Terms
Albany Plan of Union- Plan put forth in 1754 calling for an intercolonial union to manage defense and Indian affairs.
George Washington- Young militia officer from Virginia sent to expel the French from a region granted to the Ohio Company. Was forced to surrender his troops to the Canadians.
William Pitt- Became Prime Minister of Britain 1757. Declared he could save Britain, and that nobody else could. Committed the British to the conquest of Canada and the elimination of the French in North America. Came up with a 50,000 man force to use against the Canadians. During the war, the British took Fort Duquesne, renaming it Fort Pitt (this was the start of Pittsburgh)
Seven Years War/French and Indian War- Full scale war between the French and British, started in 1756. Britain was devastated in 1756-57 when the Canadians took forts in New York, and the Indians killed thousands of backcountry settlers.
Battle of Quebec- Battle where the British tried to expel the French from Canada by destroying Quebec. 2,000 people lost their lives here, including French commander de Montcalm.
Ft. Duquesne- Control center for the Canadians in the Ohio River Valley, built at the Forks of the Ohio.
Proclamation of 1763- Royal Proclamation setting the boundary known as the Proclamation Line.
Treaty of Paris, 1763- The formal end to British hostilities against France and Spain in February 1763.
Edward Braddock- Given two Irish Regiments to take Fort Duquesne. His force was destroyed by a smaller number of French and Indians on the Upper Ohio, and he was killed.
Pontiac’s Rebellion- Rebellion of Indians on the Western British frontiers after the French signed over Indian land to the British. The Indians killed 2,000+ settlers. British leaders suggested the use of smallpox-infested blankets from hospitals against the Indians. This resulted in an epidemic killing hundreds of Indians.
John Peter Zenger- New York City editor who was indicted after printing antigovernment articles. His case provided a precedent for the greater freedom of the press. He was acquitted.
Paxton Boys- Men who believed they could take Indian land at will, and butchered 20 Indians at Conestoga in December 1763. When they were going to be arrested, 600 frontiersmen marched into Philadelphia in protest.
Virtual Representation- The notion that Parliamentary members represented the interests of a nation as a whole, not those of the particular district that elected them.
Stamp Act- Law passed by Parliament in 1765 to raise revenue in America by requiring taxed, stamped paper for legal documents, publications, and playing cards.
Sugar Act- Law passed in 1764 to raise revenue in the American colonies. It lowered the duty from 6 pence to 3 pence per gallon on foreign molasses imported into the colonies and increased the restrictions on colonial commerce.
Stamp Act Congress- A group of representatives from 9 colonies who met in New York City, where they passed a set of resolutions denying Parliament’s rights to tax the colonists. They said taxation required representation.
Nonimportation Agreements- An agreement made by the Stamp Act Congress that said America would refuse to import anything from Britain without the offending measures being repealed.
Sam Adams- Using contacts with professionals, craftsmen, and laboring men, he put together an anti-British alliance that covered each of Boston’s social classes. This group protested against the Stamp Act.
Declaratory Acts- Law passed in 1776 to accompany the repeal of the Stamp Act that stated that Parliament had the authority to legislate for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”.
Townshend Acts- Acts of Parliament passed in 1767 imposing duties on colonial tea, lead, paint, paper, and glass.
Sons of Liberty-Secret organizations in the colonies formed to oppose the Stamp Act.
Boston Massacre- After months of increasing friction between the townspeople and British troops in Boston, the troops fired on American civilians 3/5/1770.
Tea Act- Act of Parliament that allowed the East India Company to sell through agents in America without paying the duty customarily collected in Britain, therefore reducing the retail price.
Boston Tea Party- Incident occurring 12/16/1773 in which Bostonians, disguised as Indians, destroyed $10,000 worth of tea belonging to the British East India Company in order to prevent the payment of duty on it.
Committees of Correspondence- Committees formed in Massachusetts and other colonies in the Pre-Revolutionary period to keep Americans informed about British measures that would affect their colonies.
Intolerable Acts- Acts published by Parliament also known as the Coercive Acts, meant to punish Massachusetts and strengthen the British hand. Included the Boston Port Bill, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act.
Quebec Act- Law passed by Parliament in 1774 that provided an appointed government for Canada, enlarged the boundaries of Quebec, and confirmed the privileges of the Catholic Church.
1st Continental Congress- Meeting of delegates from most of the colonies held in 1774 in response to the Coercive Acts. The Congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, adopted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, and agreed to establish the Continental Association.
Lexington and Concord- The first Battle of the Revolutionary War. They were two simple skirmishes, but they marked the beginning of the war. There were only 95 American soldier casualties.
Common Sense- A pamphlet by Thomas Paine explaining the simple reasons the Americans should go to war with Britain.
2nd Continental Congress- A Congress held to decide what to do as far as American war tactics. It decided to raise a Continental Army, and it elected George Washington commander-in-chief.
