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The War of Independence (1775-1783) Flashcards

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1
Q

How did the British army measure the colonists army strength?

A

Sent out spies to colonies to look for weapons and stock piles

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2
Q

How many men were sent into concord under whose command?

A

700 men sent into concord to seize arms and arrest rebel leaders under the command of general Gage

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3
Q

Who informed the Massachusetts militia of potential British Invasion in concord? How did this benefit the colonists?

A

Paul Rivere
Samuel Adams was able to evade arrest

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4
Q

How many minute men blocked paths to Lexington?

A

70

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5
Q

Did the British succeed in concord?

A

• Destroyed colonist militia stores and turned back to Boston
• 8 colonists killed
- had achieved their main goal

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6
Q

How did the colonists fight back in concord?

A

6 New England militias continued to attack the British through stealth tactics
-65 British killed due to these strategies as they weren’t used to this type of warfare

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7
Q

How was the battle of Lexington and concord significant?

A

• Gave colonists confidence to fight against professional fighters
•’British were forced into the south to find loyalists

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8
Q

When did the second continental congress meet?

A

10th May 1775

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9
Q

How many delegates attended the second continental congress?

A

65

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10
Q

What was the “flight of the goveners” in the 1775?

A

Royal governors fled their colonies after unrest spread

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11
Q

Who took over the royal governors who fled?

A

Congress

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12
Q

When was the continental army created?

A

June 1775

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13
Q

Who was elected to command the continental army and why?

A

George Washington
- Aristocrat
- Owned 35,000 (made him appear non radical)
- Virginian (Southern colony- created an idea of unity as most of congress was from New England)

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14
Q

How much was needed to finance the continental army?

A

$2 million in colonial paper money

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15
Q

How many men were in the continental army to begin with?

A

20,000

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16
Q

What was an example of an attempt of reconciliation with Britain?

A

Olive branch petition in July - Thomas Jefferson drafted a petition to prevent further hostile measures towards the colonies but George III refused to back down

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17
Q

Who were the three British generals during the war of independence?

A

• General Howe
• General Clinton
• General Burgoyne

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18
Q

Why was General Howe more lenient towards the colonial rebels?

A

Replaced Gage as commander in chief
• Had personal relations to the colonists as his brother George died leading Massachusetts in the 7 years war

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19
Q

How did General Clinton approach the colonist rebels?

A

Believed that Britain should isolate them
- wanted to cut off New England, rallying loyalists in the south and native Americans

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20
Q

What was the issue with the continental army at first?

A

• Troops were badly trained and not disciplined
• Disease was rife - typhus, dysentery
• Shortage of munitions and troops

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21
Q

How did Washington restore discipline into the continental army?

A

Used similar tactics as the British:
- ranked soldiers
- removed incompetent officers
- increased levels of discipline

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22
Q

When was the battle of bunker hill?

A

May-June 1775

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23
Q

What is the battle of bunker hill best known as and why?

A

“Bloodiest battle in the war”
1/8 of British officers killed in the entire war died in this battle

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24
Q

How many rebels were killed in the battle of bunker hill?

