American Revolution

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America. They first rejected the authority of the Parliament of Great Britain to govern them from overseas without representation, and then expelled all royal officials. By 1774, each colony had established a Provincial Congress, or an equivalent governmental institution, to govern itself, but still within the empire. The British responded by sending combat troops to re-impose direct rule. Through representatives sent in 1775 to the Second Continental Congress, the states joined together at first to defend their respective self-governance and manage the armed conflict against the British known as the American Revolutionary War (1775 83, also American War of Independence). Ultimately, the states collectively determined that the British monarchy, by acts of tyranny, could no longer legitimately claim their allegiance. They then severed ties with the British Empire in July 1776, when the Congress issued the United States Declaration of Independence, rejecting the monarchy on behalf of the newsovereign nation separate and external to the British Empire. The war ended with effective American victory in October 1781, followed by formal British abandonment of any claims to the United States with the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The American Revolution was the result of a series of social, political, and intellectual transformations in early American society and government, collectively referred to as the American Enlightenment. Americans rejected the oligarchies common in aristocratic Europe at the time, championing instead the development of republicanism based on the Enlightenment understanding of liberalism. Among the significant results of the revolution was the creation of a democratically-elected representative government responsible to the will of the people. However, sharp political debates erupted over the appropriate level ofdemocracy desirable in the new government, with a number of Founders fearing mob rule. Many fundamental issues of national governance were settled with the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788, which replaced the relatively weaker first attempt at a national government adopted in 1781, the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. In contrast to the loose confederation, the Constitution established a strong federated government. The United States Bill of Rights (1791), comprising the first 10 constitutional amendments, quickly followed. It guaranteed many "natural rights" that were influential in justifying the revolution, and attempted to balance a strong national government with relatively broadpersonal liberties. The American shift to liberal republicanism, and the gradually increasing democracy, caused an upheaval of traditional social hierarchy and gave birth to the ethic that has formed a core of political values in the United States.[1][2]

Causes

1754-1763 - French and Indian War This war between Britain and France ended with the victorious British deeply in debt and demanding more revenue from the colonies. With the defeat of the French, the colonies became less dependent on Britain for protection. On February 10, 1763, the French & Indian War (Seven Years' War)came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Defeated by Britain and its allies, France was forced to cede all of Canada in exchange for the return of Guadeloupe and Martinique. In addition, Spain obtained French Louisiana in exchange for Florida which was given to the British. While triumphant, the war had badly stressed Britain's finances plunging the nation into debt. In an effort to alleviate these financial burdens, the government in London began exploring various options for raising revenues. Also known as the Seven Years War, this war was fought over conflicting territorial claims between the French and British in the Ohio River Valley. The British victory resulted in virtual expulsion of the French in North America, and the rationalization of taxing the Americans to recoup monetary losses.

1763 - Proclamation of 1763 This prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. While Britain did not intend to harm the colonists, many colonists took offense at this order On October 7, 1763, King George III issued a royal proclamation which forbade American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. This was intended to stabilize relations with the Native American population, most of which had sided with France in the recent conflict, as well as reduce the cost of colonial defense. In America, the proclamation was met with outrage as many colonists had either purchased land west of the mountains or had received land grants for services rendered during the war. Almost immediately, settlers began ignoring the "Proclamation Line" and colonial leaders began lobbying London to move the line further west. These lobbying efforts met with some success and the line was adjusted through treaties in 1768 and 1770.

