The American Revolution - Middle School and High School

Declare your independence and master these words related to the American Revolution. Learn all about the conflict between the colonists and the redcoats, from the Boston Tea Party to the British surrender at Yorktown. Explore causes of the war and review major battles, key historical figures, and the structure of the new American republic.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. Alexander Hamilton
    United States statesman and leader of the Federalists
  2. ally
    a friendly nation
  3. amendment
    a statement that is added to a proposal or document
  4. Articles of Confederation
    a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states; it provided a legal symbol of their union by giving the central government no coercive power over the states or their citizens
  5. battle of Saratoga
    a battle during the American Revolution
  6. Benjamin Franklin
    printer whose success as an author led him to take up politics; he helped draw up the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; he played a major role in the American Revolution and negotiated French support for the colonists; as a scientist he is remembered particularly for his research in electricity (1706-1790)
  7. Bill of Rights
    a statement of fundamental freedoms and privileges
  8. blockade
    a war measure isolating an area of importance to the enemy
  9. Boston Tea Party
    demonstration (1773) by citizens of Boston who (disguised as Native Americans) raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor; organized as a protest against taxes on tea
  10. boycott
    refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization
  11. Bunker Hill
    the first important battle of the American War of Independence (1775) which was fought at Breed's Hill; the British defeated the colonial forces
  12. Charles Cornwallis
    commander of the British forces in the American War of Independence; was defeated by American and French troops at Yorktown (1738-1805)
  13. colonist
    one who settles or establishes a settlement in a new region
  14. colony
    a geographical area controlled by a distant country
  15. Comte de Rochambeau
    French general who commanded French troops in the American Revolution, notably at Yorktown (1725-1807)
  16. Concord
    the first battle of the American Revolution (April 19, 1775)
  17. Congress
    the legislature of the United States government
  18. Constitutional Convention
    the convention of United States statesmen who drafted the United States Constitution in 1787
  19. Continental Congress
    the legislative assembly composed of delegates from the rebel colonies who met during and after the American Revolution; they issued the Declaration of Independence and framed Articles of Confederation
  20. Declaration of Independence
    the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the Colonies from Great Britain
  21. delegate
    a person appointed or elected to represent others
  22. executive
    having the function of carrying out plans or orders
  23. federal
    of a government with central and regional authorities
  24. freedom of speech
    the right to express your ideas and opinions
  25. French and Indian War
    a war in North America between France and Britain
  26. George III
    King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820
  27. George Washington
    1st President of the United States
  28. grievance
    an allegation that something denies some legal right
  29. import
    commodities bought from a foreign country
  30. independence
    freedom from control or influence of another or others
  31. James Madison
    4th President of the United States
  32. John Hancock
    American revolutionary patriot who was president of the Continental Congress; was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence (1737-1793)
  33. John Jay
    United States diplomat and jurist who negotiated peace treaties with Britain and served as the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1745-1829)
  34. John Locke
    English empiricist philosopher who believed that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience (1632-1704)
  35. John Paul Jones
    American naval commander in the American Revolution
  36. judicial
    relating to the administration of justice
  37. legislative
    relating to a lawmaking assembly
  38. legislature
    an assembly that makes, amends, or repeals laws
  39. levy
    impose and collect
  40. Lexington
    the first battle of the American Revolution (April 19, 1775)
  41. liberty
    freedom of choice
  42. Louis XVI
    king of France from 1774 to 1792
  43. Marquis de Lafayette
    French soldier who served under George Washington in the American Revolution (1757-1834)
  44. massacre
    the savage and excessive killing of many people
  45. mercenary
    a person hired to fight for another country than their own
  46. militia
    civilians trained as soldiers, not part of the regular army
  47. Minuteman
    an American army volunteer during the American Revolution
  48. Montesquieu
    French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers (1689-1755)
  49. musket
    a muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel
  50. Nathan Hale
    a soldier of the American Revolution who was hanged as a spy by the British; his last words were supposed to have been "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country" (1755-1776)
  51. olive branch
    something given to another in the hope of making peace
  52. parliament
    a legislative assembly in certain countries
  53. Patrick Henry
    a leader of the American Revolution and a famous orator who spoke out against British rule of the American colonies (1736-1799)
  54. patriot
    one who loves and defends his or her country
  55. Paul Revere
    American silversmith remembered for his midnight ride (celebrated in a poem by Longfellow) to warn the colonists in Lexington and Concord that British troops were coming (1735-1818)
  56. petition
    a formal request that something be submitted to an authority
  57. quarter
    provide housing for military personnel
  58. ratify
    approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
  59. rebel
    a person who takes part in an armed insurrection
  60. rebellion
    organized opposition to authority
  61. redcoat
    British soldier; so-called because of his red coat
  62. regiment
    army unit smaller than a division
  63. repeal
    cancel officially
  64. representation
    the right to have delegates in some legislative body
  65. representative
    related to government in which citizens elect officials
  66. republic
    a political system in which power lies in a body of citizens
  67. revolution
    the overthrow of a government by those who are governed
  68. Samuel Adams
    American Revolutionary leader and patriot
  69. self-government
    government by a country's own people rather than by an outside power
  70. siege
    an action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place
  71. social contract
    an agreement that results in the organization of society
  72. Stamp Act
    an act passed by the British Parliament in 1756 that raised revenue from the American Colonies by a duty in the form of a stamp required on all newspapers and legal or commercial documents; opposition by the Colonies resulted in the repeal of the act in 1766
  73. tariff
    a government tax on imports or exports
  74. taxation
    charge against a citizen's person or property or activity
  75. Thomas Jefferson
    3rd President of the United States
  76. Thomas Paine
    American Revolutionary leader and pamphleteer (born in England) who supported the American colonist's fight for independence and supported the French Revolution (1737-1809)
  77. Tory
    an American who favored the British side during the American Revolution
  78. traitor
    someone who betrays his country by committing treason
  79. treaty
    a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
  80. tyranny
    government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator
  81. tyrant
    a cruel and oppressive dictator
  82. Whig
    a supporter of the American Revolution
  83. Yorktown
    in 1781 the British under Cornwallis surrendered after a siege of three weeks by American and French troops; the surrender ended the American Revolution
Created on Tue Feb 14 14:04:20 EST 2017 (updated Fri Mar 31 11:35:14 EDT 2017)

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