Freedom was the embodiment of the colonists’ ambitions and efforts who lived hundreds of years ago. Even now, soldiers fight and die to secure the liberty of American citizens. The American Revolution was a turning point for the 13 soon-to-be-independent colonies of the New World. Who knows where America would be if those colonists did not step up and battle for independence? This shift of authority is key to the development of the new country. It is impossible to name a single action that caused the Revolutionary War, considering the fact that the revolution was fueled by multiple events. It was the year of 1764, after the victory of the French and Indian War, when Britain ran into major financial difficulties. Martin Kelly, author …show more content…
The staff of History.com reports that Washington redeems himself after orchestrating a successful attack in Trenton and again in Princeton in Battles of Trenton and Princeton. On Christmas of 1776, Washington marched his troops across the Delaware River. Desperate to turn the war in favor of the colonies, Washington planned a strike on the British’s command post in Trenton. The British, exhausted and unprepared, heard of Washington’s plans, but were too late to do anything about it. They surrendered after three waves of colonial forces and found that they were vastly outnumbered. Worried about British reinforcements, Washington returns to New Jersey to recruit more soldiers. He manages to raise his numbers to 5000, but by then, British Generals Charles Cornwallis and James Grant were already departing Princeton. When the British arrive with a force 500 stronger than Washington’s, only a few small skirmishes occur. Cornwallis, confident that Washington would not win, took the battle lightly and resigned early for the day along with his men. Washington uses Cornwallis’s self-assurance to sneak 4500 of his men out of the battle to march to Princeton and left 500 men to give the British the illusion that they were still at the battle site. By the morning of January 3rd, Cornwallis found that Washington and his forces had left and had nearly reached Princeton. With only a small force of British redcoats led by Lt. Col. Charles Mawhood …show more content…
Thanks to France efforts to train Washington’s soldiers, they were able to hold up well against Sir Henry Clinton, William Howe’s replacement. The battle ended in a draw and the two forces, as declared in the article, are “at a stalemate in the north.” In 1779, the colonists began to face setback after setback. Some of the Continental Army’s own troops began to revolt, including the well-recognized Benedict Arnold. The British also took Charlestown, South Carolina [Source 7]. To the colonists, it seemed like the war had taken another turn and is now in favor of the British, but their morales would soon
In 1776, David McCullough gives a vivid portrayal of the Continental Army from October 1775 through January 1777, with sharp focus on the leadership of America’s greatest hero, George Washington. McCullough’s thesis is that had not the right man (George Washington) been leading the Continental Army in 1776, the American Revolution would have resulted in a vastly different outcome. He supports his argument with a critical analysis of Washington’s leadership during the period from the Siege of Boston, through the disastrous defense of New York City, the desperate yet, well ordered retreat through New Jersey against overwhelming odds, and concludes with the inspiring victories of Trenton and Princeton. By keeping his army intact and persevering through 1776, Washington demonstrated to the British Army that the Continental Army was not simply a gang of rabble, but a viable fighting force. Additionally, Mr. McCullough supports his premise that the key to the survival of the American Revolution was not in the defense of Boston, New York City, or any other vital terrain, but rather the survival of the Continental Army itself. A masterful piece of history, 1776 is not a dry retelling of the Revolutionary War, but a compelling character study of George Washington, as well as his key lieutenants, and his British adversaries, the most powerful Army in the 18th Century world. When I read this book, I went from a casual understanding of the hero George Washington to a more specific understanding of why Washington was quite literally the exact right man at the exact right place and time to enable the birth of the United States.
This battle was not only the defeat of the Hessians in Trenton, but Washington’s army got their first victory without any troops dying during the attack. This was the turning point in the revolution that helped them gain confidence in themselves. The second turning point was the battle of Saratoga. Between September 19 and October 7, the British and Americans fought against each other but Americans got the edge because the French agreed to help America and supplied them with their navy, troops, and supplies. This win was a major victory for America because it was the first surrender of British troops. 5,895 British and Hessians (only a small percent of Hessians) turned over their weapons making the American forces have lots of power. Now with all of their soldiers and weapons, they were more of a threat. The third turning point was Valley Forge. Taken place in the winter of 1777 and 1778, many of Washington’s soldiers died due to cold weather and food supply. The troops also had rigorous training throughout the cold winter, keeping the army in shape. Almost 10 soldiers died every day in Valley Forge, but when the winter was over every one of Washington’s sunshine patriots respected him.
