Chapter #5: Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution – Big Picture Themes
1. The Americans were very diverse for that time period. New England was largely from English background, New York was Dutch, Pennsylvania was German, the Appalachian frontier was Scots-Irish, the southern coast African-American and English, and there were spots of French, Swiss, and Scots-Highlanders.
2. Although they came from different origins, the ethnicities were knowingly or what mingling and melting together into something called “Americans.”
3. Most people were farmers, an estimated 90%. The northern colonies held what little industry America had at the time: shipbuilding, iron works, rum running, trade, whaling, fishing. The south dealt with crops, slaves, and naval stores.
4. There were two main Protestant denominations: the Congregational Church up north, and the Anglican Church down south. Both were “established” meaning tax money went to the church. Poised for growth were the “backwoods” faiths of the Baptists and Methodists that grew by leaps thanks to the Great Awakening.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
Great Awakening
Religious revival in 1730's-1740's. Motivational speakers went around speaking to people. Protestant ministers held revivals throughout the colonies. It left lasting effects. It emphasized on direct, emotive spirituality. It encouraged a new wave of missionary work among the Indians and some slaves. It led to the founding of "new light" centers of higher learning, aka colleges: Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth.
George Whitfield
He started a different style of evangelical preaching in America. He was an amazing orator and he promoted his message of human helplessness and divine omnipotence. His revival meetings could reduce people, men, to tears. He inspired American imitators and the "new light" way of preaching.
Jonathan Edwards
He first ignited the Awakening in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was a tall, delicate, and intellectual pastor. He might've had the most theological mind ever nurtured in Am. He proclaimed, with burning passion, the folly of believing the salvation of good works. He's known for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
New Lights
Defended the Awakening for its role in revitalizing American religion. Their sermons were emotional and direct.
Old Lights
Orthodox clergymen who were deeply skeptical of the emotionalism and the theatrical antics of revivalists.
Age of Reason/Enlightenment
It was a move toward industrialization, it emphasized education.
John Peter Zenger
A newspaper printer who questioned the polices of the governor of NY. in 1734. He was arrested; he was charged with seditious libel and brought to court. He was defended by former indentured servant Andrew Hamilton. Zenger argued that he just printed the truth and he was found not guilty. This was an achievement of freedom of press and for the health of democracy.
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
Conquest by the Cradle
Know: Thirteen Original Colonies
1. What was the significance of the tremendous growth of population in Britain's North American colonies?
The significance is that it stemmed from the natural fertility of Americans, black and white. It had political consequences, the Americans were slowly going to outnumber the British. The balance of power shifted.
A Mingling of Races
Know: Pennsylvania Dutch, Scots-Irish, Paxton Boys, Regulator Movement
2. What was the significance of large numbers of immigrants from places other than England?
The significance was that "Americans" was made up of all different kinds of ethnicities and they bring all kinds of cultures and traditions. The Germans in Pennsylvania had stone barns that gave mute evidence of industry and prosperity. There were people of Scots-Irish, Welsh, Dutch, Sweden, Jews, Irish, Swiss, and African decent. All these immigrant groups mingled and intermarried and laid the foundations for a new multicultural American national identity unlike anywhere else.
The Structure of Colonial Society
Know: Social Mobility
3. Assess the degree of social mobility in the colonies.
The chance to change social classes, as in be in a higher class, was really high. There was no titled nobility that dominated society, no pauperized underclass that threatened it. The social mobility was very probably compared to England. Though there were a lot of "jayle birds" and slaves and indentured servants.
Makers of America: The Scots-Irish
Know: The Session
4. How had the history of the Scots-Irish affected their characteristics?
The history of the Scots-Irish was saddening. They were homes in both Scotland then Ireland were deplorable and they were forced to pay a merciless rent in both countries. And so they continued to flee, their next stop was America where they continued to spread, like they have before. The houses they built in Am. were flimsy and floor less. They chopped down trees for crops and when the land was exhausted, the left again. Their history made them a sort of nomadic bunch that liked to be on the periphery.
Workaday America
Know: Triangular Trade, Naval Stores, Molasses Act
5. Describe some of the more important occupations in the colonies.
One was being a tobacco or wheat farmer, it was profitable because it seemed the crops just sprouted out of the land. Another was fishing and whaling; it was a bustling commerce and the Caribbean sugar islands and England gave good business. The triangular trade: leave New England go to Africa, then got the West Indies then back to New England. Manufacturing was also a good job because there was a variety of small enterprises; lumber was probably the most important.
Horsepower and Sailpower
Know: Taverns
6. What was it like to travel in early America?
There weren't even roads connecting major cites until 1700s. The roads were clouds of dust in the summer and quagmires of mud in the winter. People relied on natural waterways and sailing to go places.
Dominant Denominations
Know: Established Church, Anglicans, Congregationalists, Presbyterians
7. How did the denominations in America affect relations with Great Britain?
The congregational church was established in all New England colonies. But Presbyterianism wasn't approved even though it was close to congregationalism.
The Great Awakening
Know: Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Old Lights, New Lights, Baptists
8. How was the religion encompassed in the Great Awakening different from traditional religion? What was important about the difference?
It was different from the traditional religion in that it was told differently. The sermons were more theatrical and emotional. Also, the idea that good works determine where you go after death was greatly rejected. The importance of the difference was it separated the old lights from the new lights and led to a fresh wave of missionary work among the Indians and Africans; it also led to the creation of many new light centers, colleges.
Schools and Colleges
Know: Latin and Greek
9. What kind of education could a young person expect in colonial times?
Education was for boys and most of the emphasis was placed on religion and on classical languages like Latin and Greek. The focus want on experiment and reason, but on doctrine and dogma. Independence of thinking was discouraged.
A Provincial Culture
Know: John Trumbull, Charles Wilson Peale, Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, Benjamin Franklin
10. Did Americans distinguish themselves in the arts during the colonial period? Explain.
No, their tasters were still the same as the Europeans, especially the British. Artists in the colonies went to London to pursue their ambitions. Examples are John Trumbull, Willson Peale, Benjamin West, and John Singleton Copley and Benjamin Franklin.
Pioneer Presses
Know: John Peter Zenger
11. Why was the jury verdict in the Zenger case important?
It was important because even though the judge told the jury to say that Zenger was guilty, they pronounced him not guilty. And this, led to freedom of press.
The Great Game of Politics
Know: Royal Colonies, Proprietary Colonies, Self-governing Colonies, Colonial Assemblies, Power of the Purse, Town Meetings, Property Qualifications
12. How democratic was colonial America?
It was pretty democratic. It established a 2 house legislative body. The public voted for the first house and the first house voted for the second house. But there was qualifications for voting, you had to own land. It wasn't a true democracy-socially, economically, or politically but it was a lot more democratic than England.
Chapter #6: Duel for North America – Big Picture Themes
1. Two dominant cultures emerged in the 1700s in North America: (a) England controlled the Atlantic seaboard from Georgia to Maine, and (b) France controlled the area of Quebec and along the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi River.
2. New England consisted of towns made up by farmers. They cleared the land and pushed the Indians out. New France was made up of fur trading outposts. They were scattered and lived with and often worked with the Indians in the forests and streams.
3. Like cats and dogs, England and France cannot live together that close. While separated, they were fine, but the two cultures began to rub against one another in the Ohio Valley. This started the French and Indian War.
4. The French and Indian War saw the English defeat France. France was totally kicked out of North America.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
Samuel de Champlain
A leading figure of a granite sentinel commanding the St. Lawrence River and an intrepid soldier and explorer whose energy and leadership earned him the title "Father of New France". He had friendly relations with the nearby Huron Indian tribes. He joined the indians in battle against the Iroquois, and so caused the hatred of the French in the Iroquois.
William Pitt
He was a tall imposing figure, and known as the "Great Commoner". He drew his strength from the common people who admired him. He became a foremost leader in the London Gov. in 1757 and earned the title "Organizer of Victory" He strategized in the Battle of Quebec and won.
