The American Revolution

Lesson 1 ​The French and Indian War

Key Terms
Iroquois- ​Also known as Haudenosaunee, they were a group of American Indian people
who settled in update New York and lands near by that included the Cayuga, Cherokee,
Huron, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora whom all shared one
language family and similar ways of life

George Washington- ​from 1732-1799, he worked early on as a surveyor of the Virginia

colony, he soon became interested in the western expansion in the Ohio Country and
invested into the Ohio Company later on. In 1752 he accepted an appointment to the
military as a leading officer and 2 years later, he led a company to drive out the French
from Fort Duquesne. Couple years later he went to serve as a commander in chief of
the colonies’ Continental Army and soon became the first President of the United States

French and Indian War- ​lasted from 1754 to 1763, and the British colonies defeated the
French and their American Indian allies which led to them gaining control of eastrn
North America

Edward Braddock- ​he was a British Commander during the French and Indian War, he
had attempted to capture Fort Duquesne in 1755, he was soon defeated by the French
and Indians during this battle he was mortally wounded

Lord Jeffrey Amherst- ​from 1717-1779, he first served in the British military in Europe
and had fought during the Seven Years’ War, and in 1758 during the French and Indian
War, he was made general and put in command of British forces in North America, then
he became Governor-General of British North America after the war, in 1763 he then
led the British at the start of Pontiac’s Rebellion

Pontiac’s Rebellion- ​the uprising that started in 1763 by the American Indians in the
Great Lakes region

Proclamation of 1763- ​was the declaration made by the British king in which ordered
the colonists to stay east of the Appalachian Mountains

Albany Plan of Union- ​Benjamin Franklin’s proposal in 1754 said to form one
government for a singular group of Britain's colonies in North America
 Benjamin Franklin- ​from 1706-1790, he was an American printer, inventor, scientist,
diplomat and author who became a leader during the Revolutionary War, before the
revolution he had encouraged the 13 colonies to come together to resist the British
tyranny, later he went to hel author the Declaration of Independence, and to serve as a
delegate to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention and then went
on to become an ambassador for the United States to France

Academic Vocabulary
Evict: ​to force someone to leave a place
Gallant: ​brave
Restrain: ​to hold back from action
Autonomy​: having independence or freedom

Lesson Objectives

1. Explain the relationship among the British colonists, the French, and the
Native Americans in the mid-eighteenth century.
2. Describe the causes and major events of the French and Indian War.
3. Analyze the causes and effects of Pontiac’s Rebellion.
4. Summarize how the wars and their outcomes changed the relationship
between Britain and the colonies.

Competition for North American Colonies: ​Text

1. Draw Inferences ​Why did so many Native Americans ally with the French
in the French and Indian War? Give a few reasons. ​So many Native Americans allied
with the French in the French and Indian War for many reasons such as they gave arms
and ammunition to them, and the French treated them with respect and kindness.

2. Determine Author’s Point of View ​Reread the quote from the Iroquois leader,
Canasatego. What beliefs about the land did he express? ​Some of the beliefs about the
land that the Iroquious leader, Canasatego expressed is that the people can and will
ruin the land when they arrive and settle on the land and also that white people don't
think that the Indians understand how valuable the land actually is.

The French and Indian War: ​Text

3. Determine Central Ideas ​What was the most significant point of conflict
between the British and the French in the 1600s and 1700s? Why? ​The most significant
point of conflict between the British and the French in the 1600s and 1700s was that
they were both fighting over the Ohio river valley, they both had claimed both of the
countries but it was never settled
4. Paraphrase ​Reread the quote from George Washington about the French and
American Indian ambush. What happened during this skirmish? Explain in your own
words. ​During the skirmish the english soldiers started to panic and so with that the
officers started to encourage them on, and with that there ended up being around 60
wounded.

5. Identify Cause and Effect ​What key move led to the British gaining an advantage
and eventually winning the French and Indian War in North America? ​One key move
that led the British to gain an advantage and then soon win the French and Indian War
in North American was the British cutting off French shipping to the Americas.

6. Draw Inferences ​The war between the French and British wasn’t just fought in North
America. How do you think this fact affected how the French and the British fought the
war? ​I think this fact affected how the French and the British fought the war mainly
because of 2 things supplies and the area around them. Because the war wasn't just
fought in North America it was hard for the people not fighting in the war to where to
send more supplies and more soldiers to go into battle since they were moving around.
Second was the area around them not just in North America but all the surrounding
areas left more space for them to be attacked and to attack.

