what was the general course of the revolutionary war

Full Answer

What was the Revolutionary War?

The Revolutionary War was an insurrection by American Patriots in the 13 colonies to British rule, resulting in American independence. Lead Up to the Revolutionary War.

What is the best history book about the Revolutionary War?

The Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War: A Political, Social, and Military History (ABC-CLIO, 2006) 5 volume paper and online editions; 1000 entries by 150 experts, covering all topics Frey, Sylvia R. The British Soldier in America: A Social History of Military Life in the Revolutionary Period (University of Texas Press, 1981).

What did the Continental Army do in 1775?

In June, the Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington to create a Continental Army and oversee the capture of Boston (April 19, 1775 – March 17, 1776). The Patriots sent the Olive Branch Petition (signed July 8, 1775) to the King and Parliament, both of whom rejected it. In response, they invaded British Quebec but were repulsed.

Why was the Revolutionary War important?

The Revolutionary War, was one of the most significant events in American history. Without it, the United States of America may not have come into existence. Read on and learn why it happened, and learn about key events of the revolution.

What was the general course of the American Revolution?

The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), gaining independence from the British Crown, establishing the constitution that created the United States of America, the first modern constitutional liberal democracy.

What started the Revolutionary War?

In April 1775 British soldiers, called lobsterbacks because of their red coats, and minutemen—the colonists' militia—exchanged gunfire at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. Described as "the shot heard round the world," it signaled the start of the American Revolution and led to the creation of a new nation.

What were the 3 main causes of the revolutionary revolution?

Here are 6 key causes of this momentous period in American history.Seven Years War (1756-1763) ... Taxes and Duties. ... Boston Massacre (1770) ... Boston Tea Party (1773) ... Intolerable Acts (1774) ... King George III's Speech to Parliament (1775)

Who really won the Revolutionary War?

The United StatesRevolutionary WarStart:April 19, 1775Key Turning Point:Battle of SaratogaLast Major Battle:Siege of YorktownEnd:September 3, 1783Winner:The United States1 more row

Who fired first shot in Revolutionary War?

Someone fired--no one knows who fired first--and eight minutemen were killed and another dozen or so were wounded. Then the British marched on Concord and destroyed what was left of the store of guns and powder, most of which had been hastily removed by the patriots.

What was the American Revolution?

In many ways then, the American Revolution was an experiment: an experiment which overthrew the rule of a foreign power; an experiment which defeated the world’s most powerful military; and an experiment which laid the groundwork for a nation attempting to create itself.

Who was the British general who fought in the Civil War?

Undeterred, the British army under General Charles Lord Cornwallis then moved across North Carolina before fighting its way into Virginia. While General Cornwallis fought his way into Virginia, a brutal civil war erupted among the civilian population of the Carolinas.

What was the name of the colony that Washington moved the Continental Army to?

By the summer of 1781, Virginia was ablaze with battles along the colony’s coast and across its center. As General Marquis de Lafayette doggedly forced Cornwallis toward the coastal defenses around Yorktown, Virginia, he persuaded Washington to move the Continental Army from Connecticut to Virginia.

What happened in 1776?

By the early spring of 1776, the war had expanded to other regions. At Moore’s Creek in North Carolina and Sullivan’s Island at Charleston, American forces stopped British invasions. After initial successes, particularly the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York, an American invasion of Canada stalled and ended in failure at the end ...

What city did the British take in 1776?

After a series of five consecutive defeats for Washington’s army at Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains, Fort Lee, and Fort Washington, the British captured New York City in the summer of 1776. Following the capture of the city, the British drove Washington’s army across New Jersey, winning several additional battles along their advance.

What was the relationship between Great Britain and her colonies?

For the better part of the 17th and 18th centuries, the relationship between Great Britain and her North American colonies was firm, robust, and peaceable. The colonies enjoyed a period of “salutary neglect”; meaning that the colonial governments were more or less able to self-govern without intervention from Parliament.

Why did the British focus on conquering the South?

In 1779, with fighting on a global scale and a stalemate developing in the North, the British began to focus their efforts on conquering the South, in hopes of quelling the rebellion once and for all.

Who was the French general who fought in the Revolutionary War?

The Marquis de Lafayette was French, but he fought in the Revolutionary War as a general and an aide and friend to General Washington. General Daniel Morgan was a general in the Revolutionary War, a talented battlefield tactician, and a politician.

Who was the British commander in chief during the American Revolution?

General Thomas Gage fought in the Siege of Boston, The Battles at Lexington and Concord, and many others before being replaced by Howe. William Howe is the other British Commander-in-Chief during the American Revolution. He captured New York and Philadelphia.

Who was the German-born officer in the Prussian army who volunteered his services in the Continental army?

fooon von Steuben was a German-born officer in the Prussian army who volunteered his services in the Continental army. His “blue book” and training methods revolutionized the American army’s methods. Artemas Ward was a Major General in the Continental army who went on to have a political career after the war.

