The American Revolution

Facts about the American Revolution

Here are some crucial facts about the American Revolution:

Fig. 2 - First page of the Treaty of Paris, 1783.

1. The American Revolution was caused by the British implementing too much control and taxes over the North American colonies.
2. The American Revolution began on April 19th with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
3. The American Revolution ended at the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia in 1781 with a British defeat.
4. Occasional fighting remained until the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 when the British formally recognized the colonies as independent from Britain.
5. The American Revolution was considered a civil war between the colonies and the British Empire until international forces (France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands) became involved in early 1778.
6. The Americans fought with two distinct organizations, the Continental Army and the state militias. In contrast, the British Army boasted one steady flow of professionals.
8. Both the British Empire and the colonialists were occasionally aided by Native Americans who picked sides after the British banned colonialists from moving Westward.
9. Many African American slaves also volunteered (on both sides) to aid in the war but were rejected due to the fear of a slave insurrection.
10. The colonialist strategy of uncovering details of British plans before action helped them win the war with less military training than the British army. One of the most famous colonial correspondence groups was "The Sons of Liberty".
11. The outcome of the American Revolution was a combination of careless British mistakes, strong American efforts, and consistent French assistance.

Causes of the American Revolution

The American Revolution was caused by multiple implementations of unfair taxes by the British upon the American colonies to repay debt. Listed below are some examples.

The Sugar Act of 1764 - In an attempt to stop the smuggling of foreign-based products, the British implemented taxes on formerly duty-free imports. This also discouraged Americans from exporting products such as lumber, iron, and skins due to the complications of new paperwork and hefty fees through British ports.

The Stamp Act of 1765 - The British began taxing printed materials such as newspapers, legal documents, and advertisements within Britain and the colonies. Taxes were required to be paid in British currency and refused to accept colonial paper money.

The Townshend Act of 1767 - A series of acts that introduced new taxes and parliamentary powers over the colonies. Examples: The Revenue Act, The Restraining Act, and The Indemnity Act.

Battles of the American Revolution

Though there were many battles fought between the British Empire and the colonies during the Revolution, listed below are some of the most significant.

The Battle of Fort Ticonderoga, 1775 - Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allan, and the Green Mountain Boys attacked the British at Fort Ticonderoga during the night while they were asleep. The battle ended with the first big win for the colonialists; boosting morale and giving them access to more artillery early on in the war, granting them an upper hand.

The Battle of Lexington and Concord, 1775 - General Thomas Gage orders the British army to seize weapons and gunpowder from the colonialists but is met with extreme force. The battle claims the lives of approximately 393 men and once again the Americans win.

The Siege of Boston, 1775 - 1776 - Even after facing large amounts of loss at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Americans were still determined to take Boston back from the British. Upon securing around 50 cannons that were taken from Fort Ticonderoga, George Washington and his men bombarded the British within the city, forcing them to retreat after 8 years of occupation.

The Battle of Saratoga, 1777 - The British attempted to push south into the Hudson Valley from Canadian territory but found they were surrounded by colonial forces, who once again were one step ahead of them. The British were at a loss not only regarding casualties but an extremely limited supply of food. They surrendered on October 17th, leading to France and America signing a treaty against Britain.

The Battle of Monmouth, 1778 - After General Charles Lee admitted to not having faith in his command over the Continental Army, George Washington removed him from his standing and completely reset the troop's strategy. Along with the help of General Nathaniel Green, General William Alexander, and General Anthony Wayne, the colonialists were able to take back the state of New York from British control.

Fig. 3 - Drawing of the Battle of Monmouth, 1778.

Effects of the American Revolution

Aside from the British formally recognizing the colonies as independent of the Empire (and losing large amounts of money by doing so), America's relationship with the Natives worsened. Despite offering their help to both sides of the Revolution, treaties between the colonies and the Native people were severely neglected; Native people lost massive amounts of land with the continuation of settlers moving West.

Apart from the relationship with the Natives worsening, Northern states began to develop abolitionism and a new idea of equality. The North also began to take on new views regarding women's education (referred to as Republican Motherhood). Though the war claimed many lives on all sides, the conflict set the United States up to be the country it is today.