The American Revolution Period 3 Part 2

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, figures, battles, and concepts of the American Revolutionary War.

Olive Branch Petition

A measure adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 seeking reconciliation and better treatment from Britain before pursuing independence.

War of Attrition

An American military strategy designed to wear down the British forces over time rather than seeking quick tactical victories.

Hessians

European mercenaries employed by Great Britain to fight against American forces during the Revolutionary War.

Ethan Allen

Leader of the Green Mountain Boys who, alongside Benedict Arnold, captured Fort Ticonderoga and its critical military supplies in May 1775.

Battle of Bunker Hill

A June 1775 battle on Breed's Hill where colonists retreated due to low ammunition, providing Great Britain a tactical win but granting Americans a major symbolic victory.

Evacuation Day

March 17, 1776, marking the withdrawal of British troops from Boston to Nova Scotia following a three-month siege enabled by cannons brought from Fort Ticonderoga.

Common Sense

A January 1776 pamphlet written by Thomas Paine arguing that monarchy and hereditary government are irrational and urging the 13 Colonies to declare independence.

Richard Henry Lee

The Virginia delegate who presented the resolution proposing independence to the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776.

Declaration of Independence

A document written by a committee led by Thomas Jefferson containing a proclamation of natural rights, a list of grievances against the king, and a formal statement of independence.

Patriots

Colonists who supported independence from Great Britain, also called Whigs, accounting for approximately 40–45% of the population.

Loyalists

Colonists loyal to Great Britain, also called Tories, who comprised 15–30% of the population and were least numerous in New England.

John Dickinson

Pennsylvania political leader known as 'The Penman of the Revolution' who drafted early revolutionary writings and led the committee for the Articles of Confederation, but declined to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The American Crisis

A pamphlet series by Thomas Paine, opening with 'These are the times that try men's souls,' intended to bolster morale during the American military retreats of late 1776.

Battle of Trenton

A surprise American victory in December 1776 achieved after George Washington led forces across the Delaware River into New Jersey.

Battle of Saratoga

A major September–October 1777 American victory in New York that marked the diplomatic turning point of the war by convincing France to form a formal alliance.

Treaty of Armed Neutrality

An alliance established in 1780 by neutral European powers, led by Russia, expressing passive hostility toward British maritime dominance.

Baron Von Steuben

A Prussian officer who drilled and trained Continental soldiers at Valley Forge during the severe winter of 1777–1778.

Battle of Rhode Island

An August 1778 engagement that ended in a stalemate in the Northern Theater, dampening momentum from the victory at Saratoga and the French alliance.

Southern Strategy

The third British military campaign plan (1779–1781) that shifted focus to the Southern colonies expecting to leverage heavy Loyalist support.

Battle of Camden

An August 1780 British victory in South Carolina in which American General Horatio Gates suffered a severe defeat and fled the battlefield.

General Nathaniel Greene

Continental commander known as 'The Fighting Quaker' who assumed control of the Southern Theater and engaged British forces in strategic wear-down tactics.

Francis Marion

Colonial militia commander nicknamed the 'Swamp Fox' who utilized guerrilla tactics to target and disrupt General Cornwallis's supply lines.

Benedict Arnold

American officer and hero of Ticonderoga and Saratoga who became infamous after attempting to sell West Point to the British in 1780.

Battle of Cowpens

A January 1781 tactical victory in South Carolina engineered by Daniel Morgan that severely damaged British strength and served as the true military turning point.

Siege of Yorktown

The final major battle of the war in September–October 1781, resulting in General Cornwallis surrendering his troops to combined Washington and French forces.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The formal peace agreement ending the war, in which Great Britain recognized U.S. independence, established national borders, and prohibited the persecution of Loyalists.