Colonial militia volunteer who was prepared to fight at a minute's notice

American colonists who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the war for independence

American colonists who were determined to fight the British until American independence was won

A formal request for government action

The introduction to a formal document that often tells why the document was written

A group of 55 delegates who would represent Americans and challenge British control. They gathered in Philadelphia in September, 1774. The purpose of this was to set up a political body

They organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and appointed the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence

A petition sent by the delegates to King George III in hopes of avoiding war.

Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free nation.

The first fighting between the British troops and colonial militia took place here. Eight minutemen died at Lexington. Another small cattle occurred at the North Bridge in Concord

This was a British victory because the Americans ran out of gunpowder and had to retreat. Even though this was victory for the British, it was a tremendous loss of men

A British general of Massachusetts who ordered the the troops to Concord to seize and destroy the artillery

Member of the Sons of Liberty. Galloped to Lexington to spread the word that the British were coming. He was captured by British Patrol

American General who was labeled a traitor when he assisted the British in a failed attempt to take the American fort at West Point.

Located on Lake Champlain in northeastern New York, stocked with military supplies. Patriots took the British by surprise here and the fort surrendered on May 10, 1775

An experienced soldier. He was unanimously chosen to command the Continental Army

He wrote a pamphlet called "Common Sense."

He was asked to write the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. He drew on ideas from philosophers such as John Locke for this document

English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.

The first person to sign the Declaration of Independence