The Complete American Revolution Cheat Sheet

Introduction to the American Revolution

The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a political and military conflict that resulted in the United States gaining independence from Great Britain. What began as colonial resistance against taxation without representation evolved into a full-scale war and the birth of a new nation. The revolution not only established American independence but also inspired democratic movements worldwide, pioneered concepts of constitutional government, and created a model for colonial independence movements. The revolutionary period introduced foundational principles like individual liberty, checks and balances, and the consent of the governed that continue to shape American identity and global democratic values today.

Timeline of Key Events

Pre-Revolutionary Period (1763-1774)

Revolutionary War Period (1775-1783)

Post-Revolutionary Period (1783-1789)

Key Figures of the American Revolution

American Leaders

• George Washington (1732-1799)

  • Commander-in-Chief of Continental Army
  • Presided over Constitutional Convention
  • First U.S. President (1789-1797)
  • Military leadership kept army together through difficult times

• Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

  • Diplomat, secured French alliance
  • Oldest signer of Declaration and Constitution
  • Negotiated Treaty of Paris ending the war
  • Internationally respected scientist and statesman

• Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

  • Principal author of Declaration of Independence
  • Virginia legislator and governor during revolution
  • Later third U.S. President (1801-1809)
  • Advocate for republican government and individual rights

• John Adams (1735-1826)

  • Leading advocate for independence in Congress
  • Diplomat to France, Netherlands
  • Negotiated Treaty of Paris
  • Second U.S. President (1797-1801)

• Samuel Adams (1722-1803)

  • Early revolutionary leader in Massachusetts
  • Organized resistance to British policies
  • Helped plan Boston Tea Party
  • Signed Declaration of Independence

• Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804)

  • Washington’s aide-de-camp
  • Artillery captain, later lieutenant colonel
  • Co-authored The Federalist Papers
  • First Secretary of the Treasury

• Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

  • Author of influential pamphlets “Common Sense” and “The American Crisis”
  • Galvanized public opinion for independence
  • Popularized revolutionary ideas for common citizens

• Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834)

  • French aristocrat who volunteered for American cause
  • Served as major general in Continental Army
  • Secured additional French support
  • Fought at Brandywine, Monmouth, and Yorktown

British Leaders

• King George III (1738-1820)

  • British monarch during revolution
  • Refused to consider colonial grievances
  • Declared colonies in rebellion

• Lord North (1732-1792)

  • Prime Minister during most of the revolution
  • Implemented punitive policies against colonies
  • Resigned after Yorktown defeat

• General Thomas Gage (1719-1787)

  • Military governor of Massachusetts
  • Ordered march to Lexington and Concord
  • Early British commander-in-chief in America

• General William Howe (1729-1814)

  • Commander-in-chief of British forces (1775-1778)
  • Won several battles but failed to destroy Continental Army
  • Captured Philadelphia but missed opportunity to end war

• General Henry Clinton (1730-1795)

  • Replaced Howe as commander-in-chief
  • Shifted strategy to southern campaigns
  • Failed to relieve Cornwallis at Yorktown

• Lord Charles Cornwallis (1738-1805)

  • Led British southern campaign
  • Surrendered at Yorktown
  • Later became Governor-General of India

Major Battles and Campaigns

Early War in New England (1775-1776)

• Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775)

  • First military engagements of the war
  • British sought to seize colonial weapons
  • British forced to retreat to Boston with significant casualties
  • Demonstrated colonial willingness to fight

• Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775)

  • Fought mostly on Breed’s Hill
  • British victory but at heavy cost (1,054 casualties)
  • Boosted colonial morale (“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”)
  • Showed colonies could stand against British regulars

• Siege of Boston (April 1775-March 1776)

  • Continental Army surrounds British-held Boston
  • Washington takes command (July 1775)
  • Americans seize Dorchester Heights
  • British evacuate city (March 17, 1776)

New York and New Jersey Campaign (1776-1777)

• Battle of Long Island (August 27, 1776)

