Revolutionary War Flashcards

Flashcards covering key terms, people, battles, and ideas from the Revolutionary War.

Hessians

German soldiers who fought for the British.

The Crisis

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine encouraging American independence.

The World Turned Upside Down

Song played when the British surrendered at the battle of Yorktown.

Trenton

Americans attacked on Christmas in a blizzard at night, breaking the rules of war; Americans won.

Princeton

Led by GW, Americans tricked the British by pretending they were resting; Americans won.

Long Island

British wanted to rough up the Americans so they would forfeit; British victory.

Saratoga

Turning point of the revolution; French allied after the battle.

Monmouth Courthouse

Molly Pitcher brought soldiers water during the battle; Americans started the attack.

Valley Forge

A shelter for US soldiers while the British occupied Philadelphia; Smallpox outbreak; army disciplined.

Yorktown

French allies trapped the British, blocking them by water and land; British surrender.

GW (George Washington)

Commander of the American forces.

Howe

Commander in chief of the British forces.

John Burgoyne

British General at Saratoga.

Lord Charles Cornwallis

British General.

Nathanael Greene

American General.

Benedict Arnold

Led sharpshooters for the Americans.

Baron von Steuben

Disciplined the American army at Valley Forge.

Marquis de Lafayette

French General.

American Advantages

Familiarity with land, strong morality, and will to fight.

British Advantages

Navy, military, resources.

How the Americans beat Burgoyne at Saratoga

Sharpshooters took down American guides; the French allied after the victory.

Why the British focused on the South

More loyalists resided there.

Why Benedict Arnold switched sides

He was getting passed up and was tired of it.

Improvements Baron von Steuben made

Disciplined army, fixed hygiene, improved weapon reloading, introduced bayonets.

Impact of guerilla warfare

Allowed for more surprise attacks.

How fighting in the South differed from the North

Different landscape, different people and militias.