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The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies that became the United States of America gained independence from the British Empire. Image File history File links Declaration_independence. ...
Image File history File links Declaration_independence. ...
John Trumbull, 1756–1843 John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843) was a famous American artist from the time of the American Revolutionary War. ...
John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence is an iconic 12- by 18-foot painting in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda depicting the presentation of the draft of the Declaration to Congress. ...
Year 1776 (MDCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ...
<smatest edits. ...
Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love endure Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: , Country Commonwealth County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area - City 369. ...
In 1775, the British claimed authority over the red and pink areas on this map and Spain ruled the orange. ...
The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...
In this period, the Colonies rebelled against the British Empire and entered into the American Revolutionary War, also referred to (especially in Britain) as the American War of Independence, between 1775 and 1783. This culminated in an American Declaration of Independence in 1776, and victory on the battlefield in 1781. This article is about military actions only. ...
U.S. Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence is a document in which the Thirteen Colonies declared themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their justifications for doing so. ...
France played a key role in aiding the revolution, providing the Americans with money and munitions, organizing a coalition against Britain, and sending an army and a fleet that played a decisive role at the battle that effectively ended the war at Yorktown. The Americans, however, were heavily influenced by the ideas of the enlightenment philosophers, being against absolute monarchy and aristocracy, and did not see the French form of government as a model. Combatants France United States Great Britain German mercenaries Commanders Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau François de Grasse Gilbert de La Fayette George Washington Nathanael Greene Charles Cornwallis # Charles O’Hara # Banastre Tarleton # (stationed at Gloucester, Virginia) Strength 10,800 French, 8,845 Americans 7,500 Casualties 62 dead 190 wounded...
The Age of Enlightenment (French: ; German: ) was an eighteenth century movement in European and American philosophy, or the longer period including the Age of Reason. ...
This does not cite its references or sources. ...
Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: The term aristocracy refers to a form of government where power is held by a small number of individuals from an elite or from noble families. ...
The American Revolution included a series of broad intellectual and social shifts that occurred in the early American society, such as the new republican ideals that took hold in the American population. In some states, sharp political debates broke out over the role of democracy in government. The American shift to republicanism, as well as the gradually expanding democracy, caused an upheaval of the traditional social hierarchy, and created the ethic that formed the core of American political values.[1] Republicanism is the political value system that has dominated American political thought since the American Revolution. ...
The revolutionary era began in 1763, when the military threat to the American colonies from France ended. Adopting the view that the colonies should pay a substantial portion of the costs of defending them, Britain imposed a series of taxes which proved highly unpopular and, because the colonies lacked elected representation in the governing British Parliament, many colonists considered to be illegal. After protests in Boston, the British sent combat troops, the Americans mobilized their militia, and fighting broke out in 1775. Although Loyalists were about 15-20% of the population, throughout the war the Patriots generally controlled 80-90% of the territory; the British could only hold a few coastal cities. In 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies voted unanimously to adopt a Declaration of Independence, by which they established the United States of America. The Americans formed an alliance with France in 1778 that evened the military and naval strengths. Two main British armies were captured at Saratoga in 1777 and Yorktown in 1781, leading to peace with the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The United States was bounded by British Canada on the north, Spanish Florida on the south, and the Mississippi River on the west. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ...
Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area - City 232. ...
Lebanese Kataeb militia A Militia is an organization of citizens to provide defense, emergency or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ...
[[ This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...
Go to american revolution at wiki to get the same information provided below! This article concerns Patriots in the Revolutionary War. ...
// The United States Declaration of Independence was an act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the Thirteen Colonies were independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain. ...
Combatants British 9th/Hill, 20th/Lynd, 21st/ Hamilton, 62nd/Ansthruter, Simon Fraser Brunswick Brian green and anthony bararta 1st Brigade (Brunswickers) Brig. ...
Combatants Britain Colonial America France Commanders Charles Cornwallis George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Strength 7,500 8,845 Americans 7,800 French Casualties 156 killed 326 wounded 7,018 captured Americans: 20 killed, 56 wounded French: 52 killed, 134 wounded The Battle of Yorktown (1781) was a victory by a...
Painting by Benjamin West depicting (from left to right) John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin. ...
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 489 pixel Image in higher resolution (1651 × 1010 pixel, file size: 625 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Replacing en. ...
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 489 pixel Image in higher resolution (1651 × 1010 pixel, file size: 625 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Replacing en. ...
In 1775, the British claimed authority over the red and pink areas on this map and Spain ruled the orange. ...
[edit] Origins
[edit] Taxation without Representation By 1763, Great Britain possessed a vast holdings in North America. In addition to the thirteen colonies, sixteen smaller colonies were ruled directly by royal governors. Victory in the Seven Years' War had given Great Britain New France (Canada), Spanish Florida, and the Native American lands east of the Mississippi River. In 1765, the colonists still considered themselves loyal subjects of the British Crown, with the same historic rights and obligations as subjects in Britain.[2] British North America was an informal term first used in 1783, but uncommon before the Report on the Affairs of British North America (1839), called the Durham Report. ...