The Americans decided to wait for the British to be only 150 feet away when that came around a lot of the British were dead and wounded. But in 1775, George Washington came along and decided he was taking charge because he thought he knew what he could do to make everything better. During the Month of March, George decided to go put the cannon on top of a big hill higher so they can see Boston and aim it right at it, Washington even though they won he knew that this Battle still wasn’t over.
...ct most of his military blunders came in the year 1776. But he always learned from his mistakes. McCullough also examines the mistakes the British made, that may have cost them the victory in the war. 1776 is truly eye opening. It takes a more human look at men like Washington and his generals, and is full of letters and stories written by actual soldiers from both the British and American armies. One of the things that I enjoyed about this book was the way McCullough manages to also show the way the British felt towards the Americans and their opinions and thoughts about the rebels. The book ended on a high note, with Washington's historic crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night. It was the turning point of the war for the future president and his army, and it provided the first great victory for the young American county. The rest, as they say, is history.
As there are multiple reasons for their success, George Washington’s leadership did not contribute as much as Britain’s logistical hindrances. Washington had led the Continental Army through multiples successful battles, which did help them to succeed in defeating the British in the Revolutionary War. But, it was not the leading factor in their success. According to military critics, they “labeled him [George Washington] a second-rate general who feared defeat so much that he refused to risk his soldiers in battle” (26). Although this could be a great characteristic in a general, it does have its flaws. Washington’s only option was a defensive war because of his fear of defeat. Going into war, every general looks at the pros and cons and understands there will be losses, but Washington plays rather safe than sorry; which demonstrates that Britain’s logical hindrances proves to be the leading factor over Washington’s
Washington immediently received a promotion to a full colonelcy. On July 3, 1754, the French drove him and 350 men into Fort Necessity. The French then took controlled of it with 700, men and forced Washington to surrender. They sent the unarmed colonials back to Virginia with honours of war. He had to then sign paper saying that he would not build a fort on the Ohio Valley for one year. In that same year he resigned his commission.
That same month, determined to crush the rebellion, the British government sent a large fleet, along with more than 34,000 troops to New York. In August, Howe’s Redcoats routed the Continental Army on Long Island; Washington was forced to evacuate his troops from New York City by September. Pushed across the Delaware River, Washington fought back with a surprise attack in Trenton, New Jersey, on Christmas night and won another victory at Princeton to revive the rebels’ flagging hopes before making winter quarters at Morristown. British strategy in 1777 involved two main prongs of attack, aimed at separating New England from the other colonies. To that end, General John Burgoyne’s army aimed to march south from Canada toward a planned meeting with Howe’s forces on the Hudson River. Burgoyne’s men dealt a devastating loss to the Americans in July by retaking Fort Ticonderoga, while Howe decided to move his troops southward from New York to confront Washington’s army near the Chesapeake Bay. The British defeated the Americans at Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvania, on September 11 and entered Philadelphia on September
Picture this...on one side of the world, people rebel against the rule of the crown, fighting for freedom from religious persecution. On the other side of the world, a people oppressed by an overbearing government are inspired and also revolt. How are these two revolutions similar and different? The American Revolution took place from 1775 to 1783. This war was between the colonial Americans and the British army. The French Revolution was from 1792 to 1802. It was between the third estate of France, the monarchy of Great Britain, and the monarchy of Spain. In this essay I will discuss how they were alike and their major differences, including the causes the revolutionaries fought for that led them to war, the amount of losses, and the final outcome of each war.
the colonies was removed and Andros with his councils took charge of all the power. Andros’ actions drove the colonists to become angry pushed them the edge of going against their power. They had already gotten used to the neglect and being governed by themselves. The revolution of 1688 allowed an opportunity for the colonist to do away with the Dominion. When they heard that the crown had been offered to William and Mary, they put Andros and his people in jail. It ended up being a revolution with more than 1,000 colonist fighting to get rid of the Dominion. The overthrow of the Dominion happened because it was thought to be tyranny by the king. If the Dominion had not been overthrown, there would be no self government and maybe even no Revolution.
