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The Causes of the Revolution
The roots of the American Revolution can be traced to the year 1763 when British leaders began to tighten imperial reins. Once harmonious relations between Britain and the colonies became increasingly conflict-riven. Britain’s land policy prohibiting settlement in the West irritated colonists as did the arrival of British troops. The most serious problem was the need for money to support the empire.
Attempts through the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts to raise money rather than control trade met with growing resistance in the colonies. Tensions increased further after Parliament passed the Coercive Acts and the First Continental Congress took the first steps toward independence from Britain. Before the colonies gained independence, they had to fight a long and bitter war.
Lieut. Colonel Smith, 10th Regiment Foot
Sir:
Having received intelligence, that a quantity of Ammunition, Provision, Artillery, Tents and
small arms, have been collected at Concord, for the Avowed Purpose of raising and supporting
a Rebellion against His Majesty, you will March with the Corps of Grenadiers and Light
Infantry, put under your command, with the utmost expedition and Secrecy to Concord,
where you will seize and destroy all artillery, Ammunition, Provisions, Tents, Small Arms, and
all Military Stores whatever. But you will take care that the Soldiers do not plunder the
inhabitants, or hurt private property.
Watch from 1:00-3:32
The battle of Saratoga took place on the fields of upstate New York, nine miles south of the town of Saratoga. In accordance with British plans, General John Burgoyne was attempting to invade New England from Canada with the goal of isolating New England from the rest of the United States. Burgoyne had under his command an army of 7,200 troops with which he hoped to establish British dominance throughout the state of New York. Opposing Burgoyne was General Horatio Gates with a force of 9,000 soldiers, later joined by 2,000 additional troops. The ensuing battle was divided into two encounters, the first on September 19 and the second on October 7.
The first on September 19, 1777, also known as the Battle of Freeman’s Farm, took place when the British attacked the
entrenched Americans. Because Benedict Arnold anticipated the British maneuver, however, a significant contingent of American forces had been placed between the British and the main body of the American army. While the British managed in the end to overrun the Americans, their losses were significant. Almost 600 British soldiers were killed or wounded, which was roughly twice the American losses.
Before the second battle occurred, Burgoyne waited in vain for reinforcements, and by October 7, concluding he wait no longer, he launched a second attack. This time, the American forces held against the British assault and were able to counterattack to regain any lost ground. Burgoyne and his troops, defeated, began a march to the town of Saratoga where they entrenched themselves once again in hopes of escaping. Within a fortnight, however, Gates's army had surrounded them and forced them to surrender.
The Battle of Saratoga is often called the turning point of the American Revolution because the defeat of the British encouraged France to enter into a military alliance with the newly formed United States. Although the French were already supplying the Continental Army with weapons, and had been impressed by Washington's resourcefulness and favorable reports by German Johann de Kalb, they were concerned by the capture of Philadelphia. Saratoga convinced the French government that the Americans could fight against disciplined military units and win. On February 6, 1778, the French government signed accords with Benjamin Franklin and the other American envoys in Paris that recognized America's Declaration of Independence and pledged full military and financial support. Had the Americans not won at Saratoga, the French would not have supplied the troops or the French Navy that made victory at Yorktown possible. In bringing France into the war against Britain, Saratoga also brought France's allies, Spain and Holland, into the conflict. The American victory at Saratoga turned the American Revolution into a global war that Britain could not win.
https://vimeo.com/227429137
Trial video
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
-Thomas Jefferson
To understand political power aright, we must consider what state all men are naturally
in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions and dispose of their
possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature;
without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man. . . .
The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason,
which is that law, teaches all mankind, that being all equal and independent, no one
ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men [are] all the
workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise Maker; all the servants of one
sovereign master, sent into the world by his order, and about his business. . . .
-John Locke
Follow the link and answer the questions
http://sageamericanhistory.net/colonies_empire/topics/enlighten.htm