Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams was born on November 11, 1744 and died in October 28, 1818  in Quincy Massachusetts, was the wife of John Adams, who was the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams. On her mother side she was descended from the Quincy family, a well known political family in the Massachusetts colony, her father, William Smith a liberal Congregationalist. Abigail Adams is remembered for the many letters she wrote to her husband while he stayed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the Continental Congresses she wrote a letter in March 1776 saying to "remember the ladies," and to treat them with more respect.
Abigail say that married women should have the ability to obtain their own property just like men and also single women are allowed to do it. Abigail Adams believed that women should be educated just as men.
Her husband, unfortunately, didn't amend to her wishes, even though they had an amicable relationship.
 Adams died of typhoid fever. She is buried beside her husband in a crypt located in the United First Parish Church and her last words were, "Do not grieve, my friend, my dearest friend. I am ready to go. And John, it will not be long."

The Battle of York Town

During the year of 1781, Lord Cornwallis was frustrated because even though he was winning most of the battles in the southern colonies he still did not win the colonies of the south. One day Lord Cornwallis decided to march up to York town, Virginia. In york town he was going to wait for weapons, and more men to come from the city of new york to come down through the York River. Meanwhile all this was planned, George Washington was planning to trap Lord Cronwallis men in york town and make him surrendor, for this he count with a French fleet that would block the ports. When Cornwallis got to York town he was trapped by a French troop that would wait for the Continental Army and for the French fleet to have the perfect timing and block the ports. Affortunetly they had a perfect timing. So ports were blocked and troops were trapped, there was really no battle just fights. Cornwallis saw it impossible to leave the city so in November of 1781 he decided to surrender and this was when the war was finally over. 

France Allies with the Patriots

During the American Revolution patriots or the Continental Army was a very weak group of people. They were not professional fighters, had no training nor weapons for them to fight, but they had two very important aspects, they were all fighting for one reason, independence while british soldiers where fighting for money. Another very important aspect  was the help they got from the French. 
French entered the war after "The Battle of Saratoga" in 1778. French wanted to defeat the British Army which was the most powerful of that time. They helped Patriots in many aspects during their fight for independence, french Generals trained the farmers of the continental army they sent weapons and soldiers to help fight the battle. 
One of the most important things French did for Patriots was that, George Washington wanted to trap General Cornwallis in Virginia when he was marching back to the north from the battles of the south that left the general frustrated. So a French troop trapped the in Yorktown in June waiting for a French fleet to block the ports and Washington's Army to march down. Washington and the French fleet had the right army, the port was blocked and Cornwallis decided to surrender. 

Bernardo de Gálvez

Bernardo de Galvez was born on July 23, 1746, Málaga,  and  he die November 30, 1786, Mexico City  was a Spanish military leader and the general of Spanish forces in New Spain who served as governor of Louisiana and Cuba. His birth date is celebrated as Gálvez Day in a few cities across the United States and has been recognized as a day of commemoration by individuals and state congresses.On Spanish were into the war , Gálvez took direct action against the British, and in three brilliant campaigns drove them out of West Florida securing control of the mouth of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico for Spain. Of all his exploits in this period, the most famous was his conquest of Pensacola, in Florida, in May 1781. At the end of the war he returned to Spain to receive a hero's welcome promotion to the rank of major general appointment as captain general of Louisiana, East and West Florida, and Cuba and elevation to the of New Spain. In 1785 That same year, however, he won the thanks of the American government for his part in releasing American merchants being held at Havana.

Proclamation of 1763

The Proclamation was declared in October 7 1763, by King George III following Great Britain acquisition after the end of the French and Indian War. In the fall of 1763, the proclamation prohibited the North American colonists from establishing or maintaining settlements west of an imaginary line running down the Appalachian Mountains. The proclamation closed off the frontier to colonial expansion. The King and his council presented the proclamation as a measure to calm the fears of the Indians, who felt that the colonists would drive them from their lands as they expanded west. The proclamation provided that all lands west. This excluded the rich Ohio Valley and all territory from the Ohio to the Mississippi rivers from settlement. Proclamation have constitutional application to all of Canada.In the United States, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 ended with the American Revolutionary War because Great Britain ceded the land in question to the United States in the Treaty of Paris 1783.

