American Revolution

George III

King of Great Britain known for his aggressive policies and difficulty in pleasing the colonies.

Parliamentary Power

The highest authority in Britain, which imposed taxes on the American colonies.

Direct Tax

A tax applied directly to a good, such as the Stamp Act on newspapers and playing cards.

Indirect Tax

A tax imposed on producers, leading to increased prices for consumers, like the Sugar Act.

Boston Massacre

A 1770 incident where British soldiers killed five colonists, escalating anti-British sentiment.

Sons of Liberty

A group that organized boycotts against British goods and protested against British taxation.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest against the Tea Act where colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

Coercive Acts

Also known as the Intolerable Acts, these were punitive measures taken by Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party.

First Continental Congress

A 1774 meeting of colonial delegates to discuss grievances against Britain, leading to a unified response.

Lexington & Concord

The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, marking the start of armed conflict.

Bunker Hill

A costly battle for the British in 1775, demonstrating colonial resolve despite their loss.

Continental Army

The army formed by the Second Continental Congress, led by George Washington.

Common Sense

A pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for American independence, widely circulated in early 1776.

French Alliance

The alliance formed in 1777 between the American colonies and France, providing crucial support.

Battle of Saratoga

A turning point in the Revolutionary War in 1777, leading to British surrender and French support.

Valley Forge

The winter encampment of the Continental Army in 1777-78, marked by high death rates and suffering.

Loyalists

Colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution, making up about one-third of the population.

Treaty of Paris

The 1783 agreement that officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.