Test Flashcards
(15 cards)
What was the group that began meeting on May 10, 1775?
Second Continental Congress
This congress played a crucial role in managing the colonial war effort and moved incrementally towards independence.
Who was the Pennsylvania delegate who spent his own money to pay for Washington’s soldiers?
Robert Morris
Morris was instrumental in financing the war effort and is often referred to as the ‘Financier of the Revolution.’
What is the only group that could appoint men to positions as army officers?
Congress
This authority was critical for establishing a formal military command structure during the Revolutionary War.
What document was written to define why the Revolutionary War was being fought?
Declaration of Independence
Adopted on July 4, 1776, this document proclaimed the thirteen colonies’ separation from British rule.
What river did Washington and his men cross in December 1776 in order to march against the Hessians in Trenton, New Jersey?
Delaware River
This crossing was a pivotal moment that led to a surprise attack and significant American victory.
What American victory was a turning point of the Revolutionary War?
Saratoga
The battles of Saratoga in 1777 convinced France to enter the war as an ally to the Americans.
What are foreign soldiers hired by the British government to fight against American forces called?
mercenaries
The most notable mercenaries were the Hessians, who were German soldiers.
Who was the French nobleman who joined the cause for American Independence when he was only nineteen?
Marquis de Lafayette
Lafayette became a key figure in the American Revolution and built strong ties between America and France.
Who was the man who fought the British in several battles and gave America a strong claim to the frontier?
George Rogers Clark
Clark’s leadership in the Northwest Territory helped secure American territories post-war.
Who was the Iroquois Indian chief who fought in many battles against the American forces during the Revolutionary War?
Joseph Brant
Brant played a significant role in aligning Native American forces with the British.
What did General Charles Cornwallis do during the Revolutionary War?
Led the British into the interior of the southern states and defeated General Horatio Gates in Camden, South Carolina.
How did Francis Marion and Thomas Sumter influence the Revolutionary War?
They gathered militias to harass British troops and ducked into the wilderness to avoid losing a fight.
They helped the British win victories in the South.
What was Nathanael Greene’s role in the Revolutionary War?
He was defeated by the British at Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina and was unable to decisively defeat Cornwallis.
What was significant about the American victory at Yorktown?
The British forces were outnumbered, and Washington and French forces set up artillery outside the British lines.
Cornwallis sent his second-in-command to surrender on October 19, 1781.
What were the outcomes of the Peace of Paris?
The United States gained more benefits than any other nation, and France regained fishing rights off the coast of Canada.
