American Revolution Lecture Notes

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key terms, events, and figures from the 18th-century North American conflicts and the American Revolution.

Disputed territories

Areas of land claimed by more than one country at the same time, which often caused conflicts and wars.

French and Indian War

A war between Britain and France from $1756$ to $1763$ over territory in North America, which left Britain with enormous debt.

No Taxation Without Representation

The belief held by colonists that they should not have to pay British taxes if they had no representatives in the British Parliament.

Boston Massacre

A $1770$ event where British soldiers fired into a crowd, killing $5$ colonists; it was used as anti-British propaganda by Patriots.

Boston Tea Party

A $1773$ protest where colonists dressed as Native Americans and threw British tea into the harbor to protest the Tea Act.

Patriots

Colonists who were anti-British and wanted independence from Great Britain.

Loyalists

Colonists who were pro-British and wanted to remain part of the British Empire.

Militias

Armies made up of ordinary citizens rather than professional, career soldiers.

Minutemen

American militia members who were not professional soldiers and could be ready to fight within one minute.

United States Declaration of Independence

The document signed on 4 July $1776$ in which the Thirteen Colonies officially declared themselves independent from Great Britain.

George Washington

The commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first President of the United States.

Treaty of Paris

The document signed on 3 September $1783$ that officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized the United States as an independent country.