Flashcards: American Revolution
About these flashcards
Created by:
OConnoruvms 
on February 12, 2012
All 30 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Revolution | A war that changes a government |
| British Advantages | Well trained army Excellent Navy wealth Strong government |
| American Advantages | Knowledge of the land Allies (France) Desire to defend their own land Cause to fight for (Independence) |
| Second Continental Congress | Revolutionary government Representatives from all 13 colonies Declared independence from Britain |
| Olive Branch Petition | Letter to King George III asking for peace |
| Hessians | German mercenaries hired to fight for Britain |
| Thomas Paine | Author of Common Sense |
| Arguments from Common Sense | Monarchy is a bad form of government Britain is too far away to govern us. An island cannot govern a continent. People came to America because Britain treated them poorly. |
| Burgoyne's Plan | Take control of the Hudson Valley by having three armies attack Albany. |
| The "Turning Point" | The Battle of Saratoga - because that convinced France to become our ally. |
| Treaty of Paris 1783 | The agreement that ended the Revolutionary War. Britain recognized our independence. |
| George Washington | Commander in Chief of the Continental Army |
| Thomas Jefferson | Author of the Declaration of Independence |
| Benjamin Franklin | Helped to write the Declaration, and the Treaty of Paris. |
| Benedict Arnold | Hero of the Battle of Saratoga, later turns traitor against the United States. |
| Horatio Gates | American commander at Saratoga |
| John Burgoyne | British general who surrenders at Saratoga |
| Charles Cornwallis | British general who surrenders at Yorktown |
| George III | King of Great Britain during the Revolution. |
| "Basic Rights" | Rights we are all born with : "Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" |
| Lexington and Concord | First Battle of the Revolution |
| Fort Ticonderoga | Site of a surprise attack - the Americans gained cannons there. |
| Bunker Hill | A very costly British victory. There the Americans proved they would not be easily defeated |
| Siege of Boston | Washington forced the British to leave Boston because of this. |
| Battle of Long Island | Washington suffered a great defeat here, and was forced to retreat through three states. |
| Battle of Trenton | Washington won a victory over the Hessians because of this surprise attack |
| Battle of Saratoga | A great victory that is called the 'turning point' of the war. |
| Valley Forge | Washington and his men spent a very bitter winter here. |
| Yorktown | Washington and the French force the British to surrender here. The last battle of the Revolution. |
| Patrick Henry | Said "Give me liberty or give me death!" |