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Loyalists
Info
Loyalists were colonial settlers who were still loyal to Britian. About 500, 000 people, mostly farmers, considered themselves loyal to Britian, causeing Americans to pressure them into swearing an oath of support to the Continental Congress. The Loyalists, to avoid beeing injured or imprisioned had to flee to British territory. -
The First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
Delagates from the thirteen colonies met in Philidalphia, in resopnse to the invocation of the Coercive or Intolerable Acts by the British. Although many of the delagates were not pushing for compleate independance, the first continental congress was vital to the advancement of the American Revoloution, because it established a basic independant government on which the colonies could rely. -
Patriots
Info The Patriots were those fighting for the independance of America, whether on the battlefields, in congress, or by boycotting goods, about 200,000 Colonial Americans supported fighting for their independance. This lead to the widespread bearing of arms in Ameica, whether you were a farmer or a business man, you had a gun with which to fight the British. This was an unrelenting force with which the British could not contend with. -
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The First Continental Congress
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Lexington and Concord
11c. Lexington and Concord British soldiers sent to capture the wepons the militia were storeing in Concored marched through Lexington where Minutemen had been warned of their coming. Even with prior knowledge, the Minutemen could not hope to stand against the 700 British redcoats. The British fought through with little resistance, and on to Concord. After destroying the Americans supplies they were ambushed, leaving 300 British dead or injured. -
Army of the Continental Congress
Info Originally, it was believed that the American revoloution could be won with only militia. During the early battles however, it became clear that British regulars could not be bested by untrained minute men. The Army of the Continental Congress was fourmed after much deliberation, and it gave the Americans a fighting chance against the trained British soldiers. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
British POVOther POV
This was the first major battle of the war, and was a major confidence booster for the colonies. The British charged 3 times, the first two of which they were drivin back by the Americans, but the third time the Americans were out of ammo and lost the Hill. The British suffered heavy casualties and were drivin back less than a year later -
Olive Branch Petition
Info, American Congress was trying to reach a peaceful resoloution with Britain, sending mutiple petitions to London in hopes of avoiding further conflict. The British ignored all of these petitions to restore colonial liberties, causeing America to give Britain an ultimatim. This was known as the Olive Branch Petition, and it was the final attempt the Americans made of avoiding war. -
Common Sense Published
<ahref='http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/commonsense/' >Info and Document</a> Thomas Paine published Common Sense in order to educate common people on the reasons for the American Revoloution. It was a pamphlet that helped light a fire under fence sitters, and, after selling more than 100,000 copies in a year, played a vital role in the ralling of colonists against the British. -
Declaration of Independence
Info and Declaration Colonies wanted a formal declaration of independance from Britian, so delegates met, and with the help of Thomas Jefferson, designed and voted in favour of a Declaration of Independence. Although Britian did not yet recognize Americas independance, it was still a huge moral booster for the Colonials, causeing celebrations in the street and the defacement of all things British. -
General George Washington
<ahref='http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/washington/george2.html' >Info</a> General George Washington was one of the most significant figures, not just of the American revoloution, but also the founding of America. General George Washington, also the first President of the United States, lead the Americans to victories in important battles such as Princeton and Yorktown in the Revoloutinary war, making him a key figure in the revoloution. -
Princeton
Info
The Battle of Princeton was yet another victory for the American forces under the command of George Washington. This battle was a display of good American stratigy as they avoided Cornwallis' attempt to sorround the Americans. This battle showed the British that there was more merit to the American Army than originally thought, putting Britian on the defensive. -
Vally Forge
Info After suffering through many tials, the American Continental Army settled in the Vally Forge for a harsh winter. Between the lack of food and the extreme temperature, almost 3,000 men died under George Washingtons command. This lead to the inevitabe desertion of many more men, who saw the death around them and wished to avoid it. -
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Vally Forge
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Charleston
Info The Battle of Chaleston took place over the course of amost a month and a half, an consisted of the British laying seige to American controlled Fort Charleston. This was one of the last battles in the American revoloution, and was a huge loss for the Americans. Although this battle would ammount to little in the result of the war, it was still the biggest loss of troops suffered by the Ameicans in the war. -
Yorktown
Info
In the Battle of Yorktown the Americans and the French surrounded the British, besigeing their position with the help of the French fleet. The British, lead by General Corwallis eventually surrendered to the Americans on October 19. This defeat made Britain rethink their priorities, and despite them still holding New York, Britian began to negotiate a peace treaty for American Independance. -
Treaty of Paris
Info and Document
This treaty resolved the revoloutinairy war, recognizing America independance from Britian. It granted all of the land that the thirteen colonies posessed to the United States, in exchange for better treatment of British loyalists. This treaty was very unfair, seeing as it gave America a larger country with more resources than the British or any other European power.