...Washington’s Crossing by David Hackett Fischer CONCLUSION ~ The War and the American Revolution We have a very difficult card to play. We often have to act by the moon or twilight and leave the World to judge it in the clear sunshine. -General William Maxwell to Adam Stephen, April 10, 17771 On New Year’s Day in 1777, Robert Morris sent George Washington a letter that rings strangely in a modern ear. “The year 1776 is over,” Morris wrote. “I am heartily glad of it and hope you nor America will ever be plagued with such another.” Washington shared that feeling, which was very far from our own. We celebrate 1776 as the most glorious year in American history. They remembered it as an agony, especially the “dark days” of autumn.2 Americans have known many dark days, from the starving times in early settlements to the attack on the World Trade Center. These were the testing times and the pivotal moments of our history. It was that way in 1776, after the decision for independence and the military disasters in New York. In early December, British commanders believed that they were very close to ending the rebellion, and American leaders feared that they might be right. Then came a reversal of fortune, and three months later the mood had changed on both sides. By the spring of 1777, many British officers had concluded that they could never win the war. At the same time, Americans recovered from their despair and were confident that they would not be defeated...
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...of the American Revolution- Quotes Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. Samuel Adams, essay in The Public Advertiser, 1749 "I cannot but lament . . . the impending Calamities Britain and her Colonies are about to suffer, from great Imprudencies on both Sides -- Passion governs, and she never governs wisely -- Anxiety begins to disturb my Rest." Benjamin Franklin, 1775 "Every kind of of service, necessary to the public good, becomes honorable by being necessary." Nathan Hale, when his friend, Captain William Hull, was accused of crossing enemy lines, 1776 I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. Nathan Hale, before being hanged by the British, September 22, 1776 ". . .In defence of the freedom that is our birthright. . .we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the agressors, and all danger of their being renewed shall be removed, and not before." John Hancock, In his pamphlet, Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of taking up Arms, July 6, 1775. From Revolution to Reconstruction "The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, New Englanders are no more. I AM NOT A VIRGINIAN, BUT AN AMERICAN!" Patrick Henry "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death." Patrick Henry "The cement of this union is in the heart blood of every American." Thomas...
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...freedom. Washington was well aware that the Spanish Crown held a vast amount of territory throughout the Americas, from Patagonia to Alaska, and that the Spanish had been present in the New World for centuries. Washington understood that not only had Spanish explorers and missionaries shed their blood and made great sacrifices during those years, but that Spain had also contributed money and manpower to the American Revolution. The revolt against the British Crown was possible thanks, in part, to the funds sent by Spain and the participation of the Spanish in the New World. There were Spanish settlements from Mexico to Alaska, including many in what are today the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, to name just a few. Spain clandestinely helped the colonists until war was formally declared on England in June, 1779. This aid began before the promulgation of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Spanish Count of Aranda met with Benjamin Franklin, Silas Dean and Arthur Lee at the Continental Congress and gave his total support to the colonialists’ cause. Spain then made use of its territories in...
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...the war exposed and worsened the major differences between British and American goals. Inspired in part by the American Revolution, and by the Enlightenment philosophers, the Declaration was a core statement of the values of the French Revolution and had a major impact on the development of freedom and democracy, in Europe and...
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...The American Revolution American History 2010 March 5,2013 Mr. Miller By Veronica Martinez In regards to the numerous successful Revolutions that have occurred, they all share in common a broad general pattern, causes and characteristics. The American Revolution to a certain extent aligned with this broad pattern and had some identical causes and characteristics. In regards to the preliminary and advanced symptoms of revolutions, the American Revolution exhibited characteristics of discontent and the creation of mobs that was in response to taxes imposed upon them by the British government. The steps that followed although displaying characteristics and causes that identify with revolutions, digresses from the general pattern. The Declaration of Independence, Battle of Saratoga and Siege of Yorktown though somewhat associating themselves with their respective step within the broad pattern, for best part does not fit in with the overall pathology. The American Revolution displayed that certain stages matched with the broad general pattern and throughout its duration exhibited characteristics and causes normally attributed to revolutions. Other parts of the Revolution however tended to deviate from the generally accepted pattern. As a prelude before the Revolution itself, there were already preliminary symptoms of unrest within America that followed the first step in the general pattern of revolutions...