Pontiac
An indian leader whose frontier uprising caused the British to limit colonial expansion. He was chief of the Otawa and in 1763 he led several tribes and some French traders into a violent campaign to drive the British out of the Ohio Country. They overran all but 3 British posts and killed about 2000 soldiers and settlers.
Albany Plan of Union
It was to achieve colonial unity and to bolster the common defense against France. Ben Franklin proposed the plan during the 7 yrs war on 1754 and called for unity but the colonies rejected in fear of losing power. The crown didn't approve either because it was wary.
Proclamation of 1763
It was issued by the London gov. It prohibited settlement and expansion in the area beyond the Appalachian Mts. It wasn't designed to oppress the colonists but to work out the Indian problem fairly and prevent another eruption like Pontiac's uprising. But it angered the colonists.
Pontiac’s Rebellion
In 1763, after the French and Indian war, Pontiac led several tribes and some French traders into a violent campaign to drive the British out of the Ohio Country. They overran all but 3 British posts and killed about 2,000 soldiers and settlers.
Paxton Boys
Had a march on Philly in 1764 protesting Quaker tolerance of Indians; the Scots-Irish had a large role in it.
Five Nations of the Iroquois
It was made up of the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora, Onondaga and Seneca tribes. They were located near upper NY. During the American Revolution the Tuscarora and the Oneida tribes sided with the Americans and the rest sided with the Btitish.
Salutary Neglect
The mother country, England, ignores/forgets/neglects its colonies for years/decades.
French and Indian War
George Washington inaugurates the war when he faced the French and one of his soldiers kills the French commander. The French and Indians side against the Colonies and the British to fight for the Ohio Valley in 1754. It lasted for 7 years and so is also known as the Seven Years War. The British won the war. The British felt contempt for the colonists and this caused resentment.
The Battle of Quebec 1759
It was a victory for the British and Colonists. It was a turning point of the war when Quebec surrenders to the British. When Montreal fell, the French flag had fluttered in Canada for the last time. The French was kicked out of N.Am. by the peace settlement at Paris (1763).
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
France Finds a Foothold in Canada
Know: Huguenots, Samuel de Champlain, New France
1. How was the colony of New France different from the British North American colonies?
A difference is that from the start, Champlain was friendly with the Huron tribes and so in turn, the colonies were too. Also, the land owning French peasants didn't move for economic reasons and the Protestant Huguenots, who might've had religious motive, weren't allowed refuge in the colonies.
New France Fans Out
Know: Beaver, Coureurs de Bois, Voyageurs, Robert de La Salle
2. What factors led to the French settlement of New France?
A big part is because of beavers. The Europeans valued beaver pelt hats for warmth and fashionableness. The French recruited Indians in the fur trade and they went deeper into the heart of the continent in search of beavers.
The Clash of Empires
Know: Treaty of Utrecht, War of Jenkins's Ear, James Oglethorpe, Louisbourg
3. Describe the early wars between France and Britain.
They British and French each tried to recruit as many Indians onto their side as possible. Neither country wanted to deploy troops so each side engaged in a type guerrilla warfare.
George Washington Inaugurates War with France
Know: Fort Duquesne, George Washington, Fort Necessity, Acadians
4. How did George Washington spark the French and Indian War?
George Washington was the commander when the governor of Virginia chose him to go to Ohio Country. They encountered a small detachment of French troops and the Virginians fired the first shots. The French leader was killed. This sparked the war.
Global War and Colonial Disunity
Know: Benjamin Franklin, Albany Plan of Union, "Join or Die"
5. What was meant by the statement, “America was conquered in Germany?
In Europe, Fredrick the Great repelled the French, Austrian, and Russian that often outnumbered him 3 to 1. The French wasted so much strength in fighting the Germans that they were unable to put a big force into the New World; and so William Pitt said "America was conquered in Germany".
Braddock's Blundering and Its Aftermath
Know: Edward Braddock
What setbacks did the British suffer in the early years of the French and Indian War?
The British sent General Braddock, an officer experienced in European warfare, and troops to Virginia to fight the Indians and the French, but he was stubborn and he and his troops fought in formation. The Indians fought with guerrilla warfare style and they killed a lot of british soldiers. General Braddock was mortally wounded and the Indians were inflamed by the easy victory and set out on a wider warpath.
Pitt's Palms of Victory
Know: William Pitt, James Wolfe, Battle of Quebec
7. What was the significance of the British victory in the French and Indian War?
The significance was that Great Britain emerged as the dominant power in N. Am. and took its place as the leading naval power of the world.
Restless Colonials
8. How did the French and Indian War affect the relationship between the colonies and with the mother country?
During the war, the British soldiers treated the colonists with contempt and acted as if the colonists were beneath them. The colonists thought that they were equal, but were treated lower. This caused resentment between the colonies and the mother country. The colonies were angry that they were treated badly and they spread the word that the British thought they were higher than them.
War’s Fateful Aftermath
Know: Treaty of Paris, Pontiac, Daniel Boone, Proclamation of 1763
9. How did French defeat lead to westward expansion and tension with Native Americans and the British?
After the war, the colonists felt that they deserved to have the Ohio Country and expanded to there. But Pontiac and other indians were angry and they went on a violent campaign to drive the British out of the Ohio Country. This led to tension with the indians because the British retaliated swiftly and cruelly and used primitive biological warfare; they purposely spread deadly diseases to the indians. After, Am. colonists could spread over the App mts and to Tennessee and Kentucky like Daniel Boone.
Chapter #7: The Road to Revolution
1. Following the French and Indian War, the British crown needed money and figured the Americans could help pay for the war.
2. Also, the economic policy of mercantilism dictated that England try to keep its hard money within the British Empire. So, laws were passed to restrict American trade.
3. The taxes and regulations that followed were not received well by the Americans, notably the Stamp Act.
4. Conditions deteriorated and radical patriots brought matters to a head in events such as the Tea Party and Boston Massacre. Even though most Americans would be considered moderates at the time, the radical patriots were the ones making things happen.
5. The culmination of the patriots’ activities came at Lexington and Concord, when the American Revolution began.
IDENTIFICATIONS
Lord North
He was the most notable "yes man" to King George III. and the Prime Minister of Great Britain during most of the conflict with America. The government of Lord North persuaded parliament to repeal the Townshend revenue duties to appease the colonists; he was a tory. He was forced to resign after the British surrendered in Yorktown.
George Grenville
He was the prime minister before Lord North. He ordered the British navy to begin strictly enforcing the navigation laws and also secured the sugar act from parliament, the 1st ever tax the brits enforced upon the colonies. In 1765 he imposed the STAMP ACT. He thought these measures were reasonable and his legislation seemed to threaten the basic rights of the colonists as englishmen. The americans protested, but he dismissed them and claimed virtual representation for colonists.
Letter from a Farmer in Pennsylvania
It was written by a Philly lawyer, Dickinson, who protested British polices because he thought that they deprived colonists of their natural rights. He urged the colonists to unite.
Gaspee Incident
The colonists thought that there was a conspiracy against them. A group of colonists disguised as Indians ordered the British crew ashore and set fire to the ship.
Charles Townshend
Known as"Champagne Charley" and he could deliver brilliant speeches in parliament, even while drunk. He rashly promised to control the colonists w/out much protest and he persuaded parliament (1767) to pass the Townshend acts… a light indirect import tax on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea.
Baron Von Steuben
He was a stern drill master that helped shape the colonist soldiers into shape. Though he spoke no english when he reached Am., he soon taught the colonists how to use bayonets properly.
Mercantilism
The British believed in the their of mercantilism; it justified their control over the colonies. Mercantilists believed that wealth was power and that a country's economic wealth and its military and political power could be measured by the amount of gold or silver in its treasury. And so, possessing the colonies would give them all that.
"Virtual" representation
A claim that every member of parliament represented all British subjects, even the Americans in Boston or Charleston, who had never voted for a member of parliament.
