Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (1706- 1790) Born in Boston in which was first known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Son of Josiah Franklin,and Anne Child. His father was a candle maker, not as successful as he wished to be, he removed Benjamin at age ten to help him out . Benjamin was the 15th and last male of 17 children. The first seven were from his father's first wife, and the other ten from his father's second wife Abiah Folger.

As benjamin worked for his father, he could see it didn't really make him happy. So Josiah, hoping for Ben not to follow one of his other brothers footsteps on going oversees, he apprenticed him to his older brother, James, at his print shop. James had refused to publish Ben's creation so he came withe the pseudonym "mrs. Silence Dogood" whose 14 letters were published. By the time James found out the letters were his brother, Benjamin had already left to new York but ended up settling in Philadelphia. Here he would open his own printing office, birthplace of some of his greatest publications like "The Pennsylvania Gazette" and "Poor Richards Almanac".

During the American revolution he was able to convince the French to help the Americans. Knowing how the french felt about the British Benjamin told them that if the British won, they would become of great power and probably unstoppable. The French being enemies of the British weren't happy about what they were hearing. They knew that if the redcoats won they would be vulnerable to them, so they decided to help the American by providing them with supplies. Once the Americans won he helped write the Constitution and signed for the most important documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with the French and the Treaty of Paris.


Fabiola


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Treaty of Paris

The treaty of Paris was due on September 3 of 1783. It was comformed by a agreement between America and Great Britain. This recognized American independence and established borders for the new nation. This formally made to end the Revolutionary War. But it was finally done by the Continental Congress in 1784.

The treaty contained ten articles, or key points. It declares the intention of both America and Great Britain to forget all past differences and misunderstandings between each oders.
It was signed in Paris by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. The good thing is that Britain agreed to remove all of its troops from the new nation. But The United States also agreed not to persecute loyalists still in America and allow those that left America to return to their homelands.

The treaty also established U.S. boundaries. Which specified certain fishing rights, to allowed creditors of each country to be paid by citizens. It also restored the rights and property of Loyalists. But If it wasn't that the British heard of the surrender at Yorktown, maybe united states wouldn't exist as a nation. So it really took a huge and important part of it's independence history.
Andrea

What did the Revolution accomplish and what ideas did it set in motion?

 What did it accomplish?

In 1783, Benjamin Franklin negotiated the treaty of Paris that officially recognize the American Revolution. Franklin gained more territory for the United States than the Americans actually won on the battlefield.

Women gained few political or legal rights. About 90,000 Loyalists became refugees. Some resettled in Canada. Many African Americans were re-enslaved and sent to the British West Indies.

In the South, some planters voluntarily freed their slaves in an action called manumission. However, southern whites feared black reprisals. The Revolution led to emancipation in the North but not the South, where slaves were a third of the population.The American Revolution inspired other revolutions around the world.First was the French Revolution in 1789. 

What ideas did it set in motion?

The Revolution spread the idea of “liberty” home and abroad. “All men created equal” written by Jefferson probably meant only white men, however, both African-American and Women used these words to claim their rights. The American Revolution also inspired other countries to rebel against oppressive leader. The Revolution inspired many slaves to demand their freedom. In the North, some slaves petitioned or sued for freedom. Thousands of African Americans volunteered to fight the British. Others followed in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Battle of yorktown

1789 date were the Battle of Yorktown was fought.
This was the last major battle in the American revolution. The British troop was commanded by General Cornwallis.Which he was really confident that he could of win the battle. The British fought against the French troop which was commanded by General Marquis de Lafayette and of course famous General George Washington. In other hand the French navy defeated the British troop blocking the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.

As General George Washington marched his army down from their former location in the north, the French navy was also heading to the coast near Yorktown. At the same time Cornwalis was retreating to the same destination. These battle lasted for eleven days in which he comanded George Washington to surrender even though the British were the ones being greatly outnumbered. Cornwallis' plans of Washington's army to throw the towel first backfired. The British soon surrendered and agreed to General Washington's terms.

On october 19 , Cornwallis complied and the final surrender documents were signed. At noon the French and American armies lined up to await the British surrender. Two hours later the British marched out with flags furled and their bands playing "The World Turned Upside Down." Claiming he was ill, Cornwallis sent Brigadier General Charles O'Hara instead. O'Hara attempted to surrender tothe french but was instructed by them to approach the Americans. Washington directed O'Hara to surrender to Lincoln, who was serving as his second-in-command.
Andrea
Fabiola rebeka

Revolutionary women

In the American Revolution, men cant take full credit on the victory. Women played a very important and crucial role in this revolution. For many this began with the boycott of tea, later they began to make their own homespun cloth. Others freed their men, and allowed them to fight for their country, which was something that really helped them concentrate on their main objective. Some women, like Molly Pitcher and Deborah Samson, even pretended to be men to be able to fight for their country along with their husbands and kids, as a result they earned recognition and in some cases they even earned a soldier's pension. This tells us that women had proved to be brave since they were dealing with difficult things, from to taking care of entire households, to nursing injured troops, to fighting battles.