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...The American Revolution evokes a romantic image of hard working patriots fighting against the British for their freedom whilst establishing what it means to be American. The actual revolution was very different, while the Americans fought for freedom against the British, the Americans only wanted to keep their rights as British citizens. Women and slaves joined in on the fight for freedom; however, they were simply looking for the same rights as their white, male counterparts. Essentially, the American Revolution was nothing radical, the revolution was just different groups of Americans fighting for preexisting rights that they each believed that they deserved. The early colonists in America had very onerous lives. They had to build an entire...
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...University of Phoenix Material Causes and Outcomes of the Revolution Part 1: Causes Complete the grid by describing each pre-war event and explaining how it contributed to the Revolutionary War. |Pre-war event |Description |Contribution to the Revolutionary War | |French and Indian War|Also known as the Seven Years’ War, this New World conflict marked another |The French and Indian War helped lead to the Revolutionary War in two ways. | | |chapter in the long imperial struggle between Britain and France. When France’s | | | |expansion into the Ohio River valley brought repeated conflict with the claims |First funding this war lead to a huge national debt for Great Britain, which they felt | | |of the British colonies, a series of battles led to the official British |the Americans should help pay. Parliament decided to service the debt by passing the | | |declaration of war in 1756. Boosted by the financing of future Prime Minister |stamp act, a terrible failure that angered citizens on both sides of the Atlantic, which | | |William Pitt, the British turned the tide with victories at Louisbourg, Fort |started the rift...
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...Born: Samuel Adams was born on September 27, 1722 in Boston, Massachusetts. Died: He died on October 2, 1803. Interesting Fact: Before he became fully invested in the Revolutionist cause, Adams attended Harvard to study law; however, after graduating, he attempted to become a brewer and later a newspaper publisher. After failing at both potential careers, he returned to his main course of study, law, realizing that local politics was his forte. Three Major Events in US History that took place during Adams’ Lifetime: The French and Indian War occurred, a major source of discontent that contributed to the American Revolution. Such discontent was the result of the Royal Proclamation 1763, as well as taxes placed on colonists to help pay off...
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...The American Revolution began for many reasons. In the course of history there has always been one event that lead to another in our history the French and Indian War (aka 7 year War) was believe to have helped cause to the American Revolution War this was the roots. This was an economic, social, political issue. The War was for the land of Canada and 13 colonies to increase empire expansion. Britain and France rivalry came to the point to requiring American colonies since that was the case the colonies needed Britain's protection. The war ended in France losing all of its land in North America and Canada except two small island. After the war it so happen that the colonists started to desire freedom & independence. The French and Indian War had changed the relationship between Great Britain and the 13 colonies which made them from a close relationship to a more distance one. Before the war, Great Britain was very wealthy from the colonies through the economic theory of mercantilism and all the abusive acts such as the Stamp Act, Tea Act, and others. After the French and Indian Wars was over the colonists had a sense that they should obtain more independence and a goal they should accomplish. Since France was no longer a threat to Britain in America, Britain found that the colonists were demanding more freedom and would probably want to have their own rules. The British did not want that after all they've fought for in the war in order to retain control of America. They become...
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...Five factors must be considered when discussing the causes of the American Revolutionary War. In July 1776, American colonists, who 13 years before, had considered themselves loyal Englishmen, took the unprecedented step of seeking a political separation from the British Empire. A “perfect storm” of economics, politics, society, philosophy, and communication technology helped create a situation in which it was possible for the colonies to not only separate from the empire but create a functioning government to take the place of the one from which they had separated. Economically, the colonies and England were extremely close. The colonies provided a source of raw materials for the Empire as well as a marketplace to sell goods produced by...
