Glossary

Duc de Choiseul

As France's foreign minister, Choiseul viewed the American Revolution as an opportunity to weaken Britain and benefit France. He favored assisting the rebels as a way of exacting revenge on an old and despised enemy, not because he supported republicanism.

Horatio Gates

Gates's important victory over Burgoyne's army at Saratoga in 1777 convinced France that it was safe to commit to the rebel cause publicly.

Lord Dunsmore

Lord Dunsmore, the last royal governor of Virginia, offered freedom to slaves who joined the British in quelling the rebellion. About 2000 slaves rallied to the royal banner and formed Dunsmore's "Ethiopian" regiment.

Lord George Germain

Together with King George and Lord North, Lord Germain directed the imperial war effort. His skills as an effective administrator became evident in planning for the campaign of 1776, which was the largest land and sea offensive executed by any western nation until the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942.

loyalists

An estimated 20 percent of the colonists remained loyal subjects who stood ready to fight the rebels. Before the war was over, about 50,000 loyalists formed into nearly 70 regiments with the idea of helping the British army regain control of America. British commanders, however, did not make effective use of this force.

Olive Branch petition

At the start of the Revolution moderates who feared independence tried to keep open the channels of communication with the British government. In July 1775, they supported John Dickinson's "Olive Branch" petition, which denied that the colonists' goal was independence. It had little impact on British officials.

rage militaire

After the battles of Lexington and Concord many New Englanders poured into hastily assembled military camps around Boston. The rage militaire was on, meaning that it seemed that everyone wanted to be a soldier. As the war dragged on, enthusiasm waned.

secret orders

During the winter of 1774-1775 the king's ministers issued the "secret" orders to General Gage because they expected a brief demonstration of military force would end the rebellion in Massachusetts. The orders called for the arrest of the principal leaders of the rebellion.

Thomas Paine

In 1776 Paine, a recent immigrant from England, published the popular pamphlet Common Sense, in which he urged independence and denounced the British monarchy.

William Howe

Named as overall commander in chief of British forces in America in 1775, Howe and his brother Richard identified with Whig leaders in England who believed that the Americans had some legitimate grievances. He moved cautiously, hoping that the presence of many British regulars would persuade colonists to cease their rebellion.

Top