7. Draw Conclusions ​Why did the Native Americans want the French to return after the
French and Indian War? ​The Native Americans wanted the French to return after the
French and Indian war so they could become allies.

Pontiac’s Rebellion: ​Text

8. Draw Inferences ​What factors led the end of Pontiac’s Rebellion? ​There are many
factors that led to the end of Pontiac’s Rebellion such as when the american Indians
were not successful in trying to obtain the three strongest British ports of Niagara, Fort
Pitt, and Detroit, but also sooner than later they ended up running out of shot guns and
gunpowder.

9. Draw Conclusions ​Despite the efforts of the British government, many colonists
ignored the Proclamation of 1763. What did this show about the relationship between
the British government and the American colonists? ​Even though the colonists had
ignored the Proclamation of 1763, this showed that the colonists didn't have much or
any respect for the British government and soon the government needed to be more
strict and gain more control
10. Analyze Cause and Effect ​Why did the British impose new taxes on the American
colonists during the 1760s? ​The British impose new tacos on the American colonists
during the 1760s because none of the colonies approved of the Albany Plan of Union,
so they ended up ending the the plan,but doing that caused some fear that creating a
greater union with the colonies would make the colonists harder to deal with

Lesson 2 ​Causes of the Revolution

Key Terms

Salutary Neglect: ​a British policy made in the early 1700s that allowed the colonies
virtual self-rule as long as Great Britain was gaining economically  

Stamp Act: ​1765 law passed by Parliament that required colonists to pay taxes on
printed materials

John Adams:​John Adams (1735–1826) was an American colonial lawyer and writer who
became one of the foremost thinkers and activists among American patriots. He spoke
out against British tax laws and served as a delegate from Massachusetts to the First
Continental Congress. He went on to become the first Vice President and the second
President of the United States.

Patrick Henry:​Patrick Henry (1736–1799) was an American patriot, lawyer, and author.
He is best known for a speech he gave before the Virginia Convention in 1775, during
which he stated, “Give me liberty or give me death!” Henry served in the Virginia
committee of correspondence and served as a Virginia delegate to the First Continental
Congress. He fought during the Revolutionary War and went on to serve Virginia as
state governor and state legislator.

Sons of Liberty:​organization of colonists formed in opposition to the Stamp Act and

other British laws and taxes

nonimportation agreements: ​colonial consumer boycotts of British exports in response

to taxes passed by Parliament

Boston Massacre:​ ​incident on March 5, 1770, in which British soldiers killed five
colonists in Boston

committees of correspondence: ​network of local groups that informed colonists of British

measures and the opposition to them in the years before the Revolutionary War

Boston Tea Party: ​protest against British taxes in which Bostonian protestors dumped
tea into the harbor on December 16, 1773
Intolerable Acts: ​American name for the Coercive Acts, which Parliament passed in
1774 to control the colonies

First Continental Congress: ​group of delegates representing all the American colonies,
except Georgia, that met in 1774

Academic Vocabulary

Assault: ​a violent physical attack

Denounce: ​to publicly state that something is wrong
Evade: ​to avoid something
Virtual: ​being such in practice or effect, though not in actual fact; implied

Lesson Objectives

1. Describe the colonists’ political heritage.

2. Explain the colonists’ reaction to new taxes.
3. Describe the methods the colonists used to protest British taxes.
4. Summarize how the colonists reacted to the Townshend Acts.
5. Understand the significance of the First Continental Congress in 1774.

Foundations of Colonial Government: ​Text

1. Compare and Contrast

Use the graphic organizer below to show the differences between the British
government and the American colonial government in the 1700s. Include information
about how many men could vote, the governmental policy, and how representatives
were chosen.

British Government American Colonies

- 3 branches of government - 2 house legislative

Monarch An elected assembly
House of Lords A council of prominent colonsited appointed
House of Commons life terms by the governor
- Only people in the House of - The colonial governors were
Commons were elected appointed by and served the king
- Small percentage of people could vote - ⅔ of the freed colonial men owned
enough property to qualify to vote

2. Explain an Argument
Why did the British believe they had the right to levy taxes on the American colonists?
Why did the colonists believe these taxes were unjust? ​The British believed they had
the right to levy taxes on the American colonists because the members of parliament
believed that they virtually represented all the British subjects including the colonists

New Taxes Create Conflict: ​Text

​3. Draw Inferences

Explain why the British government officials were puzzled by the colonists’ arguments
that the new taxes and laws were unfair. ​The british government officials were puzzled
by the colonists arguments that the new taxes and laws were unfair because a lot of the
larger british cities did not elect a representative to Parliament.

