American Revolution Causes and Effects

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Questions and Answers

What was the main motivation behind the Boston Tea Party?

To protest the introduction of taxes on tea

To support British trade interests in the colonies

To oppose the British East India Company's monopoly on tea sales (correct)

To demand representation in the British Parliament

What was a direct consequence of the Boston Massacre?

The imposition of the Intolerable Acts

The creation of the Sons of Liberty

The repeal of most Townshend duties (correct)

The establishment of the First Continental Congress

Which of the following was NOT a result of the Intolerable Acts?

Establishment of civilian courts in Boston (correct)

Formation of the First Continental Congress

Closure of Boston Harbor

Increased troop presence in Massachusetts

What event did the Sons of Liberty use as propaganda to rally support against British rule?

Boston Massacre Signup and view all the answers

What significant action did the First Continental Congress take in response to British policies?

Issued a complete boycott of all British goods Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of the Proclamation of 1763 for the colonists?

It restricted colonists from moving westward. Signup and view all the answers

How did the British government justify the introduction of higher taxes after the French and Indian War?

To pay off war debts incurred during the conflict. Signup and view all the answers

What was a major reason for the formation of the Sons of Liberty?

To defend the rights of colonists against British taxes. Signup and view all the answers

Which act required colonists to purchase a stamp for printed materials?

Stamp Act Signup and view all the answers

What did the Daughters of Liberty primarily form to achieve?

To boycott British goods and support fellow colonists. Signup and view all the answers

Why did colonists feel that their rights were being violated after the French and Indian War?

They had not voted for representatives in Parliament. Signup and view all the answers

What main issue did the Quartering Act address?

Housing British soldiers. Signup and view all the answers

Which territory did Great Britain gain control of as a result of the Treaty of Paris, 1763?

All land east of the Mississippi River. Signup and view all the answers

What is commonly referred to as the 'shot heard ‘round the world'?

The first shot at the Battle of Lexington Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson Signup and view all the answers

Which event is considered the turning point of the American Revolution?

The Battle of Saratoga Signup and view all the answers

What type of content does the 'grievances' section of the Declaration of Independence emphasize?

Formal complaints against the British Crown Signup and view all the answers

Which pamphlet, written by Thomas Paine, urged colonists to seek total independence?

Common Sense Signup and view all the answers

What year did the Declaration of Independence get adopted?

1776 Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the Declaration of Independence outlines natural rights?

The Preamble Signup and view all the answers

What action did the Second Continental Congress take in response to the conflicts with Britain?

Moved toward independence Signup and view all the answers

What hardship did George Washington's army face during the winter at Valley Forge?

Desertions and lack of food Signup and view all the answers

Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson Signup and view all the answers

What significant event occurred at the Battle of Yorktown?

British troops surrendered to American forces Signup and view all the answers

Which figure is known for his famous quote, 'Give me Liberty, or Give me Death'?

Patrick Henry Signup and view all the answers

Which document recognized the United States as an independent nation?

Treaty of Paris Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Salutary Neglect

King ignored the colonies for years, allowing them to develop self-government
Colonies were upset when the King began to control them

French & Indian War (1754-1763)

Also known as the Seven Years War in Europe
Fought over the Ohio River Valley
Great Britain was victorious, signing the Treaty of Paris in 1763
Great Britain received all the land east of the Mississippi River
Colonists were excited to migrate West

Effects of the French & Indian War

Proclamation of 1763 signed by King George III
- Stopped colonists from moving west to prevent conflict with Natives
- Angered colonists - their freedoms were limited
British needed money to pay for the war (war debt)
- Believed they defended the colonists
- Colonists should help pay for the war (taxes)

