Social Studies Study Guide

By: Devon Pennington

Declaration of Independence

• Stated that the colonies would not be part of Britain anymore.

• Stated the rights of “all” people

Stated the complaints against the King.

John Hancock signed 1st.

Second Continental Congress

• Approved Declaration of independence.

• Approved the Articles of Confederation.

Articles of Confederation

• First constitution of U.S.A.

• New rules for how the country would be governed after independence.

• Each state elects leaders, who choose Congress members. Congress is U.S government.

• 1 state= 1 vote (NOT THE SIZE OF STATE)

Battle of Long Island

• Largest battle of the entire war.

• British victory which wiped out half of the American army.

• Washington and his troops retreated in the fog.

Battle of Saratoga

• Turning point of the war

• American victory under General Gates.

• Showed colonist, French, and others that Americans had a chance to win.

Battle of Yorktown

• American victory at Yorktown, VA

• Decided the war, even though fighting continued for two more years.

Treaty of Paris

• Officially ended the war.

• British accepted American independence, removed soldiers, paid for damages to property.

• America promised to treat Loyalist fairly.

Thomas Paine

• Wrote “Common Sense” which convinced many colonist to work for independence from the British.

ESSAY QUESTION!!!!

• Woman took active part in the war

• Some fought in battle, cooked, nursed the sick, carried water, and spied.

• Others ran farms, or businesses, raised money for the war, and wrote poems or plays.

• Some supported the British.