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... when the Peace of Paris formally ended the Seven Years’ War. Since the late seventeenth century, their lives had been disrupted by a series of wars between Britain and the “Catholic Powers,” France and Spain. Now, however, a triumphant Britain took title to Spanish Florida, French Canada, and all of Louisiana east of the Mississippi. With the British flag flying over so much of the North American continent, the colonists looked forward to a time of uninterrupted peace, expansion, and prosperity. Deeply proud of the British victory and their own identity as “free Britons,” they neither wanted nor foresaw what the next two decades would bring—independence, revolution, and yet another war. Independence The Seven Years’ War had left Great Britain with a huge debt by the standards of the day. Moreover, thanks in part to Pontiac’s Rebellion, a massive American Indian uprising in the territories won from France, the British decided to keep an army in postwar North America. Surely the colonists could help pay for that army and a few other expenses of administering Britain’s much enlarged American empire. Rather than request help from provincial legislatures, however, Britain decided to raise the necessary money by acts of Parliament. Two laws, the Sugar Act (1764) and the Stamp Act (1765), began the conflict between London and America. The Sugar Act imposed duties on certain imports not, as in the past, to affect the course of trade—for example, by making it more expensive for colonists...
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...The colonist declared their independence in 1776 from Great Britain because they felt that they had been treated unfairly. One of the main reasons that the colonist felt mistreated was because they were being taxed by Britain without any representation in Parliament. To show Great Britain how much they hated taxation without representation the colonist refused to purchase English goods that they felt were being unfairly taxed. Some of these goods included printed-paper, tea, and clothes. One of the most famous protests was the Boston Tea Party. At the Boston Tea Party colonist, dressed as Mohawk Indians, dumped English Tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the high tax that had been placed on tea. Because of this, King George III closed...
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...Based upon the merciless rule of England and its unjust treatment of the 13 colonies, to imprison America’s founders is not only groundless, but unlawful. The men being held captive, George Washington, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Hancock; are American, therefore free from punishment of crimes that occurred on American soil. The charges against these revolutionists are without proper evidence and support. It is a travesty in the name of justice to misinterpret the intensions of these men without first acknowledging the possibility of their innocence in collaboration with the causes and events leading up to the initial incarceration. This was not a revolution of desperate lower class minorities with nothing to lose. The people behind the revolution were wealthy, educated, opinionated politicians; all of whom, in agreement of the fact that there was no other option rather than to risk everything for the freedom they rightfully deserved. George...
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...American Revolution Section one American Revolution dates back to the early colonial years. During the stat of the year 1650, Great Britain began to control, limit and restrict their American colonists by forcing them to follow and adhere to some of harsh rule such as the Navigation Act. This restriction took effect alongside many more restrictions. Thus between the year 1650 and 1776, a number of the colonists found it difficult to enjoy freedom and finally they opted to unite and rebel against their home country. Among the causes of revolution were high taxation, legacy in political issues and general restriction of civil liberals. All these added up to the strong forces that propelled the colonists to revolve. This section is going to answer the big question whether or not the American Revolution was successful and the major reasons behind the success. To start with, the American Revolution was indeed successful. Several aspects highly contributed to this success. Americans were under what we can describe as the strongest and one of the most stable leadership ever in the region. For instance, they were led by people like General Washington George who were extremely skilled and mastered the entire terrain of the country. The Britain forces came from across the Atlantic Ocean and they had no prior knowledge and experience of the American revolutionaries combat. In addition, the British had a general problem of transporting and supplying their equipment across the large Atlantic...
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...Today, Benedict Arnold is considered a traitor to the U.S, but he could have been a war hero like George Washington during the American Revolution. Benedict Arnold was first seen as an hero but soon changed after he decided to become a Red Coat. Benedict Arnold won many battles for the Americans which brought them to defeat the British. Benedict Arnold was elected to the position of captain in the Connecticut militia in 1775. At the outbreak of the war, Arnold participated in the capture of the British garrison of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775. The capture of Fort Ticonderoga was the first big battle the US had won. As the first rebel victory of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga served as a morale booster and provided key artillery for the Continental Army in the first year of war. Cannons captured at Fort Ticonderoga...
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