One of our main revolutionary women is Molly Pitcher. When she was a teenager she married John Caspar Hayes. He soon went off to fight in the Revolutionary War. At sixteen years of age Molly decided to follow her husband's steps and also went off to help in the war. In the camp she would cook and wash for the men. In the battles she would serve water for the soldiers, which is how she got her name Molly "Pitcher". Later when her husband died she took his place and began to fight.

Another great and very famous revolutionary woman is Deborah Sampson. She was inspired to serve the troops after reading a Thomas Paine's "Common Sense". She decided t disguise herself as a man so she made herself some man clothes and went to war, enlisting herself as Robert Shirtliff. She was wounded twice and still after seeking medical help no one found out she was actually a woman. It wasn't until she got the yellow fever her medical doctor felt obligated to tell the truth, but Deborah had already gained their respect.

Fabiola

Mistakes the British Made

The first mistake the british made was to think that they were fighting an European war. This war was far from that. it was the first revolutionary war. The brits underestimated the patriots. They had already defeated forces such as the French and Spanish during the Seven Years War. So they believed that defeating an army with no experience in the battlefield would be a piece of cake.

The British believed it would take no time for the Patriots to throw the towel, but the Patriots were convinced otherwise. The Patriots were persistent they were determined to come out victorious, and they had an intellectual weapon named George Washington. He knew he had to keep his troops inspired which is why he read to them Thomas Paine's books, "The American Crisis" and "Common Sense". This lead to a psychological victory for them.

 

The British mistakes were totally the reason why they deserved to loose the war. They kept doing things the same way even the mistakes. But one of there biggest mistake was when Lord william Howe ordered a frontal assault. It was in the middle of the day to take the hill. But as we know patriots strategy was to entrenched, hide behind walls and places from red coats and British let to know everybody every time they were coming in to attack their opponents.That wasn't a good strategy cause their opponents were able to get ready before the battle.

General Cornwallis

Charles Cornwallis was born at Grosvenor Square, London on December 31, 1738. He graduated from Clare College at Cambridge, was elected to enter the military. After purchasing a commission as an ensign in the 1st Foot Guards on December 8, 1757.he became a British general who fought against the Americans in many different battles during the Revolutionary War. The most important one was the Battle of Yorktown where the British surrendered. Cornwallis was unable to defeat the American and French forces.

In 1776, Cornwallis arrived in America with the rank of major general, by 1780, he was responsible for the entire British campaign in the South. At first Cornwallis was successful against the American forces. January, 1781, was a turning point, when he was defeated by Nathanael Greene's army in South Carolina. In August 1781 while the new British troops arrived, the French were ready to attack. The American and French troops had cornered the British. Cornwallis's forces had to surrender. The British surrender at Yorktown led to the end of the Revolutionary War.

After the war, he accepted the post of governor-general of India on February 23, 1786. He proved an able administrator and a gifted reformer. Upon the end of his term, he was made 1st Marquess Cornwallis and was sent to Ireland as governor-general. He aided in passing the Act of Union which united the English and Irish parliaments. Resigning from the army in 1801, he was again sent to India four years later. His second term was short as he died on October 5, 1805.
- Rebeka Houghton

The war shifts to the middle states

So after the British troops leaves Boston they decided to go to NYC to attack and take over. British decided to take over NYC because it was the major sea port.

By taking over them it would cut all the connections of the others colonies. This whole idea was from the general How. This whole process wasn't done in one day not even in weeks it took many battles until finally they capture the city on September /15/1776.
So he could tell waiting was well paid at the end.

Several troops of Britain and Germany almost crushed the continental actually they were about 30 thousand troops. When this happens George Washington decides to retreat.
He believed it was more important to take care of his troops than winning all the battles. George's decision by retreating to New Jersey was his best strategy because he could save his soldiers. George Washington had this special quality by treating everyone with the equality they deserved no matter if they were soldiers or nobles.

Later on George had the brilliant idea to cross Delaware at the middle of the night.
Actually it was at middle of Christmas eve Dec/25/1776.
This surprised general Garrison and his troops because no one ever had attack at night. The reasons they were surprised of this were because it was heavily snowing and cold at night, all troops were resting and they were even drunk because as told before it was Christmas eve.
Obviously George won the battle as well the battle of Trenton Dec/26/1776 using the same strategy attacking by surprised in the night.