4. Draw Conclusions
How do you think the British government could have acted differently so as not to create
so much resentment among the colonists? Explain. ​I think the British government could
have lowered the tax amount to where it wasn't too high but also wasn't too low.

Opposition to Taxes Strengthens: ​Text

5. Analyze Interactions Among Individuals, Events, and Ideas

How did Enlightenment ideals influence the American colonists?​ The Enlightenment
ideals influenced the American colonists because they had continued arguing that the
colonists had granted natural rights such as life, liberty and property and a good strong
government protected theses rights of the colonists

6. ​Compare and Contrast

How did the Sons of Liberty and the Daughters of Liberty protest British
rule in different ways? ​The sons of liberty protested British rule more violently, they tore
down the office, they damaged the house of the stamp tax collector, but the daughters
of liberty protested in a more organized way, to weave cloth, they did not buy anymore
manufactured British goods

Protests Lead to Violence: ​Text

7. ​Identify Cause and Effect

Why did the colonists dump tea into the Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party?
The colonists dumped tea into the Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party because
they figured that the British was trying to trick them into paying taxes that they did not
need to pay.

8. ​Use Visual Information

Analyze Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre, and then contrast it with the
description of the event in the text. What do you think was Revere’s purpose in creating
this piece of art? ​I think what Revere’s purpose in creating this certain piece was art
was to show that the british troops are bad and to bring them down.
The First Continental Congress: ​Text

9. ​Draw Conclusions
What were the Coercive Acts, and why did the colonists consider them “intolerable”?
The Coercive Acts where acts that had closed the port of Boston to trade the destructed
tea and all the tax on the ea, but it had also increased the power of the governor at the
elected assembly and all the town meetings, the Coercive Acts were considered to be
intolerable because they forced to colonists to house some of the British troops and it
allowed officials to be tried in Britain for crimes that committed in the colonies

10. ​Draw Conclusions

Explain how John Adams’ view of the colonies was ahead of its time. ​John Adams had
wanted independence from the British.

Lesson 3 ​The Colonists Declare Independence

Key Terms

Paul Revere- ​was an American silversmith who lived and worked in Boston. When the
British approached Boston Harbor on April 16, 1775, Revere rode through the
countryside to Concord warning the colonists and calling Patriots to arms. His
adventures that night were recorded years later by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the
poem "Paul Revere's Ride."

Militia- ​trained citizens who serve as soldiers during an emergency

Loyalists-​colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the Revolutionary War

Second Continental Congress- ​assembly of delegates representing every colony that

met in 1775 in Philadelphia following the Battles of Lexington and Concord

Continental Army- ​army that represented the colonies during Revolutionary War

Thomas Paine- ​was an English-American author and political thinker who moved to
Philadelphia in 1774, following a meeting with Benjamin Franklin. He is best known for
his highly influential pamphlet, ​Common Sense​ , which helped bring support to the
Patriot cause.

Republic-​form of government in which officials are elected by the people

Declaration of Independence-​ ​document drawn up by the Second Continental

Congress, and approved in 1776, that announced American independence and
explained the reasons for it
Thomas Jefferson- ​was an American farmer, landholder, author, architect, lawyer, and
statesman. He joined the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1768 and began advocating
for American independence in the 1770s. Jefferson represented Virginia in the Second
Continental Congress, during which time he drafted and revised the Declaration of
Independence. He went on to serve as a diplomat to France and as the nation's first
secretary of state, second vice president, and third president. Jefferson also founded
the University of Virginia.

natural rights- ​universal rights, such as life and liberty, that derive from nature rather
than from government, according to philosophers

Academic Vocabulary

Disperse: ​to move in different directions or spread apart

Stereotype: ​an oversimplified image of a group of people
Stockpile: ​to gather a large supply of something, such as weapons or food
Unalienable: ​cannot be taken away or transferred to another

Lesson Objectives

1. Explain why fighting broke out to begin the American Revolution and the
response of the Second Continental Congress.
2. Describe the Loyalists’ view of the Patriots.
3. Analyze the impact of Thomas Paine’s ​Common Sense.​
4. Assess why Congress declared independence and the ideas underlying the
Declaration of Independence.

The First Shots Are Fired: ​Text

1. Identify Cause and Effect ​How could the battles of Lexington and Concord
be considered a success for the Patriots? ​The battles of Lexington and Concord could
be considered a success for the patriots because they had retreated back to Boston,
and it also had proved to the British that the Patriots were organized and not a group of
rebellious farmers, and they also earned respect from the British

2. Draw Conclusions ​The opening shot at Lexington and Concord is sometimes called
“the shot heard ‘round the world.” What do you think this means? ​I think this could mean
that the colonists' hard core determination had encouraged movements all around the
world.

