american revolution vocab

french and indian war

a conflict between britain and france in north america from 1754 to 1763; part of a larger global war known as the seven years' war.

albany plan of union

a proposal by benjamin franklin in 1754 to create a unified government for the thirteen colonies; it was rejected but showed early attempts at colonial unity.

peace of paris

the 1763 treaty that ended the french and indian war; france lost most of its north american territory to britain.

salutary neglect

a british policy of loosely enforcing colonial laws

pontiac's rebellion

a 1763 uprising by native american tribes against british rule in the great lakes region

proclamation of 1763

a british law forbidding colonists from settling west of the appalachian mountains to avoid conflict with native americans.

george washington

colonial military leader during the french and indian war and commander of the continental army during the american revolution.

sugar act

a 1764 british law that placed a tax on sugar and other goods imported into the colonies

stamp act

a 1765 law requiring colonists to pay for an official stamp on paper goods; it was the first direct tax on the colonies.

stamp act congress

a 1765 meeting of colonial delegates who protested the stamp act and asserted that only colonial assemblies could tax colonists.

declaratory act

a 1766 law stating that parliament had the authority to make laws for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever

boston massacre

a 1770 conflict in which british soldiers killed five colonists during a protest; it was used as propaganda by revolutionaries.

townshend duties

a series of taxes in 1767 on imports like glass

tea act

a 1773 law allowing the british east india company to sell tea directly to the colonies

coercive acts

also called the intolerable acts; harsh laws passed in 1774 to punish boston for the tea party

quartering acts

laws requiring colonists to house and supply british troops stationed in the colonies.

sons and daughters of liberty

colonial activist groups who organized protests and resisted british policies through actions like boycotts and propaganda.

committee of correspondence

colonial networks that coordinated communication and resistance efforts against british policies.

patrick henry

a virginia patriot famous for his declaration

john dickenson

a moderate patriot who wrote "letters from a farmer in pennsylvania" opposing british taxes and calling for colonial rights.

sam adams

a boston patriot and organizer of resistance to british policies; helped found the sons of liberty.

james otis

an early colonial lawyer and thinker who argued against taxation without representation.

king george iii

the king of britain during the american revolution

parliament

the british legislative body responsible for making laws

enlightenment

an intellectual movement emphasizing reason

deism

a belief that god created the world but does not interfere in human affairs; popular among some enlightenment thinkers.

social contract

the enlightenment idea that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed.

john locke

an enlightenment philosopher whose ideas about natural rights and government influenced the american revolution.

thomas paine

author of common sense

first continental congress

a 1774 meeting of delegates from 12 colonies to organize resistance to the coercive acts.

second continental congress

the governing body that managed the revolutionary war and adopted the declaration of independence.

olive branch petition

a final attempt by the second continental congress in 1775 to avoid war with britain by pledging loyalty to the king.

common sense

a 1776 pamphlet by thomas paine that argued clearly and forcefully for american independence.

declaration of independence

the 1776 document declaring american independence from britain

lexington and concord

the first battles of the revolutionary war in april 1775; marked the beginning of armed conflict.

valley forge

the 1777–78 winter camp of the continental army where soldiers endured hardship but emerged more unified and disciplined.

battle of saratoga

a 1777 american victory that was a turning point in the war and helped secure french support.

battle of yorktown

the final major battle of the revolution in 1781

treaty of paris

the 1783 agreement that officially ended the american revolution and recognized american independence.

patriot

a colonist who supported independence from britain.

loyalist

a colonist who remained loyal to britain during the american revolution.

john adams

a patriot leader

paul revere

a patriot known for his midnight ride to warn colonists of british troop movements.

republican motherhood

the idea that women should raise children to be virtuous citizens of the new american republic.

abigail adams

wife of john adams who advocated for women’s rights and famously urged her husband to “remember the ladies.”

daughters of liberty

female patriot groups that supported the boycott of british goods and promoted home manufacturing.