American Revolution Vocabulary

A pronouncement adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776

• Boston Tea Party

• Declaration of Independence

• Second Continental Congress

• Treaty of Paris

Members appointed a committee of 5 to draft a statement declaring the independence of the 13 colonies from the British.  The Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

• Second Continental Congress

• Patriots

• Loyalists

• Colonists

Colonists who supported independence.

• Black Regiments

• Patriots

• George Washington

• Loyalists

Colonists who stayed loyal to the King. 

• Patriots

• King George

• Loyalists

• Black Regiments

Close to 5,000 enslaved African Americans fought for the Continental Army because they were promised their freedom as a reward for their service

• Second Continental Congress

• Loyalists

• Benjamin Franklin

• Black Regiments

April 19^th British troops and colonists clashed in the first battle of the American Revolution. The British wanted to attack Concord because the colonists keep a lot of military supplies there.

• Lexington and Concord

• Battle of Saratoga

• Battle of Trenton and Princeton

• Battle of Bunker Hill

Located close to Boston, there were heavy English losses as a result of the battle.

• Battle of Saratoga

• Battle of Bunker Hill

• Battle of Lexington and Concord

• Valley Forge

An important early victory in the war. After earlier defeats, this battle restored the morale of the US troops.

• Valley Forge

• Battle of Bunker Hill

• Battle of Yorktown

• Battle of Trenton and Princeton

The British thought they could win the war by dividing up the colonies in two. This goal meant they would have to capture the rest of New York. Fought in upstate New York. France offered its help. It was a turning point in the war.  Their plan failed and reinforcements for the British arrived.

• Battle of Saratoga

• Declaration of Independence

• Battle of Bunker Hill

• Valley Forge

Britain captured Philadelphia and spent the winter in comfort while Washington brought the Continental Army to Valley Forge where they faced a brutal winter.

• Battle of Bunker Hill

• Valley Forge

• Battle of Trenton and Princeton