Rise of Liberalism and Republicanism As tensions regarding colonial lands and taxation increased during the 1760s and 1770s, many American leaders were influenced by the liberal and republican ideals espoused by Enlightenment writers such as John Locke. Key among Locke's theories was that of the "social contract" which stated that legitimate state authority must be derived from the consent of the governed. Also, that should the government abuse the rights of the governed, it was the natural responsibility of the people to rise up and overthrow their leaders. The ideas of Locke and other similar writers contributed to the American embrace of "republican" ideology in the years before the Revolution. Standing in opposition to tyrants, republicanism called for the protection liberty through the rule of law and civic virtue. While many of the Founding Fathers may have had contact with the writings of European thinkers, many other Americans came to their republican beliefs through dissenting churches such as the Puritans and Presbyterians. Through religious study, men like Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, were taught key tenets such as that all men are created equal, that there is no divine right of kings, and wicked laws should be disobeyed. Across the colonies, these philosophies were preached by Revolutionary clergy in their sermons which brought the ideals of republicanism to the masses. The Navigation Acts & Writs of Assistance Since the mid-1600s, British trade had been regulated through a set of laws known as the Navigation Acts. Operating on the philosophy of mercantilism, these laws required that all trade between British territories be carried on British ships and routed through Britain to ensure that proper duties were paid. While these laws were modified over the next century, they were widely flouted by colonial traders who wished to reduce costs and shipping time. In an effort to increase revenues during the latter years of the French & Indian War, the British government began cracking down on American smugglers. Customs officials were empowered with writs of assistance (transferable, open-ended search warrants), which permitted them to search warehouses, homes, and ships on a whim without cause. Angered by this trampling of their rights, colonial merchants voiced their disapproval. In 1761, Boston lawyer James Otis challenged the legality of the writs in court arguing that they violated the constitutional rights of the colonists. Though defeated, Otis' performance set the stage for increased colonial defiance of British policy. New Taxes & Boycotts As the British government assessed methods for generating funds, it was decided to levy new taxes on the colonies with the goal of offsetting some of the cost for their defense. Passed on April 5, 1764, the Sugar Act placed a tax of three pence per gallon on molasses as well as listed specific goods which could be exported to Britain. While this tax was half of that stipulated by the 1733 Sugar and Molasses Act, the new Sugar Act called for active enforcement and struck the colonies during an economic downturn. The passage of the Sugar Act led to outcries from colonial leaders who claimed "taxation without representation," as they had no members of Parliament to represent their interests. The economic situation in America was made worse later that year with the implementation of the Currency Act which prohibited the colonies from printing paper money. As many American businesses engaged in credit sales with Britain, they were crippled when several financial crises gripped London in the 1760s and 1770s. These forced British merchants to call in their debts. Unable to generate any form of liquid currency, American businesses were frequently ruined and the colonial economy damaged. Outraged by these new laws, and the Quartering Act which required colonial citizens to house and feed British troops, the American colonies began to systematically boycott British goods. On March 22, 1765, Parliament passed the Stamp Act which called for tax stamps to be placed on all paper goods sold in the colonies. This represented the first attempt to levy a direct tax on the colonies and was met by fierce opposition and protests. Led by vocal orators such as James Otis and Patrick Henry, the colonists began a massive boycott of British goods causing colonial imports to fall from 2,250,000 in 1764, to 1,944,000 in 1765. In several colonies new protest groups, known as the "Sons of Liberty" formed. Most active in Boston, the Sons of Liberty attacked an admiralty court and looted the home of the chief justice. That October, delegates from nine colonies gathered at the Stamp Act Congress in New York. Guided by Pennsylvanian John Dickinson, the congress drew up the Declaration of Rights and Grievances which stated that as the colonies had no representation in Parliament, the tax was unconstitutional and against their rights as Englishmen. In London, colonial representative Benjamin Franklin argued a similar point and warned that continued taxation could lead to rebellion. Relenting, Parliament repealed the tax, but issued the Declaratory Act (March 1766) which stated that they retained the power to tax the colonies.

Stamp Act The 1765 Stamp Act required colonists to pay a tax (in the form of a stamp) on printed documents, various licenses, and other goods. Colonists rebelled and terrorized British tax collectors. Townshend Acts to the Boston Massacre Still seeking a way to generate revenue, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts on June 29, 1767. An indirect tax, the acts placed import duties on commodities such as lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea. In addition, they created three new Admiralty courts in the colonies and reaffirmed the legality of writs of assistance. As with past taxation attempts, the colonists protested with claims of taxation without representation. While colonial leaders organized boycotts of the taxed goods, smuggling increased and efforts commenced to develop domestically-produced alternatives. Over the next three years, boycotts and protests continued in the colonies. These came to a head on the night of March 5, 1770, when angry colonists began throwing snowballs and rocks at British troops guarding the Customs House in Boston. In the commotion, British troops opened fire on the mob, killing three immediately. Two more colonists died a short time later from their wounds. The soldiers involved were indicted for murder and their trial scheduled for that fall. Defended by John Adams, the accused were acquitted of murder, though two were convicted of manslaughter. With tensions in the colonies reaching a breaking point, Parliament repealed most aspects of the Townshend Acts in April 1770, but left a tax on tea. Townshend Acts The Townshend Act of 1767 authorized Parliament to issue taxes on in-demand imports such as glass, lead, paint, paper and tea. British soldiers had to be brought into Boston to prevent an uprising. Boston Massacre Tension over the presence of British troops in Boston led to the Boston Massacre, the first episode which resulted in the loss of life. Four Bostonians were killed when Redcoats fired into an angry mob.

