British law requiring colonists to quarter (house) British soldiers and provide them with supplies

placed a tax on sugar, molasses, and other goods shipped to the colonies

required all printed documents to carry an official stamp showing that a tax had been paid

placed a tax on glass, paper, paint, lead, tea; suspended New York's assembly until they quartered soldiers; included writs of assistance

unlimited search warrants given to Redcoats to look for smuggled goods

taxed colonial tea; this law resulted in the Boston Tea Party

an act of civil disobedience in which colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston harbor

breaking a law as a means of non-violent protest

also called Coercive Acts; laws passed by Parliament to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. Boston's port was closed until the tea dumped in the harbor could be paid for; committees of correspondence were banned; quartering in colonists' homes was reinforced; British officers accused of crimes could go to Britain for their trials. These laws united the colonies to stand strong against Britain.

The slogan used by colonists regarding the taxes being placed on them by Parliament.

group who protested British laws in the colonies using both peaceful and violent means

leader of Boston Sons of Liberty; organized committees of correspondence and protests

groups that wrote letters to keep colonists informed about British actions

British soldiers fired into a crowd of Bostonians killing several civilians; this was used by the colonists as propaganda against the British

first colonist killed in the Boston Massacre

patriot who defended the British soldiers in the Boston Massacre; member of Continental Congress

British monarch during American Revolution

member of Virginia House of Burgesses; "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech

group of delegates who met in Philadelphia in order to make decisions regarding tensions with Britain (included Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Hancock, Sam Adams)

April, 1775; first shots of the American Revolution; British planned to arrest leaders of the Sons of Liberty in Lexington, Massachusetts and to seize militia supplies in nearby Concord

wrote pamphlet Common Sense to convince colonists that a total break with England was necessary; wrote a series of articles called the American Crisis in the winter of 1776-77 to inspire Continental Soldiers to keep fighting

written by Thomas Jefferson of Virginia; declared unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; listed grievances against King George III; officially announced separation from British government

date Declaration of Independence was signed by the Continental Congress

American colonists who wanted independence from Great Britain

Washington's military camp during winter of 1777-78; harsh conditions - lack of food, supplies, housing; showed commitment of Continental Army to Washington and the cause of liberty

turning point of the war; important American victory because it influenced France to support America in its war against Britain.

last major battle of war; British were trapped at Chesapeake Bay between the French navy in the bay and American troops on land; British surrendered

ended the American Revolution; the 13 colonies became an independent nation; the boundaries of the United States were Mississippi River on W, Canada to N, and Spanish Florida to the S

Commanded Continental Army

went to France to secure their help during the war; delegate to  Continental Congress from Pennsylvania

French nobleman who joined General Washington's staff and became a general in the Continental Army.

early advocate for women's rights; urged her husband John to "remember the ladies" in the new government

patriotic writer whose poems and plays inspired many to become patriots

African American who was elected to "Committee of Safety" in New Hampshire and revolutionary soldier

African America spy for George Washington; "double agent"- pretended to be a runaway slave joining British

navel hero; declared "I have not yet begun to fight!" when ordered to surrender his ship; goes on to win the battle

First constitution (blueprint of government) of United States of America written in Philadelphia in 1787

Only one branch of government - Congress •Weak national government - important powers were left to the state governments •National government could not collect taxes, enforce its laws, settle disputes between states or regulate foreign trade

successful law passed by Confederation Congress; outlined steps for territories to become states; provided for orderly westward growth

event that demonstrated the weakness of the Articles of Confederation; farmers in Massachusetts rebelled against high taxes; the national government did not have the power/authority to step in and stop the rebellion