Acts
Why did Parliament pass the Sugar Act of 1764, and how was it different from earlier trade laws?
To raise money after the French & Indian War because Britain was in debt. It lowered the tax on molasses but enforced it strictly.
Why were the Battles of Lexington & Concord called the “shot heard ’round the world”?
It marked the first open fighting between Britain and the colonies, beginning the Revolution.
What Enlightenment idea of John Locke directly influenced the Declaration of Independence?
The belief in natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the social contract.
A group of royal advisors/delegates In ENGLAND who set colonial policies for English colonies. - Which government does this describe?
Privy Council
Why did the First Continental Congress meet, and what actions did it take?
In response to the Intolerable Acts; organized boycotts and petitions, but didn’t yet declare independence.
What part of the Tea Act actually lowered costs for colonists, and why were they still angry?
It lowered the price of tea by giving the British East India Company a monopoly. colonists saw it as unfair economic control.
Why was the Battle of Bunker Hill considered a moral victory for colonists, but tragic victory for British?
Colonists lost the ground but inflicted heavy British casualties, proving they could stand against the regular army.
British won, but with the cost of many deaths
What role did Samuel Adams play in organizing colonial resistance?
He helped create the Committees of Correspondence and organized protests like the Boston Tea Party.
The English king or queen had ultimate authority over the colonies. - which colonial government does this explain
Monarch !
What was the most significant action of the Second Continental Congress?
It created the Continental Army under Washington and eventually issued the Declaration of Independence.
What were the Writs of Assistance, and why did colonists see them as a violation of rights?
They were general search warrants that let British officials search for smuggled goods without cause; colonists believed they violated privacy and property rights.
What strategic move did Washington make at Dorchester Heights?
He placed captured cannons on the heights, forcing the British to evacuate from Boston to Canada.
Why was Crispus Attucks significant in colonial history?
He was the first casualty (1st to be killed) of the Boston Massacre, becoming a symbol of colonial resistance.
Each colony had a governor who acted as the head of government. How were governors chosen depending on the colony? There are 3 colonies/ways
Royal colonies : appointed by the crown.
Proprietary colony : Proprietors chose them.
( In some colonies like Connecticut, people elected governors.)
What grievances in the Declaration show the influence of Enlightenment ideas?
Complaints about lack of representation, standing armies, and violations of natural rights.
What specific rules did the Intolerable Acts of 1774 enforce?
Closed Boston Harbor until the destroyed tea was paid for
Banned most town meetings in Massachusetts
Allowed British officials accused of crimes to be tried in Britain
Expanded the Quartering Act to force colonists to house soldiers
How did propaganda after the Boston Massacre shape colonial opinion?
Paul Revere’s engraving (The Bloody Massacre) exaggerated British brutality, rallying colonists against Britain.
What role did Patrick Henry play in sparking the Revolution?
He was a Virginia lawyer and fiery speaker who declared “Give me liberty, or give me death!” urging colonists to fight for independence.
Colonial legislatures where elected representatives make laws and set policies.
Virginia house of burgesses was the 1st one.
- What colonial government does this explain
Assemblies
These two historic documents, one from 1215 limiting the king’s power and another from 1689 protecting citizens’ rights, inspired the Founding Fathers when shaping American government. - What two documents is being described?
1. Magma Carta (1215)
2. English Bill of Rights (1689)
Why did colonists view the Stamp Act as a direct attack on their rights?
It was the first direct tax on colonists, not just trade, and they had no representation in Parliament.
How did the Boston Massacre of 1770 begin?
It started when angry colonists confronted British soldiers, throwing snowballs, ice, and insults; in the chaos, soldiers opened fire, killing five colonists.
This 1776 pamphlet argued that an island should not rule a continent and convinced many colonists to support full independence from Britain. - Who wrote this pamphlet and what's his name?
What is Common Sense by Thomas Paine?
1. Especially In New England, local citizens met to decide on issues like school and community needs.
2.Protects the individual freedoms, LOCAL courts handled disputes and reflected community values, often based on religious beliefs.
1. Town meetings
2. Colonial Courts
The Declaration of Independence declares that “all men are created equal.” In 1776, who was this phrase mainly meant to include, and who was left out?
What is that it mainly applied to white men with property, while women, enslaved Africans, Native Americans, and others were excluded.