unit 1 american revolution Flashcards
John Smith
An important figure in the colonization of the Americas. He established regulations that would help the colonies grow. “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” He was also a sailor who the Powhattan tribe respected.
Friedrich von Steuben
George Washington’s Secretary. He helped the Continental Army by doing these 5 things:
1. Instilled discipline, organization, and hygiene into the ragtag militia.
2. Organized the camp in a different way.
3. Drills European battle tactics into 100 men. These men then went to train the next best 100 men and so forth.
4. Introduces bayonet fighting.
5. Gives the rebels a new attitude towards their goal.
Sugar Act
Lowered taxes on imported molasses. Encouraged merchants to buy less of the product.
Stamp Act
Law that required government stamps on printed materials. Including newspapers, playing cards, court docs, and receipts.
Example: Krishna just got the newspaper. The law states that he would have to go to David and David would sell him a stamp for it. Then, Krishna would now be allowed to read it. (quoted from DuRoss)
Zurara
A person commonly known as the world’s first racist.
Sons of Liberty
A group of merchants, shopkeepers, and craftsmen who organized boycotts against British taxes.
Squanto
Native American tribe leader, father of pocohontas.
Daniel Morgan
Commander of the woodland militia, easy ways to take out redcoats, big role in AR
Guerilla Warfare
A style of war that involved hiding within nature, then sniping opponents.
Minutemen
A group of soldiers that were ready at any moment for war. They were the ones to beat the British to Concord in their battle.
Battle of Lexington/Concord
A battle that took place where the British were attempting a large-scale invasion of Concord, but the Minutemen beat them there and were waiting. (70 Minutemen, 700 Redcoats)
Tobacco
A spice that was extremely popular during the Age of Exploration. Later on, it was smuggled from Mexico into the colonies.
Tar and Feathering
A way to punish people in the colonies. It was used by the Sons of Liberty on some Loyalists and Stamp collectors in protest of the Stamp Act and others.
Bayonets
A little knife attatched to a barrel of a rifle. Introduced by von Steuben to the best soldiers.
Hernan Cortes
Conqueror of the Aztec Empire
Francisco Pizarro
Conquerer of the Inca Empire
King George III
King of the British throughout the course of the American Revolution
Townshend Act
One of the taxes imposed by the British, taxed the tea prices for colonists
Boston Tea Party
The event that contributed to the start of the revolution. It involved colonists and natives throwing tea into the ocean in boycott of the Townshend Act
Boston Massacre
Caused by misinterperetation of a church bell. Colonists thought there was fire, which British soldiers overheard, and once one fired, everyone else did. The first attack on the colonists.
Debtors
Those who were put into labor prisons to work off debt that they could not pay
James Ogelthorpe
Recieved land from King to imprison debtors
Continental Dollar
Universal currency established for use in the colonies.
Quakers
A group of people who rejected the Anglican Church, often prosecuted for such behavior.
Intolerable Acts
- Port of Boston and other ports on east coast were closed
- Massachusetts placed under British control
- Quartering Acts Strengthened
- Trials for soldiers would be held in Britain
Currency Act
Only allowed British currency to be used/prohibited printing of money
Tea Act
An act that aided the East India company to ship tea to the colonies`
Committee of Five
John Adams, Robert Sherman, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston came together to write DOI
Declaration of Independence
Founding document written by second continental congress. This started the American road to Independence
2nd Continental Congress
The meeting between delegates of the 13 colonies in which all unanimously voted to declare independence.
Battle of Yorktown
General Cornwallis is hiding in Yorktown, As British ships come to attack, French and American navies combine and block them off. With no supplies or necessities, Cornwallis surrenders, technically ending the whole war.
Hessians
Another word for the German mercenaries who were guarding the fort of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
British initially have fort of Trenton, Hessians guarding. Christmas Eve, hessians are drinking. They fall asleep on Christmas morning, allowing Washington to take Trenton. Cornwallis sees this, and attempts to take the fort back. However, Washington is alerted, and his forces march behind Cornwallis. The British forces go to sleep, and they wake up to Washington attacking them, securing a well-needed victory. The victory was needed after 4 losses in a row in small battles.
Battle of Saratoga
Gen. Cornwallis splits British forces into 3 groups, one for the north, one for the south, and Cornwallis leading the middle. British victory requires perfect timing. Southern route takes long, while middle and north are blocked off by the Continental Army chopping down trees and killing soldiers via Guerrilla methods. General Washington decided to advance their forces towards Cornwallis. With only 1/3 of his army to fight, Cornwallis decides to surrender this battle to the Americans.
Battle of Bunker Hill
Americans prepared to fire cannons on the British from Bunker hill, the supposed highest point. Then, they saw a higher point, Breed’s hill. So they went there. They easily took out most of the British navy. Though a few ships made landfall and their forces advanced up the hill. the 1st and 2nd waves were defeated as cannons were pointed downward at them. However, the third wave managed to outnumber the Continental Army and secure the only British victory out of all major battles.
Astrolobe
Ship device used to determine time
Sextant
Ship device used to measure distance
John Rolfe
Smuggled spanish tobacco into Jamestown, reforms Jamestown even though Smith already did so.
