American Revolution

Patriots

- Actively made up of about two-fifths of the white population - Sought freedom from Britain

Molly Pitcher

- Carried pitchers of water to soldiers during the Battle of Monmouth (Revolutionary War) - Many legends/folklore of her, some believe she is just a composite of several people - One story includes her taking over her husband's cannon, after he collapses American

Benedict Arnold

- Defected to the British side* - Member of the Sons of Liberty - Served as a general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War - Committed treason; plotting to surrender West Point (America's prized fort) British

Marquis de Lafayette

- Frenchman who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War - Against British oppression, sailed to America in 1777 to join the uprising for freedom - Had special bond w/ George Washington American

Neutrals

- Neutrals were the remaining two-fifths of the white population that tried to avoid taking sides - This was viewed as a crime as heinous as being a Loyalist

George Washington

- One of the Founding Fathers - Led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War (he was a general and commander-in-chief) - 1st U.S. president (served from 1789-1797) American loyalist

Loyalists

- Partly made up of the African-American slave population, as Britain promised them freedom in Great Britain in return for their support during the American Revolution

King George III

- Ruled the British Kingdom (thru the Revolutionary War/when the colonies gain independence) British

How might this impact the American Revolution?

A lot of the fighting would be done in this area

What factors led to Colonial victory in the Revolutionary War?

Alliance with France, British debt, distance, familiarity with territory, heart and mind

Lexington & Concord

April 19, 1775 constituted the first military action in the Revolutionary War

Declaration of Independence Signed

August 2, 1776 - It was approved by Congress on July 4, 1776 - Declared America as an independent nation, free from Britain

What were the key events of the Revolutionary War?

Battle of Bunker Hill; The Declaration of Independence; Washington crosses the Delaware; The Battle of Saratoga; Winter at Valley Forge; France enters the war against Britain; The Battle of Capes & Yorktown

Lord Charles Cornwallis

British army general and official - Led many of the successful British campaigns during the American Revolution - Battle of Yorktown: General Cornwallis surrenders his troops to George Washington - Sends his lieutenant to surrender for him British

Redcoats

British soldiers in the American Revolution

What happened at the Boston Massacre?

British soldiers panicked during a riot and killed five colonists. This was when colonists were protesting and then some British soldiers started to attack the colonists.

Washington Crosses the Delaware

December 25, 1776 They had a decisive victory that helped turn the war back to the American's favor

What impact did this have on the Continental Army and Washington?

Enduring the long winter at Valley Forge caused the Continental Army and Washington to be left dispirited. However, this event is also referred to as the "Birthplace of the American army", as it was here that the Continental Army became truly unified.

Battle of Saratoga

Fall of 1777 a turning point in the American Revolution. It gave the Patriots a major morale boost and persuaded the French, Spanish and Dutch to join their cause against a mutual rival

Colonies & France sign the French Alliance

February 6, 1778 led to the military funding and support that helped the colonists defeat the British

How does Lafaeyette feel about supporting the American Revolution & why?

He did not like it because he believed they were going to be deceived.

What is Paine's argument here about why the United States should be independent of Great Britain?

He says that a small island is not able to govern an entire continent.

How do you think his view might be based on America today?

I believe he would still be unhappy because France gained nothing from this.

Marquis de Lafayette

I would never have drawn my sword in the cause of America, if I could have conceived that thereby I was founding a land of slavery."

Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" Published

January 1776 advocated independence for the American colonies from Britain

Why does Jefferson feel the Colonies have the right to institute a new Government?

Jefferson feels the Colonies have the right to institute a new Government because when something is not working (the rocky relationship between the British and the American Colonists), they have the right to change that to become a more orderly society.

Battle of Bunker Hill

June 16, 1775 Provided an important confidence boost for the colonists, even though they lost

How would marginalized groups use these words later to support other causes?

Marginalized groups would use these words later to support other causes for similar reasoning; if a group is not happy and the current leadership is not working—change it.

Where did most of the fighting take place?

New York, New Jersey, and South Carolina

Which Colonies had the highest population density?

