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US History: Revolutionary War Flashcards

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11637803140Sugar Act1764. Modified the "Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733" by lowering the tax on molasses, but increased the enforcement of preventing nonBritish molasses from French and Spanish West Indies, including the right to search homes of accused smugglers. It also increased the items to be taxed. It disrupted the colonial economy greatly by preventing them from trading outside the British.0
11637803141Declaratory ActStated that the British have the right to Tax anything or do anything regarding its colonies.1
11637803142George GrenvilleBritish Prime minister in 17632
11637803145Battle of Saratoga1777. Battle won by the Americans, turning point of the Revolution that forced the resignation of British Commander General Howe. It also caught the attention of France and convinced them to aid the Colonists.3
11637803146Battle of YorktownWon by Americans with assistance of the Frenchs help. Significant battle of Revolutionary War.4
11637803147Boston Massacre1770. March 5. British soldiers fired into a frenzied crowd, killing 5 people. It was entitled a "massacre" by Paul Revere who created an engraving of the scene, and became a rallying cry for independence.5
11637803150Executive BranchCarries out the laws made by the legislature. President, at least 35 years old, serves four years, and cannot serve more than two terms (or 10 years if finishing a term of a previous president)6
11637803151Judicial BranchSupreme Court (9 members, jobs for life) and lower courts, interprets laws as they relate to the constitution7
11637803152Checks and Balances (Separation of Powers)System in which the 3 branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial) check each other to provide balance to ensure that no branch becomes too powerful.8
11637803153Legislative BranchMakes laws , bi-cameral Congress: Senate and House of Representatives, Meets in the Capital Building.9
11637803157We the peopleFirst three words of the Constitution10
11637803158Lexington1775. British troops coming from Boston and on their way to Concord, met the minutemen here. It marked the beginning of the American Revolution. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about it in the "Concord Hymn" and made the phrase famous in the opening lines, "Shot heard around the world."11
116378031593/5 Compromisea slave would count as three-fifths of a person for representation in the House of Representatives12
11637803160Constitutionsecond constitution of the US; stronger federal government, could collect taxes, president could enforce the laws13
11637803161Federalismsystem of government in which states share power with the federal government14
11637803167Proclamation of 1763British announced that the land won during the French & Indian War (land west of the Appalachian mountains) was reserved for Native Americans (any already there must move back) in order to keep peace with the Indians, keep colonists near coast where army is stronger, control fur trade and westward expansion. It was largely ignored by colonists.15
11637803168Stamp Act1765. Direct tax on the colonists; required that many printed materials (cards, paper, news) in colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London that cost money amounting to a tax.16
11637803169No taxation without representationColonists did not elect representative to Parliament, colonists were willing to pay taxes passed by colonial legislatures; one of the major causes of the American Revolution17
11637803170Tea Act1773. Made tea from British East India Co less expensive than nonBritish tea (which was technically illegal and smuggled) in order to help the struggling company. They believed that it would encourage merchants to purchase the British tea. However, colonists were enraged because they saw it as an underhanded way to get them to purchase the taxed British tea, thus giving in to "Taxation without Representation."18
11637803172John LockeEnlightenment thinker who wrote about life, liberty, and property. Inspiration for the Declaration of Independence19
11637803177Thomas Jefferson(1743-1826) Founding father and primary author of the Declaration of Independence. The 3rd President of the US, a lawyer, farm and slave owner, architect, and inventor.20
11637803182Natural RightsRights given to all humans by God and can't be taken away21
11637803185Bill of Rights of 1689 (English)The English Bill of Rights had a massive influence on the colonies and the Constitution of the United States. The most important Articles are: free elections, freedom of speech in Parliament, no armies raised in peacetime ,no taxes without the authority of parliament, no excessive fines, no cruel and unusual punishment22
11637803186Articles of ConfederationAdopted by Continental Congress in 1777, ratified in 1781. Governing Law over all colonies that divided the colonies into independent, sovereign states which had no executive or judicial branch and could not tax, regulate trade, or have a standing army (Influence of the antifederalists). All state legislatures had to approve an amendment (unanimous), which proved to be impossible. It had to be replaced with the current constitution in 1789 because it left the government with no power.23
