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John Locke
John Locke's political ideas greatly influenced the Glorious Revolution in England. His writings, particularly his "Two Treatises of Government," provided a theoretical foundation for the overthrow of King James II and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy under William III and Mary II. -
Passage of the Intolerable Acts
- The Coercive Acts of 1774, usually known as the Intolerable Acts in the American colonies was a series of four laws passed by the British Parliament to punish the colony of Massachusetts Bay for the Boston Tea Party.
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Charles de Montesquieu
Montesquieu's most famous work, "The Spirit of the Laws" ("De l'esprit des lois"), was a monumental treatise on political theory and comparative law. In this work, Montesquieu analyzed the principles of different forms of government, such as monarchy, republicanism, and despotism, and advocated for the separation of powers within government. The book had a profound influence on political thought and constitutional design. -
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Second Continental Congress
- Met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania State House starting on May 10, 1775. It continued to convene until 1781, then transitioned into the Congress of Confederation. Was convened as a continuation of the First Continental Congress to address the ongoing conflict with Britain, mainly in response to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord.
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Rousseau's most famous work, "The Social Contract" ("Du contrat social"), presented his theory of the "general will" and the ideal form of government based on popular sovereignty. The book had a profound impact on political thought and influenced revolutionary movements around the world, including the French Revolution. -
Men
- During the American Revolution men played significant roles in shaping the course of the war and the future establishment of the United States as an independent nation. Some of the notable groups of men who were involved are the founding fathers, military leaders, patriots and militiamen, loyalists, African and Native Americans, foreign volunteers, and civilians.
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White Settlers
- White settlers supported the patriot cause and advocated for independence from British rule, formed the backbone of the Continental Army, provided leadership and command at all levels, fought in numerous battles, endured significant hardships including displacement, food shortages, and disease.
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Free and Enslaved African Americans
- Enslaved African Americans were widely used for labor in both civilian and military capacities. They worked on farms, plantations, and in various industries. Free African Americans also had a part in the Revolution, motivated to have freedom, independence, and equality. They served in the Continental Army and state militias, contributed to the patriot cause, and fought in battles against British forces.
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The Stamp Act
- On March 22, 1765, the British Parliament passed the “Stamp Act” to help pay for the British troops that were stationed in the colonies during the Seven Years’ War. This act required the colonists to pay a tax, represented by a stamp, on various forms of documents, playing cards, and papers.
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Women
- Women played a vital role during the Revolution, contributing to the war effort in various ways despite the limitations that they had because of the societal norms during that time. Some notable contributions of women are maintaining families and homes, supplying troops, nursing, medical care, supporting the patriot cause, spies and intelligence, military support, maintain communication, and post-war contributions.
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American Indians
- Many American Indian tribes sided with the British during the Revolution; they viewed them as potential allies against colonial expansion into Native lands. Some Indians clashed with patriot forces especially in regions where colonial settlements overlapped with Native territories.
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The Boston Massacre
- A street fight that occurred on March 5, 1770, between a “patriot” mob, throwing sticks, stones, and snowballs, and a group of British soldiers. This was an important event because it united the colonists against Britain, which would lead to the Revolutionary War, which is how America gained independence from Britain.
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Crispus Attucks
Crispus Attucks became a central figure in history as he was the first casualty of the Boston Massacre. On that fateful day, tensions between the colonists and British soldiers boiled over, resulting in a confrontation outside the Custom House in Boston. Attucks, along with other protesters, confronted British soldiers, and the situation escalated, leading to the soldiers opening fire on the crowd, killing Attucks and four others. -
The Boston Tea Party
- On December 16, 1773, 342 chests of tea that belonged to the British East India Company were thrown from ships into the Boston Harbor by American patriots that disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians.
