In 1775, Patrick Henry gave his famous speech ("give me liberty or give me death") to lawmakers in Virginia; he urges a citizens' army to defeat the British. The first shots of the Revolutionary War are fired after Paul Revere rode his horse through Concord and Lexington to warn colonists that the British soldiers are coming. Also in 1775, George Washington is given command of the Continental army, and John Hancock is appointed president of the Second Continental Congress. In August of 1775, King George III makes a declaration that the colonies are in open rebellion against the British.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, by the Continental Congress. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal..." is the beginning of the declaration. Thomas Jefferson is given credit for most of the writing of the declaration, along with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and others.
In December, 1776, things are not looking good for General Washington's troops; four months of battle has left 6,000 volunteers in his army very weary and wishing to go home for Christmas. Washington's troops have been "swept off" of Long Island (www.pbs.org),and is camped on the Delaware River. In Saratoga New York, on October 17, 1777, things have turned around dramatically for Washington and his army. The British Army (7,000 strong) surrendered, with the British General saying "The fortunes of war have made me your prisoner." The news of this surrender had a very positive effect on the colonies.
In 1778, France and the United States signed treaties of alliance and of trade, and these cooperative measures were to prove very helpful as the Revolutionary War dragged on.
Meanwhile, on October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered his army, the entire British Army, to American and French forces near Yorktown, Virginia. The French had been a big help to the Americans; offshore, the French navy blocked any British ships from coming into Virginia to help Cornwallis's troops, and onshore, the "incessant shelling of the French and American guns" made it very difficult for the...
American Revolution (1763-1783) American colonists went through the hard time before revolution. The 13 colonies faced various problems due to supremacy of Great Britain. They were imposed with certain illegal acts by the Britain Parliament that placed them under risk to their freedom and independence. Britain Parliament specifically enforced such series of Acts that influenced the colonists in trading. Roots and Significance of Stamp Act Controversy The Sugar Act was among the first
American Revolution's Emphasis On Individual Rights The American Revolution was in many ways a conflict over liberty -- a war between the ideology of the old world (as represented by the monarchy and the crown) and the new world (as represented by the Romantic/Enlightenment doctrine illustrated in Thomas Paine's Rights of Man). This paper will discuss the ways in which the early political experiences of our nation's forefathers gave the American
American Revolution New American History is full of many relevant events that have made a significant impact on the American History. Despite all the relevant things, it should be noted that America itself might not have been conceived if it had not been for the struggles that took place in the American Revolution. It was the starting point of the American history and the time when people were beginning to find
In a democratic society, however, the responsibility for making governmental decisions is transferred to the citizenry and it is incumbent that the citizenry be provided with at least a rudimentary education so that they are in position to make such decisions. Although the original U.S. Constitution did not initially grant women the right to vote and otherwise participate in the government, women were afforded, on a limited basis, to
The British Parliament came out with further unjust laws, designed to recoup war losses, that further fanned the flames of revolution. In 1765, parliament passed the Stamp Act, requiring all legal documents and permits, newspapers, and even playing card produced in the Americas carry a tax stamp. The law caused widespread resentment, and was never fully enforced. Economic growth The period of 1690 to 1760 saw massive changes in the social, political
American Revolution, written in 2002 by Gordon Wood on this seminal event, won the Bancroft Prize that is awarded annually by Columbia University for its distinguished portrayal of American history. In a short 166 pages, Wood conquers over 20 years in a very concise and interesting way -- despite the fact that this topic has been covered time and time again, often in a very dry fashion. The American Revolution is
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