Chapter 6: Study Guide KEY

1) The Declaration is made up of the preamble, and three mains parts. a. Pt 1: Natural Rights: general ideas about society and government, all men created equal, protect people’s rights. b. Pt 2: List of Grievances: list of complaints against British, like ignoring rights of colonists. c. Pt 3: Dissolving of Bonds: colonies are free and independent, and all political connection is dissolved. d. Main purpose is to separate the US from British 2) Thomas Paine was the author of a 50-page pamphlet named Common Sense, which was strongly in favor of independence. He called King George III a “royal brute”, and distributed 500,000 copies in 1776. 3) Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution (formal statement of opinion) to Congress. This was the beginning of the Declaration. He said colonies should have the right to be free, independent states. 4) Nathan Hale was a CT officer and volunteered for spy duty. He was to collect information about British battle plans. He was caught behind enemy lines, was tried, convicted, and hanged. 5) Battle of Saratoga: Americans surrounded the British at the village of Saratoga, NY. After suffering large casualties, the British surrendered. This was a major turning point in the war, as it destroyed the British hopes of an easy victory. 6) France agreed to openly support American independence, and formed an alliance. They wanted to weaken Britain. France, Netherlands, and Spain also went to war with British. They fought in Europe and Caribbean, and Britain couldn’t send as many troops to the US to fight. 7) On Christmas, G. Washington led men across river, towards Trenton, and marched through snow. On Dec. 26th, they attacked Trenton from two sides, and had a victory. They killed and captured thousands of mercenaries, and escaped in the middle of the night. 8) Most Native Americans were allies with British because they didn’t want to lose any more land to the Americans. Many died because of smallpox epidemic too. 9) African Americans fought for both sides. British offered freedom to those who deserted their owners. They were soldiers, but mostly cooks, blacksmiths, and teamsters. G. Washington did not initially want African American soldiers, but changed his mind after British offered freedom. Some fled their owners to serve in Army. At end of war, 7,000 African Americans were on American side (2,000 in Navy). 10) Francis Marion led his army of men through swamps in South Carolina. They were called guerrillas. They would attack without warning, and then escape. He was so efficient that he was nicknamed “Swamp Fox”.

11) The Battle of Yorktown was the last battle of the Revolution. The French chased the British off the coast. At same time, Washington attacked from land, and forced British to surrender. The Treaty of Paris was the OFFICIAL end to the war. 12) The boundaries that were formed were Atlantic in East, Canada in North, Mississippi River in West, and Florida in South. Florida, as a state, was returned to Spain. 13) The United States inspired French citizens to rebel in French Revolution, and later independence movements in Latin America.