Causes & Context
This 1754–1763 conflict between Britain and France in North America helped lead Britain to tax the colonies, angering Georgians.
The French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War).
This part of the Declaration of Independence explains why the colonies believed they had the right to separate from Britain (name the part).
The Preamble.
Colonists who wanted to remain loyal to Britain were called this.
Loyalists.
This 1779 attack on a Georgian port city was a major British victory and involved a siege.
The Siege of Savannah.
The first national governing document used during and after the Revolutionary War was called this.
The Articles of Confederation.
This proclaimed the ban on colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains and frustrated colonists seeking new land, including some in Georgia.
The Proclamation of 1763.
This section lists the complaints against King George III.
The Grievances.
Colonists who supported independence from Britain were called this.
Patriots.
This 1779 battle in northeast Georgia was a smaller Patriot victory that boosted local morale.
The Battle of Kettle Creek.
Name one major weakness of the Articles of Confederation.
Congress could not levy taxes; could not regulate trade; no executive or judicial branches; each state had it's own currency; one vote per state regardless of population size; all 13 states had to vote unanimously to pass a law.
This 1765 British law required colonists to buy a government stamp for printed materials; protests in Georgia joined others in the colonies against it.
The Stamp Act.
Name the three Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton.
Many Georgians were divided in loyalty. Give one reason some Georgians remained Loyalists.
Some Georgians depended on trade with Britain or feared economic loss, so they stayed Loyalist.
Which side won the Siege of Savannah and what was one consequence for Georgia? (One–two sentence response)
The British won the Siege of Savannah; consequence: British control of Savannah strengthened their hold on Georgia and disrupted Patriot operations.
Explain how the inability of Congress under the Articles to raise revenue (tax) affected the national government. (One–two sentence response)
Without taxing power Congress could not pay debts, fund an army, or enforce laws, leading to a weak national government.
Explain briefly how British war debt from the French and Indian War led to new taxes and regulations affecting Georgia. (Short response)
Britain borrowed heavily to fight the French and Indian War, then raised taxes and tightened trade controls on the colonies (including Georgia) to pay debt and fund troops.
This section officially declares the 13 colonies are separating from Britain.
The Declaration.
Give one reason some Georgians became Patriots.
They resented British taxes and restrictions and wanted self-government, so they became Patriots.
How did the Patriot victory at Kettle Creek help the Revolutionary effort in Georgia? (One–two sentence response)
The Patriot victory at Kettle Creek boosted morale, helped secure supplies, and encouraged more recruits for the Patriot cause in Georgia.
Describe how the weaknesses of the Articles led leaders to call the Constitutional Convention. (Two–three sentence response)
Economic troubles, conflict between states, and rebellions highlighted the national government’s weaknesses under the Articles, prompting leaders to meet and revise the system (leading to the Constitutional Convention).
Describe how the combination of the French and Indian War, the Proclamation of 1763, and the Stamp Act together changed colonial attitudes in Georgia toward Britain. (Two–three sentence response)
The war expanded Britain’s territorial claims but left large debts; the Proclamation restricted westward expansion while taxes like the Stamp Act paid war costs—together these measures felt unfair to colonists and increased resistance in Georgia.
Briefly interpret: What is the purpose of the Declaration’s preamble and how does it connect to the grievances that follow? (Two–three sentence response)
The preamble states general principles about natural rights and government’s purpose; the grievances give specific examples of how the king violated those principles, justifying the decision to declare independence.
What is another name for the Loyalists?
Tories.
Compare and contrast the military outcomes and long-term significance of the Battle of Kettle Creek and the Siege of Savannah for Georgia. (Three–four sentence response)
Kettle Creek was a Patriot victory that improved local morale and recruitment; the Siege of Savannah was a larger British victory that maintained British control of Georgia’s major port. Together they show Georgia’s war saw both significant local Patriot successes and strong British efforts to control the colony.
Identify two specific changes the U.S. Constitution made to fix problems under the Articles of Confederation. (Two items, one sentence each)
Examples: The Constitution created a stronger federal government with the power to tax, and it established an executive branch to enforce laws and a federal judiciary to interpret them.