Sons of Liberty
Sometimes violence accompanied colonial protests and Sons of Liberty were groups of ardent spirits that took the law into their own hands. They cried "Liberty, Property, and No Stamps", they enforced the nonimportation agreements against violators and ransacked houses of officials. They led the Boston Tea Party.
Admiralty courts
British courts that were originally established to try cases involving smuggling or violations of the Navigation Acts; Trials in the Admiralty courts were heard by judges without a jury.
Committees of Correspondence
Samuel Adams organized local committees of correspondence. Their chief function was to spread the spirit of resistance by exchanging letters and keeping the opposition to British policy alive. The one in Virginia became The House of Burgesses.
First Continental Congress
It was created as a response to the Intolerable Acts. All colonies except Georgia sent reps. It was a consultative body, not a legislative. But it was not successful.
Loyalists (Tories)
They were typically rich, they got their money from England. They opposed the patriots. Most fled to England.
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
The Deep Roots of Revolution
1. Why does the author say that the American Revolution began when the first settlers stepped ashore?
Because form the start, there were new ideas about the nature of society, citizen, and government. Unlike in England, there wasn't centuries of ancestors. There was new ideas, 2 in particular, of gov. They were Republicanism, and radical whigs.
Mercantilism and Colonial Grievances
Know: Mercantilism, Navigation Laws, Royal Veto
2. Explain the economic theory of mercantilism and the role of colonies.
The theory of mercantilism is used by the British to justify their control over the colonies. Mercantilists believed that wealth was power and that a country's economic wealth and military and political power could be measured by the amount of gold or silver in its treasury. The British tried to take control of the colonies.
3. How did Parliament enact the theory of mercantilism into policy?
Parliament looked at Am. colonists as tenants and they were expected to furnish products needed in England, to buy manufactured good from only Britain, and not indulge in dreams of economic self-sufficiency or self-government. The British crown also reserved the right to nullify any legislation passed by the colonial assemblies if such laws worked mischief with the mercantilist system.
The Merits and Menace of Mercantilism
Know: Salutary Neglect, John Hancock, Bounties
4. In what ways did the mercantilist theory benefit the colonies?
It benefitted the colonies because if the colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country, it was hardly less true that Britain existed for the benefit of the colonies. Virginian tobacco planters enjoyed a monopoly in the British market and the colonists also benefited from the protection of the world's mightiest navy and a strong army without any cost.
5. What economic factors were involved in leading colonists to be displeased with the British government?
It stifled economic initiative and imposed a rankling dependency on British agents and creditors. Also, many Americans simply found the system debasing; they felt used, kept in a state of perpetual economic adolescence, and never allowed to come of age.
The Stamp Tax Uproar
Know: George Grenville, Sugar Act, Quartering Act, Stamp Act, Admiralty Courts, Virtual Representation
6. Why were the colonists so upset over relatively mild taxes and policies?
It was because they saw it as the British trying to control them, after years of salutary neglect.
Forced Repeal of the Stamp Act
Know: Stamp Act Congress, Non- importation Agreements, Homespun, Sons of Liberty, Declaratory Act
7. In what ways did colonists resist the Stamp Act?
The colonists assembled the stamp act congress, which was pretty much ignored, and they started sons of liberty which had protests crying "Liberty, Property, and No Stamps". They also had petitions and boycotts.
The Townshend Tea Tax and the Boston "Massacre"
Know: Townshend Acts, Indirect Tax, Boston Massacre, John Adams
8. How did the Townshend Acts lead to more difficulties?
Townshend thought he could calm the colonists; but the colonists were angry about tax without representation.
The Seditious Committees of Correspondence
Know: George III, Lord North, Samuel Adams, Committees of Correspondence
9. How did Committees of Correspondence work?
They wrote letters to keep the spirit of resistance alive, they exchanged the letters within the colony and with other colonies. Intercolonial groups were important in stimulation and disseminating sentiment in favor of united action.
Tea Brewing in Boston
Know: British East India Company, Boston Tea Party
10. What was the cause of the Boston Tea Party, and what was its significance?
The British East India Company was overburdened with 17 million pounds of tea and so the london gov. lowered the prices, but the colonists thought this was to trick them. So they refused it, the British officials decided to enforce the law and the colonists rose up to oppose it. And in Boston, governor Hutchinson refused to be cowed. This led up to the Boston Tea Party.
Parliament Passes the "Intolerable Acts"
Know: Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, Quartering Act of 1774, Quebec Act
11. What was so intolerable about the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts?
It closed the Boston ports until the damages were paid and the tea could be insured, and it allowed the officials who killed colonists go to England for trial, where they would likely get off scot free. Also, it closed town meetings and enforced the quartering act.
Bloodshed
Know: First Continental Congress, Declaration of Rights, The Association, Tar and Feathers, Minute Men, Lexington and Concord
12. What was the goal of the First Continental Congress?
The goal was to consider was of redressing colonial grievances, they created The Association which called for a complete boycott of british goods.
Imperial Strength and Weakness
Know: Hessians, Tories
13. What were British strengths and weaknesses at the outset of the war?
Their strengths were that they had a lot of money and their naval power was almost unrivaled. They had a huge professional army and they also had Hessians. Their weaknesses were that they oppressed Ireland and France was bitter about its recent defeat, these two countries wanted payback. Also, many British didn't want to kill their cousins. The Whigs were also a weakness because they generated sympathy, their generals were second rate and the soldiers were treated horribly.
American Pluses and Minuses
Know: George Washington, Ben Franklin, Marquis de Lafayette, Continentals
14. What were the American strengths and weaknesses at the outset of the war?
Their strengths were they had outstanding leadership, for example George Washington, and they have foreign aid from France and they were fighting in defense and the land helped with that. Their weaknesses were that they were badly organized for war and there was jealousy and lastly, there was a lot of deserters.
A Thin Line of Heroes
Know: Valley Forge, Baron von Steuben, Continental Army
15. What role was played by African-Americans in the Revolution?
By the war's end, more than 5,000 had enlisted. Blacks fought at Trenton, Brandywine, Saratoga, and other important battles. Prince Whipple was immortalized later in the painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware". There was also blacks on the British side, Lord Dunmore promised freedom to any enslave black who joined the British army.
Chapter #8: American Secedes from the Empire – Big Picture Themes
1. Nearly every advantage on paper went to Britain during the revolution. They had better troops, training, a much better navy, experienced generals, more money, better weapons and equipment.
2. The Americans had on their side heart and geography. America was very big and and ocean removed from England.
3. Perhaps due to necessity rather than plan, American employed a drawn-out strategy where the war drug on for six years. America won by constantly withdrawing to the nation’s interior and moving on to fight another day.
4. Meanwhile, as the war waged, the Declaration of Independence was written, signed, and approved.
5. The Treaty of Paris 1763 legitimized the new nation.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
Second Continental Congress
Held in Philly. Created after Lexington and Concord, John Hancock was the leader. They appointed George Washington the commander of their army.
Hessians
German mercenaries hired by the British to fight in the revolution. They were thought of as "butchers".
Thomas Paine/Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It appealed to the masses and it was a bestseller. It was the 1st to give the idea and say the king was bad instead of parliament.
George Washington
A Virginian. A lieutenant colonel in command during the early stages of the French and Indian war. French leader was killed during the battle during Washington's leadership in the ohio valley(1754). He was aide to Braddock in French and Indian war. In continental congress. He was a giant among men. A great moral force. He crossed the Delaware river and ambushed/captured a bunch of Hessians and won. on dec. 26, 1776. a small victory at trenton. "Old Fox" Washington. He was defeated in the battles: Brandywine Creek and Germantown. In 1778 he attacked redcoats at Monmouth, NJ. it was an indecisive battle.
Marquis de Layfette
(1757-1834) Was a wealthy young french nobleman and was made a major general in the colonial army at age 19. He was bored at home, and was seeking glory. His commission as a general was because of his family's influence and political influence. His position helped secure further aid from france.
