The War for Independence

Fill-in-the-blank practice flashcards covering the causes, key events, battles, and outcomes of the American Revolutionary War.

Under the economic system of __________, governments sought to increase their power by restricting trade to export more goods than they imported.

Mercantilism

To restrict colonial trade and keep profits within the British Empire, Parliament passed a series of laws known as the __________ Acts.

Navigation

In 1684, King Charles II punished Puritan leaders and merchants by revoking the corporate charter of __________.

Massachusetts

The English policy of loosening trade restrictions in exchange for economic loyalty from the colonies was called __________.

Salutary Neglect

The French and Indian War began in the Ohio River Valley after George Washington was defeated at Fort __________.

Necessity

To help turn the tide in the French and Indian War, Great Britain appointed __________ to head the war government.

William Pitt

The political cartoon depicting a severed snake representing the colonies carried the famous slogan "__________".

JOIN, or DIE.

Enacted in 1764 by Prime Minister of England George Grenville, the __________ Act halved duties on foreign molasses and placed new taxes on imports.

Sugar

Passed by Parliament in March 1765, the __________ Act required colonists to buy special stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards.

Stamp

The colonial resistance group that harassed stamp agents and organized protests was co-founded by __________.

Samuel Adams

The __________ Acts levied indirect taxes on imported goods such as glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.

Townshend

During protests against British taxes, writer __________ urged colonial women to boycott imported tea and luxury goods.

Mercy Otis Warren

The first colonial figure killed during the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770, was __________.

Crispus Attucks

On December 16, 1773, colonial rebels dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor during the event known as the __________.

Boston Tea Party

In response to the Boston Tea Party, King George III and Parliament punished Massachusetts by passing the __________ Acts.

Intolerable

Part of the Intolerable Acts, the __________ Act authorized British commanders to house troops in vacant private homes and buildings.

Quartering

Colonial civilian soldiers pledged to be ready to fight British regulars at a moment's notice were known as __________.

Minutemen

On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and __________ rode out to spread the word that British regulars were marching toward Concord.

Samuel Prescott

The opening engagement of the Revolutionary War occurred on April 19, 1775, at __________, where 8 minutemen were killed.

Lexington

In May 1775, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and named __________ to command the Continental Army.

George Washington

On June 17, 1775, British troops launched an attack against colonial militiamen positioned on Breed's Hill in the Battle of __________.

Bunker Hill

In July 1775, the Second Continental Congress sent King George III the __________ Petition in a final attempt to restore peace.

Olive Branch

In his widely read pamphlet titled __________, Thomas Paine argued that monarchy was wrong and called for an independent republic.

Common Sense

The principal author assigned to write the Declaration of Independence was __________.

Thomas Jefferson

John Locke's Enlightenment philosophy held that people enjoy natural rights to life, liberty, and __________.

Property

On Christmas night 1776, Washington led 2,400 men across the icy __________ River to launch a surprise attack on Hessian forces.

Delaware

The British surrender at the Battle of __________ on October 17, 1777, proved to be the turning point that brought France into the war.

Saratoga

During the winter of 1777–1778 at __________, Pennsylvania, over 2,000 Continental soldiers died from extreme cold, exposure, and disease.

Valley Forge

Prussian officer __________ volunteered his services at Valley Forge to train Continental soldiers in field maneuvers and bayonet combat.

Friedrich Von Steuben

The 20-year-old French nobleman who joined Washington's army and lobbied for French military support was the Marquis de __________.

Lafayette

American forces under General Daniel Morgan scored a major victory over British troops in South Carolina at the Battle of __________.

Cowpen

British General Cornwallis was forced to surrender on October 17, 1781, after being trapped by American and French forces at __________, Virginia.

Yorktown

Signed in September 1783, the Treaty of __________ officially ended the war and established the Mississippi River as the western boundary of the United States.

Paris