The American Revolution was the war that gave America it's independence. The French and Indian war began in 1753 and ended ten years later. England and France, during the massive onslaught of this world war, fought over land in the Americas. After the war ended, England solidified its hold on the 13 colonies, which consist of the Eastern seaboard of today's United States. However, Britain was deeply in debt and needed to pay it off, so they raised taxes in America.
America had taxes raised on them before, yet this time the taxes were much larger, not to mention the fact that America had no representation in parliament. They were being taxed without represented, beginning the cry of "No taxation without representation!"
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by Britain, creating a line across the Appalachians that the Colonists were not allowed to cross. However, the Colonists ignored it. The Colonists began moving onto Native Land and trading with Native Americans, despite the fact they were defying the order of the British crown. After the Sugar Act was passed, taxes were lowered to keep the colonists from smuggling. However, the colonists in turn disobeyed the order and continued smuggling. This also lead to the Writ of assistance. The Writ of assistance allowed British soldiers to unreasonably search colonists at any time, (which lead to the passage of the 4th amendment later on.) This made it more difficult for smugglers to bring in foreign goods. These unreasonable searches lead the Colonists to be extremely angry, making tensions even worse between the two. The British crown then passed the stamp act, (as if the colonies weren't angry enough already) which made it illegal to have any paper traded without the royal stamp on it. This made it easier for the crown to censor writings in the colonies, and harder for the colonists to trade paper goods. This further lead to "No taxation without representation." Because British soldiers were now being stationed in the colonies due to the insurrections, they needed spaces to stay, so the quartering act was passed, requiring colonists to house and feed British soldiers who were seen as "Invaders." In an attempt to lessen tensions, the Declaratory act was passed. This repealed the Stamp act, however it came accompanied with a warning: That the King and Parliament had the power to impose any laws on the colonies, and disobedience of these laws would not go unpunished. The anger over all of these acts lead to the Boston Massacre, where drunk, recently laid off workers attacked British soldiers, who in turn massacred them, killing 5. 4 white, 1 black. Patriots took the oppurtunity to propagandize it as much as possible, labeling it the "Bloody Boston Massacre."
After several following events, including the Gaspee affair, which lead Britain to get more angry at the colonies, the Tea act was passed. This taxed the Colonist's tea, which lead to them boycotting it and drinking coffee. This also lead to the Boston Tea Party.
The sons of liberty, a radical organization that believed in American Independence, dressed up as American Indians and raided British ships carrying tea in Boston Harbor, dumping nearly one million dollars (in todays money) worth of tea into the Harbor. At this point Britain was outraged, leading to the Intolerable acts, where the City of Boston was surrounded by British soldiers and starved, saying the occupation would not be lifted until the "traitors" (Patriots) were turned over. The British crown effectively told the colonists they either had to give up or find some miraculous way to beat the British empire and go to war. In response, The Sons of Liberty came up with their own slogan, "Join or die."
During the events going on in Massachussets, Britain passed the Quebec act, allowing French Canadians to practice their own religion and have their own regional government in Quebec. The Americans were unhappy, as Quebec got their rights but not America. Finally, this lead to America calling the first continental congress.
Each colony sent representatives to Philadelphia to represent their colony in deciding what the fate of the American colonies would be, and whether they would become their own nation, enshrined in liberty but danger, or remain with Britain, and remain in tyranny but safety. This question lead to Patrick Henry using his famous quote,
to teach the American people that dangerous freedom is what God would intend over safe slavery. Thomas Jefferson would further use this quote, Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem. On April 19, 1775, The Royal Crown dispatched troops to Lexington and Concord Massachusetts, to intimidate the colonists, arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock, and to steal their weapons. Fortunately, William Dawes and Paul Revere were sent on horseback to warn the colonists quickly to form a militia. At Lexington, only around 70 colonists were formed to fight the oncoming British army. They planned on retreating, however a shot was fired (no one knows for sure who fired first, the Americans blamed it on Britain and Britain blamed it on the Americans), which lead to the British opening fire at once, killing 8 colonists and wounding 10. The British then marched onward to Concord, having soundly routed the American militia, and razed the town, seizing what supplies the Americans had not hidden. Outside of the town however, American militiamen were waiting, preparing to open fire. They were hiding in trees and behind fences all along the road to Boston, using guerilla warfare tactics to kill as many British as possible. The British marched in lines across the road, making it extremely easy for them to be picked off by American snipers.
274 British troops were killed, with only around 90 colonists being killed. The British troops were furious that the colonists had forsaken traditional warfare, (in which the British surely would have own) accusing them of cheating. The Americans were very confident at this moment, but that didn't last very long.
The Colonists organized a militia of about 13,600 men. George Washington, a veteran of the French and Indian war was chosen as the commander-and-chief of the colonial army. At the time he was a member of the Continental Congress. The Next battle fought in the Revolution was The Battle of Bunker's hill. Washington, despite his hurried departure to Massachusetts, did not arrive in time before the battle began. Colonial spies found out that British troops were going to try and attack Boston, so American militiamen dug trenches on Breed's hill creating a redoubt to use as cover from the oncoming British fire. On June 17th, 1775, the British troops attacked. They were dressed in full gear, which made it difficult to fight on the hot and humid day. They had to march up the hill, making it easy for the Americans to snipe the British on their way up, as well as tiring the British. Unfortunately, the Americans were short on ammo, so their leader William Prescott ordered that they don't shoot until they say the "whites of their eyes." After the British marched up the hill, firing, the colonists (who had not used their bullets on England's way up) fire all at once, annihilating the first and second line of British soldiers, forcing them to hurriedly retreat. On England's third try to get up the hill, the Colonials had run out of ammunition and retreated to Bunker Hill, using their guns like clubs and engaging in melee combat. However, the Americans soon had to retreat, due to their lack of supplies. The British claimed victory, but they lost over a thousand men, twice as many casualties that the colonials had.