Baron Von Steuban
He was a German drillmaster. He spoke no english when he got to America, but he taught the colonists how to properly use a bayonet and whipped them into shape.
John Burgoyne
He was an actor-playwright-soldier and a general. In 1777, he pushed down the Lake Champlain route from Canada. On England's side and he wanted to capture Hudson river. He began the invasion in Montreal with 7000 regular troops with lots of baggage and women.
Benedict Arnold
He was a general for the Am. He and montgomery launched an assault on quebec. He was wounded in the leg. But he turned TRAITOR in 1780 because he was ambitious, greedy, unscrupulous, and felt undervalued. He plotted with the British to sell out the stronghold West Point, which is key in deciding the war and commanded the Hudson River.
Treaty of Paris, 1783
Ben Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams gathered in Paris to sign the treaty of Paris. The British formally recognized the independence of the United States. It also granted generous boundaries, stretching to the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes on the north, and to Spanish Florida on the south. It also stated that the Yankees were to retain a share in the priceless fisheries of Newfoundland.
Battle of Trenton
Headed by George Washington, he and his men cross the Delaware River on Dec. 26, 1776 and captured about a thousand Hessians sleeping off the effects of their Christmas celebration.
Battles of Lexington and Concord
British troops went there to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock. The minute men wouldn't disperse. Brits were forced to retreat from the colonists.
Battle of Saratoga
In July 1777, Burgoyne's army was surrounded near saratoga by the Continental Army and he surrendered. This battle was the turning point of the war and it convinced France to help the colonies.
Battle of Yorktown
It was the last major battle of the Rev. War. fought on Oct. 19, 1781. American troops under George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau trapped British troops under the leadership of Charles Cornwallis in the Chesapeake Bay, with the help of Admiral de Grasse and the French fleet. Cornwallis was forced to surrender. Significance: although not the last of the fighting, this signified the end of the war.
Articles of Confederation
It was adopted in 1777 during the rev. war. The articles granted limited central government.
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
Congress Drafts George Washington
Know: Second Continental Congress, George Washington
1. Why was George Washington chosen as general of the American army?
He was chosen because he was a great moral force and he was a symbol and a rallying point. People instinctively trusted him and they sensed when he put himself at the head of a cause, he was prepared to go down with it if it failed. It was also largely political, he was a man of wealth and couldn't be accused of being a fortune-seeker and since he was an aristocrat, he could be counted on to "check the masses" by his peers.
Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings
Know: Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, Fort Ticonderoga, Bunker Hill, Redcoats, Olive Branch Petition, Hessians
2. George III "slammed the door on all hope of reconciliation." How and why?
The continental congress adopted the "Olive Branch Petition" professing American loyalty to the crown and begging the king to stop further hostilities but the King rejected this offer.
The Abortive Conquest of Canada
Know: Richard Montgomery
3. Did the fighting go well for Americans before July of 1776? Explain.
No, the winter was cruel, The British burned Falmouth, Maine, and they undertook a two-pronged attack of Canada because the Am. leaders believed, erroneously, that the conquered French were explosively restive under British yoke. This expedition narrowly missed success.
Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense
4. Why was Common Sense important?
It was important because it was the first thing to bring up the idea that the king, not parliament was bad. The colonists still praised the king, they thought that parliament was the bad one, but Common Sense proclaimed that the King was nothing but "the Royal Brute of Great Britain".
Paine and the Idea of "Republicanism"
Know: Republic, Natural Aristocracy
5. Why did Paine want a democratic republic?
He wanted a democratic republic because a democratic republic could be trusted to protect the equal political rights of all men.
Jefferson's "Explanation" of Independence
Know: Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, Natural Rights
6. What does the Declaration of Independence say?
It invokes the natural rights of humankind, no just british rights, and it argues that the king had flouted the rights. It also lists the tyrannous misdeeds of George III and it and says "we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred rights."
Patriots and Loyalists
Know: Patrick Henry
7. What kinds of people were Loyalists?
Loyalists were typically people of education and wealth, of culture and caution. They were satisfied with their lot in life and believed that any violent change would be for the worse. There was also more loyalists in the older generation. They were also the King's officers and other beneficiaries of the crown and of the Anglican clergy.
Makers of America: The Loyalists
8. What happened to Loyalists after the war?
After the war, black loyalists suffered the threat of being resold into slavery and white loyalists suffered punishments arrest, exile, confiscation of property, and loss of legal rights. Some fled to Britain and Canada. Most stayed in America where the faced the burdens of reestablishing themselves in a society that viewed them as traitors.
The Loyalist Exodus
9. What happened to Loyalists during the war?
During the war, loyalists were roughly handled, imprisoned, and some were hanged. About 80,000 were driven out or led, but several hundred mild loyalists were allowed to stay.
Burgoyne's Blundering Invasion
Know: John Burgoyne, Benedict Arnold, Saratoga, Horatio Gates
10. Why did the Americans win the battle of Saratoga? Why was it significant?
They won because Arnold contributed his daring and skill and Burgoyne started from Montreal in 1777. General Burgoyne was encumbered with a heavy baggage train and many women, wives. Also, General Howe thought he had time, but he miscalculated and underestimated the colonists. This was significant because it gained France's help. This battle showed the French that the Americans can win.
Revolution in Diplomacy?
11. Why did the French help America win independence?
They helped because they wanted to get back at Britain. Also, the Battle of Saratoga showed them that the Am. were serious. And Ben Franklin gained the support of the common Parisians with his humble clothing and attitude.
The Colonial War Becomes a Wider War
Know: Armed Neutrality
12. Why was foreign aid so important to the American cause?
The Am. didn't have a good naval force and with foreign aid, it did. The Armed Nullity helped because it showed an united front of hostility against Britain.
Blow and Counterblow
Know: Nathaniel Greene, Charles Cornwallis
13. Would an American Patriot, reading news of the war in 1780, have been happy about the way the war was going? Explain.
No, because the French hadn't helped much yet and General Benedict Arnold turned traitor and they would've been suspicious of others. Warfare in the Carolinas was intensified and both Loyalists and Patriots killed prisoners in cold blood.
The Land Frontier and the Sea Frontier
Know: Iroquois Confederacy, Fort Stanwix, George Rogers Clarke, John Paul Jones, Privateers
14. Was frontier fighting important in the outcome of the war?
Frontier fighting was important because it led to gaining land and each side gained allies in the indians. Also, privateering, the harassing of British ships, was an asset in that it brought in needed gold, and raised Am. morale when the victories were few.
Yorktown and the Final Curtain
Know: Charles Cornwallis, Yorktown
15. If the war did not end at Yorktown, then why was it important?
It was important because it was desperate times and the Am. won with the aid of the French navy. Lord North cried "It's all over!" But this victory helped the confidence of the Americans.
Peace at Paris
Know: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay, Treaty of Paris
16. What did America gain and what did it concede in the Treaty of Paris?
Americans gained formal recognition of Independence, generous boundaries of land, and retained a share in the fisheries of Newfoundland. The Am. conceded that the Loyalists weren't to be persecuted and Congress was to recommend to the state legislatures that confiscated loyalist property be restored. the states also vowed toe put no lawful obstacles in the way of their collection.
A New Nation Legitimized
Know: Whigs
17 Did Americans get favorable terms in the Treaty of Paris? Explain.
Yes, Am finally got the independence they wanted and they gained a lot of land and that led to expansion west. They also got a share in the priceless fisheries which was beneficial. Also, they didn't pay didn't carry out what they promised, so they gained much but didn't lose anything.
Whose Revolution?
18. Which of the interpretations of the Revolution seems most true to you? Least true? Explain.
I think the view of the imperial school seems most true. I think the British held on to much while the Americans wanted self-government. It's kind of like when the parents try to control their teenagers, the teenagers rebel and do the opposite of what the parents want. I think it was like that. I think the idea that the revolution was caused by religious tension false because while there was religious tension and different views, it wasn't the main cause.