Colonists Disagree Over British Rule: ​Text

3. Paraphrase ​Analyze the Loyalist quote in the first paragraph of this text. Then
summarize in your own words how the Loyalists felt about the Patriots and why they felt
this way. ​I think that if they were to be enslaved that they would want to be enslaved
under the rule of the King and not under the rule of the committee of men because then
they would be a slow and painful death that they would suffer.

4. Assess an Argument ​Imagine that both Jonathan Sewell and John Adams are
writing letters to you about the struggle between Britain and the American colonies.
Which man has a stronger argument? Reread the quotes from both men to understand
their arguments. ​ John Adams reads to have a stronger argument for the reason that he
is mainly focusing on their determinations and about how everyone is feeding off each
other and they will die for their countries.

5. Compare and Contrast ​How did the Patriots stereotype the Loyalists? Who were the
Loyalists in reality? ​The Patriots stereotype the Loyalists as wealthy people who had
sold out all their colonists to keep the profitable offices in the British government. The
Loyalists in reality were just regular old farmers and artisans and the others had
belonged to cultural minorities who all feed the oppression by the Patriots

6. Summarize ​Why did many American Indians and slaves oppose the Patriots? ​Many
American Indians and slaves opposed the Patriots because the American Indians
wanted the British help to help keep out settles heading westward, but the slaves saw
the British as he champions of liberty, but they fought for their freedom by joining the
British forces

7. Identify Supporting Details ​Which Patriot actions may have discouraged some
Loyalists from changing their beliefs? ​Some of the Patriot actions that may have
discouraged some Loyalists from changing their beliefs is when the Patriots shut down
the Loyalists newspapers and they punished the people who made fun of the Patriots
actions

The Decision to Declare Independence: ​Text

8. Compare and Contrast ​What ideas did Thomas Paine express in his pamphlet
Common Sense? S ​ ome ideas that Thomas Paine expressed in his pamphlet ​Common
Sense ​was the logic of America’s Independence, that monarchies are dangerous,
America was too large to be ruled by britain, it was America’s dream to be independent

9. Explain an Argument ​According to Thomas Paine, “The cause of America is in a

great measure the cause of all mankind.” Explain what he meant by this. Was he right?
Explain why or why not. ​I think he was right because still to this day year and year later
people are still fighting for freedom but more importantly equality When Thomas Paine
said this he meant that in America’s mission to fight for freedom and equality is exactly
what mankind is wanting them to go for.

10. Cite Evidence ​In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson stated that
“all men are created equal.” Did the colonies live up to this idea at the time? ​At the start
they did not end up living up to this statement but the idea of this equality could inspire
the future generations of people including all enslaved people to create a more equal
society.

Lesson 4 ​Americans Win the Revolution

Key Terms

William Howe- ​“​General William Howe (1729–1814) served as commander-in-chief of

the British army from 1776 to 1778, during the Revolutionary War. Although he led
British troops to victory in engagements including Bunker Hill, Brandywine, and
Germantown, he resigned his command after failing to defeat General Washington's
forces at Valley Forge.”

Mercenary- ​professional soldier who is paid to fight in a foreign army

Battle of Trenton-​1776 Revolutionary War battle in New Jersey, won by the Continental
Army

Charles Cornwallis-​General Charles Cornwallis (1738–1805) fought in the Seven

Years' War in Europe before being sent to combat the Continental Army during the
Revolutionary War. He won key victories in New Jersey and South Carolina, but he was
trapped with his forces at Yorktown in 1781, where he surrendered to General
Washington.

Battle of Princeton-​1777 Revolutionary War battle in New Jersey, won by the

Continental Army

Saratoga- ​1777 Revolutionary War battle considered to be the turning point in the war
because the Patriot win convinced the French to ally officially with the United States

Marquis de Lafayette- ​The Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834) was a French aristocrat

who joined the American Patriot cause in 1777. He fought under General Washington,
and returned to France in 1779 to persuade the king to send French forces to help the
Americans. In 1780, he returned to command Patriot forces in Virginia. In 1781, he
helped trap the British under General Cornwallis at Yorktown.
 Benjamin Franklin- ​from 1706-1790, he was an American printer, inventor, scientist,
diplomat and author who became a leader during the Revolutionary War, before the
revolution he had encouraged the 13 colonies to come together to resist the British
tyranny, later he went to hel author the Declaration of Independence, and to serve as a
delegate to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention and then went
on to become an ambassador for the United States to France

