The American Revolutionary War
A few weaknesses of the British Army:
-Far distance from America to England -Unfamiliar geography -Fought in traditional way out in the open against guerrilla fighters -Weal military and political leadership
Militia is?
A group of civilians trained to fight in emergencies
Bayonet
A sword-like stabbing blade that may be fixed to the muzzle of a rifle for use in hand-to-hand fighting.
Why do you think the British lose the war when they won most of the battles?
All the Patriots had to do was not give up. The British had to keep paying for more and more soldiers and ammunition and food, while they didn't know when and if the Americans would give up and the war would end. A war with no end is VERY expensive, in lives lost and money.
Who won the Revolutionary War?
America or US colonies or Patriots or United States of America (these are all different terms for the same thing, all of these are correct answer :)
Patriot
American colonists who wanted to fight the British and make American independent
Loyalist
American colonists who were loyal to Britain and against the war for independence
Treaty of Paris of 1783 terms?
Americans were granted their independence by Britain. The territory lying between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River was also given to the Americans. This new land changed the map of North America.
Minutemen
Civilian colonists on the Patriot rebel side who independently organized to form well-prepared militia companies self-trained in weaponry, tactics, and military. They were also known for being ready at a minute's notice, hence the name.
John Adams
Defended soldiers at Boston Massacre; Assisted Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence; Helped lead the independence debate; Diplomat that negotiated the peace with Great Britain
Declaration of Independence
Document written mostly by Thomas Jefferson that states the Americans were independent of Great Britain and had established a new country- the United States of America
Thomas Paine
English-American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary. One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he authored the two most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, and he inspired the rebels in 1776 to declare independence from Britain
Marquis de Lafayette
French soldier who joined General Washington's staff and became a general in the Continental Army.
Hessians
German mercenaries who fought for the British
George Washington was an effective leader in the Continental Army for all of the following reasons:
Had experience from fighting in Seven Years War: Used strong discipline to keep the army together: and despite overwhelming odds, kept his belief in the cause of American independence
Benedict Arnold
Known as a traitor for selling American secrets to the British.
Battle of Yorktown
Last major battle in the war. Washington and the French trap Lord Cornwallis and force him to surrender. The Americans win.
Thomas Jefferson
Main author of the Declaration of Independence
African Americans joined the British Army
Many African Americans joined the British army because the British promised freedom to those who fought against the Patriot rebels
African Americans joined the Continental Army
Many African Americans joined the Patriot cause with the hope that America would abolish slavery
Who was the French military guy who was all excited to be helping the Americans?
Marquis de Lafayette
Redcoat is?
Name given to the British soldiers
Battle of Brooklyn
One of the first battles of the war. General Howe, the British General, beats the American colonial army easily. George Washington manages to run away with half his army under cover of fog. Also called the Battle of New York
Describe the Revolutionary War: include who is fighting, where they are fighting, why they are fighting and when they are fighting.
Patriots or US colonies are fighting Britain. They are fighting in today's United States. They are fighting for control of the American colonies. The war starts in 1775 and ends in 1781 (end of 18th century and end of 1700's also acceptable).
Valley Forge
Place where Washington's troops spent the winter of 1777-78 and trained with the help of European volunteers like Prussina Baron Fiederich von Steuben and the French Marquis de Lafayette.
Could the US Colonies (Patriots) have won the Revolutionary War without the help of France?
Probably not
Guerrilla
Soldiers who do hit-and-run attacks, not following formal rules of engagement
Fighting in the South in 1780-81
Southern guerrilla fighters pushed back against the British and didn't allow them to control the South.
Who helped the American Patriots win the war?
The French
Treason
The crime of betraying one's country.
Saratoga: Why was this American Victory a TURNING POINT in the war?
This American victory was a turning point because it destroyed the British hopes of an easy war and lifted the spirits of many Patriots. It also caused Europeans to go against the British and the French to ally with the Americans.
What was British General John Burgoyne's goal in the battle of Saratoga?
To cut off New England from the rest of the (southern) states.
The Battle of Trenton
Washington had the American Army cross the Delaware river in the middle of the night to sneak up on the Hessians at Trenton. They surprised the Germans the morning after Christmas and won a small but symbolically important battle giving Americans hope that they could defeat the British.
Alliance
When two countries unite for a similar or common goal.
Abigail Adams
Wife of John Adams who frequently sought the advice of Abigail on many matters, and their letters are filled with intellectual discussions on government and politics. In one of her more famous letters she implores her husband and his colleagues, all of whom were male, to, "...remember the ladies."
Women's support for the Patriot Cause
Women participated by boycotting British goods, producing goods for soldiers, raising funds for the rebels, spying on the British, and serving in the armed forces disguised as men.