Pre-Revolutionary War Vocabulary

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Ambush

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A surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position. Often used during battles when one side catches the other off-guard.

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Boycott

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A refusal to buy goods or services as a form of protest. Colonists used boycotts to protest British taxes and laws.

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Colonial Assembly

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A governing body in the American colonies that made laws and managed local affairs. These assemblies often conflicted with British authority.

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Continental Congress

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A group of delegates from the American colonies who met to discuss and plan action against British policies. The first meeting was in 1774.

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Declaration of Independence

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The document written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson declaring the American colonies free from British rule. It outlined the reasons for independence.

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Delegate

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A person chosen to represent others, especially in a meeting or conference. Each colony sent delegates to the Continental Congress.

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Democracy

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A form of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

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Duties

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Taxes imposed by the government, particularly those on imports. The British imposed duties on items like tea and sugar, which angered colonists.

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Grievance

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A complaint or formal expression of dissatisfaction. The colonists had many grievances against British policies, which they listed in the Declaration of Independence.

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Hessians

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German soldiers hired by the British to fight against the American colonists during the Revolutionary War.