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John Locke
He expressed the radical view that government is morally obliged to serve people, namely by protecting life, liberty, and property. He explained the principle of checks and balances to limit government power. He favored representative government and a rule of law, and denounced tyranny, and rebellion. These views were most fully developed in Locke’s famous Second Treatise Concerning Civil Government. Locke’s writings did much to inspire the libertarian ideals of the American Revolution. -
Benjamin Franklin
was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A renowned polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity.Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity. -
George Washington
Washington led his army against the British and their commander Sir William Howe. The "shot heard around the world" was fired at Lexington in 1774 and the War began. The Battle of Bunker Hill gave the Americans great confidence, soon challenged by the mighty British Army on Long Island, Harlem Heights, and White Plains, New York. He crossed the Delaware and found victory against the British in Trenton, New Jersey and later in Princeton, and lost the Battle of Brandywine. -
Nathanael Greene
Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, known for his successful command in the Southern Campaign, forcing British Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis to abandon the Carolinas and head for Virginia. When the war began, Greene was a militia private. He served in the Rhode Island assembly, y and fought with George Washington in the battles of Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Valley Forge. -
Henry Knox
Knox commanded the American artillery at many of the conflict’s most important encounters, including Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and Yorktown. He also made a major contribution by helping to create a national arsenal at Springfield, Massachusetts, a facility that did much for the war effort by producing new arms and repairing old pieces. At the end of the war, Knox became the commander at West Point and remained at the post until the British fully withdrew. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Early in the Revolutionary War, the British defeated the Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts. Despite their loss, the inexperienced colonial forces caused mishap against st the enemy, and the battle provided them with an important confidence boost. Although it is called the Battle of Bunker Hill, most of the fighting occurred on Breed’s Hill. Major General Howe, one of the three generals sent from Britain to assist General Gage, was given the command. -
Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years’ War between Great Britain and France, as well as their respective allies. In the terms of the treaty, France gave up all its territories in mainland North America, effectively ending any foreign military threat to the British colonies there. It was signed by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement, after Britain's victory over France and Spain during the Seven Years' War. -
Stamp Act
The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. Ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards were taxed. The money collected by the Stamp Act was to be used to help pay the costs of defending and protecting the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains. What made the law so offensive to the colonists was not so much its immediate cost but the standard it set. -
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was most likely organized in the summer of 1765 as a means to protest the passing of the Stamp Act of 1765. Their motto was, “No taxation without representation.” By November 6, a committee was set up in New York to correspond with other colonies. Another example of the violence they committed could be found in their treatment of a local stamp distributor, Andrew Oliver. They burned his effigy in the streets, and were also responsible for th burning of the Gaspee in 1772. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act, launch the final spark to the revolutionary movement in Boston. The act was not intended to raise revenue in the American colonies, and in fact imposed no new taxes. It was designed to prop up the East India Company which was floundering financially and burdened with pounds of unsold tea. This tea was to be shipped directly to the colonies, and sold at a bargain price. Colonists in Philadelphia and New York turned the tea ships back to Britain, and led to the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party, served as a protest against taxation. Merchants in Boston refused to subside to Patriot pressure. On the night of December 16, 1773, Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty boarded three ships in the Boston harbor and threw 342 chests of tea overboard. When British tea ships arrived in Boston harbor, many citizens wanted the tea sent back to England without the payment of any taxes, while the royal governor insisted on payment of all taxes. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
kicked off the American Revolutionary War (1775-83). Tensions had been building for many years between residents of the 13 American colonies and the British authorities, particularly in Massachusetts. Hundreds of British troops marched from Boston to nearby Concord in order to seize hidden weapons. Paul Revere and other riders sounded the alarm, and colonial militiamen began geting together to fight the Redcaots, and soon, they retreated and surrendered. -
Battle of Trenton
General Washington guessed that the Hessians would probably be celebrating Christmas. He thought the Hessians wouldn't expect the weak Continental Army to attack in the cold weather. Three groups of soldiers crossed the Delaware in boats during different times through the night. When they reached the other side, early in the morning on December 26, 1776, the Continental Army led by Washington joined together and attacked the Hessians, who were still sleeping and drunk from their celebrations. -
Battle of Brandywine
As the British approached Philadelphia from the Chesapeake, Washington placed his troops along the Brandywine River to guard the main fords. Superior tactics and better knowledge of the area allowed the British to outwit Washington and his army. Congress abandoned Philadelphia and moved first to Lancaster and then to York to escape before the British takeover. Washington responded cautiously after the battle. The impending loss of Philadelphia hurt the patriot cause, and to Washington's forces -
Battle of Saratoga
The BATTLE OF SARATOGA was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. John Burgoyne achieved a small, but costly victory over American forces led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold. Though his troop strength had been weakened, Burgoyne again attacked the Americans at Bemis Heights on October 7th, but this time was defeated and forced to retreat.The British surrendered ten days later, and the American victory convinced the French government to formally recognize the colonist’s cause and enter.
