When the British surrendered in October, 1781, the American army
won the Revolutionary War (and a new nation was born).
In 1776, colonial political leaders voted to end their dependence on Britain, and wrote this document:
The Declaration of Independence
What advantages did the American army have that helped win the war? Give three.
the size of the country made occupation difficult for the British, guerrilla tactics learned from Indian wars, support from other countries
The colonists had to ship all their crops to England and buy all manufactured goods from England because
trade with foreign countries, "smuggling", was not allowed.
In 1763, American colonists celebrated British victory over France in which war?
French and Indian War
What were the colonists of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia protesting and threatening to do?
They protested Britain's new taxation policy and threatened to boycott all British goods.
Colonists were not allowed any representatvies in the British Parliament, which meant
the colonists were not allowed to vote or speak their minds about government matters.
How did the British government respond to the colonists' stubborn response to their taxes?
The British government withdrew (repealed) almost every tax.
What was probably the single most important reason for patriot victory over the British?
the participation of so many of the colonists - farmers, artisans, and workers who put themselves in the line of fire to fight for independence
Support for the Revolution crossed region, religion, and social rank. Name five types of people who helped support independence.
farmers, artisans, shopkeepers, merchants, immigrants, ex-servants, free blacks, and slaves
What three countries supported the American colonies' fight for independence?
France, Spain, the Netherlands
Who was the King of England during the American Revolution?
King George III
Why did an American victory in the Revolution SEEM impossible? Give two reasons.
King George's army had 60,000 combined troops, and the George Washington's army had only 20,000. Most of the American soldiers were young, unskilled and poor.
By the 1770s, many colonists believed these three things about the British government:
Britain was plotting to destroy the colonists' prosperity, reduce them to poverty, and take away all their rights and liberties as British citizens.
What created the tensions between the colonists and their "Mother Country", England?
The French and Indian War was very costly, and the British were broke, so King George decided to tax the colonies.
Some colonists refused to support the protests because they felt it was "treason against the king". What were these people called?
Loyalists
Colonists who were in favor of independence and revolution were called
Patriots
What major event occurred on December 16, 1773 that helped start the Revolutionary War between England and the colonies?
The Boston Tea Party