Willecke Unit 2 Study Guide PDF
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This document is a study guide for Unit 2, likely covering the American Revolution. It details key historical events such as the end of salutary neglect, colonial resistance, and the emergence of American nationalism. The guide mentions important figures and concepts from the period.
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The End of Salutary Neglect: 750s-1760s: British gov't shifts from hands-off approach 1 Post-1763: New policies implemented due to changing int'l realities Grenville becomes PM in 1763 → stricter colonial pol...
The End of Salutary Neglect: 750s-1760s: British gov't shifts from hands-off approach 1 Post-1763: New policies implemented due to changing int'l realities Grenville becomes PM in 1763 → stricter colonial policies Sugar Act (1764) → tighter trade regulations Stamp Act (1765) → direct taxation on colonists Currency Act (1764) → restriction on colonial paper money Proclamation of 1763 → limits western settlement Townshend Duties (1767) → new taxes on imports Boston Massacre (1770) → increased tensions w/ Britain Tea Act (1773) → led to Boston Tea Party The Emergence of American Nationalism: re-1750s: Colonists saw themselves as British subjects P Growing divergence b/w colonial & British ideas/institutions Colonial assemblies → "little parliaments" w/ sovereign-like powers Resistance to imperial authority centered in colonial legislatures Albany Conference (1754) → attempt at colonial cooperation → defend the colonies against the French and to strengthen the loyalty of the Iroquois Confederacy French & Indian War → increased colonial self-awareness → exposed differences between colonists and Britain (faced strict British policies after the war) Proclamation of 1763 (King George III) → resentment over restricted expansion Stamp Act crisis (1765) → united colonial opposition Committees of correspondence est. 1772 → improved communication First Continental Congress (1774) → formal colonial unity Colonial Unity, or lack thereof: " Fire and water" → metaphor for colonial heterogeneity Regional prejudices: New England vs. Virginia, NY vs. CT Geography → primary connection between colonies Population growth → increased settlement & intercolonial trade Colonial postal service expansion → improved communication Albany Conference (1754) → attempt at unity vs. French threat Franklin's Albany Plan → rejected by colonial assemblies "Weak noodles" → Franklin's critique of colonial disunity French & Indian War → forced cooperation against common enemy Stamp Act crisis → catalyst for increased colonial cooperation Tyranny, real and imagined: re-1750s: Few objections to British Empire membership P Post-1763: Relationship w/ Britain becomes strained New British policies seen as infringement on colonial rights Sugar Act & Currency Act → perceived economic tyranny Stamp Act → viewed as "taxation without representation" Townshend Duties → further evidence of British overreach Quartering Act → forced housing of British soldiers Boston Massacre → symbol of British oppression Tea Act → perceived as favoring British East India Company Intolerable Acts (1774) → punitive measures seen as tyrannical Colonial use of Propaganda and Rhetoric: aul Revere's Boston Massacre engraving → sensationalized propaganda P Crispus Attucks → first black martyr for American independence Committees of correspondence → spread anti-British sentiment "No taxation without representation" → popular slogan Boston Tea Party → symbolic act of defiance Edenton Proclamation (1774) → women's boycott of British goods "Join, or Die" cartoon → Franklin's call for colonial unity amphlets & newspapers → spread revolutionary ideas P Town meetings → forums for anti-British rhetoric Continental Congress → formal platform for colonial grievances Including Commoners in politics: olonial assemblies → increasing power & representation C Stamp Act protests → involvement of broader population Committees of correspondence → grassroots political organization Boston Tea Party → commoners taking direct action Boycotts of British goods → widespread participation Militia involvement → ordinary citizens in military roles Town meetings → local political participation Pamphlets & newspapers → information accessible to general public Mob actions → direct involvement in political protests Continental Congress → representation of broader colonial interests Salutary Neglect: 688-1763: Period of limited British interference in colonies 1 Walpole (PM) → relaxed enforcement of Navigation Acts Decentralized colonial administration in London Board of Trade & Plantations → weak advisory body Privy Council, admiralty, treasury → overlapping authority Colonial agents in London → lobbied against interference Royal officials in America often corrupt or ineffective Customs collectors → routinely waived duties for bribes Colonial assemblies → gained significant local power End marked by stricter policies post-French & Indian War Albany Plan of Union: roposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 P Conference of colonial leaders in Albany, NY Goal: form colonial federation for defense vs. Indians "One general government" for all colonies (except GA & NS) Colonies to retain existing constitutions Central gov't to manage Indian relations "President General" appointed by king "Grand Council" elected by colonial assemblies Rejected by all colonial assemblies Highlighted difficulty in