Chapter 6: America's War for Independence, 1775-1783

What caused the American Revolution?

British taxes and increased control over the colonies led to growing colonial resistance

What happened during the Boston Tea Party?

Patriots dumped British tea into Boston Harbor in 12/1773.

What was the purpose of the First Continental Congress?

To organize colonial resistance and boycotts against Britain.

What happened at Lexington and Concord?

The first major fighting of the Revolution began on 04/19/1775

Who became commander of the Continental Army?

George Washington on 06/15/1775

Why was Bunker Hill important?

Britain won, but suffered heavy casualties, showing that American forces could fight effectively

What did Common Sense encourage?

Thomas Paine encouraged the colonies to declare independence from Britain

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

It declared the colonies independent and promoted natural rights and government by consent

When was the Declaration of Independence issued?

07/04/1776

Why did Britain focus on New York?

Britain wanted to isolate New England and take advantage of Loyalist support

What happened at Trenton?

Washington surprised the Hessians on 12/25–12/26/1776 and captured more than 900 prisoners

Why was Saratoga important?

The American victory convinced France to officially support the United States

What happened at Valley Forge?

American soldiers suffered from hunger, disease, cold, and shortages during the winter of 1777–1778

Which country became America's major ally?

France

Why did Britain move its focus to the South?

British leaders expected stronger Loyalist support in the Southern colonies

What happened when Charleston surrendered?

On 05/12/1780, nearly 5,000 American troops surrendered to Britain

What strategy did Nathanael Greene use?

He avoided one major battle and used smaller attacks to weaken British forces

What happened at Yorktown?

American and French forces surrounded Cornwallis, forcing him to surrender on 10/19/1781

What treaty ended the Revolutionary War?

The Treaty of Paris, signed 09/03/1783

Who were Patriots?

Colonists who supported independence from Britain

Who were Loyalists?

Colonists who supported remaining loyal to Britain

How did enslaved people participate in the Revolution?

Many sought freedom by joining the British, while thousands gained freedom during or after the war

How did women contribute to the war?

They provided food, clothing, supplies, nursing, and other support

What was the contradiction between the Declaration and slavery?

The Declaration promoted equality and natural rights while slavery continued in the United States

What did the Treaty of Paris give the United States?

Britain recognized U.S. independence, and U.S. territory extended west to the Mississippi River

confiscation acts

state-wide acts that made it legal for state governments to seize Loyalists’ property

Continental currency

the paper currency that the Continental government printed to fund the Revolution

Dunmore’s Proclamation

the decree signed by Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, which proclaimed that any enslaved or indentured servants who fought on the side of the British would be rewarded with their freedom

Hessians

German mercenaries hired by Great Britain to put down the American rebellion

Mecklenburg Resolves

North Carolina’s declaration of rebellion against Great Britain

minutemen

colonial militias prepared to mobilize and fight the British with a minute’s notice

popular sovereignty

the practice of allowing the citizens of a state or territory to decide issues based on the principle of majority rule

republicanism

a political philosophy that holds that states should be governed by representatives, not a monarch; as a social philosophy, republicanism required civic virtue of its citizens

thirteen colonies

the British colonies in North America that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, which included Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, the province of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, South Carolina, and Virginia

Yorktown

the Virginia port where British General Cornwallis surrendered to American forces