Burning of HMS Gaspe Despite the withdrawal of the Townshend Acts, colonial tempers remained flared in 1772. Actively patrolling to prevent smuggling, the Royal Navy drew the ire of many colonial merchants. This came to a head on June 9, when the revenue schooner HMSGaspe ran aground while chasing the packet boatHannah into Warwick, RI. At dawn on June 10, members of the Providence Sons of Liberty, led by Abraham Whipple, rowed out and attacked the stranded vessel. In the fight that ensued,Gaspe's commanding officer was wounded and the vessel burned to the waterline. Responding to the incident, the British government ordered a Royal Commission of Inquiry to be formed to investigate the attack. Once the perpetrators were identified, the commission was to charge them with treason and send them to London for trial. Concerned over Americans being taken to England, several committees of correspondence were formed in the various colonies to consult on the crisis. Ultimately, the case was dropped as the commission was unable to obtain sufficient evidence, but the incident did work to further unify colonial leaders. The Tea Act & The Boston Tea Party On May 10, 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act with the goal of aiding the struggling British East India Company. Prior to the passage of the law, the company had been required to sell its tea through London where it was taxed and duties assessed. Under the new legislation, the company would be permitted to sell tea directly to the colonies without the additional cost. As a result, tea prices in America would be reduced, with only the Townshend tea duty assessed. Aware that this was an attempt by Parliament to break the colonial boycott of British goods, groups such as the Sons of Liberty, spoke out against the act. Across the colonies, British tea was boycotted and attempts were made to produce tea locally. In Boston, the situation climaxed in late November 1773, when three ships carrying East India Company tea arrived in the port. Rallying the populace, the members of the Sons of Liberty dressed as Native Americans and boarded the ships on the night of December 16. Carefully

avoiding damaging other property, the "raiders" tossed 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. A direct affront to British authority, the "Boston Tea Party" forced Parliament to take action against the colonies Boston Tea Party Angry Bostonians known as the Sons of Liberty boarded a British tea vessel dressed as Indians and dumped all of its tea into Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea tax. This event resulted in the Intolerable Acts. . The Coercive/Intolerable Acts In response to the colonial attack on the tea ships, Parliament passed a series of punitive laws in early 1774. The first of these, the Boston Port Act, closed Boston to shipping until the East India Company had been repaid for the destroyed tea. This was followed by the Massachusetts Government Act which allowed the Crown to appoint most positions in the Massachusetts colonial government. Supporting this was the Administration of Justice Act which permitted the royal governor to move the trials of accused royal officials to another colony or Britain if a fair trial was unobtainable in Massachusetts. Along with these new laws, a new Quartering Act was enacting which allowed British troops to use unoccupied buildings as quarters when in the colonies. In Boston, royal authority was asserted with the arrival of Lieutenant General Thomas Gage as the new royal governor on April 2, 1774. Initially well received as most Bostonians were pleased to see the hated Governor Thomas Hutchinson depart, Gage did not move to quash the Sons of Liberty for fear of escalating the situation. The First Continental Congress Using a variety of committees of correspondence, the colonial leaders began planning a congress to discuss the repercussions of the Intolerable Acts. Meeting at Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia, representatives from twelve colonies (Georgia did not attend) convened on September 5, 1774. In the discussions that followed some delegates argued in favor of establishing a new governmental system while others desired to work towards reconciliation with Britain. As a result of the Congress, which ended October 26, the colonies agreed to the formation of the Continental Association. This compact stipulated that the colonies would boycott all British goods starting on December 1, 1774, and would boycott the West Indies unless the islands agreed to cease importing British goods as well. As a result, importation of British goods dropped 97% in 1775. In addition, if the Intolerable Acts were not repealed, the colonies would cease exporting to Britain effective September 10, 1775. Departing Philadelphia, the group decided to return in May 1775, for a Second Continental Congress. In the spring of 1775, Gage began a series of raids with the goal of disarming the colonial militias. On the evening of April 18, Gage ordered some of his troops to march to Concord to seize munitions and gunpowder. The next morning, British troops encountered colonial militia in the village of Lexington. While the two forces faced off, a shot rang out. Though the source of the shot is unknown, it touched off eight years of war. First Continental Congress | Second Continental Congress With war looming, the Continental Congress was formed for the purposes of drawing consensus within the colonies for action against the growing threat of British occupation.

1775 - Second Continental Congress All 13 colonies were represented at this meeting in Philadelphia beginning May. The colonists still hoped that their grievances would be met by King George III. George Washington was named head of the Continental Army.

Major Events That Led to the American Revolution The road to revolution built slowly over time. Many events fed the growing desire of the thirteen colonies for independence. Following are the major events that led to the Revolution.