achieving colonial unity French and Indian War: orth American theater of Seven Years' War (1756-1763) N Struggle b/w Britain & France for colonial dominance Also involved Iroquois Nation as key players Upset balance of power in northeastern North America Began c. 1754 w/ disputes over Ohio Valley British victory → cemented control of N. American colonies Increased colonial contact w/ British authority Revealed underlying tensions in colonial relationship Led to increased British debt → new colonial policies Trained colonial military leaders (e.g., George Washington) The Proclamation of 1763: Issued by King George III after French & Indian War Prohibited colonial settlement west of Appalachian Mountains Aimed to prevent conflicts w/ Native Americans Created a reserve for Native Americans Colonists required to abandon western settlements Enforced by British troops along proclamation line iewed by colonists as infringement on their rights V Ignored by many colonists → continued westward expansion Contributed to growing colonial resentment of British rule One of first major post-war policies causing colonial discontent Sugar Act: assed by British Parliament in 1764 P Officially the American Revenue Act of 1764 Reduced tax on molasses but increased enforcement Expanded list of taxable imported goods Required shippers to document their cargo Allowed trials of smugglers in vice-admiralty courts Aimed to raise revenue & combat smuggling First act to raise revenue in colonies for British crown Met w/ resistance from colonial merchants Contributed to growing tensions b/w colonies & Britain Whigs and Republican Theory/The philosophy of revolt: higs → British political faction opposing royal power W John Locke's ideas → social contract & natural rights Consent of the governed → key principle Right to revolt against tyrannical rule Cato's Letters → influential Whig writings Republicanism → emphasis on civic virtue & public good Fear of corruption → central to Whig ideology Mixed government → balance of power b/w branches Liberty → seen as fragile, requiring constant vigilance American colonists → adopted Whig ideas to justify resistance Popular Resistance from different segments of colonial society: erchants → led non-importation agreements M Artisans & laborers → participated in street protests Lawyers → articulated legal arguments against British policies Farmers → joined in boycotts of British goods Women → Edenton Tea Party & other boycott efforts Slaves & free blacks → some joined protests (e.g., Crispus Attucks) Native Americans → some allied with colonists against British Clergy → preached resistance from pulpits Students → protested at colonial colleges Printers → published pamphlets & newspapers spreading resistance ideas The Stamp Act: assed by Parliament in 1765 P Required stamps on all legal documents, licenses, newspapers, etc. First direct tax on colonists for revenue purposes Sparked widespread protests throughout colonies Led to formation of Stamp Act Congress in NYC (Oct 1765) Boycotts of British goods organized in response "No taxation without representation" slogan emerged Violent protests → stamp distributors forced to resign Sons of Liberty formed to coordinate resistance Repealed in 1766 due to colonial pressure & British merchant lobbying Sons of Liberty: ecret society formed in 1765 to oppose Stamp Act S Originated in Boston, spread to other colonies Led by Samuel Adams, John Hancock in MA Organized protests, boycotts, & intimidation tactics Used "Liberty Trees" as meeting places ublished propaganda in newspapers & broadsides P Coordinated communication b/w colonies Enforced non-importation agreements Involved in Boston Tea Party (1773) Evolved into more formal resistance groups as crisis deepened Declaratory Act: assed by Parliament in 1766, same day as Stamp Act repeal P Asserted Parliament's right to legislate for colonies "in all cases whatsoever" Intended to save face for British gov't after Stamp Act repeal Colonists initially paid little attention, focused on Stamp Act repeal Later became major point of contention Contradicted colonial claims of legislative independence Used to justify subsequent British taxation attempts Highlighted fundamental disagreement over nature of imperial relationship Became rallying point for colonial resistance Contributed to growing constitutional crisis b/w Britain & colonies Townshend Acts: eries of laws passed by Parliament in 1767 S Named after Charles Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer Imposed duties on glass, lead, paints, paper, & tea Revenue to pay salaries of colonial officials Created new customs board to enforce trade regulations Suspended NY Assembly for not complying w/ Quartering Act Led to renewed colonial protests & boycotts John Dickinson's "Letters from a Farmer" criticized acts Partially repealed in 1770, except for tea duty Heightened tensions b/w colonies & Britain Massachusetts Circular Letter: ritten by Samuel Adams and James Otis Jr. in Feb 1768 W Sent by MA legislature to other colonial assemblies Protested Townshend Acts as unconstitutional Called for united colonial opposition to British policies Argued against Parliament's right to tax colonies Demanded repeal of Townshend Acts British ordered MA to rescind letter; assembly refused Other colonies supported MA, strengthening intercolonial ties Led to increased British military presence in Boston Contributed to growing unity among colonies Non-Importation Agreements: olonial response