Causes of the American Revolution

Stamp Act

The British introduced the Stamp Act to raise money for the support and protection of the British army. The Stamp Act was a different kind of taxation, as a specific stamp had to be purchased and then placed on items that were bought or sold as well as different documents.  This enraged many people and made them feel like they were being taxed without their consent (taxation without representation). People were so furious with the Stamp Act that they started protesting, destroying leaders’ homes, and they publicly embarrassed and harmed any enforcers by using methods such as tarring and feathering. The Act was a disaster, so the British got rid of it. The Stamp Act was one of the first causes leading to the American Revolution.

Townshend Act

Parliament created a series of new taxes that were know as the Townshend Acts. The Townshend Act was introduced to balance out imperial costs. These included new duties on paper, paint, glass, lead, and tea, as well as all goods that had been shipped from outside the colonies. Many people started to protest, and as a result some had been killed. Most taxes were repealed, except for the tax on tea. Tea was left out to show the colonies that they still have the power to tax.

Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, a small troop of British soldiers were ordered to go and help a sentry that was being harassed by a crowd that were throwing snowballs. An accidental gun shot was supposedly fired into the crowd, which let loose a hail of bullets into the protesters. 5 protesters were killed, and the General along with 8 of his troop members were immediately arrested and then later acquitted. 

Drawing and Colouring of the Boston Massacre, and the Redcoats shooting at the unarmed Americans. http://www.history.com/news/the-boston-massacre-245-years-ago

Tea Act and Boston Tea Party

The British East India Tea Company controlled the supply of tea and had a monopoly in the thirteen colonies. One night a mob of colonists dressed as Mohawk Indians, snuck onto ships filled with tea,  that were docked in the Boston Harbour unattended. Once aboard they tossed almost all of the tea overboard as an illegal resistance towards the British. This ruined and wasted a fortune of tea, that the tea company had to replace and pay for. The Boston tea party was one of the most symbolic events leading to the American revolution.

 

The americans dressed up as mohawk indians, snuck onto the ships, and dumped the tea overboard. Source: http://www.historyguy.com/americanrevolution/boston_tea_party.htm

Intolerable Acts/ Coercive Acts

As a response to the Boston Tea Party, Parliament enacted a series of acts as a punishment and to prove authority over the colonies. One of the 5 acts was the Boston Port Act. As a direct punishment towards Boston, the Port of Boston was closed so that items could not be imported or exported. Another example was the Massachusetts Government Act. As part of this act, Parliament took away the Colonists right to elect their own officials, instead the officials were appointed by England.  When the British first laid down the acts they hoped that is would have divided Boston and New England apart from the other Colonies. Instead the Colonies united and as a result, they held the First Continental Congress in 1774.

First Continental Congress

In response to the Intolerable/Coercive Acts, 56 delegates from all colonies (except for Georgia) were sent to Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia to hold the First Continental Congress. During the meeting, some of the American leaders demanded a boycott of British goods. As an outcome of the congress, the leaders had drafted a declaration of rights and grievances. But also if the Coercive Acts were not repealed, the Americans would stop importing goods from the British Isles and later would stop exporting as well.

Components of the Revolution

Battle of Lexington and Concord

The battles of Lexington and Concord initiated the American Revolutionary War. King George had ordered soldiers to support the people of Boston, and General Gage sent 700 troops to Concord to seize and destroy colonist ammunition. The Colonists were aware of the jeopardy of their weapons and hid them away in secret locations before the redcoats came. Paul Revere and William Dawes rode through Concord and forewarned people the the British were coming. The British arrived in Concord and someone fired “The shot heard round’ the World” which to this day is still unknown who fired first. After the first shot was taken, both sides started to bombard each other with bullets. The Redcoats pushed the Minutemen back, but the Minutemen held Concord’s North Bridge forcing redcoats to retreat, being shot at the whole way back by townsfolk and farmers. This was the beginning of a long Revolutionary War.

Battle of Bunker Hill

On June 16, 1775, some colonial minutemen went to the top of Breeds Hill and build fortifications, after leaning that the British were planning to send troops from Boston. The Americans marched up the hill and had an advantage as they were pointing down at the British. The Americans bombarded the British with their artillery and great amounts of British soldiers were killed or hurt, the rest fled down the hill. There was a second unsuccessful wave, and with the third wave the British took the hill but at a great cost. The King issued a proclamation of rebellion. General Howe started to plan a victory and his essentials for war, so he went to Nova Scotia to wait and plan.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

Thomas Paine decided to publish a piece of writing stating his thoughts in favour of American Independence. This pamphlet was influential and straight forward to push people towards independence and a democracy. He wrote in plain, simple, blatant sentences and quoted the bible often because that was what people were familiar with. To this day this pamphlet is to be considered on of the most influential pieces of writing in American History.

