered colonists as officers would abuse the power this law gave them.
What was the Committee of Correspondence?
Committee of Correspondence - Protestors united against Britain's rule over colonies. Circulated writings about colonists’ grievances (complaints) against Britain.
Who is Paul Revere?
Paul Revere - Rode through the night to alert the colonist of the movement of British troops out of Boston and to Lexington and Concord. Contrary to popular belief, he yelled, “The regulars are out!” not “The British are coming!”
What do we call the intro to the Declaration of Independence which states people who wish to form a new country should explain their reasoning for doing so?
Preamble - Intro to the Declaration of Independence which states people who wish to form a new country should explain their reasoning for doing so.
Who was the founding father and 2nd president that recommended George Washington as commander of the Continental Army?
John Adams
What was the Stamp Act?
Passed by Parliament in 1765, this was a tax on almost all printed material in the colonies (newspapers, wills, cards, etc.). All taxed material would be marked with a stamp from a British officer. The colonies did not consent.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
Members of the Sons of Liberty dump British tea into the Boston Harbor in protest of recent taxes by the British government. (December 16, 1773)
Which Patriot leader yelled, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" at the battle of Bunker Hill since they were low on ammunition and needed to make every shot count?
William Prescott
Who published the influential pamphlet Common Sense in 1776 that called for independence from Great Britain and was referred to King George III as “The Royal Brute”?
Thomas Paine
Who was a Founding Father and 3rd President and wrote the Declaration of Independence referencing the works of John Locke?
Thomas Jefferson
What was the Declaratory Act?
Passed in 1766 after the repeal of the Stamp Act, this gave the British Parliament the right to tax and make decisions for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”
YIKES
What was the Boston Massacre AND who was Crispus Attucks?
Boston Massacre - Clash between colonists and redcoats in Boston, MA. Resulted in the death of 5 colonists. Used as propaganda by colonial leaders. (March 5, 1770)
Crispus Attucks - Part Native and African dockworker who was killed during the Boston Massacre. A good example of how it isn’t only just white British people when we talk about “colonists”.
Describe the Green Mountain Boys.
Green Mountain Boys - Militia group led by Ethan Allen who will have great success during the revolution by joining forces with Benedict Arnold and his men to attack Fort Ticonderoga , surprising the British, and helping to defeat General Burgoyne’s army
What was sent by Colonists to the King expressing their desire for peace with Great Britain and was not accepted by King George III?
Olive Branch Petition- sent by Colonists to the King expressing their desire for peace with Great Britain and was not accepted by King George III
Who persuaded the House of Burgesses (VA) to take action against the Stamp Act. He was accused of treason by Britain and exclaimed, “If this be treason, make the most of it!”?
Patrick Henry - Persuaded the House of Burgesses (VA) to take action against the Stamp Act. He was accused of treason by Britain and exclaimed, “If this be treason, make the most of it!”
What measures did the British take to end the troubles with the Native Americans?
The British took two measures to end troubles with the Native Americans:
Stationed 10,000 soldiers in the colonies and on the frontier
Proclamation of 1763 - prohibited the settlement of lands west of the Appalachians (Native American territory)
These measures alarmed the colonists because many feared that the large number of British troops in North America might be used to interfere with their liberties. They saw the Proclamation of 1763 as a limit on their freedom as well.
What was the significance of the Boston Tea Party?
As word of the Boston Tea Party spread throughout the colonies, the colonists celebrated the Boston Sons of Liberty for boldly championing the colonial cause. The Boston Tea Party was an organized display of displeasure with British rule in the colonies, and while no one spoke of challenging British rule yet, since colonial leaders still considered themselves members of the British empire, they were pleased that their concerns were being expressed.
What 3 decisions were made by the First Continental Congress?
Drafted a statement of grievances calling for the repeal of 13 acts of Parliament passed since 1763. They declared these laws violated the colonists’ rights.
The delegates voted to boycott all British goods and trade.
Most importantly they voted to pass a resolution to form militias, groups of citizen soldiers.
How did the Second Continental Congress govern the colonies? (4 ways)
The Second Continental Congress…
Authorized the printing of money
Set up a post office (led by Benjamin Franklin).
Established committees to communicate with Native Americans and with other countries.
Created the Continental Army (led by George Washington) to fight against Britain in a more organized way than the colonial militias could.
Who was elected British prime minister in 1763, he was determined to decrease Britain’s war debt through taxes and reducing smuggling in the colonies?
George Grenville - Elected British prime minister in 1763, he was determined to decrease Britain’s war debt through taxes and reducing smuggling in the colonies.