1. The Americans were very diverse for that time period. New England was largely from English background, New York was Dutch, Pennsylvania was German, the Appalachian frontier was Scots-Irish, the southern coast African-American and English, and there were spots of French, Swiss, and Scots-Highlanders.
2. Although they came from different origins, the ethnicities were knowingly or what mingling and melting together into something called “Americans.”
3. Most people were farmers, an estimated 90%. The northern colonies held what little industry America had at the time: shipbuilding, iron works, rum running, trade, whaling, fishing. The south dealt with crops, slaves, and naval stores.
4. There were two main Protestant denominations: the Congregational Church up north, and the Anglican Church down south. Both were “established” meaning tax money went to the church. Poised for growth were the “backwoods” faiths of the Baptists and Methodists that grew by leaps thanks to the Great Awakening.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
Great Awakening
Religious revival in 1730's-1740's. Motivational speakers went around speaking to people. Protestant ministers held revivals throughout the colonies. It left lasting effects. It emphasized on direct, emotive spirituality. It encouraged a new wave of missionary work among the Indians and some slaves. It led to the founding of "new light" centers of higher learning, aka colleges: Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, Dartmouth.
George Whitfield
He started a different style of evangelical preaching in America. He was an amazing orator and he promoted his message of human helplessness and divine omnipotence. His revival meetings could reduce people, men, to tears. He inspired American imitators and the "new light" way of preaching.
Jonathan Edwards
He first ignited the Awakening in Northampton, Massachusetts. He was a tall, delicate, and intellectual pastor. He might've had the most theological mind ever nurtured in Am. He proclaimed, with burning passion, the folly of believing the salvation of good works. He's known for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
New Lights
Defended the Awakening for its role in revitalizing American religion. Their sermons were emotional and direct.
Old Lights
Orthodox clergymen who were deeply skeptical of the emotionalism and the theatrical antics of revivalists.
Age of Reason/Enlightenment
It was a move toward industrialization, it emphasized education.
John Peter Zenger
A newspaper printer who questioned the polices of the governor of NY. in 1734. He was arrested; he was charged with seditious libel and brought to court. He was defended by former indentured servant Andrew Hamilton. Zenger argued that he just printed the truth and he was found not guilty. This was an achievement of freedom of press and for the health of democracy.
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
Conquest by the Cradle
Know: Thirteen Original Colonies
1. What was the significance of the tremendous growth of population in Britain's North American colonies?
The significance is that it stemmed from the natural fertility of Americans, black and white. It had political consequences, the Americans were slowly going to outnumber the British. The balance of power shifted.
A Mingling of Races
Know: Pennsylvania Dutch, Scots-Irish, Paxton Boys, Regulator Movement
2. What was the significance of large numbers of immigrants from places other than England?
The significance was that "Americans" was made up of all different kinds of ethnicities and they bring all kinds of cultures and traditions. The Germans in Pennsylvania had stone barns that gave mute evidence of industry and prosperity. There were people of Scots-Irish, Welsh, Dutch, Sweden, Jews, Irish, Swiss, and African decent. All these immigrant groups mingled and intermarried and laid the foundations for a new multicultural American national identity unlike anywhere else.
The Structure of Colonial Society
Know: Social Mobility
3. Assess the degree of social mobility in the colonies.
The chance to change social classes, as in be in a higher class, was really high. There was no titled nobility that dominated society, no pauperized underclass that threatened it. The social mobility was very probably compared to England. Though there were a lot of "jayle birds" and slaves and indentured servants.
Makers of America: The Scots-Irish
Know: The Session
4. How had the history of the Scots-Irish affected their characteristics?
The history of the Scots-Irish was saddening. They were homes in both Scotland then Ireland were deplorable and they were forced to pay a merciless rent in both countries. And so they continued to flee, their next stop was America where they continued to spread, like they have before. The houses they built in Am. were flimsy and floor less. They chopped down trees for crops and when the land was exhausted, the left again. Their history made them a sort of nomadic bunch that liked to be on the periphery.
Workaday America
Know: Triangular Trade, Naval Stores, Molasses Act
5. Describe some of the more important occupations in the colonies.
One was being a tobacco or wheat farmer, it was profitable because it seemed the crops just sprouted out of the land. Another was fishing and whaling; it was a bustling commerce and the Caribbean sugar islands and England gave good business. The triangular trade: leave New England go to Africa, then got the West Indies then back to New England. Manufacturing was also a good job because there was a variety of small enterprises; lumber was probably the most important.
Horsepower and Sailpower
Know: Taverns
6. What was it like to travel in early America?
There weren't even roads connecting major cites until 1700s. The roads were clouds of dust in the summer and quagmires of mud in the winter. People relied on natural waterways and sailing to go places.
Dominant Denominations
Know: Established Church, Anglicans, Congregationalists, Presbyterians
7. How did the denominations in America affect relations with Great Britain?
The congregational church was established in all New England colonies. But Presbyterianism wasn't approved even though it was close to congregationalism.
The Great Awakening
Know: Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Old Lights, New Lights, Baptists
8. How was the religion encompassed in the Great Awakening different from traditional religion? What was important about the difference?
It was different from the traditional religion in that it was told differently. The sermons were more theatrical and emotional. Also, the idea that good works determine where you go after death was greatly rejected. The importance of the difference was it separated the old lights from the new lights and led to a fresh wave of missionary work among the Indians and Africans; it also led to the creation of many new light centers, colleges.
Schools and Colleges
Know: Latin and Greek
9. What kind of education could a young person expect in colonial times?
Education was for boys and most of the emphasis was placed on religion and on classical languages like Latin and Greek. The focus want on experiment and reason, but on doctrine and dogma. Independence of thinking was discouraged.
A Provincial Culture
Know: John Trumbull, Charles Wilson Peale, Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, Benjamin Franklin
10. Did Americans distinguish themselves in the arts during the colonial period? Explain.
No, their tasters were still the same as the Europeans, especially the British. Artists in the colonies went to London to pursue their ambitions. Examples are John Trumbull, Willson Peale, Benjamin West, and John Singleton Copley and Benjamin Franklin.
Pioneer Presses
Know: John Peter Zenger
11. Why was the jury verdict in the Zenger case important?
It was important because even though the judge told the jury to say that Zenger was guilty, they pronounced him not guilty. And this, led to freedom of press.
The Great Game of Politics
Know: Royal Colonies, Proprietary Colonies, Self-governing Colonies, Colonial Assemblies, Power of the Purse, Town Meetings, Property Qualifications
12. How democratic was colonial America?
It was pretty democratic. It established a 2 house legislative body. The public voted for the first house and the first house voted for the second house. But there was qualifications for voting, you had to own land. It wasn't a true democracy-socially, economically, or politically but it was a lot more democratic than England.
Chapter #6: Duel for North America – Big Picture Themes
1. Two dominant cultures emerged in the 1700s in North America: (a) England controlled the Atlantic seaboard from Georgia to Maine, and (b) France controlled the area of Quebec and along the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi River.
2. New England consisted of towns made up by farmers. They cleared the land and pushed the Indians out. New France was made up of fur trading outposts. They were scattered and lived with and often worked with the Indians in the forests and streams.
3. Like cats and dogs, England and France cannot live together that close. While separated, they were fine, but the two cultures began to rub against one another in the Ohio Valley. This started the French and Indian War.
4. The French and Indian War saw the English defeat France. France was totally kicked out of North America.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
Samuel de Champlain
A leading figure of a granite sentinel commanding the St. Lawrence River and an intrepid soldier and explorer whose energy and leadership earned him the title "Father of New France". He had friendly relations with the nearby Huron Indian tribes. He joined the indians in battle against the Iroquois, and so caused the hatred of the French in the Iroquois.
William Pitt
He was a tall imposing figure, and known as the "Great Commoner". He drew his strength from the common people who admired him. He became a foremost leader in the London Gov. in 1757 and earned the title "Organizer of Victory" He strategized in the Battle of Quebec and won.
