American Revolutionary Era Concepts

Republicanism

• Inspired by Greek and Roman republics, promoting a society where citizens prioritize the common good over self-interests.
• Stability relies on citizen virtue, opposing hierarchical systems like monarchy.

Radical Whigs

• Influenced by British commentators, expressed concerns about monarchial threats to people's liberty.

Mercantilism

• Economic theory supported by British authorities, asserting wealth as power measured by gold and silver reserves.
• Colonies were essential for providing raw materials and markets for British goods.

Navigation Law

• Enacted in 1650 to protect British shipping interests, mandating that colonial trade be conducted on British vessels.
• Aimed to limit Dutch competition in American trade.

George Grenville

• Prime Minister of England responsible for enforcing Navigation Laws and implementing the Sugar Act of 1764.

Sugar Act of 1764

• First act aimed at raising revenue through taxes on foreign sugar imports from the West Indies.

Quartering Act (1765)

• Required colonies to provide food and accommodations for British troops stationed in America.

Stamp Act (1765)

• Imposed by Grenville to generate revenue for the military; required stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and more.

Admiralty Courts

• Courts where Stamp Act and Sugar Act violations were tried without juries, shifting the burden of proof to the accused.

Virtual Representation

• Grenville's assertion that all British subjects, including colonists, were represented in Parliament, regardless of voting rights.

Stamp Act Congress (1765)

• Gathering of 27 delegates from nine colonies in New York City to protest the Stamp Act, marking the start of colonial unity.

Non-importation Agreements

• Colonists' collective refusal to import British goods, leading to greater unity and home-produced alternatives.

Sons and Daughters of Liberty

• Radical group that protested British policies through violent means; known for enforcing non-importation agreements.

Declaratory Act (1766)

• Passed alongside the repeal of the Stamp Act, confirming Parliament's authority over the colonies.

Townshend Act (1767)

• Introduced duties on various products including glass and tea, with implications for trade at American ports.

Crispus Attucks

• One of the first casualties in the Boston Massacre, symbolizing colonial resistance.

Samuel Adams

• Key revolutionary leader, organized the first local committee of correspondence to foster communication among colonies.

Committee of Correspondence

• Established to facilitate communication among American colonies, essential in the lead-up to the Revolution.

British East India Company

• On the verge of collapse in 1773 due to surplus tea; granted a monopoly on tea sales in America, leading to colonial resistance.

Thomas Hutchinson

• Governor of Massachusetts whose strict adherence to British policies incited unrest, notably during the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

• Protest where colonists, disguised as Native Americans, dumped tea into Boston Harbor to resist tax policies.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

• Series of punitive laws imposed on Massachusetts in reaction to the Boston Tea Party, restricting colonial rights.

Boston Port Act

• Part of the Intolerable Acts, it closed Boston Harbor until reparations for the tea dumped were made.

Quebec Act (1774)

• Extended Quebec's boundaries, granted religious freedom to Catholics, and nullified many colonial land claims, seen as a threat.

First Continental Congress (1774)

• Convened in Philadelphia to address grievances over the Intolerable Acts; notable for its consultative rather than legislative role.

The Association

• Outcome of the First Continental Congress, calling for a complete boycott of British goods across the colonies.

Minute Men

• Colonial militiamen who could quickly mobilize; their readiness led to the first battles of the American Revolution.

Hessians

• German mercenaries recruited by George III to combat American revolutionaries, reflecting British efforts to suppress the rebellion.

Marquis de Lafayette

• French noble who became a major general in the colonial army at 19; vital for securing French support during the Revolution.

Explore key concepts from the American Revolutionary Era, including Republicanism, Radical Whigs, and Mercantilism. Understand how these ideas influenced the founding principles of the United States and the policies enacted by British authorities. This quiz will cover significant laws and figures that shaped the period.