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Battle of Lexington and Concord
On this day in history, British General Thomas Gage sent 700 British soldiers to find and destory an ammunitions stockpile hidden in Concord. Samuel Adams and John Hancock were outlaws to the British and were also under arrest if they were found. When the British arrived, however, the ammunitions were gone. The American Revolution began when the first shot (also known as 'the shot heard 'round the world) was fired at the battle in Lexington, Massachusetts. -
Second Continental Congress
A convention in Philadelphia that the 13 colonies sent delegates to soon after the fighting broke out in the war. The congress formed the continental army, naming George Washington its general, and discuessed what the next steps were. It acted as what would later be recognized as the American government. A notable difference between the two congresses was Benjamin Franklin's appearance, having not attended the first because of his strong belief in staying loyal to the British. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
American Militia Patriots controlled Bunker Hill near Boston. News came that the British planned on attacking, so the Patriots stayed up all night to build fortifications that they could hide behind. They were told 'not to fire until they saw the whites of their (the British's) eyes' due to the face that they were understocked on ammo. The British won technically after the Patriots retreated, but it proved that the Americans might stand a chance if it wasn't for their poor supplies. -
States Change Constitutions
In May of 1776, the Second Continental Congress urged the states to reject royal authority and establish republican governements. Within 6 months, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania had all ratified new constitiutions and Connecticut and Rhode Island had changed their colonial charters to not include references to the king anymore. -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson and approved by the Second Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence states all grievances of the American Colonies against the British Crown. The document declares the colonies' independence from their motherland, and is clear in their reasons why so as to let other countries know as well. -
Battle of Long Island
New York was one of the centers for all communication in the colonies, and the British soon realized this. General Washington marched his troops from Boston to New York, in which the British attacked and won, forcing Washington to cross the East River into Manhattan. Washington had to retreat yet again, crossing the Hudson River into New Jersey. By December, was pushed across Delaware and into Pennsylvania. -
Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
Controversial constitution that created a unicameral legislature with complete power; there was no governor to excercise a veto. They abolished land ownership as a qualification to vote, and granted all taxpaying men the right to vote. -
Thoughts on Government
John Adams published Thoughts on Government in order to counter the appeal of the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776. In the treatise, he adapted the British Whig theory of mixed government to a republican society. To disperse authority and preserve liberty, he insisted on separate institutions: legislatures would make laws, executives would administer them, and the judiciary would enforce them. Also included bicameral house with an upper house. -
Battle of Trenton
George Washington led his Continental Army across the frozen Delaware river at 5 in the morning on Christmas. It was a rule of a 'gentleman's war' not to fight during the severe cold, but desperate for an offensive tactic, Washington attacked and captured the Hessian (Germans hired to fight for the British) garrison at Trenton, New Jersey. This is where the famous river crossing painting comes from. -
Battle of Brandywine
At Brandywine Creek, British General William Howe attempted to cut Pennsylvania out of the war by attacking Washington's troops 25 miles from the colonist's capital of Philadelphia. It would've destroyed the colonist's morale and also severed the north from the south as a part of Howe's plan. However, the British failed to destroy Washington's army or cut it off from Philadelphia. -
Battle of Saratoga
General Burgoyne's, the British commanding officer in Saratoga, New York, arrogance led to the rebel's victory against him. He was used to sophisticated living, so he retired early each day and his troops ate/drank convienently. Low on supplies and troops, Burgoyne never received reinforcements (due to Britain's plan to cut of NE failing) and was eventually overwhelmed by many skirmishes and forced to surrender at Saratoga in October. -
Articles of Confederation Issued
AoC was the first constitution of the United States. It specified how the federal government should function and run, and is responsible for the name 'United States of America'. It was created by the state representatives at the Second Continental Congress. Was able to create war/peace, but did not have the rights to institute taxes. Needed 9 out of 13 votes in order to change something in it. Ended up being useless for running the government. -
Winter in Valley Forge
