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French and English Enlightenment
The British started to use logic, reasoning, and free thought over blind faith. They focused on human activities and beliefs so that their society could be better. The French used science to try to understand society. It did not apply their ideas of freedom to women sadly. This eventually led to the French revolution which was to help the poor people's rights. The enlightenment led to numerous books, poems, and works of art both from Britain and France. -
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John Locke Social Contract and Natural Rights
John Locke believed that people were naturally free and equal. He used this to push for his social contract which meant that in order to be part of a civilization you needed to give up some of your rights. For protection, comfort, and a stable government. He believed that you have natural born rights which were life, liberty, and property. -
Second Continental Congress
This was to manage the colonial war effort. The state was supposed to supply men, money, and supplies to help the war. Congress was unable to enact taxes upon the colonists so they lacked major funding. This was the governing body of the Colonies but there were glaring problems with it. -
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Thomas Jefferson
He wrote the Declaration of Independence. He served in the Virginia legislature and the Continental Congress. He never fought as a soldier. He also became the 3rd president later. He also later served as US minister to France and the US secretary of state, BUT this was later. -
Lexington and Concord
The first actual battle of the Revolutionary war. Hundreds of British soldiers marched to Concord in order to secure an army cache, but Paul Revere that dude who yelled "THE BRITISH ARE COMING" and a bunch of other dudes warned Concord and they got their militia together and under a lot of fire the British retreated! -
Bunker Hill
The colonists lost this battle, but they killed a lot of red coats. Now, this helped the colonists have confidence because their inexperienced army fought and killed a bunch of British soldiers. -
Olive Branch Petition
This was the final attempted to not go to war with Britain. This made the colonists actual British citizens with all the rights that came with being a British citizen. The king however already decided the colonists were at war with Britain. -
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George Washington
He was in charge of the colonial army! He helped lead them to victory. He was also elected president later but that's later. He helped win battles like the Battle of Trenton 1776b and the battle of Yorktown 1781. -
Declaration of Independence
We celebrate the fourth of July because of this! The Declaration of Independence was the document that made the colonists independent. Now of course just saying hey we aren't with you anymore isn't good enough but this shows to everyone else, that they aren't just apart of Britain anymore. They are their own entity. This shows the colonist's wants and hopes. This is how The United States of America was founded. This helped break all of the political bonds with the British -
Trenton
Washington defeated a garrison before withdrawing from the fight. A week later after he was forced to retreat he returned and led the British south he then used the night to ambush the British and he won. This helped the colonies regain control over New Jersey once again. This was a huge moral booster for the colonial army. -
Princeton
A week after the battle at Trenton George Washington ordered a few men to stay behind and tend some campfires to fooled the British into thinking that the soldiers weren't moving. They also muffled the wagon wheels. This way they could not have to face the whole British force. They only fought the end guard which they outnumbered 5 to 1. -
Saratoga
This includes two major battles that helped in turning the Revolutionary war on the side of the colonists. The battle of Quebec and the battle of Freemens farm. Both of these were victories and this also led to gaining an alliance with France for the colonies. -
Valley Forge
The soldiers were exhausted and short of supplies. They had just lost multiple battles and the patriot capital, Penn. Congress was even thinking of replacing George Washington. They built a fort. They used straw for bedding since they lacked blankets. They stayed in this fort for 6 months. This fort was 20 miles from Penn. They also trined while here. -
France treaty of Amity and Natural Rights
France officially allying themselves with the colonists. They recognized the US as an independent country. The traded and became allies against Britain. -
Spain
Spain goes to war with Britain. Not forming an exact alliance with the colonies but when two people are fighting the same thing even if they aren't directly working together it still becomes harder for the one thing to take on more. Spain joined France in the war against the British. -
Cowpens
This was a big turning point in confidence for the colonial army. They were able to fore the British to retreat which showed them that they had the power to fight the British and possibly win. They also outnumbered the British here. -
York Town
they were led by George Washington. This was the last major battle in the American Revolutionary war. France and the colonial army won the battle. This reinforced that George Washington was a great leader and this helped him get elected president later. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
This document ended the American Revolutionary war. They signed this nad gained a lot of western territories and was now recognized as an official country. GOOD JOB WE WON YAY