  • First major battle after Declaration of Independence
  • British victory; largest battle of the war
  • Washington’s army escapes to Manhattan

• Battles of Trenton (December 26, 1776) and Princeton (January 3, 1777)

  • Washington crosses Delaware River on Christmas night
  • Surprise attack captures nearly 1,000 Hessians at Trenton
  • Defeats British at Princeton
  • Crucial victories revitalize American cause
  • Demonstrates Washington’s leadership and strategic ability

Saratoga Campaign (1777)

• Battles of Saratoga (September-October 1777)
  • British General Burgoyne attempts to isolate New England
  • Battles of Freeman’s Farm and Bemis Heights
  • American victory forces Burgoyne’s surrender of 5,800 troops
  • Major turning point; convinces France to enter war

Philadelphia Campaign (1777-1778)

• Brandywine (September 11, 1777)

  • British victory allows capture of Philadelphia
  • Congress flees to York, Pennsylvania

• Germantown (October 4, 1777)

  • American attack fails but shows growing capability
  • Impresses European observers

• Valley Forge Encampment (Winter 1777-1778)

  • Continental Army suffers from cold, disease, hunger
  • Baron von Steuben trains and disciplines troops
  • Army emerges more professional and disciplined

Southern Campaign (1778-1781)

• Savannah and Charleston

  • British capture Savannah (1778)
  • Americans surrender Charleston (1780) – worst American defeat
  • British control Georgia and South Carolina

• Cowpens (January 17, 1781)

  • Daniel Morgan defeats British under Tarleton
  • Innovative American tactics
  • Significant British losses

• Guilford Courthouse (March 15, 1781)

  • Cornwallis wins tactical victory but suffers heavy losses
  • Forces British withdrawal to Wilmington
  • British “victory” helps lead to ultimate defeat

Yorktown Campaign (1781)

• Siege of Yorktown (September-October 1781)
  • Washington and Rochambeau trap Cornwallis on Virginia peninsula
  • French fleet under de Grasse blocks British naval relief
  • Combined Franco-American force of 17,000 besieges 8,700 British
  • Cornwallis surrenders October 19, 1781
  • Last major land battle of the war
  • Effectively ends British will to continue fighting

Key Documents and Ideological Foundations

Influential Documents

• Stamp Act Resolutions (1765)

  • Early colonial protest against taxation without representation
  • Asserted colonial rights as British subjects

• Suffolk Resolves (1774)

  • Called for economic sanctions against Britain
  • Urged military preparedness
  • Adopted by First Continental Congress

• Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)

  • Formal announcement of separation from Great Britain
  • Written primarily by Jefferson with input from Franklin, Adams
  • Establishes natural rights philosophy: “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”
  • Lists grievances against King George III
  • Became foundational American political document

• Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

  • First constitution of the United States
  • Created weak central government
  • Gave states primary authority
  • No executive or judicial branch
  • Required unanimous consent for amendments
  • Led to economic and governance problems

• Treaty of Paris (1783)

  • Formally ended the Revolutionary War
  • Great Britain recognized American independence
  • Established U.S. boundaries
  • Secured fishing rights off Canadian coast
  • Required return of confiscated Loyalist property (rarely enforced)

• U.S. Constitution (1787)

  • Replaced Articles of Confederation
  • Created stronger federal government with three branches
  • Established checks and balances system
  • Incorporated republican principles
  • Represented compromise between various factions

• The Federalist Papers (1787-1788)

  • 85 essays by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay
  • Argued for ratification of Constitution
  • Explained design and benefits of new government
  • Became important interpretation of constitutional principles

Philosophical Influences

• John Locke’s Natural Rights Theory

  • Government derives power from consent of the governed
  • Natural rights to life, liberty, and property
  • Right to revolution when government violates social contract
  • Heavily influenced Declaration of Independence

• Montesquieu’s Separation of Powers

  • Division of government prevents tyranny
  • Influenced constitutional structure
  • Checks and balances system