Declaration of Independence 

The Declaration of Independence was a formal legal document that announced the reasons that led the 13 colonies to separate from the British Empire. The Declaration did not initially lead to equality, but it did provide an inspiring kick off on moving towards equality. This was an explanation of the colonist’s point of view on the breakoff of Americans from the British . Finally on July 4, 1776, the colonies approved the document. The formal and final statement was written by Thomas Jefferson.

Battle of Trenton

The Americans had just lost the Battle of Bunker hill to the British, and their morale was low. The continental army crossed the Delaware River and continued marching to Trenton with support and encouragement from Washington on Christmas Day. Washington strategized a well thought out attack on the Hessians, and suspected them to have been drinking and distracted, since it was Christmas. Washington’s army attacked on the unprepared Hessian army, which caused them to retreat. Washington had cut off the Hessians escape routes, and the only option for the Hessians was to flee to the city. Soon after they had fled they were overrun, and were forced to surrender.

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. Leger and Howe would meet at Albany to defeat the rebel armies. Burgoyne’s army became trapped in Saratoga blocked by General Gates. On October 7, 1777 Burgoyne attempted to attack the larger Patriot force, but Burgoyne’s army was defeated by Arnold’s army at Bemis Heights. Due to a lack of supplies and high casualties Burgoyne surrendered. Patriot victory at Saratoga was a turning point in the war. It renewed the morale of the Americans, and it convinced France the Americans could win the war, so they decided to support the Americans. France sent generals, troops, ships, supplies, money to help Americans win the war.

 

Battle of Camden

Without commander in chief, George Washington’s agreement, Horatio Gates was said to lead the southern army. In spite of having 4000 soldiers, many were untrained or physically unfit to fight. The British troops under general Cornwallis had better weaponry then the Patriots. The Patriots fled from the lack of weaponry, then Gates’ other army began to flee before Gates himself. Soon the entire army fled with great devastation and loss.

Battle of the Cowpens

George Washington split Nathaniel Greene’s Patriot forces and assigned half to Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, telling him to protect some locals in a River Valley. The Patriots organized a formation which tricked the British into walking into what they believed were retreating Patriots, right into an ambush of a third line of Patriots waiting for them. Many surrendered, were captured or killed. The Patriots victory was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. This battle has a long term affect onto many other circumstances following.

 

Battle of Guildford Courthouse

The Continental Army regenerated and refreshed over the winter and spring. Washington heard that the British planned to move from Philadelphia through New Jersey to New York, and saw this as a great opportunity to attack the British. Washington told 5000 men under the leadership of Charles Lee to strike the British. This was meant to be a tactical delay until the main forces had arrived. This act failed and Washington had to step in to regroup the retreating soldiers. The British withdrew and continued to New York. Both sides suffered casualties from the heat. The Battle came to a draw, while the Patriots proved that they were competitors in open combat.

Battle of Yorktown

The British had control over New York, and the Patriots and the French had alligned. The French commander convinced Washington to take troops to Yorktown, and Virginia to defeat the British there. The British were trapped by the Patriots and the French. The Patriots dug a trench to move artillery. The French then got into position and destroyed boats and the Patriots attacked from land with their artillery. Cornwallis surrendered and the Americans took British troops prisoner. The Revolutionary War had come to a near end. This convinced the British that they were not going to win.

Consequences of the Revolution

Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, and recognized American Independance.  Britain gave Americans fishing rights to the Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland, and they also granted U.S. all territory between Allegheny Mountains on the east, and Mississippi River on the west. After much negotiation, the final Treaty was signed on September 3, 1783.

Loyalist

Approximately 20% of the American Colonists supported British rule and remained loyal. Loyalists were persecuted by the Patriots during the war. The Patriots abused the Loyalist’s and burned their homes and farms. After the Revolution and The Treaty of Paris was signed, between 80,000-100,000 Loyalists had to leave the U.S., and others settled in separate British Colonies in North America – Quebec, Nova Scotia and the Island of St. John (PEI).

Constitution 

The Constitution of 1789 outlined the structure and the powers of Government. There are three branches of government, that are separate (executive, legislative, judicial). They are checked and balanced off by the power of the other two. Through this the U.S Constitution is supreme. The Constitution states that all persons are equal before the law. If people would like to adjust the Constitution, they were able to do so.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution makes up the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights lists some prohibitions on governmental power, but also represents ideals regarding individual liberty, and the rule of law. By creating the Bill of Rights, it pleased many people and gave them some sort of relief while others may of had different opinions on it. If any individual would like to make some adjustments to the Bill of Rights, they were able to do so.

Worldwide Influence

The American Revolution spread 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. The American Declaration of Independence had some impact on the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen of 1789.