American Revolution Flashcards
(26 cards)
What was the Proclamation Line of 1763?
A boundary preventing colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains to reserve land for Native Americans
It aimed to prevent conflicts with Native Americans after Pontiac’s Rebellion.
What did the Writs of Assistance allow British soldiers to do?
Search for and confiscate smuggled goods at any time
Items like tea, coffee, and manufactured goods were commonly smuggled due to taxes.
What was the main purpose of the Stamp Act?
To raise money through requiring stamps on legal documents
This included wills, contracts, newspapers, and playing cards.
Who were the Sons of Liberty?
A group including Samuel Adams, John Adams, and John Hancock that protested British policies
They were known for tar and feathering loyalists and British officials.
What event is referred to as the Boston Massacre?
A confrontation on March 5, 1770, where five colonists died
It was termed a massacre by the Sons of Liberty to rally support against British rule.
What was the significance of Paul Revere’s etching of the Boston Massacre?
It depicted British soldiers as aggressors against innocent colonists
The etching was used for propaganda to fuel anti-British sentiment.
What was John Adams’ role during the Boston Massacre trial?
He defended the British soldiers, believing in the right to legal representation
What was the purpose of the Committee of Correspondence?
To warn neighboring colonies about incidents with the British and broaden the resistance movement
It was organized by Samuel Adams.
What was Mercantilism?
An economic ideology to minimize imports and maximize exports
It emphasized keeping trade within the empire and exporting finished goods to colonies.
What did the Tea Act of 1773 do?
Granted the British East India Company a monopoly on British tea imports
It allowed the company to sell tea directly to the colonies without middlemen.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
A protest where Samuel Adams and others dumped tea into Boston Harbor
It was in response to the Tea Act.
What were the Intolerable Acts?
A series of punitive laws including closing Boston’s port and restricting government in Massachusetts
These acts were a response to the Boston Tea Party.
What did the Quebec Act do?
Expanded Quebec’s territory and guaranteed free practice of Catholicism
It restored some French civil law and allowed the Catholic Church to impose tithes.
What was the First Continental Congress?
A meeting of 55 delegates from 12 colonies to boycott British goods
It marked the beginning of a unified American identity.
Who warned the Minutemen of approaching British soldiers?
Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Sybil Ludington
Their midnight rides were crucial in mobilizing colonial militias.
What does ‘The Shot Heard Around the World’ refer to?
The first shots fired at the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775
It marked the beginning of the armed conflict between Britain and its American colonies.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Bunker Hill?
A moral victory for the colonists despite losing the battle
It demonstrated that colonists could stand up to the British army.
What was the Olive Branch Petition?
A last-ditch effort for peace with King George III
It expressed loyalty to the crown while asking to cease hostilities.
Who wrote Common Sense?
Thomas Paine
The pamphlet advocated for independence from Britain.
What significant event occurred on Evacuation Day, March 17, 1776?
Washington’s army seized a cannon from Fort Ticonderoga
This was a strategic move to strengthen the Continental Army.
What was the Declaration of Independence?
A document written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the colonies’ independence from Britain
It was signed on July 4, 1776, in Independence Hall.
What were the challenges faced by America in 1776?
Only ⅓ supported war, lack of funds for the Continental Army, and poor training of soldiers
The population was divided into Loyalists, neutrals, and Patriots.
What military strategy did the Americans employ during the Revolutionary War?
Attrition and guerilla tactics
They aimed to wear down the British and form alliances with enemies like France.
What was the significance of the Battle of Saratoga?
America’s victory that convinced France to ally with the colonists
It marked a turning point in the war.