Who was the British general who led the French and Indian wars?

British Generals. Edward Braddock ’s famous fall, next to then Colonel George Washington, during the French and Indian War helped lead to the War for Independence. John Burgoyne returned to England in disgrace after surrendering at the Battle of Saratoga.

Who was the leader of the American Revolution?

General Charles Lee was a leader during the American Revolution. He was second-in-command to General George Washington, and famously believed that he ought to have been given leadership of the army. He criticized Washington’s decisions and openly attacked his reputation. He was eventually dismissed from the army.

Who was the General who was a controversial figure who campaigned unsuccessfully to replace Washington as commander-in-

General Horatio Gates, public domain image. Horatio Gates : a controversial figure who campaigned unsuccessfully to replace Washington as commander-in-chief, then disappeared from the war after being routed by British forces at Camden in 1780.

Where did Lincoln fight?

Benjamin Lincoln fought all over the United States from northern New York and Massachusetts down to Charleston. He took part in many battles, losing some, but was finally able to oversee the surrender of the British at Yorktown.

When did the American Revolutionary War start?

For origins and aftermath, see American Revolution. full list... full list... The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or the American War of Independence, was initiated by delegates from thirteen American ...

Which country won the most battles in the first half of the American Revolution?

American Revolution principal campaigns. British movement in red, Americans in blue. The timeline shows the British won most battles in the first half; Americans won most in the second half.

What were the colonies' legislative assemblies called?

Dominated by smaller landowners and merchants, these Assemblies now established ad hoc provincial legislatures, variously called Congresses, Conventions, and Conferences, effectively replacing Royal control. With the exception of Georgia, twelve colonies sent representatives to the First Continental Congress to agree on a unified response to the crisis. Many of the delegates feared that an all-out boycott would result in war and sent a Petition to the King calling for the repeal of the Intolerable Acts. However, after some debate, on September 17, 1774, Congress endorsed the Massachusetts Suffolk Resolves and on October 20 passed the Continental Association; based on a draft prepared by the First Virginia Convention in August, this instituted economic sanctions against Britain.

How many states were involved in the American Revolutionary War?

War breaks out. As the American Revolutionary War unfolded in North America, there were two principal campaign theaters within the thirteen states, and a smaller but strategically important one west of the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River and north to the Great Lakes.

What was the name of the war between the French and Indians?

The French and Indian War and the wider conflict known as the Seven Years' War ended with the 1763 Peace of Paris, which expelled France from North America. At the same time, the British rescinded provisions of colonial charters claiming to extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific; the Mississippi River became the dividing line between British and Spanish possessions in the Americas, with free navigation on it "to the open sea". More American territory changed hands in 1763 than any settlement before or after, destabilizing existing alliances and trade networks, and leading to conflict between settlers and American Indians.

How were the colonies governed?

Although directly administered by the Crown, acting through a local Governor, the colonies were largely governed by native-born property owners. While external affairs were managed by London, colonial militia were funded locally but with the ending of the French threat in 1763, the legislatures expected less taxation, not more. At the same time, the huge costs of the Seven Years' War meant Parliament expected the colonies to fund their own defense. The outcome was a series of disputes as to how these expenses should be paid.

What was the name of the war that took place in 1775?

Gulf Coast. Yorktown. Naval. The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or the American War of Independence, was initiated by delegates from thirteen American colonies of British America in Congress against Great Britain over their objection to Parliament's taxation policies and lack ...

What was the American Revolution?

American Revolution, also called United States War of Independence or American Revolutionary War, (1775–83), insurrection by which 13 of Great Britain ’s North American colonies won political independence and went on to form the United States of America. The war followed more than a decade of growing estrangement between ...

What made the American Revolution look like a civil war?

What made the American Revolution look most like a civil war, though, was the reality that about one-third of the colonists, known as loyalists (or Tories), continued to support and fought on the side of the crown. Learn more about loyalists. Read about the fate of the loyalists after the American Revolution.

What was the British attempt to assert greater control over colonial affairs after a long period of salutary neglect?

British attempts to assert greater control over colonial affairs after a long period of salutary neglect, including the imposition of unpopular taxes , had contributed to growing estrangement between the crown and a large and influential segment of colonists who ultimately saw armed rebellion as their only recourse.

How many men were in the militia in 1781?

The total number of the former provided by quotas from the states throughout the conflict was 231,771 men, and the militias totaled 164,087. At any given time, however, the American forces seldom numbered over 20,000; in 1781 there were only about 29,000 insurgents under arms throughout the country.

Why did the British come to Concord?

The British had come to Concord to seize the military stores of the colonists, who had been forewarned of the raid through efficient lines of communication —including the ride of Paul Revere, which is celebrated with poetic license in Longfellow ’s “Paul Revere’s Ride” (1861). Battles of Lexington and Concord.

How many troops did the British government buy?

Because troops were few and conscription unknown, the British government, following a traditional policy, purchased about 30,000 troops from various German princes.

