Term
Disarm
The British wanted to disarm the colonists so they burned their weapons and supplies. |
|
Definition
| To take weapons away from someone |
|
|
Term
Militia
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, and Maryland worked to increase their militia (army). |
|
Definition
| An organized group of citizens who serve as soldiers in times of war. |
|
|
Term
Resign
Benjamin Franklin resigned from his position in Great Britain. |
|
Definition
| To give up an office or a job. |
|
|
Term
Petition
The colonists wrote a petition to the king of Britain asking him to take away, or repeal, unfair British Laws. |
|
Definition
| A written paper asking for a right or benefit from someone in power. |
|
|
Term
Interfere
Congress could declare war and provide protection against British attack, however, it could not interfere in the private matters of the colonies. |
|
Definition
| To enter into or take part in other people's business. |
|
|
Term
Commander
After the delegates discussed, they voted George Washington to be the commander in chief of the American army. |
|
Definition
| Someone who controls an army or some other military group. |
|
|
Term
Plea
Congress send out a plea to the colonists asking for troops and supplies. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Postmaster
Benjamin Franklin was elected the first postmaster of the colonies. |
|
Definition
| A person who runs the post office |
|
|
Term
Pardon
King George III offered a pardon to any colonist who showed loyalty to Britain. |
|
Definition
| An official statement forgiving someone of something. |
|
|
Term
Loyalty
About 1 in every 3 colonists still showed loyalty to the king of Great Britain during the revolution. In the colonies, British General Gage offered pardons for anyone who would pledge their loyalty to the king. |
|
Definition
The act of being faithful to someone.
(Staying on someone's side) |
|
|
Term
Invade
The colonists did not want the British to invade New York from the North. |
|
Definition
| To attack or take over something. |
|
|
Term
Location
Because of Quebec's location, it was not an easy city to capture. |
|
Definition
| The place where something is positioned |
|
|
Term
Loyalist
Many of the wealthiest colonists were loyalists, or still faithful to the king of Great Britain. The colonists defeated British loyalists at Moore's Creek, North Carolina, in February 1776. |
|
Definition
| An American who supported the king of Great Britain. |
|
|
Term
Orator
Patrick Henry of Virginia was an accomplished orator. |
|
Definition
| One who is good at public speaking |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Someone who knows and practices government ideas |
|
|
Term
Document
The Declaration of Independence is thought to be the most important document every written. |
|
Definition
| An official paper or piece of writing |
|
|
Term
Clause
Many of the men involved with the Declaration of Independence refused to sign it until the clause about ending the slave trade was removed. |
|
Definition
| A certain section of a document |
|
|
Term
Revolution
The colonists started a revolution when they refused to be a part of Great Britain anymore. |
|
Definition
| The act of overthrowing and replacing a government |
|
|
Term
Siege
Nathan Hale was a young former teacher who was captured in the siege at New York. His last words were, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." |
|
Definition
| An event in which an army prevents people in a fort or city from leaving; this is done in an attempt to capture the fort or city. |
|
|
Term
Hessian
General Washington and his men defeated the Hessians in Trenton, New York. |
|
Definition
| A soldier paid by the British to fight the Americans |
|
|
Term
Isolate
The British wanted to isolate New England from the other colonies. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Three-pronged attack
General Burgoyne planned a three-pronged attack with Generals Leger and Howe. The attack failed and came out as an American victory. |
|
Definition
| An attack in 3 separate places against an enemy |
|
|
Term
Proposal
The king's proposal to pardon and forgive the colonists had not been accepted. |
|
Definition
| A suggestion for others to consider |
|
|
Term
Compromise
The king wanted to rule over the colonies and the colonists demanded a complete self-government. A peaceful compromise was not possible. |
|
Definition
| A settlement of differences in which each side gives up some of its demands. |
|
|
Term
Evacuate
When Henry Clinton (General Howe's replacement) reached Philadelphie, he immediately evacuated the troops. |
|
Definition
| To move away from a dangerous area |
|
|
Term
Convict
Major Andre was a major in the British army. He was convicted as a spy and hanged. |
|
Definition
| To find someone guilty of a crime. |
|
|
Term
Traitor
Benedict Arnold was an American who tried betraying his country. He escaped to Great Britain where he lived in shame as an American traitor. |
|
Definition
| Someone who turns against his or her own country. |
|
|
Term
Sharpshooting
A group of men skilled at sharpshooting beat the British back at Kings Mountain, North Carolina. |
|
Definition
| The ability to shoot a gun with great success. |
|
|
Term
Lure
General Nathaniel Green lured the British army into North Carolina. |
|
Definition
To draw in someone or something by hinting of gain.
"Come closer and you'll get food!" - Like a mouse trap. |
|
|
Term
Inland
The British are not by the ocean, they're farther inland. |
|
Definition
| A region of land that is far away from the coast |
|
|
Term
Occupy
General Greene recaptured most of the land that the British had occupied earlier. |
|
Definition
| To take control of a place |
|
|
Term
Redeem
Lord Cornwallis from Britain invaded Virginia in order to redeem himself for losing inland positions. |
|
Definition
| To release from blame for something by doing something else better. |
|
|
Term
Prime Minister
When Great Britain's prime minister, Lord North, heard of Cornwallis' defeat, he resigned. |
|
Definition
| The main official in some countries, such as Great Britain and Canada. |
|
|
