american revaloution Flashcards
(45 cards)
1
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- The American Revolution (a pre-twentieth century revolution
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2
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from outside of Ireland) *
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3
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Causes of War:
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4
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- The Navigation Acts: some American goods could only be sold through England.
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5
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With England acting as a middleman
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they made a lot of money.
6
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- The Seven Years War and British debt: Britain and America joined forces to defeat the
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7
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French who had colonies in Canada and America.
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8
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The war was expensive. Britain insisted that Americans be taxed to pay for the cost of the war.
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9
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- The Stamp Act meant Americans had to pay a tax on all newspapers and legal documents.
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10
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The Sons of Liberty protested this by burning stamps and attacking stamp officials.
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11
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- Taxation: Britain imposed a series of taxes such as the Sugar Act and Quartering Act.
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12
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Many colonists believed there should be ‘No taxation with representation’.
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13
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- 1770: Boston Massacre = 5 killed protesting against Townshend Acts. The Sons of Liberty used
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14
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this as a propaganda opportunity to rally support against the British.
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15
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- 1773: Boston Tea Party -> colonists dressed as native Americans
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boarded ships in Boston
16
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harbour and dumped all tea into harbour.
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17
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The course of the war (key events):
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18
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- 1774 = First Continental Congress (meeting between reps from each colony)
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19
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- Each colony to train a militia (part-time army)
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20
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- 1775; Lexington and Concord - first shots of the American Revolution.
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21
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- Tom Paine published Common Sense in 1776. This encouraged the colonists to fight for
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22
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independence.
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23
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- At the second Continental Congress George Washington was appointed
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24
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commander-in-chief of the Continental (American) army.
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6. Used guerrilla tactics (ambush tactics)
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7. 1776 > Continental Congress met for 3d time. Signed Declaration of Independence.
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8. Marquis de Lafayette
a French general
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9. Oct 1777 - Horatio Gates forced a large British army to surrender at the Battle of
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Saratoga = huge moral victory for the Americans.
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10. France
Spain and Holland joined the war on the American side. They provided money
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men and ships.
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11. Jefferson convinced France to send 6
000 troops and the French navy to help.
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12. Winter 1777-78
Valley Forge = turning point as German Frederick von Steuben
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transformed Continental Army into fighting force to match British army
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13. 18 Oct 1781 - General Cornwallis defeated at Yorktown. This effectively ended the War
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of Independence.
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14.1783 -> Treaty of Paris = Brit recognised independence of former colony.
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Consequences of American War of Independence:
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1. America became a democratic country = run by the people.
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2. France became bankrupt.
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3. Wolfe Tone was inspired to form United Irishmen.
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4. The American constitution and Bill of Rights helped to spread democracy around the
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world.
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5. The 13 original colonies expanded westwards which led to clashes with Native Americans.
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Washington became the first president 1789 - 1797.