Pontiac
An indian leader whose frontier uprising caused the British to limit colonial expansion. He was chief of the Otawa and in 1763 he led several tribes and some French traders into a violent campaign to drive the British out of the Ohio Country. They overran all but 3 British posts and killed about 2000 soldiers and settlers.
Albany Plan of Union
It was to achieve colonial unity and to bolster the common defense against France. Ben Franklin proposed the plan during the 7 yrs war on 1754 and called for unity but the colonies rejected in fear of losing power. The crown didn't approve either because it was wary.
Proclamation of 1763
It was issued by the London gov. It prohibited settlement and expansion in the area beyond the Appalachian Mts. It wasn't designed to oppress the colonists but to work out the Indian problem fairly and prevent another eruption like Pontiac's uprising. But it angered the colonists.
Pontiac’s Rebellion
In 1763, after the French and Indian war, Pontiac led several tribes and some French traders into a violent campaign to drive the British out of the Ohio Country. They overran all but 3 British posts and killed about 2,000 soldiers and settlers.
Paxton Boys
Had a march on Philly in 1764 protesting Quaker tolerance of Indians; the Scots-Irish had a large role in it.
Five Nations of the Iroquois
It was made up of the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora, Onondaga and Seneca tribes. They were located near upper NY. During the American Revolution the Tuscarora and the Oneida tribes sided with the Americans and the rest sided with the Btitish.
Salutary Neglect
The mother country, England, ignores/forgets/neglects its colonies for years/decades.
French and Indian War
George Washington inaugurates the war when he faced the French and one of his soldiers kills the French commander. The French and Indians side against the Colonies and the British to fight for the Ohio Valley in 1754. It lasted for 7 years and so is also known as the Seven Years War. The British won the war. The British felt contempt for the colonists and this caused resentment.
The Battle of Quebec 1759
It was a victory for the British and Colonists. It was a turning point of the war when Quebec surrenders to the British. When Montreal fell, the French flag had fluttered in Canada for the last time. The French was kicked out of N.Am. by the peace settlement at Paris (1763).
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
France Finds a Foothold in Canada
Know: Huguenots, Samuel de Champlain, New France
1. How was the colony of New France different from the British North American colonies?
A difference is that from the start, Champlain was friendly with the Huron tribes and so in turn, the colonies were too. Also, the land owning French peasants didn't move for economic reasons and the Protestant Huguenots, who might've had religious motive, weren't allowed refuge in the colonies.
New France Fans Out
Know: Beaver, Coureurs de Bois, Voyageurs, Robert de La Salle
2. What factors led to the French settlement of New France?
A big part is because of beavers. The Europeans valued beaver pelt hats for warmth and fashionableness. The French recruited Indians in the fur trade and they went deeper into the heart of the continent in search of beavers.
The Clash of Empires
Know: Treaty of Utrecht, War of Jenkins's Ear, James Oglethorpe, Louisbourg
3. Describe the early wars between France and Britain.
They British and French each tried to recruit as many Indians onto their side as possible. Neither country wanted to deploy troops so each side engaged in a type guerrilla warfare.
George Washington Inaugurates War with France
Know: Fort Duquesne, George Washington, Fort Necessity, Acadians
4. How did George Washington spark the French and Indian War?
George Washington was the commander when the governor of Virginia chose him to go to Ohio Country. They encountered a small detachment of French troops and the Virginians fired the first shots. The French leader was killed. This sparked the war.
Global War and Colonial Disunity
Know: Benjamin Franklin, Albany Plan of Union, "Join or Die"
5. What was meant by the statement, “America was conquered in Germany?
In Europe, Fredrick the Great repelled the French, Austrian, and Russian that often outnumbered him 3 to 1. The French wasted so much strength in fighting the Germans that they were unable to put a big force into the New World; and so William Pitt said "America was conquered in Germany".
Braddock's Blundering and Its Aftermath
Know: Edward Braddock
What setbacks did the British suffer in the early years of the French and Indian War?
The British sent General Braddock, an officer experienced in European warfare, and troops to Virginia to fight the Indians and the French, but he was stubborn and he and his troops fought in formation. The Indians fought with guerrilla warfare style and they killed a lot of british soldiers. General Braddock was mortally wounded and the Indians were inflamed by the easy victory and set out on a wider warpath.
Pitt's Palms of Victory
Know: William Pitt, James Wolfe, Battle of Quebec
7. What was the significance of the British victory in the French and Indian War?
The significance was that Great Britain emerged as the dominant power in N. Am. and took its place as the leading naval power of the world.
Restless Colonials
8. How did the French and Indian War affect the relationship between the colonies and with the mother country?
During the war, the British soldiers treated the colonists with contempt and acted as if the colonists were beneath them. The colonists thought that they were equal, but were treated lower. This caused resentment between the colonies and the mother country. The colonies were angry that they were treated badly and they spread the word that the British thought they were higher than them.
War’s Fateful Aftermath
Know: Treaty of Paris, Pontiac, Daniel Boone, Proclamation of 1763
9. How did French defeat lead to westward expansion and tension with Native Americans and the British?
After the war, the colonists felt that they deserved to have the Ohio Country and expanded to there. But Pontiac and other indians were angry and they went on a violent campaign to drive the British out of the Ohio Country. This led to tension with the indians because the British retaliated swiftly and cruelly and used primitive biological warfare; they purposely spread deadly diseases to the indians. After, Am. colonists could spread over the App mts and to Tennessee and Kentucky like Daniel Boone.
Chapter #7: The Road to Revolution
1. Following the French and Indian War, the British crown needed money and figured the Americans could help pay for the war.
2. Also, the economic policy of mercantilism dictated that England try to keep its hard money within the British Empire. So, laws were passed to restrict American trade.
3. The taxes and regulations that followed were not received well by the Americans, notably the Stamp Act.
4. Conditions deteriorated and radical patriots brought matters to a head in events such as the Tea Party and Boston Massacre. Even though most Americans would be considered moderates at the time, the radical patriots were the ones making things happen.
5. The culmination of the patriots’ activities came at Lexington and Concord, when the American Revolution began.
IDENTIFICATIONS
Lord North
He was the most notable "yes man" to King George III. and the Prime Minister of Great Britain during most of the conflict with America. The government of Lord North persuaded parliament to repeal the Townshend revenue duties to appease the colonists; he was a tory. He was forced to resign after the British surrendered in Yorktown.
George Grenville
He was the prime minister before Lord North. He ordered the British navy to begin strictly enforcing the navigation laws and also secured the sugar act from parliament, the 1st ever tax the brits enforced upon the colonies. In 1765 he imposed the STAMP ACT. He thought these measures were reasonable and his legislation seemed to threaten the basic rights of the colonists as englishmen. The americans protested, but he dismissed them and claimed virtual representation for colonists.
Letter from a Farmer in Pennsylvania
It was written by a Philly lawyer, Dickinson, who protested British polices because he thought that they deprived colonists of their natural rights. He urged the colonists to unite.
Gaspee Incident
The colonists thought that there was a conspiracy against them. A group of colonists disguised as Indians ordered the British crew ashore and set fire to the ship.
Charles Townshend
Known as"Champagne Charley" and he could deliver brilliant speeches in parliament, even while drunk. He rashly promised to control the colonists w/out much protest and he persuaded parliament (1767) to pass the Townshend acts… a light indirect import tax on glass, white lead, paper, paint, and tea.
Baron Von Steuben
He was a stern drill master that helped shape the colonist soldiers into shape. Though he spoke no english when he reached Am., he soon taught the colonists how to use bayonets properly.
Mercantilism
The British believed in the their of mercantilism; it justified their control over the colonies. Mercantilists believed that wealth was power and that a country's economic wealth and its military and political power could be measured by the amount of gold or silver in its treasury. And so, possessing the colonies would give them all that.
"Virtual" representation
A claim that every member of parliament represented all British subjects, even the Americans in Boston or Charleston, who had never voted for a member of parliament.
