Revolutionary War Test Flashcards
What is the “Olive Branch” Petition?
-Sent to King by Congress on July 5, 1775.
-Last attempt to avoid war to avoid war - The Petition emphasized their loyalty to the British crown and emphasized their rights as British citizen
-It was rejected by the British government
-King refused to read it -said colonists were traitors
What was “Common Sense”
-Published in 1776
-Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine
-Encouraged the colonists to fight for independence from Britain
-was the most sold/read book in America
What is the Declaration of Independence?Patriots supported colonial independence and self-rule within the context of the American Revolutionary War.
- July 4, 1776,
- document announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain.
-Said that
1.all men are equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
2. the main business of government is to protect these rights;
3 if a government tries to withhold these rights, the people are free to revolt
Who were the Patriots
The colonists who rebelled against British control.
Patriots supported colonial independence and self-rule
Who were the Loyalists?
The loyalists remained loyal to the British government
Also called the “Tories”
Who was William Howe?
A commander in chief of the British army in North America (1776–1778)
What was the Battle of Long Island?
-The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights (August 27 1776),
-the war’s first major battle since the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
-Result: Continental army lost (British won).
-led to British take over of New York City
What was the Battle of White Plains?
- October 28, 1776
-British victory (defeated General George Washington’s army)
What happened when Washington crossed the Delaware River?
December 25, 1776,
Washington gathered troops on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River.
-From here a contingent of
boats successfully transported troops and artillery equipment over the ice-filled river to New Jersey.
- He did this to conduct a surprise attack upon a Hessian garrison of roughly 1,400 soldiers located in and around Trenton, New Jersey.
-There he got the Continental Army’s first major military victory of the war.
What happened at the Battle of Saratoga?
-October 7. 1777
- Turning Point for the Revolutionary War
- American victory over British
- lifted the morale of patriots.
Who was Horatio Gates?
-Major General in American army
-led the victory over the British at Battle of Saratoga
Who was Gentlemen Johnny Burgoyne?
-Officer in the British army- Lieutenant
- Surrendered to Horatio Gates at the Battle of Saratoga
How was Ben Franklin important to the Revolutionary War?
He was important in getting the French to help the Americans in the Revolutionary War
(Also signed all 3 documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution)
What happened at the winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania?
- Troops were supposed to recover there but The winter was very harsh. (Winter 1777-1778)
-11,000 troops didn’t have shoes and clothes.
-They suffered from poor nutrition, and many died
-More than 2,000 soldiers deserted the army.
-However, the strong leadership of Washington held the army together and helped maintain courage and morale throughout the difficult winter.
Who was Molly Pitcher?
Molly Pitcher was a woman who supposedly fought in the Revolutionary War - after her husband was killed she picked up artillery to fight
-Her real name wasn’t Molly Pitcher.
-Battle of Monmouth
Why did fighting shift to the South?
-British grew worried about their failures.
- Turned their attention to the South believing that there were more Loyalists there and that they could convince the slaves to fight.
Who was General Charles Cornwallis and why was he important?
-He was a British officer
-Famous for his surrender in the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia (1781)
What was the Battle of Yorktown and why was it important?
-1781
-The Siege of Yorktown ended the fighting in the American Revolution.
-During the siege, American and French forces trapped a major British army on a peninsula
-This forced the British army to surrender which basically led to the end of the fighting and independence for the Americans.
What was the Treaty of Paris?
A treaty signed by U.S. and British Representatives on September 3, 1783
-ended the American Revolution
- Recognized US Independence and gave them a lot of land
what Battle was called the turning point of the war
Battle of Saratoga