Combatants Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Great Britain Electorate of Hanover Iroquois Confederacy Kingdom of Portugal Electorate of Brunswick Electorate of Hesse-Kassel Philippines Archduchy of Austria Kingdom of France Empire of Russia Kingdom of Sweden Kingdom of Spain Electorate of Saxony Kingdom of Naples and Sicily Kingdom of Sardinia...
Capital Quebec Language(s) French Religion Roman Catholicism Government Monarchy King See List of French monarchs Governor See list of Governors Legislature Sovereign Council of New France Historical era Ancien Régime in France - Royal Control 1655 - Articles of Capitulation of Quebec 1759 - Articles of Capitulation of Montreal 1760 - Treaty...
Spanish Florida (Florida Española) refers to the Spanish colony of Florida. ...
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States, including parts of Alaska. ...
For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ...
This article is about the monarchy of the United Kingdom, one of sixteen that share a common monarch; for information about this constitutional relationship, see Commonwealth realm; for information on the reigning monarch, see Elizabeth II. For information about other Commonwealth realm monarchies, as well as other relevant articles, see...
The British government determined to tax its American possessions, primarily to help pay for its defense of North America from the French in the Seven Year War. The problem for many American colonists was not that taxes were high (the taxes were actually quite low, particularly compared with those paid by ordinary citizens of Britain), but that the colonies were not consulted about the new taxes, as they had no representation in Parliament. The phrase "No Taxation without Representation" became popular in many American circles. London argued that the Americans were represented "virtually"; but most Americans rejected the theory that men in London, who knew nothing about their needs and conditions, could represent them.[3] For the 1756–1763 war, see Seven Years War. ...
In theory, Great Britain already regulated the economies of the colonies through the Navigation Acts according to the doctrines of mercantilism, which said that anything that benefited the Empire (and hurt other empires) was good policy. Widespread evasion of these laws had long been tolerated. Now, through the use of open-ended search warrants (Writs of Assistance), strict enforcement of these Acts became the practice. In 1761, Massachusetts lawyer James Otis argued that the writs violated the constitutional rights of the colonists. He lost the case, but John Adams later wrote, "American independence was then and there born." Wikisource has original text related to this article: Navigation Acts The English Navigation Acts were a series of laws which, beginning in 1651, restricted the use of foreign shipping in the trade of England (later Great Britain and its colonies). ...
Mercantile redirects here. ...
A Writ of Assistance is a legal writ that serves as a general search warrant. ...
This article is about the U.S. State. ...
James Otis, Jr. ...
The Constitution of the United Kingdom is uncodified, consisting of both written and unwritten sources. ...
John Adams, Jr. ...
In 1762, Patrick Henry argued the Parson's Cause in Virginia, where the legislature had passed a law and it was vetoed by the King. Henry argued, "that a King, by disallowing Acts of this salutary nature, from being the father of his people, degenerated into a Tyrant and forfeits all right to his subjects' obedience."[4] Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799) was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known and remembered primarily for his stirring oratory. ...
The Parsons Cause was an important legal and political dispute often viewed as an important event lea]]ding up to the American Revolution. ...
[edit] 1765: Stamp Act unites the Colonies in protest In 1764, Parliament enacted the Sugar Act and the Currency Act, further vexing the colonists. Protests led to a powerful new weapon, the systemic boycott of British goods. In 1765 the Stamp Act was the first direct tax ever levied by Parliament on the colonies. All newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets and official documents - even decks of playing cards - were required to have the stamps. All 13 colonies protested vehemently, as popular leaders such as Patrick Henry in Virginia and James Otis in Massachusetts, rallied the people in opposition. A secret group, the "Sons of Liberty" formed in many towns and threatened violence if anyone sold the stamps, and no one did. In Boston, the Sons of Liberty burned the records of the vice-admiralty court and looted the elegant home of the chief justice, Thomas Hutchinson. Several legislatures called for united action, and nine colonies sent delegates to the Stamp Act Congress in New York City in October, 1765. Moderates led by John Dickinson drew up a "Declaration of Rights and Grievances" stating that taxes passed without representation violated ancient rights. Lending weight to the argument was an economic boycott of British merchandise, as imports into the colonies fell from £2,250,000 in 1764 to £1,944,000 in 1765. In London, the Rockingham government came to power and Parliament debated whether to repeal the stamp tax or send an army to enforce it. Benjamin Franklin eloquently made the American case, explaining the colonies had spent heavily in manpower, money and blood in defense of the empire in a series of wars against the French and Indians, and that further taxes to pay for those wars was unjust and might bring about a rebellion. Parliament agreed and repealed the tax, but in a "Declaratory Act" of March 1766 insisted that parliament retained full power to make laws for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever."[5] Passed on April 5 1764, the Sugar Act (citation 4 Geo. ...
The Currency Act of 1764 is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain (citation 4 Geo. ...
Look up Boycott in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
A stamp act is a law enacted by a government that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents such as property deeds. ...