Sons of Liberty
Sometimes violence accompanied colonial protests and Sons of Liberty were groups of ardent spirits that took the law into their own hands. They cried "Liberty, Property, and No Stamps", they enforced the nonimportation agreements against violators and ransacked houses of officials. They led the Boston Tea Party.
Admiralty courts
British courts that were originally established to try cases involving smuggling or violations of the Navigation Acts; Trials in the Admiralty courts were heard by judges without a jury.
Committees of Correspondence
Samuel Adams organized local committees of correspondence. Their chief function was to spread the spirit of resistance by exchanging letters and keeping the opposition to British policy alive. The one in Virginia became The House of Burgesses.
First Continental Congress
It was created as a response to the Intolerable Acts. All colonies except Georgia sent reps. It was a consultative body, not a legislative. But it was not successful.
Loyalists (Tories)
They were typically rich, they got their money from England. They opposed the patriots. Most fled to England.
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
The Deep Roots of Revolution
1. Why does the author say that the American Revolution began when the first settlers stepped ashore?
Because form the start, there were new ideas about the nature of society, citizen, and government. Unlike in England, there wasn't centuries of ancestors. There was new ideas, 2 in particular, of gov. They were Republicanism, and radical whigs.
Mercantilism and Colonial Grievances
Know: Mercantilism, Navigation Laws, Royal Veto
2. Explain the economic theory of mercantilism and the role of colonies.
The theory of mercantilism is used by the British to justify their control over the colonies. Mercantilists believed that wealth was power and that a country's economic wealth and military and political power could be measured by the amount of gold or silver in its treasury. The British tried to take control of the colonies.
3. How did Parliament enact the theory of mercantilism into policy?
Parliament looked at Am. colonists as tenants and they were expected to furnish products needed in England, to buy manufactured good from only Britain, and not indulge in dreams of economic self-sufficiency or self-government. The British crown also reserved the right to nullify any legislation passed by the colonial assemblies if such laws worked mischief with the mercantilist system.
The Merits and Menace of Mercantilism
Know: Salutary Neglect, John Hancock, Bounties
4. In what ways did the mercantilist theory benefit the colonies?
It benefitted the colonies because if the colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country, it was hardly less true that Britain existed for the benefit of the colonies. Virginian tobacco planters enjoyed a monopoly in the British market and the colonists also benefited from the protection of the world's mightiest navy and a strong army without any cost.
5. What economic factors were involved in leading colonists to be displeased with the British government?
It stifled economic initiative and imposed a rankling dependency on British agents and creditors. Also, many Americans simply found the system debasing; they felt used, kept in a state of perpetual economic adolescence, and never allowed to come of age.
The Stamp Tax Uproar
Know: George Grenville, Sugar Act, Quartering Act, Stamp Act, Admiralty Courts, Virtual Representation
6. Why were the colonists so upset over relatively mild taxes and policies?
It was because they saw it as the British trying to control them, after years of salutary neglect.
Forced Repeal of the Stamp Act
Know: Stamp Act Congress, Non- importation Agreements, Homespun, Sons of Liberty, Declaratory Act
7. In what ways did colonists resist the Stamp Act?
The colonists assembled the stamp act congress, which was pretty much ignored, and they started sons of liberty which had protests crying "Liberty, Property, and No Stamps". They also had petitions and boycotts.
The Townshend Tea Tax and the Boston "Massacre"
Know: Townshend Acts, Indirect Tax, Boston Massacre, John Adams
8. How did the Townshend Acts lead to more difficulties?
Townshend thought he could calm the colonists; but the colonists were angry about tax without representation.
The Seditious Committees of Correspondence
Know: George III, Lord North, Samuel Adams, Committees of Correspondence
9. How did Committees of Correspondence work?
They wrote letters to keep the spirit of resistance alive, they exchanged the letters within the colony and with other colonies. Intercolonial groups were important in stimulation and disseminating sentiment in favor of united action.
Tea Brewing in Boston
Know: British East India Company, Boston Tea Party
10. What was the cause of the Boston Tea Party, and what was its significance?
The British East India Company was overburdened with 17 million pounds of tea and so the london gov. lowered the prices, but the colonists thought this was to trick them. So they refused it, the British officials decided to enforce the law and the colonists rose up to oppose it. And in Boston, governor Hutchinson refused to be cowed. This led up to the Boston Tea Party.
Parliament Passes the "Intolerable Acts"
Know: Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, Quartering Act of 1774, Quebec Act
11. What was so intolerable about the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts?
It closed the Boston ports until the damages were paid and the tea could be insured, and it allowed the officials who killed colonists go to England for trial, where they would likely get off scot free. Also, it closed town meetings and enforced the quartering act.
Bloodshed
Know: First Continental Congress, Declaration of Rights, The Association, Tar and Feathers, Minute Men, Lexington and Concord
12. What was the goal of the First Continental Congress?
The goal was to consider was of redressing colonial grievances, they created The Association which called for a complete boycott of british goods.
Imperial Strength and Weakness
Know: Hessians, Tories
13. What were British strengths and weaknesses at the outset of the war?
Their strengths were that they had a lot of money and their naval power was almost unrivaled. They had a huge professional army and they also had Hessians. Their weaknesses were that they oppressed Ireland and France was bitter about its recent defeat, these two countries wanted payback. Also, many British didn't want to kill their cousins. The Whigs were also a weakness because they generated sympathy, their generals were second rate and the soldiers were treated horribly.
American Pluses and Minuses
Know: George Washington, Ben Franklin, Marquis de Lafayette, Continentals
14. What were the American strengths and weaknesses at the outset of the war?
Their strengths were they had outstanding leadership, for example George Washington, and they have foreign aid from France and they were fighting in defense and the land helped with that. Their weaknesses were that they were badly organized for war and there was jealousy and lastly, there was a lot of deserters.
A Thin Line of Heroes
Know: Valley Forge, Baron von Steuben, Continental Army
15. What role was played by African-Americans in the Revolution?
By the war's end, more than 5,000 had enlisted. Blacks fought at Trenton, Brandywine, Saratoga, and other important battles. Prince Whipple was immortalized later in the painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware". There was also blacks on the British side, Lord Dunmore promised freedom to any enslave black who joined the British army.
Chapter #8: American Secedes from the Empire – Big Picture Themes
1. Nearly every advantage on paper went to Britain during the revolution. They had better troops, training, a much better navy, experienced generals, more money, better weapons and equipment.
2. The Americans had on their side heart and geography. America was very big and and ocean removed from England.
3. Perhaps due to necessity rather than plan, American employed a drawn-out strategy where the war drug on for six years. America won by constantly withdrawing to the nation’s interior and moving on to fight another day.
4. Meanwhile, as the war waged, the Declaration of Independence was written, signed, and approved.
5. The Treaty of Paris 1763 legitimized the new nation.
IDENTIFICATIONS:
Second Continental Congress
Held in Philly. Created after Lexington and Concord, John Hancock was the leader. They appointed George Washington the commander of their army.
Hessians
German mercenaries hired by the British to fight in the revolution. They were thought of as "butchers".
Thomas Paine/Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It appealed to the masses and it was a bestseller. It was the 1st to give the idea and say the king was bad instead of parliament.
George Washington
A Virginian. A lieutenant colonel in command during the early stages of the French and Indian war. French leader was killed during the battle during Washington's leadership in the ohio valley(1754). He was aide to Braddock in French and Indian war. In continental congress. He was a giant among men. A great moral force. He crossed the Delaware river and ambushed/captured a bunch of Hessians and won. on dec. 26, 1776. a small victory at trenton. "Old Fox" Washington. He was defeated in the battles: Brandywine Creek and Germantown. In 1778 he attacked redcoats at Monmouth, NJ. it was an indecisive battle.
Marquis de Layfette
(1757-1834) Was a wealthy young french nobleman and was made a major general in the colonial army at age 19. He was bored at home, and was seeking glory. His commission as a general was because of his family's influence and political influence. His position helped secure further aid from france.