The Continental Army

     The Continental Army or the Amercan Colonial Army had no marked socialrank but it was a mixture between common laborers, skilled workers and property owners, none of them were trying to escape a political or social problem but were all fighting and working to have a better future and being a Independent Country. Waged for serving the militia (as they were commonly called) were not payed until death or unil the soldier had served the time he could. In case of death the money or wage given passed on to his family. In the beggining the support for supply was given by England, but during the revolutionary war their only support was from wealthy people, that supported the cause but couldn't go and fight such as John Hancock , and other countries who wanted to defeat England´s Army such as France and Spain. The few weapons they had were hunting muskets which they owned personally, in many cases soldiers didn't have uniforms or shoes to wear. They had only a few uniforms and fewer replacements, most soldiers, well the ones that could payed their own uniforms and supplies. The Colonial militia learned methods from the british but used the methods Native Americans used, suhc as hiding in rocks, trees and bushes which made them hard to be seen y the British. The colonial stragedy was shoot, run ,hide, shood and sneak around.Colonial Army won the support of France and Spain after the war of Saratoga.E The militia soldiers were not well trained or well dressed but they had the great advantage of George Washington as their leader, and the advantage that they weere fighting because they wanted to be free and independent, and for the most precios thing to them, their homeland. Even though the army passed through hard times, harsh winters, and lost many battles the Became heroes not of a country or nation but of the world by giving the example of fighting for their own INDEPENDENCE.

The British Army

The British Army, was the most powerful army in their time. The ones who joined the army were low laborers, beggers and even thiefs trying to escape going to prison, in times of war the salary was alot better so many men would join, leave their family to get well payed. British Army was characterized by their traditional way of fighting and their beautiful and elegant un uniforms. They used to fight by standing in 3 rows, the first row would kneel down with their Brown Bess (the name given to the weapon they used that was a lintlock musket with a long barrel for shooting) in their arm. The second and third row were standign with their brown bess on their head and the shooted in order. They were not likely to shoot unless they were told to and it was necessary.

Their elegant unidorms consisted of a bright red coat with shiny buttons which gave them the name of "Red Coats". A ruffled shirt and tight leggings, with high black boots and a tall black hat. This uniform made all soldiers a visible target, but their training and bravery made them the most powerful army of the time.

Battle of Trenton

The Battle Of trenton was on December 26,1776 during the Amercian revolutionary War. It was Americans against Hessians and British Troops.The size of the armies were2,400 American troops with 18 guns. 1,400 Hessians with 6 light guns. Both sides were armed with muskets and guns.On the evening  Washington with 2,500 soldiers crossed the Delaware River in a snow storm. The river was cover with  ice. They caught the British soldiers sleeping, killing over one hundred men and taking another thousand prisoners.Washington had hoped to strike under the cover of darkness, but the difficulties encountered and  they attack until about 8 a.m. on the 26th. Washington’s force did not reach the east bank until around 3am. His soldiers were badly clothed and many did not have shoes.The Hessian commander was Coronel Rahl.

The Hessians attempted to form in the town but were under fire . The Americans occupied the houses and shot down the German gunners and foot soldiers during which Colonel Rahl was fatally wounded.Rahl troops went  to an orchard in the South East of the town where they surrendered.The Americans suffered 4 wounded casualties and  two American soldiers froze to death. The Hessians suffered 20 killed and around 100 wounded. 1,000 were captured.

The Second Continental Congress

The second Congress managed the colonial war effort, and moved incrementally to independence, adopting the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
The first continental congress was in october 26,1774 and they agreed to meet again on May 5-1775 this second continental C. was after the battles at Lexington and Concord.
some of the delegates were Samuel Adams-John Adams-Benjamin Franklin-John Hancock-Patrick Henry and George W. they were dicussing what to do about the British Parliament.
Some delegates wanted immediate independence no matter what the cost. Others were still loyal to King  and even though they did not like the British taxation without representation, they wanted to avoid an a war with England.
They wanted to tell King  that they wanted peace. John Dickinson wrote "The Olive Branch Petition" and made suggestions on how to solve the problems. King George would not read it, because in his mind it was an illegal document made by an illegal congress.They made decisions when and where to attack the British and how to protect themselves. And they were 50 members in the Second Continental Congress.
The congress still called itself the Continental Congress. It would be the Confederation Congress that would supervise the conclusion of the American Revolution.

