The Treaty of Paris

I bet you are thinking that how does the war ended or when it ended. Also that you think that after the Battle of Yorktown everything was already over. Well for a war to be over it is necesary to sign a Treaty that states that a war is over, and to know what are the deals in which both parts will agree.


The Treaty that ended "The War for Independence"  is the Treaty of Paris. The delegates from the United States were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. They negociated a peace treaty directly with British.

In the treaty Great Britain accepted the United States Independence.


The boundaries of the United States were: from the Great Lakes to Florida, and as far west as the Mississippi River. In an exchange the United States accepted to respect the properties in posetion of the Loyalists, and to allow tax collectors to collect debts that were owed to them.

The Battle of Yorktown (Final Battle)

This was the final battle of War for Independence, and it could be said that it was the shortest one. Before the battle had even started General Cornwallis planed to go to the middle colonies from the South; he was going towards Yorktown to wait for the ships sent by British forces in New York. As he was going North, George Washington and his army along with French were marching South towards Yorktown to attack the British Army. Washington was hoping that the French fleet would arrive in the Chesapeake Bay at the right time to block the entrance of the British ships. 

As they were waiting their occurred a big Naval battle between De Grasse (French) and Admiral Hood (British). That battle ended up with British forces forced to surrender after another French fleet leaded by De Barras (French) arrived. This defeat doomed Cornwallis because he would have no way out of the trap. 

British army was of 9,000 men, but it was outnumbered by the allied forces that were of 19,000 soldiers. Cornwallis made a desesperate attempt to escape from Yorktown but it was useless. On October 17 at 10 A.M. a white flag appeared over the British lines. Later papers were given to Washington to negotiate the British surrender. Next day the ceremony began when British soldiers walked through two lines of allied soldiers. The war was finally over and the Americans won it.

The Siege of Charleston

Charleston Map

British Cannons

The battle of Charleston began on March 20 1779 when British ships enter the harbor of the city. British formed a line and rested when they were 250 yards from the city where General Clinton (British) ordered a bombardment to the city. The result of the bombardment was that every day Patriots lost 10 soldiers. During all the duration of the battle Patriot General Lincoln sent to Clinton terms to surrender, but one time was rejected and two other times Lincoln don’t liked Clinton’s terms until the lost was imminent. The British army won the Battle and captured 5,700 American soldiers and 1,000 sailors. This was the Pariots biggest defeat of the entire war.

Troops position

The Battle of Vincennes

Well al the battle began when in October 7, 1778, a group of 175 settlers and 60 indians left for Vincennes.  They arrived on December 17, 1778, but they actually didn't fight because the fort was only protected by Captain Lord Helm and other three Virginians. Frenchmen surrounded them, and they surrender with firing any shot.

Soldiers walking toward Vincennes

Lt. Colonel Hamilton made a big mistake by believing that no one would attempt to attack the fort so he let the Indians and the militiamen go back to their homes. He lost Vincennes again to the British.
On February 5, 1779 Lt. Colonel Clark gave the order to do an expedition, with the objective of recapturing Vincennes. The trip to Vincennes was very harsh because of the rain that fall down during the Winter. Lt. Clark developed the plan of attacking during the night of the 23rd. Something interesting is that Lt. Hamilton didn't realize they were under attack until he was informed that a Colonel was wounded. During all that night they continued to fire. Hamilton was forced to surrender because reinforcements were 500 miles away. Also because he thoght that they were surrounded by 500 men when they were actually surrounded by 172 men. Lt. Hamilton surrendered on February 25, 1779.

The Battle of Saratoga

Battle map

The Battle of Saratoga occurred during September and October 1777.  The Battle occurred because British forces leaded by Burgoyne wanted to capture Albany, but the American waited them at Bemis Heights (a place chosen by Thaddeus Kosciusko). Bemis Heights was in a perfect spot because in ones side they have the Hudson River and in the other one there was a very dense forest. Burgoyne sent first an attack with 2,000 men leaded by General Fraser. And after that he send a frontal attack on the western part of the Americans. Burgoyne made two attempts to cross the defensive lines, but both failed.

