American Revolution Study Essentials: Key People, Events, Terms
American Revolution Study Essentials
Exam Format and Scoring
This assessment includes 10 matching questions and 20 selected-response questions. Each question is worth 3 points.
Key People, Events, and Terms to Identify
Please be prepared to identify the following individuals, events, and terms. Note: You must know the dates for all starred (*) terms.
Continental Army
(p. 165) The American military force led by George Washington. Initially untrained and undersupplied, they received crucial training from Baron von Steuben.Mercenaries
(p. 164) Hired soldiers, such as the Hessians, employed by the British to fight on their behalf during the war.Marquis de Lafayette
(p. 174) A trusted aide to George Washington, from whom the Americans received valuable assistance.Hessians
(p. 164) Professional German soldiers paid by the British to fight in the American Revolutionary War.Role of Enslaved African Americans
(p. 164, 167) Many enslaved African Americans agreed to fight for the British early in the war, enticed by promises of freedom.*Battle of Yorktown
(p. 185) The decisive last major battle of the Revolutionary War in 1781. French and American forces surrounded General Cornwallis and the British army, leading to a British surrender.Spain’s Involvement
(p. 180-181) Fought the British in the western territories. Spain aided the Americans, motivated by a desire to expand its own empire into North America.France’s Alliance
(p. 173) Agreed to sign the Treaty of Alliance in 1778 after news of the American victory at Saratoga. France became a key ally, providing crucial military and financial support.Valley Forge
(p. 173-174) The Pennsylvania encampment where George Washington and the Continental Army endured a harsh winter. It was a significant challenge to maintain troop morale, health, and fighting spirit amidst severe shortages.General George Washington
(p. 164) The Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army throughout the Revolutionary War.General Charles Cornwallis
(p. 184) The leader of the British forces who famously surrendered his sword at the Battle of Yorktown.Inflation
(p. 175) A significant economic problem for the colonists during the war. Congress printed hundreds of millions of dollars in paper money, which rapidly lost value, leading to inflation (requiring more money to purchase the same amount of goods).Abigail Adams
(p. 175) The wife of John Adams, she famously wrote to her husband, urging him to “remember the ladies” and consider women’s rights as the Continental Congress worked towards liberty and freedom.Battle of Trenton
(p. 167) A crucial American victory in 1776 that significantly boosted morale when many Continental soldiers were on the verge of giving up.Blockade
(p. 179) A naval tactic used to prevent supplies and reinforcements from reaching an enemy’s destination. The British extensively used their navy to blockade American ports and restrict supplies to the Continental Army.*Treaty of Alliance
An agreement signed in 1778 between France and the Americans, formally committing France to declare war against Great Britain and provide military aid to the colonists.*Treaty of Paris
(p. 185) The peace agreement signed in 1783 between Great Britain and the United States, in which Britain formally recognized U.S. independence and agreed to withdraw all troops from American territory.John Paul Jones
A renowned American naval officer who famously defeated the British warship Serapis in September 1779, uttering the words, “I have not yet begun to fight!”Advantages of the Continental Army
Key advantages included:- Fighting for a compelling cause (freedom and independence)
- Defending their homeland (fighting on familiar territory)
- Strong leadership under George Washington
- Effective use of guerrilla warfare tactics