U.S. History: Beginnings to 1877

(1774) a meeting of colonial delegates in Philadelphia to decide how to respond to the Coercive Acts; delegates petitioned King George III, listing the freedoms they believed colonists should enjoy

American colonists who fought for independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War

American colonial militia members ready to fight at a moment's notice

Nickname for British soldiers who fought against the colonists in the American Revolution; so called because of their bright colored uniforms

(1775) a meeting of colonial delegates in Philadelphia to decide how to react to fighting at Lexington and Concord

the fighting force created by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 to defend the American colonies from Britain

He served as a representative to the Continental Congresses, commanded the Continental Army, and was unanimously elected to two terms as president of the United States.

(1775) a Revolutionary War battle in Boston that demonstrated that the colonists could fight well against the British army; a "moral victory"

(1776) a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that criticized monarchies and convinced many American colonists to break away from Britain

An American political philosopher and author, he urged an immediate declaration of independence from England in his anonymously and simply written pamphlet

A member of two Continental Congresses, chairman of the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, the Declaration's main author, and the third president of the U.S.

(1776) the document written to announce the colonies' freedom from British rule

colonists who sided with Britain in the American Revolution

hired foreign soldiers

(1776) a Revolutionary War battle in New Jersey in which Patriot forces captured more than 900 Hessian troops

(1777) a Revolutionary War battle in New York that resulted in a major defeat of British troops; marked the Patriots' greatest victory so far and became a turning point

(1757-1834) French statesman and officer who helped finance the Revolution and served as major general because he viewed the American Revolution as important to the world.

(1730-1794) Prussian soldier who helped train American forces at Valley Forge in the American Revolutionary War

As governor of Spanish Louisiana, he captured key cities from the British, greatly aiding the American Patriot movement and enabling the Spanish acquisition of Florida.

(1747-1792) As an American naval officer famed for bravery, his most famous victory was the defeat of the British warship Serapis, during which he declared, "I have not yet begun to fight!"

(1752-1818)As an American Revolutionary soldier and frontier leader, he captured the British trading village of Kaskaskia during the Revolution and encouraged Indian leaders to remain neutral

(1732?-1795) As as Revolutionary War commander, he formed a group of guerrilla soldiers in South Carolina that used surprise raids against British communication and supply lines.

He was a French soldier who commanded the French troops in the American Revolutionary War. He was with General George Washington at the Battle of Yorktown.

(1781) This was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War and the site of the British surrender to the Patriots in Virginia.

This peace agreement officially ended the Revolutionary War and established British recognition of the independence of the United States