A Quick Trip Through the Revolutionary War (Part 2)

Last month we ended our journey through the Revolution in December 1776 as George Washington was crossing the Delaware River on his way to defeat the

Washing crossing the Delaware

Hessians. So, let’s go backwards just a bit and quickly recap some important events leading to this moment.

September 5th thru October 26th, 1774, the First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, PA. Together they issue Declaration and Resolves; a precursor to the Declaration of Independence.

1775 begins with Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give me Death” speech on March 23rd, quickly followed by the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes announcing the arrival of British troops on April 18th. The following day, the Minutemen and Redcoats battle at Lexington and Concord, resulting in the “shot heard around the world”. May 10th, the Second Continental Congress meet again in PA which leads to George Washington named Commander and Chief on June 15th. A little more than two weeks later, he assumes command of the Continental Army.

1776 is the year we most associate with America’s liberation from Britain. Usually due to the issuance of the Declaration of Independence. But there was more to the process than the events on July 4th. Beginning July 1st thru July 4th, Congress debates and revises the Declaration of Independence, finally adopting the declaration and sending it to be printed on the fourth. July 8th it’s read publicly. Imagine the feeling of those colonists hearing the Declaration of Independence read out loud. The delegates don’t actually sign the form until August 2nd. The year is fraught with battles many being won by the British Army.

The year ends with Washington’s crossing of the Delaware to capture Trenton from the Hessians on December 26th. In January 1777, Washington’s army is victorious at Princeton, then April 27th, at Ridgefield, Connecticut, Benedict Arnold forces the British to withdrawal. The Battle of Saratoga, Sep 19 to October 7, is a chief turning point, with nearly six thousand British soldiers surrendering. The year is full of skirmishes, and though there are many British wins, American’s are empowered by the victories they obtain.

The winter of 1777/78 is treacherous as George Washington winters his troops at Valley Forge. Freezing temperatures, illness, lack of warm housing, boots and

Valley Forge

clothing and repeated snow storms made living extremely difficult for the soldiers. I think the fact that American’s continued to fight on attests to the toughness of the Patriots.

January 1778 France officially aligns with America by signing the French Alliance. Though the French had been secretly sending supplies since 1775, the French Alliance made official the relationship between America and France. France really didn’t have an interest in America’s independence, but the king of France did have a vendetta against Great Britain. The cost to France for helping in the American Revolution was more than a billion livres tournois. A huge debt that would contribute to the civilian uprising of the French Revolution.

In June 1779, Spain affiliates with America and France against Britain. A huge benefit to the eventual independence of America.

Skipping ahead to September 28 thru October 19, 1781, the Battle of Yorktown was the concluding major battle of the Revolutionary War. George Washington’s army defeated the British army under Lord Cornwallis.

The American Revolutionary War lasted for eight years. It began April 1775 and 

lasted until September 1783 when the British finally leave New York. The 13 colonies were Virginia, South Carolina, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. The birth of America came at a steep price to the entire world, but we know freedom is never free—not yesterday or today.

Many events have been left out of this summary of the Revolutionary War. Not because any happening is less important, but because I’ve tried to touch on the events I, personally, feel give an overall view of the times. For a more in-depth look at the Revolutionary War, please take a moment to do a quick internet search. I know you’ll enjoy the added information you learn.

Thank you for stopping by Heroes, Heroines and History.



Multi award-winning author, Michele K. Morris’s love for historical fiction began

when she first read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House book series. She grew up riding horses and spending her free time in the woods of mid-Michigan. Married to her high school sweetheart, they are living happily-ever-after with their six children, three in-loves, and ten grandchildren in Florida, the sunshine state. Michele loves to hear from readers on Facebook, Twitter, and here through the group blog, Heroes, Heroines, and History at HHHistory.com.

Michele is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

A Quick Trip Through the Revolutionary War (Part One)

Like all wars, the road to the Revolutionary War was a long and complicated journey. The world was expanding, and countries were fighting for supremacy in the new and old lands. Two of the major world powers were England and France and both had their political fingers in world dominance. One of the wanted conquests was the newly colonized America—but Americans had a different idea for their future . . . Independence.

This blog post is part one of a very brief overview of the Revolutionary War and America’s journey to independence.

An event that most of us don’t think of as a factor in the Revolution is the French Indian War. This war was really a complicated, and multi-premised world war. France and England were stretching themselves thin with battles in both the Seven Years War and the fight to control the colonies in the new America. As we know, England won the French Indian War, but it came with a steep financial burden. Because of the debt incurred, England began to tax the colonists…And tax them steeply. We know how that turned out; the colonists eventually revolted leading to the Revolutionary War.

The end of the French Indian War ushered in a decade of English overrule. Proclamations, taxations and “acts” increased the distrust and animosity

between Great Britain and the colonists. This growing friction would erupt (among other things) in the Boston Massacre on March 5th, 1770 and the Boston Tea Party, December 16th, 1773.

