The French Alliance

The alliance America created with France proved to be a turning point in the war. The French still very upset with the loss to Brittan were eager to in some way seek revenge. In 1776 Comte De Vergennes, the French foreign minister, persuaded King Louis the XVI to give the colonies a secret loan of supplies which were much needed. On the front line for the Americans Benjamin Franklin began to seek an alliance with the French. Skeptical at first the French did not want to commit to losing cause but when the news hit Paris of the victory of Saratoga, the French agreed to a formal alliance with the colonies. One of the underlined agreements for aide from the French would allow the French access to the great American west after the war.
The British were quick to act by repealing all former taxes in hope to end the lingering war. The colonist were devoted to their cause and rejected the offers. Without the alliance with the French the war would have not been won by the colonies.

The American "Path to Victory"

Our book states many components to "The Path to Victory", that the Patriots took in the Revolutionary War. The book states Patriot Advantages, such as, having 2/3 of the American population supporting the war to some extent, whether it be 1/3 of the population unwavering support of the Patriots, the other 1/6 of the population, who did not "completely" agree or support the Patriots, but still paid taxes, or the 1/6 of the population who joined the Patriot Militia. We are all in college, so you should be able to see how(by adding 2/6 A.K.A. 1/3(population that was unwavering) plus 1/6(population that paid taxes that supported the war effort) plus 1/6(population that joined the Patriot Militia), which in turn equals the fraction 4/6's A.K.A. 2/3's) I came to the fraction 2/3's. Another advantage was the fact that the Continental Army was lead by George Washington, in my opinion one the greatest risk taking Generals ever. Not only did he lead the Continental Army, but Washington was heavily supported by the governing bodies that ran each state, and by Congress, because he "deferred to civil authorities. And the most important advantage was the fact that unlike the British generals, Washington COULD make mistakes, because most of the local governments were ran by "Who else?", but the Patriots. And because of this they could, at anytime especially when it was crucial to the victory, call for and "mobilize the rural militia to assist his(Washington's) Continental Army. The biggest component, the alliance between the U.S. and France. The Treaty of Alliance of February 1778 combined the need for a patriot ally, and one of the most powerful military and trade nations in the world. The treaty stated that there would be an agreement between the states and France, that neither would sign a peace agreement with another country until the "liberty,sovereignty, and independence of the U.S. was garunteed. This alliance somewhat pumped up the morales of the Continental Army and the Patriot militia. The french wanted redemption on Britian, and in turn would help with the giving of soldiers and supplies to the U.S. This help from the French would be seen in many influential and critical victories on the part of the states, especially in the Battle of Yorktown in October 1781. Where Washington strategic final plan would pay off. Washington announced that he would attack New York and when he did so he planned to recapture the city. But it was a mock announcement, he was really leading GeneralRochambeaus army from Rhode Island to Virginia to sneak up on General Cornwallis whos troops were suffering from the war of attrition. At the same time, numerous French naval boats came together off the coast, taking over the Chesapeak Bay. It was to late when Cornwallis figured out what was actually happening, he was already surrounded by19,000 American and French troops. He soon surrendered. I have 2 questions for you. Could the U.S. of won the Revolution without George Washington? What about without France? I personally think they couldn't have done it without the presence of each one.

Saratoga Victory

The British planned to isolate the New England colonies. In order to do this General John Burgoyne was sent from the Lake Champlain to the Hudson river. While this was going on Colonel Barry St. Leger would attack from the west and General Howe would would send troops North from New York City. Howe however decided to attack Philadelphia and end the war with a victory over Washington's army. Leading to the defeat of Burgoyne's army. Making it to the Hudson river they were stalled at Saratoga, and raided Bennington, Vermont. They were then attacked my American militiamen. The troops that were supposed to be sent to New York were sent to Philidelphia leaving Burgoyne's army helples, forced to surrender.