The Sons of Liberty as depicted in British press The Sons of Liberty was a label adopted by Patriots in the Thirteen Colonies before the American Revolution. ...
Thomas Hutchinson (September 9, 1711 – June 3, 1780) was the American colonial governor of Massachusetts from 1771 to 1774 and a prominent Loyalist in the years before the American Revolutionary War. ...
The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting in October 1765 of delegates from the American Colonies that discussed and acted upon the recently passed Stamp Act. ...
John Dickinson (November 8, 1732 – February 14, 1808) was an American lawyer and politician from Jones Neck in St. ...
The name Rockingham can refer to certain peers of England, notably to Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, who served as UK Prime Minister. ...
Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most well known Founding Fathers of the United States. ...
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In Boston on March 5, 1770, a large mob gathered around a group of British soldiers. The mob grew more and more threatening, throwing snowballs and debris at the soldiers. In the confusion, all but one of the soldiers fired into the crowd. Eleven people were hit; five died of their wounds. Engraving by Paul Revere that sold widely in the colonies The Boston Massacre was an incident involving the deaths of five American civilians at the hands of British troops on March 5, 1770, the legal aftermath of which helped spark the American Revolutionary War. ...
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action protest by the American colonists against Great Britain in which they destroyed many crates of tea bricks on ships in Boston Harbor. ...
This article is about the day. ...
Battle of Chesma, by Ivan Aivazovsky. ...
The event quickly came to be called the Boston Massacre. Exaggerated and widespread descriptions of the massacre began to turn colonial sentiment against the British. The event also began a downward spiral in the relationship between Britain and the colonies, especially Massachusetts. Engraving by Paul Revere that sold widely in the colonies The Boston Massacre was an incident involving the deaths of five American civilians at the hands of British troops on March 5, 1770, the legal aftermath of which helped spark the American Revolutionary War. ...
In 1767, the British government had passed the Townshend Acts, which placed a tax on a number of essential goods including paper, glass and tea. Angered at the tax increases, colonists organized a boycott of British goods. On December 16, 1773, a group of men, led by Samuel Adams and disguised as Mohawk Indians, boarded the ships of British tea merchants and dumped an estimated £10,000 worth of tea on board into the harbor. This event became known as the Boston Tea Party and remains a significant part of American patriotic lore, despite the fact that the cause was a reduction in duty (from a shilling to 3 pence) and not an increase. The Townsend Acts are the mainly used name for two Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain passed in 1767 having been proposed by Charles Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, just before his death. ...
is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
1773 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...
For other uses, see Samuel Adams (disambiguation). ...
Languages English, Mohawk Religions Christianity, Longhouse Related ethnic groups other Iroquoian peoples The Mohawk (Kanienkeh, Kanienkehaka or Kanien’Kahake, meaning People of the Flint) are an indigenous people of North America originally from the Mohawk Valley in upstate New York to Southern Quebec and Eastern Ontario. ...
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action protest by the American colonists against Great Britain in which they destroyed many crates of tea bricks on ships in Boston Harbor. ...
The British government responded by passing several acts which came to be known as the Intolerable Acts and included, among other measures, the closure of Boston Harbor until the colony indentified the tea merchants whose wares had been destroyed. Needless to say, the Intolerable Acts further darkened colonial opinion towards the British. The Intolerable Acts, by the British the Coercive Acts or Punitive Acts, were a series of laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the growing unrest in thirteen American colonies, particularly in Boston, Massachusetts after incidents such as the Boston Tea Party. ...
[edit] Liberalism and republicanism John Locke's ideas on liberalism greatly influenced the political minds behind the revolution; for instance, his theory of the "social contract" implied the natural right of the people to overthrow their leaders, should those leaders betray the historic rights of Englishmen. Historians find little trace of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's influence in America.[6] In terms of writing state and national constitutions, the Americans used Montesquieu's analysis of the ideally "balanced" British Constitution. This article is about John Locke, the English philosopher. ...
John Lockes writings on the Social Contract were particularly influential among the American Founding Fathers. ...
The right to revolution, in political philosophy, is a right articulated by John Locke in Two Treatises of Government as part of his social contract theory. ...
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, (June 28, 1712 – July 2, 1778) was a Genevan philosopher of the Enlightenment whose political ideas influenced the French Revolution, the development of socialist theory, and the growth of nationalism. ...
Montesquieu in 1728. ...
A motivating force behind the revolution was the American embrace of a political ideology called "republicanism", which was dominant in the colonies by 1775. The "country party" in Britain, whose critique of British government emphasized that corruption was to be feared, influenced American politicians. The colonists associated the "court" with luxury and inherited aristocracy, which Americans increasingly condemned. Corruption was the greatest possible evil, and civic virtue required men to put civic duty ahead of their personal desires. Men had a civic duty to fight for their country. For women, "republican motherhood" became the ideal, exemplified by Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren; the first duty of the republican woman was to instill republican values in her children and to avoid luxury and ostentation. The "Founding Fathers" were strong advocates of republicanism, especially Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.[7] For the Wikipedia policy regarding civility, see Wikipedia:Civility Civic virtue is the cultivation of habits of personal living that are claimed to be important for the success of the community. ...