1754-1763 - French and Indian War This war between Britain and France ended with the victorious British deeply in debt and demanding more revenue from the colonies. With the defeat of the French, the colonies became less dependent on Britain for protection.

1763 - Proclamation of 1763 This prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. While Britain did not intend to harm the colonists, many colonists took offense at this order. 1764 - Sugar Act This act raised revenue by increasing duties on sugar imported from the West Indies. 1764 - Currency Act Parliament argued that colonial currency had caused a devaluation harmful to British trade. They banned American assemblies from issuing paper bills or bills of credit. 1764 - Committees of Correspondence Organized by Samuel Adams, these helped spread propaganda and information through letters. 1765 - Quartering Act Britain ordered that colonists were to house and feed British soldiers if necessary. 1765 - Stamp Act This required tax stamps on many items and documents including playing cards, newspapers, and marriage licenses. Prime Minister George Grenville stated that this direct tax was intended for the colonies to pay for defense. Previous taxes imposed by Britain had been indirect, or hidden.

1765 - Stamp Act Congress In 1765, 27 delegates from nine colonies met in New York City and drew up a statement of rights and grievances thereby bringing colonies together in opposition to Britain. 1765 - Sons and Daughters of Liberty Colonists tried to fight back by imposing non-importation agreements. The Sons of Liberty often took the law into their own hands enforcing these 'agreements' by methods such as tar and feathering. 1767 - Townshend Acts These taxes were imposed to help make the colonial officials independent of the colonists and included duties on glass, paper, and tea. Smugglers increased their activities to avoid the tax leading to more troops in Boston.

1770 - Boston Massacre The colonists and British soldiers openly clashed in Boston. This event was used as an example of British cruelty despite questions about how it actually occurred. 1773 - Tea Act To assist the failing British East India Company, the Company was given a monopoly to trade tea in America.

1773 - Boston Tea Party A group of colonists disguised as Indians dumped tea overboard from three ships in Boston Harbor. 1774 - Intolerable Acts These were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party and placed restrictions on the colonists including outlawing town meetings and the closing of Boston Harbor. 1774 - First Continental Congress In response to the Intolerable Acts, 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia from September-October, 1774. One of the main results of this was the creation of The Association calling for a boycott of British goods. 1775 - Lexington and Concord In April, British troops were ordered to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. At Lexington, open conflict occurred and eight Americans were killed. At Concord, the British troops were forced to retreat with the loss of 70 men. This was the first instance of open warfare. 1775 - Second Continental Congress All 13 colonies were represented at this meeting in Philadelphia beginning May. The colonists still hoped that their grievances would be met by King George III. George Washington was named head of the Continental Army. 1775 - Bunker Hill This major victory for the Colonists resulted in George III proclaiming the colonies in rebellion.

In the end, the American Revolution grew out of increasing restrictions placed upon the colonies by the British. One interesting side note: It is estimated that only one-third of the colonists were in favor of rebellion. One-third continued to side with the British. The last third were neutral concerning the rebellion and break from Great Britain. Essays American Revolution A revolution is a take over a government and to put another government in its place. The Revolution began in 1775, and America was ready for change, freedom, and a disconnection with Great Britain . Taxes, trade regulations, and most of all, power made all colonist, except for loyalist, want to leave from Great Britain's rule.The American Revolution has certain similarities and qualities of the French's revolution. The similarities and qualities are in their economies, leaders, ideology, and provocation. The American Revolution was started basically because of problems with the British economy. The major concept of the time was "taxation without representation". After the French and Indian war, the British government was burdened with a huge debt. They wanted to tax more to the colonist because they were the ones helped the most from the war. Ordinary people had always been taxed lightly in America, but they did not want their money to be used to support the British. The first major tax imposed on the colonist was the Sugar Act of 1764. This ac...

