Treaty of Paris

Finally the Revolutionary war had come to an end after Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown. Americans had achieved the impossible, to win with untrained, normal civilians, and farmers against the best army at the time. All that was left was that the world acknowledged this victory and recognized a new country, United States of America. For this, the Americans sent a group of delegates, including Benjamin Franklin to sign The Treaty of Paris. The treaty made official that British had lost and Colonist had won. British did not want to loose it all yet though, they still wanted some land and wanted to protect their loyalists.

Apart form recognizing Americans as free, sovereign and independent states, it also granted fishing rights, it established boundaries with British North America, gave property rights to the loyalist as well as providing evacuation for all British Forces. The only thing that nobody remembered were the Native Americans. Natives were surprised by the exclusion form the treaty and abandon by British, leaving them unprotected. Americans took advantage from this by taking their land and finally moving west of the Apalation Mountains, thus expanding their territory.

In numbers, it did not go so well for British, the war had cost the lives of around 60,000 people, including Germans. They had also spent 80million pounds, which raised their debt to 250million punds.

** Ms Touche, as you might notice, there are 6 posts instead of four, this is because two are fully

copy&paste from Juan Castillo and I decided to make an extra two to save my note.**

Battle of Yorktown

Finally! American Revolutionary War comes to an end after 6-7 bloody and difficult years for both Americans and British. It all came down to the Battles of Yorktown, after some well planned tactics, as well as lucky timings that made British surrender. British had been big favorites to win the war but they made costly mistakes, they underestimated American's will to fight and get the Independence. They didn't get the fact that this was not a normal war, it was a Revolutionary war, first on its kind. And to make it worst, French and Spanish allies, at the end, turned the balance in favor of the Americans.

Generals: George Washington (American)

Lieutenant Rochambeau (French)

General Cornwallis (British)

Army Size: 8800 Americans, 7800 French, 6000 British.

We all know the war hadn't been easy for the Americans, loosing most of the battles, though on the latter stages of it, French and Spanish help had made a big difference, aiding in other battles such as Pensacola, Florida or Mobile, Alabama. After loosing some key battles, General Cornwallis (British) decided to go to Yorktown and ask for support, which had to come by boat from New York. During the summer of 1781 George Washington decided to march south and try to trap Cornwallis' army at Yorktown. It was a risky idea at first, as he needed a French fleet to arrive at the Chesapeake Bay and block the exits and arrivals of provisions. It all went as planned, the French fleet arrived just in time to block the Chesapeake Bay. Then Washington's army blocked one of the flanks, while French helped by blocking the other. Cornwallis still tried to escape and battle, but it had no effect. Cornwallis had nothing left to do but to surrender.

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He was the tenth son of a soap maker, Josiah Franklin. Benjamin's mother was Abiah Folger, the second wife of Josiah. In total, Josiah had 17 children. Josiah wanted Benjamin to study as a clergy, but due to money limitations he could only attend school one year. Benjamin loved to read, which he had learned from his brother James, who was a printer. James would compose pamphlets and Benjamin would sell them on the streets, making this his first job. When Benjamin was fifteen, his brother James started the first newspaper in Boston which news, articles and opinions written by his friends. Benjamin wanted to write but knew his brother wouldn’t allow him to. He decided to start writing letters and signed them as Silence Dogood, a fictional widow. He sneaked these letters at night through the door. The letters were filled with advice, and were very critical with the world, especially on thing concerning about women. These letters were a big hit. After 16 letters he confessed and his brother got angry and jealous of all the attention he had gained.

Experiments were nothing new to Benjamin, as in 1943 he had invented the Franklin stove, which helped to keep houses warm. The lighting rod, which help prevent lightings strike homes and buildings in 1949, the bifocals, swim fins and others. He also discovered the Atlantic northern currents. He founded the American Philosophical society in 1943, to help men discuss their thoughts on inventions and science. He helped meteorology, discovering storms can move in different directions, and also helped with cooling and refrigeration.

In the late 1950’s, Benjamin started to have an interest for politics. In 1957 he went to England and stayed there representing Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey and Massachusetts. He first supported British but the Stamp Act revolution blew his mind and convinced him to side with Americans. He started working for the Independence. His son William was appointed Governor of Massachusetts, but he didn’t share his father’s views. He helped draft the Declaration and signed it on 1776. He went to France to ally with them; French loved him and decided to help Americans. He was also there when the Treaty of Paris was signed. He later returned to America and died on April 17, 1790.