Washington, with the help of Henry Knox, conquered Boston. However, he unfortunately he lost New York. During the hopeless battle, Washington's men were surrounded, and the revolution was nearly ended. However, a miraculous fog, that Washington and many of his soldiers thought was a gift from God, saved them, allowing Washington and his troops to sneak into boats and retreat through the river without attracting British attention. On October 1775, The Colonies began to assemble a Navy. It was hardly comparative to the British armada, which was considered the greatest navy in the world, and at the beginning it could only manage to attack unarmed supply ships. However it soon gained more power around December of 1775. Despite the ongoing conflict, many of the colonists wanted to remain with Great Britain, describing themselves as "loyalists." It was at this time that Thomas Paine entered the fray.
Penning Common Sense, Thomas Paine wrote "Government, even in it's best form, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one." Explaining how American Libertarianism is the best course of action, allowing people to do what they want without the Government interfering in their business, that they should be held responsible for their own decisions, and that the Government should be kept small. (Something America seems to have forgotten, with the passage of the patriot act, our recent tax code, and unprecedented spending.) It further explained that freedom is necessary, and that winning this war would usher in a new era of liberty across the world.
The Second Continental Congress, which had been meeting since 1775, debating the issue of independence. Loyalists like Edward Rutledge and John Dickinson fiercely fought against the proposition of American Independence, trying to propose an olive branch resolution. However, this was struck down by John Adams and the patriotic side of Congress, which included most New Englander representatives. Unfortunately, the Loyalists still managed to present a significant roadblock to American Independence. However, after the committee of five drafted the Declaration of Independence, the vote passed and America was created as a new, free, and independent nation (albeit one with no real government at the time.) Despite this declaration, many countries still did not recognized American independence, fearing the war would soon end in an American defeat.
YThe Declaration of Independence explained that throughout history, people have to break apart from their masters and that two different peoples can only be bound together for a short period of time. It further explained that God had created all men equally, and given them inalienable rights that must be upheld no matter what. It held within it why we fought the Revolution, and what America would be founded upon. It explained that since creation, everyone deserves the same rights, and that America would uphold these rights no matter what. During the war side of things, Washington was losing. Unfortunately he lacked the support needed, and many of his men were demoralised and were deserting, not to mention that many were not resigning with the army. Washington needed a large win in order to encourage his men to stay in the army. The situation was truly deserving of what Thomas Paine wrote in American Crisis, saying "These are the times that try men's souls." However, his pamphlet inspired many despite the dark times, writing "The harder the victory, the more glorious the triumph!" and "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." At the time, Britain employed a large number of Hessian Mercenaries. Many were stationed in Trenton, where Washington decided to attack. Washington had used spies to infiltrate the Hessian camps, (Many of them women) and then get the Hessians to drink themselves into a pit in a Christmas eve party, which is when Washington planned to attack. It was very cold and snowy, making it difficult for the Colonials to move. However, they managed to surprise the Hessians on Christmas day, when they were unprepared, breaking nearly all of the "rules of war." The Americans captured most of the Hessians with minimal casualties, giving the Americans a yuge moral boost. In 1777, the British set their goal to win by October. However, the British were defeated at the Battle of Saratoga, In New York, where Benedict Arnold was the hero of the battle. This Battle convinced the French of American independence, joining the American's side and deploying troops to America.
Washington, who had settled in at Valley Forge, faced challenges due to the lack of food and supplies, leading many American soldiers to die. Here, Washington claimed to receive a vision from God assuring his devotion to the American cause. Washington also brought in Baron Friederich Wilhelm Von Stuben to create a stronger American army. After Benedict Arnold betrayed Washington for gold and a position in the British army, (where he was ultimately caught), however his plan made it significantly far due to his wife's acting abilities and Washington and Hamilton's susceptibility to help a woman in distress. For the next two years, the war went nowhere, with both sides locked in a stalemate. Washington planned to attack Yorktown, Virginia. However, he sent a small group of soldiers to New York and spread rumors that he would attack there, (which probably went like "Washington's going to attack New York, RIIIIGGGGHHHHHTTTT?????? *wink* *wink*) which effectively fooled the British, allowing him to catch them off guard. General Cornwallis had captured Yorktown, and he did not expect an American attack, believing that if he was attacked the British navy would pick him up. However, Lafayette, a Frenchmen commissioned in the American army, and Rochambeau trapped Cornwallis, setting up a blockade of French and American ships. The Americans and the French had built redoubts, surrounding the British. Soon, the British started running out of food and were under constant fire, with no ability to fire back.The British soon surrendered, having to give up their flags, their weapons, and being forced to retreat off of American land. At this time, America had finally won their war against Britain, establishing a new nation under the articles of confederation.