Causes of the American Revolution

1765 — 1774

Stamp Act

The Stamp Act was a tax, made by British authority that was placed on items that were bought and sold. This tax was created after the seven years war, because of the massive dept the British were in. Americans were enraged and felt like they had no British Parliament representatives, and felt they were being “taxed without consent”. The tax collectors were then attacked by Colonists, through a process of tarring and feathering. The Stamp Act was then repealed in 1766.

Townshend Acts

The real intent was to prove to Americans that Britain still had right and authority to tax the thirteen colonies. This Act was a new tax on paper, paint, glass and tea. Americans strongly disliked this tax and began to protest. The taxed was abolished shortly after, but the tax on tea remained to support the East India Company.

Boston Massacre

On March 5 1770, local families were forced to put up soldiers in their homes.  Some of the American Colonists were standing in Boston protesting, and began to provoke the British soldiers by throwing rocks and snowballs at them. A British soldier misunderstood an order and fired into the Boston protesters. Five people were killed. The ” Boston Massacre” was quickly turned into an anti-british propaganda by the colonial leaders.

Tea Act and Boston Tea Party

The Tea Act protected the British East India Company by making it the only company that was able to sell tea. On December 16th 1773, 116 people boarded British ships that were docked in Boston and destroyed a fortunes worth of tea by dumping it into the harbour. The Boston Tea was meant to protest the Tea Act became an important and symbolic event leading to the American Revolution.

Intolerable Acts

The intolerable acts were a series of acts Parliament passed, that were meant to punish Boston and assert British authority. The Boston port Act closes port of Boston until the East India Company is compensated for the destroyed tea. Massachusetts Government Act is the Act that says colony government are appointed by the British town meetings are held once a year. Quartering Act is, colonial governors may house soldiers in vacant buildings. Administration of Justice Act is, British officials may have their trials in another colony. Lastly, the Quebec Act made French language and Roman Catholicism official in the British Colony of Quebec.

First Continental Congress

With the First Continental Congress, leaders demanded a boycott of British goods from England and cutting economic ties. Americans demanded that the intolerable acts must be repealed, but the British Government refused.

Components of the American Revolution

1775 — 1781

Battle of Lexington and Concord 

King George authorized the deliverance of British soldiers to reinforce those who occupied Boston since 1768. Gage was sent to Boston to disarm the colonists and arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. He sent 700 troops to march to concord to destroy artillery and ammunation. Colonists moved their weapons to a safe location before the Red Coats arrived. Gage’s wife gave Warren info about the raid in sympathy to the revolution. The British arrived and someone shot the “The Shot Heard Round’ The World”. The gun battle erupted as they crossed the North bridge. Minutemen held the bridge and the redcoats were forced to retreat. By the time the redcoats made it back to Boston, 73 were dead and 174 were wounded. The American revolution had officially started.

Battle of Bunker Hill

 On June 16th 1775, American troops under the orders of Artemas Ward moved their camp. They entrenched on a rise on Charleston, Peninsula – overlooking Boston. Their destination was Bunker Hill. Ward’s men misunderstood his orders and went to Breeds Hill instead, this was closer to the British. William Howe’s ship open fired on the Americans, the Americans also waited until the British were within 15 paces to attack, scores of British troop were wounded or killed, the rest retreated down the hill. On July 2nd, 1775, George Washington rode into Cambridge, Massachusetts, to take over the new American army.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was published in January 1776, nearly 120, 000 copies were in circulation by April. Thomas argued for independence from England and the creation of a democratic republic. He wrote in the language of the people, quoting the bible in his arguments, because of the large amount of religious people in England. It made no difference that Paine was new to America, many readers attributed this to John Adams, who denied involvement. His prose was common sense, all the questions led many readers to one answer as the summer of 1776 drew near.

Declaration of Independence

On June 17th, 1776 Richard Henry Lee made a resolution to the Congress that made the 13 colonies free and independent states. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin chose the careful wording for it. The declaration was divided into three parts, statement of intent, list of grievances and dissolving ties with Britain. On July 4th 1776, the colonies approved the document, John Hancock signed the bottom and history was made If American efforts were successful, they’d be hailed as heroes, if failed, they’d be hung as traitors

Battle of Trenton

General Washington planned an attack on the Hessians from three directions to be executed, on December 26, 1776. Approximately 4 in the morning, the crossing was completed and the continental army began the march to Trenton. The first gunfire happened about a mile north of Trenton at Heissan outpost, Heissan forces became surrounded by Americans and were forced to surrender. Two Americans were killed, five were injured and many suffered from hypothermia and diseases. 896 Heissans were captured and several hundred escaped. The battle inspired the war and raised the morale of the army.

