American Revolution Pt.2 Flashcards
The 1st Continental Congress
55 men from all the colonies (except Georgia) met together in Philadelphia to act as a political body for the colonies. The Congress wrote a list of grievances (complaints) against Britain and asked them to repeal all their taxes.
Lexington and Concord
Paul Revere alerted minutemen in Lexington that British troops were marching from Boston to Concord to capture colonist weapons at Concord. The Redcoats fought through the minutemen at Lexington but were defeated at Concord by the colonist. These first battles of the American Revolution are called the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.”
The Colonists Take Sides
Patriots were colonists who wanted to fight against Britain and start their own country.
Loyalist were colonists who remained loyal to Britain and did not want to fight a war against Britain.
2nd Continental Congress
After the battle of Lexington and Concord, the delegates from the colonies met again in Philadelphia. The Congress created the Continental Army and made Washington the Commander in Chief. The Congress sent King George III the Olive Branch Petition which asked for peace and fair treatment.
Common Sense
Small pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It boldly stated that the 13 colonies should separate completely from Britain and become their own country. It persuaded many colonists to become Patriots and fight to gain freedom from.
Declaration of Independence
Written (drafted) by Thomas Jefferson, however Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were also on the committee. The Declaration listed grievances against the King and stated the colonies were now their own country. On July 4th, 1776 the delegates of the 2nd Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.
Unalienable Rights
According to the Declaration of Independence, these are Rights that you are born with that cannot be taken away without due process. John Locke believed if Life, Liberty, and Property were not protected by the government, the government should be altered or abolished.
British Advantages
Britain maintained the best navy in the world
Britain had an experienced, well-trained army
Britain was very wealthy
Britain’s population was around 8 million
Patriot Advantages
The Patriots fought on their own land
The Patriots were fighting for their freedom
The Patriots had George Washington as their leader
Battle of Saratoga
The battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the war because France became an ally of America. Marquis de Lafayette was a French nobleman that fought for America. Bernardo de Galvez led Spanish armies against the British near the Mississippi River.
Winter at Valley Forge
In 1777, George Washington and his troops camped at Valley Forge for the winter. The army ran low on food, clothes, and shoes and many soldiers
deserted. At the end of the winter the soldiers were well trained and ready to fight.
Fighting at Sea
The British navy blockaded American ports so no supplies could come in or out. Americans used privateers to sneak through blockades and even destroy British ships. John Paul Jones was the greatest American naval hero.
Fighting in the South
Although the British won battles in the south, they were not able to control the country side. Francis Marion and his men were successful because they were using the guerilla warfare technique, the British were helpless.
The Battle of Yorktown
In 1781, General Cornwallis and his Red Coat troops were on the coast of Virginia, at Yorktown. Washington surprised Cornwallis by attacking him on land while French ships attacked from the sea. Washington captured two British Generals, including Cornwallis, resulting in the British surrendering.
Treaty of Paris of 1783
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay went to Paris to negotiate a treaty (agreement to end war) with Britain. Britain agreed to stop fighting and recognized that America was its own country. America’s borders were now the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.
