Study cards for Road to Revolution and American Revolution

Causes of American Revolution
Traditions of English Liberties: colonists were used to self-government (representative government) and colonial assemblies ruling, NOT the King
Taxation Without Representation: colonists had no representation in Parliament, no consent of the governed
Colonial Protests: Boycotts, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Sons of Liberty / More Important Individuals:
  • John Adams: Led the debate for independence; became the second President of the United States
  • Thomas Paine: wrote the pamphletCommon Senseadvocating for the United States to call for independence
  • Cripus Attucks: African American who was the first person killed at the Boston Massacre
  • Wentworth Cheswell: He fought at the Battle of Saratoga; became first elected African American

Acts of Parliament
  • French and Indian War: DEBT
  • Proclamation Line of 1763
  • Stamp Act (1765)
  • Townshend Acts (1767)
  • Tea Act (1773)
  • Boston Tea Party (1773)
  • Boston Massacre (1770)
  • Intolerable Acts (1774)
/ Key Revolutionary Battles & EVENTS
  • Lexington and Concord: Marked the start of the Revolutionary War
  • Winter at Valley Forge: General George Washington spent the winter here with 12,000 starving and sick troups regaining strength and momentum
  • Battle of Saratoga: TURNING POINT OF THE WAR—British were beaten; French joined the colonists’side
  • Battle of Yorktown: Last major battle, British surrender

Effects of Revolution
Treaty of Paris (1783): Ended the War
Declaration of Independence: Colonists declared their independence from Britain to the world by outlining their grievances to the King of England in the D.O.I
British Recognized American Independence
The United States of America was born / Women of Importance:
  • Abigail Adams: Her letters were a main source of life during the American Revolution
  • Mercy Otis Warren: Stirred colonists against British policies with her writings; she is considered the first lady of the American Revolution

Important Individuals in the Revolution
  • Benjamin Franklin: Statesman, writer, scientist
  • Samuel Adams: Radical leader who organized resistance to British troops
  • King George III: Supported attempts to discipline colonists
  • Thomas Jefferson: wrote Declaration of Independence
  • George Washington: Commander in Chief of the Continental Army
/ Other Important Individuals
  • James Armistead: African American who became the first double spy in the Revolution
  • Bernardo de Galvez: Led Spanish armies against the British: kept them from taking the Mississippi River
  • Haym Solomon: Jewish financer who gave money to support the Continental Army during the war


ThomasJefferson main author
Listed grievances against the King
Thomas Paine urges independence in
“Common Sense” pamphlet
Explained citizens “Unalienable Rights”
-life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Justified the overthrow of an oppressive government
2nd Continental Congress declares independence
July 4th, 1776 / End of Salutary Neglect – King stops ignoring
Colonists after 170 years
Influenced by John Locke who said the
purpose of government was to protect
individual freedom and property and that if it
failed to do so, people had the right to
overthrow the government
William Blackstone said property rights as
well as individual rights could not be violated
No taxing without consent –to do so is
tyranny

Proclamation Line of 1763:
  • The King issued a royal proclamation
declaring that colonists could not
settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. It was greatly resented by colonists who had hoped to settle on these new western lands.