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...es and qualities about them came in the categories of economy, leaders, ideology, provocation, and power. Most revolutions, either from the past or the present, now appear to use or take references from the past for their own beneficial needs. This is why there will always be wars among ourselves. Because the leaders think of themselves, and the other rich people, instead of the the people that break their backs and work their fingers to the bones for them..... The average or poor man and or woman trying to put a meal in their families plate The American Revolution: A Conflict for Self-Government The American Revolution was the first conflict in history fought in the name of universal philosophy of law, constitutional rights, and self-government. Ketchum states, It was the event that gave birth to our nation, bequeathed a common purpose to the most varied of peoples, and ignited a beacon of hope that inspires the oppressed to this day. I believe the Revolutionary war was the most significant event in our nations history, stabilizing the United States for democracy. The outcome was the development of the Article of Confederation, The Constitution and recognition from Great Britain of the United States as an independent nation under the treaty of Paris. The Constitution embodied democracy, guaranteed religious freedom, and augmented legislatures size and authority by incorporating the judicial, executive, and legislative branches into government. The Revolutionary war was more than a revolt against trade regulation and unjust taxes; it was the inception of independence from Great Britain following the Declaration of Independence. It was the first in succession of many rev... The American Revolution The American Revolution was and always will be the most important piece of history for the United States of America. It was definitely revolutionary. The people broke free from Britain and gained independence. Only one third of the colonist enthusiastically supported the revolution. The colonist were unhappy and being treated terribly by their motherland and trouble started to brew. The thirteen colonies that became the United States of America were originally colonies of Great Britain. By the time the American Revolution took place, the citizens of these colonies were beginning to get tired of the British rule. Rebellion and discontent were rampant. The main reason the colonies started rebelling against "mother England" was the taxation issue. The colonies debated Englands legal power to tax them and they did not wish to be taxed without representation. This was one of the main causes of the Revolutionary War. The Revenue Act of 1794 made the constitutional issue of whether or not the King had the right to tax the thirteen colonies an issue and... The American Revolution The American Revolution in my opinion was characterized by a series of social as well as political shifts that occurred in American society as new republican principles took hold in the gentry of the colonies. That time era distinguished the sharp political debates between radicals and moderates over the role that democracy should play in a government. This broad new

American shift to republicanism and a newfound support of democracy was a catastrophe to the traditional social hierarchy, which characterized an old mixed government in the Americas. This new republican ethic forced in a new age of American political values. By 1775, republicanism had become a widespread philosophy in the colonies. It incorporated federalist ideals that influenced greatly the Radical Whig party of Britain. The Whig party stressed the fear of corruption in a government monarchy. From this idea federalism was born. This political philosophy is a system of government in which powers are divided between a central government and semi-sovereign political states. The radica...

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... nation had been ultimately shaped and molded into a society that would be molded throughout the entire world. Thomas Paine once recognized this with a saying, "Our style and manner of thinking, have undergone a revolution we see with other eyes, we hear with other ears, and think with other thoughts than those we formerly used." The Ideology of revolutionary republicanism, pieced together from English political thought, radical ideas, Enlightenment doctrine, and assorted religious beliefs, constituted what the revolution had once stood for. American Revolution The American Revolution has shaped the history of the entire world, ever since it occurred in the 1700s. It is the story of the formation of one of the most powerful nations mankind has ever known. The title "American Revolution" holds within it the ideas of "freedom from oppression", "self-determination", and "freedom of expression". It also entails many other very powerful ideas that stir in a humans soul feeling of pride, honor, and a willingness to fight for what one feels is right. It is also the tale of a colony, a new land, and of people learning to live in this new land, as they yearn for fairness and freedom from a government and country that ruled them from afar. They struggled amongst themselves, as they searched their hearts for the proper responses to actions put against them, which they often saw as oppressive, hurtful, and eventually vengeful. The reactions of these people, when put together, add up to a Revolution. However, these great strides, in the advancement of freedom, were indeed made up of just a few small steps. They were just a few decisions made by the moth...

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...ed fighting for the love and freedom of their country. The Revolutionary War started in on April 8, 1775 at midnight as Paul Revere rode horseback running though town shouted the famous line "The British are coming. The British are coming." By 1781, only six years later America could see the light of freedom at the end of the road. To think is all started with a few simple acts, boycotts, and riots this is what turned into becoming one of the most well known independent fight for freedom and established one of the strongest nations to ever be. The American Revolution The American Revolution, perhaps the most significant event in the history of the United States, was indeed radical enough to be considered a true revolution. One historian stated that, The founding generation articulated enduring political questions and provided the structures by which we still conduct our political lives (Kerber 25) to emphasize the enormous impact that the revolutionaries had on contemporary American society. These questions and structures however do not only pertain to Americas political system and ideals; they also greatly changed American social standards and practices throughout the years directly preceding and following the revolution. This era was pivotal to the establishment of many new governmental principles- some ingenious, and others somewhat lacking. It was a period of trial and error. All the colonists knew was that monarchism did not suit them, and they needed to find something practical to replace it, and quickly. First they came up with the Articles of the Confederation. The articles were not very successful in that...

