| A | B |
|---|
| Thomas Paine | Author of the pamphlet "Common Sense," a response to King George's refussal of the Olive Branch Petition. "A government of our own is our natural right!" |
| Thomas Jefferson | A Virginia planter and scholar. He was a member of the committee to recommend a Declaration of Independence. He wrote it every night for 17 days. |
| George Washington | Appointed to lead the Continental Army for his skills, great talents, and excellent character. Reluctant to lead, but accepted as he felt it was his duty. |
| King George | King of England who failed to accept the terms of the Olive Branch Petition. |
| Marquis de Lafayette | A 20 yer old rich Frenchman who hired French soldier to go with him to America. Washington liked him and immediately gave him important duties. |
| Friedrich Von Steuben | German soldier who came to the aid of the Americans while at Valley Forge. |
| Reuben Stebbins | Farmer in Continental Army who paid little attention to the war until he heard the sounds of a battle near his farm in New York State. He saddled up and rode off to fight. |
| Israel Trask | 10 year old cook and messenger boy in Washington's armu in Massachusetts when a group of Virginian soldiers arrived. |
| Johann de Kalb | German born professional soldier who came to offer help to Americans in 1777 after their victory in Trenton. |
| Casmir Pulaski & Thaddeus Koscuiszko | Polish soldiers who came to aid Washington in 1777. |
| Second Continental Congress | After the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia again. Few members wanted a complete break with Britain. |
| Continental Army | Continental Congress created an army and navy to fight Great Britain despite wanting peace. Appointed George Washington to led the army. |
| Mercenaries | German hired soldiers. |
| Loyalists | Also known as tories. They sided with the British and made up 1/3 of the colonist population. |
| Patriots | Believed American colonists were right to stand up for their liberties. Made up 1/3 of the colonist population. |
| Mount Vernon | Home of George Washington's Virginia plantation. |
| Trenton | Turning point in war where Americans staged a surprise attack on German mercenaries celebrating Christmas. 900 men surrendered. |
| Saratoga | October 1777 American victory in New York. The victory brought America an ally in France. Ben Franklin personally went to France to ask for help. |
| Valley Forge | After losing Philadelphia to the British in the winter of 1777, Washington and his troops took camp at Valley Forge 20 miles away. Friedrich Von Steuben wipped the soldiers into shape as they were weak and tired. |
| Be well prepared to write on one of the following topics: | Washington's problems with his army, the role of women in the war, The Battle of Bunker Hill, Victory at Trenton, Victory at Yorktown, How the war ended |
| Franis Marion | Nicknamed the Swamp Fox because the British could never catch him and his men as they traveled through the swamps of South Carolina. |
| Nathaniel Greene | He lead victories at Kings Mountain, Cowpens, and Guilford Courthouse. |
| George Rogers Clark | He was nicknamed Washington of the West as he helped safeguard the frontier in the Ohio River Valley by attacking the British and their Native American allies. |
| Charles Cornwalis | He set up headquarters at Yorktown because it was easy for British troops to bring supplies. |
| Sarah Osborn | A heroine of the Revolutionary War who brought food to the soldiers in the trenches, citing, "It would not do for the men to starve as well as fight." |