British Attack  on September 19

American attack on October 7

After those attempts he decided to retreat toward Saratoga, but he left all his wounded and most of the supplies at Bemis Heights. After his retreat when he arrived at Saratoga he notice that General Gates was following them, and he realized that there was no way he could support the attack by the Americans that surrounded him. In his last move he called for a Council of War with his officers, and they decided to surrender. At that moment one fourth of British forces were captured, and the victory convinced European powers that an American victory was possible.

Burgoyne surrenders on October 13

The Battle of Princeton

Washingot inspiring his troops to fight

The battle of Princeton occurred on January 3, 1777. At the start general Howe send troops to Trenton to recapture the city. Washington and his army crossed the Delaware again on December 31, 1776. Even though they crossed the Delaware Washington was worried because many of his troops ended their terms on January 1; to avoid staying without troops he promised $10 in bonus to anyone who wanted to stay with him.

General Howe sent 8,000 troops with General Cornwalis to regain Trenton, but Cornwalis mistake was to send frontal attacks to a solid defensive line made by the Americans. During the day in Trenton 500 British soldiers were killed (365 in the frontel attacks and 135 killed by snipers in the road). Overnight Washington and his advisors decided to outflank the British and go to capture Princeton.

When they were arriving to Princeton they found British forces going to Trenton. They started to fight and it looked that the British were going to be, but they returned to Princeton because they were outnumbered. When they were in the city they tried to make a resistance, but it didn’t work. During both days British lost 950 soldiers and Americans only 37.

Washington in his horse

The Battle of Trenton

The Battle of Trenton occurred on December 26, 1776 it was a surprise attack by Washington and his army of 2,400 men. Washington decided to make a last attack before they enter into the winter camp because he didn’t want to lose New Jersey. So Washington made a council that decided that they would attack in the day after Christmas, and will cross the Delaware River in Christmas day without British being able to notice it.

George Washington crossing the Delaware

The town of Trenton was secured by 1,500 Hessians that were commanded by Colonel Rall. In the morning he didn’t send a patrol unit so they never realized that they were going to be attacked. At 8 o’clock in the morning Washington ordered the attack. When they attacked the Hessians tried to resist, but they were surrounded. The Americans killed Colonel Roll, but also killed or injured 150 Hessians, captured 900 of them. 500 Hessians escaped through the Delaware River. 

This was the first victory of the Americans in the war, and it also restored the American morale.

Map with the location of trrops

The Declaration of Independence

Declaring Independence (Finally)

Original Declaration of Independence

You may ask when did the United States of America declared its Independence from Great Britain, and the King. Well for your information America declared its Independence on July 2, 1776, not in July 4, 1776, the day USA celebrate its Independence. The Declaration of Independence is in its majority grievances against the King. The Declaration of Independence was done practically 440 something days after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The draft was made by Thomas Jefferson, and few changes were made by the Continental Congress. The most important of the changes involved the slaves because if they included that in the Declaration the southern colonies would not sign it. The first one to sign the Declaration was John Hancock that was the leader of the Congress. The other ones were:

·        Connecticut:

Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

·        New York:

William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

·        New Jersey:

Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

·        Pennsylvania:

Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

·        Delaware:

Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

·        Maryland:

Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

·        Virginia:

George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

·        North Carolina:

William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

·        South Carolina:

Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

·        Georgia:

Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton.

Second Continental Congress

The first meeting of the Second Continental Congress was on May 10, 1775. It is interesting that in that same date American forces captured Fort Ticonderoga. For this time the President of the Congress was John Hancock, who replaced Peyton Randolph in the charge. Most of the delegates from the First Continental Congress went, and they added Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson as delegates. This time Georgia sent delegates, but unfortunately they arrived until fall. Many of the delegates hoped that the rupture between the colonies and England could be healed.

The major contributions by the Second Continental Congress were:

·        Military Matters: The congress decided to make an army with the colonists outside of Boston, and to name George Washington as the commander-in-chief of the army. They placed him as the commander-in-chief because they wanted the South to help them, and George Washington was from the South.

·        Statements of Position: There were two petitions to England, one for the king and the other one to state that Americans are willing to achieve independence. The petition to the king was the “Olive Branch Petition”, and the other one was the “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms”.

·        Financing the War: They attempted to pay the war by issuing paper certificates and by borrowing money. During the war they have problems paying soldiers and purchasing weapons and supplies.

