American Revolution Flashcards
(45 cards)
What were the 4 wars fought between Britain and France between 1689 and 1763?
- The war of the League of Ausburg (1689-7)
- The war of Spanish Succession (1702-13)
- The war of Austrian Succession (1740-48)
- The Seven Years’ War (1756-63)
What happened in the war of Austrian succession?
- Britain too absorbed in Europe to send hep to the colonists
- Royal Navy stronger than French and Spanish- hard for them to also send assistance
- Fighting done by colonial militia- outnumbered French 15:1.Inter-colonial; disputes and alliances with Native American tribes offset British advantage- capture of Louisbourg
What was the Albany Congress?
June 1754- 7 of the American colonies met- joint defence pact against French aggression in 7 years’ war- failed to form an alliance with Irquois
Albany Plan of Union- plan to place colonies under a more centralised, unified government- 11 colonies
What was the importance of William Pitt in the Seven Year’ War?
- strong control over policy and administration- established a global strategy- sent 25,000 troops under Amherst and Wolfe
- war seen as shared endeavour between Britain and colonists- half of 45,000 troops in 1758 were colonists- series of aggressive military appointments - promoted junior officers and united the country
What was the importance of finance in the Seven Year’ War?
Pitt paid his ally Frederick the Great of Prussia to attack French forces in Europe- French unable to send reinforcements to North America - Pitt willing to secure whatever finances were needed to secure a strategy to succeed- easy to secure loans and raise taxes
What was the importance of the navy in the Seven Year’ War?
naval superiority crucial- led to strategy of preventing French squadrons from resupplying New France- victory at Quiberon Bay - Lord Anson- 18,000 sailors, 100 ships
What was the political imperial authority Britain placed on the colonies?
- salutary neglect- strong colonies appreciate semi-independence
- only 5% of colonial laws disallowed by privy council
- 50,000 Americans had fought for GB
What was the economic imperial authority Britain placed on the colonies?
- mercantilism- benefits American trade- guaranteed market for raw materials but not allowed to build up industry
What was the social imperial authority Britain placed on the colonies?
- society largely based on British culture- by 1760, only 1/2 are from GB or descendants - no “American” identity tied to the colonies
What was Pontiac’s rebellion?
- Ohio valley tries led by Pontiac rose in revolt over fear of further encroachments of their land by white settlers- destroyed every British post west of Niagara
British used bribes to detach more most Iroquis from Pontiac
What was the 1763 Proclamation Act?
- declared that the boundary of white settlement was to be a line running along the crest of the Appalachians-
30,000 ignored it
1768- Britain accepted its breakdown
What was the Sugar Act?
- 1764 Sugar Act reduced duty on foreign molasses of 6d a gallon- largely ignored
What was the currency act?
- 1764- ban on colonial paper money
British wanted colonial debts paid in British sterling or Spanish dollars
What was the Stamp Act?
-1765- required stamps to be affixed to almost anything formally written or printed in the colonies
1 year notice - fierce opposition
What was the American reaction to the Stamp Act?
What were he different ways in which this took place?
- intense reaction- applied universally, antagonising some of the most influential groups of colonists
- The Virginia Resolves- 1765- Patrick Henry- seven resolutions attacking the Stamp Act and threatening resistance
- Popular Protest- turned into a movement- originated in Boston among group of artisans and shopkeepers - LOYAL NINE- Samuel Adams
- Mob Action- 14 August effigies of Oliver and Bute hung from the Liberty Tree- tore down Oliver’s office, forcing him to resign.
26 August- crowd damaged houses of two British officials. Then attacked Hutchinson’s mansion
-The Son’s of Liberty- urban movement- semi-secret society, far from united- limited influence in the South - boycotted British goods
What happened in the repeal of the Stamp Act?
- Grenville replaced by Marquess of Rockingham
- British merchants and manufacturers alarmed by colonial boycott- act could not be enforced- Stamp Act repealed in March 1766 by 275 voted to 167
What was the Declaratory Act?
- asserted that the colonies were subordinate to the ‘crown and parliament of Great Britain’ and that parliament had full authority to make laws ‘to bind the colonies and people of America.. in all cases whatsoever.’
What was the Townshend Crisis?
- Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Townshend, was concerned that royal officials in America were dependent on colonial opinion- determined they should be paid directly to GB not by colonial assemblies
- May 1767- Townshend introduced new duties on colonial imports of glass, wine, china, paper, tea… - to tighten trade enforcement, Townshend established an American Board of Customs commissioners
What was the New York Restraining Act?
- 1767-Townshend- Quartering Act- designed to remedy the shortage of military accommodation- required colonial assemblies to make provision for quartering and supplying British troops
New York refused- burden disproportionate- Restraining Act introduced- New York assembly was prohibited from taking any legislative action until compiled with quartering act
Who was Samuel Adams?
both a radical and idealist- key figure of rebellion
Developed mass protest in Massachusetts
Loyal Nine- united various gang-opposition to Stamp Act
Sons of Liberty- ensured levels of political consciousness were maintained after repeal
Crucial role in sending out circular letter- denounced Townshend Duties
Who was John Dickenson?
Pennsylvanian lawyer and politician- published his ‘Letters to a Pennsylvania Farmer’- attack on Townshend Duties- claim to not tax without consent and by suspending new York assembly, Britain was attacking the liberties of the colonies-most colonial newspapers appeared - gave theoretical justifications
Who was Thomas Jefferson?
principle author of Declaration of Independence
1774- publishes ‘A Summary View of the Rights of British America’- idea of independence
British parliament has no right to exercise authority over the colonies
critical of the fact that the electorate England (160,000 at best) should legislate for America
Who was John Adams?
Boston lawyer- acted as a successful legal defence for the British solders involved
Who was Thomas Paine?
English radical- ‘Common Sense’- 1776- sold over 100,000 copies very quickly. Attacked the English constitution and the idea of hereditary monarchy and privilege
convinced many Americans to want liberty and independence