The concept of republican motherhood arose during and after the American Revolution in the 13 colonies (later, the United States of America). ...
Abigail Smith Adams she was (November 11, 1744 – October 28, 1818) was the wife of John Adams, the second President of the United States, and is seen as the second First Lady of the United States though that term was not coined until after her death. ...
Mercy Otis Warren (September 14, 1728 – October 19, 1814) was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts. ...
For other uses, see Samuel Adams (disambiguation). ...
Thomas Paine (Thetford, England, 29 January 1737 – 8 June 1809, New York City, USA) was a pamphleteer, revolutionary, radical, and intellectual. ...
George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ...
Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ...
[edit] Western land dispute The Proclamation of 1763 restricted American movement across the Appalachian Mountains. Regardless, groups of settlers continued to move west. The proclamation was soon modified and was no longer a hindrance to settlement, but its promulgation and the fact that it had been written without consulting Americans angered the colonists. The Quebec Act of 1774 extended Quebec's boundaries to the Ohio River, shutting out the claims of the 13 colonies. By then, however, the Americans had little regard for new laws from London; they were drilling militia and organizing for war.[8] The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued October 7, 1763 by the British government in the name of King George III to prohibit settlement by British colonists beyond the Appalachian Mountains in the lands captured by Britain from France in the French and Indian War/Seven Years War and to...
Appalachians in North Carolina The Appalachian Mountains (French: les Appalaches) are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. ...
The Quebec Act of 1774 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain (citation 14 Geo. ...
, Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Duchesne - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² (595...
View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ...
[edit] Crises, 1772–1775
 An American version of London cartoon that denounces the "rape" of Boston in 1774 by the Intolerable Acts.
 This 1846 lithograph has become a classic image of the Boston Tea Party. While there were many causes of the American Revolution, it was a series of specific events crises that finally triggered the outbreak of war.[9] In June 1772, in what became known as the Gaspée Affair, a British warship that had been vigorously enforcing unpopular trade regulations was burned by American patriots. Soon afterwards, Governor Thomas Hutchinson of Massachusetts reported that he and the royal judges would be paid directly from London, thus bypassing the colonial legislature. In late 1772, Samuel Adams set about creating new Committees of Correspondence that would link together patriots in all thirteen colonies and eventually provide the framework for a rebel government. In early 1773, Virginia, the largest colony, set up its Committee of Correspondence, on which Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson served.[10] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1504x2376, 1104 KB) Summary The Burning of the Gaspee. ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1504x2376, 1104 KB) Summary The Burning of the Gaspee. ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1450x1058, 411 KB) Summary Boston cartoon 1774 Licensing This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1450x1058, 411 KB) Summary Boston cartoon 1774 Licensing This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ...
Image source : http://teachpol. ...
Image source : http://teachpol. ...
Burning of the Gaspee The Gaspée Affair was an important incident in the course of the American Revolution. ...
This article is about the historical committee of correspondence. ...
The "Intolerable Acts", as they were termed by the colonists, consisted of four laws enacted by the British parliament. [11] The first was the Massachusetts Government Act, which altered the Massachusetts charter and restricted town meetings. The second act, the Administration of Justice Act, ordered that all British soldiers to be tried were to be arraigned in Britain, not in the colonies. The third act was the Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston until the British had been compensated for the tea lost in the Boston Tea Party (the British never received such a payment). The fourth act was the Quartering Act of 1774, which compelled the residents of Boston to house British regulars sent in to control the area. The First Continental Congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, which declared the Intolerable Acts to be unconstitutional, called for the people to form militias, and called for Massachusetts to form a Patriot government. The Massachusetts Government Act (citation 14 Geo. ...
The Administration of Justice Act, passed by Britains Parliament and becoming law on 20 May 1774 is one of the measures (variously called the Intolerable Acts, the Punitive Acts or the Coercive Acts) that were designed to secure Britains jurisdiction over her American dominions. ...
The Boston Port Act, passed by Britains Parliament and becoming law on 31 March 1774, is one of the measures (variously called the Intolerable Acts, the Punitive Acts or the Coercive Acts) that were designed to secure American dominions. ...
Quartering Act is the name of at least two acts of the Parliament of Great Britain. ...
The First Continental Congress was a body of representatives appointed by the legislatures of twelve North American colonies of Great Britain in 1774. ...
The Suffolk Resolves was a declaration made in September, 1774, by the leaders of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, originally written in Stoughton, Massachusetts, (current day Milton, Massachusetts, now in Norfolk County, Massachusetts), of which Boston is the major city. ...
In response, primarily to the Massachusetts Government Act, the people of Worcester set up an armed picket line in front of the local courthouse and refused to allow British magistrates to enter. Similar events soon occurred all across the colony. British troops were sent from England, but by the time they arrived, the entire colony of Massachusetts, with the exception of the heavily garrisoned city of Boston, had thrown off British control of local affairs. Nickname: Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Worcester County Settled 1673 Incorporated 1684 Government - Type Council-manager also known as Plan E - City Manager Michael V. OBrien - Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes - City Council Dennis L. Irish Michael C. Perotto Joseph M. Petty Gary Rosen Kathleen...
