UNIT 2 VOCABULARY—SOL 4

John Locke -English political philosopher, social contract, natural rights of life, liberty, property

Social Contract -between people and ruler, ruler is given power to rule in exchange for protecting people’s natural rights

Thomas Paine -wrote Common Sense

Common Sense told of reasons why the colonies should end British rule

Enlightenment -period of questioning and attempts of answering, believed in natural laws

Declaration of Independence -July 4, 1776, written by Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, patriot leader

Proclamation of 1763 banned colonists from moving to live west of the Appalachians

Stamp Act -required a stamp on all legal documents, was a tax by Parliament, led to protests and turmoil

Boston Tea Party -colonists dressed as Indians dumped crates of British tea in Boston Harbor rather pay a tea tax, led to the Intolerable Acts

First Continental Congress -Met in Philadelphia to discuss colonial response to British taxes

Boston Massacre -5 colonists were killed by British soldiers who had been provoked by a colonial mob, Crispus Attucks was killed first

Minutemen -Massachusetts militia men who were to be ready to fight “in a minute’s notice”

Patriots -for independence from England

Loyalists remained faithful to the British government

Neutrals -did not choose a side unless the war affected them directly

Benjamin Franklin -patriot, lived in Philadelphia, ambassador to France

George Washington -commander of all colonial forces, Pres. of Constitutional Convention, first U.S. president

Turning Point Battle of Saratoga -turning point of the war, convinced France to become our ally Turning Point

Battle of Yorktown -last battle of the war, Britain lost, led to colonial freedom

Mercantilism a mother country establishes colonies form her benefit

Salutary Neglect -England did not enforce the Navigation Acts, colonies got used to self-government

Navigation Acts -attempt by Parliament to regulate colonial trade in the late 1600’s Parliament tries to control trade.