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…
of Causes of the American Revolution, notes that Parliament began to tax the colonists in order to pay for the debt piled up during the war. Samuel Adams, the developer of these organizations, supported propaganda against Parliament and their taxes. Propaganda played an important role in the rebellion against Britain because it helped spread the negative opinions of Britain. On May 24th of that year, a gathering was called in Boston to address the issue of “taxation without representation.” This means that the colonists were forced to pay for a cause in which they have no say over and could not influence. Still, Britain continued to pass fees the colonists had to pay. In 1765, the Quartering Act was passed. This enabled redcoats to come into colonists’ homes and forced those colonists to feed and house them. The infamous Stamp Act placed taxes on paper products, infuriating colonists even further. Patrick Henry, a colonist, argues that only their own organizations have the right to enforce taxes. A growing number of colonists changed how they perceived Parliament. The efforts of influential leaders enlightened colonists on their own rights. Angered, colonists begin to protest against the Stamp Act, threatening a rebellion. Eventually, the Act was repealed and, instead, Parliament enforced the Townshend Acts. These taxes avoided direct fees on the colonists and taxed imported products instead. Boycotts were encouraged against British goods. People began to protest British policies by the masses. By the Tea Act was developed, colonists were fed up with the numerous taxes. Colonists and British redcoats take their opposition one step further when a melee breaks out, dubbed the Boston Massacre. Hundreds of crates of tea were tossed over the sides of ships and into the water. This was later known as the Boston Tea Party. In an all-or-nothing effort to show colonists that they have full control over the colonies, Britain enforces the Coercive Acts. On September 5th of 1774 the First Continental Congress gathers. With time, they come up with a set of “resolutions” that were meant to express the colonists’ rights and why they believed British Acts were unjust. This document, after being shared with Parliament, caused the British to fully acknowledge the rebellion [Source 1]. The Battles of Lexington and Concord can be considered the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The author of The American Revolution: The Battle of Lexington and Concord writes that British Army marched to Lexington in hopes of taking the colonists’ stockpile of supplies during the year of 1775. They also set out to take Samuel Adams and John Hancock, influential figures of the rebellion. Thanks to the efforts of messengers such as Paul Revere, the colonists were able to prepare for the attack. Only a portion of the stored goods were taken and both Adams and Hancock fled. Captain John Parker stood up against the British with about 80 colonists, who were outnumbered and outmatched by John Pitcairn, a British military commander, and his men. The first shot of the Revolutionary War was heard during the fray, though it is not known which side fired it. Colonists were forced to retreat and the British forces continue toward Concord. They searched for the hidden stash of weaponry while the colonists bided their time. When the colonial militia took action, they crossed the North Bridge and confronted the British. Surprised by the militia’s numbers, the British fled and the colonists grew more confident about their chances of success during the war. By the time the British left, they had faced losses nearly twice as great as the colonial forces had [Source 2]. Even though these two fights were small, they went down in history as the first battles of the American Revolution. The Second Continental Congress was held a month after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. This time the delegates sent from the 13 Colonies, according to U.S. History, discussed the war. The passage Second Continental Congress from U.S.History addresses the topics discussed during the gathering. The representatives decided to form a Continental Army. George Washington is appointed to be the commander of the army. To pay for the brewing war, it is aso determined to approve production of printed money. Additionally, the Congress formed a committee to deal with relationships with other governments [Source 3]. This Continental Congress marked the beginning of the formation of the American government. Following the Second Continental Congress was the Battle of Bunker Hill. As suggested in the article The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill, the British planned to take control of Dorchester Heights. In response, William Prescott marches over 1000 soldiers to secure Bunker Hill, an important location because it looked out on Boston from a high view. British General Gage sent twice as many soldiers to take over the hill that the colonial forces secured. Only, the battle took place on Breed’s Hill because General Prescott secured the wrong hill. It was June when British soldiers marched up the hill. Prescott held off the attack until the troops were very close to where the colonists set up their weaponry to prevent a fast loss of ammunition. Though the militia held their own for part of the battle, the British broke through in the end to capture Breed’s Hill. Despite Britain’s victory, the British forces lost many more soldiers than the colonial forces did. For this reason, the colonists did not consider the Battle of Bunker Hill a complete loss. It proved how difficult the colonists would be to fight against [Source 4]. The following year, 1776, five colonists began to draft what is now known as the Declaration of Independence. The staff of History.com confirms that Thomas Jefferson does most of the work, writing the first version of the Declaration in the article Declration of Independence. Before Jefferson shares it with the Continental Congress, he consults with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin and makes the changes they suggest. After revising the document where necessary, Congress accepts it as the Declaration of Independence on July 4th [Source 5]. The Declaration helps to form the democracy of today’s government. It puts the colonists’ wishes of a self-government into words and tells about why they wanted independence. At the same time the Declaration of Independence was being written, as described Mary Stockwell in Battle of Long Island, Britain sent 32,000 soldiers to New York in order to end the rebellion permanently. Only, this was after George Washington strengthened Manhattan with forts and soldiers. His military skills were evident when he correctly guessed where the British would march and stationed units strategically. Mary Stockwell publishes, “British ships… commanded by General William Howe arrived at Staten Island. When Howe offered a pardon to the rebels, Washington answered, ‘Those who have committed no fault want no pardon.’” This quote shows that Washington and the colonists’ intents were clear: they wanted freedom, not revenge. Unfortunately, the battle turned in favor of the British. The soldiers experience and advanced weaponry proved to be more effective and the colonists were nearly surrounded on Long Island. Before the predicted ending of the colonial forces came to light, they fled from the island, losing many colonists to the hands of death in the process. [Source 6] All hope is not lost here, however.