[edit] Fighting begins at Lexington: 1775
 Join, or Die by Benjamin Franklin was recycled to encourage the former colonies to unite against British rule. The Battle of Lexington and Concord took place April 19, 1775, when the British sent a regiment to confiscate arms and arrest revolutionaries in Concord. It was the first fighting of the American Revolutionary War, and immediately the news aroused the 13 colonies to call out their militias and send troops to besiege Boston. The Battle of Bunker Hill followed on June 17, 1775. By late spring 1776[when? — see talk page], with George Washington as commander, the Americans forced the British to evacuate Boston. The patriots were in control everywhere in the 13 colonies and were ready to declare independence. While there still were many Loyalists, they were no longer in control anywhere by July 1776, and all of the British Royal officials had fled.[12] The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ...
The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ...
The cartoon, taken from USFlag. ...
Combatants Militia of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, (Minutemen) British Army, Royal Marines Commanders John Parker, James Barrett, William Heath Francis Smith, John Pitcairn, Walter Laurie, Lord Hugh Percy Strength 75 at Lexington Green (Parker). ...
April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ...
Year 1775 (MDCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ...
Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1635 Incorporated 1635 Government - Type Open town meeting Area - Town 25. ...
Combatants Kingdom of Great Britain Province of Massachusetts Bay Commanders British Army: William Howe Robert Pigot Henry Clinton Royal Navy: Samuel Graves Israel Putnam William Prescott Joseph Warren †Seth Pomeroy (Both Warren and Pomeroy declined command) Strength 2,600 1,500 Casualties 226 dead, 828 wounded 140 dead, 271 wounded...
March 17 in Suffolk County, Massachusetts is Evacuation Day, an official holiday commemorating the evacuation of the city (which was a town at the time) of Boston by British forces during the American Revolutionary War. ...
The Second Continental Congress convened in 1775, after the war had started. The Congress created the Continental Army and extended the Olive Branch Petition to the crown as an attempt at reconciliation. King George III refused to receive it, issuing instead the Proclamation of Rebellion, requiring action against the "traitors." There would be no negotiations whatsoever until 1783. Illustration depicting uniforms and weapons used during the 1779 to 1783 period of the American Revolution by showing four soldiers standing in an informal group General George Washington, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. ...
The Olive Branch Petition The Olive Branch Petition, written in the early days of the American Revolutionary War, was a letter to King George III from members of the Second Continental Congress who—for the final time—appealed to their king to readdress colonial grievances in order to avoid more...
“George III†redirects here. ...
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...
[edit] Factions: Patriots, Loyalists and Neutrals
[edit] Patriots - The Revolutionaries The revolutionaries were called at the time 'Patriots', 'Whigs', 'Congress-men', or 'Americans'. They included a full range of social and economic classes, but a unanimity regarding the need to defend the rights of Americans. After the War, Patriots such as George Washington, James Madison, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay were deeply devoted to republicanism while also eager to build a rich and powerful nation, while Patriots such as Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson represented democratic impulses and the agrarian plantation element that wanted a localized society with greater political equality. Go to american revolution at wiki to get the same information provided below! This article concerns Patriots in the Revolutionary War. ...
George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ...
James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836), an American politician and fourth President of the United States of America (1809–1817), was one of the most influential Founders of the United States. ...
John Adams, Jr. ...
Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757–July 12, 1804) was an Army officer, lawyer, Founding Father, American politician, leading statesman, financier and political theorist. ...
John Jay (December 12, 1745 – May 17, 1829) was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, and jurist. ...
Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799) was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known and remembered primarily for his stirring oratory. ...
Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most well known Founding Fathers of the United States. ...
Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ...
The word "patriot" is used in this context simply to mean a person in the colonies who sided with the American revolution. Calling the revolutionaries "patriots" is a long standing historical convention, and was done at the time. It is not meant to express bias in favor of either side.
[edit] Loyalists and neutrals -
While there is no way of knowing the actual numbers, historians estimate 15% to 25% of the colonists remained loyal to the British Crown; these were known at the time as 'Loyalists', 'Tories', or 'King's men'. Loyalists were typically older, less willing to break with old loyalties, often connected to the Anglican church, and included many established merchants with business connections across the Empire, for example, Thomas Hutchinson of Boston. However this was in essence a civil war and like most civil wars it divided families, such as the Franklin's. William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin and Governor of New Jersey remained Loyal to the Crown throughout the war and never spoke to his father again. Recent immigrants who had not been fully Americanized were also inclined to support the King, such as recent Scottish settlers in the back country; among the more striking examples of this, see Flora MacDonald.[13] [[ This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...
[[ This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...
Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most well known Founding Fathers of the United States. ...
Flora MacDonald (Gaelic: Fionnghal MacDonald) (1722 – March 4, 1790), Jacobite heroine, was the daughter of Ranald MacDonald of Milton on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and his wife Marion, the daughter of Angus MacDonald. ...