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Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry represented Virginia in the First Continental Congress, where he advocated for colonial rights and unity against British oppression. He was one of the more radical delegates, pushing for decisive action against British policies. -
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First Continental Congress
- Met in Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from September 5 to October 26, 1774. This congress was formed in response to the Intolerable Acts, the series of punitive measures inflicted by the British Parliament on the colonies in response to the Boston Tea Party.
- Outcomes of this would be that congress called for the formation of local militias and the boycott of British goods.
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Paul Revere
- During the "Midnight Ride", Revere was briefly captured by British patrols near Lexington, but he managed to escape. He then continued the mission, and he successfully delivered the alarming news to Concord and other towns. He also served as an artillery officer, messenger, and scout in the Revolutionary War.
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Battles of Lexington and Concord
The British military’s top priority was to seize and destroy colonial military supplies stored in Concord, as well as to capture two important Patriot leaders, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams.
- By the time the British got to Boston, they had suffered major causalities, with over 270 soldiers missing, killed, or wounded. The battles showed the determination of the American Revolutionary War. -
Bunker Hill
It took place on the Charlestown Peninsula, near Boston, Massachusetts. Although it is referred to as the Battle of Bunker Hill, the fighting mostly occurred on Breed’s Hill.
- During this battle, Colonel William Prescott instructed his men to not fire until the British troops were within close range, this order was intended to conserve ammunition and maximize the effectiveness of the colonial fire. -
Common Sense
- Published on January 10, 1776, by Thomas Paine, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The basic language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first piece of work that openly asked for independence from Great Britain.
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Declaration of Independence
- Was a formal statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which declared the thirteen American colonies independence from British rule. This is why the United States celebrates Independence Day on July 4 every year.
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Trenton
This battle was a pivotal event that boosted morale for the Continental Army. This battle took place Trenton New Jersey, along the Delaware River.
- The Continental Army launched a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton. This attack caught the Hessians off guard as they were unprepared and didn’t expect to be attacked on Christmas day. -
Saratoga
This battle took place in upstate New York, near Saratoga Springs. The British plan for the Saratoga campaign was to divide and conquer the American colonies by capturing Albany and cutting New England off from the rest of the colonies.
- The victory at Saratoga played a vital role in persuading France to sign the Treaty of Alliance with the United States in 1778, to formally recognize American Independence and committing French military support to the American cause. -
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Lafayette sailed to America and volunteered to serve in the Continental Army without being paid. He formed a close friendship with General George Washington and with that he quickly earned a commission as a major general. -
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Thomas Jefferson
- Known for his advocacy of religious freedom. He drafted the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom in 1777, which was enacted into law in 1786.
- Served as the Governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781, during the Revolutionary War. He also served as the first Secretary of State under President George Washington from 1790 to 1793. Thomas Jefferson was then elected as the third President of the United States in 1800.
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Yorktown
The American forces who were commanded by General George Washington, joined forces with the French who were under the command of General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau to surround the British army at Yorktown.
- By mid-October, the British position at Yorktown had become unsustainable. After being cut off from supplies and reinforcements, Cornwallis requested a ceasefire on October 17, 1781. Two days later on October 19, the British formally surrendered to the combined French and American forces. -
John Adams
- Served as a diplomat during the Revolutionary War, representing the United States in negotiations with the Netherlands and France. He played a vital role in securing military support and critical loans for the American cause.
- Adams was elected as the first Vice President of the United States in 1789, serving under George Washington. In 1796, Adams was elected as the second President of the United States, after defeating Thomas Jefferson in a close election.
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George Washington
- Began his military career as a young officer in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). During this conflict he gained a lot of important experience in leadership and military strategy.
- Following his success in the Revolutionary War, he presided over the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States. He served two terms as the President, from 1789 to 1797.
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Samuel Adams
- After the Revolutionary War, he continued to participate in politics and served in many public offices, including being governor of Massachusetts from 1794 to 1797. Adams is remembered as a avid patriot and one of the most influential figures in the American Revolution. He played a major role in organizing public support for independence and laying the groundwork for the founding of the United States.