Unit 2 Study Guide Flashcards
(26 cards)
Stamp Act
A British tax for paper goods on the colonists
Sugar act
British tax for imported sugar on the colonists
Boston massacre
Confrontation that led between British soldiers and colonists; led five deaths, including that of Crispus Attucks
Boston tea party
Colonists dressed as Indians dumped crates of tea into the Boston harbor in protest of the tax on t
Intolerable Acts
A series of Acts meant punch the condoms for the Boston tea party and control them; these acts forced stricter enforcement on quartering soldiers in colonist houses, posing of the Port of Boston, dissolving the colony’s government, and making criminal trials occur in London
First Continental Congress
Met in 1774 in Philadelphia, this was in response to the British intolerable Acts; their goal was to respond to these acts such as coordinating a successful boycott on British goods
Second Continental Congress
Met in 1775 in Philadelphia, they met after the first battles of the American revolution; they meant to oversee the war effort, Make the declaration of Independence, draft the articles of confederation, and create an army (including appointing generals)
Common sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that argued for American independence; this pamphlet persuaded everyday, working people
Lexington and Concord
This was the first battle fought and marked the beginning of the American revolution; this battle was started because the British attempted to take colonial arms; guerrilla warfare
Saratoga
This battle was considered the turning point of the war; this battle secured foreign aid (France and Netherlands) by convincing other countries that they were still fighting, and could win the war
Battle of Yorktown
This was the final battle of the American revolution; resulted in British surrender and the end of the war
Declaration of Independence
A formal document for the king from the colonies, declaring their independence from British rule, and saying that the rights of the colonists had been violated. This document outlined the principles of Life, liberty, equality and the right to self-government.
Continental army
Mostly made up of volunteers, serious lack of discipline, poorly financed, nearly non-existent Navy
British army
Professionals, largest Navy in the world, well financed, well executed chain of command, trained and experienced
Valley forge
A winter camp the Continental army did in Pennsylvania; here they gain discipline and learn to fight; this was due to Baron von Steuben teaching them how to be real soldiers
French aid to America
France provided significant military and financial aid to the Continental army during the war. This was a very important part of why the colonists won the war
Treaty of Paris (1783)
This was the treaty that officially ended the American revolution; it also recognized the US as its own country, and formally set land boundaries
Articles of confederation
The United States first attempt at a government, it established a week, an limited government
Weaknesses of the article of confederation
Lack of unity among states, states have their own military, states have their own currency, only States could collect taxes
Shay’s rebellion
A rebellion led by Daniel Shay on Massachusetts, which led to the US deciding that the articles of confederation weren’t working and that the US needed a change
Constitution
The current governing document that the US uses which replaced the articles of confederation. This document gave more power to the federal government, and created a strong foundation for the entirety of our government
Strengths of our constitution
Gives more power to the federal government, guarantees basic rights, checks and balances, flexibility, unifying
Virginia plan
Favored large states, supported a strong national government, supported a bicameral legislature, legislation based on population
New Jersey plan
Favored small states, unicameral legislature, equal representation for all states