The American Revolution: a Global War

The American Revolution: A Global War is a work evaluating the political events and diplomatic history beginning in 1754 with the Seven Years' War/French and Indian War and continuing through the American Revolution and concluding with the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The authors informally take the position that many Americans believe that the American Revolution was an "entirely American conflict" in which the French gave tacit military support and that the conflict only occurred in America (p. vii). Thus, Dupuy, Hammerman and Hayes demonstrate to what extent European nations were directly involved politically, militarily, and economically in the American Revolution. They contend that the European powers were heavily involved in this conflict and support their argument with their discussion of the various political and diplomatic intrigues behind the scenes, as well as descriptions of battles across the globe and, finally, the very "international" nature of the American army with the insertion of supplies, men, and officers from Europe. In conclusion,

the overall theme of the book ...

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... this conflict and their motivations for becoming involved. The only criticism I would make is that while the book is both interesting and easy to read, some of the latter chapters dealing with the more exact nature of the naval conflicts are hard to follow and would probably be of more interest to students and scholars of naval history. In conclusion, this book offers an invaluable perspective on the American Revolution, which greatly contributes to the body of knowledge concerning this period and diplomatic history in general.

American Revolution Outline

Major Campaigns of the American Revolution The New York and New Jersey Campaigns Actions: -British attacked New York City -The Battle of Staten Island -July 3rd, 1763 British were successful -this drove the Americans back to Manhattan - Drive for Manhattan -12,000 British soldiers moved to take New York City - This was accomplished successfully -Cornwallis manhandle of Americans - Chased Americans through New Jersey until they withdrew to Pennsylvania -Battle of Trenton -This was Washingtons counterstrike -Inconspicuously crossed the Delaware on Christmas night capturing nearly 1,000 Hessians -Battle of Princeton -Cornwalliss attempt to recover Trenton -Washington retained ground Strategy: -The Battle of Staten Island -The Americans - Had 19,000 soldiers - Divided equally into two battalions - Split between Long Island and Manhattan -The British - Had 25,000 soldiers on Staten Island - They engaged one half of Washingtons men at a time. - Drove for Manhattan - Easily took over New York City -Battle of Trenton -The American - Surrounded Trenton so Hessians could not retreat - Stormed city, taking over houses and other buildings -The British - Tried to retreat but were not prepared - Ignored warning signs of Continental Attack -Battle of Princeton -The British - Stationed under the lead of Charles Mawhood - Fired upon sight of Americans -The American - Split into two divisions - One division fought Mawhoods men - The other division dismembered a bridge to the south to slow Cornwalliss men Outcome: -The Battle of Staten Island -The Americans - 312 dead, 1407 wounded or captured - Forced to retreat beyond the Delaware river into Pennsylvania -The British - 63 dead, 314 wounded or captured - Captured Fort Washington and Fort Lee -Battle of Trenton -The American - 4 dead, two of those from hypothermia - Captured Hessian town along with nearly 1,000 men - Collected much needed British guns and ammunition - Morale boost to soldiers -The British -23 dead, 92 wounded, and 913 captured - Suffered defeat because of arrogance and skepticism of the Continental Armies power. -Battle of Princeton -The British -24 dead, 58 wounded, and 194 captured - Loss control of New Jersey, retreated to New Brunswick -The American - 46 killed and 160 wounded - Regained control of New Jersey - Another big morale boost that lead to the recruitment of new soldiers

Valley Forge and the winter of 1777-1778 -Strategy and Action -Location of Encampment - Washington chose Valley Forge -Far enough away from British to avoid attack -On high ground, this provided great visibility of The surrounding land - River to north, China River, also created protection -Preparing for the winter -2,000 log huts were created along military streets -Defensive trenches and walls were built to protect the encampment -Shortages in supplies - Soldiers would receive food in irregular shipments - Extreme lack of clothing for soldiers -Washington worked to get more supplies, which worked in some instances. - Training with Baron von Steuben - He was formerly leader of the Prussian army. - Washington had great confidence in his ability. - Trained men in formation, arms, and charges with bayonets - Saw great improvement in mens abilities and appearance - Disease -Undernourishment and lack of clothing led to sickness and disease. - Diseases included, Typhus, Typhoid, dysentery and pneumonia - These diseases killed as many as 2,000 men. - Outbreaks were controlled by sanitation regulations. -Outcome -Superior Soldiers - Although many soldiers had died, because of previous success, recruitment became successful. -von Steuben created a professional army that was adequately trained to fight against the British. - Departure from Valley Forge - Soldiers left six months after arrival on June 19, 1778 after hearing word of British movements towards New York -This departure led to the Battle of Monmouth which was a draw, and the battle of Yorktown, which proved victorious for the well trained Continental army. The War in the South and Cornwallis Surrender Action: -The British move south. - Capture of Savannah, Georgia - British military corps of 3,500 men accomplished this without much fight from American militiamen - This was accomplished under the lead of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell

