American Revolution Project
For: Social Studies 9 By: Kayla Waldbillig
Activity One- Important People/Events of American Revolution
George Washington
-Washington had experience fighting for the British in the French and Indian war.
-He led the Continental Army and served as the first president.
-On July 2nd Washington took charge of the American forces in Cambridge and set about to shape his rowdy individuals into a working army.
Benjamin Franklin
-Benjamin Franklin was a leading figure in the American Revolution, serving in the second Continental congress and as a diplomat to France.
-He helped to secure French support for the American contribution during the Revolutionary war.
-Franklin best embodied the soul of the American Revolution.
John Adams
-He fought for Independence in congress and as a diplomat abroad.
-Adams was a critic of the Stamp Act
-Adams also spent many years in France and Britain as a representative of the American rebels.
Thomas Jefferson
-He never fought as a solider in the American Revolution, instead he used powerful words to fight for Independence.
-Jefferson claimed that the colonists were free people claiming their rights.
-Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.
-People recognized him as a writer and thinker.
Boston Tea Party
-The demonstrators, some disguised as American Indians, destroyed an entire shipment of tea sent by the East Indian company in defiance of the Tea Act of May, 1773.
-They boarded the ships and threw the chests of tea into Boston Harbour, ruining the tea.
-British government responded harshly and the episode escalated into the American Revolution.
Intolerable Acts
-These acts were aimed particularly at Massachusetts.
-The new laws went into effect on June 1st, 1774. Boston observed this day with fasting and praying.
-The Intolerable Acts awakened a new spirit of unity.
"Sons of Liberty"
-The secret society was formed to protect the rights of the colonists and to fight the abuses of taxation by the British government.
-Sons of Liberty were best known for undertaking the Boston Tea Party in 1773 in reaction to the new taxes.
Boston Massacre
-The officer then smacked the boy on the ear and minutes after an angry crowd gathered and men were throwing snowballs and chunks of ice at the sentry.
-During the Boston Massacre the British killed 5 colonists, and the British government removed troops after the massacre had ended.
Stamp Act
-This act imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies.
-Parliament repeated the Stamp Act in 1766 but issued a Declaratory Act at the same time to reaffirm it's authority.
-The Stamp Act was called the Stamp Act because the colonies were supposed to buy paper from Britain.
Quebec Act
-Reference to the Protestant faith was removed from the oath of alliance during this act.
-This act was an extension of the Royal Proclamation meant to push Quebec's boundaries into Aboriginal land (past the Great Lakes and into the Ohio river battles).
-Quebec Act's goal was the reconciliation of French and English in the colony.
Image Depicting the struggle for Independence
Caption
Activity Two- 8 Major Battle Summaries
1775 Battle of Lexington and Concord
1776 Battle of White Plains
1777 Battle of Princeton
1778 Battle of Monmouth
1780 Battle of Camden
1780 Battle of King's Mountain
1781 Battle of Cowpens
1781 Battle of Yorktown
Major Battle Summary
1777 The Battle of Oriskany
There were a few major players in this battle for both Great Britain and the Colonies. Chief Joseph Brant, John Butler, and Sir John Johnson were the three leaders of Great Britain's army. For the US Colonies Nicholas Herkimer was the only major player. In the battle Nicholas Herkimer suffered a serious leg wound and therefore was sent back home and his leg was amputated. Complications from the surgery later resulted in his death. The battle occurred because of a military conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the 13 Colonies of North America. Great Britain's army consisted of 500 troops that included members of the British army. German Hessians, Loyalists, and members of the Iroquois Confederacy who fought against 800 American forces.
The battle of Oriskany resulted in deaths of approximately 50 percent of the American forces and 15 percent of the British forces. Based on the casualties and results of the battle, the British forces claimed a tactical victory over the Colonies, although in the long-term result it was a strategical victory for the American Colonies.
Activity Three- The Outcomes of the American Revolution
The results of the American Revolution fell under three main documents. Global effects, Declaration of Independence, and the Treaty of Paris.
There were many global effects that occurred as results of the American Revolutionary war. Political effects held a large part of the global effects on the revolution. Since the colonists had won freedom then a new nation was born. This new nation would create new laws such as insuring domestic peace, providing for the common defense, and promoting the general welfare. There was also a big part played in the economic effects. Like lots of wars, the American revolution strengthened the economy and created a great deal of business for small shop workers. Social effect showed the world that the strong and mighty army of England was vulnerable. Through the political, economic, and social effects there was one main result. The result was that now instead of 13 separate colonies there was the 13 combined United States of America. The success of the revolution inspired other countries to fight for a fairer and more equal society.
The Declaration of Independence was the fundamental document establishing the United States as it's own nation. This document was adopted on July 4th, 1776. The Declaration was ordered and approved by the continental congress, and was written largely by Thomas Jefferson. The main reason that the Declaration of independence was so significant to the American Revolution was because it is what led to our independence from King George III. It also justified our right to revolt against a government that no longer guaranteed us to our natural rights. The Declaration of Independence was also very significant because it listed what the colonies thought was wrong of England to do.
The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris on September 3rd, 1783. There were three important Americans that negotiated the treaty. They were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. A year and a half after the British were beaten at the battle of Yorktown in 1781, King George agreed and signed peace. The Treaty of Paris was one of a series of treaties that established peace between Great Britain and the allied nations of France, Spain, and the Netherlands. It established the independence of the US and ended hostilities between the two nations. The Treaty of Paris also dealt with the defining of borders, restored the loyalists property, returned the slaves taken by the British, and the removal of British troops from American grounds. the major success of the Treaty of Paris was that it completely ended the American Revolutionary war.
Image Depicting the American's new found independence
Caption
Activity Four- Was the American Revolution Justified or not?
Central Question
Sources Cited
The sources/websites I used are:
From your website links:
http://www.theamericanrevolution.org