Baron Von Steuban
He was a German drillmaster. He spoke no english when he got to America, but he taught the colonists how to properly use a bayonet and whipped them into shape.
John Burgoyne
He was an actor-playwright-soldier and a general. In 1777, he pushed down the Lake Champlain route from Canada. On England's side and he wanted to capture Hudson river. He began the invasion in Montreal with 7000 regular troops with lots of baggage and women.
Benedict Arnold
He was a general for the Am. He and montgomery launched an assault on quebec. He was wounded in the leg. But he turned TRAITOR in 1780 because he was ambitious, greedy, unscrupulous, and felt undervalued. He plotted with the British to sell out the stronghold West Point, which is key in deciding the war and commanded the Hudson River.
Treaty of Paris, 1783
Ben Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams gathered in Paris to sign the treaty of Paris. The British formally recognized the independence of the United States. It also granted generous boundaries, stretching to the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes on the north, and to Spanish Florida on the south. It also stated that the Yankees were to retain a share in the priceless fisheries of Newfoundland.
Battle of Trenton
Headed by George Washington, he and his men cross the Delaware River on Dec. 26, 1776 and captured about a thousand Hessians sleeping off the effects of their Christmas celebration.
Battles of Lexington and Concord
British troops went there to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock. The minute men wouldn't disperse. Brits were forced to retreat from the colonists.
Battle of Saratoga
In July 1777, Burgoyne's army was surrounded near saratoga by the Continental Army and he surrendered. This battle was the turning point of the war and it convinced France to help the colonies.
Battle of Yorktown
It was the last major battle of the Rev. War. fought on Oct. 19, 1781. American troops under George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau trapped British troops under the leadership of Charles Cornwallis in the Chesapeake Bay, with the help of Admiral de Grasse and the French fleet. Cornwallis was forced to surrender. Significance: although not the last of the fighting, this signified the end of the war.
Articles of Confederation
It was adopted in 1777 during the rev. war. The articles granted limited central government.
GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:
Congress Drafts George Washington
Know: Second Continental Congress, George Washington
1. Why was George Washington chosen as general of the American army?
He was chosen because he was a great moral force and he was a symbol and a rallying point. People instinctively trusted him and they sensed when he put himself at the head of a cause, he was prepared to go down with it if it failed. It was also largely political, he was a man of wealth and couldn't be accused of being a fortune-seeker and since he was an aristocrat, he could be counted on to "check the masses" by his peers.
Bunker Hill and Hessian Hirelings
Know: Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, Fort Ticonderoga, Bunker Hill, Redcoats, Olive Branch Petition, Hessians
2. George III "slammed the door on all hope of reconciliation." How and why?
The continental congress adopted the "Olive Branch Petition" professing American loyalty to the crown and begging the king to stop further hostilities but the King rejected this offer.
The Abortive Conquest of Canada
Know: Richard Montgomery
3. Did the fighting go well for Americans before July of 1776? Explain.
No, the winter was cruel, The British burned Falmouth, Maine, and they undertook a two-pronged attack of Canada because the Am. leaders believed, erroneously, that the conquered French were explosively restive under British yoke. This expedition narrowly missed success.
Thomas Paine Preaches Common Sense
4. Why was Common Sense important?
It was important because it was the first thing to bring up the idea that the king, not parliament was bad. The colonists still praised the king, they thought that parliament was the bad one, but Common Sense proclaimed that the King was nothing but "the Royal Brute of Great Britain".
Paine and the Idea of "Republicanism"
Know: Republic, Natural Aristocracy
5. Why did Paine want a democratic republic?
He wanted a democratic republic because a democratic republic could be trusted to protect the equal political rights of all men.
Jefferson's "Explanation" of Independence
Know: Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, Natural Rights
6. What does the Declaration of Independence say?
It invokes the natural rights of humankind, no just british rights, and it argues that the king had flouted the rights. It also lists the tyrannous misdeeds of George III and it and says "we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred rights."
Patriots and Loyalists
Know: Patrick Henry
7. What kinds of people were Loyalists?
Loyalists were typically people of education and wealth, of culture and caution. They were satisfied with their lot in life and believed that any violent change would be for the worse. There was also more loyalists in the older generation. They were also the King's officers and other beneficiaries of the crown and of the Anglican clergy.
Makers of America: The Loyalists
8. What happened to Loyalists after the war?
After the war, black loyalists suffered the threat of being resold into slavery and white loyalists suffered punishments arrest, exile, confiscation of property, and loss of legal rights. Some fled to Britain and Canada. Most stayed in America where the faced the burdens of reestablishing themselves in a society that viewed them as traitors.
The Loyalist Exodus
9. What happened to Loyalists during the war?
During the war, loyalists were roughly handled, imprisoned, and some were hanged. About 80,000 were driven out or led, but several hundred mild loyalists were allowed to stay.
Burgoyne's Blundering Invasion
Know: John Burgoyne, Benedict Arnold, Saratoga, Horatio Gates
10. Why did the Americans win the battle of Saratoga? Why was it significant?
They won because Arnold contributed his daring and skill and Burgoyne started from Montreal in 1777. General Burgoyne was encumbered with a heavy baggage train and many women, wives. Also, General Howe thought he had time, but he miscalculated and underestimated the colonists. This was significant because it gained France's help. This battle showed the French that the Americans can win.
Revolution in Diplomacy?
11. Why did the French help America win independence?
They helped because they wanted to get back at Britain. Also, the Battle of Saratoga showed them that the Am. were serious. And Ben Franklin gained the support of the common Parisians with his humble clothing and attitude.
The Colonial War Becomes a Wider War
Know: Armed Neutrality
12. Why was foreign aid so important to the American cause?
The Am. didn't have a good naval force and with foreign aid, it did. The Armed Nullity helped because it showed an united front of hostility against Britain.
Blow and Counterblow
Know: Nathaniel Greene, Charles Cornwallis
13. Would an American Patriot, reading news of the war in 1780, have been happy about the way the war was going? Explain.
No, because the French hadn't helped much yet and General Benedict Arnold turned traitor and they would've been suspicious of others. Warfare in the Carolinas was intensified and both Loyalists and Patriots killed prisoners in cold blood.
The Land Frontier and the Sea Frontier
Know: Iroquois Confederacy, Fort Stanwix, George Rogers Clarke, John Paul Jones, Privateers
14. Was frontier fighting important in the outcome of the war?
Frontier fighting was important because it led to gaining land and each side gained allies in the indians. Also, privateering, the harassing of British ships, was an asset in that it brought in needed gold, and raised Am. morale when the victories were few.
Yorktown and the Final Curtain
Know: Charles Cornwallis, Yorktown
15. If the war did not end at Yorktown, then why was it important?
It was important because it was desperate times and the Am. won with the aid of the French navy. Lord North cried "It's all over!" But this victory helped the confidence of the Americans.
Peace at Paris
Know: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay, Treaty of Paris
16. What did America gain and what did it concede in the Treaty of Paris?
Americans gained formal recognition of Independence, generous boundaries of land, and retained a share in the fisheries of Newfoundland. The Am. conceded that the Loyalists weren't to be persecuted and Congress was to recommend to the state legislatures that confiscated loyalist property be restored. the states also vowed toe put no lawful obstacles in the way of their collection.
A New Nation Legitimized
Know: Whigs
17 Did Americans get favorable terms in the Treaty of Paris? Explain.
Yes, Am finally got the independence they wanted and they gained a lot of land and that led to expansion west. They also got a share in the priceless fisheries which was beneficial. Also, they didn't pay didn't carry out what they promised, so they gained much but didn't lose anything.
Whose Revolution?
18. Which of the interpretations of the Revolution seems most true to you? Least true? Explain.
I think the view of the imperial school seems most true. I think the British held on to much while the Americans wanted self-government. It's kind of like when the parents try to control their teenagers, the teenagers rebel and do the opposite of what the parents want. I think it was like that. I think the idea that the revolution was caused by religious tension false because while there was religious tension and different views, it wasn't the main cause.