American Revolution Overview

A law requiring colonists to provide housing for British troops.

A law that gave the British East India Company a monopoly on selling tea in the colonies, lowering tea prices but angering colonists.

A law requiring colonists to buy special stamps for legal documents, sparking protests.

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that argued for American independence from Britain, inspiring many colonists.

A group of colonial delegates who met to discuss the British policies and potential responses.

The Boston Massacre, where 5 colonists died, increased distrust and anger towards the British government among the American colonists.

Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" was a pamphlet written to convince American colonists to declare independence from Great Britain.

The Treaty of Paris officially recognized the United States of America as an independent nation, ending the American Revolutionary War. It also stipulated the return of Loyalist property to its owners, though this was not fully enforced.

A person who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War.

Property belonging to individuals who supported the British during the American Revolution.

The process of regaining property or possessions that were lost or taken away.

The British government's failure to fully enforce the return of Loyalist property after the Revolutionary War, resulting in ongoing disputes and resentment.

British law requiring colonists to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers, leading to colonial resistance and the first Continental Congress.

British law forcing colonists to buy stamps for legal documents, resulting in widespread boycotts and the Act's eventual repeal.

British law giving the British East India Company exclusive rights to sell tea in the colonies, leading to the Boston Tea Party.

Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet that argued for American independence from Britain, stirring colonists to action.

The first meeting of colonial delegates, organized in response to British policies like the Quartering Act, laying the groundwork for unified action against Britain.

The first battle of the American Revolution, marking the beginning of the conflict.

A crucial victory for the Americans, persuading France to officially join the war as an ally.

Victories for General Washington, boosting American morale and inspiring them to continue fighting.

The final battle of the Revolutionary War, resulting in the surrender of British forces and American independence.

The American Revolution began in 1775, and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

The American colonies' fight for freedom led to declaring independence from Britain, leaving them with no British aid.

The Declaration of Independence forced Americans to think about the structure and operation of their future government without British control.

The idea of fighting against the British government could be charged with treason.

The Declaration of Independence solidified the right to freedom by declaring separation from British rule. This independence meant no continued support from England.

The Declaration of Independence sparked the American Revolution, making the colonists responsible for building their own government.

The central government lacked the power to collect taxes from states, making it difficult to fund essential functions.

The Articles of Confederation required unanimous agreement from all states to pass laws, making it almost impossible for the government to act effectively.

States were often reluctant to contribute money to the central government, weakening its power and ability to function.

The Articles of Confederation lacked a strong central authority to enforce laws and resolve disputes between the states.

The Articles of Confederation gave too much power to the individual states, making it difficult for the central government to effectively govern the nation.

The Committees of Correspondence were a network of colonial leaders who used letters to share information about British actions and mobilize opposition to British policies.

Loyalists were colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain and opposed American independence. Patriots were those who supported the American Revolution and fought for freedom from British rule.

A weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that it lacked a strong central government, leading to difficulty regulating trade, raising taxes, and resolving disputes between states.

The Articles of Confederation lacked the power to raise taxes effectively, making it difficult for the government to finance itself and fund essential services.

The Articles of Confederation had no national court system to settle disputes between states, leading to inconsistent laws and conflicts.

A group of electors chosen by each state to formally select the President and Vice President of the United States.

It was designed to ensure a president with broad national support, not just strong regional popularity.

Each state gets a number of electors based on its total number of Representatives and Senators in Congress, ensuring larger states have more influence.

A candidate needs 270 electoral votes out of 538 to win the presidency, regardless of the popular vote.

The Electoral College system has been a source of controversy, with some arguing it undermines the will of the people and can result in a president who did not win the popular vote.

A deal made during the Constitutional Convention. It addressed the way states would be represented in Congress. It created a two-house system with the Senate, offering equal representation for each state, and the House of Representatives, based on population.

A compromise made at the Constitutional Convention regarding enslaved people. Each enslaved person counted as 3/5 of a free person for the purpose of representation in the House of Representatives.

The Constitutional Convention was attended by delegates from all 13 states. The purpose was to create a new government to replace the Articles of Confederation, which was proving weak and ineffective. One of the biggest challenges was the issue of representation in Congress.

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention faced several major challenges, such as representation in Congress, the balance of power between the states and the federal government, and the issue of slavery. They had to find compromises to address these challenges and create a workable government.

The delegates agreed to create a system of checks and balances with three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. This was designed to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.