Study Guide for the American Revolutionary War
A personal view from a Sergeant in a New Jersey Regiment. (1778)
" The men that was wounded in the thigh or leg, they dashed out their brains with their muskets and run them through with their bayonets, made them like sieves. This was barbarity to the utmost."
A personal view from a Connecticut Soldier. (1777)
"The ball first cut off the head of Smith, a stout heavy man, and dashed it open, then took Taylor across the bowels; it then struck Sergeant Garret of our company on the hip, took off the point of the hip bone . Oh, What a sight it was to see within a distance of six rods those men with their legs and arms and guns and packs all in a heap!"
The Battle of Saratoga (August - October- 1777)
- Saratoga is considered the turning point of the war. The French will begin to supply arms, men, and their navy to help the colonies -The British are harassed by Colonial guerrilla warfare and end up stretching their supply lines -Saratoga is a key to proving to the French that they are worthy of their assistance
What did the Stamp Act rules include?(1765)
-Any item that was made of paper was required to be stamped with tax payment in order to be mailed. -Colonists argue "Taxation with representation", want to be represented when laws are made.
What did the Intolerable Act rules include?(1774)
-British response to the Boston Tea party, assembly and meetings dissolved part of Boston and Justice was unfair because colonists were tried in England. -Militaries form, colonies send response people to the continental congress in times of need.
The Royal Proclamation of 1763
-Colonists felt that England was attempting to control them entirely. -England wants to avoid Native American/Indian trouble. -Colonies were angered over the idea that they must pay for cost of war and British troops now.
The Battle of Bunker/Breed's hill
-Fought a very difficult terrain. -The British soldiers had a tough time fighting on the hill. -It was Fought outside of Boston. It is a fortified area on Breed's Hill filled with several thousand colonists.
What did the Treaty of Paris rules include? (1783)
-Free, Sovereign, and Independent anonymous states -French must remove all troops from forts -Boundary for the 13 British Colonies was the Mississippi River -Loyalest would have rights and property protected -Captured slaves must be returned to rightful owners
What were the Colonists strengths?
-Had a great amount of motivation and determination.=False -Washington seeks to stretch the British army away from supply lines.=False -Harass the enemy so they don't have enough time to repair and get ready. (Guerrilla warfare)=False -All of the above=True(The Patriots that fought were all motivated towards one goal and wanted to strive to achieve it.)
What are the British weaknesses?
-Have no motivation to fight.=False -Tired from the French and Indian war.=False -British have poor leaders and poor leadership.=False -All of the above.=True(British don't want to fight and are being led by poor leaders.)
How did George Washington act in the American Revolution?
-In the French and Indian War George Washington was a big flop but in the American Revolution, he could inspire his men to fight.=True(Washington could inspire his men to fight and went into battle with them head-on.) -He was a good soldier.=False -He just fought for the heck of it.=False -He was horrible and held on trial by the colonists.=False
What was the Continental Armies' Strategy of war?
-Keeping the Colonial Army together. -Washington seeks to stretch the British away from supply lines. -Harass the enemy, defeat the British army away from supply lines. -Get allies help to win.
What did the Navigation Acts include?(1750-1763)
-Restricted colonial trades, manufacturing and shipping can only be made to certain countries. -Colonists smuggle and disrespect acts. -Salutary Neglect: Britain has allowed the colonies to prosper with lots of rules and taxation with little to no control given to the colonists.
What was the British Armies' Strategy of war?
-Seeks to destroy the Colonial army -Regain control of the colonies by region. -Take the fight to colonial army using European war Tactics. -Use Loyalists support against the colonies.
What did the Townshend Act rules include? (1767)`
-Tax on glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea -Colonists smuggled goods, and boycotted British goods, and fought with British Troops
What did the Tea Act rules include?(1773)
-Tax on tea, it is a plan to bail out the East Indian Tea Company through tax on tea. -Boston Tea Party and smuggling of tea as a result of the British making that law.
What did the Sugar Act rules include?(1764)
-Tax placed on sugar and molasses because colonists are British subjects. -Colonists protest and smuggle sugar and molasses.
What were the Colonists weaknesses?
-The colonists had a very inexperienced army with little to no experience.=False -There were almost no men serving and the British outnumbered them 10 to 1.=False -Short on money, supplies, and weapons.=False -All of the above.=True(The Colonists were outnumbered and had no money, no firepower, and almost no men compared to the British.)
Battle of Lexington and Concord(April 1777)
-The first military engagement of the Revolutionary War. -It occurred on April 19, 1775. -British attempt to capture Sam Adams and weapons stockpile around Concord.
What were the strengths of the British?
-Very experienced army with very experienced soldiers.=False -Had lots of money to fight and pay to help win the war.=False -Used the Loyalist's support against the Patriots and Neutralists.=False -All of the above=True(The British did have a lot more men and a lot more money and support on both sides.)
What are some advantages to a Representative Government?
A Representative Government is efficient. A single elected authority represents the ideals of the majority. For example, in the US, only 2 senators are chosen from each state. In electing a limited amount of people, the Government can save money for other, public needs. Because there is such a limited amount of people elected, more people are encouraged to vote. This causes elected officials to represent more people's ideals and votes.
