The Revolutionary War was the most dramatic occurrence in America's long, tragic, and amazing history. After all, it was the technical beginning of the country we live in today. When starting out, America had virtually no navy. This changed because of John Paul Jones. Jones was the revolutionary war's first naval commander, and is known as the "Father of the American Navy." Though he started out as not a very rich man, Jones became a naval commander for both America and Russia. He was very charming, but he had a horrible temper that tended to get him in trouble. At one point he was in such deep of trouble that he was charged for murder, but then acquitted soon after. This is just one of the murders Jones was [allegedly, for the previous one, on account of his acquittal] involved in. The second murder he committed happened on the ship Betsy in the West Indies, where he killed the ringleader of a mutiny with his sword in a dispute over wages. He was forced to flee to Virginia, where he changed his name first to John Jones, then to John Paul Jones. Though he seems like a horrible mass murderer, he really wasn't. He had his good points in history. For example, he "started" the American navy and he performed a hit and run raid on Whitehaven.
When Congress formed the "Continental Navy," Jones offered his services and was commissioned as first lieutenant. His first ship was the Alfred. The navy at this time consisted of the ships Alfred and Columbus, the brigantines Andrew Doria and Cabot and the sloop Providence. Thirteen frigates were ordered to be built. As lieutenant of the Alfred and later the Providence, Jones gained many skills and a variety of experience in naval warfare. In 1777 he sailed in the "Ranger" for France, where he struck up a connection with the American commissioner in Paris, with Benjamin Franklin and at Quiberon forced the French to salute the American flag. It was the first time the American flag had been hoisted in a foreign harbor.
The Whitehaven Raid took place before the revolution, but it was still important. It occurred on April 10th, 1778 Jones sailed himself and his crew over to Whitehaven while capturing and destroying small vessels.
In 1587, John White lead a crew of a hundred and seventeen to the island of Roanoke, hoping to form England’s first colony in America. The travel to Roanoke Island didn't trouble John White and they successfully set anchor on Roanoke in July 22, 1587. The Colony worked out exactly as planned until the colony ran out of supplies, forcing John White to sail back to England to collect more supplies then return home with the supplies. The
The Revolutionary war, sparked by the colonist’s anger towards taxation without representation, was a conflict between the United States and its mother country Great Britain. This event had been considered the most significant event in the American history. It separated the thirteen colonies from the tyrannical ruling of King George. The revolutionary war was not a big war, “The military conflict was, by the standards of later wars, a relatively modest one. Battle deaths on the American side totaled fewer than 5,000”1. However, the war proved that the thirteen colonies were capable of defeating the powerful Great Britain. Over the years there were many Hollywood films made based on the revolutionary war, 1776, Revolution, Johnny Tremain, and The Patriot. But, no movie has stirred up as much controversy as the Mel Gibbson movie The Patriot. The patriot is very entertaining but it is historically inaccurate. Too much Hollywood “spices” was added to the movie for viewing pleasures.
Years after the birth of the United States, the Navy became part of the new country’s military branch. However, piracy was a huge issue throughout the Imperial age in the United States. In 1794, the legislative body imposed an Act to strengthen the forces of the navy (USS Constitution Association). As the result, David Stodder and his co-builders, Josiah Fox and Joshua Humphreys, built one of the first ships called the USS Constellation 1797, which it gained recognition through barbaric battles and British rival dominance.
John Hancock was a big part in the revolutionary war. He was a revolutionary war leader. Hancock was also the signer of the or the declaration of independence or independence in 1776. While he signed the declaration of independence he was the president of congress. John was the commemorator of the boston massacre.
The Author concludes that Sam Adams was a relevant individual involved in initiating the American Revolutionary War,1775, through his selflessness as an individual, tax collector and political leader as well as advocate for the people throughout the American colonies. Though the “appeal of revolution” had, long been a popular subject prior to Adam 's beginning, and the methods of mobilizing the “lower orders” had been becoming more sophisticated due to the promise of power, political decision making and control over one 's own destiny, Adam 's the Harvard graduate born in 1722, was not intimidated. Having written his senior thesis on the individuals “right to resist authorities” following his father 's incident, he dedicated his life to battling power and corruption as the first professional politician in America.
