Stamp Act
Law passed by Parliament in 1765 to raise revenue in America by requiring taxed, stamped paper for legal documents, publications and playing cards
Son's of Liberty
A radical political organization for colonial independence which formed in 1765 after the passage of the Stamp Act. They incited riots and burned the customs houses where the stamped British paper was kept. After the repeal of the Stamp Act, many of the local chapters formed the Committees of Correspondence which continued to promote opposition to British policies towards the colonies. The Sons leaders included Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.
Declatory Act
1766: , after parliament repealed the Stamp Act, the prime minister passed this act that confirmed parliamentary authority over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever", but the Americans paid little attention to this.
Townshend Acts
Passed in 1767 that taxed goods such as glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea
Boston Massacre
On March 5 1770 a crowd of colonists were taunting and throwing snowballs at a British soldier guarding a customs house. While back up came there was fighting and British soldiers ended up firing killing 3 people and later killing 2 more from injury. IMPORTANCE: was the first confrontation with the British
Committees of Correspondence
Committees formed in Massachusetts and other colonies in the Pre-Revolutionary period to keep Americans informed about British measures that would affect the colonies.
Boston Tea Party
Boston patriots organized the Boston Tea Party to protest the 1773 Tea Act. In December 1773, Samuel Adams warned Boston residents of the consequences of the Tea Act. Boston was boycotting the tea in protest of the Tea Act and would not let the ships bring the tea ashore. Finally, on the night of December 16, 1773, colonials disguised as Indians boarded the ships and threw the tea overboard. They did so because they were afraid that Governor Hutchinson would secretly unload the tea because he owned a share in the cargo.
Intolerable Acts
in response to Boston Tea Party, 4 acts passed in 1774, Port of Boston closed, reduced power of assemblies in colonies, permitted royal officers to be tried elsewhere, provided for quartering of troop's in barns and empty houses
Quebec Acts
It set up a government for Canada and gave complete religious freedom to French Catholics. Also expended the borders of Quebec to include land between the Ohio and Missouri Rivers.
First Continental Congress
Meeting of delegates from most of the colonies held in 1774 in response to the Coercive Acts. The Congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, adopted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and agreed to establish the Continental Association.
Patrick Henry
An American orator and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses who gave speeches against the British government and its policies urging the colonies to fight for independence. In connection with a petition to declare a "state of defense" in virginia in 1775, he gave his most famous speech which ends with the words, "Give me liberty or give me death." Henry served as Governor of Virginia from 1776-1779 and 1784-1786, and was instrumental in causing the Bill of Rights to be adopted as part of the U.S. Constitution.
John Adams
A Massachusetts attorney and politician who was a strong believer in colonial independence. He argued against the Stamp Act and was involved in various patriot groups. As a delegate from Massachusetts, he urged the Second Continental Congress to declare independence. He helped draft and pass the Declaration of Independence. Adams later served as the second President of the United States.
Minutemen
Committee of Safety authorized this unit and they stood ready to be called at any moment. Formed in Massachusetts and others beginning in late 1744.
Lexington
April 18, 1775. The minutemen waited for the British soliders to come, and when they did they were ordered by the British to go home and refused the first shot of the American Revolution was fired
Concord
Scene of the first victory for the colonists over the British in 1775
Loyalists
American colonists who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the war for independence
Patriots
American colonists who favored independence from Britain.
Second Continental Congress
They organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and appointed the comittee to draft the Declaration of Independence
Continental Army
Army formed in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress and led by General George Washington
Common Sense
January 15,1776 Common Sense published. Written by Thomas Paine.It stated that it was common sense to rebel against King George. America should break all ties with Britain. It sold over 100,000 copies
Thomas Paine
Revolutionary leader who wrote the pamphlet Common Sense (1776) arguing for American independence from Britain. In England he published The Rights of Man
Thomas Jefferson
Plantation owner and lawyer from Virginia, Nominated George Washington to be Chief at the second continental congress, Co-wrote the Deceleration of the Causes and Necessities.
Ben Franklin
Statesmen and advisor throughout the Revolutionary era. He was active in all the pre-Revolutionary congresses and helped to secure the French alliance of 1778 and the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the Revolution in 1783, Invented bifocals, odometer, and elecrtricity experiments.Published Poor Richard's Almanac.
Treaty of Paris
agreement signed by British and American leaders that stated the United States of America was a free and independent contry
Declaration of Independence
the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Franco American Alliance
Agreement by France to fund American military aids and loans to American colonies. France wanted to piss of Britain basically. Negotiated by Ben Franklin