-Defense of Savannah, Georgia - An attempt was made by French and American forces to reclaim Savannah - French naval ships were used to attempt to defeat British - Capture of Charleston, South Carolina - Headed by Sir Henry Clinton in 1780 - British had nearly 10,000 soldiers while the Continentals had merely 5,000 soldiers, half of those being militiamen. -Cornwallis Takes British Lead - British troops win at Battle of Camden, but soon the tables are turn by a valiant American effort at the Battle of Kings Mountain. - Under Cornwalliss lead the British slowly lose territory in the South. - The Siege at Yorktown - Washington arrives at Yorktown with a complete force of approximately 20,000 men. - Americans converged on British and outnumbered them nearly 2-1 Strategy: - Capture of Savannah, Georgia -British -British force marched from their landing spot south of the town towards Savannah. -poor training of the American militia let to many fleeing as the British advanced, and not even bothering to fire a shot at the British troops. -American - General Robert Howe marched his men out of Savannah and towards the British troops. -Defense of Savannah, Georgia -British -Used control of city to advantage in blockading the Americans out. -American - Combined French and American forces attempted to regain territory in Savannah by use of heavy artillery. -Capture of Charleston, South Carolina -British -Sir Henry Clinton blockaded the harbor, and cut off all supply lines to the city. - Clinton surrounded the city completely then proceeded with the bombardment. -American -The Americans did not contest this advance on the city -Cornwallis Takes British Lead -British - Lord Cornwallis used his knowledge of the opponent to attempt to cut off supplies from Virginia. -American -Nathaniel Greene slipped past Cornwalliss men and cut

them off further to the North. - Greene described his approach by his motto, We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again. - The Siege at Yorktown -British -Cornwallis gathered his men on the Virginian Peninsula. -American - General Washingtons combined French and American army surrounded this peninsula by land and sea. Outcome: - Capture of Savannah, Georgia -British take over Savannah without deficits to their own soldiers -Occupation gives British firm control in Georgia - Defense of Savannah, Georgia - The Americans lost due to the impenetrability of the

fortifications of Savannah - Capture of Charleston, South Carolina - Sir Henry Clinton seized the largest seaport of the south - This battle left the American military in shambles. - Cornwallis Takes British Lead -Lord Cornwallis used many of his tactics in order to fend off Nathaniel Greene in many insignificant battles that wore on British troops -Greenes relentlessness led to the British withdrawal from Charleston - The Siege at Yorktown - After French and American surrounded Cornwalliss troops, and the defeat of the Royal Navy Cornwallis had no choice but to accept defeat and surrender. - This leads to the Americans victory over the British in the Revolutionary War

The Battle of Trenton was a battle which took place on December 26, 1776, after Washington's crossing of the Delaware River. General George Washington led the Continental Army across the river to surprise and virtually eliminate the Hessian army at Trenton, New Jersey. This victory helped to maintain the Continental Army and it set the stage for the Battle of Princeton the next week. The battle of Trenton began after Washingtons army was driven out of New York by the British and forced to retreat to the West bank of the Delaware in 1776. Washingtons enlistment numbers were falling rapidly and nearing winter he needed more men, so he decided a stealth attack victory would arouse patriotism and enlistment. Because of this, he decided to attack the Hessian position at Trenton southern end of the British line along the Delaware before his army was gone. Washingtons plan was to cross the Delaware and attack the Hessian town. . Washington and his men set off late at night during a heavy snow and sleet storm. Washingtons force did not reach the east bank until around three in the morning and when they did the river was with flowing ice. The Hessian commander had been informed of a possible invasion but ignored this very idea, which in return killed him. The main American forces, entered Trenton from the north-west and other sections went around the town and attacked from the south. The rest of the soldiers were used to prevent a Hessian retreat. The Americans occupied the houses and shot down the Hessians who were paid soldiers of the British. The hessian Troops were forced to surrender. The Americans suffered only four casualties, although two soldiers froze to death. About 20 Hessians were killed and 100 were wounded and approximately 1,000 soldiers were captured.

Outline: Causes of the American Revolution I. Troubles on the Frontier. A. Pontiacs War, 1762-1763 1. Ottawa Chief organizes other Native Americans. 2. Over when Treaty of Paris is signed, French no longer able to help. B. Proclamation of 1763. 1. Settlers could not move West of the Appalachian Mts. 2. 10,000 soldiers sent to enforce the proclamation &colonists paid for the cost. II. Sugar Act.

