The American Revolution 1776-1783

Résumé du document

The American Revolution is one of the biggest events that durably affected the American population: first this conflict was the only one that ever took place on their territory, and secondly it opposed American people themselves in a merciless civil war. Before 1775, the American territory was a British colony composed by 13 states that had been ceased by France after the 7Years' War that opposed France to Britain. At that moment, the Colonists did not feel different from the other subjects of the British crown. However it quite changed when it clearly appeared that the British government wanted to make the Colonists pay for the cost of the 7Years' War. Indeed after the War against France and Spain, there were no more money in the British State's budget, and as a consequence the government decided to raise taxes for its American colonies: Sugar Act, Currency Act and Quartering Act in 1764, Stamp act in 1765, Townshend Acts in 1767, Tea Act in 1773.

Extraits

[...] It revived the Patriots. In 1777, the major battle of the conflict held: indeed, the Saratoga battle is the turning point of the war for Independence. In October, a British army composed by British soldiers, Hessians (German mercenaries) and Loyalists is led by General Burgoyne to go to NY coming from the Canada. They give away from any support and entrenchment Unfortunately, they are surrounded by the American troops of General Horatio Gates, and have to surrender. More than British soldiers are made prisoner. [...]

[...] Actually, the situation was quite bad for the Insurgents. However in July, Rochambeau, a French viscount, came from France with French soldiers in Newport. This was a good thing for the Patriots that suffered from a lack of soldiers From 1781, the situation turned over in favour of the American side. Yorktown battle and the War's end in favour of the Insurgents The battle of Yorktown that took place in 1781 from the 6th to the 19th of October were the decisive battle of the whole conflict: the British soldiers allied with the German mercenaries under Lord Cornwallis' command faced the French soldiers and the American insurgents led by Washington. [...]

[...] This event is the turning point of the increasing tensions: a Tea Act had been passed by the British government, which allowed the East India Companies to sell its tea to the colonies without having to pay any customs or duties. Thanks to this measure, the tea of the East India Companies cost half the price of the American one On the 16th of December, all the tea of the British boats that came to Boston to unload their goods were overboard by some angered Colonists. [...]

[...] In May 1775 he is elected as commander in chief of the Continental army, and is responsible for ill-trained troops to face the British enemy. The Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to George IIIrd to attempt a reconciliation and to avoid more bloodshed But the King rejected it and instead published the Proclamation of Rebellion that condemned the American Insurgents as traitors. At the end of Spring 1776, the Patriots managed to take control of the whole 13 colonies . [...]

[...] This finally led to his tragic end, and to the proclamation of the French Republic. Bibliography - The American Revolution 1763-1783, H. Aphteker (1967) - British politics and the American revolution, B. Donoughue (1964) - British politics and the American revolution, C. R. Ritcheson - The War of American Independence, D. Higginbotham (1971) - The American Revolution, 1763–1783, R. [...]