British Actions & Colonial Reactions
What form of protest involved refusing to buy British goods to pressure Parliament?
Boycott
Who was chosen as the first commander of the Continental Army?
George Washington
Which winter camp nearly caused the Continental Army to fall apart because of cold, hunger, and lack of supplies?
Valley Forge
Which European country became an ally of the United States in 1778 and sent soldiers and ships?
France
What term means to approve something officially, like when Congress approved the peace treaty?
Ratify
What law placed a tax on paper goods like newspapers and legal documents without colonists’ consent?
Stamp Act
What two groups of colonists were divided by whether they supported Britain or independence?
Loyalists and Patriots
Which American leader helped convince France to become an ally?
Benjamin Franklin
What privately owned armed ships attacked British ships and stole supplies?
Privateers
Which side did most Native American nations support during the American Revolution?
Britain
What British laws closed Boston Harbor and punished Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party?
Intolerable Acts
What were colonists who could be ready to fight in one minute’s notice called?
Minutemen
Why was the American victory at Saratoga important to the overall outcome of the war?
It convinced France to support the United States, changing the balance of the war.
What strategy blocked ships from entering or leaving ports, cutting off supplies?
Blockade
Which 3 American men led the negotiating team that worked out the peace agreement in Europe after the fighting ended?
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay.
Why did writs of assistance and new British taxes make colonists feel their rights were being violated?
Because British officials could search homes without a warrant and Parliament taxed colonists without their consent.
What document explained the colonists’ reasons for breaking away from Britain and listed complaints against King George III?
Declaration of Independence
Why was the Battle of Bunker Hill important even though the British won the battle?
It proved the colonists could stand up to the British army and boosted Patriot confidence.
What advantage did fighting on their own land give the Patriots during the war?
They knew the land better, could use surprise attacks, and could move more easily than the British.
Why was the Treaty of Paris important even though fighting had mostly ended before it was signed?
It officially recognized U.S. independence and ended the war legally.
How did the Olive Branch Petition and King George III’s response change the relationship between Britain and the colonies from protest to war?
The colonists tried to make peace, but the king rejected the petition and declared them in rebellion, pushing the colonies toward full war.
How did propaganda like Paul Revere’s Boston Massacre engraving help turn colonists who were undecided into Patriots?
It made the British seem cruel and violent, which increased anger and support for independence.
Why was Washington’s leadership important even when the Continental Army was losing battles and suffering at places like Valley Forge?
He kept the army together, avoided total defeat, and allowed time for allies like France to join the war.
Why was French naval support essential to the American victory at Yorktown, not just French soldiers?
French ships blocked the British from escaping or receiving help by sea, trapping Cornwallis at Yorktown.
How did Washington stopping the Newburgh Conspiracy and then resigning his command strengthen American democracy?
He showed the military should obey civilian government and that leaders should give up power, not take control.