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Home Recent Events President George Washington's Farewell Address Revolution Tales and Anecdotes Some Distinguished Compatriots |
Although many people acquaint the beginning of the Revolution
with the year 1776, the first stirrings of the American Revolution started
long before that.
The first settlers who landed in Virginia and Massachusetts in the 1630's considered themselves blessed and free Englishman, having the gift of the greatest laws and privileges on earth. However, England deeply in debt from her War on Colonial Expansion, needed a way to replenish her coffers in order to make up for the cost of the French and Indian War. The English Government felt it was more than fair to ask the colonist in the new world to pay a small share for the security and opportunity they now enjoyed. Colonist however, saw themselves as free Englishmen, and as such, they believed that only they had the power to tax themselves. They believed that the British King, Parliament, and all associated entities had no more right to tax, than one person to take from another. Thus a showdown was inevitable. The Colonists set out to first peaceably, through the skills of diplomacy and persuasion to address their grievances. The Colonist found little sympathy for their arguments in England, although a few people in the English government understood and sympathized with their stance. William Pitt (the First Earl of Chatham), and Edmund Burke understand the Colonists grievances and praise their restraint as well as the civility of the colonists in seeking a solution to the problem, but Lord Frederick North who is loyal to the King, forces the Colonists down a path to which their is no return. Parliament passes a series of taxes on the colonists, and in effect limiting their entire economic system. When the colonists boycott these new taxes they are repealed, only to be substituted with a series of new taxes. It becomes increasing clear to the colonist that England is going to force her subjects to be taxed, with or without their consent. Finally, the Colonist, who feel subjugated by these new duties and taxes take matters into their own hands. Tea, belonging to the British monopoly East India Company, is dumped into Boston Harbor by the colonist as a protest. The English government, who has had enough of this rabble, finally puts it might upon the colonists. The Port of Boston is closed, new British troops are dispatched to the colonies, and a final showdown is inevitable. Many small events occur, including the "Boston massacre", the seizing of arms and powder by royal marines in Williamsburg, and the burning of a British tax ship off the America cost, which goes to solidify the Colonist increasing rift with the mother country. Finally on the night of 18 April 1775, some 700 British Grenadiers
and Light Infantry, leave Charlestown for a march to Concord
and Lexington in order to seize military stores, and arrest
the Rebel agitators John Hancock and Sam Adams. Thus starts the American
Revolution.
There were many other important battles in the northern theater which would determine the colonist struggle with Great Britain. This page will help you to understand the battle of Monmouth. This page will direct you to the battle of Saratoga.
This page will get you to the events at Philadelphia
and Valley Forge.
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