What is a Monarchy?
A type of government in which the head of state is a king or queen.
Who were the Neutralists?
American colonists who chose not to take a side in the conflict between the colonies and England.
Salutary Neglect
An English policy of relaxing the enforcement of regulations in its colonies in return for the colonies' continued economic loyalty.
What is another advantage to Representative Government?
Another advantage would be that it is empowering to the people. It puts the power of who runs the country into the people's hands and causes the country to be better represented.
What are benefits of a monarchy?
Benefits of a monarchy can include Predictability In Government. Governments are dictated through bloodlines, but rules are in place to decide who rules what states of government. it can be less expensive to run a Monarchy. Rulers are often treated to full wealth and many riches. The leaders of monarchies live in big mansions and major estates, but in terms of government, it can be more cost-effective than repeating charges and expenses of running an election every four years.
What does this personal view mean (i.e. what can you take away from this view)?
By "the ball first cut," the soldier means bullet. In that section he means that the first man killed was a man known as "Smith." Another man was shot in the lower abdomen in the section "Took Taylor across the Bowels." Finally, Sergeant Garret on the side of the Continental soldier is shot in the hip, immobilizing him. Also, the ending of the view is saying how there are piles of arms, legs, and supplies on the battlefield because of how many people were dismembered.
Who were the Loyalists/Tories?
Colonists who remain loyal to Britain.
British Mercantilism
Economic policy used by the British in which the American Colonies served as a source of raw materials and a market to sell goods. British buy raw materials from the colonies and sell them finished products. Limited manufacturing in America. Limited colonies' trade with other nations. This policy would eventually become one of the reasons for the American Revolution.
Quebec Act (1774)
Established Roman Catholicism as the official religion of Quebec, set up a government for Quebec, and set the border at the Ohio River. Colonists expected to settle there and got denied and still had to pay for the land.
The Battle of Yorktown(October 1788)
Last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis and his troops were trapped in the Chesapeake Bay by the French fleet. He was sandwiched between the French navy and the American army. He surrendered October 19, 1781.
What are some additional disadvantages to a monarchy?
Monarchies are supported by local tax policies meaning that tax dollars go to the ruling family and costs they may inquire about as they are ruling. This is different to a Government similar to the US's because taxes are going to the general upkeep of the kingdom or country, a portion of that also goes to the upkeep of the ruler's own home.
Who were the Patriots?
Patriots were people in the colonies who supported the Colonists instead of the French.
What is another disadvantage to Representative Government?
Representative Government can eventually become inefficient. governments formed by representative democracy can eventually become bureaucracies, which are slow to action, especially on important topics and issues.
Quartering Act(1765)
Required colonists to house and feed British soldiers in their homes. If they didn't comply they would murder the residents of the house.
What is a final disadvantage to a monarchy?
Secession in a monarchy does not always guarantee a leader's competency or brilliance in leading a country. Many leader may turn out to be bad leaders or incompetent at leading a country. Just because someone is born to lead does not mean they are necessarily qualified to lead.
What Mistake did the British make In the Battle of Yorktown?
The British thought they would have Navy and ships/vessels behind them backing them up. They also didn't think that the Continentals would corner and overwhelm their forces.
What are some things that are strategically advantageous to the continentals in the battle of Yorktown?
The continentals had the British forces cornered against the water where the British couldn't run from them. The Continentals were coming from two sides of the river. The Continental army also outnumbered the British by using the help of the French Navy allied forces.
What does the point of view from this New Jersey Sergeant mean?
The first sentence is saying that the men that were wounded were shot or run through with swords, to the point that they were pouring blood out like a sieve or a colander.
What is a Representative Government?
The people elect officials to speak for them in government.
What are some disadvantages of a Monarchy?
The people in a country that is being ruled by a monarchy rarely have any say in who runs their country which can sometimes result in a bad leader such as King George III (i.e. he was a tyrant). In a similar vein, changing the political direction of a country because one family is ruling. This family almost always has similar or the same views on how things should be run. Because of this, tyranny is easily formed (i.e. King George).
What is a disadvantage to Representative Government?
The system may not always be reliable. Votes may not represent the will of the people (even thought that is it's intended purpose), some people may not be eligible to vote or choose not to. Through this, corruption can be invited and take place. If candidates misrepresent their stance on public and international issues and/or goals when running for and obtaining office, they may run and act for the country to achieve personal financial gain and not the good of the people.
What are additional advantages of a Monarchy?
The transfer of power in a monarchy tends to be smoother. Transferring presidents has caused violence and protests in the past, but during the power transfer in a Monarchy tends to be smooth because leaders can easily assume the duties of their precursor. Relating to that, Militaries and Military defenses tend to be stronger in countries with Monarchy because the power of the throne resides in the land to be protected and ruled.
Which of the two types of governments would be better suited for a country?
based on the evidence, Representative Government seems to be a better candidate for countries to use, however, that can sometimes lead to massive dispute, debate, and civil unrest. Monarchies can lead to an unhappy people, but a very motivated defense. In conclusion, both can be made to work, but Representative Government seem to start working better, considering many modern monarchies are starting to become more like Representative Governments, in areas such as Great Britain.