Battle of Saratoga

The British planned to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies by taking New York, Albany and the Hudson River. Generals, Burgoyne, St. Legar and Howe met at Albany to defeat the rebel armies, Burgoyne’s army became trapped in Saratoga and was blocked by General Gates. On October 7th 1777, Burgoyne attempted to attack the larger Patriot force. His army was defeated by Arnold’s army at Bemis Heights, due to a lack of supplies and high casualties, Burgoyne surrendered. The Patriot victory at Saratoga was a turning point in the war, it renewed the morale of the Americans and convinced France that the Americans could win the war.

Battle of Camden 

In 1780, the British shifted military strategies to focus on the colonies. The British army took the Loyalist Stronghold of Savannah and captured Charleston and over 5,000 Patriot soldiers. On July 1780, the Continental Congress gave command of a second southern army to Horatio Gates. Charles Cornwallis recieved word of Gates’ and marched 2000 troops from Charleston. The armies met after dawn on August 16th 1780. Gates’ army began to flee before he fled from the battleground as well. The battle resulted in devastation, over 1000 were captured and 900 were killed or wounded. The defeat at Camden marred the reputation of Gates, he was replaced by Nathaniel Greene, who lead the resurgence of the Southern Army.

Battle of Cowpens

After initial British charge, the first two lines of Patriot fighters withdrew. Tarelton believed Patriots were in full retreat and ordered soldiers to charge. He was not aware of a third line of Patriot fighters waiting for the British charge. British forces charged directly into the third line of Patriots who halted British advance with a bayonet charge. British soldiers surrendered, while others turned and ran away. The British army was outflanked and Patriot forces began attacking the British from behind. British forces began to retreat despite Tarelton urging them to continue fighting. Morgan captured 712 British soldiers and 110 of them were killed. The battle was a turning point in the Southern campaign. Cowpens ultimately was the first step in the eventual end of the war, as it caused Cornwallis to abandon South Carolina, engage Greene at Guilford’s Courthouse and eventually withdraw his army to Yorktown where his army would eventually come under siege and surrender

Battle of Guildford Courthouse

Charles Cornwallis resolved to destroy the continental army. He decided to attack despite the fact he had less soldiers than Greene. His army had 1,900 soldiers, Greene had 4,500 soldiers. At 1:30pm on March 15, 1781, the battle had begun. The British army forced Greene’s’ first two lines to retreat. The Battle lasted less than 2 1/2 hours, Cornwallis army reduced by over 25%. He led his army to Yorktown, Virginia in hope to make a bigger army. Yorktown was the mighty siege for his army, American and French forces, that would lead to the war’s end

Battle of Yorktown

 A major objective of the French-American forces were to liberate New York City. On September 1781, combined forces of Rochambeau and Washington marched south. Near the end of September American forces trapped Cornwallis in the west. Comte de Grasse’s navel forces trapped Cornwallis in the east. A siege had begun. On October 6, 1781, American and French guns began to shoot bullets in the British defenses from land and water. Cornwallis had finally surrendered. Americans took over 7000 troops prisoner, the war was coming to an end. Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the war.

Consequences of the American Revolution

1783 — 1791

Treaty of Paris

 Britain agreed to recognize American independence. They gave Americans fishing rights to the Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland. Britain granted U.S. all territory between Allegheny Mountains on the east and Mississippi River on the west. 

Loyalists

Approximately 20% of American colonists supported British rule and remained loyal. Loyalists were persecuted by the Patriots during the war. Patriots abused them and burned their homes and farms,
after the revolution and Treaty of Paris was signed, between 80,000-100,000 Loyalists had to leave the U.S. Many settled in other British colonies in North America – Quebec, Nova Scotia and Island of St. John (PEI)

Constitution 

The Constitution 1789 outlines the structure and powers of government. It is three branches of government are separate, checked and balanced off by the power of the other two. The U S Constitution is supreme and all persons are equal before the law. People can change the constitution by the methods within it. 

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments (additions) of the constitution. The Bill of Rights represents ideals regarding individual liberty, limited government, and the rule of law.

Worldwide Influence

The American Revolution spreads ideas of liberty, individual rights and equality to other parts of the world. It influenced and inspired other revolutions around the world such as France in 1789. American Declaration of Independence had some impact on the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen of 1789.