US history test Flashcards
What is a patriot?
An American colonist rebelling against the British. Fighting for liberty and wanting to be their own independent country.
What is a loyalist?
Someone who is still loyal to the British king. Usually rich people.
What is a refugee?
Someone who flees where they leave due to prosecution or conflict. They do not return.
What is a blockade?
The shutting of a port to keep people or supplies from moving in or out. Boston is an example.
What are mercenaries?
Troops for hire who are getting paid to fight. An example of this are the Hessians who were German soldiers hired to join the British side. However they didn’t actually believe in the cause like Americans who were fighting for liberty. They were fighting for money.
Where did the second continental congress meet? ( State and building )
They met in Philadelphia. Specifically in Independence hall. It used to be called the Old Pennsylvania state house.
Who took over Fort Ticonderoga?
Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain boys
Who wrote the olive branch petition and what was it?
John Dickinson of Pennsylvania wrote the olive branch petition. Colonists asked the king for peace. King refused to read it and declared all the colonies in rebellion.
Patriot advantages
Good at shooting due to them hunting in the past. George Washington was a great commander. They were fighting for everything, their homes, their money, their liberty etc.
Patriot disadvantages
They had a bad navy, especially compared to the British who had a great navy. They were poorly organized, with no training.
British advantages
Had the Hessian’s and loyalist allies. They were experienced and well trained. They had the best navy in the world. Money and a stable government.
British disadvantages
3000 miles from home. Not used to fighting in the wilderness, used to big open ground. The bright red coat they wore made them easy to spot and stand out.Stubborn and cocky generals unwilling to change and too confident in themselves.
General explanation of the battle of Bunker Hill
The first major battle of the Revolution. Colonel William Prescott has a minuteman dig in at Breed’s hill. The British attacked in rows, slowly. Suffering huge losses, 1000 redcoats were killed. Americans are low on gunpowder. “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” meaning don’t shoot until they are close to you.
Who won the battle of Bunker Hill
Both sides declared victory because the Americans ran away but they killed a lot of people, and the British thought they won because the Americans retreated
What is a traitor?
Someone who betrays their country
What is a preamble?
An introduction. The Declaration of Independence has one. It gives a brief idea of what the document is about.
What are natural rights?
Rights people are born with. They are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Who wrote common sense?
Thomas Paine it was a book about needing to be freed from the British. It’s similar to the Declaration ( British wrongs especially ) yet simpler so “regular” people can read it. He only wrote it from one perspective making it sound like two. He said why we should break away from Britain and why we shouldn’t stay with Britain, basically the same thing.
What did Common Sense state?
That the king was a tyrant. Thomas Paine thought that the idea of monarchy is wrong and unjust. People being born into privilege instead of working for it is wrong.
Why was Common Sense significant?
Because it convinced the colonists of the idea of independence. If free, America can make alliances with other countries. It’s a chance to create a better society. They sold over 500,000 copies in 6 months.
Who proposed Independence on July 7th, 1776?
Richard Henry Lee of Virginia
Who were the 5 men on the declaration committee
John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman
Who WROTE the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
Battle of long island
British general William Howe took over long island and New York city.
What are the four parts to the Declaration?
Preamble- It tells us what the document is about, an opening statement
Natural rights- It explained American beliefs, all men are created equal- born with the same potential, one vote, pursuit of happiness, given a chance to improve who you are. Democracy is when the power lies within the people.
Kings wrongs (Grievance)-Evidence, sugar act, stamp act, etc.
Independence- new name- USA. Declare ourselves independent to make allies
Who was Nathan Hale?
An American who spied on the British. He gave information to Washington. His famous quote scared the British because it showed how determined the Americans were. Quote: “ I only regret that I have one life to lose for my country. ’’
Who was Marquis de Lafayette
A French general who became a valuable ally and close friend to Washington.
Who was Fredrich von Steuben
A Russion drill commander who came to train the continental army.
Who was Casimir Pulaski?
He trained the American Cavalry.
Battle of Trenton
The American army was near defeat, they needed a win. On December 25th 1776, Washington and 2000 soldiers crossed the Delaware River into NJ. Trenton was the German Hessian. They partied too much from christmas.(Too drunk to fight). Washington surprises them and easily wins. Hope is renewed and thousands join the army.
Battle of Saratoga
British general John Burgoyne tried to take over New York state and cut America in two. Trouble in wilderness-took comforts. Led by benedict arnold and horatio gates the americans beat the british. Turning point of the war because the British no longer go into the woods and France becomes our ally.