to British taxation & trade policies C First organized in 1765 during Stamp Act crisis Renewed in 1767-1770 to protest Townshend Acts Merchants agreed to stop importing British goods Consumers pledged to boycott British products Enforced by committees of inspection Led to significant drop in British exports to colonies Pressure from British merchants for policy changes Demonstrated colonial economic leverage Helped unite different social classes in resistance Boston Massacre: ccurred on March 5, 1770 O Confrontation b/w colonists & British soldiers Tension due to military occupation of Boston Mob of colonists taunted & threw objects at soldiers ritish troops fired into crowd, killing 5 B Crispus Attucks → first casualty, African American/Native American Paul Revere's engraving → powerful propaganda tool John Adams defended British soldiers in trial 2 soldiers convicted of manslaughter Incident inflamed anti-British sentiment in colonies Whigs: ritish political faction opposing absolute monarchy B Emphasized individual rights & constitutional limits on power Influenced by John Locke's political philosophy Supported Parliament's power over the Crown American colonists adopted Whig ideology "Real Whigs" or "Commonwealthmen" → radical faction Feared corruption & tyranny in government Advocated civic virtue & active citizenship Influenced American revolutionary thought Provided intellectual framework for colonial resistance Virtual Representation: ritish theory justifying Parliament's authority over colonies B Argued all British subjects represented in Parliament MPs represented interests of entire empire, not just constituents Colonists rejected concept, demanded direct representation "No taxation without representation" → colonial counter-argument Highlighted fundamental disagreement on nature of representation James Otis & other colonial leaders wrote against theory Contributed to growing constitutional crisis Colonists argued for "actual" representation instead Debate revealed diverging political cultures of Britain & colonies Tea Act: assed by Parliament in May 1773 P Allowed British East India Company to sell tea directly to colonies Maintained 3 pence/pound duty from Townshend Acts Intended to help struggling East India Company Undercut prices of colonial & Dutch smuggled tea Colonists saw as attempt to gain colonial acceptance of taxation Reignited controversy over Parliament's right to tax colonies Led to protests in several colonial ports Culminated in Boston Tea Party (Dec 1773) Prompted harsh British response (Coercive Acts) The Boston Tea Party: ccurred on December 16, 1773 O Response to Tea Act & arrival of tea ships in Boston Organized by Sons of Liberty 100+ men disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded ships Dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor Valued at £10,000 (approx. $1 million today) No one harmed, no other property damaged Governor Hutchinson refused to send tea ships back Sparked similar "tea parties" in other colonies Led to punitive Coercive Acts from Parliament Coercive Acts/Intolerable Acts: eries of punitive laws passed by Parliament in 1774 S Response to Boston Tea Party & colonial unrest Boston Port Act → closed Boston Harbor until tea paid for assachusetts Government Act → limited colonial self-government M Administration of Justice Act → allowed trials of officials outside MA Quartering Act → required colonists to house British soldiers Quebec Act → expanded Quebec's boundaries (separate but related) Colonists called them "Intolerable Acts" Seen as threat to colonial liberties & self-government Prompted First Continental Congress Accelerated movement towards revolution First Continental Congress: et in Philadelphia, Sept-Oct 1774 M 56 delegates from 12 colonies (GA didn't participate) Response to Coercive Acts Included prominent leaders: John & Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry Issued Declaration of Rights and Grievances Called for repeal of 13 acts of Parliament Organized continental-wide boycott of British goods Created "Continental Association" to enforce boycott Planned for Second Continental Congress in May 1775 Significant step towards united colonial action Lexington and Concord: attles occurred on April 19, 1775 B British troops marched to seize colonial weapons cache Paul Revere & others warned colonists of British advance First shots fired on Lexington Green → "shot heard 'round the world" British continued to Concord, faced stronger resistance Forced to retreat under constant fire from colonial militia Marked beginning of armed conflict in American Revolution Galvanized colonial resistance News spread rapidly throughout colonies Second Continental Congress convened shortly after Independence and public opinion: Initially, most colonists sought reconciliation w/ Britain Olive Branch Petition (1775) → last attempt at peace British rejection → shifted opinion towards independence Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" (1776) → galvanized support Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) → formalized break Loyalists/Tories → opposed independence, ~15-20% of population Patriots → supported independence, majority of colonists Public celebrations → cheering, gun salutes, bell ringing State constitutions → established republican governments Growing national identity → "United States of America" Essential Battles: unker Hill (June 1775) → British victory, but at high cost B Siege of Boston (1775-1776) → British