US History - American Revolution

Battle of Yorktown

1781, last large scale battle of the Revolutionary War where Cornwallis surrendered at this Virginia coastal city

French and Indian War

A war that lasted from 1754- 1763 that established Britain as the dominant world power. Britain and colonists fought against the French and their American Indian allies.

Charles de Montesquieu

French political thinker who influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Paine/Common Sense

author and the pamphlet that he wrote encouraging colonial independence from Britain and the formation of a republic

Intolerable Acts

closed the port of Boston as punishment for the Boston Tea Party and restricted the rights of colonists

George Washington

commander in chief of the Continental (Patriot) Army, extraordinary leader who led the Americans to victory in the American Revolution and later became our first president

Treaty of Paris (1763)

ended the French and Indian War; France lost almost all of its territory in North America

Treaty of Paris (1783)

ended the Revolutionary War; Britain agreed to accept American Independence and the United States gained control of land stretching to the Mississippi River

Committees of Correspondence

formed to foster communication between the 13 Colonies in support of the protests against the British

Sons/Daughters of Liberty

groups of colonists who supported independence from Britain and took actions to oppose British rule and rally others against it

Sons/Daughters of Liberty

groups of colonists who supported independence from Britain and took actions to oppose British rule and rally others against it Committees of Correspondence - formed to foster communication between the 13 Colonies in support of the protests against the British

John Locke

his ideas of the social contract theory greatly influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

in 1776 American Patriots declared themselves independent of Britain with this document

Proclamation of 1763

issued by Parliament and forbade colonial settlement west of the Appalachians to limit conflicts with the American Indians; disliked by many colonists

Proclamation of 1763

issued by Parliament and forbade colonial settlement west of the Appalachians to limit conflicts with the American Indians; disliked by many colonists Stamp Act - required the purchase of a stamp (like a seal) with printed products and legal documents, a direct tax on the colonists

Crossing the Delaware River

on Christmas 1776, Washington led the Americans to a surprise attack and victory over the British and their Hessian mercenaries at Trenton, New Jersey

Stamp Act

required the purchase of a stamp (like a seal) with printed products and legal documents, a direct tax on the colonists

Benjamin Franklin

served as American ambassador to France during the American Revolution and was instrumental in forging a military alliance with France against the British

Valley Forge

the Continental Army spent the harsh winter of 1777-1778 in this area of Pennsylvania

General Charles Cornwallis

British general who led the British war effort in the American south

Marquis de Lafayette

French military leader who greatly aided America in the American Revolution