The American Revolution Flashcards

Grade 9 · Social Studies · Flashcards

Key terms for mastering the American Revolution.

Flashcards

Stamp Act (1765): British tax on printed materials in the colonies; sparked 'no taxation without representation' protests.
Boston Massacre (1770): British soldiers killed 5 colonists in Boston; a pivotal event that inflamed anti-British feelings.
Boston Tea Party (1773): Colonists dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act.
Continental Army: Unified colonial military force commanded by George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
Declaration of Independence: July 4, 1776 document, drafted by Jefferson, declaring the colonies independent from Britain.
Loyalists: Colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the Revolution; also called Tories.
Patriots: Colonists who supported independence from Britain and fought in or supported the Revolution.
Battle of Saratoga (1777): American victory that convinced France to formally ally with the United States.
Valley Forge: Winter encampment (1777–78) where Washington's army endured brutal conditions but emerged more disciplined.
Yorktown (1781): Final major battle of the Revolution; British General Cornwallis surrendered to Washington.
Treaty of Paris (1783): Peace treaty formally ending the Revolutionary War and recognizing US independence.
John Locke: Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas about natural rights and government by consent shaped the Declaration of Independence.