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John Locke
John Locke was a true American philosopher whose ideas shaped American's thoughts about religion and thinking. It is claimed that Locke was the founder of British Empiricism, since he liked to speak on limited, liberal government. Locke wrote an essay, "Essay Concerning Human Understanding," which shared his ideas about human knowledge and how it is gained. Not only was John Locke imfluential in religious toleration and government, but also in his campfire revivals. -
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was what you would call the ultimate man. Not only was Ben a founding father, but he was also a mathematician, a scientist, a freemason, a civic, an inventor, and even an author. Ben Franklin did many things in his life. However, the most important ones were the ones that helped lead to the revolution. Franklin was a part of the second continental congress, helped draft the Declaration of Independence, and negotiated the Treaty of Paris to end the Revolutionary War. -
George Washington
George Washington was a simple man, and almost unheard of until his small victories along the Ohio River. George Washington's first real service to America was to fight the battles of the French and Indian war along the Ohio river. The french were making forts so Americans would not colonize any farther west, so America fought back. Washington's role in the Revolution, however, is much more significant. Washington commanded the first continental army and eventually became the first president of -
Paul Revere
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Thomas Paine
Perhaps Thomas Paine's most significant role in shaping the american revolution was his article titled, "common sense," which advocated American independence and pride. He also released pamhplets like the "Age of Reason,' which inspired Americans to find themselves religiously. Paine inspired so many people in the revolutionary times, yet when he died,only six people attended his funeral due to their hate for his deist writings. -
Proclamation of 1763
The proclamation of 1763 was very important to Americans in the 1760s. Americans absolutely loved the proclamation. In fact, they loved the proclamation so much they essentially ignored it! Americans were supposed to, under this new 'law,' not cross the Appalachian mountains and settle west of them. This law was put in to place not only to protect the Americans, but to keep peace with what Indians were left on the continent. Overall, Americans refuted this 'law' and continued do what they wanted -
Sugar Act
On April 5, 1764, the Britain government passed a law that put taxes on sugar and mollasses. This tax was not very effective, however, because it reduced economic growth in essentially the whole globe. The sugar act had to be implemented due tot he large debt that Great Britain had racked up in the seven years war, also known as the French and Indian war. Britain did not expect America to pay all of the debt, but to at least help them out in apying it, even though America did not cause all debt. -
Stamp Act
The stamp act was a little more severe than the sugar act. While sugar was an ammenity, papers like news and stories and government documents were essential. This new stamp act put a huge damper on things in the United States. The stamp act not only enraged Americans, but caused them to rise up against Great Britain and form a secret service that played pranks on the British guards to show England they did not like what was going on with these taxes. Stamp act was also introduced to help debt -
Townshend Act
The purpose of the townshend acts were to raise revenue for Great Britain, due to their immense war debts. The main objects that the Townshend acts focused on were: Glass, tea, paper, lead, and paint. In reaction, many Americans took this as the final straw and it eventually led to the battle of Concord and Lexington. "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" were also written by a lawyer, John Dickinson, in order to relay some plain folks appeal to Americans. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
It is said that the Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first ones of the American Revolution. Shots were fired first at Lexington, and then later on in the day at Concord. The militamen were adament about seperating from Great Britain and they were determined to do just that. the Biritish suffered more casualties than the Americans, giving the united states a 1-0 victory against the British. This day was also the day Paul Revere shouted, "The British are coming, the British are coming!" -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle started atop a hill near Boston. The British army was headed towards the American forces, to which the Americans did not fire until they saw the whites of the British' eyes. In turn, a lethal barrage of musket fire was unleashed upon the British, causing them to retreat back. The British tried attacking again, but the same result occurred. In result, the Americans had won yet again, causing more casualties to the British than they suffered. Americans 2, Britain 0. -
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
While the article, "Common Sense," by Thomas Paine was written before the start of the Revolutionary war, it was not published until Feb. 14th, shortly after the war started. Even though it was published late, it still had a great effect on the citizens of America, inspiring them to take action in the war, and uprise against Great Britain. -
Battle of Saratoga
The first battle of Saratoga had the Americans meeting their demise and losing. it was now 2-1 in the Revolutionary war, but the Americans were about to change the course of history and overrun the British the rest of the way. Eighteen days after the first battle, Genereal Burgoyne attacked again, but miserably failed and led to his surrender, and a famous surender at that. The Americans had outsmarted the British and had won the battle. -
Battle of King's Mountain
The battle of King's Mountain saw immense and gruesome bloodshed. The British, led by Major Patrick Ferguson, met a thousand American frontiersman on October 7th, 1780. The British forces were led by many American loyalists and Lord Cornwallis' group. The loyalist militia ended up being completely slaughtered at the hands of Americans, after Ferguson attempted to be a hero and charge the American rebels. This battle not only boosted American pride but weakened British enthusiasm. -
Battle of Yorktown
The siege of Yourktown, or battle of Yorktown, is often regarded as one the most monumental fights in all of history. Just as Moses delivered his people from Egypt, America delivered itself from Britain's control into its own. With help from the French, Americans had surrounded the British in Yorktown and Cornwallis had said that the British were hopeless. The battle ended on October 17th, with the British waving a white handkerchief in submission. This led to the Treaty of Paris in September.
