Acts and Taxes
What was the purpose of the Stamp Act, and why did it anger colonists?
Required colonists to buy special stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and more - angering colonists because it was a direct tax without their consent.
What role did the Sons of Liberty play in resisting British policies?
They organized protests, such as the Boston Tea Party, and used propaganda to rally colonists against British policies.
What was the significance of the Proclamation of 1763?
It banned settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains to please Native Americans, angering colonists eager for land.
What role did women play in the revolutionary movement, such as through the Daughters of Liberty?
They organized boycotts of British goods, made homemade products, and supported the revolutionary cause in non-violent ways.
Why did Britain feel justified in imposing taxes on the colonies?
Britain argued that the colonies should help pay for the debt incurred during the French and Indian War, as the colonies benefitted from British protection.
How did the Sugar Act of 1764 affect colonial trade?
It taxed sugar and molasses imported to to the colonies, aimed at raising revenue and reducing smuggling. It disrupted colonial trade and increased tensions.
Why did many American colonists protest taxation acts like the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, and what methods did they use to express their opposition?
How did the First Continental Congress of 1774 attempt to address grievances?
Delegates petitioned King George III to repeal oppressive laws and organized a boycott of British goods.
What role did George Washington play in the early conflicts leading to the Revolution, such as the French and Indian War, and how did this prepare him for leadership?
During the French and Indian War, Washington gained military experience as a young officer in the Virginia militia, leading troops in battles and building a reputation for leadership.
How did the concept of "No Taxation Without Representation" reflect colonial grievances?
Colonists believed they should not be taxed without having elected representatives in Parliament.
What did the Quartering Act require of the colonists?
It required colonists to house and supply British soldiers, infringing on their personal freedoms.
How did boycotts of British goods serve as a form of protest?
Colonists refused to buy British goods, hurting British merchants and forcing some acts, like the Stamp Act, to be repealed.
What role did the Boston Tea Party play in escalating tensions between Britain and the colonies?
Colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act and taxation without representation.
How did Paul Revere’s midnight ride contribute to the colonial effort before the battles of Lexington and Concord?
Revere’s midnight ride on April 18, 1775, was a pivotal moment in the Revolution. He alerted colonial militias in Massachusetts about the approach of British troops heading to seize weapons in Concord.
What were some arguments Loyalists made against independence?
Loyalists feared chaos, believed in the benefits of British protection, and doubted the colonies’ ability to govern themselves.
Why was the Tea Act of 1773 passed, and how did it lead to the Boston Tea Party?
It gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, leading to the Boston Tea Party as a protest against taxation without representation.
What was the purpose of the Committees of Correspondence, and how did they unite the colonies?
These groups spread information about British injustices across the colonies, fostering unity and coordination.
What happened at Lexington and Concord in April 1775, and why is it called "the shot heard 'round the world"?
These were the first battles of the Revolution. The phrase "shot heard 'round the world" symbolizes the start of the war and its global impact.
How did the Enlightenment contribute to revolutionary ideas in the colonies?
Ideas about reason, equality, and rights from thinkers like Locke and Rousseau inspired revolutionary thinking.
What were the key differences between Patriots and Loyalists during the American Revolution, and how did these opposing viewpoints affect communities in the colonies?
Patriots: believed colonists had a right to self-govern and opposed taxation without representation, supported independence, and organized boycotts.
Loyalists: remained loyal to Britain, believing the colonies benefited from protection and trade, feared independence would lead to chaos and instability, and often included people with strong ties to Britain.
What were the Townshend Acts, and how did the colonists respond to them?
These taxes on imports like glass, paper, and tea angered colonists, who responded with protests and boycotts.
How did the colonists respond to the Intolerable Acts?
Colonists formed the First Continental Congress to organize resistance, including boycotts and preparing militias.
How did the Boston Massacre of 1770 influence colonial attitudes toward British rule, and how was it used as propaganda to unite the colonies?
The Boston Massacre significantly influenced colonial attitudes toward British rule by highlighting the presence of British soldiers as a threat to colonial freedom and safety.
How did John Locke's ideas about natural rights influence colonial thinking?
His ideas of natural rights (life, liberty, property) and government by consent influenced colonial views on independence.
Why did many colonists believe the British policies violated their rights as English citizens?
Colonists believed British policies, like taxation and quartering soldiers, violated their rights guaranteed under English law, such as trial by jury and property rights.