8th Grade Social Studies; 1563 - 1783 (American Revolution)

French-Indigenous War (7-Year War)

A war about who takes over the Ohio River Valley.

Treaty of Paris - 1763

Ended the French-Indigenous War, leading to British Victory; British took over the Ohio River Valley.

Boycott

Refusing to buy goods from a certain country.

Blockade

Using ships to prevent goods from leaving a harbor.

Patriot

American colonists who were determined to gain independence from the British.

Unalienable Rights

Rights that cannot or should not be taken away by a government.

Repeal

To Cancel an Act or a Law.

Civil Disobedience

The refusal to obey certain laws or governmental demands.

Patrick Henry

A Patriot who said, “Give me Liberty, or Give me Death.”

Loyalist

Someone who supports the British when there was tensions with America and the British

George Washington

Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.

Boston Massacre

It was a time where the British killed 5 colonists for no apparent reason.

Boston Tea Party

An act of civil disobedience; colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor protesting the Tea Act.

First Continental Congress

First organizing of the colonists, representatives from the colonists met to discuss the colonies dissatisfaction with England.

Olive Branch Petition

Colonists declare loyalty to King George III, but ask him to cancel the Intolerable Acts.

Quartering Act

Where people had to let soldiers in their house and give them their necessities; present day 3rd amendment.

Haym Salomon

Polish Jew who spied for Americans and was held as a translator for the Germans by the British.

King George III

King of England during the American Revolution.

John Adams

Promoted Independence; Continental Congress delegate; Declaration of Independence Committee

Benjamin Franklin

Author, publisher, inventor and diplomat.

Crispus Attucks

American Hero and Martyr of the Boston Massacre

Proclamation of 1763

Law passed by the King of England forbidding the colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Townshend Acts

Taxed goods such as glass, paper, lead, silk, and tea.

Tea Act

Tax on tea; led to the Boston Tea Party.

Battle of Saratoga

Turning point of the American Revolution; Bloodiest Battle.

Valley Forge

American endurance; Thousands of Washington’s troops died during the winter; Troops lacked food and clothing.

Stamp Act

Tax on legal documents, newspapers, licenses, diplomas, dice, and playing cards.

Battle of Yorktown

Last battle of the American Revolution; British surrendered because of the lack of supplies; French ships prevented British supplies to reach Yorktown.

Declaration of Independence

Document written by Thomas Jefferson, claiming independence from Great Britain.

Treaty of Paris of 1783

Ended the American Revolution.

Battle of Lexington and Concord

First battle of the Revolution; British planned to arrest American leaders.

Intolerable Acts

A series of severe laws (cancelled town meetings, closed Boston Harbor) passed to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party.

Charles Cornwallis

A British Army officer and general during the American Revolutionary War.