3.4 Key Terms

Charles Cornwallis

Fought in the 7 years war in Europe before being sent to combat the continental army during the Revolutionary War. After achieving key victories in battles, he was trapped with his forces at Yorktown in 1781, where he surrendered to General Washington

Marquis de Lafayette

French aristocrat who joined the American Patriot cause in 1777 who fought under George Washington and persuaded the king to send French forces to help the Americans in 1779

Benjamin Franklin

He was the only individual to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris and the US constitution and was also a key negotiator with Paris after the Battle of Saratoga

William Howe

Served as commander-in-chief of the British army from 1776 to 1778, during the Revolutionary War. Led British troops to victory at Bunker Hill, Brandywine, and Germantown, he resigned his command after failing to defeat General Washington's forces at Valley Forge.

Manumission

the act of freeing someone from slavery

Kings Mountain

a 1780 Revolutionary War battle in South Carolina in which Patriots defeated a Loyalist militia

Mercenary

professional soldier who is paid to fight in a foreign army

Yorktown

site in Virginia where, in 1781, General Cornwallis's British forces surrendered to General Washington

List the Revolutionary War Battles in order

Lexington & Concord Bunker Hill Trenton Princeton Saratoga Yorktown

Valley Forge

Location in Pennsylvania where George Washington's army spent a difficult winter in 1777-1778

Battle of Trenton

1776 Revolutionary War battle in New Jersey, won by the Continental Army

Saratoga

1777 Revolutionary War battle considered to be the turning point in the war because the Patriot win convinced the French to aid the United States

Battle of Princeton

1777 Revolutionary War battle in New Jersey, won by the Continental Army

Monmouth

1778 Revolutionary War battle site in New Jersey where neither side won a clear victory

Treaty of Paris

1783 peace treaty that ended the Revolutionary War and affirmed American independence

Battle of Bunker Hill

June 1775 - Patriots occupied 2 hills (Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill. The British attacked Breed's Hill 3 times, the 1st two times, the British were forced to retreat after a stand by the Patriots. On the 3rd attack, the Patriots ran out of ammunition and were forced to retreat which resulted in a British victory Bunker Hill - The British made one attack on the Patriots which resulted in a victory for the British