Chapter 4 Sections 1&2

Question 1

Why was the Stamp Act Passed?

Answer 1

Because Britain thought the colonists should pay for the French and Indian war.

Question 2

What did the Stamp Act do?

Answer 2

Put taxes on anything printed (legal documents, licenses, newspapers, pamphlets, almanacs, playing cards and dice).

Question 3

What was the colonists’ reaction to the Stamp Act?

Answer 3

Sam adams think this taxation is unfair, so he formed the Sons of Liberty

Sons of Liberty was a secret resistance group that opposed taxes. They harassed customs agents
Stamp Act congress was a meeting with 9 delegates from 9 different colonies - (first time the the colonies met)

Question 4

What was the British reaction to the colonist’s reactions to the Stamp Act?

Answer 4

Declaratory Act- said they have the right to tax

Question 5

Why were the Townshend Acts passed?

Answer 5

They were passed to help pay expenses that involved governing for the American Colonies.

Question 6

What did the Townshend Acts do?

Answer 6

It made taxes on materials that were imported to the colonies. (For example like lead, paper, paint, tea)

Question 7

What did the Townshend Acts do?

Answer 7

It made taxes on materials that were imported to the colonies. (For example like lead, paper, paint, tea)

Question 7

What did the Townshend Acts do?

Answer 7

It made taxes on materials that were imported to the colonies. (For example like lead, paper, paint, tea)

Question 8

What was the colonists’ reaction to the Townshend Acts?

Answer 8

They protested- boycotts, (women made their own clothes and tea)

Formed Committee of Correspondence (formed to communicate about threats

They smuggled goods.

Question 9

How did the British react to the colonists’ reaction to the Townshend Acts?

Answer 9

They passed the Writs of Assistance- (general warrant to search buildings and ships for smuggling)

Question 10

Why did the conflict of the Boston Massacre occur?

Answer 10

There was a lot of past turmoil and scuffles between the colonists and the British

There was a competition for jobs

A wig apprentice accused a British soldier of not paying for his wig, this led to an argument and a mob.

Question 11

What happened at the Boston Massacre?

Answer 11

A mob broke out between the colonists and the British and lead to 6 deaths and many injuries,

Question 12

What was the colonists’ reaction to the Boston Massacre?

Answer 12

They created the Committees of Correspondence and started their rebellion. They staged the Boston Tea Party, created the Continental Congress and defended themselves against Red Coats.

Question 13

Why were the Committees of Correspondence formed?

Answer 13

The goal of the Committees of Correspondence throughout the Thirteen Colonies was to inform voters of the common threat they faced from their mother country - Britain

Question 14

Why was the Tea Act passed?

Answer 14

The British East India Company was losing money so the British lowered the taxes so they wouldn’t go bankrupt.

Question 15

What did the Tea Act do?

Answer 15

It hurt colonial tea sellers
American Tea Traders could not longer profit

Question 16

What was the colonists’ reaction to the Tea Act?

Answer 16

Colonists were VERY upset with this

they asked the governor to return tea, he refused

About 100 men dressed as Indians boarded ships in Boston Harbor and dumped tea overboard. (Called the Boston Tea Party.)

Question 17

What was the British reaction to the colonists’ reactions to the Tea Act?

Answer 17

The British then passed the Intolerable Acts as a way to punish the colonists for not paying for the tea.

Question 18

Why were the Intolerable Act passed?

Answer 18

To punish the colony of Massachusetts Bay for the Boston Tea Party.

Question 19

What did the Intolerable Acts do?

Answer 19

Closed port in Boston

English trial for British soldiers convicted of murder in the colonies (very unfair, it’s basically like they will not get in trouble for murder)

Changed charter of MA- council appointed by the British

Quartering Acts- colonists must house and feed British soldiers

Question 20

What were the colonists’ reactions to the Intolerable Acts?

Answer 20

They created the first Continental Congress in order to repress the British

-56 delegates met in Philadelphia
-the delegates formed the Declaration of Colonial Rights (defended their right to run their own affairs)
-they agreed to reconvene in may if their demands weren’t met
-agreed that if the British used force, they would fight back

Question 21

What was the British reaction to the colonists reaction to the Intolerable Acts?

Answer 21

Great Britain decided to use brute force to deal with the rebellious American colonies, particularly the colony of Massachusetts.

Question 22

What did Paul Revere and other riders do?

Answer 22

Rode on horseback to warn that the British were coming

Revere shouted “The Regulars are coming!”

Question 23

Why did the battles of Lexington and Concord occur?

Answer 23

Because the British wanted to capture rebellion leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock at Lexington and steal the weapons in the arsenal from Concord.

Question 24

What was the results of the Battles of Lexington and Concord?

Answer 24

The British retreated back to Boston.

Question 25

What agreements were made in the Second Continental Congress?

Answer 25

To recognize continental army and appointed George Washington as the commander

To print paper money to pay the troops

Organized committee to deal with foreign nations

Question 26

What 2 documents were produced by the Second Continental Congress and what did they say?

Answer 26

Declarations of the Causes of Necessity of Taking Up Arms - explaining why they were at war

Olive Branch Petition to King - wanted return to normal relations

Question 27

How did King George respond to the Olive Branch Petition?

Answer 27

He rejected it and declared the colonies were in rebellion.
He sent Parliament to form a naval blockade of coast

Question 28

Where did the Battle of Bunker Hill take place?

Answer 28

Breed’s Hill

Question 29

Even though they lost, why was this battle important for the colonists?

Answer 29

Because it proved that while America did not have the stronger army, they could hold their own against the British army and were going to fight for their freedom.

Question 30

Identify the main points of Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Answer 30

Britain is an island running a nation

The Americans aren’t considered British anymore. They have diversified. People from all over the world come to America.

Britain is not completing its motherly duties. It is violating the American’s natural rights and taxing them without representation

America is constantly getting entangled in British wars

Distance- Great Britain is thousand miles away.
Communication is really hard and creates a time gap.

The Puritans came here to separate from England and to find religious refuge, so Paine makes the argument that we should keep that separation

Britain will never have our best interests, so it’s important that they set up and revolt so they can rule themselves and give ourselves rights

Question 31

What is the significance of Common Sense?

Answer 31

First American defining piece of literature that gives us a sense of identity

Question 32

Why was the Declaration of Independence so important?

Answer 32

Because it was what allowed the colonists to declare independence and separate from Britain

Question 33

What are our “natural rights”?

Answer 33

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Question 34

What are the 3 main ideas of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 34

Government derives power from the people

People have the right to abolish or alter a government that threatens rights

All men are created equal

Question 35

How was the declaration hypocritical?

Answer 35

Because it stated that “All men are created equals” but all signing members but 13 owned slaves.