Northern Colonies

The Articles of Confederation adopted

November 15, 1777 provided enough of a structure for the nation to survive

Battle of King's Mountain, SC

October 7, 1780 the turn tide of success

Benjamin Franklin

One of the Founding Fathers - Inventor, scientist, polymath, politician, printer, freemason, diplomat - Published Poor Richard's Almanack - Negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris (ending the Revolutionary War) - Invented bifocal glasses and the rocking chair, performed the lightning experiment, face of today's $100 bill American

Alexander Hamilton

One of the Founding Fathers - Washington's assistant - 1778: Convinced New Yorkers to ratify the U.S. Constitution - Lawyer American

What political differences were created among the colonists concerning separation from Great Britain?

Separated into three groups: Patriots wanted complete separation from Britain, Loyalists stayed loyal to the king because of cultural and economic ties. They also felt that taxation was justified pay for the French and Indian war, and protection from the American Indians. Neutralists were colonists who tried to stay as uninvolved in the war as possible

Battle of Yorktown

September 28, 1781 - October 19, 1781 Virginia marked the conclusion of the last major battle of the American Revolution and the start of a new nation's independence

Treaty of Paris Signed

September 3, 1783 ended the American Revolution

In what way were the British uniforms ineffective?

The British uniforms were ineffective due to how much they stood out. The bright red of their coats made them easily identifiable during battle.The Continental Army could easily spot and attack a British Redcoat.

1780 drawing of American soldiers from the Yorktown campaign. How do these Continental Army uniforms differ from those of the British?

The Continental army's uniforms are blue

How did the political ideas of the Enlightenment shape the American colonies?

The Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and justice helped to create the conditions for the American Revolution and the subsequent Constitution

What geographic advantage did the Continental Army have?

The battle was fought on their land.

Based on the map, what issues might states have to figure out once the United States achieved independence from Great Britain?

The issues could be that they have to figure out how the land will be distributed.

In what way had the "world turned upside down" at Yorktown?

There was a major battle there and many lives were lost

How did Great Britain's neglect of the colonists gradually lead to independence?

They failed to enforce many policies and left the colonies free to do as they please

How have the Declaration of Independence's key principles grown in importance to become unifying ideas of American political philosophy?

They have made everyone understand that everyone deserves the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Were the colonists justified in resisting British policies after the French and Indian War?

They were justified because they were taxed unfairly and without any representation in British Parliament

Why might Attacks become a symbol for abolitionists?

This is because he was the first black man to be murdered.

What impact did this event have on the War?

This was a major battle won by the colonists which eventually led to their victory

George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on the night of December 25-26, 1776 was the first move in a surprise attack against the Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. Why were Washington and his men crossing the river?

To surprise the British on the other end

Paul Revere

Took part in the Boston Tea Party - A principal rider for Boston's Committee of Safety - He devised a system of lanterns to warn the minutemen of British invasion - Midnight Ride: He rode to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of incoming British - "The British are coming!" American

How does Washington describe the conditions at Valley Forge?

Washington describes the conditions at Valley Forge to be indescribably miserable. His men are suffering from famine and disease.

Winter at Valley Forge

Winter of 1777-1778 the suffering troops were held together by loyalty to the Patriot cause and to General Washington, who stayed with his men

Was the American Revolutionary War inevitable?

Yes because eventually colonists would seek freedom and become upset about the rate of tax on their goods.

Shot Heard 'Round the World

a phrase that refers to the opening shot of the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, which began the American Revolutionary War and led to the creation of the United States of America

Loyalists

colonist loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution

Patriot

colonists of the Thirteen Colonies who rejected British rule during the American Revolution and declared the United States of America as an independent nation

Mercenary

hired professional soldier who fights for any state or nation without regard to political interests or issues

Treaty of Paris

signed by U.S. and British Representatives on September 3, 1783, ending the War of the American Revolution

What impact did the British Navy have on the war?

the Royal Navy's failure to hunt down and destroy American blockade runners allowed Yankee rebels easy access to European arms and munitions

Blockade

the isolation by a warring nation of an enemy area (such as a harbor) by troops or warships to prevent passage of persons or supplies broadly

Boycott

to stop buying or using the goods or services of a certain company or country as a protest

Guerrilla Warfare

type of warfare fought by irregulars in fast-moving, small-scale actions against orthodox military and police forces and, on occasion, against rival insurgent forces, either independently or in conjunction with a larger political-military strategy