Treaty Of Paris

The American War for Independence (1775-83) was actually a world conflict, involving not only the United States and Great Britain but also France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The peace process brought and formed a newly born United States into the arena of international diplomacy, playing against the largest, most sophisticated, and most established powers on earth.

The three American negotiators, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, proved themselves to be masters of the game, outmaneuvering their counterparts and clinging fiercely to the points of national interest that guaranteed a future for the United States. Two crucial provisions of the treaty were British recognition of U.S. independence and the delineation of boundaries that would allow for American western expansion. The treaty is named for the city in which it was negotiated and signed. The last page bears the signatures of David Hartley, who represented Great Britain, and the three American negotiators, who signed their names in alphabetical order. Many treaty documents, however, can be considered as originals. In this case, for example, the United States and British representatives signed at least three originals, two of which are in the holdings of the National Archives.

**Dear Bloggers, its Aristides and I apologize on behalf of my partner, Juan Castillo for copying&pasting this post**

The Battle of Yorktown

In August 1781, General George Washington learned that Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis' army was encamped near Yorktown. After discussing options with his French ally, Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Ponton de Rochambeau, Washington decided to quietly move his army away from New York City with the goal of crushing Cornwallis' army. Leaving on August 21, the French-American army began marching south. As any success would be dependent upon the French navy's ability to prevent Cornwallis being resupplied, this movement was supported by the fleet of Rear Admiral Comte de Grasse.

**Dear Bloggers, its Aristides and I apologize on behalf of my partner, Juan Castillo for copying&pasting this post**

Battle of Bunkerhill

"Don't fire until you see the white of their eyes" Said one of the American commanders while standing upon Breed's Hill, Boston.

Generals: William Howe (British) - Artemas Ward, Israel Putnam (American)

Army Size: 2400 British vs 1500 Americans

Throughout the month of May, 1775, British had been getting reinforcements. They had gathered an army of about 6000 soldiers at Boston. To help Thomas Gage, three other British commanders arrived, William Howe, John Burgoyne, and Henry Clinton. They were now planning on how to get out of Boston, and had decided to capture Charleston. The attack was set for June 18. Luckily for Americans, an unknown man, while taking a trip to Boston, overheard the planning of these men and notified Massachusetts Provincial Congress. The congress decided to fortify Charleston Peninsula, specially on Bunker Hill.

On the night of June 16th 1775, Howe found himself surrounded by 1500 Americans. The Americans began to line up around Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill. Howe decided to start attacking through the left flank, and thought it would be an easy win, but he returned with a heavy loss, after some nervous soldiers fired out of time, making the Americans respond, with the British still not prepared, this inflicted heavy losses. After that loss, Howe tried regroup and marched again, but failed with his directions and went to attack the wrong side, and returned with another loss. Howe tried for a third time, though successful, it was only because the Americans had run out of ammunition making the battle a close combat, from which the British took advantage.

Even though Americans lost the battle, it gave them the confidence boost they needed, as they knew British could only defeat them after they run out of ammunition.

Valley Forge

What is it that happened at Valley Forge? So many legends about it, although there was no war fought in Valley Forge, it was one of the turning points of the war. The continental army was suffering, bloody, beaten and weakened, also with hunger and diseases, they were ready to quit. As Washington said "If the army do not gets help soon, in all like hood it will disband". But why didn't it? Most couldn't withstand the hunger and cold, and so they died. Most of their horses didn't survive, as they also needed food. All that soldiers got a day was a combination of water and flour. Their clothes were bad and most had no shoes. At the end 2500 men died.

The military needed to be more efficient, have more discipline and have a confidence boost. This task fell on Baron Friedrich Von Steuben. Yes, most military were trained, but some weren't, and to win they needed all men in the same level. Later the wifes, children, sisters of the soldiers arrived to give their support. This gave them the motivation to keep going. Women helped with the cleaning and cooking, they also mended soldier's uniforms. They provided the much needed emotional support.

Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette

Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette was a French aristocrat and military officer born September 6 1757. His father died when he was only two. At age 12 his mother passed away a few weeks after his grandfather had also died. He was a very wealthy young orphan. At age 16 he married Marie Adrienne Francoise de Noailles, who was related to the king. He studied at College du Plessis, which was only for aristocrat boys.