All that is required for evil to Triumph, is for good men to do nothing. This essay will show you what events and causes led up to the Revolutionary War. The colonists were antagonized by the fact that the British were not including the colonists and any law making decisions. Eventually they had, had enough and the war broke out. historians often point out that there are many causes to the Revolutionary War. The three main causes of the Revolutionary War that the historians agree on are the Prevention of colonial Westward settlement, taxation without representation and British violence towards the colonists.
Leading the charge for the American Revolutionary War built Washington great credibility, to in which made him an optimal pick for the first president. As relieved from documents from the war it shows that His strategy enabled Continental forces to capture two major British armies at Saratoga and in Yorktown. Historians laud Washington for the selection and supervision of his generals, preservation and command of the army, coordination with the Congress, with state governors and their militia, and attention to supplies, logistics, and training. In which proving to be available leader. Because soon after the war, the nation needed a leader to guide them, in doing so they called upon
The Revolutionary war also known as the American Revolution and the U. S. War of Independence began in April of 1775. It began over a conflict between Great Britain and 13 North American Colonies. For ten years’ tension between the colonist and British authorities were building. The British wanted to raise money by taxing the colonies. The ways they tried to do this was by The Stamp Act of 1765, The Town Shend Tariffs of 1767, and the Tea Act of 1773. Protest started with the colonist because they were not represented in parliament and they felt like they should have the same rights as other British. Resistance of the colonist led to violence in 1770 when British soldiers fired on a mob of colonists killing five men.
The American Revolution of 1775 to 1783, not only gave colonists freedoms from the British government, but set a foundation for improvements and change across multiple platforms. Though the newly found nation held many promises, it also faced many struggles and imposed a large threat to the native people of North America. Striving to create a more limited government that would ease the fear of central power from the past experience of British rule was met with the need for funding and stability following the war. This weak of a government created an imbalance unsuitable for any newly found country. The ideologies of the United States government also created a premise for freedom movements throughout various societal platforms. Some proved to be a positive step in the right direction, while others suffered immense consequences.
The regiment as a whole was poorly clad, poorly shod, poorly supplied, and as yet wholly untrained.”(Anderson 45) Washington and his men then moved and stayed in a place called “Willis Creek”, around mid-April when Washington was informed that French were soon to attack, so after preparing, they soon marched to an area that was called “the Great Meadows” (Anderson 46). On April 27, the French attacked Washington’s troops, leaving many killed and wounded, including 2 important figures in the French. When discussing the information that the French contained, the murders of all the French soldiers that had survived had happened leaving Washington token back and confused. Washington tried to cover up the events that had happened but had soon caused more trouble when a massacre took place leaving Washington to enlist more men and attack again on the French. In the end, according to The War that Made America, “Only then would the king and his ministers understand that George Washington had done much more that simply fail to eject the French from the Forks of Ohio. He had handed Louis XV all the justification he would never ever need to declare war on Great Britain.” (Anderson
...e gun, it seemed, the greater the owner‘s pride in it.” (McCullough 33) The Continental army certainly did not look like an army yet these people were brought together in this fight for freedom and prevailed even winning the support of Americans who had no hope the British would be defeated.” Merchant Erving had sided with the Loyalists primarily because he thought the rebellion would fail. But the success of Washington‘s army at Boston had changed his mind as it had for many” (McCullough 108). The reader must comprehend the power of this accomplishment for the rag-tag army. “Especially for those who had been with Washington and who knew what a close call it was at the beginning-how often circumstance, storms, contrary winds, the oddities or strengths of individual character had made the difference- the outcome seemed little short of a miracle.” (McCullough 294).