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First person shooter who fights battles in Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, and finally Yorktown for independence.
Summary of The American Revolution
Introduction:
The American Revolution was a war for independence fought by the British colonies in North America against Great Britain. Occurring from 1765 to 1783, members of the thirteen colonies of America denied the monarchy, British law, overthrew their rule, and established the United States of America. The American Revolution began on April nineteenth, 1775 at the battles of Lexington and Concord. A common misconception is that all the colonists were in favor for independence. When in reality, only one third of colonists wanted to leave Great Britain. The other two thirds either wanted to remain loyalists, or didn’t show any opinion. On July fourth, 1776, the thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain, officially naming themselves the United States of America. However, the fighting continued for over 7 more years until the Treaty of Paris was signed on September third, 1783.
Causes of the American Revolution:
Though the main contributing factor to the American Revolution was the British treatment of the colonies, there were lots of causes that pushed the colonists to fight for independence. The revolution began with two key events known to most historians as the Stamp Act and the French and Indian War. The Stamp Act, imposed by the British, required colonists to pay tax for documents, licenses, and other goods. The colonists did not take this lightly, and proceeded to rebel and attack British tax collectors. The colonists were not able to state that the taxes were too high, as they had no representation or voice in the British Parliament. However, Benjamin Franklin, a well known scholar and very important founding father testified in Parliament, stating that the new taxes and acts were unfair, and that the colonists were already providing massive contributions to the British defense. The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years war, played a major role in the the path to revolution. This duel between Great Britain and France over territorial claims in the Ohio River Valley upset many colonists. Although the British managed to defeat the French in 1763, they faced two main problems with the colonists. The first was the American expansion to the west of the colonies. Because of these attempts, Britain feared the rise of renewed conflict and military expenses. Already burdened with heavy debts, Britain tried to limit settler pressure on Amerindian lands and get colonists to shoulder more of the costs of colonial defense and administration. The second was related to the British Frontier Policy, which was an attempt to contain costs by reducing the price of fur, and by discontinuing the practice of the of giving gifts, which was performed by the French. However, this attempt was unsuccessful, as low fur prices forced the natives to hunt more aggressively, putting pressure on the environment and endangering some species. The Townshend Act of 1767, a series of taxes imposed by Parliament on glass, lead, paper, and tea, presented yet another economic problem. As for events which further pushed the revolution, one of the first was the Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre took place in the city of Boston in 1770, where tension over the presence of British Troops in the colonies led them to opening fire on a crowd of citizens, resulting in the death of four Bostonians. About three years later, in Boston, a significant event known as the Boston Tea Party occurred. This revolt was the act of a group of patriots known as the “Sons of Liberty” boarding a British Vessel and dumping its tea into the Boston Harbor as a form of Protest towards a very unwelcomed tea tax. One of the last important causes of the American Revolution was the First Continental Congress, which was formed for the purposes of drawing consensus within the colonies for action against the growing threat of British occupation.
The Effects of The American Revolution:
The outcomes of the American Revolution mostly came in the form of declarations, documents, and other political papers. The first of which, and one of the most important, is the Declaration of Independence, a document stating America’s break of British rules, and the reasons for it. The second is the Treaty of Paris, a document officially stating the surrender and loss of Great Britain in 1783. The next is the Articles of Confederation, which gave the states power, which was seen as too much, and was considered insufficient as a means of governing a nation. The Constitutional Convention followed this, and took place for about three months in 1787 in Philadelphia. Its purpose was to revise or shut down the Articles of Confederation. The Last and also one of the most important is the Bill of Rights. Though not the largest of documents, the Bill of Rights is still used today, and still remains dominant and unchangeable. It is the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution.
Key Figures of The American Revolution:
The American Revolution had many key figures, but some contributors gained more fame for their actions in the revolution than others. The first was person was King George III. As the ruler of Great Britain during the time before and of the revolution, he gained a lot of hatred from the colonists as he attempted to impose more taxes and get the colonists to contribute more to Great Britain. King George’s actions led to the Boston Tea Party in 1773. This also led to the revolutionary war from 1775 to 1781. Although the war was longer than it should have been, King George kept it going in order to prevent revolution elsewhere. He finally recognized American independence with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
John Adams also played a major role in the American Revolution. As a member of the founding fathers, he served as the first vice president, and the second president of the United States. As a lawyer prior to the revolution, he held plenty of respect and influence. He harshly stood against the Stamp Act, arguing that it was “taxation without representation.” Adams was the writer of the passed proposal to give each state an individual government, and was one of the people sent to Europe to negotiate the treaty of Paris. He was key in the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Although Adams helped to influence revolution in many ways he strongly believed it was most important for law to be respected and followed.
Benjamin Franklin, another founding father also gave great assistance on the path to revolution. Franklin was a respected scholar, writer, scientist, and inventor. He was of great assistance in the writing of the Declaration and in the ratification of the United States Constitution. Along with these achievements, he accompanied John Adams in going to Europe to create the Treaty of Paris.
One of the most important players in the American Revolution, was George Washington. Seen as the “father of our country”, Washington served as the major-general, and later the commander-in-chief of the revolutionary armies. Under his command, the colonists were able to win more battles against the British and win the war. Washington served as the first president of the United States, and also served as a delegate for the first two Continental Congresses. Washington has been and will be, the face of American history.
Famous for his role in the “Sons of Liberty” Samuel Adams, a Bostonian bartender, was one of the most aggressive advocates for revolution. As the cousin of John Adams, Samuel Adams was very much against the stamp act and other taxes forced upon him and the other colonists by the British. He was key in the organization of Boston protests and events, especially the Boston Tea Party and worked hand in hand with John Hancock. John Hancock inherited his shipping business from his uncle, who passed away at the time. A large portion of the wealth gained from this business was used to aid the revolutionary cause. Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence, and was governor of Massachusetts. Though he did not serve in the national government, he did serve as president of the continental congress from 1775-1777.
Lastly, Thomas Jefferson played an important part in the American Revolution. Elected as a delegate for the second Continental Congress in 1775, he was asked to draft the Declaration of Independence. He also served as third president of the United States.
Conclusion:
The American Revolution played a major role in both American and world history. The American Revolution marked the birth of a new country, and made a significant change in other countries such as Great Britain. The American Revolution began due to the mistreatment of the colonist, by the British; created a large, well known war; and ended creating one of the world's largest and most powerful countries today . Many of the key figures such as George Washington are still known today, along with many of the key events such as the Battle of Barren Hill. In a time of many revolutions, this one may have the most influential on present day life. Though it did not last very long, the American Revolution changed the world we live in today.
Works Cited:
Bulliet, Richard W. The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Print.