Social Studies Resources

Unit 1

Unit Test: Wednesday September 23rd

Study Guide for Test:

French and Indian War Debt: Great Britain spent a large amount of money protecting the American colonies during the French and Indian War. To help pay off this massive war debt, the British Parliament began passing tax laws on the colonists.
1765 Stamp Act: A law that required colonists to pay a tax on paper goods (newspapers, legal documents, playing cards).
"No Taxation Without Representation": Colonists were angry because they had no voice or representative in the British Parliament. They believed it was unfair to be taxed by a government where they had no say.
Boston Massacre (1770): A tense confrontation in Boston where British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five people. Paul Revere created a famous engraving of the event to rally anti-British feeling.
Boston Tea Party (1773): To protest the Tea Act (which granted a monopoly to the East India Company), the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

King George III: The King of Great Britain whose policies and refusal to address colonial grievances violated colonists' rights and led directly to the revolution.
George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army who led colonial troops throughout the Revolutionary War.
Thomas Jefferson: A Founding Father and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
Benedict Arnold: A brave American general who gained fame at the Battle of Saratoga, but later betrayed the American cause and became a traitor.
Paul Revere: A Patriot silversmith who alerted colonial militia of approaching British troops before Lexington and Concord, and drew the famous Boston Massacre illustration.

Lexington and Concord (1775): The very first battles of the Revolutionary War ("the shot heard 'round the world'"). American fighting gave militia members confidence that they could stand up to the British Army.
Battle of Saratoga (1777): The major turning point of the war. American forces used knowledge of the dense surrounding woods to defeat the British. This victory proved America could win and convinced France to join as an official ally.
Battle of Yorktown (1781): The final major battle of the war. Combined American and French armies trapped British General Cornwallis, forcing the British to surrender.
Factors Leading to Victory: Knowledge of local land/geography, strong leadership under George Washington, passion for their cause, and crucial military help from foreign allies (especially France).

Author & Purpose: Authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 to announce to King George III and the world that the 13 colonies were breaking away from Great Britain.
Why it was Necessary: The British government repeatedly violated colonial rights, denied them representation, restricted trade, and forced unfair taxes.
Preamble Meaning: The opening section explaining why the colonies felt compelled to dissolve their political ties with Great Britain.
Natural Rights: Basic human rights that all people are born with:

Forming a New Government: The Declaration states that whenever a government violates or takes away people's natural rights, the people have the right and duty to alter or abolish it and form a new government.

Extra Articles & Videos:

American Revolution

Benjamin Franklin

Thomas Jefferson

Benedict Arnold

Patrick Henry