Unit 3 Vocabulary

Question 1

association

Answer 1

group of individuals who voluntarily enter into an agreement to accomplish a purpose

Question 2

Continental Army

Answer 2

loosely organized united militias of the 13 states, which fought against the British to defend their independence

Question 3

crisis

Answer 3

extreme situation

Question 4

currency

Answer 4

money used by a country

Question 5

executive

Answer 5

figure or group responsible for enforcing the laws in a government

Question 6

levy

Answer 6

to impose or collect

Question 7

Loyalists

Answer 7

American colonists that supported the British

Question 8

mercenaries

Answer 8

soldiers for hire; to help crush the colonial rebellion, Britain hired thousands of Hessians, from a region in present day Germany

Question 9

naval blockade

Answer 9

to cut off supplies; a military and economic tactic used to force a nation or area to suffer shortages and to give up fighting; when ships are used

Question 10

navy

Answer 10

fighting force on the seas, or having to do with fighting on the seas

Question 11

Patriots

Answer 11

American colonists that supported taking serious action against Great Britain, including declaring independence

Question 12

Battle of Saratoga

Answer 12

Battle in 1777 where American troops won a victory and forced the surrender of a major of the British army in the north; the turning point in the war; France came to colonists’ aide soon after

Question 13

Siege

Answer 13

military operation in which enemy forces surrounded a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside

Question 14

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Answer 14

negotiated by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams with delegates from Great Britain, this agreement gave the Americans all land east of the Mississippi River and Britain recognized American independence

Question 15

turning point

Answer 15

time at which a decisive change in a situation occurs, especially one with beneficial results

Question 16

Valley Forge

Answer 16

General Washington and the Continental army lost Philadelphia and endured the challenging winter of 1777 - 1778: held up in their camp with low supplies and morale

Question 17

Battle of Yorktown

Answer 17

siege in Virginia in 1781 where Washington forced the surrender of British General Cornwallis with naval support from France, thereby all but ending the War of Independence

Question 18

ally

Answer 18

supporter or friend

Question 19

Articles of Confederation

Answer 19

written as the first plan of government for the loosely United States in rebellion against Great Britain