Key Events and Figures of the American Revolution

Sugar Act

1764 tax on sugar, molasses and other goods imported to America

Stamp Act

A 1765 act to raise money by taxing paper goods

Townshend Act

Series of laws aimed to raise money from the American colonies after the French and Indian War to pay off debts

The Boston Massacre

A Violent confrontation between British Soldiers and Colonists resulted in 5 deaths.

First Continental Congress

A meeting of colonial leaders to respond to British laws

Boston Tea Party

Colonists dumped tea into the harbor to protest taxes

The Proclamation of 1763

Rule that stopped colonists from settled past the Appalachian mountains

French and Indian

North American conflict between the British and French with various Native American Tribes

Intolerable Acts

A group of laws passed to punish the American Colonists after the Boston Tea Party

Principal Cause of the revolutionary war

Includes harsh Taxation that were passed without Representation

Charter Colonies

Colony run by a business

Proprietary Colonies

Colony run by a family

Royal Colonies

Colony with a Governor appointed by the King with an elected Legislature

George Washington

Commander of the U.S. Continental Army

Thomas Jefferson

Main Writer of the Declaration of Independence

Benedict Arnold

U.S. General who gave United States secrets to Britain

Paul Revere

Colonist who warned the British were coming

Loyalists

Colonists who supported Britain

Sons of Liberty

Group created to help organize protests and spread information

Patriots

Colonist who believed America should be its own country

Why did the British come to Lexington and Concord?

British came to collect weapons and arrest patriot leaders

Why is this battle important?

It is the first battle of the Revolutionary War

What happened when Britain arrived at Lexington?

A small group of colonist stood up to the British, someone fired a shot, and the battle began

Who won the battle of Lexington and Concord?

American Colonists

Why was the battle of Saratoga important?

This was the turning point of the war when the United States gained support from France.

Who won the battle of Saratoga?

American Colonists

Who were the US generals of the Battle of Saratoga?

Benedict Arnold and Heratio Gates

Why was the Battle of Yorktown so important?

This was the final major battle of the Revolutionary War.

What country helped America?

France

Who won the Battle of Yorktown?

America

What happened after the Battle of Yorktown?

The British Surrendered

Announced our Separation from England

Declaration of Independence

Gave too much power to the states and not enough to the federal government

Articles of Confederation

Official Document to end the Revolutionary War

Treaty of Paris

Gave the United States land to the Mississippi River

Treaty of Paris

First Government for the United States

Articles of Confederation

Dated July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress

Declaration of Independence

Listed grievances with England and the King

Declaration of Independence