A

138

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25
How many British were killed in the battle of bunker hill?
226
26
How was the battle of bunker hill significant?
Despite British winning the battle, their casualties were high, showing that the colonists could fight against the British
27
How was the invasion of Canada disastrous for the colonists?
• American generals Montgomery killed and Arnold wounded = lack of leadership • Disease rife - Americans suffered small pox • Lack of supplies • Many deserted the battle
28
How many British and colonist soldiers were involved in the invasion of Canada?
British: 1800 Colonists: 1200 Outnumbered
29
When was the attempted invasion of Canada?
Winter 1775-76
30
Which British leader led the war in the south?
Lord Dunmore
31
How did the British lose the support of loyalists in the south?
Lord dunmore issues a proclamation promising freedom of slaves who fled their masters and aided the British - majority of wealthy loyalists in the south were slave owners
32
What was the war on the south?
Raids in virginia by Lord dunmore, 500 loyalists and war ships
33
How did the British fail in the war in the south?
They were defeated in North Carolina -General Clinton and 1500 troops sailed to Charleston
34
What did Henry Knox provide Washington with during the evacuation of Boston?
Artillery
35
Which area was captured on the 4th March 1776 that overlooked Boston?
1700 rebels captured Dorchester heights
36
How were the British at a disadvantage during the evacuation of Boston?
• Poor weather conditions postponed the attack on Boston • Howes army and 1000 loyalists evacuated Boston and travelled the Nova Scotia
37
What award was Washington given for his leadership in the evacuation of Boston?
Congressional medal of honour (first ever one given out)
38
What idea did John Adams devise for winning the war?
• Policy of national unity • Statement of aims • military alliance from other countries
39
What does “ripening” mean? Who devised this term?
Public moving towards a desire for independence - John Adams
40
Who created the idea of “common sense”?
Thomas Paine
41
What was “common sense”?
Idea that rebellion is not a sin nor a crime as if the ruler does not serve the interests of the people they have a right to change government
42
How many copies were sold of “common sense”?
Sold 120,000 Published 1776 - showed how Americans were “ripening”
43
When was the deceleration of independence signed?
2nd August 1776
44
Who drafted the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
45
Name a quote from the decleration of independence
“We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal”
46
How did Rhode Island remove assertion of the crown?
Removed all mention of the crown in all of their charters and legal documents
47
What was the population of Britain in comparison to the population of the American colonies in 1776?
Britain: 8 million Colonists: 2.5 million
48
How many loyalists were in support of Britain in 1776?
500,000
49
How many troops did Britain have in comparison to American colonists in 1776?
Britain: 50,000 Continental army: 20,000 (5000 at their lowest)
50
How many ships did Britain have?
300
51
How did colonists attempt to generate money during the war of independence?
Printed colonial paper money - decreased the value of the currency - did so because they couldn’t legally levy taxes
52
Who did Britain have the support of in the war of independence?
• Native Americans • 18000 German soldiers • 500,000 loyalists
53
How many men were taken over to Long Island under Howe’s command?
32,000 men - the largest trans-oceanic expedition Britain had ever carried out
54
In which battle were Americans “outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered and out planned” ?
Battle of Long Island, August 1776
55
How many casualties were suffered by colonists in the battle of Long Island?
2000 casualties 6x the amount of the British army
56
Which proclamation did Howe issue after landing in kips bay in 1776?
All who took an oath of allegiance to the crown would be granted a “free and general” pardon
57
When did Howe go into winter quarters?
December 1776
58
Where were the British attacked in winter quarters?
1600 colonists crossed the Delaware river on Xmas day, ambushed the British army in Trenton
59
How many prisoners were taken by the Americans in Trenton?
1000
60
Where was Howe forced to give up most of his gains in New Jersey?
Princeton, 1777
61
Why was Howes invasion in Philadelphia a failure?
15000 men landed in Chesapeake bay - Philly had no strategic value due to the fact that congress had moved
62
How did Burgoyne fail his campaign in Ticonderoga?
• militia groups blocked the British army’s huge baggage train carrying supplies • lost support of the loyalists due to the native Americans • 1600 troops and native Americans failed to meet up
63
Which case alienated the colonists from the natives?
Jane McCrae - scalped by the native Americans - when Burgoyne demanded the culprit revealed themselves, the natives went home
64
When was the battle of Saratoga?
September 1777
65
What were some of Burgoynes failures during the battle of Saratoga?
• Relied on Clinton for supplies, didn’t make it to Albany in time • Equaled general gages (colonist) army
66
What were Burgoyne’s negotiations after his failures in the battle of Saratoga?
Surrounded by 2X the amount of troops, Burgoyne surrendered - attempted to negotiate to leave Boston and never return - colonists refused and kept the 5900 troops as prisoners of war until 1783
67
What act was passed as a result of the battle of Saratoga?
Lord norths conciliatory acts 1778 - Agreed to repeal coercive acts and give Americans representation in parliament
68
How did the battle of Saratoga give Americans confidence?
• Was the first major campaign where Americans defeated the British • Americans refused the conciliatory acts and demanded independence
69
What was Howe’s failure as a leader?
Didn’t destroy Washington’s army when they had the chance
70
How did France join the war?
• Signed the treaty of amity and commerce in February 1778 - opened trade with America as an independent colony • Another treaty signed to promise military alliance - agreed to wage war until America was granted independence
71
How much did France give to America?
• 1 billion livres • Arms and gunpowder
72
Which famous French general was sent over?
Marquis de Lafayette
73
How big was the French fleet in 1778?
150,000 soldiers 100,000 sailors 600 ships
74
Why did French intervention worry Britain?
Worries that they would invade other British colonies: 1778: 65% of British troops in America 1782: 29% of British troops in America
75
When did Spain enter the war? Why?
1779 - hoped to regain territory lost to Britain: Florida, Minorca, Jamaica
76
When did the Netherlands enter the war?
1780
77
Which state became a waste land of slaughter?
North and South Carolina - both sides tortured and hung enemies
78
When was the battle of Yorktown?
28th September 1781
79
How many British soldiers were there in comparison to colonist soldiers in the battle of Yorktown?
British: 7000 Colonists: 16000 French: 3000
80
What was the issue with the British navy being stationed in the West Indies in 1781?
French navy sent troops and supplies to Yorktown - couldn’t perform a naval blockade
81
How long was the battle of Yorktown before the British surrendered?
Three week seige
82
How much was borrowed from France in the war overall?
1.3 billion livres
83
When was the treaty of Paris signed?
3rd September 1783
84
What did the 1783 treaty of Paris do?
Ended the war of independence - Agreed boundaries of the USA - Freed prisoners - Florida given to Spain - America made independent

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