Which country was involved in the war with Britain?

The Netherlands , which was engaged in its own war with Britain, provided financial support for the Americans as well as official recognition of their independence. The French navy in particular played a key role in bringing about the British surrender at Yorktown, which effectively ended the war. Peace of Paris.

What happened in Boston in 1770?

The troops' presence doesn't sit well with locals and leads to street fights. One clash between soldiers and a mob in March 1770 will leave five dead. Radicals will call it the Boston Massacre, while the British will call it the incident on King Street. Learn more about Boston National Historical Park.

What was the end of the Seven Years War?

End of the Seven Years War. The Treaty of Paris ends the Seven Years War (French and Indian War). France surrenders all of its North American possessions east of the Mississippi to Britain. This ends a source of insecurity for the British colonists along the Atlantic Coast.

How many Americans remained loyal to the crown?

The evacuation of loyalists begins. Largely unwelcome in the new United States, about 100,000 Americans who remained loyal to the crown find new lives in Britain, Canada, and British colonies in the West Indies. Among them are about 15,000 African Americans, some of whom end up helping to found the country of Sierra Leone in Africa. The loyalist experience will have a profound effect on the development of Canada's national identity.

What did Britain do to intimidate Massachusetts?

Britain Tries to Intimidate Massachusetts. March to June, 1774. The British Parliament passes the Coercive Acts, often called the Intolerable Acts in America. Among other actions, Britain closes the port of Boston and requires British troops to be housed in taverns and vacant buildings.

What was the purpose of the Constitution in 1787?

1787. A convention of states in Philadelphia proposes the Constitution to replace the much looser central government operating under the Articles of Confederation (adopted in 1777). With amendments, the Constitution remains the framework of government in the U.S. Learn more about Independence National Historical Park.

What did the events at Ninety Six underline?

The events at Ninety Six underline the fact that Britain has too few troops to hold the southern hinterlands. Learn more about Ninety Six National Historic Site.

When did the Americans hold their own?

Battle of Bunker Hill: Americans Hold Their Own. June 17, 1775. In the first major action of the war, inexperienced colonial soldiers hold off hardened British veterans for more than two hours at Breed's Hill. Although eventually forced to abandon their position, including the high ground of Bunker Hill overlooking Boston, ...

What was the American Revolutionary War?

American Revolutionary War Time Line of Major Events. This is a timeline of Important dates and events for before, during and after the American Revolution. The Revolutionary War, was one of the most significant events in American history. Without it, the United States of America may not have come into existence.

What was the first major battle of the War of Independence?

June 17, 1775 - Battle of Bunker Hill. The first major battle of the War of Independence. Sir William Howe dislodged William Prescott's forces overlooking Boston at a cost of 1054 British casualties to the Americans' 367.

Why did the British occupy Boston?

British troops occupy Boston. Oct 1768 - British troops land in Boston to enforce the Townshend duties (taxes on paint, paper, tea, etc., passed in June 1767) and clamp down on local radicals. The troops' presence doesn't sit well with locals and leads to street fights.

What was the end of the Seven Years War?

End of the Seven Years War. February 10, 1763 - The Treaty of Paris ends the Seven Years War (French and Indian War). France surrenders all of its North American possessions east of the Mississippi to Britain. This ends a source of insecurity for the British colonists along the Atlantic Coast.

How did France induce Spain to declare war on the British?

France induces Spain to declare war on the British by promising to assist the Spanish in recovering Gibraltar and Florida after the British reject the Spanish ultimatum presented to them on April 3.

What was the most important event in American history?

The Revolutionary War, was one of the most significant events in American history. Without it, the United States of America may not have come into existence. Read on and learn why it happened, and learn about key events of the revolution. This timeline chronologically illuminates the cause and effect timeline of the Revolutionary War.

When was the Virginia resolution adopted?

Virginia Resolves Adopted. May 29, 1765 - The Virginia Resolves is adopted by Virginia's House of Burgesses. Claims that, under British law, Virginians could be taxed only by an assembly to which they had elected representatives.

What was the significance of the American Revolution?

The American Revolution set the stage for the creation of the United States of America, one of the most powerful and influential countries in the history of the world. Throughout the years that followed ...

What was the result of the Civil War?

Over 200 years ago, what was essentially an inter-continental civil war resulted in the birth of a new nation that would eventually become a world superpower. Thanks to the battles that ensued between Great Britain and her American colonies, the face of the world was altered forever.

How many points are there in the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independence, American patriots, soldiers, and a dramatic surrender is also described. 109 Total Points

What was the most important event in the history of the world?

Without a doubt, one of the most important events in all world history (not to mention American history) was the American Revolutionary War. Through the battles that were to take place between Great Britain and its American Colonies, the face of the world would be changed forever with the birth of a new nation.

Overview

War breaks out

Prelude to revolution

Strategy and commanders

Revolution as civil war

Britain's "American war" and peace

Aftermath

Commemorations of the Revolutionary War