Glossary
Boston Tea Party
An act of political protest by American colonists in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1773, in which they destroyed an entire shipment of tea sent by the East India Company.
Example:
The Boston Tea Party was a bold act of defiance that provoked severe punitive measures from the British Parliament, further escalating tensions.
Daughters of Liberty
Groups of colonial women who supported the American resistance by organizing boycotts, producing homespun goods, and promoting self-sufficiency.
Example:
The Daughters of Liberty were instrumental in the success of nonimportation agreements, demonstrating women's vital role in the revolutionary movement.
First Continental Congress
A meeting of delegates from twelve of the thirteen British colonies in North America in 1774, convened in response to the Intolerable Acts.
Example:
The First Continental Congress marked a significant step towards colonial unity, as delegates discussed grievances and coordinated a unified response to British policies.
French and Indian War
A major conflict (1754-1763) between Great Britain and France, along with their respective Native American allies, for control of North America.
Example:
The French and Indian War left Britain with a massive debt, directly leading to new taxes on the American colonies.
Great Awakening
A series of religious revivals in the American colonies during the 1730s and 1740s, emphasizing individual spiritual experience and challenging traditional authority.
Example:
The emotional sermons of the Great Awakening encouraged colonists to question established hierarchies, contributing to a spirit of independence.
Navigation Acts
A series of British laws, beginning in the 17th century, that regulated colonial trade, requiring goods to be shipped on British ships and often routed through Britain.
Example:
The Navigation Acts were a long-standing example of British mercantilist policy, designed to ensure that colonial trade primarily benefited the mother country.
No Taxation Without Representation
A core colonial grievance and slogan asserting that the British Parliament had no right to tax the colonies because they lacked direct representation in Parliament.
Example:
The cry of 'No Taxation Without Representation' became the rallying cry for colonists protesting the Stamp Act and subsequent British taxes.
Nonimportation Agreements
Colonial boycotts of British goods, organized to protest British taxation policies and pressure Parliament to repeal unpopular acts.
Example:
Through Nonimportation Agreements, colonial women, known as the Daughters of Liberty, played a crucial role by producing homespun goods to replace British imports.
Quartering Act (1765)
A British law requiring colonial assemblies to provide housing, food, and supplies for British troops stationed in the colonies.
Example:
The Quartering Act (1765) was deeply resented by colonists, who viewed it as an infringement on their liberties and a burden on their resources.
Salutary Neglect
An unofficial British policy of lenient or minimal enforcement of parliamentary laws in the American colonies, allowing them significant self-governance.
Example:
The long period of Salutary Neglect fostered a strong sense of independence among the colonists, making them resistant to later British attempts at control.
Sons of Liberty
A secret patriotic society formed in the American colonies to protect the rights of the colonists and to fight taxation by the British government.
Example:
The Sons of Liberty, led by figures like Samuel Adams, organized protests and enforced boycotts, sometimes through intimidation, against British policies.
Stamp Act (1765)
A British law that imposed a direct tax on all printed materials in the colonies, including newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards.
Example:
The widespread protests against the Stamp Act (1765), including the formation of the Stamp Act Congress, demonstrated the colonists' unified opposition to direct taxation.
Stamp Act Congress (1765)
A meeting of representatives from nine American colonies in New York City, which issued a declaration challenging Parliament's right to tax the colonies.
Example:
The Stamp Act Congress (1765) was a significant step towards colonial unity, demonstrating a collective response to British policies.
Sugar Act (1764)
A British law that lowered the tax on molasses but increased enforcement, aiming to curb smuggling and raise revenue from the colonies.
Example:
While seemingly reducing a tax, the Sugar Act (1764) angered colonists because it was the first direct attempt by Britain to raise revenue from them after the French and Indian War.
Tarring and Feathering
A violent form of public humiliation and intimidation used by colonists against British tax collectors and loyalists.
Example:
The brutal act of tarring and feathering was a stark example of the extreme measures some colonists took to protest British authority.
Tea Act (1773)
A British law that granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, allowing it to sell tea directly at lower prices.
Example:
Despite lowering the price of tea, the Tea Act (1773) was seen as a trick to force colonists to accept British taxation, leading directly to the Boston Tea Party.
Townshend Acts (1767)
A series of British laws that imposed duties on imported goods like glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea, and established new customs collection measures.
Example:
The Townshend Acts (1767) reignited colonial protests, particularly through boycotts, as they were seen as another attempt to tax the colonies without their consent.
William Pitt
A British statesman who became Prime Minister during the French and Indian War, known for his strategy of reimbursing colonial assemblies for war costs.
Example:
Under the leadership of William Pitt, Britain's war efforts in North America gained significant colonial support, turning the tide against the French.