The American Revolution
By: Grace DeJong
What is the American Revolution?
The American Revolution was a political upheaval that was between 1765 and 1783 which is when colonists in the Thirteen American Colonies rejected the British monarchy and aristocracy, overthrew the authority of Great Britain, and created the United States of America.
Activity 1
George Washington
George Washington was considered a hero even though he surrendered to the French. After the surrender he was commended for his efforts. George was promoted many times before he finally became the major general of the continental forces in 1775. When the stamp act and the proclamation of 1763 came around he opposed both of them. George became the first president of the USA.
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a political group of activists who went against the British word. They dedicated to resisting the British taxes and trade restrictions. They would resort to violence or they would harass the British tax officers. They would even burn buildings. Once they burnt a British ship named Gaspee in 1772. Before they burned it they looted it.
Benjamin Franklin
He was a political leader, and founding father. Benjamin helped draft the declaration of independence and also signed it. Along with George he told against the stamp act. In the beginning he was on Englands side but was then persuaded over to the colonists side. He was elected delegate to second continental commissioner. Benjamin also predicted the war.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas drafted the declaration of independence and helped with religious freedom. He was the governor of Virginia from 1779-81. He was elected delegate to congress in 1783. Thomas argued with the parliament about the american colonies. He became the president in 1801 lasting until 1809 when he retired his presidency.
John Adams
He was the second president of the USA leading from 1797-1801. John signed the declaration of independence and negotiated the Treaty of Paris the ended the war. He defended the British during the Boston massacre, but at wars end was appointed the Adam delegation that ended the war. He also helped Virginia pass state constitution.
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was the first physical interaction between the British and American colonists. Tensions were very high because the British troops were in Boston for two years. It was first indicated when snowballs were thrown by Bostonian s from the american colonies. British guards came to protect their guard. Shots were fired and lots of people laid dead in the snow. It was unsure of who shot first.
Boston Tea Party
The British started to tax the American colonies for little things such as tea. The colonists got fed up and acted up in protest. A couple colonists disguised themselves as native Americans and hopped aboard a tea ship. Once the ship was in the Boston harbor they tossed 90,000 pounds of tea over board. destroying all of it.
Stamp Act
The Stamp act was a fee for services. It demanded the American colonists to pay taxes for all kinds of paper and documents such as playing cards. It was very unfair and the colonists showed their anger in violent protests. Great Britain repelled the stamp act which caused more peace. Taxation without representation was still a problem.
Intolerable Acts
They were designed to discourage american rebellion. It kept colonists under British rule. It back fired but then sparked more opposition. It was meant to punish Boston and assert British authority. It was a violation of their natural and constitutional rights. They were a threat to British Americans.
Quebec Act
The Quebec act was passed by the British Parliament. It provided effective governess of province of Quebec. It was punishment for the Boston Tea Party. The act established Catholicism in colonies.
The Battle of Lexington and Concord, April 19 1775
This battle was the very first military engagement. It marked the outbreak of open armed conflict. 700 British soldiers were ordered to capture and destroy military supplies. 13 colonies were out numbered and fell back. The colonies minute men did some major damage to the British. Zero of the 3800 colonists were captured. 53 of 1500 British soldiers were captured. This battle was many different little battles and the 13 colonies claimed victory.
Battle of Chelsea Creek, May 27th 1775
This battle was quite a small battle and did not have a lot of significance on the american revolution although the colonists destroyed a British ship. It was fought on salt marshes, mud flats, and islands of the Boston harbor. The US colonies won.
Battle of White Plains, October 28 1776
Both the British and the Americans dressed as best as they could. Both armed with musket guns and riffled weapons. There was no specific reason for this battle. George Washington withdrew letting the British claim victory.
Battle of Trenton, December 26 1776
This battle was fought in New Jersey. The Americans were driven out of New York and forced to Delaware. There was a very harsh winter and the expiry of continental army's period of enlistment. George Washington attacked the hessian at Trenton.
Battle of German town, October 4 1777
George wanted to surprise the British. The British needed a strong force and that was Major General Greene of the right British wing. The Americans started off very badly. They British captured Philadelphia and camped a large contingent of his troops to German town. Washington's surprise attack fell through because they could not complete the entire battle plan. The British drove away the colonies causing double the casualties. This was a bad loss for the American colonies.
Battle of Camden, August 16 1780
It was a lopsided victory fro the British. The British routed the Americans about 10km north of Camden, strengthening the British hold on the Carolinas. Nearly 2,000 patriots were killed and the Americans had a heavy loss of artillery. Major gates was removed from command, and the colonies were put under new command.