The Common Sense

The Common Sense a book published by Thomas Paine in January of 1776. The book became an instant best-seller both in Europe and in the colonies. It went through several edicions in Philadelphia and was published all through the United States. Because of this book was that Paine became famous. People caleed "The Common Sense" the most influential tract of the American Revolution, and it became one of the most brilliant pamphlets ever written in the English language. The Common Sense had important points that led to the revolutions. First, it said that America had the moral responsability of inmediatly declaring independece, this way being an example to the rest of the world, the book was a guide in the American Declaration of Independence. Paine believed on sovereignty of the people and written constitutions, together with effective checks and balances in government.

Paine is now considered a professional radical  recolutionary propaganist. He was Born in England and worked as a tax collector. Impressed by Paine's abilities Benjamin Franklin, sponsered Paine's immigration to the Americas in 1774. In Philadelphia Paine became a journalist, contributing articles on all subjects to The Pennsylvania Magazine. After the publication of Common Sense, Paine continued to inspire the patriots during the Revolutionary War with a series of pamphlets entitled The American Crisis. Eventually, Paine went on to write The Rights of Man and The Age of Reason.

John Hancock and General Thomas Cage

John Hancock was born on January 12/1737 in Braintree( Quincy) Massachusetts he die on October 8/1793.  He was Graduated in Harvard College as a merchant. He work in the elected Boston Assembly, 1766 it was also a president of the provincial Congress os Massachusetts, also was elected to the Continental Congress in 1774 also was the elected Governor of Massachusetts through 1793. He signed the Declaration of Independence and is the most easily recognizable of all. Hancock served as a governor from 1780 to 1785 and again from 1787 to 1793, although he had many political enemies. 
Many places and things in the united States have been named in honor of Hancock. The U.S Navy has named vessels USS Hancock and USS John Hancock, and a World war 2 liberty ship was also named in his honor 

<---------  John Hancock signature in the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Gage  was born in 1719 and died in April 2/1787 he was a British General, best known for his many years in the North America service he also was a commander of the American War of Independence. In 1774 he succeeded Hutchinson as a governor of Massachusetts and he occupied The Boston with troops.

I

Setting the Stage for the Quebec Act of 1774

The Administration of Justice and The Quebec Act

The Administration of Justice Act

The Administration of Justice Act was an Act created because of the Parliament worried about the courts on America specially in Massachusetts and the trials given to the to British governors in America. So, in May 20 , 1774 the Parliament passed the Administration of Justice Act, it said that the governor had the right to remove any trial sending it to another colony or to Great Britain. In this case the witness was forced to travel to where the trial was going to be. If jail was needed because the defendant prooved that the crime was really committed while acting in a official capacity, such as suppression of riots. The Administration of Justice Act is considered one of the Intolerable Act or Coercive acts. 


The Quebec Act

Parliament passed The Quebec Act  as a intentioned measure designed to get more taxes and benefit the French living in Canada that had come to British power in The Treaty of Paris in 1763. This law included a new governor and council to be appointed to govern affairs with Quebec. The French civil code was officially recognized for use in Quebec, but English law would continue to prevail in criminal matters. Recognition was also given to the Roman Catholic Church in Quebec; this was an important gesture because Catholics were previously unrecognizable for public office, but now could qualify by making a promise of loyalty to British officials. The Quebec Act was also considered part of the Coercive or Intolerable Acts which were seriously protested by Colonists.

The Boston Tea Party

After boycotting English goods The Townshend Act was repelled almost completly but there was a tax that remained and it was the tax they had in tea. The British East India Company had controlled all tea trading between India and the Colonies. As a result of the tax imposed on tea, the colonies refused to buy the British tea. Instead, they smuggled tea in from Holland. To prevent loses of the The British East India Company, Parliament  aprooved for the company to pass tea directly o the colonies which made tea cheaper (even with tax) that the smuggled Dutch Tea. Coloniest didn't accept this either they thought the Parliament was trying to trick them and make them pay taxes. So ina night of December 16, 1773 a group of Boston Patriots or part of  "The Sons of Liberty" went to the Boston Harbor, dressed as Mohawk Indians and boarded 3 British ships (called the Beaver, the Eleanor and the Dartmouth). They dumped 324 tanks or forty-five tons of tea into the Bosoton Harbor. This action made the crown and Parliament really angry so they decided to pass the Coersive Acts which included the Boston Port Act. The Boston Port Act meant that the harbor should be closed to every ship while the Bostonians payed the damage of the tea to The British East India Company.

