Terms
The war fought between Britain and France in North America (1754-1763).
French and Indian War
The proclamation that forbade colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Proclamation of 1763
This phrase describes the colonists' belief that it was unfair to be taxed by a government in which they had no elected representatives.
Taxation without representation
The first document that outlined the American colonies' independence from British rule.
Declaration of Independence
The location of the Boston Tea Party protest.
Boston Harbor
This act imposed a direct tax on paper goods in the colonies.
Stamp Act
The event where British soldiers fired on a crowd of colonists in 1770.
Boston Massacre
The rebellion led by farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic injustices.
Shays' Rebellion
This document served as the first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781.
Articles of Confederation
The site in Massachusetts where the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired.
Lexington
This term describes the supporters of British rule during the American Revolution.
Loyalists
The gathering of colonial delegates in 1774 to discuss their grievances against Britain.
First Continental Congress
This group was formed to protest British taxation and included notable figures like Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
Sons of Liberty
The name of the pamphlet that encouraged colonists to fight for independence, written by Thomas Paine.
Common Sense
This city was the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790, and also hosted the Constitutional Convention.
Philadelphia
The collection of amendments that protect individual liberties and rights.
Bill of Rights
The series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in response to colonial protests.
Intolerable Acts
The collection of amendments added to the Constitution to protect individual rights.
Bill of Rights
The main author of the Declaration of Independence, who was also the third president of the United States.
Thomas Jefferson
This location in Virginia was the site of the last battle of the American Revolution, where British troops were surrounded by American and French forces.
Yorktown
The phrase that describes the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Unalienable Rights
The gathering that managed the colonial war effort and adopted the Declaration of Independence.
Second Continental Congress
The compromise that settled the representation issue in Congress between large and small states.
Great Compromise
The document that ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.
Treaty of Paris (1783)
This river was crossed by George Washington and his troops on the night of December 25, 1776, leading to a surprise attack on Hessian forces.
Delaware River