Olive Branch Petition- A petition written by John Dickinson asking King George to cease fire, and to prevent further hostilities so that there might be an accommodation.
Thomas Paine- Author of Common Sense. He proposed to offer “simple fact, plain argument, and common sense” on why the Americans should have the war.
Battle of Bunker Hill- A battle between the British and Americans in Boston, when the British army and navy combined to rout the American forces, even while losing 226 of their own men.
Olive Branch Petition- Declined by King George.
Richard Henry Lee- Instigator of the Declaration of Independence. He said that “These states ought to be free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
Declaration of Independence- The Document by which the 2nd Continental Congress announced and justified its decision to renounce the colonies’ allegiance to the British government.
Questions
1) The French and Indian War laid the framework for the American Revolution because with colonial participation within the British army, the colonists were able to learn British military strategies. They then used these strategies to their advantage against the British. Also, the victory gave the Americans confidence in war. For New Englanders and Westerners, it was important that the French threat in America be removed because it was the French that limited the American expansion, and it was them that also could surround the colonies in a war.
2) The Americans saw the British government’s actions as a way to oppress them, and to make them crumple under the government’s ruling fist. They were convinced that they British were trying to deprive them of liberties because the British were making life extremely hard on the colonists, and were attempting to make the most money off of the colonies as possible.
3) The British started taxing Americans because they needed to make the colonies as economically worthwhile as possible, and also to remind the colonists that they were under the rule of the British crown. They saw this taxation as legitimate because it was, to them, the best way to make a good income off of the colonies.
4) Americans tried to resist British authority via protests, boycotting, and all-out rebellions. They took those kinds of steps to show that they could not be controlled so tightly by a government, and to show their displeasure with the government’s actions.
5) It was so difficult to develop a unified response between states for two reasons. First, it was because there were many different cultures and levels of loyalty in the colonies. There were too many contrasting ideas for agreement to come easily. Second, there was bad communication due to a lack of technology. There was no means of long distance communication other than by foot or by horseback, which was very ineffective at relaying information.
6) It took the Americans so long to push for independence because that was how long it took for the colonists to become enraged enough with the British government to go out on a limb and take a chance that could have ended up disastrously.
7) A point of no return is one where, after you do something, decide to do something, or even just tell someone you’re going to do something when you can’t go back and change your decision to do that thing. For the Americans during the Pre-Revolutionary period, that point of no return was the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence. After this was done and mailed to Britain, the war was imminent.
Albany Plan of Union- Plan put forth in 1754 calling for an intercolonial union to manage defense and Indian affairs.
George Washington- Young militia officer from Virginia sent to expel the French from a region granted to the Ohio Company. Was forced to surrender his troops to the Canadians.
William Pitt- Became Prime Minister of Britain 1757. Declared he could save Britain, and that nobody else could. Committed the British to the conquest of Canada and the elimination of the French in North America. Came up with a 50,000 man force to use against the Canadians. During the war, the British took Fort Duquesne, renaming it Fort Pitt (this was the start of Pittsburgh)
Seven Years War/French and Indian War- Full scale war between the French and British, started in 1756. Britain was devastated in 1756-57 when the Canadians took forts in New York, and the Indians killed thousands of backcountry settlers.
Battle of Quebec- Battle where the British tried to expel the French from Canada by destroying Quebec. 2,000 people lost their lives here, including French commander de Montcalm.
Ft. Duquesne- Control center for the Canadians in the Ohio River Valley, built at the Forks of the Ohio.
Proclamation of 1763- Royal Proclamation setting the boundary known as the Proclamation Line.
Treaty of Paris, 1763- The formal end to British hostilities against France and Spain in February 1763.
Edward Braddock- Given two Irish Regiments to take Fort Duquesne. His force was destroyed by a smaller number of French and Indians on the Upper Ohio, and he was killed.
Pontiac’s Rebellion- Rebellion of Indians on the Western British frontiers after the French signed over Indian land to the British. The Indians killed 2,000+ settlers. British leaders suggested the use of smallpox-infested blankets from hospitals against the Indians. This resulted in an epidemic killing hundreds of Indians.
John Peter Zenger- New York City editor who was indicted after printing antigovernment articles. His case provided a precedent for the greater freedom of the press. He was acquitted.
Paxton Boys- Men who believed they could take Indian land at will, and butchered 20 Indians at Conestoga in December 1763. When they were going to be arrested, 600 frontiersmen marched into Philadelphia in protest.
Virtual Representation- The notion that Parliamentary members represented the interests of a nation as a whole, not those of the particular district that elected them.
Stamp Act- Law passed by Parliament in 1765 to raise revenue in America by requiring taxed, stamped paper for legal documents, publications, and playing cards.
Sugar Act- Law passed in 1764 to raise revenue in the American colonies. It lowered the duty from 6 pence to 3 pence per gallon on foreign molasses imported into the colonies and increased the restrictions on colonial commerce.
