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Lesson 9: What Happened during the American Revolution? How Did the Government Function?

Lesson Purpose
In this lesson, you will learn what happened during the American Revolutionary War with Britain. You will also learn about the significance of the war for the rest of the world. You will learn about the difficulties of the colonists during the war and the role played by diplomacy.
Lesson Objectives
When you finish this lesson, you should be able to explain the course of the war and how the colonial armies overcame extreme difficulties, and explain some problems of government that Congress had to deal with during the war.
Lesson Terms
"The shot heard 'round the world"
A line in a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson describing the effect of the outbreak of the American Revolution in April 1775. The American Revolution and its principles became extremely influential around the world. It was the first of many rebellions by countries against their colonial rulers.
Battle of Saratoga (1777)
diplomacy
Quebec Campaign (1775-76)
treason
Treaty of Paris
Yorktown Surrender