title page The American Revolution National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior 1 Table of Contents Setting the Stage 5 by Jimmy Carter Revolutionary War Timeline 6 In Search of the American Revolution 17 by Charlene Mires “Collection of Memories” 19 The Path Toward Independence 26 by Pauline Maier “Volumes Had Been Written…” 46 “Principles, Opinions, Sentiments, & Affections” 47 The War for Independence 49 by Don Higginbotham “Useful Lessons” 50 “The Die is Now Cast” 65 Forgotten Americans 73 by Gary B. Nash “Silken Slippers…Wooden Shoes” 80 “Discover, Uncover, Rediscover, and Recover” 97 The Revolution’s Legacy 99 by Gordon S. Wood “Moved to a New Resolve” 101 “If Men Were Angels” 116 “E Pluribus Unum?” 117 “A Political Duty of Grave Importance” 118 Related Sites 119 Index 126 Image Sources 128 Acknowledgments 129 2 3 The American Revolution opened a new chapter in human history. For the first time, a nation made two moral and philosophical principles the basis of government and society: that all men are created equal and that all the powers of government are derived from the consent of the governed. The decision by three million American colonists to stake their future on the principles of equality and The Revolution was representative government has shaped the nation’s effected before the history over more than two centuries. War commenced. America has not always lived up to the ideals of The Revolution was the Declaration of Independence, but those ideals in the minds and have never been eclipsed. They have served as guiding hearts of the people; beacons, available to backwoods revolutionaries from a change in their Georgia to Massachusetts and later to Abraham religious sentiments Lincoln, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Martin Luther of their duties King, Jr., to call upon in extending the benefits of and obligations. liberty and equality to all citizens. Beyond that, This radical change America’s founding principles have captured the in the principles, imagination of freedom-loving people the world over. opinions, sentiments, In this volume, in essays that address the back­ and affections of ground of the Revolution, the war itself, lesser-known the people, was the participants in the struggle, and its legacy, historians real American offer their perspectives on the American Revolution. Revolution. The essays are meant to provide a broad context for the —John Adams stories told by the National Park Service at its many Setting the Stage American Revolution sites. I hope that the material in this handbook will enhance your visits to these irreplaceable historic places. The American Revolution set the stage for the development of the United States. We only can benefit from continuing to study and reflect upon its multiple meanings and lasting legacies. —Jimmy Carter, President of the United States, 1977-1981 page 4 4 5 Revolutionary War Timeline British North America, 1775 June 17 At the Battle of Bunker 1775 “Rage Militare” Hill (Breed’s Hill), Massachusetts, On the eve of the Revolution the the British seize their objective, patriots succeeded in organizing but suffer severe casualties. a home defense; militias stood July 3 George Washington mobilized and ready. Fighting assumes command of the broke out at Lexington and Continental Army in Concord, Massachusetts, on Massachusetts. April 19. At the Battle of Bunker Hill in June, the patriots lost, July 5 Continental Congress but learned that they could adopts Olive Branch Petition in stand against British regulars. effort to reconcile differences Soon after, George Washington with Britain. assumed command of the newly Mid-July Continental Army created Continental Army. encamps at Cambridge, April 19 Battles of Lexington Massachusetts. and Concord, Massachusetts, August 28 Hoping to gain a occur. A rallying militia drives fourteenth colony to aid in fight October 1768 British soldiers British back in retreat to Boston. against Britain, patriots begin a arrive in Boston to enforce campaign to capture Quebec, compliance with new regulations. May 10 Second Continental Congress convenes in Canada. March 5, 1770 “Boston Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. October 13 Congress authorizes Massacre.” King’s troops kill five Continental Navy. civilians before British back off Fort Ticonderoga, New York, and troops leave Boston. All captured by Ethan Allen and October 18 British Naval forces Townshend duties removed Benedict Arnold. bombard and burn Falmouth, except for tax on tea. May 11 Battle of Crown Point, Maine. December 16, 1773 Chests of New York. November King George III tea destroyed in protest at June 14 Congress establishes rejects Olive Branch Petition. Boston “Tea Party.” Continental Army. November 7 Lord Dunmore, March-June 1774 Coercive Acts June 15 Congress appoints Royal Governor of Virginia, offers close port of Boston, bring George Washington as freedom to slaves who join Massachusetts’s government commander-in-chief. Crown forces. under crown control, and allow November 10 Congress estab­ Early Americans had made the