• Enlightenment Ideals

  • Reason over tradition
  • Scientific method
  • Individual rights
  • Religious tolerance
  • Progress and improvement of society

• Republican Values

  • Civic virtue
  • Citizen participation
  • Distrust of concentrated power
  • Self-governance

Social Dimensions of the Revolution

Demographics and Participation

• Colonial Population

  • Approximately 2.5 million people in 1776
  • About 500,000 African Americans (mostly enslaved)
  • Native American population approximately 300,000 east of Mississippi

• Revolutionary Support

  • Patriots/Whigs: Actively supported revolution (40-45%)
  • Loyalists/Tories: Remained loyal to Britain (15-20%)
  • Neutral/Undecided: Avoided taking sides (35-45%)

• Military Participation

  • Continental Army: 230,000 total who served
  • State militias: 145,000 estimated
  • Never more than 35,000 under arms at one time
  • High desertion rates due to hardship
  • British forces: 48,000 (peak strength)
  • German mercenaries (Hessians): 30,000

Impact on Different Groups

• Women in the Revolution

  • Maintained farms and businesses
  • “Camp followers” supported army with cooking, laundry, nursing
  • Some served as spies (like Lydia Darragh)
  • Few fought disguised as men (Deborah Sampson)
  • “Republican Motherhood” concept emerged
  • Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren: important intellectual contributors

• African Americans

  • Free blacks served in Continental Army and Navy
  • Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation (1775) offered freedom to slaves who fought for British
  • 5,000+ Black Patriots served in Continental forces
  • Many thousands more escaped to British lines
  • Northern states began gradual emancipation after Revolution
  • Slavery expanded in South despite revolutionary rhetoric

• Native Americans

  • Most tribes sided with British, who limited western settlement
  • Iroquois Confederacy split: Oneida and Tuscarora supported Americans
  • Post-war treaties ignored indigenous rights
  • Lost land and political leverage after British defeat

• Loyalists/Tories

  • Approximately 15-20% of population
  • Concentrated in New York, Carolinas, Georgia, Florida
  • Many were government officials, Anglican clergy, wealthy merchants
  • Suffered persecution, property confiscation
  • About 60,000-100,000 fled after the war
  • Many relocated to Canada, Britain, Caribbean, or Florida

Economic and Global Context

Economic Factors

• British Mercantilism

  • Colonies existed to benefit mother country
  • Navigation Acts restricted colonial trade
  • Manufacturing restrictions in colonies
  • Increased enforcement after 1763 sparked resentment

• Revolutionary War Financing

  • Continental Congress printed currency (Continental dollar)
  • Severe inflation (“not worth a Continental”)
  • Loans from France, Spain, Netherlands
  • State requisitions often unfulfilled
  • War debt became major post-war issue

• Post-War Economy

  • Trade disruption with Britain
  • New markets opened (direct European trade)
  • Severe economic depression 1784-1787
  • Debt crisis for farmers led to Shays’ Rebellion
  • Economic problems led to Constitutional Convention

International Dimensions

• French Alliance (1778)

  • Crucial diplomatic achievement
  • Provided money, supplies, troops, naval support
  • French fleet crucial at Yorktown
  • Motivated by desire to weaken Britain

• Spanish Involvement

  • Declared war on Britain (1779)
  • Did not recognize American independence
  • Provided financial support
  • Captured British posts on Mississippi River and Gulf Coast

• Dutch Support

  • Provided loans
  • Recognized American independence (1782)
  • St. Eustatius island served as trade conduit

• Global Impact of Revolution

  • Weakened British Empire
  • Inspired French Revolution
  • Established model for colonial independence movements
  • Demonstrated viability of republican government
  • Shifted balance of power in Europe

Military Aspects

Forces Comparison

Military Leadership and Strategy

• Continental Army Development

  • Created by Continental Congress in June 1775
  • Washington appointed Commander-in-Chief
  • Initially short-term enlistments
  • Evolved into professional force
  • Baron von Steuben’s training at Valley Forge crucial
  • Combined with militia system for local defense