Andrea Aguilera

Battles of Lexington and Concord

Lexington

Word spread that in April 19, 1775 George Gage would send out regiments of British soldiers quartered in Boston . one of their destinations was LEXINGTON, where they would capture Colonial leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock.

 Militias prepared to confront the British and help their neighbors in Lexington and Concord.

These COLONIAL MILITIAS had originally been organized to defend settlers from civil unrest and attacks by French or Native Americans. Selected members of the militia were called Minnutemen because they could be ready to fight in a minute's time.

When the advance guard of nearly 240 British soldiers arrived in Lexington, they found about 70 minutemen formed on LEXINGTON GREEN waiting for them. Suddenly, a bullet buzzed through the morning air.

it is known as "the shot heard round the world."

Concord

Although Paul Revere was captured by British scouts before reaching Concord, other messengers managedto get through and warn the people. While the British soldiers continued on their way to Concord, the men and women of Concord were busy moving the arms and ammunition to new hiding places in surrounding towns. When the soldiers arrived they were only able to destroy part of the supplies.

-Rebeka

Intolerable Acts

Boston Port Act
In order to regain control of Massachusetts, parliament passed the boston port act on March 30, 1774. The port was officially closed on June 1, 1774, until restitution was made to the King for all tea destroyed during the Boston Tea Party.


Massachusetts Government Act 

  The Massachusetts Government Act was passed, on May 20, 1774.When the Massachusetts Government Act was enacted, it removed the colonists in Massachusetts' right to vote for those officials that they had previously been allowed to vote for. The appointment of these officials then fell to the King of England.  

Quebec
The Quebec Act 1774 was passed by the British parliament to state a permanent administration in Canada replacing the temporary government. This gave religious freedom and restored the French from civil law. The 13 colonies considered this law one of the intolerable acts for extending the boundaries of the province of Quebec to the Ohio River.

Quartering Act 1774

Levied June 2, 1774. It refers to provisions that were approved by the British Parliament. By these acts colonial governments were obligated to provide provisions and shelter for the British soldiers that were living in American territory.

Administration of Justice Act

Passed on May 20, 1774. This act allowed the royal governor of a colony to move a trial to any other colony. This was for the trials he believed wouldnt be treated fairly or impartially in the colony in which the crime took place.

Loyalist

The Loyalists were colonists from North America who maintained their loyalty to the British Empire during this devastating war.

They were often called King's Men, Royalists but most of all they were referred to as Tories.
A little after the war they were entitled with the name of " United Empire Loyalists".Loyalists were usually mistaken with people who simply didn't want to fight, these people were actually called Quakers. After the war this two groups moved up to canada and began their own community.

The name "Loyalists" was a controversial topic during this time. The Patriots thought of them as traitors, which is the exact opposite of what they believed themselves to be. They resented the Loyalists for siding something they believed to be an oppressive government. However the Loyalists believed the actual traitors to be the American Rebels, and saw themselves as the "patriotic" ones. From their point of view, they were the ones who should be admired and looked up to, since they were standing and supporting the Crown, and not turning against it.Why did the Loyalists support the British? Main part of the Loyalists were either very wealthy or very influential. Taxes wouldn't affect them because of their economic status so they had no need to turn against their mother country. Also holders of royally appointed offices, that where too afraid to contradict the British because they would lose their position became loyalists. Even religion influenced on the choices of the taken sides. Anglican clergymen were also loyalists because their ruler, King George, was of anglican religious views.

-Fabiola

The Colonists Declare Independence

The declaration of independence process was initiated when the congress Elected a comity draft document declaring independence. The draft as well in the declaration of independence explains the reasons of their actions. July 2 1776 was the date when the congress voted that America was totally free from Britains mandatory.
But it was officially approved in July 4 of 1776.

Thomas Jefferson which was the 3 president of the United States redacted most part of the declaration of independence document. Most ideas that were expressed in the declaration of independence document were about the freedom of all men to let them think what they wanted, equality among each others, unalienable rights, grievances and thomas paines ideas which he wrote a little book with simple and forceful language.

He was a artesan and tax collector, people loved hes ideas cause Americans read what they wanted to express toward their enemies.
The 3 mains of the book are 1) declare indep. From England 2) make republican state gov.
3) union of 13 states. He also denounced the king and aristocrats by calling them:
"frogs and parasites" because they took all their liberty away and never returned back something good.