September 5th thru October 26th, 1774, the First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, PA. Together they issue Declaration and Resolves; a precursor to the Declaration of Independence.

1775 begins with Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give me Death” speech on March 23rd, quickly followed by the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes announcing the arrival of British troops on April 18th. The following day, the

Minutemen and Redcoats battle at Lexington and Concord, resulting in the “shot heard around the world”. May 10th, the Second Continental Congress meet again in PA which leads to George Washington named Commander and Chief on June 15th. A little more than two weeks later, he assumes command of the Continental Army.

1776 is the year we most associate with America’s liberation from Britain. Usually due to the issuance of the Declaration of Independence. But there was more to the process than the events on July 4th. Beginning July 1st thru July 4th, Congress debates and revises the Declaration of Independence, finally adopting the declaration on the fourth. July 8th it is read publicly. Imagine the feeling of

those colonists hearing the Declaration of Independence read out loud. The delegates don’t actually sign the form until August 2nd. The year is fraught with battles many being own by the British Army. The year ends with Washington’s crossing of the Delaware to capture Trenton from the Hessians on December 26th.

Many events have been left out of this summary of the Revolutionary War. Not because any happening is less important, but because I’ve tried to touch on the events I, personally, feel give an overall view of the times. For a more in-depth look at the Revolutionary War, please take a moment to do a quick internet search. I know you’ll enjoy the added information you learn.

Come back next month to finish our tour through the times of America’s independence. Until then, be blessed friends, and thank you for stopping by Heroes, Heroines and History.


 

Multi award-winning author, Michele K. Morris’s love for historical fiction began when she first read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House book series. She grew up riding horses and spending her free time in the woods of mid-Michigan. Married to her high school sweetheart, they are living happily-ever-after with their six children, three in-loves, and ten grandchildren in Florida, the sunshine state. Michele loves to hear from readers on Facebook, Twitter, and here through the group blog, Heroes, Heroines, and History at HHHistory.com.

Michele is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

240 Years Ago...They Signed.

Blogger: Amber Schamel

This picture is often thought to be the signing of the Declaration,
but it is actually the presentation of the document by the committee.

Did you know the Declaration of Independence wasn't signed by all of the delegates until August 2nd, 1776? Sure, they adopted the resolution a month before, but the signing didn't happen until a month later. Actually, the timeline of the Declaration is fairly complex. Here are few tidbits I enjoyed discovering. :)

On June 11, 1776, Congress appointed a committee to draft a declaration. The men appointed were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin and Robert Livingston. This committee appointed Jefferson to be the primary author of the document. This is probably partially due to the fact that he was a Virginian and they were in need of support from the Virginian delegates.

Drafting a Declaration

June 28th Jefferson and the committee presented the first draft of the Declaration to Congress. I can only imagine being poor Thomas as his work was presented to so many men (many of them good writers) to critique and tear apart. The debate over this document and the entire idea of independence went on for several days. Several major changes were made to the document, including pulling out a clause regarding slavery.

July 2nd, Congress voted to declare independence from Britain.

July 4th BUT, it wasn't until two days later that they adopted Jefferson's final draft of the document. That's where the discrepancy between July 2nd and 4th comes from. Only John Hancock, as the president of the Assembly, and Secretary Charles Thompson signed the document adopted on July 4th. This original was sent to John Dunlap to be printed. Several copies were made, but the exact number is uncertain. 24 are known to exist. One of them was George Washington's own personal copy.

July 5th is when the first of the Dunlap prints of the document were dispatched to State legislatures.

July 6th brought the first newspaper printing of the document in the Pennsylvania Evening Post.

July 8th is said to have held the first public reading of the Declaration.

Pulling down King George's statue

July 9th George Washington has the Declaration read aloud to the army in New York. At this time, there was a large British force assembling against them. The reading so moved the men that some of them rushed down to the Bowling Green and slung ropes over the bronze statue of King George, pulled it down, and sent it off to be melted down and used to make bullets.

July 19th Congress gave the order for an official copy of the Declaration to be engrossed and signed by the members.

On this day 240 years ago, August 2nd, The delegates began to sign this glorified copy. 56 Congressional Delegates in total signed the Declaration of Independence, including the men not present for the vote. Most of them signed August 2nd. There were, however, a few delegates that refused to sign the Declaration. John Dickenson of PA and the three delegates from NY, Robert Livingston, John Jay, and James Duane.

August 10th News of the Declaration finally arrives in London. A newspaper reported a short blip from a letter from General Howe that was dated July 7th or 8th. “I am informed that the Continental Congress have declared the United Colonies free and independent States.”

Of course, in America, independence celebrations were short lived in 1776 because the army suffered a terrible defeat after the New York campaign...but that is the beginning of another story. 

Author of over half a dozen books, including Dawn of Liberty, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".  She lives in Colorado and spends half her time volunteering in the Ozarks. Subscribe for exclusive content and newsletter updates at www.AmberSchamel.com/