• American Strategy

  • Washington’s Fabian strategy: avoid decisive defeat
  • Preserve army as “force in being”
  • Win small victories when possible
  • Extend conflict to exhaust British resolve
  • Focus on political survival as much as military victory

• British Strategic Errors

  • Underestimated colonial resolve
  • Failed to coordinate campaigns effectively
  • Focused on occupying cities rather than destroying Continental Army
  • Alienated neutral colonists through harsh tactics
  • Failed to utilize naval superiority effectively
  • Inadequate forces for territory they needed to control

• Naval Warfare

  • British naval dominance
  • American privateers (over 2,000) disrupted British shipping
  • French fleet crucial at Yorktown
  • John Paul Jones and Continental Navy symbolic importance

Legacy and Significance

Political Impact

• Republican Government

  • First successful large-scale republic since ancient times
  • Demonstrated viability of written constitutions
  • Established precedent for peaceful transfer of power
  • Sovereignty derived from the people, not monarch

• Federalism

  • Division of power between national and state governments
  • Balance between local control and central authority
  • Model for other federal systems worldwide

• Bill of Rights

  • Protection of individual liberties
  • Limits on government power
  • Influenced rights declarations worldwide

Long-term Cultural Influence

• American Identity

  • Created shared national experience
  • “Founding mythology” shapes American self-perception
  • Revolutionary principles as touchstone for reform movements
  • Appeal to “founding principles” in political discourse

• Global Revolutionary Inspiration

  • Model for later independence movements
  • French Revolution influenced by American example
  • Latin American independence movements
  • 20th century decolonization

• Unresolved Tensions

  • Slavery contradicted liberty rhetoric
  • Limited franchise (white male property owners)
  • Native American rights ignored
  • States’ rights vs. federal authority
  • Individual rights vs. community needs

Historiographical Perspectives

• Progressive Interpretation

  • Revolution as class conflict
  • Economic motivations primary
  • Political rhetoric masked economic interests

• Neo-Whig Interpretation

  • Ideological motivations central
  • Principles of republicanism and liberty primary
  • Constitutional principles fundamental

• Imperial Interpretation

  • Revolution as part of imperial crisis
  • Administrative reorganization triggered conflict
  • Breakdown in imperial relationship

• Modern Multicultural Perspective

  • Focus on participation of marginalized groups
  • Revolution’s mixed legacy for women, minorities
  • Incomplete revolution for many Americans

Resources for Further Learning

Primary Sources

• “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine
• The Declaration of Independence
• The Federalist Papers
• Letters between John and Abigail Adams
• George Washington’s correspondence
• Thomas Jefferson’s writings
• The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights
• State constitutions of revolutionary period

Key Historical Studies

• “The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution” by Bernard Bailyn
• “American Scripture” by Pauline Maier
• “Washington’s Crossing” by David Hackett Fischer
• “The Radicalism of the American Revolution” by Gordon Wood
• “Liberty’s Daughters” by Mary Beth Norton
• “The Unknown American Revolution” by Gary Nash
• “A People’s History of the American Revolution” by Ray Raphael
• “The American Revolution: A History” by Gordon S. Wood

Digital Resources

• Founders Online (National Archives)
• American Archives (Northern Illinois University)
• Revolutionary War and Beyond (primary documents)
• Liberty! The American Revolution (PBS)
• Library of Congress American Revolution collections
• Mount Vernon digital encyclopedia

Historical Sites

• Independence National Historical Park (Philadelphia)
• Colonial Williamsburg, VA
• Minute Man National Historical Park (Lexington & Concord, MA)
• Bunker Hill Monument (Boston, MA)
• Valley Forge National Historical Park, PA
• Yorktown Battlefield, VA
• Saratoga National Historical Park, NY
• Washington’s Headquarters sites (multiple locations)