Increasingly, resistance leaders October 7, 1763 Proclamation for quartering of British troops lishes Continental Marines. on private property. risky Atlantic crossing seeking a banded together. The stage for of 1763 bars settlement west of November 14 General Richard better life, adventure, religious the Revolution was set. the Appalachian Mountains. September-October 1774 Montgomery’s forces occupy freedom and political autonomy. April 5, 1764 Sugar Act imposes First Continental Congress meets Montreal. They built a society in the New stricter trade regulation and in Philadelphia and approves World and for generations ran 1763-1774 December 9 Patriots defeat duties on sugar and molasses. collective strategy to deal with it with little outside meddling. February 10, 1763 The Treaty Coercive Acts. Declare common British at Great Bridge, Virginia. After the French and Indian War, of Paris ends Seven Years’ War March 22, 1765 Stamp Act grievances and adopt compre­ December 30 George Britain initiated policies aimed (French and Indian War). Left in places tax on printed matter and hensive boycotts of British goods. Washington orders recruiting at bringing the colonists under debt from war, Great Britain legal documents. October 1774 “Minute Man” officers to allow free blacks to closer control. Tensions grew. looks to colonies for revenue to June 29, 1767 Townshend companies formed. join the Continental Army. Many Americans stood firm in pay for future colonial protection. Revenue Acts create new import December 31 Battle of Quebec, their belief that the King had duties for the colonists. suspended their natural rights. Canada. 6 7 March 2 Americans fortify May 10 Congress authorizes September Congress appoints December 19 Thomas Paine January 6 Continental Army 1776 Independence? Dorchester Heights, each of the thirteen colonies to Arthur Lee and Benjamin Franklin publishes The Crisis, which helps enters second winter encamp­ Massachusetts, using cannon form new state governments. to assist Silas Deane in diplomatic rekindle the fires of liberty during ment of the war at Morristown, While pens declared political brought from Fort Ticonderoga mission to France. the darkest hour of the New Jersey. independence on paper, the June 7 Virginia delegate by artillery chief, Henry Knox. Revolution. cause was nearly lost on the Richard Henry Lee offers a formal May After facing defeat by battlefield. Thomas Paine’s March 3 Congress appoints resolution calling for American December 25 With army patriot militia along the southern Common Sense won many over Silas Deane as diplomatic agent independence. enlistment about to expire at frontier, Cherokee Indians are to the cause. Congress took to France, in hopes of securing year’s end, Washington must act. forced from their land in South June 12 Congress appoints a the dramatic step of declaring military aid. Continental Army begins daring Carolina. committee to prepare a draft of a independence from Britain in Christmas night crossing of the March 3–4 Continental Navy working government entitled the May 28 Continental Army leaves July. After being pushed to the Delaware River. and Marines raid on the British Articles of Confederation. Morristown, New Jersey, brink, the Continental Army’s colony of Nassau, Bahamas, December 26 Washington’s encampment. daring Delaware River crossing June 28 Jefferson presents his yields quantities of valuable victory over the Hessians at and victory over the Hessians at draft of the Declaration of June British under General military stores. Trenton, New Jersey, gives new Trenton gave new life to the cause. Independence to Congress. John Burgoyne begin lake-route life to the cause. In the coming March 17 American siege forces invasion from Canada. January 1 British thwart American defenders repulse year, Congress and Washington British to evacuate Boston. Montgomery and Arnold's British attack at Fort Sullivan build an army for the war based July 6 British force Americans to assault on Quebec; invasion of (Fort Moultrie), Charleston, on long-term enlistment. abandon Fort Ticonderoga. September 12 Washington Canada fails. South Carolina. evacuates New York City. July 20 After struggle with January 5 New Hampshire June–July British armada arrives patriot forces along the Carolina September 16 Americans hold At What Price? becomes the first colony to in New York carrying over 30,000 1777 and Georgia frontiers, Cherokee off British at the Battle of Harlem declare full independence. British and Hessian troops In 1777, the Americans cut short give up land in western North intending to crush the rebellion. Heights, New York. a British plan to divide and Carolina. January 19 Thomas Paine conquer the colonies. The British July 2 Continental Congress September 22 British hang July 27 Marquis de Lafayette publishes Common Sense. surrendered a large force to votes in favor of Richard Henry patriot Nathan Hale for spying. arrives in Philadelphia to the Continental Army after the Lee’s resolution for independence. volunteer for the American October 11–12 British overpower battles of Saratoga in New York, cause.