Colonial Resistance and Preludes to Revolution

Study Notes

The French and Indian War (1754-1763) saw Britain and France fight for control of North America, with their respective Native American allies. The war set the stage for British policies that would alienate the colonies.
The Treaty of Paris (1763) concluded the French and Indian War, leaving Britain in control of vast territories but burdened with significant war debts, prompting increased taxes in the colonies.
The Proclamation Line of 1763 was established by the British to prevent conflict with Native Americans by halting colonial expansion westward. Many colonists who sought to move into these lands were highly frustrated by the Proclamation Line
The Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts were all passed by the British Parliament in an attempt to raise revenue from the colonies. These acts were met with strong resistance from colonists
"No taxation without representation" became a powerful slogan, summarizing colonists' demand for political representation in the British Parliament.

Colonial protests in major seaports like Boston played a pivotal role in radicalizing the movement against British rule. Events like the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party intensified tensions.
The First Continental Congress (1774) was a gathering of colonial leaders in response to the Intolerable Acts, marked the beginning of a coordinated colonial resistance to British rule.
The “Rights of Man” - emphasizing individual liberty, property, and self-governance - gained momentum with strong influence from Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke. This influenced American revolutionary thought.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775) marked the first military engagements of the Revolutionary War, initiating a period of open conflict.
The Declaration of Independence (1776) was drafted mainly by Thomas Jefferson. It formally declared the colonies' independence from Britain and articulated the philosophical basis for their revolution.
Both free and enslaved African Americans fought on both sides of the Revolution. The British offered enslaved people freedom if they joined their cause.
George Washington's leadership proved vital in uniting the Continental Army, despite its limited resources and manpower.
The Continental Army, although poorly trained and lacking resources, achieved crucial victories like the Battle of Saratoga, which secured French military support during the war.

France, Spain, and the Netherlands played decisive roles in assisting the American colonies with military and financial support, helping turn the tide of war in the colonists' favor.
The Siege of Yorktown (1781) was the final major battle of the Revolutionary War. British General Cornwallis surrendered, effectively ending the major fighting of the war.

The Treaty of Paris (1783) officially ended the Revolutionary War, with Britain recognizing the independence of the United States and ceding territory to the newly formed nation.
Many Native American tribes who sided with the British were left vulnerable after the war as American settlers pushed westward, creating challenges for Native American communities.
The ideals of freedom sparked ongoing discussions about slavery, though this institution remained deeply entrenched in the southern colonies.