Chapter 7: America Secedes from the Empire, 1775–1783

What event marked the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775?

The British troops retreated to Boston from Lexington and Concord.

Who was selected to lead the Continental Army by the Second Continental Congress?

George Washington.

What significant battle occurred in June where colonists seized a strategic hill in Boston?

Bunker Hill.

What proclamation did King George formally make in August regarding the colonies?

He proclaimed the colonies in rebellion.

What term refers to the German mercenaries hired by the British during the American Revolution?

Hessians.

Which two American generals led the failed invasion of Canada?

Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold.

What pamphlet did Thomas Paine publish in 1776 advocating for independence?

Common Sense.

According to Paine, what should be the basis of government?

It should be run by the governed.

What principle did Paine advocate regarding republicanism?

Power should flow from the people rather than from a monarch.

Who was appointed to write the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson.

On what date was the Declaration of Independence formally approved by Congress?

July 4, 1776.

What were the two main groups in America during the Revolutionary War?

Patriots and Loyalists.

What was the percentage of American people considered Loyalists?

About 20%.

What happened to Loyalists after the Declaration of Independence was made?

They faced persecution and harsher treatment.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Saratoga?

It was a decisive victory for the Americans and helped secure foreign aid from France.

What was the significance of the alliance between France and the Americans?

It turned the war into a global conflict and provided vital military support.

What action did the British take after their loss at Saratoga?

They offered the Americans home rule within the empire.

Under whose command did the last major battle of the Revolutionary War take place?

General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown.

What was the primary goal of American negotiators at the Treaty of Paris?

To make a treaty with Britain only, excluding France.

What did the Treaty of Paris establish regarding America's boundaries?

America's boundaries extended to the Mississippi River, Great Lakes, and Spanish Florida.

What obligations did Americans have under the Treaty of Paris regarding debts?

Americans would pay debts owed to British merchants and Loyalists for confiscated property.

What was the result of the British terms of the Treaty of Paris for America?

America gained enormous territorial rights and recognition as an independent nation.