Unit 2 Vocab

Proclamation line of 1763

Britain established a boundary in the Appalachian Mountains, banning colonists from settling west of the boundary. Designed to prevent conflict with Indians.

Moderates at the 1CC

*Leaders:* John Dickinson, George Washington *Ideas:* Believed that the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain could be repaired.

Conservatives at the 1CC

*Leaders:* John Jay, Joseph Galloway *Ideas:* Were not prepared to make an aggressive response but did favor a mild rebuke of the British; Galloway proposed a union of colonies under British authority with a colonial "grand council" with the power to veto British acts.

Radicals at the 1CC

*Leaders:* Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, John Adams, Charles Thomson *Ideas:* Believed that the colonies' relationship with Britain had already passed a point of no return.

Townshend Acts (1767)

*Provisions:* Imposed a tax - to be paid at American ports - on items produced in Britain & sold in the colonies, including paper, glass, lead, paint, & tea. Suspended the New York Assembly for refusing to provide British troops with supplies. Established an American Board of Customs & admiralty courts to hear cases of smuggling. Issued Writs of Assistance. *Historical Significance:* Led to a boycott of British goods, the Circular Letters, John Dickinson's "Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer," and unrest in Boston.

French & Indian War

1754-1763 (aka The Seven Years' War, 1756-1763) Imperial war between Britain and France for control of North America (beginning in 1754) that became a larger-scale European war in 1756. American Indians generally supported the French.

Pontiac's Rebellion

1763, Unsuccessful Indian rebellion led by an Ottawa chief named Pontiac against British Indian policy in the Northwest Territory.

The Sugar Act

1764, British law that taxed sugar and other colonial imports to pay for some of Britain's expenses in protecting the colonies during the French and Indian War.

The Paxton Boys

1764, Frontiersman of Scots-Irish origin in Paxton, Pennsylvania , who massacred Conestoga Indians and then marched on Philadelphia demanding the colonial government provide better defense against Indians. The government responded with an official bounty for Indian scalps.

The Stamp Act

1765, British law that established a direct tax in the colonies on written documents, including newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards. The tax was designed to raise revenue for the British empire. Protests against the Stamp Act led to its repeal in 1766.

Iroquois Confederation

A league of five (later six) Iroquois nations that was a powerful force influencing French, Dutch, and British policy in the northeastern colonies for over 200 years.

Declaratory Act

1766, The British Parliament asserted they had "the sole and exclusive right" to tax the colonists, rejecting the colonial argument that taxation should rest in the hands of colonial assemblies.

John Dickinson, Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer

1767, Dickinson was landowner and lawyer who published his "Letters" to argue that taxation without representation violated the colonists' rights as English citizens.

Townshend Acts

1767, Import taxes for the colonists on products made in Britain. Recognizing the colonists had been pushed too far, Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts in 1770, except for the tax on tea.

Boston Massacre

1770, British troops killed five colonists by firing on a mob of people who had been taunting them and throwing stones.

Boston Tea Party

1773, As a protest against a British monopoly on tea, colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded three British ships and dumped a shipments of tea into Boston harbor.

First Continental Congress

1774, Delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia and asserted their rights as Englishmen

Battle of Lexington and Concord

1775, Battle between British soldiers and American "Minutemen" outside Boston that began the American Revolution.

Second Continental Congress

1775, Delegates from the thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia to create a Continental army and prepare the colonies for war against Britain.

Declaration of Independence

1776, A formal statement adopted by the Second Continental Congress declaring the American colonies independent.

Battle of Saratoga

1777, Battle that marked the turning point of the American Revolution, convincing France to aid the American cause.

Treaty of Alliance

1778, Alliance between the Americans and French in war against Britain. France recognized U.S. independence from Britain. (Note: This was the first and only treaty of alliance made by the U.S. until NATO was created in 1949.)

Battle of Yorktown

1781, The British army surrendered to General George Washington and the Continental Army, virtually bringing the American Revolution to an end.

Treaty of Paris

1783, Treaty that ended the American Revolution, securing American independence from Britain.

The Enlightenment (Age of Reason)

17th century philosophical movement in Europe that emphasized reason and individualism rather than tradition and faith.

Navigation Laws

A series of strict British trade policies designed to promote English shipping & control colonial trade in regard to important crops (such as tobacco) & resources, which had to be shipped exclusively on British ships.

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga (1775)

A small force of *Green Mountain Boys* led by *Ethan Allen* and *Benedict Arnold* overcame a small British garrison at the fort. *Historical Significance:* Colonists transported cannons and other armaments from the fort to Boston fortifying Dorchester Heights and breaking the standoff at the Siege of Boston.

Circular Letters

A statement written by Samuel Adams & passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives; argued that the Townshend Acts were unconstitutional because the colony of Massachusetts was not represented in Parliament. *Historical Significance:* Led to the dissolution of the Massachusetts Assembly & the occupation of Boston.

