TCI SS Unit 3 Lessons 12 & 13

Declaration of Independence

the document that announced that the American colonies were breaking away from Great Britain and explained why

militia

a body of mostly untrained part-time soldiers who did required military service and were available for full-time paid duty when needed

Minutemen

Patriot volunteers who were paid and trained to be ready to fight at a minute's notice

Second Continental Congress

the meeting of delegates from the American colonies that began in Philadelphia in 1775

Founding Fathers

the group of leaders who helped establish the United States of America

Colonial Army

comprised of colonial militias and Minutemen

Tasks of the Second Continental Congress

organize the colonies for war, decide who would lead the army, decided whether to declare independence from Great Britain

Common Sense

pamphlet published by Thomas Paine which argued that people should rule themselves and it convinced many colonists to want independence

Thomas Jefferson

main writer of the Declaration of Independence

Unalienable rights

things that should not be taken away: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

celebration of the Declaration of Independence

many Patriots rang church bells, had parades and lit bonfires

enlist

to agree to serve in an army or a navy

mercenary

a soldier hired to fight for a foreign army

tactic

a planned action, such as a way of moving or using troops, aimed at reaching a certain goal

turning point

an event that leads to a dramatic change

treaty

a formal agreement between two or more nations

revolution

the overthrow of one government and its replacement with another

Native Americans

thousands fought for Great Britain because they restricted colonization of their land.

British Army hardships

homeland was far away so it was hard for them to get supplies and new soldiers

Continental Army

made up of volunteers, used tactic of surprise attacks

Colonial Allies

supplied soldiers and warships

Valley Forge

Place where Washington's army spent the winter of 1777-1778, many soldiers died of cold, sickness, and starvation; some had no shoes; but they stilled showed strong motivation and determination

Battle of Saratoga

considered a turning point of the war because the Colonial victor persuaded France to give them more help.

Treaty of Paris

ended the war; thousands of Loyalists fled; new nation got huge amounts of land; Great Britain recognized the U.S.