·        Independence: It was a resolution by Richard Henry Lee where he promoted independence if the public opinion thought it would be necessary.

·        Opening of Diplomatic Channels: They send Silas Deane in 1776 to France for supplies, arms and trained European military officers. After him they send Arthur Lee and Benjamin Franklin to close the Franco-American Alliance.

·        Legislation: They propose in July 1776 the Articles of Confederation, the ratification of the articles concluded until 1781.

There were constant fights between the Southern Colonies and the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies always went from one side to another if 

it was good for them.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord

Remake of the Lexington Battle

The battles of Lexington and Concord occurred during the date of April 19, 1775, when troops of Redcoats went to Lexington to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock, and also went to Concord to destroy Patriots’ weapons and ammunitions.

When the British arrived to Lexington they found a group from 200 to 300 colonists gathered, that have the plan to split and stop the British. A shot was heard and the British respond the firing by shooting and killing seventeen colonists. After this they decided to destroy Patriots’ ammunitions in Concord. When they were destroying the ammunitions the colonists saw the smoke and start reuniting the militia to face the British. British fired killing two colonists, and Americans answered back killing three British.

A representation of the battle was made with LEGO 

At noon British commander Colonel Smith decided to go back to Boston because the work was already done. As they were retreating a group of militiamen followed them and shot at every opportunity they have. The soldiers run as fast as they could to escape until they found the reinforcement leaded by Lord Percy, but after a little time of being there they decided to withdraw to Boston because the militia was too big.

Lord Percy stated that: “Whoever looks upon them as an irregular mob, will find himself very much mistaken. Nor are several of their men void of spirit of enthusiasm as we experienced yesterday, for many of them concealed themselves in houses and advanced within 10 yards to fire at me and other officers, though they were morally certain of being put to death themselves in an instant.”

At the end of the first day of battle the British lost 65 soldiers dead with an addition of other 173 that were wounded. In contrast to the colonists that lost only 49 militiamen dead with an addition of 46 that were wounded.

First Continental Congress

The First Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia's Carpenters Hall. It was held from September 5 until October 26 in 1774. The idea of doing a Continental Congress was of Benjamin Franklin, but for their disgrace it failed because of the closing of the Boston Port by the Boston Port Act. The Boston Port Act was one of the five Acts of the Intolerable (Coercive) Acts.

Of the 13 colonies only twelve sent delegates because Georgia was under attack and they need help from the British army.

Some of the delegates were: George Washington, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, John Jay, and John Dickinson.

The Major Actions took by the Congress were:

·         The Galloway Plan of Union- It urged for the creation of an American parliament to act in concert with the existing British body. The opinion for this was divided.

·         The Suffolk Resolves- They were a series of political statements given to Philadelphia. The majority of the colonies voted in favor of the resolves and against the Galloway Plan.

·         The Association- The Association established boycotts by means of non-importation, non-exportation and non-consumption agreements. To ensure this each colony would have a committee that would tell who is against the agreement.

·         Declaration of Rights and Grievances- The Congress composed a statement of American complaints. It was addressed to King George III, to whom the delegates remained loyal, but not to the Parliament.

·         Future Meeting- They agreed to do a Second Continental Congress if the colonial complains hasn’t been properly addressed. It was later stated that the meeting would be in May of next year.

After all what happened the First Continental Congress was considered as a success by the delegates and the people.

The Boston Tea Party

 In few words we can say that the Boston Tea Party was provoked because of the duties on tea of the Townshend Acts, and also for the Tea Act of 1773. The Tea Act allowed the East India Company to sell tea to the colonies at a lower price than the smuggled tea they buy.

In the date of November 28, 1773 three ships arrived from the East India Company that were the Dartmouth, the Beaver, and the Eleanor. To avoid the ships of downloading the tea the Sons of Liberty start making trouble so the governor decided not to download the cargo. The Tea Act stated that the money should be collected twenty days after the arrival of the ships, making the deadline for December 16.

When the date arrived the Dartmouth asked for permission to leave the port, but it was denied because of the nonpayment of the tax. Samuel Adams gave the order and around fifty men disguised as Mohawk Indians placed the cargo of the three ships on the decks, and threw 342 chests of tea into the Harbor. This action would bring terrible consequences to the colonists.

Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770, and it is said to be a street fight between a quad of British soldiers and a mob of colonists. The colonists throw stones, sticks, and snowballs to the soldiers. At the beginning the leader of the squad said to hold fire, but it is said that one of the soldiers slip and fired his weapon to the colonists. After this action the rest of the squad open fire against the mob.

The result of the massacre was of 3 colonists killed instantly, and 8 wounded of which 2 of them died later. For a final result of 5 dead colonists. The colonists that died immediately were Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, and James Caldwell. The other colonists were Samuel Maverick and Patrick Karr. Only two of the soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter.

The Sons of Liberty

The name "Sons of Liberty" started when Isaac Barré referred that American rebels opposing the Acts were "Sons of Liberty". 

So some radical groups took that name. The first group named "Sons of Liberty" was formed in New York in the fall of 1765. Their most remembered act is when they destroyed a Theater and with the wood they started a great bonfire. The sons of liberty organized demonstrations, enforced boycotts, and occasionally made violent protests.

Sons of Liberty Logo

The Sons of Liberty also have a group in Massachusetts headed by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. The Sons of Liberty in Massachusetts were the most conflictive ones because they protested for everything they can.

Similar groups were formed in other colonies like the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia.

The Sons of Liberty disappear in the colonies after the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1765, but it revived when the Townshend Acts were passed in 1767. Since that moment they fought for the Independence. They also played a prominent role in setting up the First Continental Congress in 1774.

The Stamp Act

The main reason of why Parliment passed the Stamp Act was that they wanted to gain money to pay the debt they have after the French and Indian War. It was passed in March 1765 by the Parliament and announced by the Prime Minister George Greenville. He announced that the Act will become effective in the colonies on November 1. 

The Stamp 

The Stamp Act stated that there should be used stamped paper to be sure that the colonists have paid the taxes. The stamps were placed in legal documents, newspapers, books, diplomas, almanacs and playing cards. The funds of the tax were going to be used to pay the British soldiers protecting the colonies. 

The Sugar and Quartering Act

Sugar Act

The Sugar Act was passed by the Parliament in April 5, 1764. It was a modified version of the Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733 that was about to expire. It was a modified version of it because it changed the tax from six pence per gallon to only three. This changed occurred because the colonial merchants evaded the tax, and for the intention to make the colonists realize that the English goods were cheaper than those produced in the French West Indies. This Act also listed other items that would be taxed like sugar, certain wines, coffee, cambric and printed calico. It also regulated the exports of lumber and iron.

In contrast to the Sugar Act the Quartering Act was passed in March 1765. The main purpose of this Act was to force each colonial assembly to provide the basic needs to the soldiers that were protecting them. Those items included bedding, cooking utensils, firewood, beer and candles. During the Stamp Act more soldiers were sent to the colonies, or were moved from western posts. That movement enables the Indians to regain some land that was lost. The Act was changed in 1766 where it required placing soldiers in taverns or in unoccupied houses.

Arrival of British troops 

Causes of the Revolution

Many of the causes of the Revolution come after the French and Indian War. One of that reasons is that because the war was to gave their colonies more land they actually doubled their National debt, and because of the debt of the country they decided to tax the colonies. The only problem in the British plan was that the colonists were not happy with the taxes because they said that they did not have a representation on the British Parliament so they will not pay a Tax. The colonists agreed that they will pay the taxes that they decided th choose. The taxes that cause the colonists to get angry were the Sugar Act, the Quartering Act, and the Stamp Act.

The French and Indian War 1754-1763

The French and Indian War is also knowns as the Seven-Year war between English andFrench with the help of the Native Indians. The war started in 1754 when Major George Washington ordered his man to open fire against a French scouting party. During the first two years of the war the French and Indians defeated almost always the British forces. The biggest victory for British forces was the victory over the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The result of the Battle allowed the British to capture the French city of Quebec. The next year they captured Montreal, and with that the war in North America came to an end. In February 10, 1763, the war was officially over when both parts signed the Treaty of Paris. That stated that France have to gave all their territories in North America, west of the Mississippi River.