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…
standing in the way of victory at Princeton, Washington and his men unite to take down Mawhood’s forces.[Source 9] These victories did not only contribute to the outcome of the war, they helped unify the colonists and strengthened their determination. The year of 1777 was an exchange of British and colonial victories. That is, until the Battle of Saratoga took place. The Battle of Saratoga was a major win for the Continental Army and, as many see, the turning point of the war for the American victory. The editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, in the article Battles of Saratoga, propose that British General John Burgoyne, having easily captured Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Edward, led his men southward to meet with Sir William Howe’s troops. They camped at Saratoga, New York with about 7000 strong. General Horatio Gates, however, who camped only a few miles away, had 1200 men under his command. Burgoyne and Gate first clash on September 19th. This was the First Battle of Saratoga and ended in a victory for Gates’s men. Burgoyne marched 1,500 men out, only to lose quickly to colonial forces under Benedict Arnold. Under the Convention of Saratoga, Burgoyne agreed to never return to the colonies with his men as long as he is allowed to escape to Britain. The main benefit of the Battle of Saratoga was the colonists’ alliance with France, who had secretly been on the side of the colonists for years. It was not until this time that France became fully involved in the American Revolution because it was at this time that France truly recognized the colonists’ hopes of freedom [Source 10]. As stated in American Revolution History, Washington’s forces traveled to the renowned Valley Forge.
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
change. The most crucial and final comeback takes place during the Siege of Yorktown. The passage Siege of Yorktown reports that Cornwallis marched his men to Yorktown to regroup and resupply. George Washington and French General Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau surrounded Yorktown along with Cornwallis’s forces. Cornwallis calls in the British fleet to rescue them at Yorktown, but the French fleet was already there. Without any hope of reaching Cornwallis and his men, the British fleet abandons the mission and retreats. Cornwallis finally surrenders on October 17th and the colonists had themselves a victory [Source 11]. The crushing defeat at Yorktown and Britain’s caused Britain to surrender the war. The British government could no longer afford any more battles. The author of the article Effects of the Revolutionary War concludes that the Treaty of Paris was the document that finally ended the war and gave Americans independence from Britain. It allowed the colonies to unite and govern themselves freely. All land from the eastern coast of of the 13 Colonies and to the Mississippi River was handed over to the colonists and the territory west of the river was open for settlement. Additionally, British redcoats left the land and the colonists gained the ability of free trade [Source 8]. These new changes gave Americans the freedom to become who they are today.
George Washington took control of the revolutionary army on 2 July 1775. He took over at outside of Boston, before this his experience was limited to wilderness travel and soldiering. His soldiering experiences had been mainly for his home state of Virginia. The first battle that was of significance in this book was the Battle of Long Island. At this battle Washington and the rebel army are soundly defeated by General Sir William Howe and the British army. After this battle was fought Howe did not follow-up the victory with quick action as the Americans retreated. It could be said that if Howe and the British would continued the attack this rebellion could have been put down right away. This will not be the first time that Howe fails to do this, and it will lead to him being replaced later in the war Sir Henry Clinton. Even though his army was thoroughly defeated Washington is able to get his troops off of Long Island back to Manhattan in the middle of the night, this will also not be the last time that Washington is able to get his
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.
...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).
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.
The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a war between England and the colonies which were settled earlier by the English. There were many factors and events that led to the American Revolution. The Revolution was mainly an economic rebellion that was fueled by taxation without representation following the French and Indian War. The English Parliament was more often than not considered cruel and unfair by the colonists. With conflicts over trade, taxes and government representation, the colonies were at a starting line of a revolution that would later transform into the basis of the United States of America.
On October 9, 1781, General George Washington surrounded General Lord Charles Cornwallis at the Virginia port city of Yorktown with 8,500 American soldiers and around 10,000 French soldiers. The bruised up British army contained only around 8,000 soldiers. The Siege of Yorktown lasted eight days, and Cornwallis had to surrender to American forces. The British loss crushed their southern army and forced them to give up on the war. The surrender of Yorktown could easily be one of the greatest moments in American history. Not only did the surrender signal the end of the war, but it also signaled that independence had been won by the colonies. No longer would the colonies have to answer to Great Britain and the tyrants that ruled it.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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
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.