IB Bussen

First of all this was group work and the thing is that the members were stupid, except of me, so the whole things isnt made just by me;



The American Revolution
Or
The American War of independence
1775-1783





Roots

In the beginning of the European industrialization (17 Th century), the Europeans lived on the country side, in their small houses, they were poor, they starved and froze. A golden news reached Europe. It was America, which contained gold and it was a good opportunity to get a new life start. The Europeans started to colonize the new land, that later became USA. The people here lived on the country side, for themselves and without a special leader. At the same time the European nations explored every new part of the world and even struggled to own as much land as possible. The need of leadership in America attracted the interests of Great Britain and France. Also through this way, conflicts were born between the two countries. The conflicts switched into war later on, a war that would last for seven years. During the war Great Britain protected the colonists because they wanted to use them later on in the future. When GB defeated France, they took control over the North American continent.









The Thirteen Colonies

The British North America was divided by the Englishmen into 13 different colonies. Every colony had a certain leader, a governor controlled by the British parliament, so the colonists had no word to say in this situation! They forced also the whole American trade to be British.
The English manipulation led to a struggle for independence.
The term is used for the colonies of British North America that joined together in the American Revolution against the mother country adopted the Declaration of Independence (1776) and became The United States of America.
The thirteen states are also called the 13 original states.


Causes and Early Trouble

In the middle of the 18 Th centuries, differences in life, thought and interests had developed between the mother country and the growing colonies. Social customs, religious beliefs and economic interests added to the potential sources of conflict.
The British government, like other imperial power in that time, favored a policy of mercantilism (only money, material!), for example The Navigation Acts that were intended to regulate commerce in the interest of the British. The colonies were enforced but allowed to develop freely with a little interference from GB.
When the colonies wanted to become independent the conditions changed abruptly (1763).
The ministry of George Greenville in GB undertook a new colonial policy intended to tighten political control over the colonies. That meant that the colonies hat to pay for own defense and return the revenue to the mother country. When the colonies get very upset, they stopped
the entire trade with GB. To show who the boss was, the British, taxed everything. The Stamp Act taxed practically everything imaginable. This Act was replaced with The Declaratory Act which gave GB the authority to tax whatever they wanted, except for tee.




The War

The decision of the British about the taxing policy, led to The Boston Tea Party. A couple of colonists sneaked on 3 British ships uploaded with tee. They threw the tea abroad and later refused to pay for it and when the colony Massachusetts made up an own government, the war started.
The shot heard round the world, fired at Lexington, April 20, 1775, started The War of Independence and it ended eight and a half years later.
The people that fought in the revolution were: Americans and British.

The Americans were divided into four groups, pro and anti:

The patriots--- also called as rebels, congress men and Whigs. About 40-50% of the population, they fought pro America.
The Loyalists--- the people that supported the British crown, about 20-25% of the population.
The Blacks---served for the Americans
The Native Americans---the most of the joined the British

The British---33% of the British were hired German merchant called, Hessians.








Indecision and Declaration

During the war, some British delegates tried to declare the “dangerous” colonies independent.
The time was indecision and the division of the people was symbolized by the great split between Benjamin Franklin and his loyalist son, William.
In 1776, Thomas Paire wrote a pamphlet, Common Sense, which urged the colonial cause. Its influence was tremendous, but militarily did not prosper greatly. The British gave up Boston, March 1776.
Thomas Paire wrote another pamphlet, The Crisis. It exhorted the revolutions and gave the population courage in desperate days. Washington showed its increasing militarily skill and helped to restore colonial spirits, by crossing the ice ridden Delaware and winning small victories over forces made up mostly of Hessian mercenaries at Trenton and Princeton.
The British gave up Boston in 1776.


Foreign Assistance


When the colonists settled almost at stagnation, foreign aid was finally arriving. Pierre de Beaumarchais had succeeded in getting arms and supplies sent to the colonies in time, helping the victory over the Battle at Saratoga. The French help was two years late and it was also a rematch on neutral territory. The victory made it easier for France to enter upon an alliance with USA.
Spain entered the war against GB, in 1779, but their help did little for the United States, while French soldiers, sailors, supplies and money were of crucial importance.
The Declaration of Independence declared the independence of the 13 colonies and is conventionally dated, 4 July, 1776. July 4, is even today a vital day for the Americans and is also the national day.


Aftermath

The Treaty of Paris formally recognized the new nation, 1783, although very many questions were left unsettled.
The States went through a depression and met its administrative problems under The Articles of Confederation
The American Revolution had a great influence on liberal thought in Europe. The struggles and successes of the youthful democracy were much in the minds of those who brought about the French Revolution etc.
The leader of the colonists became later America’s first president.
This revolution was the most terrible and significant out of the ten that the American population went through.


The End