Revolution and New Nation

hi blur

July 4, 1776

birthday of America

revolution

sudden, radical, or complete change It also means the overthrow of a ruler or government

George Washington

commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War

Thomas Jefferson

main writer of the Declaration of Independence

ratify

to approve

Republic

government where citizens elect representatives to make the laws

John Adams

obnoxious and disliked by many of the other delegates of the Continental Congress, although it appears that without him independence would not have been declared

John Locke

influenced American colonists by coming up with the idea of natural rights

Jamestown, Virginia

first permanent English Settlement in North America and it was established in 1607

The Mayflower Compact

set up a direct democracy in Plymouth

King George III

final authority of the colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence and he was the British Monarch during the period of history that is known as the American Revolution

Magna Carta

listed the rights that only applied to the British Nobles (wealthy people) and this document also limited King John's power in England when he signed it

Direct Democracy

the laws are made directly by the citizens

Tyranny

abuse of power

Militia/Minutemen

local volunteer soldiers who fought usually just to defend their own local community, colony, or state

English Bill of Rights

the rights of all English citizens Mary and William had to accept this document before they took power

Ancient Romans

influenced American Colonists by showing them that representatives make laws in a Republican form of Government

Ancient Greeks/Athenians

influenced American Colonists by showing them that the citizens make the laws in a Direct Democracy

Montesquieu

influenced American colonists by showing them that the government should be divided into three branches - the legislative, executive, and judicial

Crispus Attucks

was killed at the Boston Massacre

Hessians

paid german soldiers who fought on the side of the british

Lexington and Concord

first battles of the Revolutionary War

Dissenter

does not agree with social or common views

French and Indian War

broke out in 1754 because British colonists were moving west

Thomas Paine

Wrote Common Sense

John Hancock

has the biggest and boldest signature on the Declaration of Independence, first to sign

Boston Massacre

Five unarmed American colonists were killed at the event known as the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770

Separation of powers

is the division of government among legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Patriotism

is the feeling or expression of love for one's country

Southern Colonies

Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland

debate

talk about or argue

boycott

means to refuse to buy or use

Tories/Loyalists

did not want independence from britain

Treaty of Paris

document that officially ended the American Revolution in 1783

Patriots

people that wanted independence from britain

Middle Colonies

Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York

New England Colonies

Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire

Indentured servants

agreed to work for a certain amount of time in exchange for passage, food, shelter and clothing

Paul Revere

engraving of the Boston Massacre as a form of propaganda to help unify the colonies

Continental Army

were the paid army that George Washington was the commander of

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

the city in which both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written

Redcoats

British soldiers

The Anti-Slavery Clause

had to be taken out of the Declaration of Independence because not all members of Congress agreed on it

The Declaration of Independence

Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state.

What took place on March 5, 1770

The Boston Massacre

duty

tax