This document provides an overview of key people and events of the American Revolutionary War. It lists important individuals such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Lord Cornwallis. It also summarizes key battles and developments, including the Boston Massacre, Battle of Lexington and Concord, approval of the Declaration of Independence, Battle of Saratoga, and surrender at Yorktown. The purpose is to highlight the most significant figures and events that shaped the Revolutionary War period.

1. SOL USI.6c: Key People and
Events of the Revolutionary
War
Lisa Pennington
Social Studies Instructional Specialist
Portsmouth Public Schools

2. Essential Knowledge
Many individuals played important roles in shaping events of
the American Revolution.

3. Key Words
House of Burgesses: The
House of Burgesses of VA
was the first representative
government in the New
World, and was formed in
1619-1620.
http://photos.igougo.com/images/p210865-Williamsburg_VA-House_of_Burgesses.JPG

4. Essential Questions
Who were some of the key individuals in the Revolutionary
War?
What role did key individuals play in the Revolutionary War?
What were some of the key events that occurred during the
Revolutionary War period?

5. Key Individuals during the Revolution
King George III: the British
king during the American
Revolution era.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/files/images/Insight_april03_mailbox_georgeIII_large.jpg

6. Key Individuals during the Revolution
Lord Cornwallis: the
British general who
surrendered at Yorktown
Did you know that Lord
Cornwallis claimed he was
ill and sent someone to
surrender for him?
http://www.americanhistoryalive.com/images/LordCharlesCornwallis.jpg

7. Key Individuals during the Revolution
John Adams: championed
the cause of independence.
http://www.gwu.edu/~ffcp/exhibit/p4/p4_5med.jpg

8. Key Individuals during the Revolution
George Washington: Commander of the Continental Army
http://www.sar.org/ohssar/AmericanRevolutionaryWar.jpg

9. Key Individuals during the Revolution
Thomas Jefferson: major
author of the Declaration of
Independence
Did you know Thomas
Jefferson was only 33 when
he wrote the Declaration?
http://www.teachersparadise.com/ency/en/media/1/14/thomas_jefferson.gif

10. Key Individuals during the Revolution
Patrick Henry: outspoken
member of the House or
Burgesses; inspired colonial
patriotism with his “Give me
liberty or give me death!”
speech
http://www.reclaimoklahoma.org/patrickhenry.jpg

11. Key Individuals during the Revolution
Benjamin Franklin:
prominent member of the
Continental Congress; helped
frame the Declaration of
Independence; helped gain
French support for American
independence
http://www.general-anaesthesia.com/images/benjamin-franklin.jpg

12. Key Individuals during the Revolution
Phyllis Wheatley: former
slave who wrote poems and
plays supporting
independence.
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/notable/wheatleyp/

13. Key Individuals during the Revolution
Paul Revere: patriot who
made a daring ride to warn
colonists of the British
arrival: “The British are
coming!”
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/8/8a/300px-Paul_revere_ride.gif

14. Key Events during the Revolution
Boston Massacre: in 1770, colonists in Boston were shot after
taunting British soldiers.
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/0/09/350px-Boston_Massacre.jpg

15. Key Events during the Revolution
Boston Tea Party: in 1773,
Samuel Adams and Paul
Revere led Patriots in
throwing tea into Boston
Harbor to protest tea taxes.
http://bostonist.com/attachments/boston_caroline/121607-boston-tea-party.jpg

16. Key Events during the Revolution
First Continental Congress:
in 1774, delegates from all
the colonies except Georgia
met to discuss problems
with Great Britain and to
promote independence.
http://www.aoc.gov/images/first_continental.jpg

17. Key Events during the Revolution
Battle of Lexington and
Concord: this was the site
of the first armed conflict of
the Revolutionary War in
1775.
Depiction of the Battle of Lexington,
April 19, 1775.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Battle_of_Lexington.jpeg

18. Key Events during the Revolution
Approval of the Declaration
of Independence: colonies
declared independence from
Great Britain on July 4,
1776.
http://preservativevalues.org/DeclarationIndependence.jpg

19. Key Events during the Revolution
Battle of Saratoga: The
American victory in 1777
was the turning point in the
war.
http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/articles/gfx_articles/saratoga.jpg

20. Key Events during the Revolution
Surrender at Yorktown: the
American and French forces
defeated the forces of Lord
Cornwallis and marked the
end of the Revolutionary
War.
http://www.dwr.org.uk/dwr.php?id=62&pa=207

21. Key Events during the Revolution
Signing of the Treaty of
Paris: in 1783, Great
Britain recognized American
independence in this treaty.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/SigningPreliminaryTreatyOfPar