A. 1764 Grenville in Parliament passed a tax on Molasses. B. This replaced a higher tax but the smuggling was expected to stop and the tax to be paid. III. Stamp Act. A. 1765 Stamp tax on goods such as legal documents, wills,diplomas, marriage papers, newspapers, almanacs, playing cards, and dice. B. No taxation without representation, formal petition to the king. C. Boycott (refuse to buy certain goods) of the goods under the Stamp Act. D. Trade hurt by 14% and they repealed the Stamp Act. IV. Townshend Acts. A. Grenville called Townshend a coward to tax the colonists. B. Tax on goods such as glass, paper, paint, lead, and tea. C. Colonist felt the same about taxing w/out their consents. D. Writs of assistance, searching a ships cargo w/out a reason. V. New Colonial Leaders. A. Sam Adams, founder of the Sons of Liberty. B. John Adams, schoolteacher and Lawyer. C. Mercy Otis Warren, friends w/ Abigail Adams and wrote plays poking fun of British Officials.D. George Washington, protested the Townshend Acts and other taxes. E. Patrick Henry, speeches were treason. VI. The Boston Massacre. A. Quartering Act, colonist in N.Y. had to provide bedding, housing, beverages, and candles to soldiers in the colonies. B. A reminder that Britain was bullying the colonist into paying taxes. C. Boston March 5, 1770 a crowd gathered at the customs house. D. Colonist threw snowballs, ice, oyster shells, insults, and the crowd grew rowdier. E. The soldiers panicked and fired into the crowd. Five people lay dead including Crispus Attucks, an African American sailor. F. John Adams defends the soldiers. VII. Parliament passes the Tea Act, 1773. A. British East India Tea Company in financial trouble with 15 million pounds of unsold tea. B. Colonist would pay a small tax but they cut out the middle tea merchants. C. Tea was cheaper than before but they boycotted the tea anyway. VIII. Boston Tea Party, Dec. 1773. A. Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty sent a message to the governor that they did want the tea unloaded from the harbor.

B. The governor rejected the demand. C. Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawk Indians went down to the harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. IX. The Intolerable Acts, 1774. A. Four laws to punish the people of Massachusetts for the tea party. 1. Shut down Boston harbor, no ships could enter or leave. 2. Massachusetts colonist could not hold town meetings. 3. Customs officials charged with any crime would be tried in Britain instead of Boston where the crimes took place. 4. New Quartering Act, where British soldiers would no longer have to camp in tents. The soldiers would be housed in colonist homes if other housing were not available. B. Other Colonies Support Massachusetts. 1. Colonies send food. 2. First Continental Congress, vote to boycott any British goods and cut off trade with Britain. 3. Set-up militia in each of the colonies. X. Lexington and Concord, April 18, 1775. A. Minutemen ready to fight (in a moments notice) Massachusetts. B. Gage sent 700 soldiers out of Boston to seize arms in Concord. C. On April 18, 1775 Paul Revere along with other riders warned of the British leaving. D. 70 Minutemen met the British at Lexington on the village green. Someone fired a shot and 8 colonists lay dead. E. The British went onto Concord and found no weapons. F. 300 minutemen met them at a bridge and the British had to fight their way back to Boston (73 dead and 200 wounded). G. All hope for a peaceful settlement was off and the American Revolution Started. Outline for Exploratory Essay on the American Revolution I. A. B. C. Introduction What is propaganda How it has been used to influence people What I expect to find 1. Both the British and Americans use propaganda to get people to join their side 2. Propaganda was in the forms of battles and written documents i. Mostly Common Sense by Thomas Paine Lexington and Concord Use Morgan and Zinn to define the battles How the battles were portrayed by both sides 1. How effective the media was at persuasion What colonies joined the Revolution after this event Common Sense Discuss Thomas Paine i. Englishman who was paid to right Common Sense Why was it so influential? i. Complex language

II. A. B. C. III. A. B.

ii. IV. A. B. V. A. B. C. D.

Was written with a harsh tone

Other Ads David Fanning (Loyalist) narrative i. Shows how loyalists were treated John Ramsey (Whig Leader) opposition to Fanning Fear Most people joined the war out of fear 17 men jailed in CT for refusing to answer a militia call Quakers were forced to find replacements of pay fines/ go to jail There was no such thing as remaining neuters-said by rebels i. Tory was anyone who wasnt pro revolution-they were ostracized, jailed, and killed (Thomas Paine) Scottish hated British, but feared Americans more

E. VI.

Conclusion A. Most people joined the war out of fear, not loyalty B. We hear about Lexington and Common Sense, though, because loyal Americans ready to fight the cause sounds better than they were browbeaten into it