American Revolutionary War

Patriot

American colonists who opposed British rule.

Continental Army

The official army of the colonies, created by the second continental congress and led by George Washington.

Second Continental Congress

They organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and appointed the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence.

George Washington

A delegate to Congress; he became commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Battle of Saratoga

This decisive colonial victory forced British General Burgoyne and 5,000 of his troops to surrender, convincing the French to support the American Revolutionary War effort.

Battle of Trenton

The battle in which Washington crossed the Delaware River, and took the Hessians by surprise, and achieved a total victory for the Continental army. The victory secured badly needed food, clothing, and weapons and convinced many Continental soldiers to reenlist.

Hessians

Germans who were paid professionally to fight and help the British in the American Revolution.

Battle of Long Island

George Washington and his army are badly beaten at this battle in New York. Sorely outnumbered and surrounded at Brooklyn Heights, the 9,500 troops that survived retreated under cover of fog, rain and night across the East River to Manhattan.

Valley Forge

Place where Washington's army spent the winter of 1777-1778, one fourth of troops died here from disease and malnutrition. Von Steuben uses the break in fighting to train Washington's troops.

Baron Von Steuben

The former Prussian officer who had volunteered to help the colonists; as a result, the Continental Army emerged in the spring as tougher and stronger.

Battle of Yorktown

Last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis and his troops were trapped in the Chesapeake Bay. He was sandwiched between the French navy and the American army and forced to surrender.

Treaty of Paris

The peace agreement that officially ended the revolutionary war and established Britain's formal recognition of the US.

Lord Charles Cornwallis

Commander of British troops in the South, best known for his defeat at the Battle of Yorktown.

July 4 1776

The date the Declaration of Independence went into effect.

Thomas Jefferson

He was a delegate from Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and wrote most of the Declaration of Independence.

Loyalists

American colonists, who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the war for independence.

"The American Crisis"

A best-selling pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to rally support for the Revolutionary war.

Benedict Arnold

He was a patriot hero at the Battles of Ticonderoga and Saratoga, but eventually he became the most famous American Traitor when he began working with the British.

Mercenary

A professional soldier hired by a foreign army.

Cornwallis

British general who surrendered at Yorktown

Olive Branch Petition

An offer of peace sent by the Second Continental Congress to King George lll

Militia

A group of civilians trained to fight in emergencies

Declaration of Independence

The document asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain and establishing the United States as a separate country.

Benjamin Franklin

American intellectual, inventor, writer, and politician He helped to negotiate French support for the American Revolution.

William Howe

English General who commanded British forces in and around New York at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

Alexander Hamilton

George Washington's personal secretary and Secretary of the Treasury in Washington's cabinet.

Henry Knox

Head of all artillery during the Revolutionary War and the first Secretary of War in Washington's cabinet.

Thomas Paine

American Revolutionary leader who supported the American colonist's fight for independence with pamphlets like "Common Sense" and "The American Crisis."

John Burgoyne

British general defeated by American forces at the Battle of Saratoga and forced to surrender in 1777.

Daniel Morgan

Continental Colonel of regular army and some militia. Master of guerilla warfare. Given credit for winning the Battles of Saratoga and the Cowpens.

Horatio Gates

American General, whose troops defeated the British forces at Saratoga.

Compte de Grasse

French ally, brought French fleet to Chesapeake to blockade Cornwallis

General Rochambeau

French general who commanded French troops in the American Revolution, notably at Yorktown.

Friedrich von Steuben

Military officer from German-speaking Prussia who trained American soldiers at Valley Forge.

King George III

King of England during the American Revolution.

Fort Ticonderoga

Patriots led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold surprise a fort on Lake Champlain and capture cannon for the Americans.

Breed's Hill

The British incurred huge losses on the hills above Boston.

Dorchester Heights

Where the British retreated from Boston after seeing the Americans up on the hills with cannons.

John Locke

English philosopher who heavily influenced Jefferson and the writing of the Declaration of Independence.