APUSH Ch 8

Lexington/Concord

First battle of the American Revolution. "Shot heard ’round the world." Fought by Massachusetts Militia.

George Washington

Washington pulled his small force back into Fort Necessity where he was overwhelmed (1754) by the French. He was the commander of Virginia’s frontier troops as a colonel. Left the army in 1758. Also the first President of the United States. Took office (Apr.30, 1789) in New York City.

Olive Branch Petition

On July 8, 1775, the colonies made a final offer of peace to Britain, agreeing to be loyal to the British government if it addressed their grievances (repealed the Coercive Acts, ended the taxation without representation policies). It was rejected by Parliament, which in December 1775 passed the American Prohibitory Act forbidding all further trade with the colonies.

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine was a passionate and persuasive writer who published the bestseller, Common Sense in 1776. Paine had the radical idea that the colonies should set up America as an independent, democratic, republic away from England. Over 120,000 copies of his book were sold and this helped spark the colonists rebellion later that year.

George III

King George the third was the king of England in the 1770’s.Though he was a good man he was not a good ruler. He lost all of the 13 American colonies and caused America to start to gain its freedom.

Baron Von Steuben

A stern, Prussian drillmaster that taught American soldiers during the Revolutionary War how to successfully fight the British.

Hessians

German soldiers hired by George III to smash Colonial rebellion, proved good in mechanical sense but they were more concerned about money than duty. (analogy: outsiders brought into "family" argument–>colonists felt betrayed.)

Loyalists/Tories

A colonist in the new world who remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution.

Common Sense

Common Sense written in 1776 was one of the most potent pamphlets ever written. It called for the colonists to realize their mistreatment and push for independence from England. The author Thomas Paine introduced such ideas as nowhere in the universe sis a smaller heavenly body control a larger. For this reason their is no reason for England to have control over the vast lands of America. The pamphlet with its high-class journalism as well as propaganda sold a total of 120,000 copies within a few months.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was a member of the House of Burgesses, wrote the Declaration of Independence, was ambassador to France, and was the President of the United States of America. He did all these things before, during, and after the Revolutionary war. With his Declaration of Independence he declared the colonies’ freedom from England. While President, he bought the Louisiana Purchase and had Lewis and Clark to explore it.

Declaration of Independence

Formally approved by the Congress on July 4, 1776. This "shout heard round the world" has been a source of inspiration to countless revolutionary movements against arbitrary authority. The document sharply separated Loyalists from Patriots and helped to start the American Revolution by allowing England to hear of the colonists disagreements with British authority.

Quok Walker Case

Abolishes slavery in Massachusetts after Rev.

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams. During the Revolutionary War, she wrote letters to her husband describing life on the home front. She urged her husband to remember America’s women in the new government he was helping to create.

Mercy Otis Warren

A woman from New England who wrote poetry, plays, and history about/during the Rev.

Edmund Burke

English statesman famous for his oratory, pleaded the cause of the American colonists in Parliament and defended the parliamentary system (1729-1797) (In DBQ!)

Treaty of Paris of 1783

The British recognized the independence of the United States. It granted boundaries, which stretched from the Mississippi on the west, to the Great Lakes on the north, and to Spanish Florida on the south. The Yankees retained a share of Newfoundland. It greatly upset the Canadians.

Patriots/Whigs

Name given to party of patriots of the new land resisting England prior to the Declaration of Independence.

John Jay

Elected to the Continental Congress, he helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris w/ Great Britain, ending the American Revolution. Appointed by Washington, Jay negotiated a settlement when was w/ Britain threatened due to controversies over the Treaty of Paris: it became known as Jay’s Treaty.

Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775. Three delegates added to the Congress were Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock. The Congress took on governmental duties. (United all the colonies for the war effort.) They selected George Washington as Commander in Chief. They encouraged the colonies to set themselves up as states. On July 4, 1776 they adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Congress ended March 1, 1781 when a Congress authorized by the Articles of Confederation took over.

Marquis de Layfayette

A wealthy French nobleman, nicknamed "French Gamecock", made major general of colonial army, got commission on part of his family.

Richard Henry Lee

Richard Henry Lee was a member of the Philadelphia Congress during the late 1770’s. On June 7, 1776 he declared, "These United colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states." This resolution was the start of the Declaration of Independence and end to British relations.

General Horatio Gates

Horatio Gates started in the English army and worked his way up through the ranks. Latter during the revolution he turned sides and was appointed to take charge of the Continental army of the North. One of Gates accomplishments was his victory at Saratoga. His career in the army ended when he lost to General Charles Cornwallis.

General Benedict Arnold

He was an American General during the Revolutionary War (1776). He prevented the British from reaching Ticonderoga. Later, in 1778, he tried to help the British take West Point and the Hudson River but he was found out and declared a traitor.

General John Burgoyne

Burgoyne was a British general that submitted a plan for invading New York state from Canada. He was then given charge of the army. Though defeated, he advanced troops near Lake Champlain to near Albany. Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga on Oct. 17, 1777. This battle helped to bring France into the war as an ally for the United States, this has been called one of the decisive battles of history

General Charles Cornwallis

Cornwallis was a British general who fought in the Seven Years War, was elected to the House of Commons in 1760, and lost battles to George Washington on December 26, 1776 and on January 3, 1777. Cornwallis made his mark on history, even though he could never ensure an overall British win over the Americans. He had many individual victories and losses against the Americans in the American Revolution and will always be remembered as a great and powerful general.

General William Howe

English General who commanded the English forces at Bunker Hill. Howe did not relish the rigors of winter campaigning, and he found more agreeable the bedtime company of his mistress. At a time when it seemed obvious that he should join the forces in New York, he joined the main British army for an attack on Philadelphia.

Battle of Bunker Hill

First major battle of the Revolutions. It showed that the Americans could hold their own, but the British were also not easy to defeat. Ultimately, the Americans were forced to withdraw after running out of ammunition, and Bunker Hill was in British hands. However, the British suffered more deaths. (Lead to colonies uniting to support Massachusetts militia.)

Battle of Saratoga

Turning point of the American Revolution. It was very important because it convinced the French to give the U.S. military support. It lifted American spirits, ended the British threat in New England by taking control of the Hudson River, and, most importantly, showed the French that the Americans had the potential to beat their enemy, Great Britain.

Battle of Yorktown

Last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis and his troops were trapped in the Chesapeake Bay by the French fleet. He was sandwiched between the French navy and the American army. He surrendered October 19, 1781.

British Advantages

larger population, financial resources, highly trained and professional army, Royal Navy controlled seas and trade, Native American tribes helped British, Many Americans opposed independence, Black American slaves were offered freedom if they helped the British

British disadvantages

were fighting other countries at the time; European style of fighting not suitable for North American wilderness, British had logistical problems across Atlantic Ocean, British army had to destroy Washington’s army

American advantages

fight for home, excellent officers, able to utilize guerrilla warfare, received financial support (later more help) from France,spread out across countryside, hoped to protract war so British would think war was pointless (stalemate=win. War of Attrition)

American disadvantages

no navy, little gun powder, few cannons, poorly organized and poorly trained troops, few resources (trade blocked), opposition from Loyalists, against most powerful army in the world, state vs colonial loyalties, congress couldn’t raise money for army.