US History Test 2 Review Guide

Colonization and Revolutionary War Overview

• Triangular Trade involved the exchange of raw materials, rum, and furs from the Americas, cloth and slaves from Europe, and primarily slaves from Africa.
• The French and Indian War is a key conflict that represented the clash between France and England in the New World.
• The Seven Years War included Austria, Sweden, France, Prussia, and Great Britain.

British Objectives Post-French and Indian War

• British Parliament aimed to tax the American colonies to recover war expenses and restore the East India Trading Company’s profitability.

Early Colonial Self-Governance

• The Mayflower Compact established democracy in the Massachusetts colony.
• The House of Burgesses was set up in Virginia in 1619, marking an early example of self-governance.

British Policies and Colonial Reactions

• The British government neglected enforcing the Navigation Acts during the period of Salutary Neglect.
• Colonists responded to increased taxation by boycotting British goods and substituting tea with coffee.
• The Declaratory Act asserted British authority over the colonies, stating they could govern as they wished.

Key Revolutionary War Events

• The Battle of Lexington and Concord prompted thousands of militiamen to gather in Boston.
• The Continental Army gained crucial artillery from the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, aiding their fight for independence.
• George Washington was appointed to lead the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress.

Notable Personalities and Leadership

• Ethan Allen led the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolution.
• Colonel Prescott commanded American troops at Bunker and Breed's Hill, famously instructing them to wait for close proximity before firing.

Significant Legislative Actions and Protests

• The Olive Branch Petition represents the final attempt by the colonies to seek peace with Britain, ultimately rejected by the King.
• The Second Continental Congress acted to form the Continental Army, send the Olive Branch Petition, authorize paper money, and govern effectively.

Propaganda and Support for Independence

• Thomas Paine's Common Sense sold 5,000 copies within three months and vehemently opposed the concept of the divine right of kings.
• Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed the motion to dissolve ties with Britain.

Declaration of Independence Committee

• The committee assigned to draft the Declaration of Independence included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson.
• Thomas Jefferson was chosen as the principal writer due to his writing skills and Virginia's prominence as the largest state at that time.

Military Strategies and Outcomes

• George Washington threatened to bombard Boston if British troops did not evacuate, leading to the departure of about 1,000 loyalists alongside 9,000 British troops.
• Loyalist properties were confiscated after they left Boston, impacting the social landscape in the colonies.