Boston Port Act & Massachusetts Goverment Act

The Boston  Port  Act  The Boston port act is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which became law on March 30, 1774, and is one of the measures  that were designed to secure Great Britain's over the American dominions. A response to the Boston Tea Party, it outlawed the use of the Port of Boston for "landing and discharging, loading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandise.

This act closed the harbor until all the tea that was ruined was paid for.

             Massachusetts  Government Act.

Was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain and became a law on May 20, 1774. The act is one of the Intolerable Acts  it was a method of electing such counselors or assistants, to be created with the several powers, authorities, and privileges. This act took away that right and instead gave the king sole power to appoint and dismiss the council also many civil officers were chosen to represent to have a royal Governor. Patriot leaders in Massachusetts responded to the act by creating the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in October 1774, which acted as an independent government in the early stages of the American Revolution.

Townshend Act

The Townhend Act was originated in 1676. It was also created and named after Charles Townshend and passed by the English Parliament little time after the Stamp Act was repealed. It was designed to collect taxes from the Colonist in America by imposing costume duties on imported materials such as glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. John Dickinson, Samuel Adams and others protested about this taxes. Boston merchants started to boycott English goods. In 1768 The Massachusetts Assembly was dissolved for sending a circular letter to other colonies denouncing the Townshend Act, when the Massachusetts Assembly was dissolved  the colony was put under the control of an appointed governer and lost the right of town meetings. British send troops to keep peace but they were involved in unpleasant incidents such as the Boston Massacre, where five members of a mob that attacked the troops guarding the costume office were killed.  All this boycotts decreased British trade and by 1770 most of the acts were repealed.    

Tarring and Feathering

Tarring and feathering & Sons of Liberty

                                                                          Tarring and feathering.

Is a form of punishment which was developed in 12th century in  England. The earliest mention of this punishments occurs in orders of Richard I of England, this started in  the Holy Land in 1189.This punishment was composed victim was stripped it was  painted with hot tar, and then covered in feathers which stuck to the tar.  This hot tar on bare skin could cause painful and efforts to remove it usually resulted in to pulling out the hairs. The Tarring and feathering was a barbaric practice  and, sadly. The practice was occasionally very violent and resulted in death.

Sons of Liberty

In Boston in early 1765. The sons of liberty was  a political group made by the  American Patriots. This group was formed to protect the rights of the colonist of the British government. In December 1773, the Sons of Liberty distributed a declaration in New York City called the "Association of the Sons of Liberty in New York", which formally stated their opposition to the Tea Act. Sons of Liberty raised was a combination of general outrage against the Stamp Act. This also have a flag called  the rebellious stripes flag with nine vertical stripes (five red and four white).

The French and Indian War

The French and Indian war was when Indians and French allied against the Brits. In Europe is called The Seven Year War. George Washington commanded the British troops. It was fought over the Ohio River Valley. During the first years Britain suffered losses, this was between 1756-1757. The French destroyed forts between Lake Ontorio and Lake George. The Indian allies raided the frontier of Pennsylvania and Virginia. In 1758-1759 the war shifted in favor of the British. They blocked ships that brought food and provisions to the French. This way British were allowed to capture major fort in the entrance of the Saint Lawrence River. Brits captured Quebec in 1759 and Montreal in 1760 . Forcing the General Governer of France to surrender the rest of Canada including the forts around the Great Lakes and the little part of Florida. The war continued in many parts of the world and in 1763 the Treaty of Paris was signed, with a trufently winning in favor of the Brits who kept Canada Great Lakes and Florida. The Missisippi River became the boundary between the Brits the Spanish and The French.

Stamp Act & Quartering Act

Stamp Act
On march 1765 the stamp act was passed by parliament  George Grenville  this was created  to colect taxes of the colonist this was called the stamp act. The bill was passed on February 17, approved by the Lords on March 8th. this require to pay tax in all printing materials like newspaper,book,court documents, contracts land deeds and the books haves differents seals .The colonists had no such representation in Parliament the Stamp Act was unconstitutional. with this act, the colonists were getting anger .The purpose of the collected funds was to protect the American frontier. The Taxetion  ended  on March 1766 when British government repealed the Stamp Act.





Quartering Act.

In early 1765 parliament had another unpopular law called the quartering act this las require colonist to feed and give a place were to live to the british. By this act tension begging between the british and the colonist. the colonist were anger by having they homes open.
some colonist complain, but others believe that the parliament had the right to make the laws.