This victory led to the French joining the colonists in their battle for independence eventually helping them to win the war. If General Howe had not made his decision to go to Philadelphia instead of to New York would the war have turned out the same way? Was this war won because of British military mistakes?

Common Sense

Common Sense was a pamphlet wrote by Thomas Paine. He states that: "Monarchy and heredity succession have laid the world in blood and ashes" (170). He also calls the King George III a Pharoh of England. Paine is a huge influence on how people see independence. He takes quotes from the bible and mixes them with insults directed at the king. He also states: "A government of our own is our natural right...'Tis time to part" (171).

Thomas Paine's pamphlet went on to have twenty-five editions. Thousands of people read it andd it opened up their minds on the importance of independence. Do you believe that Thomas Paine inspired Thomas Jefferson when he wrote the Declaration of Independence? Do you think that it greatly inspired Washington's troops to keep fighting the war? If you lived during this time period would you have favored this pamphlet and set forth for independence?

Qould We Have Avoided The War?

Could we have avoided the war?
I believe that we couldn't of avoided the war because as Americans we like choice and the British were defending their honor. British Ministry did not accept William Pitts suggestion on 1) making the Continental Congress a lawful body and 2) Renouncing British taxing power. Things were then made worse with the Coercive Acts which included 1)Port Bill 2)Government Act 3)Quartering Act and 4)Justice Act. Congress reacted with the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and the Intolerable Acts to be repealed by Sept. 1775. If both the British and Americans would of compromised the war could of been postponed but not avoided. Communication between the British and Americans was seldom and arrogance also played a big role. The Americans believed they were citizens while the British did not believe this which also caused tension.
Do you believe we could of avoided the war or was it too late at this point in history?

Unification in the Colonies

What marked the end of the French and Indian War was just the beginning stages leading to the American Revolution. Due to the expenses of this war, the British were over their heads in debt. They decided what better way to alleviate this deficit than to tax the American colonies left and right.
The extensive taxation started with proposal of the Sugar Act of 1764 by George Grenville, the prime minister at the time. Originally, Grenville wanted 6 pence per gallon, but eventually agreed to make it 3. This act was thoroughly ignored through bribing customs officials. The Stamp Act of 1765 was put into action to help fund the British military stationed in the colonies. It placed a tax on all legal documents, newspapers, playing cards, and other printed items. Later that year, representatives from nine colonial assemblies got together for the Stamp Act Congress in New York City. This is the first time we see a strong, unified force in the colonies. Mobs, calling themselves the Sons of Liberty, caused this act to crumble through force and intimidation. Since William Pitt frequently missed Parliament sessions due to sickness, Charles Townshend, the head of the Treasury, was left in charge. He came up with the Townshend Act of 1767 to feed his financial (and political) desires. This was to impose taxes on pretty much everything the colonies got from Britain (that they didn't have themselves)- tea, paper, red and white lead, glass, etc. The tax the British people paid on these items was lifted and put on to the colonists. Ultimately, these Navigation Acts were what escalated the levels of hostility, leading to the American Revolution. If any of these imperial decisions were made differently, could the revolution have been avoided? Or would it just have postponed the inevitable?

The First Continental Congress

In September 1774, twelve men met in Philadelphia for the first meeting of the Continental Congress. The meeting was set up to discuss issues of parliament control over the colonies. Mainly, the Congress set up plans that would retaliate against Britian's economy. They told Parliament to repeal the Intolerable Acts by September 1775 or they would cut off all colonial exports to Britian, Ireland, and the West Indies. Many British leaders wanted compromise, including William Pitt who suggested that Parliament should give up their power to tax the colonies.

The Congress infuriated British Parliament with these demands and identifed them as an illegal assembly. Lord North set some demands of his own. His terms stated that Americans had to recognize Parliaments power to tax them. He also set up a naval blockade that ceased all colonial exports to other countries besides Britian. This was the beginning of the road to independence and the colonies governing themselves.