Committees of Correspondence

A system of communication between patriot leaders in New England & throughout the colonies, providing the organization necessary to unite the colonies in opposition to Parliament; organized by Sam Adams.

Olive Branch Petition (1775)

Adopted by the Continental Congress in an attempt to avoid a full-blown war with Great Britain. *Provisions:* Affirmed American loyalty to Great Britain and entreated the king to prevent further conflict. *Historical Significance:* Rejected and the colonies were formally declared in rebellion.

Effects of the French & Indian war on Native Americans?

After the British defeat of the French in 1763, white-Indian conflicts continued to erupt as native groups sought to continue trading with Europeans and to resist the encroachment of British colonists on traditional tribal lands. The French withdrawal from North America and the subsequent attempt of various native groups to reassert their power over the interior of the continent resulted in new white-Indian conflicts along the western borders of British and, later, the U.S. colonial settlement and among settlers looking to assert more power in interior regions.

Tea Act (1773)

Allowed the British East India Company to sell its low-cost tea directly to the colonies *Historical Significance:* Undermined colonial tea merchants; led to the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Massacre (1770)

An incident in which British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists who were teasing and taunting them; five colonists were killed. *Historical Significance:* Boston's radicals used to incident to wage an Anti-British propaganda war.

Battle of Trenton (1776)

Battle that ended with an American victory against the Hessian mercenaries hired by the British. *Historical Significance:* Boosted American morale and inspired re-enlistments.

George Grenville

Became the Prime Minister of England in 1763; proposed the Sugar & Stamp Acts to raise revenue in the colonies in order to defray the expenses of the French & Indian War & to maintain Britain's expanded empire in America.

Molasses Act (1733)

British legislation which taxed all molasses, rum, & sugar imported from countries other than Britain & her colonies; British had difficulty enforcing the tax; most colonial merchants did not pay it.

John Locke

British philosopher of the late 17th century whose ideas influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the creation of the United States. He argued that sovereignty resides in the people, who have natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) (1774)

British response to the Boston Tea Party *Provisions:* *Boston Port Act* - Closed the port of Boston and relocated the customs house so that some important supplies could enter Massachusetts. *Massachusetts Government Act* - Limited town meetings and replaced the Massachusetts judiciary and council members with Crown appointees. *Administration of Justice Act* - Required that trials of royal officials accused of serious crimes in the colonies be held in Britain. *Quartering Act* - Required all colonists to house British troops when ordered.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Colonial response to the Tea Act; 30-130 colonists - dressed as Mohawk Indians - boarded British ships and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor *Historical Significance:* Led to the Intolerable Acts.

John Dickinson

Conservative leader who wrote "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania"; advocated for colonial rights but urged conciliation with England & opposed the Declaration of Independence; helped to write the Articles of Confederation.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

Decisive colonial victory in upstate New York; considered to be the turning point of the American Revolution. *Historical Significance:* Caused France to openly support the colonies with military forces in addition to the supplies and money already being sent.

Peace of Paris (1763)

Ended French and Indian War *Terms:* Britain gained all of French Canada & all territory south of Canada & east of the Mississippi River. France & Spain lost their West Indian colonies. Britain gained Spanish Florida. Spain gained French territory west of the Mississippi, including control of the port city of New Orleans.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Ended the American Revolution *Terms:* Britain recognized U.S. independence, The boundaries of the U.S. were established. American fishing ships were given unlimited access to the waters off Newfoundland. The U.S. government agreed it would not interfere with British creditors and merchants seeking to collect debts owed to them by Americans. The U.S. government agreed to compensate Loyalists whose property had been confiscated during the war.

Quebec Act (1774)

Extended Quebec's boundary to the Ohio River, recognized Catholicism as its official religion, and established a non-representative government for its citizens. *Historical Significance:* Colonists feared a precedent had been established in regards to the type of government that had been established in Quebec and resented the expansion of its borders into territory to which they had been denied access by the Proclamation of 1763.

Battle of Bunker Hill (1775)

First major battle of the American Revolution; ended in colonial defeat. *Historical Significance:* The British suffered heavy casualties, including a notably large number of officers.

Proclamation of 1763

Forbade British colonists from settling west of the Appalacian Mountains & required any settlers already living west of the mountains to move back east.

Currency Act (1764)

Forbade colonists from printing their own currency & instead required them to use hard currency (gold & silver) which was in short supply in the colonies.

Republican Government

Free people govern themselves without a king through elected representatives of the people.

Fort Duquesne

French fort that was site of first major battle of French & Indian War; General Washington led unsuccessful attack on French troops & was then defeated at Fort Necessity, marking beginning of conflict.

Effects of the French & Indian War on American-British Relations

Great Britain's massive debt from the Seven Years' War resulted in renewed efforts to consolidate imperial control over North American markets, taxes, and political institutions — actions that were supported by some colonists but resisted by others.