Andrea

Sugar, Quartering and Stamp Act

SUGAR ACT

Referred to as the American Revenue Act or the American Duties Act. It was passed in April 5, 1764 and it replaced the Molasses act of 1733. A tax on molasses, sugar, wine, rum, cheese imported from the west Indies. The Sugar Act represented a significant change in policy because the colonial taxes had been levied to support local British officials since Britain was involved in an enourmous debt because of the Seven Year War. To provide more security to the colonies, and raise revenue. british expected that this act would make the colonists sell their goods to britain instead of other countries.

QUARTERING ACT

At the end of the seven year war the government built up the british troop strength. the motive for this was to protect colonists against any remainng threat. in march 1765, the parliament passed the queartening act. each colonial assembly had to provide for the basic needs of the soldiers. some of the officials were really concerned for the safety of the colonists. while other just wanted to cut costs.

STAMP ACT

Introduced by prime minister George Grenville. it was passed by the Parliament in March 22, 1765. It required that all legal documents, contracts, newspaper, licences, etc. to have the tax stamp. The Stamp Act was the first act that directly tax the American colonists. The colonists opposed this act because they firmly believed that the Parliament could not tax them directly and without representation.

- Rebeka

Leaders Organize a Boycott

When the colonists didn't like the idea of the stamp act they rebelled and opposed against it in avvery violent way. Later a month the stamp act was approved the colonists created a group against it they were so bond and united with each others they called themselves patriots.
This association called patriots let noticed to the government when they didn't like something about the laws, they jut started to violently and brutally attack the tax collectors.

This made Boston the most violent colony of the area by that time period but it didn't stopped their it continued in August of 1765 when a angry mob lead by the sons of liberty took everything to another level by taking down and damaging the house of stamp act tax collector.
This was just another way of them to express their feelings towards their believes.
Sadly there way of expressing themselves was in a violent way.

The governor of Massachusetts didn't understand or wasn't scared enough but he continued and he announced to everyone that it was a must for people to pay the taxes correspondent to them no matter what happened.
The sons of liberty and patriots were furious to the governor declarations so they took governors house down.
While all of this going on nobody had the guts to collect the taxes which it was a smart decision if not the patriots or sons of L. could take their homes down.

-Andrea

The Boston massacre

In 1765 the parliament passed a law in which it stated that the colonists had to provide housing for the British soldiers and also to provide them things for their needs. Soldiers easily moved into the colonists houses.
The colonists reaction towards the law wasn't nice at all but at first they didn't rebel against it they just complained with each others.

What really made colonists so overwhelmed was that through this time a big group of colonists were unemployed or needed more money to provide for their families, which it became impossible for them to get a job because the few vacant jobs were taken by the soldiers who needed more money because first of all they were not well payed and second most of their money was sent to their families back in England.

Even though they accepted the jobs for less money soldiers needed something to buy things for their needs because they noticed that colonists were getting tired of providing them everything.
Colonists felt like they were going through an invasion, so one day a mob of colonists that were heavily drinking on a pub followed a soldier colonists were throwing him ice and snowballs and yelling at him. The soldier ran for support of other soldiers, they had their guns ready but they were not allowed to shoot but a soldier was to nervous that he shoot and other soldiers came along it killing 5 unarmed colonists.

Soldiers were charge but 3 of them were dismissed and the 2 other soldiers were placed a brand on their thumbs for everyone to know they had commit murder.
The person who decided to help the soldiers was John Adams who believed they were just defending themselves from colonists.

-Andrea

The Boston Tea Party

In May 10, 1773 the tea act was levied on the american colonies. this act gave total monopoly of tea sales in the colonies to the east india company. it also resulted in the company to export tea to the colonies in its own accords which lowered the price on tea. still colonists would smuggle Dutch tea instead of buying the British tea that was even more accesible, because they wouldnt pay any direct tax from the parliament.

In dec 16, 1773, the sons of liberty led by samuel adams, disguised themselves as Mohawk indians. in the night they boarded 3 ships Dartmouth, Eleanor, and beaver. they threw 342 chests with tea into the ocean. in total it was more that 90,000 lb. of tea that was thrown into the water. the aproximate cost of this was 10,000. about one million dollars now a days.

Thanks to the disguise the authorities couldnt clain who were the participants to this rebelious act, and they all got out unpunished. unfortunately for them British Government was outraged by the colonists ingratitude. in reply the Parliament passed the boston port bill, the intolerable acts.

- Rebeka

About Us

Welcome to our blog... Well for starters this is part of our assignment in our history class. For the span of this semester we are going to publish two posts per week (and fail misserably at doing so). All our posts are going to be about events and people that influence or participated in the American Revolution. We hope this information will be useful to you to understand a little better the American Revolution and some of its causes. ENJOY.