There are notable examples of Loyalists who were not high-born, however, and it seems unlikely that their numbers are included in estimates of the number of Loyalists. Notable among these were Native Americans, who mostly rejected American pleas that they remain neutral. Most groups aligned themselves with the Empire. There were also incentives provided by both sides that helped to secure the affiliations of regional peoples and leaders, and the tribes that depended most heavily upon colonial trade tended to side with the revolutionaries, though political factors were important as well. The most prominent Native American leader siding with the Loyalists was Joseph Brant of the Mohawk nation, who led frontier raids on isolated settlements in Pennsylvania and New York until an American army under John Sullivan secured New York in 1779, forcing all the Loyalist Indians permanently into Canada.[14] Chief Quanah Parker of the Quahadi Comanche Native Americans in the United States (also Indians, American Indians, First Americans, Indigenous Peoples, Aboriginal Peoples, Aboriginal Americans, Amerindians, Amerinds, or Original Americans) are those indigenous peoples within the territory which is now encompassed by the continental United States, and their descendants in...
Joseph Brant, painted in London by leading court painter George Romney in 1776 Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant (sometimes spelled Brandt or Brand) (c. ...
Languages English, Mohawk Religions Christianity, Longhouse Related ethnic groups other Iroquoian peoples The Mohawk (Kanienkeh, Kanienkehaka or Kanien’Kahake, meaning People of the Flint) are an indigenous people of North America originally from the Mohawk Valley in upstate New York to Southern Quebec and Eastern Ontario. ...
General John Sullivan John Sullivan (b. ...
Another poorly-documented group that joined the Loyalist cause were African-American slaves, who were actively recruited into the British forces in return for manumission, protection for their families, and the (often broken) promise of land grants. Following the war, many of these "Black Loyalists" settled in Nova Scotia, Upper and Lower Canada, and other parts of the British Empire, where the descendants of some remain today (for example, see[15]) [2]. Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ...
The Buxton Memorial Fountain, celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, London. ...
Manumission is the act of freeing a slave, done at the will of the owner. ...
Black Loyalists is the name given to formerly enslaved Africans or Free Blacks of the North American continent who joined the British Army in their war against the American Revolutionaries. ...
Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit(Latin) One defends and the other conquers Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis - Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 11 - Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area...
Flag Map of Upper Canada (orange) Capital Newark 1792 - 1797 York(later renamed Toronto in 1834) 1797 - 1841 Language(s) English Religion Anglican Government Constitutional monarchy Sovereign - 1791-1820 George III - 1837-1841 Victoria Lieutenant-Governor See list of Lieutenant-Governors Legislature Parliament of Upper Canada - Upper house Legislative Council...
Map of Lower Canada (green) Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence (1791-1841). ...
A minority of uncertain size tried to stay neutral in the war. Most kept a low profile. However, the Quakers, especially in Pennsylvania, were the most important group that was outspoken for neutrality. As patriots declared independence, the Quakers, who continued to do business with the British, were attacked as supporters of British rule, "contrivers and authors of seditious publications" critical of the revolutionary cause.[16]-1...
After the war, the great majority of Loyalists remained in America and resumed normal lives. Some, such as Samuel Seabury, became prominent American leaders. 100,000 to 250,000 of the Loyalists relocated to Canada, Britain or the West Indies, making it one of the largest mass migrations in history. This made up approximately 5% of the total population of the colonies. When the Loyalists left the South in 1783, they took about 75,000 of their slaves with them to the British West Indies.[17], where their descendants would become free men 26 years earlier than their United States counterparts. Samuel Seabury The Right Reverend Samuel Seabury (November 30, 1729 – February 25, 1796), was the first American Episcopal bishop, the second Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA, and the first Bishop of Connecticut. ...
The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...
This article is 88 kilobytes or more in size. ...
[edit] Class differences among the Patriots Historians, such as J. Franklin Jameson in the early 20th century, examined the class composition of the Patriot cause, looking for evidence that there was a class war inside the revolution. In the last 50 years, historians have largely abandoned that interpretation, emphasizing instead the high level of ideological unity. Just as there were rich and poor Loyalists, the Patriots were a 'mixed lot', with the richer and better educated more likely to become officers in the Army. Ideological demands always came first: the Patriots viewed independence as a means of freeing themselves from British oppression and taxation and, above all, reasserting what they considered to be their rights. Most yeomen farmers, craftsmen and small merchants joined the patriot cause as well, demanding more political equality. They were especially successful in Pennsylvania and less so in New England, where John Adams attacked Thomas Paine's Common Sense for the "absurd democratical notions" it proposed.[18] John Franklin Jameson, (19 Sept. ...
Common Sense redirects here. ...
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All types of women contributed to the American Revolution in multiple ways. Like men, women participated on both sides of the war. Among women, Anglo-Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans also divided between the patriot and loyalist causes. PD image from http://www. ...
PD image from http://www. ...
// The American Revolution was a movement conceived by men who assumed that the war was theirs to make. ...
