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| an early supporter of the reconciliation with Britain at the Second Continental Congress; from Pennsylvania |
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| the primary writer of the Decleration of Independence; radical young Virginia planter who promoted immediate independence |
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| the author of the famous pamphlet Common Sense; made a lively and compelling case for complete independence |
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| wife of prominent political leader, John Adams; she was a big supporter of American independence as well as legal changes to the government. She supported equal women and human rights |
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| mostly wives of men in service of the American army; followed the army around, providing food, clean clothes, and aid; there were about 20,000 in total during the Revolutionary War |
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| began as a strong general for the American Army but notorious for his betrayl of the patriots when he secretly passed information about American troop movements to the British Army. |
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| Began as a strong general for the American Army but notorious for his betrayl of the patriots when he secretly passed information about American troop movements to the British Army. |
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| german mercenary soldiers bought by British as allied forces |
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| those colonists that remained loyal to Britain during the Revolutionary War |
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| those colonists that sponsered the campaign for Independence from Britain; anyone who supported cause or played a major role |
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| Battles of Lexington and Concord |
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| the first battle of the Revolutionary War, fought between trained British soldiers and a lesser number of minutemen who defended the secret artilliary from British seizure |
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| Second Continental Congress |
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| a group of delegates who met in Philidelphia to decide on whether or not pursue American Independence or reconciliation with Britain; signed the Decleration of Independence |
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| created at the Second Continental Congress; appointed George Washington has Commander in Chief; meant to defend, protect and eventually pursue the campaign for American Independence |
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| one of the most devestating battles for both Americans and British; ended up in eventual British victory, capturing the hilly pasture right outside of Boston |
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| an American attempt to reconcile with the King of England, affirming American loyalty to the monarch and blamed all troubles on the king's ministers and Parliament; it proposed that American assemblies would be regarded as individual parliaments below the monarch |
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| the famous pamphlet by Thomas Paine, urging Americans that having an island rule a continent was simply preposterous and America need to seek democratic independence from Britain immediately. |
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| Declaration of Independence |
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| the document, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, declaring America as an independent country as well as addressing philisophical principles, natural rights, equality, and grievances with the British monarch; on July 4th, it was formally signed and adopted by the delegates |
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| after the British capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the battle between British general Burgoyne and American general Benedict Arnold; Burgoyne had become immobilized in a small villiage called Saratoga due to the oppositions unwillingness to surrender; when fire crossed over the span of three weeks, Britain paid a big price in the eventual defeat |
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| after the nearly disastrous defeats in NY City, Washington retreated across the Delaware to PA, where he launched these surrise attacks on Christmas Day against drunken Hessian soldiers; his victories buoyed American morale at a particular low point |
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| the sight of the devestating winter where George Washington's army was forced to perish and starve because of the inadequate supply of neccessities |
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| one of the main reasons America was able to win the war; signed a formal treaty with this country in 1778, recognizing America as an independent nation and promising full military and commercial support; challenged British Navy, especially in the surrender at Yorktown |
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| after the British failed in New England, this new strategy was designed to pick apart at the weaker-supported southern colonies and slowly take each colony up the Atlantic Ocean |
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| British army were marched to Yorktown near the Chesapeake, to await the arrival of backup forces before continuing campaign; met by the French Navy and American Army, the British were cornered and forced to surrender after two weeks of unsuccessful combat |
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| after surrender at Yorktown, British signed this treaty to formally end the war and recognize America as an independantly soverigned country |
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