Causes of the Revolution
Why did the British Parliament pass the Stamp Act?
To raise money to pay debts from the French and Indian War.
What battle was known as “the shot heard ’round the world”?
Lexington and Concord.
Who wrote Common Sense, and what did it argue for?
Thomas Paine argued for independence from Britain.
What treaty officially ended the Revolutionary War?
The Treaty of Paris (1783).
What was the main argument in the excerpt from Common Sense?
The colonies had a natural right to self-government.
What slogan summarized colonists’ anger at British taxes?
“No taxation without representation.”
Why was the Battle of Trenton significant?
Boosted morale after defeats and showed Washington’s leadership.
What event was used as propaganda to unite colonists against Britain?
The Boston Massacre.
Who benefited most politically and economically after the war?
White men.
How did Enlightenment ideas shape colonial thinking?
Colonists believed governments must protect natural rights.
What did the Townshend Acts tax, and how did colonists respond?
Taxes on imports (glass, paper, tea) colonists boycotted British goods.
What made the Battle of Saratoga a turning point in the war?
Convinced France to ally with the U.S.
According to the Declaration of Independence, when can people rebel?
When a government threatens their natural rights.
What was egalitarianism, and what did it promote?
Equality based on ability and effort, not birth or wealth.
What emotions did writers like Paine and Jefferson appeal to?
Reason, justice, and moral duty.
What was the Boston Tea Party, and what did it lead to?
Colonists dumped British tea in protest led to the Intolerable Acts.
What happened at Valley Forge, and why was it important?
Harsh winter training improved the Continental Army’s discipline.
Who wrote most of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson.
What roles did women play during the war?
Managed farms, aided soldiers, supported the war effort.
What tone shift can be seen in revolutionary writings?
From calm reasoning to passionate calls for independence.
How did the Committees of Correspondence help the Revolution?
They spread information and unified resistance among colonies.
Who was Marquis de Lafayette, and why was he important?
French nobleman who helped secure French aid and led troops.
What Enlightenment idea most influenced the Declaration?
Governments exist to protect natural rights; if they don’t, rebellion is justified.
What economic problems did the new government face?
Inflation and disrupted trade.
How did writers like Thomas Paine use both Enlightenment reasoning and emotional appeals to convince colonists to rebel against Britain?
They used Enlightenment logic arguing that governments exist to protect natural rights and emotional appeals to honor, injustice, and duty, convincing colonists that rebellion was both rational and moral.