In 1775 he started his military training in Metz. The commander invited him to a dinner with Duke of Gloucester who spoke about the struggle going on with the colonies. Now he wanted to join the colonies, but the king would not support this, either way, he did. He was appointed major general. Being there, he persuaded many French officers to join him. He later met Washington and made a great friendship, though de Lafayette was only 20. During Valley Forge camps, some military wanted to turn against Washington but De Lafayette convinced them not to and gave them a much needed support for the war. He started teaching them new battle tactics.

He returned to France in February 1779 but was put under arrest for disobeying the king, who didn't want him to go to America. He continued aiding the Americans and secured other 6000 soldiers to go fight with the colonists.

George Washington

George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental army during the American Revolution and first president of the United States (1789-97). Born in Westmoreland County on Feb. 22, 1732, George Washington was the eldest son of Augustine Washington.George spent his early years on the family estate on Pope's Creek along the Potomac River. His early education included the study of such subjects as mathematics, surveying, the classics, and "rules of civility." His father died in 1743, and soon George went to live with his half brother Lawrence at Mount Vernon, Lawrence's plantation on the Potomac.He helped lay out the Virginia town of Belhaven (now Alexandria) in 1749 and was appointed surveyor for Culpeper County. George accompanied his brother to Barbados in an effort to cure Lawrence of tuberculosis, but Lawrence died in 1752, soon after the brothers returned. George ultimately inherited the Mount Vernon estate.

He first gained public notice when, as adjutant of one of Virginia's four military districts, he was appointed (October 1753) by Gov. Robert Dinwiddie on a mission to warn the French commander at Fort Le Boeuf against further win on territory claimed by Britain.Although only 22 years of age and lacking experience, he learned quickly, meeting the problems of recruitment, supply, and desertions with a combination of native ability that earned him the respect of his superiors.

He became president April 30,1789 in New York City.

Battle of Trenton

On the evening of December 25, the American forces began to cross the Delaware in what was intended to be offensive. Weather conditions, however, did not make the ride easy. The heavy boats had to avoid ice in the river and a heavy snow storm. One segment of the offensive never departed from Pennsylvania and another succeeded in transporting its soldiers across the river, but not its artillery; those men returned to camp and did not participate in the battle.

Washington had hoped to strike under darkness, but the difficulties encountered in the crossing delayed the attack until about 8 a.m. on the 26th. The American advance had been spotted earlier by a Tory, who delivered a written warning to Rall. The colonel, however, was intent on celebrating Christmas and had stuffed the note in his pocket. Continental forces under Nathanael Greene and John Sullivan opened fire on the town and slowly surrounded it. A sleepy Rall mounted his horse and tried to rally his soldiers, but was shot and died later from his wounds. Within 90 minutes it was evident to the Hessians that they were outnumbered and escape routes had been cut off; they surrendered.

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine, one of the bastions of the U.S Independence. Thomas Paine, was born in Thetford, England on January 29, 1737. He came from a poor family, though his father, Joseph, tried to give him education at the Grammar School, but he eventually had to learn trade, but he was unable to accept this new profession. In 1771 he married again. Both marriages were childless and neither brought Paine much in the way of happiness. His first wife had died in 1760, with only one year of marriage. He separated from his second wife in 1774, just before he went to the American colonies.

Paine arrived to Philadelphia where he started his new career as a journalist. He wrote articles for the Pennsylvania magazine about various topics, but on January 10 he published his pamphlet, Common Sense, which rapidly gave him widespread recognition around the colonies. Common Sense presented the colonies the argument for freedom, which had still been undecided. He inspired on enlightenment thinkers and Biblical references for this pamphlet. He attacked British Government and parliament, and asked for immediate independence.

Some of his arguments:

• It was absurd for an island to rule a continent.
• America was not a "British nation"; it was composed of influences and peoples from all of Europe.
• Even if Britain were the "mother country" of America, that made her actions all the more horrendous, for no mother would harm her children so brutally.
• The distance between the two nations made governing the colonies from England unwieldy. If some wrong were to be petitioned to Parliament, it would take a year before the colonies received a response..
• Britain ruled the colonies for its own benefit, and did not consider the best interests of the colonists in governing them.

Later from 1776-1783 he started publishing the series of pamphlets "Crisis", to inspire americans against the British army. These were used by George Washington, which read it aloud to its soldiers.