Valley Forge-​location in Pennsylvania where General Washington's army spent a

difficult winter in 1777–1778

Monmouth-​1778 Revolutionary War battle site in New Jersey where neither side won a
clear victory

Kings Mountain-​a 1780 Revolutionary War battle in South Carolina in which Patriots
defeated a Loyalist militia

Yorktown-​site in Virginia where, in 1781, General Cornwallis's British forces surrendered

to General Washington

Treaty of Paris- ​1783 peace treaty that ended the Revolutionary War and affirmed
American independence

Manumission-​the act of freeing someone from slavery

Academic Vocabulary

Ally: ​a person, group, or country that has joined with another to achieve a common
purpose
Escalate: ​to make something worse or more severe
Frustrated: ​unable to achieve an objective
Misguided: ​led by values or goals that are wrong or improper
Virtuous: ​honest and moral

Lesson Objectives

1. Explain the advantages the British held at the start of the war and the
mistakes they made by underestimating the Patriots.
2. Describe the war in the middle states and the frontier.
3. Assess why the British failed to win the war in the South.
4. Describe how the British were finally defeated and the terms of the peace
treaty.
5. Analyze how the Revolution affected Americans and people worldwide.

The War Begins: ​Text

1. Categorize ​Use the graphic organizer below to make bulleted lists of mistakes and
the victories of the British army during the Revolutionary War. Fill in the graphic
organizer as you read all the texts in this lesson.

BRITISH MISTAKES BRITISH VICTORIES

- Underestimated the Patriots - Defeated the Continental Army

- Thought they were fighting in a - Captured large seaports
regular war

2. Summarize ​Which leadership skills were important for George Washington to sustain
the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War? ​Some of the leadership skill that
were important for George Washington to sustain the Continental Army during the
Revolutionary War were to have skillful retreats.

He contemplated the wara. Since they were outnumbered and often outmaneuvered
they lost many battles but his skillful retreats saved his army. He inspired and
encouraged his soldiers during hardships.

The War in the Middle States and Frontier: ​Text

3. Draw Inferences ​How did France benefit from allying with the American
colonists? How did America benefit? ​France benefited from allying with the American
colonists by being able to attack the british easier, America benefited from this because
it the war ended up becoming slightly more equal

4. Analyze Interactions Among Individuals and Events ​Explain the role of the
American Indians in the Revolutionary War. ​The role of the American Infians in the
Revolutionary War was to side with the British they had pushed attacks on some on the
colonists settlements in 1777

The War in the South: ​Text

5. Identify Supporting Details ​What obstacles did the British army face in the
South? ​Some obstacles that the British army had to face in the South were the Spanish
were making certain attacks on the British forts in the Gulf, also later the British fort in
Alabama was captured.

6. Draw Conclusions ​Explain how the following quote changes or adds to your
understanding of the Revolutionary War: “This country is the scene of the most cruel
events. Neighbors are on opposite sides, children are against their fathers.” ​This quote
is telling us exactly how bad the war was.

The War Comes to a Conclusion: ​Text

7. Identify Cause and Effect ​What strategy caused the British surrender at Yorktown?
The strategy that caused the British to surrender at Yorktown was Washington marching
a large majority of his troops to the south, but the only way for this plan to work was that
he needed the French fleet to arrive just at the right time so they could stop the navy
from escaping with their army

8. Cite Evidence ​Explain why Benjamin Franklin was a key figure in the American
Revolution. What were some of his contributions? ​The reason Benjamin Franklin was a
key figure in the American Revolution was because he was about to make an equal
treaty with the British, The Treaty of Paris and was soon noticed and soon American
Independence had given generous limits to the United States, he also locked in more
territory than the Patriots had won in the war.

9. Cite Evidence ​Why did the British lose in the Revolutionary War? Give three reasons
from the text and cite examples. ​One reason the British lost in the Revolutionary War is
because they made tactical mistakes because they underestimated the Patriots.
Second reason is because they misunderstood the political nature of the conflict. Third
reason is because the Patriots were highly motivated and benefited from Washington’s
shrewd leadership.

The Impact of the Revolution: ​Text

10. Draw Conclusions ​Why did the American Revolution have a different
impact on African Americans in the North and in the South? ​The American Revolution
had a different impact on African Americans in the North and the South because having
the British in the south made it easier for the slaves to escape. The slaves also started
to think of their own freedom and liberty in the future.