American Revolution Vocabulary

1. Revolution – an overthrow and complete replacement of an established government or political system by the people being governed by that system
2. Victuals – food
3. Pining – yearning for, wanting
4. Contrivance – mechanical device
5. Amiss – something is wrong
6. Libation – a drink used as an offering or sacrifice
7. Repose – to rest
8. Militia – a military force made up of ordinary citizens
9. Converted – to change the religious beliefs of someone
10. Iroquois Confederacy – the most powerful group of Native Americans in eastern North America before and during the French and Indian War
11. Alliance – a partnership
12. Neutral – to take no side of a conflict
13. Prohibited – barred or kept someone from doing something
14. Revenue – incoming money from taxes or other sources
15. Writs of Assistance – Documents that allowed British officers to search anywhere for smuggled goods without a warrant
16. Violated – to disregard or go against a norm or law
17. Resolution – a formal expression of opinion
18. Effigy – a mocking figure representing an unpopular individual
19. Boycott – to refuse to buy goods for a reason
20. Repeal – to cancel or rescind
21. Commodities – goods people buy and sell on a regular basis
22. Rebellion – open defiance of authority
23. Occupy – to take control of an area
24. Encounter – to meet or come face-to-face with a person or a group
25. Propaganda – ideas or information (true or false) intentionally spread to harm or help a cause, information used to influence public opinion
26. Committee of Correspondence – an organization that spread ideas and information through Britain’s American colonies
27. Minutemen – militia men in the American colonies who said they could be ready to fight in a minute’s notice
28. Approach – to get closer to something
29. Loyalists – colonists who sided with Britain and saw no need for an armed rebellion
30. Patriots – colonists who were against the British and wanted to fight an armed rebellion
31. Moorings – ropes or chains holding a ship in place
32. Encampment – place where a group of soldiers are camped
33. Sentinel – a soldier on guard
34. Musket-ball – a bullet from a gun
35. Discipline – the ability to follow rules and procedures
36. Debate – a discussion by opposing points of view
37. Preamble – the introduction to a formal document that often tells why the document was written (similar to an introduction to an essay)
38. Renounce – to give up or abandon something or someone
39. Reconciliation – a settlement or understanding between two people
40. Infallibly – without fail, cannot fail
41. Animosity – hostility, ill will, hatred