The American Revolution

Emily Pond

Overview

The American Revolution (1775-1783) is also known as the American Revolutionary War and the U.S. War of Independence. The conflict started from growing tension between the residents of the thirteen colonies and and the colonial government, which was run by the British crown. Armed conflict started in April 1775 between armed militiamen and British troops at Lexington and Concord. By the following summer, full scale war had erupted. France entered the war in 1778 to aid the colonists. After the French helped the Continental Army force the British to surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in 1779, the Americans had won their independence, but fighting continued until 1783 (History.com).

Introduction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwWi0zdF7wk&feature=fvwrel

View the link above to watch a brief introduction on the American Revolution made by the History Channel. This video shows just how much passion the Americans had for their independence.

Key Figures

• Thomas Jefferson

www.loonwatch.com

Thomas Jefferson played a major role in the American Revolution. He wrote the pamphlet A Summary View of the Rights of British America in 1774. His most famous act, however, is writing the Declaration of Independence in 1776 (theamericanrevolution.org).

Key Figures

• George WashingtonGeorge Washington is known as the founding father of our nation. He served as the commander –in – chief of the continental army during the American Revolution. George Washington was unanimously voted as the first president of the United States (fi.edu).

Key Events1764 - The Sugar Act doubling the duties on foreign goods reshipped from England to

the colonies. A court is established in Halifax, Nova Scotia with jurisdiction over all of the American colonies in trade matters.

1765-March 22: The Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament as a means to pay for British troops on the American frontier. Colonists violently protest the first direct tax on the American colonies. Americans were forced to pay tax directly to England. and not to their own local legislatures in America.

1773-December 16: The Boston Tea Party occurs when activists disguise themselves as Mohawk Indians then board the ships and dump all 342 containers of tea into the harbor. The Colonial activists were believed to be organized by Samuel Adams and the "Sons of Liberty" group. Samuel Adams then began to make his case for independence to John Adams, his second cousin, and a wealthy merchant named John Hancock. April 19 Shots fired at Lexington and Concord where weapons depot destroyed. "Minute Men" force British troops back to Boston. George Washington takes command of the Continental Army.

Key EventsJune 15: George Washington appointed general and commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army.June 17: Battle of Bunker Hill

1776 -July 4. Thomas Jefferson presents the United States Declaration of IndependenceOctober 7: American victory at Battle of SaratogaFebruary 6: France signs a treaty of alliance with the United States and the American Revolution soon becomes a world war.

1781 -October 17: American victory at Yorktown terms discussed for the British surrender. (www.history-timelines.org)

Sources• "America the Story of Us: American Revolution -

YouTube." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. History Channel, 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 03 Feb. 2012.

• "American Revolution Timeline." History Timelines. History Timeline. Web. 03 Feb. 2012.

• "George Washington and the American Revolution." The Franklin Institute. UNISYS. Web. 03 Feb. 2012.

• "George Washington and the American Revolution." TheAmericanRevolution.org. Web. 03 Feb. 2012.

• "Thomas Jefferson." Tenth Amendment Center. Web. 03 Feb. 2012