Stamp Act Congress- A group of representatives from 9 colonies who met in New York City, where they passed a set of resolutions denying Parliament’s rights to tax the colonists. They said taxation required representation.
Nonimportation Agreements- An agreement made by the Stamp Act Congress that said America would refuse to import anything from Britain without the offending measures being repealed.
Sam Adams- Using contacts with professionals, craftsmen, and laboring men, he put together an anti-British alliance that covered each of Boston’s social classes. This group protested against the Stamp Act.
Declaratory Acts- Law passed in 1776 to accompany the repeal of the Stamp Act that stated that Parliament had the authority to legislate for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”.
Townshend Acts- Acts of Parliament passed in 1767 imposing duties on colonial tea, lead, paint, paper, and glass.
Sons of Liberty-Secret organizations in the colonies formed to oppose the Stamp Act.
Boston Massacre- After months of increasing friction between the townspeople and British troops in Boston, the troops fired on American civilians 3/5/1770.
Tea Act- Act of Parliament that allowed the East India Company to sell through agents in America without paying the duty customarily collected in Britain, therefore reducing the retail price.
Boston Tea Party- Incident occurring 12/16/1773 in which Bostonians, disguised as Indians, destroyed $10,000 worth of tea belonging to the British East India Company in order to prevent the payment of duty on it.
Committees of Correspondence- Committees formed in Massachusetts and other colonies in the Pre-Revolutionary period to keep Americans informed about British measures that would affect their colonies.
Intolerable Acts- Acts published by Parliament also known as the Coercive Acts, meant to punish Massachusetts and strengthen the British hand. Included the Boston Port Bill, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act.
Quebec Act- Law passed by Parliament in 1774 that provided an appointed government for Canada, enlarged the boundaries of Quebec, and confirmed the privileges of the Catholic Church.
1st Continental Congress- Meeting of delegates from most of the colonies held in 1774 in response to the Coercive Acts. The Congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, adopted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, and agreed to establish the Continental Association.
Lexington and Concord- The first Battle of the Revolutionary War. They were two simple skirmishes, but they marked the beginning of the war. There were only 95 American soldier casualties.
Common Sense- A pamphlet by Thomas Paine explaining the simple reasons the Americans should go to war with Britain.
2nd Continental Congress- A Congress held to decide what to do as far as American war tactics. It decided to raise a Continental Army, and it elected George Washington commander-in-chief.
Olive Branch Petition- A petition written by John Dickinson asking King George to cease fire, and to prevent further hostilities so that there might be an accommodation.
Thomas Paine- Author of Common Sense. He proposed to offer “simple fact, plain argument, and common sense” on why the Americans should have the war.
Battle of Bunker Hill- A battle between the British and Americans in Boston, when the British army and navy combined to rout the American forces, even while losing 226 of their own men.
Olive Branch Petition- Declined by King George.
Richard Henry Lee- Instigator of the Declaration of Independence. He said that “These states ought to be free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
Declaration of Independence- The Document by which the 2nd Continental Congress announced and justified its decision to renounce the colonies’ allegiance to the British government.
Questions
1) The French and Indian War laid the framework for the American Revolution because with colonial participation within the British army, the colonists were able to learn British military strategies. They then used these strategies to their advantage against the British. Also, the victory gave the Americans confidence in war. For New Englanders and Westerners, it was important that the French threat in America be removed because it was the French that limited the American expansion, and it was them that also could surround the colonies in a war.
2) The Americans saw the British government’s actions as a way to oppress them, and to make them crumple under the government’s ruling fist. They were convinced that they British were trying to deprive them of liberties because the British were making life extremely hard on the colonists, and were attempting to make the most money off of the colonies as possible.
3) The British started taxing Americans because they needed to make the colonies as economically worthwhile as possible, and also to remind the colonists that they were under the rule of the British crown. They saw this taxation as legitimate because it was, to them, the best way to make a good income off of the colonies.
4) Americans tried to resist British authority via protests, boycotting, and all-out rebellions. They took those kinds of steps to show that they could not be controlled so tightly by a government, and to show their displeasure with the government’s actions.
5) It was so difficult to develop a unified response between states for two reasons. First, it was because there were many different cultures and levels of loyalty in the colonies. There were too many contrasting ideas for agreement to come easily. Second, there was bad communication due to a lack of technology. There was no means of long distance communication other than by foot or by horseback, which was very ineffective at relaying information.
6) It took the Americans so long to push for independence because that was how long it took for the colonists to become enraged enough with the British government to go out on a limb and take a chance that could have ended up disastrously.
7) A point of no return is one where, after you do something, decide to do something, or even just tell someone you’re going to do something when you can’t go back and change your decision to do that thing. For the Americans during the Pre-Revolutionary period, that point of no return was the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence. After this was done and mailed to Britain, the war was imminent.