Gaspee Affair (1772)

Incident in which members of the Sons of Liberty attacked, boarded, looted, & torched a British ship that had run aground in shallow water near Warwick, RI. *Historical Significance:* Officials threatened to charge those involved with treason,moving their trials to England; led to the formation of the Committees of Correspondence.

Chief Little Turtle

Indian chief who formed the Western Confederation in the northwest territories and led his followers to many victories against U.S. forces in the 1790s. His forces were defeated at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, which led to the signing of the Treaty of Greenville.

Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Last major battle of the American Revolution. *Historical Significance:* Prompted the British government to negotiate an end to the conflict.

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Managed the colonial war effort, and moved incrementally towards independence - finally adopting the *Declaration of Independence* in 1776.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Met to discuss a response to the Intolerable Acts; adopted the *Declaration and Resolves* in which they: Declared the Intolerable Acts null and void. Recommended that colonists arm themselves and that militias be formed. Recommended a boycott of British imports.

Chief Pontiac

Ottawa Indian who led a rebellion against the British occupying the western parts of the American colonies after the French & Indian War.

Declaratory Act (1766)

Passed at the same time that the Stamp Act was repealed; declared that Parliament had the power to tax the colonies "in all cases whatsoever" & that the colonists possessed virtual representation.

Thomas Paine

Patriot and writer whose pamphlet *Common Sense* convinced many Americans that it was time to declare independence from Britain.

Albany Plan of Union (1754)

Plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin that sought to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies & the Crown.

Salutary Neglect

Prime Minister Robert Walpole's policy in dealing with the American colonies. He was primarily concerned with British affairs & believed that unrestricted trade in the colonies would be more profitable for England than would taxation of the colonies.

Scots-Irish

Protestant Scottish settlers who migrated from British-controlled northern Ireland to the American colonies in the 1700s.

First Great Awakening

Religious revival movement during the 1730s and 1740s; stressed the need for individuals to repent and urged a personal understanding of truth. *Leaders:* *George Whitefield* *Jonathan Edwards* - "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God *Historical Significance:* Reduced the number of church leaders and led to a schism within the Protestant Church.

Sugar Act (1764)

Replaced the Molasses Act (1733). Reduced the duties on imported sugar, while the British made a concerted effort to enforce the act & punish smugglers.

Quartering Act (1765)

Required colonists to provide food & supplies to British troops stationed in the colonies.

Adam Smith

Scottish philosopher (1723-1790) whose ideas helped fuel the creation of the market system in the U.S. He believed free market competition would benefit society as a whole by keeping prices low and building in an incentive for a wide variety of goods and services.

The Sons of Liberty

Secret organization formed in Boston in 1765 to oppose the Stamp Act. Best known for the Boston Tea Party in 1773.

Lexington and Concord (1775)

Site of the first shots of the American Revolution.

Valley Forge

Site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777-1778 during the American Revolutionary War.

Writs of Assistance (1767)

Special search warrants that allowed tax collectors to enter homes or businesses to search for smuggled goods.

William Pitt

Statesman who led Britain during the French & Indian War; his decision to pour the full resources of the British Treasury onto the contest & dramatically increase the number of British forces fighting in North America was largely responsible for Britain's victory.

Stamp Act (1765)

Taxed all printed material in the colonies, including - but not limited to - stamps, legal documents, newspapers, playing cards, etc. *Historical Significance:* Led to the formation of colonial organizations such as the Stamp Act Congress, Sam Adams's Loyal Nine, & the Sons of Liberty & the suggestion that a complete break with Britain was essential to the colonies' future.

Stono Rebellion (1739)

The most serious slave rebellion in the the colonial period; inspired in part by Spanish officials' promise of freedom for American slaves who escaped to Florida. *Historical Significance:* Led to the Negro Act of 1740 prohibiting slaves from growing their own food, assembling in groups, earning money, or learning to read and making it more difficult to free slaves.

French & Indian War (1754-1763)

The name for the North American theater of the Seven Years War & was a successful attempt to move the French out of the Ohio Valley & to stop Indian raids on frontier settlements. *Historical Significance:* Colonists gained pride in their own military strength, felt more disconnected from Britain, & were left without fear of French a invasion.

British defeat of the French, 1763

Under the Treaty of Paris, which ended the French and Indian War, Britain gained possession of all of French Canada and Spanish Florida.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Written by Thomas Jefferson; influenced by the Enlightenment philosophers of his day. *Provisions:* *Part 1* - Explains the necessity of independence for the preservation of basic laws and rights. *Part 2* - Lists a series of "abuses and usurpations" by the king and his government; Jefferson claimed that this treatment violated the social contract the British monarch had with the his colonies, thereby justifying the actions his American subjects felt compelled to take. *Part 3* - Ends with what is tantamount to a formal declaration of war.