The Revolutionary war had many political writers; who tried to encourage change through their writing. One of the successful writers was Thomas Paine. Paine was a one of the most famous propagandist at the time. He wrote pamphlets to persuade soldiers and others to participate in the fight for freedom. His writing in “The Crisis 1” is very influential and plays a role in the history of the Revolution. The Crisis 1 was said to have been written during General Washington’s retreat across the Delaware, and was read to soldiers who were suffering and had low spirits. Thomas Paine’s writing is said to have inspired courage among the soldiers which led to victory.
Benjamin Franklin was a very significant figure during the American Revolution. His success as an inventor, scientist, printer, and politician made him a very famous and successful man during these times. His involvement in the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States always is an important part in US history. Simply put, we could not be here if Benjamin Franklin didn’t exist.
As an American observes the life around him, noting the many advancements made in merely the last century, he must wonder how America climbed to such a level. The 21st century technology, the military and political power, education and ethics, all came from such meager beginnings, solidified by the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War proved to be a significant turning point in the history of our country, but what caused America to win? What were some of the most significant factors in the victory of these American patriots? By examining these three particular factors, America’s military assets, it’s aid from other countries, and its own spirit of independence, one’s understanding of the Revolutionary War, an essential root of this nation, is truly increased.
A Founding Father, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third President of the United States are all descriptors of the accomplished Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Jefferson has not only completed these successful feats, but he also managed to proficiently manage an astounding amount of other contributions to this country. Thomas Jefferson is associated not only with the founding of our strong nation, but he has completed a great many acts that have facilitated the growth of the United States. Thomas Jefferson accomplished numerous endeavors in his life, and this is why he is so respected and admired, even centuries after he was on the earth. Thomas Jefferson’s early life, contributions to the Revolution, and his life during and after
John B. Jones was a proslavery Northerner. At the time of the Civil War’s beginning he was publisher and editor of the Southern Monitor, a pro-secessionist newspaper in New Jersey. He had long been a follower of the issues that threatened to divide the Union and as soon as Lincoln was elected he realized the crisis of political and cultural differences was headed to war.
It was part of the War of the Spanish Succession in Europe and it occurred between 1702 and 1713. In February, 1704 at daybreak, a party of nearly four hundred French and Indians attacked New England from Canada and broke upon the town of Deerfield, Massachusetts.
The American Revolution was a very memorable time for the United States of America, and all the citizens who were alive to witness this part of history. Many events happened during this period of time, two of which were the Stamp Act and the Tea Act. The Stamp Act of 1765 was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain that required many printed materials in the colonies to be produced on stamped paper due to the direct tax on British colonies. The Tea Act of 1773 was another act of Parliament of Great Britain that reduced the massive surplus of tea. The Revolutionary War (1775-1783) was when the United States, which was considered the thirteen American colonies at the time, had armed conflict between Great Britain. The U.S finally gained their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, which is also considered Independence Day. The United States winning this war lead to the
Jim Jones was “a self-proclaimed messiah in a polyester suit, a man who played God from behind mysterious dark glasses that gave his followers the impression that he was omniscient”( Axthelm 54). Born in 1931 in Lynn, Indiana to James Thurmond and Lynetta Jones, he was looked upon by his parents as a gift from Saint Francis. Jim’s father was white and an active member of the Ku Klux Klan. His mother was part Cherokee which lead Jim in later years to refer to himself with pride as an “ All-American mongrel”
To appreciate the significance we have to understand some of the major events that led up to the Revolution. One event that caused contention in the colonies was the Sugar Act. After the Seven Years’ War the British government wanted to bring more control over its empire. For years up to this point many colonist merchants had been involved with smuggling to evade paying tax on shipped goods. While the Navigation Acts, which the British government had passed to maintain control of trade within the colonies, had been around for many years, neglect on the part of the empire had given colonists the opportunity to become accustomed to sidestepping the law. With the new teeth given to royal officials by the Sugar Act to prosecute violators, colonists became frustrated with this new effort to enforcement (Foner 142).
Gordon S. Wood, in The Radicalism of the American Revolution, discusses what it means to be truly revolutionary. In this work, Wood shares his thoughts on the Revolutionary War and whether or not it was a movement radical enough to be considered an honest revolution. Wood discusses the reasoning behind the views of those in favor of the war being considered radical, as well as the views of those who believe the American Revolution to be unfortunately misnamed. He claims that “the Revolution was the most radical and most far- reaching event in American history.” Wood’s work is a valuable source for those studying the revolution because it redefines what it means to be radical, but the piece is also limited by the lack of primary information