Revolutionary War Vocabulary

Front 1

Define: First Continental Congress

Back 1

a gathering of colonial leaders who were concerned about the relationship between England and the the colonies in America

Front 2

Define: Patriots

Back 2

colonists who chose to fight for independence from Great Britain

Front 3

Define: Paul Revere

Back 3

Rode around outside the town of Boston to warn the colonists the British were coming

Front 4

Define: minutemen

Back 4

local militia who were ready to fight at a moments notice

Front 5

Define: Redcoats

Back 5

nickname given to British soldiers because of the color of their uniform

Front 6

Define: Continental Army

Back 6

fighting force that included soldiers from all the colonies and carried out fight against Great Britain

Front 7

Define: George Washington

Back 7

Named commander of Continental Army

Front 8

Explain: Battle of Bunker Hill

Back 8

Took place in Boston, after 3 charges the British forced the colonists to retreat, colonists prove they could take on the more powerful British army

Front 9

Who was Robert Newman?

Back 9

he signaled Paul Revere and Samuel Prescott by holding up lanterns in the steeple of the Old North Church

Front 10

Explain: Battle of Lexington

Back 10

British army meets 70 minutemen, "shot heard 'round the world" results in both sides firing

Front 11

Explain: Battle of Concord

Back 11

British march to Concord to seize weapons and end up setting town on fire, minutemen attacked and British troops retreat to Boston, suffered many casualties

Front 12

What did Patrick Henry mean when he said, "...give me liberty or give me death."

Back 12

He would rather die than live without his liberty or freedom

Front 13

Define: Common Sense

Back 13

a pamphlet that argued against British rule over America

Front 14

Define: Thomas Paine

Back 14

wrote Common Sense, a 47-page pamphlet

Front 15

Define: Declaration of Independence

Back 15

document that formally announced the colonies' break from Great Britain

Front 16

Define: Thomas Jefferson

Back 16

main author of the Declaration of Independence

Front 17

What are the 3 main points in the Declaration of Independence

Back 17

1. all people have right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
2. King violated colonists' rights by taxing them without their consent
3. Colonies had the right to break from England

Front 18

Define: Loyalists

Back 18

Colonists who chose to side with the British

Front 19

What groups were excluded in the Declaration of Independence?

Back 19

Women, African Americans and Native Americans

Front 20

Define: mercenaries

Back 20

foreign soldiers who fought for pay, not loyalty

Front 21

Explain: Battle of Trenton

Back 21

Washington led surprise attack on the Hessians by crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night.

Front 22

Explain: Battle of Saratoga

Back 22

Patriot forces surrounded British army and forced them to surrender, turning point in the Revolutionary War

Front 23

Define: Marquis de Lafayette

Back 23

He fought in the Continental Army without pay and donated his own money to help the Continental Army

Front 24

Define: Baron Freidrich von Steuben

Back 24

He trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge

Front 25

Explain: Battle of Yorktown

Back 25

Washington's army, with the help of French troops surround British army and force them to surrender

Front 26

How did women contribute to the Revolutionary War?

Back 26

ran farms and businesses, raised money and made clothes for army, served as messengers, nurses and spies

Front 27

Why was it hard to keep dedicated soldiers in the Continental Army?

Back 27

given low pay, harsh working conditions, high chance of death

Front 28

Why did Europe finally begin to help the Patriots?

Back 28

the Patriot victory at Saratoga convinced France and Spain that the Americans could win the war

Front 29

What challenges did Washington's army face at Valley Forge?

Back 29

harsh winter weather; lack of supplies; adequate shelter, clothing, and food; illness

Front 30

Define: Treaty of Paris of 1783

Back 30

peace agreement between England and America that ended the Revolutionary War

Front 31

Why was war in the south so brutal?

Back 31

because Patriots and Loyalists were fighting each other in direct combat, British also destroy property of Patriots

Front 32

What is guerrilla warfare?

Back 32

swift hit-and-run attacks, surprise attacks

Front 33

What are 3 key points included in the Treaty of Paris?

Back 33

it recognized U.S. independence; set U.S. borders; granted Americans right to settle and trade west of 13 colonies