Causes of the Revolution

Proclamation of 1763 - Forbid colonists to move past Appalachian Mountains
Sugar Act (1764) - Taxes on sugar and molasses
Stamp Act (1765) - Required colonists to buy a stamp for printed papers (to maintain British soldiers)
- Newspapers, documents, playing cards, etc. required a stamp
- Sons of Liberty (led by Samuel Adams) formed to protect the rights of the colonists
  - Convinced Parliament the Stamp Act would not be obeyed
- Daughters of Liberty formed to boycott British goods
  - Provided boycotted goods to colonists
- First evidence of "No Taxation Without Representation"
  - Colonists had no representatives in Parliament and shouldn't be taxed
Quartering Act (1765) - Soldiers were allowed to stay in anyone's house
- Became the 3rd Amendment to the Constitution
Townshend Acts (1767) - Customs duties (taxes) on British glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea
- Led to a boycott of British goods
Boston Massacre (March 5, 1770) - Mob of colonists confronted British soldiers
- Soldiers opened fire, killing 5 colonists (first to die was Crispus Attucks)
- Parliament repealed most of the Townshend Duties
- Sons of Liberty & Samuel Adams used the incident as propaganda
  - Called colonists innocent bystanders being attacked by British Redcoats
Tea Act (1773) - Gave the British East India Company the sole right to sell tea in the colonies
- Colonists saw it as complete control of the tea trade
- Led to the Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party (December 16, 1773) - Sons of Liberty, dressed as Mohawk Indians, boarded British ships in Boston Harbor
- Threw 342 chests of tea into the sea
- Led to the Intolerable Acts
Intolerable Acts (1774) (Coercive Acts) - Laws closed Boston Harbor, shut down civilian courts, and placed Massachusetts under British control
- Sent more troops to Boston
- Prompted anger throughout the colonies and they began to work together to oppose British rule
- "Minutemen" began preparing for an organized fight with the British
First Continental Congress (Sept 5, 1774) - Representatives met in Philadelphia
- Colonies decided to unite to protect their rights
- Called for a complete boycott of British goods
Battle of Lexington & Concord (April 18, 1775) - First shots of the American Revolution (“shot heard 'round the world")
- 700 British soldiers marched from Boston to Concord to seize weapons
- Small battle in Lexington - no one knows who fired first
- British defeated the colonists
- British marched toward Concord where they were met by colonists and Minutemen
  - Colonists won

"Common Sense" (January 1776)

Written by Thomas Paine (recent immigrant from Great Britain)
Convinced colonists that total independence was necessary (used as propaganda)

Second Continental Congress (Summer 1775- Summer 1776)

Representatives met again in Philadelphia
They had to decide what to do about the fighting
Moved toward independence from Great Britain

Declaration of Independence (July 1776)

The break-up with Great Britain - the war became more serious
Committee of 5 were selected to write the document
Thomas Jefferson wrote the rough draft (follower of philosopher John Locke)
Adopted and signed by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
- Preamble (Intro) - Natural rights of the colonists (unalienable rights): Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
- Grievances - Formal complaints
  - Grievances were addressed or fixed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights
  - Example: The King should not have imposed taxes without consent of the colonists
    - The U.S. Constitution states “Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises”

Major Battles/Events of the Revolution

Lexington and Concord (1775) - First official battle of the American Revolution
Battle of Saratoga (1777) - Turning point of the war
- Major colonial victory
- Helped convince France to help the Americans
Winter at Valley Forge (1777-1778) - Washington spent winter training the army
- Faced hardships, including desertions and lack of food/supplies/funds
Battle of Yorktown (1781) - Last official battle of the American Revolution
- British troops surrendered to the Continental army
Treaty of Paris (1783) (Signed Sept 1783) - Great Britain forced to recognize the U.S.A as an independent nation

Important People of the Revolution

John Adams - On the committee to write the Declaration of Independence
- Defended the British Troops in the Boston Massacre trial
Samuel Adams - Leader of the Sons of Liberty
Abigail Adams - Wife of John Adams
- Member of the Daughter of Liberty
- Helped begin boycotts of British goods
Mercy Otis Warren - Wrote anti-British propaganda supporting independence
- Member of the Daughters of Liberty
Benjamin Franklin - Famous scientist and Enlightenment Leader
- On the Committee to write the Declaration of Independence
Crispus Attucks - African and Native American Descent
- First to die in the Boston Massacre
King George III - King of England before and during the American Revolution
Patrick Henry - Gave a speech with the "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death" phrase
Thomas Jefferson - Primary author of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Paine - Author of Common Sense (Pro-independence pamphlet)
George Washington - Commissioned as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army
John Hancock - First man to sign the Declaration of Independence
John Locke - Wrote many essays on natural rights
- Thomas Jefferson took Locke’s ideas of natural rights and turned them into ‘unalienable rights’
John Paul Jones - Famous Naval Hero
- "I have not yet begun to fight"
Marquis de Lafayette - French General/Military Advisor to George Washington
- Helped train troops at Valley Forge

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Explore the key events leading to the American Revolution, highlighting the impact of Salutary Neglect, the French & Indian War, and the subsequent British policies. Learn how colonial self-governance was challenged by increased British control and taxation. This quiz delves into the causes that ignited the revolutionary spirit among the colonies.