African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans or black Americans, are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Sub-Saharan and West Africa. ...
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States, including parts of Alaska. ...
Look up patriot in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
While formal Revolutionary politics did not include women, ordinary domestic behaviors became charged with political significance as Whig women confronted a war that permeated all aspects of political, civil, and domestic life. Patriot women participated by boycotting British goods, spying on the British, following armies as they marched, washing, cooking, and tending for soldiers, delivering secret messages, and fighting disguised as men. Above all, they continued the agricultural work at home to feed the armies and their families. In politics, the term whig for political groupings has its origins in a term of abuse used by opponents of the Presbyterian Covenanters who marched from the south west of Scotland on Edinburgh in 1648 in what became known as the Whiggamore Raid, with the terms Whiggamore and Whig subsequently...
The boycott of British goods involved the willing participation of American women; the boycotted items were largely household items such as tea and cloth. Women had to return to spinning and weaving—skills that had fallen into disuse. In 1769, the women of Boston produced 40,000 skeins of yarn, and 180 women in Middletown, Massachusetts, wove 20,522 yards of cloth.[19]
A crisis of political loyalties could also disrupt the fabric of colonial America women’s social worlds: whether a man did or did not renounce his allegiance to the king could dissolve ties of class, family, and friendship, isolating women from former connections. A woman’s loyalty to her husband, once a private commitment, could become a political act, especially for women in America committed to men who remained loyal to Great Britain.[citation needed]
African Americans, both men and women, understood Revolutionary rhetoric as promising freedom and equality. These hopes were not realized. Although both British and American governments made promises of freedom for service throughout the war and many slaves attempted to better their lives by fighting in or assisting the armies, the war ultimately brought few changes for African American women both slave and free. After the Revolution, gradual abolition occurred in the North, but slavery expanded in the South and racial prejudice was near universal in the new nation.
For Native Americans, the American Revolution was not a war of patriotism or independence. Many Native Americans wished to remain neutral, seeing little value in participating yet again in a European conflict, but most were forced to take sides. During the war, Native American towns were often among the first to be attacked by patriot militias, sometimes without regard to which side the inhabitants espoused. One of the most fundamental effects of the war on Native American women was the disruption of home, family, and agricultural life. Defence of the fatherland is a commonplace of patriotism: The statue in the courtyard of École polytechnique, Paris, commemorating the students involvement in defending France against the 1814 invasion of the Coalition. ...
A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service. ...
[edit] Creating new state constitutions By summer 1776[when? — see talk page], the Patriots had control of all the territory and population; the Loyalists were powerless. All thirteen states had overthrown their existing governments, closing courts and driving British agents and governors from their homes. They had elected conventions and "legislatures" that existed outside of any legal framework; new constitutions were needed in each state to replace the superseded royal charters. They were states now, not colonies.[20]
On January 5, 1776, New Hampshire ratified the first state constitution, six months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Then, in May 1776, Congress voted to suppress all forms of crown authority, to be replaced by locally created authority. Virginia, South Carolina, and New Jersey created their constitutions before July 4. Rhode Island and Connecticut simply took their existing royal charters and deleted all references to the crown.[21] January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Official language(s) English Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Area Ranked 46th - Total 9,359 sq mi (24,239 km²) - Width 68 miles (110 km) - Length 190 miles (305 km) - % water 3. ...
This article is about the U.S. state. ...
Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area Ranked 40th - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 260 miles (420 km) - % water 6 - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N - Longitude...
Official language(s) English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area Ranked 47th - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²) - Width 70 miles (110 km) - Length 150 miles (240 km) - % water 14. ...
is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
“RI†redirects here. ...
Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Largest metro area Hartford Area Ranked 48th - Total 5,543[2] sq mi (14,356 km²) - Width 70 miles (113 km) - Length 110 miles (177 km) - % water 12. ...
A Royal Charter is a charter given by a monarch to legitimize an incorporated body, such as a city, company, university or such. ...
The new states had to decide not only what form of government to create, they first had to decide how to select those who would craft the constitutions and how the resulting document would be ratified. In states where the wealthy exerted firm control over the process, such as Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New York and Massachusetts, the results were constitutions that featured: Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area Ranked 49th - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 km²) - Width 30 miles (48 km) - Length 100 miles (161 km) - % water 21. ...
- Substantial property qualifications for voting and even more substantial requirements for elected positions (though New York and Maryland lowered property qualifications);[22]
- Bicameral legislatures, with the upper house as a check on the lower;
- Strong governors, with veto power over the legislature and substantial appointment authority;
- Few or no restraints on individuals holding multiple positions in government;
- The continuation of state-established religion.
In states where the less affluent had organized sufficiently to have significant power—especially Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New Hampshire—the resulting constitutions embodied In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ...
For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ...
