Important Figures I
This dude was the King of England during the American Revolution.
King George III
This eventual President defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre and signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris.
John Adams
Where did the first conflict of the American Revolution occur, kicking off with "the shot heard 'round the world?"
Lexington and Concord
DAILY SEPTUPLE!!! AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! What was the four word slogan of the American colonists that summed up their entire problem with how the British were running the colonies after the French and Indian War?
"No taxation without representation!"
Why did the British switch their focus towards the Southern colonies towards the end of the war? Why did they expect to experience more success there? (Two reasons)
They planned to free the slaves and have them fight, and they were counting on assistance from large Loyalist populations in Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas.
Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President?
Thomas Jefferson
This “Father of the American Navy” was a former British sailor who sailed as a privateer for America during the Revolution, taking on and defeating the British navy largely in British waters on numerous occasions. He was famous for saying, during a harsh battle and being told to surrender, “I have not yet begun to fight!”
John Paul Jones
DAILY TRIPLE!!! (Three-part question):Taking place in Boston, what was the first major conflict of the American Revolution? What is the famous quote associated with this battle? Who won, and under what circumstances?
The famous quote from an American commander to his troops low on gunpowder at the Battle of Bunker/Breed's Hill was, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" The British won, but only after the Americans killed roughly twice as many as they lost and fled due to running out of gunpowder.
What was the Boston Massacre, and what were its effects?
British soldiers fired into an antagonistic mob of Bostonians, killing five. Colonial protestors such as Paul Revere and Sam Adams used the event as propaganda to incite more anti-British sentiment.
What was the Tea Act of 1773, and what was the colonial reaction to it?
The tea act made British tea cheaper to purchase than American tea, so the Sons of Liberty dressed up like Native Americans and dumped a bunch of British tea into Boston Harbor.
This Prussian military officer served as Inspector General of the Continental Army, taught the army discipline and order, and eventually served as Washington's Chief of Staff.
Friedrich von Steuben
DAILY DOUBLE: Who was the first black female poet in the United States, credited with founding African American literature?
Phyllis Wheatley
Why was the Battle of Saratoga such a turning point in the war?
General Burgoyne surrendered his entire army, it was a much-needed and well-timed victory to restore morale and inspire renewed faith in the war effort, and it convinced other European powers like France and eventually Spain to see the British as defeatable.
Why was Thomas Paine’s Common Sense so important?
It argued that citizens should make the laws that they must follow, not a monarch. His writing reached a wide audience and changed the way many colonists, including key figures such as George Washington, viewed the king.
Why did Great Britain pass the Sugar Act?
To pay for the French and Indian War and to fund a standing army in the American colonies
This Son of Liberty is credited with organizing and planning the Boston Tea Party.
Samuel Adams
This British General surrendered at Yorktown to end the Revolutionary War.
General Charles Cornwallis
How did George Washington defeat the British/Hessian forces in the Battle of Trenton?
On Christmas night during a winter storm, Washington and his forces sneaked across the Delaware River and took the British forces, who were largely sleeping due to celebrating Christmas the night before, by surprise.
What were the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1783?
1. Fishing rights in Canada
2. Recognized U.S. independence
3. Complete removal of British forces from the colonies
4. Granted Americans rights to trade and settle west of the original 13 colonies
What were the Townshend Acts?
They placed high duties on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea and gave British officials increased legal power and authority to combat smuggling.
What was the name of the "Swamp Fox," a commander who implemented guerilla tactics against the British in the South?
Francis Marion
Which American general was famous for his strategy of letting Cornwallis chase him around the south to tire the British?
Nathaneal Greene
Which key battle went so well for the Colonist forces due to the intelligence provided by enslaved African spy James Armistead?
The Battle of Yorktown
Why did delegates attend the First Continental Congress, and what were the results?
Delegates sought to voice their concerns to King George III about the crisis in the colonies in the hopes that he would resolve them. They drafted the Declaration of Rights, ten resolutions they expected to have the king respect. Many left the Congress seriously considering rebelling against British rule if the resolutions were not satisfactorily addressed.
What was the Continental Army's strategy to engage the British forces in the Southern colonies?
The Patriots used their superior knowledge of the land and swift hit-and-run attacks known as guerilla warfare to disrupt British communications and supply lines, exhausting and chipping away at British fighting forces.