British Acts
What was the Sugar Act?
The British taxed the colonists on sugar and molasses.
What was the French & Indian War?
It was a war between the British and The French (who had Native American allies) over the Ohio River Valley and the fur trade. Britain won. The Treaty of Paris ending the war was a contract giving Britain most of the land in North America. Britain began taxing colonists to pay for this war & for further protection. The Proclamation of 1763 prevented colonists from living in the Ohio River Valley which was over the Appalachian Mountains.
Who were the Sons and Daughters of Liberty?
They were formed in Boston and other cities to organize and fight against Britain for independence. They organized protests, intimidated tax collector's, tarred and feathered British officials, staged boycotts and other protests. The Daughters of Liberty also helped make clothing for colonists to wear instead of British items. They also did a majority of the boycotts as they did most of the shopping and decided not to buy British goods.
What is a boycott?
A refusal to buy specific items to try and put pressure on a company/organization to change it's behavior in a manner that pleases you. They lose money and this makes them have to decide on whether to change their ways to be able to sell more products or keep losing money.
Colonists who did not want to choose a side were neither patriots or loyalists. What word best describes them?
They were neutral.
What was the Stamp Act?
The British taxed the colonists on printed paper: ship documents, all documents, licenses, newspapers, playing cards, anything published.
What was the Boston Massacre?
Five colonists were killed by British soldiers. The Bloody Massacre - an art print (engraving) by Paul Revere used PROPAGANDA (biased or misleading information) to convince people the British were the instigators of this event to try and get colonists to get angry and make them want to fight against the British.
Who were the Patriots?
They were colonist who supported American Independence from Britain.
What was the First Continental Congress?
Leaders from 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to discuss what they should do in response the the Intolerable Acts. They decide to write to King George and ask for better treatment. There was no reply and the colonists decided they needed to begin training volunteer citizen soldiers - called Minutemen - who would be ready to fight the British at a moments notice.
For what reasons might colonists have chosen to be loyalists?
They felt the British protected them during the French and Indian War and they did not want chaos and war and they felt that all British people paid taxes so they felt like taxes were not a big deal. They also may have stayed loyal if they received special benefits as a British citizen like positions in government.
What are the Townshend Acts?
The British taxed colonists on glass, lead, paper, tea, paint.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
Colonists protested in secret against the Tea Act in this event. The Sons of Liberty tossed 342 cases of tea into the Boston Harbor one night in secret and dressed as Native Americans to hide their identity. After the Boston Tea Party the British passed the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts to punish Boston. This included the Quartering Act forcing colonists to house soldiers.
Who were the Loyalists?
These were colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain and the King George.
Who are the Minutemen?
They are colonists who are volunteer citizen soldiers who would be ready to fight the British at a moments/minutes notice.
What was the goal of the Proclamation of 1763?
To prevent colonists from settling in the Ohio River Valley which was Native American Indian land and where the native people's were defending their land. The British did not want war to break out between the native people's and the British over this land because of colonists going into the land.
What was the Tea Act?
The British were concerned about the colonists protests after the Boston Massacre and removed all the taxes and replaced them with the Tea Act. This Act did not tax tea but forced colonists to buy their tea only from the British company and this hurt American businessmen's ability to make $$.
What were the Battle of Lexington and Concord?
These were the first towns in Massachusetts were the first battles between the soldiers and the British occurred. The first shot fired is called "the shot heard around the world".
What were the militia?
They were colonists who were volunteer soldiers. these colonists were made up of blacksmiths, cooks, farmers, merchants, builder's, etc. Regular working people who decided to join the fight.
What did the phrase "No Taxation Without Representation" mean?
This was a phrase to show that colonists felt they should not be taxed because they did not have a voice in British government - called Parliament.
What does the phrase "Join, or Die" that the colonists used refer to?
This saying was to try and convince the colonists that it was important to have the 13 colonies stay united or they would be destroyed by Britain.
What were the Intolerable Acts?
In response to the Boston Tea Party protest the colonists took part in the British punished the colonists with a series of laws that the colonists found intolerable called the Coercive Acts. These laws included the Quartering Act which forced colonists to provide rooms and meals to soldiers in their own homes. Colonists had to pay for the lost tea & Boston Harbor was blockaded.
One way the colonists protested against the British was to tar and feather British officials. Why did the colonists tar and feather them?
They wanted to show their anger at the British over the tax collection and other laws and send a message.
What was the nickname the British solders were called?
They were called redcoats and lobster backs.
What is propaganda?
It is writing, images, videos or other forms of communication to make a person or group think a certain way.
Who were some of the famous Sons of Liberty?
Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, Patrick Henry