H8 Unit 4: American Revolution Terms

Patrick Henry

Virginia politician, "Give me liberty, or give me death!"

George Washington

commander of American military, founding father

John Adams

Patriot, lawyer, spent much of Rev. War in Europe as a diplomat

Marquis de Lafayette

French man who gave money, time, and effort to the Patriot cause, fought alongside Gen. Washington

John Paul Jones

Patriot, navy captain, won many sea battles: "I have not yet begun to fight!"

Nathan Hale

Patriot, famous quotation "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country", captured and executed by the British for being a spy

Mary Ludwig Hayes (Molly Pitcher)

Patriot, took her husband's place in battle, brought water to soldiers.

Benedict Arnold

American general, felt like he was treated badly by Patriots, so switched to British side

General Cornwallis

British general who surrendered at Yorktown, ending the war

Pulaski

Polish military man who helped train Patriot cavalry forces

Kosciuszko

Polish military man who trained Patriots in army engineering skills

Von Stueben

Prussian military man who trained Patriots to be disciplined, effective soldiers

Hessians

soldiers from Germany who were hired to help British fight the Americans

2nd Continental Congress

meeting in Philadelphia to decide how to react to Lexington-Concord; created Continental Army; chose Washington as commander of Continental Army

The Crisis

written by Thomas Paine during the war; encouraged soldiers to stay and fight

Breed's Hill-Bunker Hill

near Boston, Americans inflicted heavy casualties on British before having to retreat, Americans ran out of ammunition

Dorchester Heights

resulted in the British evacuation of Boston

Fort Ticonderoga

New York fort that was captured by Patriots, artillery taken and used by Continental Army

Trenton

Christmas night 1776, Americans surprise Hessians and defeat them

Princeton

Washington defeated British after Trenton; boosted Patriots' confidence and American morale which was strongly needed.

Saratoga

Patriots won; Burgoyne lost after coming down from Canada; American victory, convinced France to join on the side of the Patriots

Valley Forge

winter campsite of Continental Army and Washington; miserable cold, diseases, and lack of food and supplies killed more than 2500 soldiers, low point in morale, but demonstrated troop toughness

Cowpens

took place in the South, British lose and retreat north

Yorktown

final battle of Revolutionary War; Continental Army and French Navy surround British on land and sea, forcing Cornwallis to surrender after a 3 week siege

Treaty of Paris (1783)

ended Revolutionary War; Britain recognizes American independence, new borders, and American rights to trade