Glossary
American Identity
The developing sense among colonists that they were distinct from British subjects, sharing common experiences, values, and a desire for self-governance.
Example:
Through shared struggles against British policies, colonists began to forge a unique American Identity, seeing themselves as united by a common cause rather than merely as residents of separate colonies.
Battle of Long Island
A major defeat for the Continental Army in August 1776, where British forces overwhelmed the Patriots in New York, forcing Washington's retreat.
Example:
Despite the significant losses at the Battle of Long Island, Washington's skillful evacuation of his troops prevented the complete destruction of the Continental Army.
Battle of Saratoga
A decisive American victory in October 1777, where British forces were surrounded and forced to surrender, marking a major turning point in the Revolutionary War.
Example:
The triumph at the Battle of Saratoga was crucial because it convinced France to formally recognize American independence and form a military alliance.
Battle of Trenton
A pivotal victory for the Continental Army on December 26, 1776, where Washington's forces launched a surprise attack on Hessian mercenaries, boosting Patriot morale.
Example:
The success of the Battle of Trenton after a series of defeats revitalized the American cause and encouraged many soldiers to re-enlist.
Battle of Yorktown
The final major battle of the Revolutionary War in October 1781, where combined American and French forces trapped British General Cornwallis, leading to his surrender.
Example:
The strategic coordination between Washington's ground forces and the French navy's blockade at the Battle of Yorktown sealed the fate of the British army.
Boston Massacre
A confrontation on March 5, 1770, where British soldiers fired into a crowd of Bostonians, killing five colonists, which became a powerful symbol of British oppression.
Example:
Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre served as effective propaganda, fueling anti-British sentiment throughout the colonies.
Enlightenment Ideals
Philosophical concepts from the 18th century, such as natural rights, limited government, and the consent of the governed, that heavily influenced American revolutionary thought.
Example:
John Locke's ideas about life, liberty, and property were key Enlightenment Ideals that inspired Thomas Jefferson's drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
Foreign Alliances
Agreements and partnerships formed between the American colonies and other nations, most notably France, which provided crucial military and financial support during the Revolutionary War.
Example:
The Foreign Alliances with France, secured after Saratoga, provided the Continental Army with much-needed naval support, troops, and supplies, which were vital for ultimate victory.
George Washington
The commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and later the first President of the United States, known for his leadership and perseverance.
Example:
George Washington's strategic retreats and surprise attacks, like the one at Trenton, were crucial in keeping the Patriot cause alive.
Hessians
German mercenary soldiers hired by the British to fight against the American colonists during the Revolutionary War.
Example:
The Hessians were a formidable fighting force, but their defeat at Trenton demonstrated that the Continental Army could achieve significant victories.
Intolerable Acts
A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, designed to punish Massachusetts and assert British authority.
Example:
The closing of Boston Harbor and the restriction of town meetings under the Intolerable Acts galvanized colonial resistance, leading to the First Continental Congress.
Lexington and Concord
The sites of the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775, where colonial militias clashed with British troops.
Example:
The skirmishes at Lexington and Concord are often referred to as the 'shot heard 'round the world,' marking the beginning of armed conflict.
Lord Cornwallis
A British general who commanded forces during the American Revolutionary War and whose surrender at Yorktown effectively ended major hostilities.
Example:
Lord Cornwallis's decision to move his troops to Yorktown proved to be a fatal strategic error, leading to his eventual surrender.
Minutemen
Colonial militia members who were prepared to fight at a moment's notice, forming the backbone of the early American resistance.
Example:
The Minutemen at Concord bravely stood their ground against the advancing British regulars, demonstrating the colonists' resolve.
Quartering Acts
British laws that required American colonists to provide housing, food, and supplies for British soldiers stationed in the colonies.
Example:
The Quartering Acts were particularly unpopular, as they forced colonists to open their homes to soldiers, infringing on their perceived rights and privacy.
Taxation without Representation
A core grievance of the American colonists, asserting that it was unjust for the British Parliament to levy taxes on them without the colonists having elected representatives in Parliament.
Example:
The Stamp Act was a prime example of Taxation without Representation, as colonists protested paying taxes on printed materials without having a voice in the British government.
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The peace treaty signed in 1783 that officially ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing the independence of the United States and establishing its boundaries.
Example:
Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1783), Great Britain formally acknowledged the United States as a sovereign nation, extending its territory to the Mississippi River.
Troop Presence
The stationing of British soldiers in the American colonies after the French and Indian War, which colonists viewed as an occupation force rather than protection.
Example:
The constant Troop Presence in cities like Boston created daily friction between British soldiers and colonists, contributing to a sense of unease and resentment.
Unfair Trade Practices
British economic policies, such as mercantilism and the Navigation Acts, that restricted colonial trade to benefit the British economy, often at the expense of colonial merchants.
Example:
Colonial merchants resented the Unfair Trade Practices that forced them to ship goods only on British ships and sell raw materials exclusively to Britain, limiting their economic opportunities.