American Revolution: the struggle for independence by British colonists in America
Thirteen colonies: British colonies along the east coast of North America
Militias: civilian armies established to defend against Native Americans and other colonists
Patriots: colonists who used methods of direct action to oppose the taxation acts
The Boston Tea Party: ships carrying tea were attacked and the tea was dumped into the harbour as an act of protest against the taxation acts
Continental Congress: a convention of delegates from all the Thirteen Colonies
Declaration of Independence: a document declaring the Thirteen Colonies independent
United States of America: a country consisting of the former American British colonies
Federation: a country that consists of states, each with their own government, which are ruled on a national level by a federal government
The Constitution: the supreme law describing the relationship between the citizens and the
government and the way the government works
The Bill of Rights: the first ten amendments to the constitution which describe individual
rights of citizens and limit the power of the government