Lesson 3-2: Ideas Start a Revolution Flashcards
(48 cards)
When was the Second Continental Congress convened, and where was it located?
May 1775; Philadelphia
What sparked such intense debate at the Second Continental Congress?
- The loyalties that separated Americans/colonists: some were Loyalists, some were Patriots
- Everyone had their own ideas/beliefs about what direction the United States should go
What did John Adams of Massachusetts suggest at the Second Continental Congress?
1) Each colony should set up its own government
2) The government should declare the colonies independent
3) The soldiers/militiamen besieging Boston should be considered the Continental Army
4) The Continental Army should have a general to lead them.
What two clauses did the Second Continental Congress agree to?
1) The soldiers camped in/around Boston were recognized at the Continental Army
2) George Washington, a 43-year-old veteran of the French and Indian War, was appointed as the commander of the Continental Army.
What did Congress do at this convention in which it acted like an actually independent government?
- Organized the printing of paper money to pay the troops
- Organized a committee to deal with foreign relations
Where did the Battle of Bunker Hill take place?
Boston
Who was the British general at the Battle of Bunker Hill?
General Thomas Gage
What was General Gage trying to do?
Fire at militiamen who had dug into Breed’s Hill (which was near Bunker Hill, but not Bunker Hill itself)
What was the disadvantage of the British soldiers?
They were fighting uphill, and were shooting upward at the Patriots.
How many assaults did the British carry out?
Three
- The first and second failed, while the third succeeded.
Why did the Patriots lose this battle?
Because they were low on ammunition.
How many fatalities did the Patriots suffer?
450
How many fatalities did the British suffer?
Over 1,000
Just before and at the beginning of the war, who did the colonists blame for the need for revolution?
The King’s ministers, NOT the King himself (George III)
The Olive Branch Petition: When and What?
- When: July 8, 1775
- What: A document sent to the King of England urging for “a return to the former harmony” between England and the colonies.
How did the King react to the Olive Branch Petition?
He flatly and blatantly denied it; he issued a statement officially declaring the colonies in a state of rebellion.
- He urged Parliament to order a naval blockade of the American coast.
Common Sense
The document written by Thomas Paine that attacked King George III.
When did Thomas Paine state that his revolt against the King began?
The battle of Lexington and Concord
What was the main message of Common Sense?
- It was time for the colonists to proclaim an independent republic
- It was time for the colonists to form their own government
Paine argued that independence was America’s _______________.
“destiny”
What did Paine argue that independence would allow the Americans to do?
Trade with foreign nations for guns and ammunition that would help them win the war against Great Britain.
- He also argued that independence would allow the Americans to receive foreign aid.
What was the final, and one may argue, the most important, thing that Paine argued independence would allow the Americans to do?
Give them the chance to create a better society; one free of tyranny and consisting of equal social and economic benefits for all.
How many copies of Common Sense sold?
Around 500,000
How did Common Sense affect the colonists?
- It relieved some of their doubts about separating from Britain.
- It made the colonists think about the better lives and country they could create for themselves separate from the King/Great Britain.
