Key Terms – American Revolution King George III Intolerable Acts Tea Act Boston Port Bill Government of Massachussets Act Administration of Justice Act Quartering Act Quebec Act Stamp Act Townshend Acts First Continental Congress Lexington Concord Dunmore Proclamation Declaration of Independence Treaty of Paris

Beginnings of Revolution King George III → monarch in England that imposed many taxes and reforms that would push America towards Revolution Due to the many debts acquired during the Seven Years War, Britain sought to rebuild its wealth by taxing America heavily

Stamp Act (1765) Britain would pass the Stamp Act shortly before the Intolerable Acts. Stamp Act → stated that all printed materials must bear a stamp purchased from the British. Would be repealed in 1766 and replaced with the Townshend Acts in 1767 → tax on imported goods

The Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts Britain would impose many different taxes to recoup their losses during the wars they had fought previously. The Americans would term these taxes as a collective group known as the Intolerable Acts

Boston Tea Party Due to the Tea Act of 1773, Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty dump more than 90,000 pounds sterling worth of tea into Boston Harbor This act would be known as the Boston Tea Party which occurred on December 16, 1773.

Intolerable Acts Tea Act (1773) → British East India Co. is given a monopoly on tea → company can sell directly to a number of U.S. Agents. Boston Port Bill → port of Boston is closed and occupied by British troops. Government of Mass. Act → upper house would now be appointed and not elected by American citizens Administration of Justice Act → government soldiers and officials that are British are now tried in Britain instead of America Quartering Act → British soldiers can now be housed in private homes Quebec Act → Quebec is assigned control over the Ohio River Valley

First Continental Congress (1774) In response to the Intolerable Acts, the colonies convene in what is known as the First Continental Congress. The Congress met in Philadelphia and included every colony except Georgia. They would adopt a Declaration of Rights. They would also adopt the Continental Association → stopped trade with Britain

First Continental Congress (cont.) The Congress would also authorize the Committees of Safety → extralegal bodies to enforce boycotts.

Lexington and Concord The British under suspicion that the Americans were raising armies marched from Boston to Concord to seize arms. Lexington and Concord → skirmishes that would set off the Revolutionary War in America

Dunmore Proclamation In search of an advantage against the Americans, the British would launch the Dunmore Proclamation. Dunmore Proclamation → decree that stated that if slaves rebelled and fought against the colonists, they would be freed by the British

The Revolutionary War Significant battles would be fought in the North initially in Bunker Hill and Ticonderoga in 1775. The Declaration of Independence would be unveiled in 1776 → stated that the colonies had the right to rebel and were stating their independence from Britain. War would shift to the South and the Americans would ultimately end the war in Yorktown in 1781.

Why did America Win? There were five major reasons as to why the Americans were able to defeat the British: The Americans were far more motivated to win than the British The Americans used their knowledge of the territory to use hit and run tactics. The Americans had time on their side, the British did not The Americans had better leaders and adapted far better to obstacles than the British The Americans had help from France and Spain, two major enemies of the British

Treaty of Paris (1783) Upon the defeat of the British in Yorktown, the British were forced to sign the Treaty of Paris. Treaty of Paris → established the United States as an independent nation.