Revolutionary War Context Clues

To raise the needed funds, the British government imposed new taxes, including several that would have to be paid by the colonists.

What does "imposed" mean?

• impressed

• forced

• took away

George Washington fought in the French and Indian War alongside the British. He served as a major and led a militia against the French in the Ohio River Valley.

What does "militia" mean?

• army

• group of Boy Scouts

• family

Eventually, after much protest, the British government decided to repeal the Stamp Act in 1766.

What does "repeal" mean?

• start

• take away

• make a joke about

If you bought British tea, you were paying a tax, and, indirectly, you were agreeing that Parliament had the right to tax the colonies.

What does "indirectly" mean?

• not directly

• directly again

• in a direct way

They also visited inns and other places that sold tea and asked the owners to stop selling it. Many establishments agreed to boycott British tea.

What does "boycott" mean?

• sell

• refuse to buy

• spend money on

Dressed as Native Americans, they and other members of the patriot movement boarded the ships and threw the tea into Boston Harbor.

What does "patriot" mean?

• British

• colonists who wanted freedom

• bird-loving

Some colonists began to think a war was unavoidable. They thought it was time to start stockpiling muskets and gunpowder.

What does "stockpiling" mean?

• collecting

• throwing away

• stacking up

Revere came up with a clever plan. He told a friend to hang lanterns in the belfry of the North Church in Boston.

What does "belfry" mean?

• bell tower

• frying pan

• basement

By the time the sun came up on April 20, 1775, the British army had retreated from Concord back to Boston.

What does "retreated" mean?

• turned around

• treat again

• keep fighting

George Washington was equally aware of the importance of having control of New York City. He marched his troops there to confront the British army.

What does "confront" mean?

• run away from

• stand face to face with

• write a letter to