11637803187Virginia Plan; New Jersey PlanThe Constitutional Convention had two major plans- _________________ which supported a bicameral legislature based on population and the ________________ which supported a unicameral legislature with an equal number of representatives from each state.24
11637803188Great CompromiseAt the Constitutional Convention, it created a bicameral legislature with a lower house based on a state's population and an upper house with an equal number of states representatives in order to balance rule of the people with rule of the representative government.25
11637803190Continental Congress (Second)Convened in Philadelphia after the Revolutionary War had been initiated. First, in 1775 (July 5), it send the Olive Branch Petition to King George III in order to try to prevent full-on war; it was rejected Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted July 4, 1776. It created the Continental Army led by George Washington. War officially began.26
11637803193Battle at YorktownLast major battle of the Revolutionary War in which Generals Washington and Lafayette trapped British General Cornwallis's men and forced a surrender.27
11637803194Treaty of Paris 17831783. (September 3) Officially ended the American Revolution and Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States. The 3 principal members from America sent to negotiate peace were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. (A preliminary treaty was signed Nov 30 1782 in secret from the French, who wanted to keep fighting).28
11637803196Great Awakening (First)1730s, 1740s. Sparked religious ideas of renewed piety and devotion that greatly shaped the culture of America.29
11637803197LoyalistAmerican colonists who remained loyal to Britain and opposed American independence.30
11637803198PatriotAmerican colonists who were determined to fight the British until American independence was won31
11637803199Unalienable Rightsbasic rights of the people that may not be taken away (i.e., Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness)32
11637803202Intolerable Acts (aka Coercive Acts)1774. A series of laws set up by British Parliament to punish Massachusetts for its protests against the British during the Boston Tea Party. Boston harbor was shut down, drastically reduced colonial self- government, permitted royal officers to be tried in other colonies or in England when accused of crimes, and provided for the quartering of troops.33
11637803204Boston Tea Party1773. An act of civil disobedience by the Sons of Liberty against British taxation policies. Citizens of Boston, disguised as Indians, raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped tea into the water.34
11637803205Declaration of Independence1776 (July 4). It was written by Thomas Jefferson (mainly), John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin and was adopted by the 2nd Continental Congress. It outlined purpose of government, stated the colonial grievances, and officially cut ties with Great Britain. It is known for the statement "All men are created equal" and relied on Enlightenment ideas of John Locke's Social Contract Theory and natural rights (life, liberty, property)35
11637803206Common Sense1776. A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that criticized monarchies and convinced many American colonists of the need to break away from Britain.36
11637803209Franklin, BenjaminAmerican intellectual, born in Boston, Massachusetts. Was an inventor and politician. He helped write the Declaration of Independence, was an ambassador to France and convinced French to join in the Revolution on the side of the colonists, and was instrumental in writing of the Treaty of Paris which officially ended the war. He also "discovered" electricity with the kite experiment.37
11637803210King George III(1738-1820) King of England during the American Revolution who wanted to enforce the laws and restrictions required of the colonists38
11637803211George Washington(1732-1799) Delegate to the Continental Congress, Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and First US President. He set several precedents: neutrality in foreign wars, a cabinet of advisors, limit of 2 terms, and a farewell address.39
11637803212Thomas Paine(1737-1809) American Revolutionary leader and pamphleteer (born in England) who supported the American colonist's fight for independence, most famous for writing "Common Sense". He served in the American army during the Revolution, while writing more tracts. Later, he joined the French Revolution and published "The Rights of Man" in 1791.40
11637803215Continental Congress (First)1774. A gathering of colonial leaders (all except Georgia) in Philadelphia to plan a response to Britain's Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts). They prepared for boycott and formed a militia.41
11637803216Committees of CorrespondenceFormed to help towns and colonies share information about resisting British laws42
11637803217Townshend Acts1767. Laws passed by the British that placed a tax on products imported to America such as lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea in order to collect revenue.43

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