click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
DOI/AmRev
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| John Hancock | president of 2nd Continental Congress; first/biggest signature on DOI |
| George Washington | commander of Continental Army |
| Olive Branch Petition | 2nd Continental Congress's last attempt at a peaceful resolution with King George |
| Second Continental Congress | organization of delegates from all colonies that wrote/signed DOI |
| declaration | formal statement or announcement |
| Ben Franklin | a signer of the DOI |
| Thomas Jefferson | writer of DOI |
| Declaration of Independence | document declaring colonies' freedom from the King; list of grievances against King George |
| Independence Hall | Pennsylvania State House; building where 2nd Continental Congress met; DOI was signed there |
| Continental Army | colonial army |
| Hessians | German soldiers for hire; fought on the British side |
| Valley Forge | area in PA where Washington's troops spent a very difficult winter; those who survived together came out stronger |
| constitution | a document stating the basic principles of a government; each colony wrote one before the end of the AmRev |
| separation of powers | establishing different governmental rights and duties to different branches in order to prevent one person, office, or group from having too much power |
| Bill of Rights | part of a constitution establishing basic rights |
| Lord Charles Cornwallis | English commander who surrendered to Washington at Yorktown |
| Yorktown, VA | site of the final battle of the AmRev; English surrendered |
| Treaty of Paris | peace treaty between England & US; officially ended AmRev |