Valley Forge
Winter home of the continental (american) army. Many died of frostbite and starvation.
Neutral
To be uninvolved, taking no sides not wanting to be in a conflict or a war.
Who was Bernardo de Galvez
Bernardo de Galvez was the governor of the Spanish who liked the patriots. He secretly supplied them ( the patriots ) with medicine, clothes, muskets, and gunpowder.
Who was Betsy Ross?
She sewed flags for George Washington. Legend says that she made the first American flag.
Who was Molly Pitcher?
Molly pitcher was given the nickname Molly Pitcher because she brought water to soldiers. Her husband was once shot in the shoulder and wounded. She took his place in battle, firing the cannon. After the cannons were fired there would usually be smoke, having a pause before they could fire again. However, Molly Pitcher would take water and splash it on the cannon, making it so she can fire quickly. This made a big difference and she became the first and only woman to be a sergeant.
On what side did the Iroquois Indians join and why?
They joined the British because they thought that the British would win. Also the Americans were closer to them, making them enemies, especially because of land.
Who was George Rogers Clark and what did he do?
He served as Indian commissioner and helped to negotiate the Treaty of Fort McIntosh and Fort Finney
Who was John Paul Jones? What was the name of his ship? What was his famous quote?
He was an American naval captain, one of the only ones because not a lot of Americans wanted to be in the Navy, especially because the British had a very good Navy. His ship was called Bonhomme Richard. One of his most famous quotes was when he was in a tough situation, getting attacked by the British and they asked if he was ready to surrender. He replied with “I have not yet begun to fight” and then won the battle.
Describe how African Americans joined the fight in the American revolution
A lot of African Americans were slaves. The British said that if any African Americans joined them they would be liberated as well. The Americans decided to make the same offer so they could have more people. Prince Estabrook got shot in the shoulder at Lexington and Concord, but continued to fight. Salem Poor was a hero at the battle of Bunker Hill. Most of the African Americans who took the British side got hung or killed after the war was over.
Battle of Kings mountain
It resulted in an American victory in South Carolina. It helped turn the tide of the war in the South.
Nathanael Greene
He was one of America’s greatest generals from Rhode Island. He was in charge of the continental army in the South.
Daniel Morgan
An American general who helped the defense of the south. Was a rifleman.
How did general Morgan win the battle of Cowpens?
He used clever tactics. He divided his soldiers into two groups. One was the front line, another the backline. He had the frontline shoot two shots and then run away, lookin like a hit and run. The British chased them where they had the back line waiting for them.
Who was Francis Marion?
He was known as the swamp fox because he used swamps to his advantage when he fought. He was in charge of the South Carolina militia. Used hit and run tactics to frustrate the British at night.
Why did Benedict arnould betray america?
Benedict Arnold was angry because he did a lot for the army and didn’t get the credit he deserved for doing it. He sold blueprints and information to West Point, helping the British. He joins the British side.
What cities did Benedict Arnold take over for the British?
Richmond Virginia
-Peninsula
- A strip of land surrounded on 3 sides by water, which can help.
What city did British general Cornwallis bring his troops to camp at? Why did he camp there?
He brought them to Yorktown, Virginia. He thought it was best to help them and get protected by the Navy.
Who was Comte de Rochambeau?
A French general who tracked the British down in Yorktown with Washington and Lafayette, defeating them.
Who was Admiral de Grasse?
A French Admiral that surrounded the British at Yorktown.
A siege occurs when an army surrounds and blockades an enemy position in an attempt to capture it.
What was the battle of Yorktown?
General Charles Cornwallis thought a peninsula was the best position to camp. Washington combined his forces with Lafayette and Rochambeau to block land escape. Admiral de Grasse blocked sea escape. The British were sieged and surrender October 19, 1781.
Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, John Jay and Henry Laurens were sent to negotiate peace talks in Paris in 1782. ( Treaty of Paris )
What is a siege?
It occurs when an army surrounds and blockades an enemy position in an attempt to capture it.
Ratify
To ratify means to approve by signing something
What did the Treaty of Paris say?
The British recognized the US as an independent country. America is going to be all land east of the Mississippi river except Florida and Spain. America would pay loyalists money for lost land.
Why did America win the war?
They were more passionate than the British. They wanted independence, the British were just fighting because they were paid, same for the Hessians.
What is the crisis and who is it written by?
The crisis is a series of essays written by Thomas Paine
What is the crisis’s significance?
It inspired Americans to keep fighting and die for their independence