Thomas Gage

Thomas Gage was a British general, known for his services in the american colonies, including his role as military commander for the early stage of the American War of Independence. Gage was born from a wealthy aristocratic family, he entered the military service, were he went to the French and Indian war. After that he served the army in the battle of Monongahela in 1775 againsts his ex companion George Washington. In 17774 he was appointed the military govenor of the province of Massachusetts Bay, were he implied the Intolerable acts because of the punishment for the Boston Tea Party.

John Hancock

John Hancock was born in Quincy, Massachusetts on January 12 1737. He had a good education, graduating from Harvard College as a merchant in 1754. When his parents died, he was adopted by his uncle Thomas who empoleyed him at his home. When his uncle did, he inherited his business as well as a good fortune which helped him survive during the French and Indian War. As said before, to recuperate money the Parliament started imposing taxes to the colonies. Hancock was one of the patriot leaders and was later appointed to represent Boston in the House of Representatives. He also called for town meetings to protest against other acts.

He started to become more involved in revolutionary politics, supporting for independence from Britain. He also became a member of the stamp act congress. He also had some disputes with Massachusetts governor Thomas Gage, as he had been appointed by the Parliament. Thanks to his big influence in the colonies he was appointed delegate for the continental congress, though before he arrived there, he was appointed president of that congress. On April 14, 1775, Gage received a letter from the Parliament ordering him to arrest revolutionary men. Gage sent military troops, which would spark the revolutionary war. Though later Gage retracted saying he wouldn't gain anything by arresting them, as others will only take their place.

During all this mess, Hancock made way to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He was president during one of the darkest time of the war, as British had took over some places. He was president when the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. He is remembered as his signature was the biggest one, supposedly so that King George would see it without his glasses.

On October 1777 he asked to resigned and was later reelected for the House of Representatives. On October 1680 he was elected Governor of Massachusetts, after he had successfully commanded 6000 soldiers through the war. He resigned in 1885 stating it was because of his health.

John Hancock died October 8, 1793.

Coersive Acts

As said on our last post, after all the tea was thrown into the ocean, Pariament got pretty mad about it. So they decided to impose the Coersive Acts, or as the colonists called them, the Intolerable Acts. First Parliament closed the port in America, which made various people go broke such as shopkeepers and mercahnt, as they didnt import goods, they had nothing to sell. British also sent troops and warships to the coloies to ensure the taxes were paid. In total they were 5 acts.

The first act was the Boston Port Act on March 31, 1774. It Closes the port until the East India Company had been repayed for the tea into the ocean. Thing that never happened.

Then came the Massachusets Goverment Act in May 20. This one angered colonists even more than the port act as it made all the positions in the Colonial Goverment to be appointed by the Parliament. It also limited the activities of town meetings.

Administration of Justice Act. May 20. It allowed colonial governor, which was appointed by the Parliament, to move trials of accused officials to Britain.

Quartering Act. June 2. This one was applied to all colonies. It was the same as the one before, that colonists had to give home to British troops, while these also took their jobs. Only that now they could be in any building. However, troops taking over private homes is olny a myth, as they normally would take unused buildings. This was the least protested act.

Quebec Act. June 22. This one is not always related to the Coersive Acts, as it is not exactly related to the events in Boston. This one only enlarged the boundaries of the province of Quebec.

Colonists saw the acts as a violation to their rights and decided to boycot all British goods. They aslo united in case of any possible atack. If the acts were not taken within a year, they could start a revolutionary war..

Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party was an action taken by the colonists in Boston, Masachusets against the British Parliament and the East Indian Company, which controled all the tea going to the colonies. Colonists were tired of the ongoing taxation without representation problem, which had been around for more than 10 years already. During this times committees of correspondance had been made to organize boycots against all British imports. People were not buying, which only helped Britain's economy to go worse. Violence had happened, such as the Boston Masacre. All this lead to the Boston Tea Party.

Colonists got really angered when they got the Tea Act in 1773. They organized boycots and bought smuggled tea from other countries. Parliament then allowed to sell tea directly to the colonies, which made it cheaper than the smuggled tea, but colonists thought of it a trick to make them pay taxes. Ships were sent to the colonies, containing around 600,000 pounds of tea. When colonists heard about it, they started to prepare their plan.

