American Revolution: Battles, Leaders & Vocab

Lexington and Concord

the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War outside of Boston, Massachusetts

Battle of Bunker Hill

The first major battle of the Revolutionary War; it was fought near Boston in June 1775 for strategic lookouts over Boston Harbor.

Battle of Saratoga

The turning point of the Revolutionary War. A major victory for the Continental Army in New York. France and Spain decide to support the patriots after this victory.

Battle of Yorktown

The last major battle of the Revolutionary War, fought in 1781 near the seacoast of Virginia. There the British general Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army to General George Washington.

Second Continental Congress

Representatives from the 13 Colonies that started meeting in the summer of 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. Acting government for the colonies during the war

Treaty of Paris of 1783

A peace negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, ended the revolutionary war and recognized American independence

Patriots

a person who supports independence from Britain

Loyalist

a person who supported the British government during the American Revolution

Hessians

A German solider who fought for the British in the revolutionary war

George Washington

1st President of the United States; Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Benjamin Franklin

Negotiated for French help for the colonists and signed the Treaty of Paris (1783),

Thomas Jefferson

Majority writer for the Declaration of Independence. He later served as the third President of the United States.

Thomas Paine

Author of the pamphlet 'Common Sense'

King George III

King of Britain during the American Revolution

John Adams

A Boston lawyer that helped write the Declaration of Independence; 2nd U.S. President.

Patrick Henry

Virginian politician that argued for Virginia to join the war effort. Famous for the phrase "Give me liberty, or give me death!"

Continental Army

the name for the colonial army during the American Revolution

Militia

civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army

Paul Revere

Member of the Sons of Liberty in Boston. Most known for his Boston Massacre engraving and warning local militias that British soldiers were marching toward their towns.

Phillis Wheatley

Former slave that could read and write. Her poetry and plays helped influence the push for independence.

Battle of Trenton

Surprise attack on Hessian soldiers by Washington in 1776 Revolutionary War battle in New Jersey.

Won by the Continental Army.

treaty

a formal agreement between two or more nations

France

This country came to the aid of the Americans after the Battle of Saratoga.

Valley Forge

Place where Washington's army spent a difficult winter from 1777-1778. Troops spent the winter training together.

"Common Sense"

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that claimed the colonies had a right to be an independent nation

Marquis de Lafayette

Very rich Frenchman that came to American because he believed in the liberty that the Americans were fighting. He became a general on Washington's staff.

Lord Cornwallis

British general who surrendered at Yorktown

"Give me Liberty or give me death"

Patriotic speech that inspired Virginia to support the Continental army with supplies and soldiers

James Armistead Lafayette

Former slave who was a patriot spy and worked for French General Lafayette