- universal white manhood suffrage, or minimal property requirements for voting or holding office (New Jersey enfranchised some property owning widows, a step that it retracted 25 years later);
- strong, unicameral legislatures;
- relatively weak governors, without veto powers, and little appointing authority;
- prohibition against individuals holding multiple government posts;
Whether conservatives or radicals held sway in a state did not mean that the side with less power accepted the result quietly.The radical provisions of Pennsylvania's constitution lasted only fourteen years. In 1790, conservatives gained power in the state legislature, called a new constitutional convention, and rewrote the constitution. The new constitution substantially reduced universal white-male suffrage, gave the governor veto power and patronage appointment authority, and added an upper house with substantial wealth qualifications to the unicameral legislature. Thomas Paine called it a constitution unworthy of America.[23] Download high resolution version (749x889, 292 KB)Dr. Benjamin Rush painted by Charles Wilson Peale in 1783 The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus...
Download high resolution version (749x889, 292 KB)Dr. Benjamin Rush painted by Charles Wilson Peale in 1783 The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus...
Dr. Benjamin Rush, painted by Charles Wilson Peale, c. ...
For unicameral alphabets, see the article letter case. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ...
[edit] Military history: expulsion of the British 1776 The military history of the war in 1775 focused on Boston, held by the British but surrounded by militia from nearby colonies. The Congress selected George Washington as commander in chief, and he forced the British to evacuate the city in March 1776. At that point the Patriots controlled virtually all of the 13 colonies and were ready to consider independence.[24]
[edit] Independence, 1776
 Common Sense by Thomas Paine Main article: American Revolutionary War Download high resolution version (510x800, 130 KB)Common Sense This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ...
Download high resolution version (510x800, 130 KB)Common Sense This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ...
This article is about military actions only. ...
On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine published a political pamphlet entitled Common Sense arguing that the only solution to the problems with Britain was republicanism and independence from Great Britain.[25] January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
On July 4, 1776, the United States Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Second Continental Congress. The war began in April 1775, while the declaration was issued in July 1776. Until this point, the colonies had sought favorable peace terms; now all the states called for independence.[26] is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, commonly known as the Articles of Confederation, formed the first governing document of the United States of America, combining the colonies into a loose confederation of sovereign states. The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles in November 1777.[27] The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, commonly known as the Articles of Confederation, was the first governing document, or constitution, of the United States of America. ...
A confederation is an association of sovereign states or communities, usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution. ...
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This article is about military actions only. ...
[edit] British return: 1776-1777 The British returned in force in August 1776, engaging the fledgling Continental Army for the first time in the largest action of the Revolution in the Battle of Long Island. They eventually seized New York City and nearly captured General Washington. They made the city their main political and military base, holding it until 1783. They also held New Jersey, but in a surprise attack, Washington crossed the Delaware into New Jersey and defeated British armies at Trenton and Princeton, thereby reviving the Patriot cause and regaining New Jersey. In 1777, the British launched two uncoordinated attacks. The army based in New York City defeated Washington and captured the national capital at Philadelphia. Simultaneously a second army invaded from Canada with the goal of cutting off New England. It was trapped and captured at Saratoga, New York, in October 1777. The victory encouraged the French to officially enter the war, as Benjamin Franklin negotiated a permanent military alliance in early 1778. Later Spain (in 1779) and the Dutch became allies of the French, leaving Britain to fight a major war alone without major allies and trying to slip through a combined blockade of the Atlantic. The American theatre thus became only one front in Britain's war.[28] Combatants United States Kingdom of Great Britain Commanders George Washington, Israel Putnam William Howe, Charles Cornwallis, Henry Clinton Strength 11,000-13,000 (about 10,000 of which were militia ) 22,000 (including 9,000 Hessians) Casualties 1,719 total (312 dead, 1,407 wounded, captured or missing) 377 total...
New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...
For the Delaware River in Kansas, see Delaware River (Kansas) The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ...
Combatants Continental Army a Hessian Brigade Commanders George Washington Johann Rall†Strength 2,400 1,400 Casualties 2 dead,On the march 4 wounded 23 dead, 92 wounded, 913 captured This article is about the Battle of Trenton which took place on December 26, 1776 For the Battle of Trenton...
Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders George Washington, Hugh Mercer†, John Haslet†Charles Cornwallis, Charles Mawhood Strength 4,600 1,200 (Rearguard of main force) Casualties 30 dead (including General Mercer and Colonel Haslet) 75 wounded 18 dead, 58 wounded, 200 captured The Battle of Princeton was a battle of...
Because of the alliance and the deteriorating military situation, Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander, evacuated Philadelphia to reinforce New York City. General Washington attempted to intercept the retreating column, resulting in the Battle of Monmouth Court House, the last major battle fought in the northern states. After an inconclusive engagement, the British successfully retreated to New York City. The northern war subsequently became a stalemate, as the focus of attention shifted to the southern theatre.[29] General Sir Henry Clinton K.B. Commander-in-Chief of British troops in America. ...
Combatants United States of America Great Britain Commanders George Washington Sir Henry Clinton Strength 11,000 10,000 Casualties 69 killed, 37 died of heat-stroke 160 wounded 95 missing Total: 361 65 killed 59 died of heat-stroke 170 wounded 50 captured 14 missing Total: 358 The Battle of...
[edit] British attack on the South, 1778-1783 |