A ship got to Boston on the night of Dec. 16, 1773. As town meetings were held, Samuel Adams and a group of around 130 men, disguised as indians, went to the ship and starting throwing the 342 chests of tea it contained into the water. This action angered the Parliament and they imposed the Coersive Acts

Protests During Colonial Times

Parliament imposed taxes to the colonies. The colonists did not like this and said that the British Parliament should not impose taxes on them as they had no representation. Since they didnt like what the Parliament was doing, they decided to protest. Colonies had different ways to protest, colonial leaders gave out pamphlets and gave out speeches to persuade colonists to defy new taxes. This leaders also started using ideas of eurpoen enlightenment thinkers and argued they had divine rights such as life, liberty and property and argued taxes took out their liberty.

Leaders such as John Adams and Patrick Henry also had a vast inlfuence. Patrick used all this ideas to make a radical ¨Virginia Resolves¨ and said that only the colonies could tax themselves. Soon other colonies supported his ideas.

As time passed, protests became more violent. Colonies began to work together and this created sense of unity. All this people who protested were called patriots. Crowds atacked tax collectors and tore down their homes. Soon after protests started, all tax collectors had resigned and there was no one to collect taxes. Crowds also slaughtered people who supported the parliament. The used a tactic called ¨Torring and feathering¨in which they poured hot tea into the person´s body and filled them with feathers.

Daughters of Liberty

As the British Parliament continued imposing taxes to the colonies, they continued in protests. Burning down tax collector houses and those of the people that supported the taxes.

The Parliament wanted to put taxes on everything that the colonies imported, but they didnt wanted to pay it. As a result they decided to stop importing things. As colonies decided to stop importing goods such as clothes, glass, tea etc. women became a very important part of all this movement.

Women had to start doing homespun thread in order to make clothes. They had to work long hours in order to make enough for all people. They had to weave yarn and wool into fabric by hand in order to make this clothes. These women who supported the boycots to the English people were called Daughters of Liberty. Later they also fought for women´s equality. They were highly influential during this process as this boycots wouldnt have happened without women. They also had a big inluence in war, as they always supported the american resistance. They also helped in decision making, as in 1974 when decided to boycot al british goods.

This tactit, inlcuding others worked, as the Parliament, under pressure from merchants gave in and repeled the act. But happiness didnt las long as they later passed another act saying they could tax the colonies.

The French and Indian War

In the 1750's, France and Britain were fighting in Europe. The war expanded to the Americas. British clolonies wanted to take over french land in North America. They also wanted to take over the fur trade in the french territory. The french had moved into territories that the british had already claimed. In 1754, major George Washington was sent by Virginia's govenor to evict the french from fort Duquesne. Washington came upon a french scouting party and ordered his men to open fire. Washington's men killed 12 frenchmen and wounded 22. The war was on. During the first two years of the war the french and the indians became allies and defeated the british in various ocations. The tide of the war changed in 1756 when William Pitt became the secretary of state. The british applied new resources into the battle of north america and slowly started to capture french forts. In 1759, the british won the battle of the Plains of Abraham, which allowed them to capture Quebec. The next year they captured Montreal and thus completed the capture of Canada, effectively ending the war in north america. The war officially ended on February 10, 1763, with the signing of the treaty of Paris. France officially ceded all of its holdings in North America, west of the Mississipi. The cost of the war and of controling the newly aquired territory was high. The british looked to the colonies to help pay those costs. That began the long spiral events that led to the revolution.

“No taxation without representation"

“No taxation without representation" was a phrase that english colonists used in the mid - 1700's in a way to protest against the English Parliament for imposing taxes on them. The 7 year war had doubled the national debt in England. As England was in need for money they decided to impose new taxes on the colonies in the Americas. People were aguinst this taxes, as they had no representatives in the British Parliament, and they said they had no idea how was life in the colonies. At the same time, people in England argued that colonies should pay more taxes as the war was fought near their territory, in America.

This taxation without representation was what gave start to The America Revolution. People went to the streets and protested against this taxes such as the "Stamp Act", that was going to make people pay for every written thing they bought. They thought the parliament wanted to take away their liberty. Protests continued to intensify, as colonial leader made panflets and distributed them around. Colonies rejected other taxes such as taxes on tea imports. Parliament didnt like this, and send on troops to the americas, though colonies responded sending out their own.

The protests were not for the amount of money that was asked, but against the parliament for imposing taxes with the colonies having no representation in the Parliament.

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