forced to evacuate Battle of Trenton (Dec 1776) → boosted American morale Battle of Saratoga (1777) → turning point, French alliance Valley Forge (1777-1778) → American army's winter ordeal Battle of Monmouth (1778) → showed improved American forces Southern Campaign (1780-1781) → shifted war to the South Battle of Yorktown (1781) → decisive American victory Naval battles → disrupted British supply lines Guerrilla warfare → wore down British forces State vs. Federal Government: Articles of Confederation (1777-1781) → weak central gov't tates retained significant sovereignty S Congress lacked power to tax or regulate commerce No executive or judicial branches One vote per state in Congress Unanimous consent required for amendments State governments → primary source of authority Difficulties in war effort due to weak central gov't Post-war economic issues → highlighted federal weaknesses Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787) → exposed gov't inadequacies Olive Branch Petition: dopted by Second Continental Congress (July 5, 1775) A Final attempt at reconciliation w/ Britain Reaffirmed colonial loyalty to King George III Requested negotiations to resolve disputes Sought to avoid further armed conflict Drafted by John Dickinson, moderate Patriot Rejected by King George III, who refused to read it British Prohibitory Act (Dec 1775) → response to petition Rejection → pushed colonies towards independence Demonstrated colonists' initial reluctance for full break Common Sense: amphlet by Thomas Paine, published January 1776 P Argued for complete independence from Britain Written in clear, accessible language Criticized monarchy and hereditary succession Claimed America could thrive independently Sold over 100,000 copies in first few months Widely read aloud in taverns and public spaces Shifted public opinion towards independence Influenced Continental Congress delegates Helped pave way for Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence: dopted by Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 A Primary author: Thomas Jefferson Listed grievances against King George III Proclaimed natural rights of "life, liberty, pursuit of happiness" Declared 13 colonies free and independent states Based on ideas of John Locke and Enlightenment philosophy Influenced by earlier local declarations of independence Signed by 56 delegates from 13 colonies Served as formal announcement of separation from Britain Became foundational document of United States The Articles of Confederation: irst constitution of United States F Adopted by Congress in 1777, ratified 1781 Created a loose confederation of sovereign states Established unicameral Congress as central authority Each state had one vote in Congress No executive or judicial branches Congress lacked power to tax or regulate commerce Required unanimous consent for amendments Proved inadequate for governing new nation Led to Constitutional Convention of 1787 Bunker Hill: ought on June 17, 1775, near Boston F Actually took place mostly on Breed's Hill British victory, but at great cost (1,054 casualties) Demonstrated colonists' fighting ability Boosted American morale despite defeat Famous order: "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" Led by Colonel William Prescott (American) and General Howe (British) Resulted in tighter British control of Boston Convinced British that conflict would be long and costly Helped galvanize support for colonial cause Battle of Saratoga: wo battles fought in fall of 1777 in upstate New York T Major American victory led by General Horatio Gates Defeated British forces under General John Burgoyne Considered turning point of American Revolution Led to formal alliance with France (1778) Boosted American and French morale Demonstrated viability of American cause Captured large number of British troops and supplies Thwarted British strategy to isolate New England Elevated status of American Revolution in Europe Battle of Yorktown: ought from September 28 to October 19, 1781 F Last major battle of American Revolution American and French forces led by Washington and Rochambeau Besieged British forces under General Cornwallis French naval blockade prevented British reinforcement/escape Resulted in surrender of Cornwallis and 7,000 troops Effectively ended major fighting in North America Convinced British government to negotiate peace Led to Treaty of Paris (1783) Secured American independence Treaty of Paris: igned on September 3, 1783 S Formally ended American Revolutionary War Recognized United States as free, sovereign, and independent Established boundaries of new nation Granted fishing rights off Canadian coast to Americans Required Congress to recommend states return confiscated Loyalist property Negotiated by American delegation: Franklin, Adams, Jay British negotiator: David Hartley Ratified by Congress on January 14, 1784 Marked international recognition of United States Republicanism: olitical philosophy central to American Revolution P Emphasized liberty, civic virtue, and opposition to corruption Rejected monarchy and hereditary privilege Stressed importance of citizen participation in government Influenced by Enlightenment thinkers (Locke, Montesquieu) Shaped new state constitutions and governments Promoted idea of mixed government with checks and balances Emphasized education as crucial for informed citizenry Influenced development of American political culture Tension between democratic and aristocratic interpretations
