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John Locke
John Locke pushed the Americans to start the Revolution because of his writing called the "Second Treatise of Government". This Treatise included ideas of natural rights and a just government that can be abolished or altered if it does not protect the citizen's rights. This writing influenced the colonists that wanted wanted change and Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. -
French and English Enlightenment
The Enlightenment had a lot of major ideas that influenced the American revolution such as, the ideas of natural rights and equality for all citizens. The enlightenment was also a main cause of the French revolution, a lot of those ideas spread over to America and influenced the American Revolution, too. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was a part of the Virginia legislature, the Continental Congress, and he was also the governor of Virginia. During the revolution, Thomas Jefferson was a diplomat for France. Jefferson was never a soldier in the revolution, but he was making a lot of the decisions in congress and in the Virginia Legislature. Jefferson sent a list of charges to the Virginia Assembly that later influenced their new constitution. He later wrote the Declaration of Independence with five other men. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
These battles were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, and they were fought in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy, and Cambridge. These battles were a major win for the colonists, they showed the British that the colonists were not going to be taken down so easily. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that formed in Philadelphia in May 1775. Congress acted as a national government would during the war because they appointed ambassadors, signed treaties, raised armies, appointed generals, etc. They created the Continental Army from Boston Militia units, and they enacted the Olive Branch Petition. -
George Washington Himself
On June 15, the Continental Congress appointed Washington as their Commander of the soon Continental Army. He is most famously known for leading the colonial forces to victory over the British during the Revolution. He was apart of the First Continental Congress. Washington was not good at thinking of strategies to get through the war, but rather for motivating his soldiers. Even though his soldiers had no food or water, he somehow could keep them fighting. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle was fought mainly on Breed's Hill next to Bunker Hill. This battle was won by the British, and they took over the Charleston Peninsula. Even though the colonist's lost, their confidence and morale was boosted, it motivated them to keep fighting strong. The British also realized after this battle that the war would be long and tough against the Americans. -
The Olive Branch Petition
Written By John Dickinson, the Olive Branch Petition was written directly to King George III as a way for him to try and convince the king to reconcile and mend the colonies back with Great Britain before they went forward with the war. This petition was enacted by the Continental Congress, but the king did not even want to look at it. The Patriots blamed Parliament for this action and were enraged, the actions further pushed the war into action. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration was the first statement by a nation’s people asserting their right to choose their own government. The Declaration was written as a way for the colonies to completely separate politically from Britain. Written mainly by Thomas Jefferson, the declaration was a summary of why the colonists wanted their freedom, it starts with why they need independence from Britain and the body paragraphs include their grievances against the British. -
The Battle of Trenton
On December 26, Washington's forces struck the Hessian garrison in Trenton, the attack wounded their Col. Johann Rall, the Hessian commander, killed 22, wounded another 83, and led to the capture of more than 890 Hessian soldiers. The Americans won this battle and The victory reasserted American control of much of New Jersey, and it improved the morale and unity of the colonial army and militias after their summer of defeats and setbacks. -
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The Battle of Saratoga
This Battle was crucial for the Patriots during the American Revolution and is considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War. The battle was the push France needed to enter the war against Britain. It re-invigorating Washington's Continental Army and providing much-needed supplies and support. The British tried to take over New York to block off the southern colonies and end the war. The colonists won this battle at Bemis Heights and they forced Burgoyne to withdraw from N.Y. -
The Battle of Princeton
This battle was fought after the Battle of Princeton. Cornwallis, the British commander, arrived with his troops in Trenton on the evening of January 2 prepared to overwhelm Washington’s 5,000 exhausted Continentals and militia with his 8,000 Redcoats, but Washington was smarter and he outsmarted Cornwallis. Washington snuck around the British and beat them. After their victory, The Americans regained control of much of New Jersey, and their confidence was boosted. -
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Valley Forge
Valley Forge was fought in December after a lot of lost battles by the Americans, they had actually lost Philadelphia. The men set up camp and built log houses exactly 14 by 16, and some men had to use straw as bedding because of the lack of blankets. Their time at valley forge was full of severe cold weather, starvation, disease, and some men did not have proper clothes to wear. The men trained at Valley Forge and left trained with rejuvenated spirits and boosted confidence. -
Treaty of Amity and Commerce
The treaty saw the United States as an independent nation and encouraged trade between France and America, while the Treaty of Alliance provided for a military alliance against Great Britain. The French wanted to help the United States because of an appreciation of the American revolutionaries’ democratic ideals and because they did not like the British because of how much they lost to them in the French and Indian War. -
The Treaty of Alliance
The treaty was signed to create a military alliance between the United States and France against Great Britain. The French were convinced to form an alliance after the Americans won the battle of Saratoga. The revolution was won mainly because of the help from the French. -
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Spain
Spain declared war on Britain as an ally of France, which was an ally of America. The Spanish were important during the revolution because they supplied ammunition and supplies to the American forces. They were also important during the last battle in Yorktown because they gave gold and silver from Cuba to America for financial help. -
The Battle of Cowpens
This battle was fought just north of Cowpens, and it was the turning point for the South after they won. The south had just lost a lot of battles and was starting to become discouraged, but after their victory, the British were forced to retreat and the American confidence was boosted, they believed they could win the war. The Americans had minimal casualties while the British suffered 110 dead, over 200 wounded, and hundreds more taken prisoner. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The outcome in Yorktown, Virginia marked the conclusion of the last major battle of the American Revolution. After the battle, British General Lord Charles Cornwallis and his army surrendered the American force and its French allies. The Americans were able to make a surprise attack on the British and they fought them to the days leading up to Cornwallis' surrender on the 17th and on the 19th surrendered his men. The British parliament later passed a resolution to finally end the war. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty formally ended the Revolution. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay were the men that negotiated the peace treaty with the representatives of the king. In the Treaty, the British Crown recognized American independence and ceded most of its territory east of the Mississippi River to the United States. This expansion doubling the size of the new nation and paved the way for future westward expansion.
