American Revolution

Important people and events of American Revolution

Benjamin Franklin

Philadelphia philanthropist (improves life for humans), edited the Declaration and played a key role in the debate for independence.

George Washington

Twenty one year old Colonel in the British Army during the French and Indian War. Was sent to tell the French to leave the Ohio River Valley. Will later command the Continental Army in the American Revolution.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence. Famous inventor form Virginia. Founder of the University of Virginia.

Yorktown

Decisive battle of the American Revolution. A three week siege of the British by the Continental Army and the French. (1781) Cornwallis surrenders to George Washington.

Marquis de Lafayette

Nineteen year old French Noblemen who fought with Washington and the Patriots against England.

Declaration of Independence

List of grievances about King George III. Written to English Parliament. July 4th 1776. Declared the thirteen colonies to be free and independent states.

Militia

Armed rebels who have no military training, fighting for a cause.

King George III

English Monarch during the American Revolution.

Grievances

List of complaints

Guerrilla Warfare

Hit and run attacks used against a superior force. Meant to terrorize the enemy and weaken moral.

Saratoga

Turning point in the American Revolution. Convinced the French to ally with the Patriots and give them aid.

Treaty of Paris 1783

Agreement to end the fighting of the American Revolution. England had to forfeit its land claims in NA and recognize the United States as an independent nation.

Boycott

Refusal to buy goods. Usually used as a form of protest.

John Paul Jones

Father of the American Navy. Continental Privateer who won many naval battles. "I have not yet begun to fight."

Propaganda

Media which attempts to sway opinions by only telling one side of the story.

Wentworth Cheswell

black patriot; like Paul Revere he made an all-night ride back from Boston to warn his community of the impending British invasion; served in the army and fought at the Battle of Saratoga

Lexington and Concord

Beginning battles of the American Revolution.

Mercy Otis Warren

American writer and playwright and was known as the "Conscience of the American Revolution"

Thomas Paine

Patriot and writer whose pamphlet Common Sense convinced many Americans that it was time to declare independence from Britain

Paul Revere

American silversmith who became a hero after his famous ride to warn of the British advance on Lexington and Concord

Abigail Adams

wife of John Adams, appealed to her husband to protect the rights of women, "remember the ladies"; member of the Daughters of Liberty

Bernardo de Galvez

Spanish governor of Louisiana who helped Americans by protecting the port of New Orleans so they could transport supplies during the Revolutionary War

James Armistead

a slave from Virginia who was a spy for General Washington during the revolution

writs of assistance

allowed England to search colonists' ships and other private property without an individual warrant

Haym Salomon

Jewish immigrant who played a key role in financing the American Revolution

Loyalists

also known as "Tories", the term refers to those Americans who remained loyal to Great Britain during the Revolution.

Patriots

American colonists who fought for independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War

minutemen

citizen soldiers who could be ready to fight at a minute's notice

civil disobedience

the refusal to obey unjust laws

Olive Branch Petition

an offer of peace sent by the Second Continental Congress to King George lll

quartering

required the colonials to provide food, lodging, and supplies for the British troops in the colonies

Common Sense

pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that claimed the colonies had a right to be an independent nation

The Crisis

pamphlet written by Tom Paine during the darkest days of the Revolution for the Patriots that spurred them to keep fighting. "The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot..."

Valley Forge

site outside of Philadelphia that served as the Continental Army's camp during the winter, where conditions were harsh and many died. Symbol of hardship

unalienable

anything which cannot be taken away; rights granted to man by God

Lord Cornwallis

leading British General during the American Revolution

Redcoats

nickname for British soldiers

Battle of Trenton

On Christmas day at night, Washington's soldiers began crossing the Delaware River. The next morning, they surprise attacked the British mercenaries which were Hessians. Victory was a morale boost for Washington's men