While General Howe's British army was living comfortably in Philadelphia, General Washington's American troops were freezing to death 20 miles away at Valley Forge. 12,000 soldiers began the winter together, but only 8,000 remained by the time Spring came around. During this time, Baron von Steuben, a former Prussian military officer, trained the troops and made them more professional. -
Treaty of Alliance (France Enters War)
Comte de Vergennes, the French foreign minister at the time, persuaded King Louis XVI to provide the colonies with a secret loan and needed gunpowder. After Saratoga, Vergennes sought a formal alliance. The alliance gave the Americans their much-needed money, supplies, troops, and offered up a new problem to Great Britain: an international war that could uproot its dominion of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. -
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Britain's Southern Strategy
Sir Henry Clinton launched a seaborne attack on Savannah, Georgia. With troops commanded by Colonel Archibald Campbell, the town was captured in December 1778. Campbell moved inland and captured Augusta in early 1779, and by the end of the year British controlled all of coastal Georgia. In May 1780, Clinton took Charleston, South Carolina, and its garrison of 5,000 troops which led to the takeover of South Carolina. More African Americans fled to freedom there. -
Spain Enters War
Through the Treaty of Aranjuez, Spain officially signed an alliance with France against the British. France agreed to help in the capture of Gibraltar, the Floridas, and the island of Minorca (all places that the Spanish had lost). In return, the Spanish agreed to join in France’s war against Great Britain, otherwise known as the American Revolution. -
Philipsburg Proclamation
The Philipsburg Proclamation declared that any slave who deserted a rebel master would receive protection, freedom, and land from Great Britain. Around 30,000 African Americans took refuge behind British lines. This cause a significant problem for the Amercians because slaves operated the plantations that their armies were surviving off of, ontop of slaves also partaking in the fighting. -
France Sends Troops
month and day unknown
Marquis de Lafayette, a republican-minded European aristocrat, got France to dispatch troops to the Americas. 5,500 men and Gerneral Comte de Rochambeau were sent to Newport, Rhode Island. Their presence threatened and terrified the British who were holding New York City. -
Battle of Cowpens
General Daniel Morgan led an American force to a bloody victory at Cowpens, South Carolina. This battle was a part of Washington's mission to take back control over South Carolina which the British held. -
Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown
Lord Cornwallis surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown when his 9,500 man army was surrounded and outnumbered 2-to-1 on land and he was cut off from reinforcement or retreat by sea. This surrender marked the American and French victory over the British. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
The Treaty of Paris of 1783 was finally signed, signalling the official, legal end to the American Revolution. Britain recognized America's independence, and ceded a large amount of land to the thirteen colonies. France had it's own negotiations with Britain for their participation on America's behalf. -
Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was a revolt against taxes imposed by an unresponsive government. It resembled the American resistance to the British Stamp Act. The Massachusetts legislature passed the Riot Act to subdue the rebellion. The rebellion failed, but it showed that the new government they had now merely replaced the prior British one with no improvement. -
Philadelphia/Constitutional Convention
55 delegates from the states arrived in Philadelphia, everywhere except Rhode Island (who opposed central authority). John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were absent due to being ministers to Britain and France respectively. Sam Adams was rejected due to his opposition and Patrick Henry refused to come. George Washington presided, and decided to not revise the AoC but instead consider new options. -
The 2 Plans at the Convention
At the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, the delegates considered 2 plans: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan, written by James Madison, had a powerful national government (WITH ability to veto state laws), and based the lower house off of population. The NJ Plan was the opposite; unicameral and pro-state's rights. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Created the territories that would eventually become the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The ordinance also prohibited slaery and earmarked funds from land sale for the support of schools. Also specified that would appoint a new governor and judges to each territory until the population grew. -
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise consisted of these points for the constitution:
-bicameral legislature (lower house based off of population determined every 10 years, upper house made of 2 members from every state)
-no property requirment for voting in national elections
-a national and state judiciary system
-states would elect upper house members and those whom would choose the president
-agreed upon 3/5ths compromise -
Constitution Ratified
Constitution was ratified on the promise of the creation of a Bill of Rights. (11 states out of 13)
