American Revolution Vocabulary
delegates - representatives
commander in chief - person in charge of the armies
blockade - a nation's ships block an enemies ports so enemy's ships can't sail in or out
pamphlet - short booklet
Loyalists - people who were loyal to King George III and wanted to remain part of
Britain
neutral - not taking sides
Patriots - colonists who wanted Independence from Britain
unalienable rights - rights that belong to the people and can't be taken away
traitor - person who works against their own country
retreat - back away from danger
turning point - important change takes place
morale - feeling of purpose by a group
Causes of American Revolution
Magna Carta - limited the king's power
French and Indian War - French surrendered to the British
French lost all of their land in Canada and North America
George Washington fought the French
Treaty of Paris signed 1763, French surrendered
Proclamation of 1763 - written by King George III
did not allow colonists to move west of Ohio River Valley
Tax Laws - Parliament passes taxes to pay Britain's debt for the French and
Indian War
Colonists are angry because they are being taxed without representation
Boston Massacre - British soldiers stationed in Boston fire on and kill several colonists
Boston Tea Party - colonists dump tea from British ships overboard into Boston
Harbor
Britain passes more laws to punish the people of Boston
(Intolerable Acts)
Important People in the American Revolution
George Washington
Commander in Chief of the colonists
led sneak attacks against British
never gave up
rallied the troops (got their morale up)
Nathan Hale
became a spy for the colonists
brought back important information to help the Americans
"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country"
caught and hanged by the British
Thomas Paine
wrote the pamphlets: Common Sense and The Crisis
favored independence from Britain
many colonists agreed with him
"These are the times that try men's souls"
Patrick Henry
politician who fought for independence in Congress
"Give me liberty, or Give me death"
John Paul Jones
one of the first American naval commanders
battled against British and won
"I have not yet begun to fight"
Ben Franklin
went to France and asked for help
they gave him money, supplies, and soldiers
helped write the Declaration of Independence
Marquis de Lafayette - french hero who helped the colonists with his own money
fought alongside the colonists
General Cornwallis - leader of the British Army
Hessians - German soldiers who fought on the side of British
Patriots - colonists who want independence from Britain
lacked training
volunteers
lacked money, equipment, and organization
they know the land
received help from foreigners
Loyalists - loyal to King George III
most colonists were loyal to the King at the start of the war
Major Battles
Lexington and Concord (1775)
started the Revolutionary War
Paul Revere warned the colonists about the British coming
Bunker Hill
British won the battle but lost many men
realized the war was going to be harder than they thought
Long Island (1776)
General Washington and his men barely escaped the battle
Trenton
first colonist victory of 1776
surprise attack by Washington saved the colonial army
Saratoga
turning point of the war
France agreed to help the colonists
Benedict Arnold was a hero of the battle until he turned against the colonists
and
became a traitor
Valley Forge (winter of 1777-1778)
horrible winter, very cold
Washington's men were starving and died from diseases
Baron von Stueben trained the army, those that survived were better soldiers
Yorktown
battle ended the war
Treaty of Paris (1783)
Great Britain recognized the U.S. as an independent nation
U.S. ruled all the land east of Mississippi River