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French and English Enlightenment
The Enlightenment period gave new ideas of questioning traditional authority, and new rational type of thinking. It created a plethora of new books, inventions, discoveries, and revolutions, all sparked by the new ideas. The ideas sprouted out many new ideas, these ideas of liberty, progress, constitutional government, and rights, invoked the colonies to begin fighting for their independence, and sparked the American Revolution. -
George Washington
George Washington was first a soldier on the British side, and later became the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, leading the colonies to victories. George Washington was the highest commander of the Continental Army, working to help the colonies win their independence. Washington was able to win the war for the colonies, and later became the first president of the United States. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the ambassador of the colonies, and helped build up the alliance between France and the colonies. Jefferson's work withe France, to build and alliance between them, and bring in much needed help for the colonies. The colonies were struggling against the British, having a lack of equipment and funds, but with the French's help, they were able to change the tide of the war. -
John Locke (Social Contract & Natural Rights)
John Locke was a philosopher during the Enlightenment period, creating the idea of three natural rights of life, liberty and estate, and the social contract is the idea that the people gave their rights to the government so they could protect them. The ideas created by Locke lead to the colonist wanting their independence, and the want for their right to be protected in their new government. -
France Involvement In the American Revolutionary War
The French were allies of the Continental Army, by helping with supplies and provide them with much needed funds to win against the British. The French helped the colonist, since they were still unhappy with the results the British after the French and Indian War, so they helped out the colonist. The colonist were able to win the war due to the French, who provided them with much needed help after suffering many losses. -
The Battle Lexington & Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first battle of the American Revolution, where hundredths a British troops fight against minutemen, ending in a win for the British. The battle happened before the colonies had even declared independence and was considered a encouragement to the colonies to start the war. While many of the colonist died, so did many British troops, which showed Britain that the colonies were up for the fight. -
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention made by all 13 colonies to come together to fight the British and was an attempt by the colonies to begin a referral representative government. The Second Continental Congress led to the unification of the 13 colonies in the American revolution and provided a unified front for the Colonial Army, having a leaders as George Washington. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was a battle between colonist and the British, when colonist had learned the British were trying to occupy the hills surrounding Boston. Even though the battle was a lost against the British, the colonist were still able to kill about 1,000 men, when they themselves were only 1,000. The American troops saw this as a show that they could still possibly win against the British, even if they were less experienced and had less supplies. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a last ditch effort by the colonist to stop the war, asking Britain for a end to the war, proof of loyalty to the crown, and a recognition of their rights. King George III refused to even think over the propositions and rejected it completely, which prompted the colonist to continue on their war effort to gain independence and their given rights. -
Declaration Of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a declaration stating all of their reasons for seeking independence, and claim their independence as the separate nation, as the United States Of America. The unanimous declaration of the 13 colonies completely severe their ties with Great Britain, and confirmed the alliance between the French and the U.S. -
Battle Of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton was a battle fought between General Washington and Colonel Roll, where the Colonial army crossed the Delaware river in freezing to attack the unprepared Hessian force. In the end of the battle, the Colonial Army had won with seemingly little causalities compared to the British, who had most of their army captured, and the other larger part fleeing Trenton. The win helped encourage the troops that they could still win against the formidable enemy. -
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was fought only a few days after the Battle of Trenton, under the shadow of night, the Colonial Army fought against General Cornwallis. In the end the, U.S. troops were victorious, and were able to show they were able to fight the British troops on the normal field. The two battles helped show that Washington was able to successfully unite the troops, and lead a victorious raid against the British. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a two part battle, with the first part having fierce fight that lead to a many casualties on both sides, but no resolution, and the second part in Bemis Heights where the British army was forced to surrender. At the end of both parts, the American army came out victorious, which gave them an advantage in later battles, having cut off many of the supplies needed by the British, and their reinforcements. -
Valley Forge
The Valley Forge was a camp made in the cold, harsh winter in Pennsylvania near the capital of Philadelphia, but not close enough to be attacked. At the camp, Washington with the help of Prussian military officer Friedrich Wilhelm, were able to transform the Continental Army in to a unified, capable fighting force. The camp helped take the weary Continental Army into renewed troops withe a new confidence to fight the British troops. -
Spain Involvement In the American Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War, France and Spain were allies, so Spain ended up helping another ally of France, the U.S. The same way that the French helped the U.S. and it armies with much needed supplies and funds, so did Spain, even though they came more towards the end of the war, they still contributed to the war effort. -
Battle Of Cowpens
The Battle of Cowpens was a battle fought in the Southern United States, which were always struggling to fight against the British, and helped turn campaign in the south to a better point for the U.S. The Battle of Cowpens showed that the Colonial Army could fight the British without any need for surprises, or geography, to their advantage, and still win against them. -
Battle Of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last battle of the American Revolutionary War, having won against the British in a major fights, the colonist were able to rightfully claim independence. Since the Battle of Yorktown lead to the British losing 1/3 of its soldiers, Parliament called upon Britain to end the war. The remaining British soldiers lost their inspiration to continue to fight the colonist. -
Treaty Of Paris 1783
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 was signed by the American colonies and Great Britain, to end the American Revolutionary War, and for the United States to be recognized as it own independent nation. The treaty lead to the new recognized nation of the United States of America, who were given all the land to the east until the Mississippi, which was held by the British