Early Days
What was the term for colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the Revolution?
Loyalists
The first major victory secured by the Patriots in New Jersey was known as...
The Battle of Trenton
Which battle convinced the French and Spanish to aid the Americans?
What were the three major battles of the Revolutionary War?
Trenton, Saratoga, Yorktown
What are three important rights listed in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (or property)
Where was "the shot heard 'round the world" fired?
Lexington, Massachusetts
What night did the Battle of Trenton take place?
Christmas night, 1776
Who was the French nobleman that became an American military leader?
Marquis de Lafayette
What was the name of the battle where the Patriots finally defeated the British?
Yorktown
Who was the leader of the Continental Army?
What is guerilla warfare?
A rugged form of warfare where the soldiers using sneaky tactics and their understanding of the local land to their advantage.
Why is July 4th, 1776 a significant date?
The Declaration of Independence was made official, breaking colonial ties with Britain.
Who was the Prussian soldier that trained the Continental Army how to fight professionally?
Friedrich von Steuben
Who helped the Continental Army win the Battle of Yorktown?
What are "unalienable rights"?
Rights that can not be taken away by anyone
Describe the outcomes of the First Continental Congress.
Delegates decided to halt all trade with Britain and alerted colonial militias to prepare for war. The Declaration of Rights was drafted.
How might the Declaration of Independence lead to questions over slavery?
It declared that, "All men are created equal," yet many colonists owned slaves and did not treat them as their equals.
What were some of the challenges the Patriots experienced during the war? (name 3)
lack of soldiers, low military supplies, little food, harsh weather, poorly trained soldiers, small navy
What was the name of the treaty that was signed after the Battle of Yorktown? How long did it take to agree to the terms of this treaty?
Treaty of Paris; over two years
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
Describe the outcomes of the Second Continental Congress.
The Massachusetts militia was chosen to become the Continental Army. The Olive Branch Petition was sent to Britain (and rejected).
Who wrote Common Sense and what was its impact on colonial attitudes toward Great Britain?
Thomas Paine; it convinced many colonists that Britain was abusing their power and not treating the colonists well. This convinced many to fight for independence from Britain.
Why did the British think they might find support in the south?
Southern colonies were home to many loyalists. They also believed they could recruit slaves to join their army and rebel against the colonists.
Why was control of Boston significant during the Revolutionary War?
Boston was a major colonial city and port; this meant it was a political and financial hub of the colonies
Describe why Valley Forge is significant.
It was where the Continental Army endured a brutal winter. Many starved and died of disease. The survivors came out of this experience highly motivated to win the war after going through such difficult times.