Road to Revolution
What law placed a tax on printed materials in the colonies?
Stamp Act
What document officially declared the colonies independent from Great Britain?
Declaration of Independence
Who wrote Common Sense?
Thomas Paine
What event is considered the beginning of the American Revolution?
Battles of Lexington and Concord
What was the first government of the United States after independence?
Articles of Confederation
What treaty ended the French and Indian War and gave Britain control of more land in North America?
Treaty of Paris of 1763
Why did the colonists fight against Great Britain?
They wanted independence and opposed British control and taxation without representation
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
Why was Valley Forge important to the Continental Army?
The army endured harsh conditions and became better trained and more prepared
What was the main weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
The national government was too weak
What was the main purpose of the Proclamation of 1763?
To prevent colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains
What did Thomas Paine's Common Sense encourage colonists to do?
Declare independence from Britain
What type of rights did the Declaration of Independence say people naturally have?
Unalienable/natural rights
What was the importance of the Battle of Yorktown?
The American victory forced the British army to surrender and helped end the Revolution
Why did the writers of the Articles of Confederation create a weak national government?
They feared a strong central government could threaten individual liberty
How did the Intolerable Acts increase tensions between Britain and the colonies?
They punished Massachusetts and increased British control over the colonies/closed boston harbor
What was the main challenge George Washington's army faced at Valley Forge?
A lack of supplies, clothing, food, and other resources during a harsh winter
What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
To explain why the colonies were separating from Great Britain and declare independence
Why was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point in the Revolution?
It convinced France to support the American cause
What weakness of the Articles was shown by Shays' Rebellion?
The national government was too weak to effectively respond to major problems
Put these events in the correct order: Treaty of Paris of 1763, Stamp Act, Intolerable Acts, First Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence
Treaty of Paris of 1763 → Stamp Act → Intolerable Acts → First Continental Congress → Declaration of Independence
Explain how the American Revolution changed the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain.
The colonies went from being British colonies to independent states that formed a new nation
How did the Declaration of Independence reflect Enlightenment ideas?
It argued that people have natural rights and that government gets its power from the people
Compare Saratoga and Valley Forge. Why were both important to the American cause?
Saratoga brought French support, while Valley Forge helped strengthen and train the Continental Army
Identify two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and explain why they made the national government weak
no power to tax, no executive leader, no national court system, difficulty passing amendments, and difficulty raising an army