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Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, published on January 10, 1776, the beginning of the Revolution. It was written to promote independence for the colonies and fierce rebellion.

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The Enlightenment was a period of extended reasoning that swept across Europe in the 18th century. Principles from the Enlightenment, such as separation of powers and individual rights, directly inspired the colonists.

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Natural rights are rights that an individual are born with. John Locke listed these rights as Life, Liberty, and Property, while the Declaration of Independence lists them as Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

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The Social Contract is a book written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It stated that people are naturally good and that there should be a contract between the ruler and the people. Thomas Jefferson used these principles for the Declaration of Independence.

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On March 5, 1770, a crowd of colonial protesters in Boston surrounded British soldiers to rebel against the tax laws. The soldiers opened fire and killed five men. This event would become known as the Boston Massacre.

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The French and Indian War faced the French/Native Americans against the British/colonies, and took place during 1754-63. The reason for fighting was control over the Ohio River Valley. The British won the battle and taxed the colonists to pay for the war.

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The Navigation Acts were laws passed by Britain between 1651 and 1673 that prohibited other countries like Spain and Portugal from exporting goods to the colonies. They were meant to protect Britain's mercantile system.

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The Loyalists, or Tories, were colonials that remained loyal to the British Crown. They opposed the Patriots.

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The Patriots were colonials that rebelled against the king and joined the Continental Army.

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The Siege of Yorktown took place in September-October 1781. This was the last major battle of the American Revolution, as General George Washington and the colonials overcame the British troops led by Lt. Col. General Charles Cornwallis.

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The First Continental Congress was a meeting of colonial representatives in September of 1774. They met to plan a response to the Coercive Acts.

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On December 16, 1773, colonials disguised themselves as Native Americans and raided three East Indie Company ships. They then threw barrels of tea into the ocean in response to the Tea Acts. This event would become known as the Boston Tea Party.

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The Proclamation of 1763 was put into effect after the French and Indian War. This law banned the colonists from exploring territory west of the colonies. They passed this law to avoid losing troops to protect the settlers in the wilderness.