Battle of Cowpens, January 17 1781
This battle was a turning point in the re-conquest of the south Carolina from the British. The Americans routed the British. The colonies inflicted heavy casualties among the British. After being defeated multiple time the U.S colonies re-organized so that they could fight the British on multiple fronts. 712 British soldiers were captured and 110 were killed. The U.S had a larger force, therefore helping them win.
Battle of Yorktown, October 9 1781
This battle was the most important battle of the American revolution. 5,500 French soldier arrive in Rhode Island to help their American allies. At first they were going to attack New York but then didn't. The French and Americans attacked the british 9,000 man army, over powering with their amount of soldiers. The army and navel forces surrounded Cornwallis by land and sea. The British defense weakened. 2 columns were sent to destroy the last of the British defense. The britsh started to deteriorate quickly, leaving a small amount of troops to fight the last major land battle. U.S colonies and the French captured 8,007 British troops. Which was mostly all they had left.
The siege of Charleston, March 29 1780
The battle of Charleston was a major military conflict between the 13 U.S colonies and the british. The battle took place on Wednesday, March 29,1780. After the British easily seized in the battle of Savannah they marched over to Charleston. The British troops could not conquer the Northern colonies with the forces they had therefor they went to try and conquer the southern colonies. Sir Henry Clinton was the British commander, he had a very large army. The British marched in and attacked by land. Although the U.S colonies did not have the forces to win the battle, they did hold off the British for quite a long time. The battle ended with a surrender by the colonies. 4650 US troops were also given up in the surrender of the battle. They had to sail back with Commander Clinton. The battle of charleston was a major loss for the colonies and led up to the defeat of the British in 1781.
Commemorative Image
The Boston Tea Party was such a struggle because nobody wanted to pay taxes! The sons of liberty disguised themselves as Native Americans and threw tea over board. They were standing up against the parliament because they didn't want to start getting taxes for everything, especially tea!
Activity 3
The Treaty of Paris
After the British were defeated in the battle of Yorktown it took a year and a half before the Treaty of Paris was put in line. It made it official that the war was over. Since the U.S colonies won the American revolution, a new nation was born. After it was signed in 1783 by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Joyn Jay the British no longer had claim on them or their land. Once the war ended the colonies were allowed to cross the royal line of proclimation, they grew all the way to the Pacific Ocean. With the signing of the Treaty of Paris it also ended other wars such as the French and Indian was which was also known naps the 7 years war. The constitution settled lots of inssues and formed a stronger Union. They had their own go ernment which means that they all had a voice. They got what they were fighting for. The Treaty states 2 important things. 1-the 13 colonies were free and had independence. The British could no longer had control over them. 2- Boundaries of the U.S allowed for western expansion letting them all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Some of the agreements were - fishing rights, cancellation of debt, prisoners of war were released, access the the Mississippi river and property of loyalist. The colonies were finally on their own. Domestic peace was created in the freedom of the colonists
The Decloration of Independence
The Decloration of Independence was signed on july 4, 1776, the birthday of America. It is a symbolic document, and one of the charters of freedom. It was the colonists stating what they wanted in seeking their freedom. It didn't only effect America but it also left a lasting effect on foreign countries. It was created and signed before the Treaty of Paris and had 4 major principals. 1- All people are created equal. 2- All people have basic rights that can it be taken away. 3- The government gets its own power and decision making ability to protect rights from the people. 4- When the government does not protect the people the people have the right to elect/change the government. The colonists just wanted the full rights of an English man and could not get them so they protested. It was the first successful declaration in history, and also inspired many other movements for independence. It was a template for other nations to fight for their rights.
Signing of the Decloration of independence
Activity 4
I believe that the American revolution was absolutely justified! The American colonist did not have full rights or a voice in the government and they didn't think that was fair so they decided to protest. The Decloration of independence started the American revolution because, at first the British did not want to give the colonists anything they wanted so they started fighting for their freedom. The Decloration was supposed to settle things and help things come to an agreement but instead it started a fire that lasted 8 years of battles. The British didn't like that the Americans were telling them what they wanted and got angry and decided not to agree. The Americans had every right to start and upheaval. They were not being treated fairly, they didn't even have full rights. After things started getting heated the British were going to agree to something's that the Americans wanted but it was too late. The colonists were already planning a way to get their independence. After 8 longs years of battle both won and lost by the colonists and British the American Revolution ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The treaty of Paris gave the colonists their freedom, it created a new nation. The British no longer had claim of the Americans or their land. They were finally allowed a voice in the government because it was their own!
Sources Cited
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/revwartimeline.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/people.htm
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/sonsoflibertydef.htm
http://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entry.php?rec=478&view=quick-facts
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